Grace (favor and blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). — Philippians 1:2 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource Love Out Loud – by Joyce Meyer

As I started my prayer time this morning, I asked the Lord to speak something to my heart that would be important for my life. The thought that roared into my heart was,

Be at peace—always be at peace!

Very often, Paul’s letters to the church start with, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The words may vary, but the message is the same: Grace always comes before peace. God’s grace is what gives us peace!

Grace can be defined in many ways; one is God’s undeserved favor and blessing. I often define it as this: God’s power—given to us as a free gift—which enables us to do with ease what we could never do alone with any amount of struggle and effort. Grace manifests as forgiveness, mercy, strength for our weaknesses, and probably thousands of other ways.

Because of His grace, God forgives our sins, which leads us to peace with Him and freedom from guilt. Because of grace, we can face our weaknesses and know that God still loves us, and that those weaknesses don’t disqualify us from His kingdom.

It might be a good idea to ask yourself, “Am I lacking peace somewhere in my life?” For example, if you lack peace about your spiritual maturity, you can put yourself in God’s hands, because He loves you, has grace for you, and has the ability to change what needs to be changed in you. Or if you’re longing to see change in your loved ones or circumstances, His grace is enough to do all that needs to be done, and enough to meet every need. Believe that He’s always working—because He is—and His timing is always right.

Thankfully, we don’t have to be perfect in order to receive God’s help! Another definition of grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense, and that is exactly what we have available to us daily through our faith.

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for Your grace that leads to peace. Help me to receive Your grace every day, instead of struggling in my own strength. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance go forth from your mouth . . . — 1 Samuel 2:3 (ESV)

Adapted from the resource Love Out Loud – by Joyce Meyer

When we can do something well, or when we reach a personal goal, we tend to feel proud of those things. As long as we feel positively about ourselves in a balanced way, it’s a good thing. But if we start to be prideful and critical of others who are struggling with something we’ve mastered, it’s a big problem.

God has really helped me become more disciplined in my eating habits, and I recently spent a week with someone who really struggles in that area. She mentioned several times how disciplined I am and how undisciplined she is, and each time I would respond, “I have areas that are a battle for me too, and you will overcome this as you keep praying and making an effort to grow.”

There was a time in my life when I wouldn’t have been as sensitive to my friend’s feelings—I probably would’ve given her a sermon about the dangers of overeating and poor nutrition. But if I’d done that, I wouldn’t have helped her do anything but feel more guilty and condemned. I’ve discovered that one of the best ways we can love people is to help them not feel worse about things they already feel bad about.

Meekness and humility are two of the most beautiful aspects of love. Paul said that love is not boastful (see I Corinthians 13:4). Love never wants to make others feel badly because they can’t do what we can do. Instead of bragging about our strengths, let’s thank God for them and be intentional to encourage those who are weak.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to be gracious and encouraging to those around me that are struggling in areas where I’m a little further along. Thank You for Your patience with me as I’m learning! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

You will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. — Jeremiah 29:13 (AMPC)

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

We may have to deal sternly with our flesh (our old nature) to resist the passivity that tries to keep us from growing closer to God. A commitment to spend time with Him is as serious a commitment as any we will ever make.

For instance, if I needed dialysis because of kidney disease and had to be at the hospital twice a week for treatment at 8:00am, I certainly wouldn’t accept an invitation to do anything else during those times, no matter how appealing it seemed or how much I wanted to do it. I would know my life depended on keeping my dialysis appointment. We need to be that serious about our time with God. The quality of our lives is directly affected by the quality time we spend with Him, so that time should have first priority in our schedules.

Sometimes we become slack in keeping our appointments with God because we know He’s always available. We know He’ll always be there for us, so we may skip or reschedule our time with Him so we can do something that seems more urgent. If we spent more “priority time” with God, we might not have as many “urgent” situations that rob us of time.

When we spend time with God, even if we don’t feel His presence or think we’re learning anything, we’re still sowing seeds that will produce a good harvest in our lives. As you stay determined and persistent, you’ll reach the point where you’re understanding more of God’s Word, enjoying your relationship with Him, and hearing His voice more and more.

