The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. — John 10:27 (AMP)

Adapted from the resource Wake Up to the Word – by Joyce Meyer

It’s so important to remember that prayer is meant to be a conversation. When you’re praying, make sure to listen to what God tells you, either through His Word or His still, small voice in your heart (which will always line up with His Word).

Communication is a two-way street—it doesn’t consist of one person doing all the talking while the other does all the listening. The best conversations happen when both people are fully engaged in both listening and speaking. You may need to develop your ability to listen, but boy is it worth it when you start hearing the awesome things God has to say! He’s invited us into an authentic, intimate relationship with Him where we’re free to share absolutely everything.

God is not someone we visit for one hour on Sunday morning and ignore the rest of the week unless we have an emergency—He is Someone we live with. He’s our home, our safe place, and we can be comfortable with Him.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You so much that talking to You doesn’t have to be a ritual or formula! Today, help me to be aware and intentional to thank You for the blessings in each moment, and to listen closely when You speak. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. — James 1:2–3 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Trusting God Day by Day – by Joyce Meyer

I’ve heard many people who live in places where there are four distinct seasons talk about how much they enjoy winter, spring, summer, and fall. They like the variety and the unique beauty, qualities, and opportunities of each season. The Bible tells us God Himself changes times and seasons (see Dan. 2:21).

Seasons change, both in the natural world and in our lives. We all have off days, tough weeks, bad months, or even sometimes a whole year that seems way too full of troubles, but thankfully every difficult situation will come to an end.

Some of the trying situations we find ourselves in seem to go on way too long. When this happens, we’re often tempted to complain or get discouraged. Instead of giving in, though, the best thing we can do is look to God for strength and ask Him to teach us something valuable as we press through each day. According to James 1:2–3, God uses trials and pressure to produce character and growth in us.

Sometimes His blessings come through unexpected circumstances that appear negative, but if we choose to trust God and keep a positive attitude in the middle of those situations, we’ll experience the blessings He wants to give us. If you’re going through a difficult time right now, let me remind you that this probably isn’t the first challenge you’ve ever faced. You overcame the last one (and probably learned some valuable lessons through it), and you will make it through this one, too.

Your trials are temporary—they will not last forever. Better days are coming. Keep your focus on Jesus, let Him strengthen you, and remember that this is just a season, and it will pass.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to grow, even in the middle of the difficult things I’m dealing with. Thank You for strengthening me, for staying by my side, and for the blessings You have ahead. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. … — John 15:15 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Power of Being Thankful – by Joyce Meyer

One of the biggest keys to effective prayer is approaching God as a friend, because that is who you are (see John 15:15). When we go to God believing that He sees us as His friends, countless new wonders are opened to us. We experience real freedom and boldness, which are both priceless gifts to be grateful for.

If we do not know God as a friend, we’ll be hesitant, not bold, in asking for what we need. But if we go to Him as our friend—without losing our awe of Him—our prayers will stay fresh, exciting, and intimate.

A friendship is about loving and being loved. It means knowing that God is on your side, wanting to help you, cheering you on, and always working things together for your good.

Today, know that God loves you deeply and wants your friendship more than anything.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for calling me Your friend. Help me to come to You confidently, knowing that You love me and You are for me. Thank You that I’m never alone, because You’re always with me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Show Your marvelous loving-kindness, O You Who save by Your right hand those who trust and take refuge in You from those who rise up against them. Keep and guard me as the pupil of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings. — Psalm 17:7-8 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Starting Your Day Right – by Joyce Meyer

Have you ever felt completely broken, as if you couldn’t seem to keep yourself together? King David felt this way for many years, so much so that he said, “I am like a broken ves­sel” (Psalm 31:12 NKJV).

Brokenness might seem like a bad thing, but it can actually serve a beautiful purpose. Through brokenness, the “outer shell,” or the fleshly, ungodly parts of us can be thrown off, and the character of Christ in our spirit can shine brighter. As a result, we become more open and available for God to work through us in brand-new ways.

We all need to be broken in the way David was; we need to be totally dependent on God to strengthen, guide, and deliver us from evil. Today, let’s have the same attitude that he did: “But I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God” (Psalm 31:14 AMPC).

Prayer Starter: Jesus, please help me to allow brokenness to bring about good results in my life. Thank You for healing and working through my broken places to help others find Your light. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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No temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. — 1 Corinthians 10:13 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Battlefield of the Mind – by Joyce Meyer

Years ago, a comedian’s favorite punch line was, “The devil made me do it,” to which the audience always roared. Why do you think people laughed so hard? Was it because they wanted it to be true? Did they want to free themselves of responsibility for their actions by putting it on an outside force?

It’s always easy to blame someone else or outside forces for our actions. Many people justify their own harmful habits and behavior by saying things like, “My father never said a kind word to me.” “My cousin abused me.” “People in our neighborhood made fun of me because I wore old and patched clothes.” “I never had money when I was growing up, so now as soon as my paycheck comes, it’s gone.”

Those statements are probably true, and they may explain why we suffer. All of these situations (as well as the ones not mentioned here) are terrible, and my heart breaks that people are going through so much pain in their lives.

Yet, while we can and should acknowledge the hurts we’ve experienced, we don’t have the right to blame other people or circumstances for our behavior. We can’t use them as an excuse to stay stuck, then expect to get free. In today’s verse, Paul makes it clear that all of us have our own set of temptations, and for each of us, the circumstances may be different, but the promise God gives is the same. He’s promised us a way to escape, no matter what, because He wants to set us free. The escape is provided, but we have to choose to take it.

Continue reading Joyce Meyer – The Blame Game →

Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body. — 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource New Day, New You – by Joyce Meyer

The word stress was originally an engineering term used to refer to the amount of force a beam or other physical support could bear without collapsing.

In our time, the word has been expanded to refer not only to physical pressure, but also to mental and emotional tension. As human beings, God has created us to withstand a certain amount of stress. We have problems when we push ourselves beyond those limits. But like so many people, because I have things to do, many times I’ll just keep pushing myself even though it’s causing me physical damage.

Of course, when either Dave or I feel sickness coming on, we immediately pray for healing. But if we become sick as a result of running our body down by pushing it beyond the limits God has set for us, we need rest as well as prayer to restore our health. The boundaries He’s put in place are for our own good; when we stay within them, we’ll experience more peace in our body and soul.

Prayer Starter: Father, please show me where my boundaries and limits are, and how I can stay within them. Thank You for giving me the wisdom and strength I need to honor You in the way I take care of myself. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Who [with reason] despises the day of small things? . . . — Zechariah 4:10 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource My Time with God – by Joyce Meyer

I recently started walking for exercise, and after about ten days I was up to three miles a day. A few more days went by and I started having pain in a groin muscle. It got so bad that I could only walk about three-quarters of a mile. I was tempted to quit altogether because I wasn’t where I wanted to be yet, and I started thinking that walking that small amount wouldn’t do any good. But I was wrong! By doing the little I could do, I eventually worked up to five miles a day.

If you can’t exercise three days a week, but you can exercise one day, then start with that and see what happens. You may find that doing what you can do is an open door to eventually being able to do what you can’t do now! If you can’t study the Bible an hour every day, but you can do 10-15 minutes, then start with what you can do and watch it grow.

Many people never get started with the things they want to do because they want to start at the finish line. If you never get started in the right direction, you will never get to where you want to be. My philosophy is this: “I may not be able to do everything, but I refuse to do nothing!”

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to see the value in doing things that seem small, and not to get discouraged when things take longer than I wanted or expected. Thank You for the strength to take baby steps of faith, and for bringing me one step at a time from where I am to where I need to be.In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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…Love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature]. — 1 Corinthians 8:1 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Love Out Loud – by Joyce Meyer

Are you part of God’s construction crew, or Satan’s destruc­tion crew? God’s Word teaches us to edify and build up people, because they need to hear our words of encouragement. We all like to have people say loving things to us, so we should do for others what we want them to do for us (see Matthew 7:12). We should never refuse to do something God asks us to do just because it doesn’t come easily.

Ask God to give you words that you can sincerely say to people that will build them up. You might be shopping for some new clothes and see a store clerk and think, That dress she’s wearing is really pretty. Your thought won’t help her, but saying it to her will. Tell people you appreciate their hard work, because you might be the only person who ever tells them.

Start encouraging the people in your family, then gradually expand to those at work or church, and eventually get extreme enough to try com­plimenting complete strangers (use wisdom when speaking to members of the opposite sex).

If you like to set goals for yourself, why not set one in this area? Start by committing to give three compliments each day and keep increasing the number until it becomes part of who you are and not just something you try to do.

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit, I invite You to direct my words today. Thank You for teaching me in every moment how I can encourage those around me, and for giving me the right words for each person. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. — Psalm 37:4 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Hearing from God Each Morning – by Joyce Meyer

One of the ways God speaks to us is through the sanctified desires of our hearts. God places right desires in our hearts and then He gives us those desires. I remember a time when I really desired some homemade zucchini bread, but had no ability or time to make it. I simply said, “Lord, I sure would like some fresh zucchini bread,” and didn’t think about it again. About a week later, a lady (who had no idea I’d been wanting zucchini bread) handed me a box and when I opened it, I found homemade zucchini bread! God delights in doing both small and large things for us and we should never fail to appreciate them.

We need to ask God to give us sanctified, or holy, desires. We usually have desires for natural things like success, finances, nice homes, and good relationships, but we should also desire spiritual things. We should desire to know God in a deeper and more intimate way, to always display the fruit of the Spirit (especially love), and to live our lives in a way that pleases Him.

Wrong desires torment us and make us impatient about receiving them, but sanctified desires come with a willingness to wait on God’s ways and timing. When we ask Him to take away fleshly desires and replace them with right ones, God gives us new desires that agree with His Word and bring His righteousness, peace, and joy to our lives (see Romans 14:17; Psalm 103:5).

Prayer Starter: Lord, please help me trust You with my desires, and replace any desires in my heart that are not from You with Your desires for my life. Thank You for wanting to bless me and meet my needs in new ways. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the ranks of Israel, Whom you have defied. — 1 Samuel 17:45 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Confident Woman – by Joyce Meyer

When I was 18, I left home, got a job, and started trying to take care of myself. I thought I got away from my problems at home because I physically walked away from my house, but I didn’t realize I took them with me inside my soul. My mind and emotions were damaged and in desperate need of healing. My will was rebellious and obstinate, because I’d promised myself that nobody would ever hurt me again. My spirit was wounded. I was a brokenhearted person with a very negative attitude.

Today, by God’s grace, I am free from fear, negativity, and self-doubt. This doesn’t mean that these things never try to visit me, but I have learned that I can say “NO” to them just as easily as I can say “YES.” When fear knocks on your door, answer with faith. When self-doubt knocks, answer with confidence! When negative thoughts or conversations come up, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit (or sometimes my husband) that being negative will not help anything or anyone, and I choose to change my words.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to have the heart of David, and to speak words of faith to the giants of fear and doubt in my life. Thank You for being my strength and my confidence! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. — Romans 8:1 (AMP)

Adapted from the resource Healing the Soul of a Woman – by Joyce Meyer

Sometimes we feel pain in our soul because we’ve hurt someone else accidentally. Oftentimes we hurt those people because we were hurting, too, and we didn’t mean to wound them. This is especially true for women who have been through abuse or major hurt while growing up. They never wanted to cause problems; they simply didn’t know any better, so they inadvertently passed on the same pain to their children. The same could be said for people who hurt friends, spouses, or other family members unintentionally.

As we mature and come to realize that something we said or did caused pain or struggle in another person’s life, we may feel very badly about it. When that happens, the best thing to do is talk to the person, admit what we’ve done to cause pain, and offer a sincere apology. We may also feel we can explain to the person what was going on with us at the time or tell them how we came to realize that we hurt them. The most important parts of this kind of conversation are to take responsibility for our actions and to apologize. If there’s anything we can do to make it right with that person, we should offer to do so. If not, we can simply pray that God will continue to heal and strengthen him or her.

In situations where hurt has been especially deep, people may not be ready to move on. Instead, they may remind us repeatedly of what we’ve done and use our admissions and apologies against us. They might say things like, “The reason I am the way I am is that you hurt me so deeply years ago!” Or, “If you hadn’t done what you did to me, I wouldn’t have done that!” When we hear those words, we can be tempted to feel guilty or condemned about our past actions.

Once we’ve confessed our sin to God, received His forgiveness, admitted our faults to those we’ve hurt and apologized to them, we should no longer carry the guilt of our mistakes or failures. God offers us free and ultimate forgiveness, and when we have that, we can see ourselves as clean and made right, regardless of what other people say to us.

John 3:17 (NIV) says, For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him, and Romans 8:1 declares that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Him. No matter what you’ve done, you can live free, forgiven, and healed in Jesus. The people you have hurt may not be quick to forgive you, but God always will be.

Prayer Starter: Father, please remind me (especially when I’m feeling guilty or condemned) that I’m forgiven, healed and free of my past because of You. Thank You for always being quick to forgive, and for helping me grow. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. — Psalm 119:105 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Ending You Day Right – by Joyce Meyer

The Bible is written as a personal letter to you from God. He speaks to you, meets your needs, and guides your steps through His written Word. He reveals truth, wisdom and teaches you how to live.

Without spending time in His Word, we can’t hear His voice clearly and accurately. Knowing the written Word protects us from deception—it’s our standard for truth. Listening for God’s voice without being in His Word consistently opens you up to hearing voices that are not from God, which is why it’s so important to not only read His Word, but to study it. There may be times when God speaks something to you that is outside a specific chapter and verse of the Bible, but it will always be in agreement with His Word.

Today, spend some time (even if it’s just a few minutes) reading a little of God’s personal letter to you, and ask Him to speak to your heart.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word, and for the peace and direction and provision I can find in it. Please reveal more and more truth to me as I spend time getting to know Your Word better. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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-Solid Foundation

[Jesus] said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. — Matthew 16:15-16 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Closer to God Each Day – by Joyce Meyer

When Peter said that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, it was a statement of belief. In saying this, Peter was displaying and declaring his faith.

I don’t think Peter just casually or nonchalantly made that statement. I think he did it with a sureness and a certainty that impressed Jesus, because He immediately turned to Peter and told him that he was blessed. Then He went on to say that it was upon this rock-solid foundation of faith that He would build His church (see Matthew 16:15-19).

Jesus was basically saying to Peter, “If you maintain this faith, it will be a rocklike substance in your life upon which I will be able to build My kingdom in you, and through you. Your faith will be developed to the point that even the gates of hell will not be able to prevail against you.” What a promise!

There have been many times in my life when I’ve been discouraged, not known what to do, or felt that nothing was working and everyone was against me. In those times, the words I’ve heard over and over again are, “Only believe.”

Guess what? Jesus’ promise was not just for Peter—He’s saying the same thing to you and me. Only believe!

Prayer Starter: Father, I want to believe You above all else—please help me where I’m struggling with unbelief. Thank You so much for Your promise to always be with me and to strengthen me when I face the enemy! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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And he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. — Matthew 21:19 (NLT)

Adapted from the resource Power Thoughts Devo – by Joyce Meyer

When a fig tree has leaves, it usually also has fruit under the leaves. One day Jesus saw the leaves on a fig tree and went to it for something to eat because He was hungry. When He saw that it had leaves but no fruit, He cursed it, and I believe He cursed it because it was a phony.

Our words and actions should bear good fruit (see Matthew 7:15–20). If we appear to have good fruit, it’s important that we actually have it because people will be watching us. They’ll want to see if we have the real, genuine fruit of God’s presence in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23).

God has chosen us to be His ambassadors (see 2 Corinthians 5:20), and we represent Him well when there’s good fruit in our lives. It isn’t enough just to have a Jesus sticker on our cars or a cross hanging around our neck to display our Christianity—we must have the fruit to back it up.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to cultivate and produce good fruit in my life so I can represent You well to those around me. Thank You for new opportunities and grace to show Your love to people today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. — Psalm 30:12 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Wake Up to the Word – by Joyce Meyer

One of the fastest ways to a stagnant life is to find something wrong with everything and everybody, including yourself. On the other hand, those who make progress are usually intentionally thankful, happy people who look for the good in life.

Thank God for always being with you, and for the fact that all things are possible with Him. Thank Him for your life, your job, your family, your friends… whatever comes to your mind as you’re praying. As you cultivate thankfulness in your life, you’ll experience more and more of His presence (see 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 100:4).

God never changes, but everything else is subject to change. You’re not at a dead end; you are not stuck in a place you cannot escape. No matter how long you’ve been waiting, God has something fresh and new for you, and today is the day to start enjoying it (see Isaiah 43:18-19; John 10:10).

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to be intentionally thankful, and to watch for the fresh, new blessings You put in my path today. Thank You for making all things new, and for the work You’re doing in me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves courageously for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight. — 1 Chronicles 19:13 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Power of Being Thankful – by Joyce Meyer

Are you doing what you really believe you should be doing at this stage in your life? Or have you allowed fear to keep you from stepping out into new things—or maybe higher levels of old things? If you don’t like your answer, I have good news for you: It is never too late to begin again!

Thankfully, you don’t have to spend one more day living a narrow, closed-in life that is controlled by your fears. You can make a decision right now to begin learning to live boldly, aggressively, and confidently. Because Jesus paid for your freedom, you don’t have to let fear rule you any longer! It’s important to be intentional about overcoming fear—don’t just sit around, waiting for it to go away. There will be times when you’ll have to move forward even when you feel afraid. Courage is not the absence of fear; courage is action in the presence of fear.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for making a way for me to live free from fear! Please fill me with Your strength and boldness to begin doing it afraid today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. — Psalm 16:11 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Starting Your Day Right – by Joyce Meyer

Many times, we get upset about things that end up never happening. Sometimes Satan likes to get us anxious about things that aren’t even real problems, or things that haven’t even happened yet. Jesus said,

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows) (John 10:10 AMPC).

The Bible says that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (see Romans 14:17). When we make Jesus the Lord of our life, we have joy in our hearts. Satan has no right to steal from you today, so enjoy the peaceful, abundant life that Jesus paid for you to have!

Prayer Starter: Father, give me the strength to say no to worry and anxiety today. Thank You for paying such a high price so I could live a peaceful, abundant, full life! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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Be of good courage and let us behave ourselves courageously for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight. — 1 Chronicles 19:13 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Power of Being Thankful – by Joyce Meyer

Are you doing what you really believe you should be doing at this stage in your life? Or have you allowed fear to keep you from stepping out into new things—or maybe higher levels of old things? If you don’t like your answer, I have good news for you: It is never too late to begin again!

Thankfully, you don’t have to spend one more day living a narrow, closed-in life that is controlled by your fears. You can make a decision right now to begin learning to live boldly, aggressively, and confidently. Because Jesus paid for your freedom, you don’t have to let fear rule you any longer! It’s important to be intentional about overcoming fear—don’t just sit around, waiting for it to go away. There will be times when you’ll have to move forward even when you feel afraid. Courage is not the absence of fear; courage is action in the presence of fear.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for making a way for me to live free from fear! Please fill me with Your strength and boldness to begin doing it afraid today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. — 1 Corinthians 2:16b (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Battlefield of the Mind – by Joyce Meyer

I reached the curb in front of the airport, where my friend was coming to pick me up. I was calm and relaxed and thought of the great conversation we would have. To my surprise, she wasn’t there yet, which was odd because she’s the kind of person who’s never late for anything. I spotted what I thought was her car and took a step forward, but the car went past me, and there was a stranger in it.

Not more than three minutes had passed, but I realized I was now anxious and worried. What had happened to her? Had she been in an accident? Did she forget me? From peace to anxiety in less than three minutes, and nothing had changed—nothing except my mind. Worried thoughts were racing inside me.

I pulled out my cell phone and started to dial her number, then I heard a car honking and saw her pull up to the curb. My mind shifted back to calmness, and even joy as we started catching up. How quickly my emotions had swayed back and forth in those few minutes!

Sometimes I find it incredibly easy to hear God speak and to believe Him, and other times, worry and anxiety make it extremely hard to hear His voice. The Bible says we are to walk by faith and not by sight, but that day at the airport, I was definitely being led by what I saw. When we worry, we’re not walking in faith or trusting God.

For many years, I had a critical, suspicious, and judgmental mind. That may seem normal for many nonbelievers, but I was a Christian. I was operating with the same mindset that I’d had for years, because it was normal to me—I had no idea that my wrong thinking was causing any problems.

Since no one had taught me otherwise, I didn’t know I could do anything to change my thought life. No one had told me that God had provided a new way for us to do life by renewing our minds (see Romans 12:2).

One day I read 1 Corinthians 2:16, where Paul says we have the mind of Christ. What could he have meant? I pondered that verse for days. I eventually realized that having the mind of Christ doesn’t mean we’re sinless or perfect, but it means that we begin to think the way He thinks. Because we have His mind, we think on things that are good and honorable and loving. We can defeat Satan’s attacks by thinking and speaking God’s thoughts.

Prayer Starter: Father, I want to live with the mind of Christ. Please help me today to think kind, loving thoughts about myself and about others. Thank You for being faithful to remind me in each moment of what to focus on. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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And yet [in spite of all this] many even of the leading men (the authorities and the nobles) believed and trusted in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that [if they should acknowledge Him] they would be expelled from the synagogue. — John 12:42 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource My Time with God – by Joyce Meyer

The Bible teaches us in John 12:42-43 that many leading Jewish men believed in Jesus, but they wouldn’t admit it out of fear that they would be expelled from the synagogue.

…They loved the approval and the praise and the glory that come from men [instead of and] more than the glory that comes from God… (v. 43, AMPC).

In this example, we see that several people were kept from knowing Jesus because they were addicted to approval. Although they wanted a relationship with the Lord, they loved the approval of man more. This is a heartbreaking situation, and one that’s still happening today.

The people mentioned in John 12 knew that Jesus was real—they believed in Him—but the love of approval wouldn’t allow them to have a true relationship with Him. I wonder how their lives turned out. What did they miss because they said yes to people and no to God? I wonder how many of them were never mentioned in the Bible again. Did they fade into oblivion and never fulfill their destiny?

Thank God their story doesn’t have to be ours! When we follow God, not people, we’ll be able to live at peace and carry out the amazing purpose He has for each of our lives.

Prayer Starter: Father, please give me the wisdom to recognize where people’s approval is motivating my decisions, and the strength to start living to please You first. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

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