Prayer Starter: Father, please teach me how to be more intentional about spending time with You. Thank You so much for giving me the ability to grow in this area. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not hide my wickedness; I said, “I will confess [all] my transgressions to the LORD”; and You forgave the guilt of my sin. — Psalm 32:5 (AMP)

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

Our souls can be wounded for many different reasons. Sometimes we’re wounded by things other people have done to us, other times the wounds come from our own bad choices. Even when we regret past sin or mistakes, the pain they caused will linger if we let it.

Some people who are strong, mature Christians and walk closely with God today haven’t always had an intimate relationship with Him. Some of them, like me, have abuse, betrayal, addictions, and other hurtful things in their background. They’re healed today because they refused to allow their past to determine their future. I want you to know that no matter what is in your past or how painful it’s been, healing is available for you and your future can be better than you ever imagined.

One of the most important steps you can take toward healing is to talk to God about what hurts you and confess to Him any sin you’ve committed. If there’s shame or guilt associated with what happened to you (as in the case of victims of abuse, or someone who made a very bad decision that affected others), you may wonder if God really wants to hear about it. I can assure you that He does! First of all, He already knows everything about the situation, and second, He understands that acknowledging our wrongdoing or pain helps cleanse it from our soul. There is no one better than God to talk to about the things that have hurt you. You can talk to Him about anything, and He will not judge you or be angry or frustrated with you. He loves you more than anyone on earth ever could, and He’s the only One who can heal your broken heart.

Many people in the Bible sinned and failed. Even some of those we think of as being closest to God made bad choices. Abraham got tired of waiting for God to give him a son through Sarah, so he turned to her handmaid instead (see Genesis 16:1–4). David lusted after Bathsheba and got her pregnant, then had her husband killed (see 2 Samuel 11:2–24). But both Abraham and David recovered and went on to do great things for God. James refers to Abraham as “a friend of God” (James 2:23), and the Bible calls David “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22).

One of the keys of David’s restoration and the great future he enjoyed after his moral failure was his willingness to repent and receive God’s forgiveness. He wrote that God desires “truth in [our] innermost being” (Psalm 51:6 AMP). I encourage you today to talk to God about the things that have hurt you or the ways you’ve failed in the past, and He will comfort you. You can be restored completely, and I encourage you to believe that with all your heart.

Prayer Starter: Lord, please show me what I need to talk to You about, and how I can begin to overcome the pain in my past. Thank You for comforting me, forgiving me, and giving me the strength to move forward. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not hide my wickedness; I said, “I will confess [all] my transgressions to the LORD”; and You forgave the guilt of my sin. — Psalm 32:5 (AMP)

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

Our souls can be wounded for many different reasons. Sometimes we’re wounded by things other people have done to us, other times the wounds come from our own bad choices. Even when we regret past sin or mistakes, the pain they caused will linger if we let it.

Some people who are strong, mature Christians and walk closely with God today haven’t always had an intimate relationship with Him. Some of them, like me, have abuse, betrayal, addictions, and other hurtful things in their background. They’re healed today because they refused to allow their past to determine their future. I want you to know that no matter what is in your past or how painful it’s been, healing is available for you and your future can be better than you ever imagined.

One of the most important steps you can take toward healing is to talk to God about what hurts you and confess to Him any sin you’ve committed. If there’s shame or guilt associated with what happened to you (as in the case of victims of abuse, or someone who made a very bad decision that affected others), you may wonder if God really wants to hear about it. I can assure you that He does! First of all, He already knows everything about the situation, and second, He understands that acknowledging our wrongdoing or pain helps cleanse it from our soul. There is no one better than God to talk to about the things that have hurt you. You can talk to Him about anything, and He will not judge you or be angry or frustrated with you. He loves you more than anyone on earth ever could, and He’s the only One who can heal your broken heart.

Many people in the Bible sinned and failed. Even some of those we think of as being closest to God made bad choices. Abraham got tired of waiting for God to give him a son through Sarah, so he turned to her handmaid instead (see Genesis 16:1–4). David lusted after Bathsheba and got her pregnant, then had her husband killed (see 2 Samuel 11:2–24). But both Abraham and David recovered and went on to do great things for God. James refers to Abraham as “a friend of God” (James 2:23), and the Bible calls David “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22).

One of the keys of David’s restoration and the great future he enjoyed after his moral failure was his willingness to repent and receive God’s forgiveness. He wrote that God desires “truth in [our] innermost being” (Psalm 51:6 AMP). I encourage you today to talk to God about the things that have hurt you or the ways you’ve failed in the past, and He will comfort you. You can be restored completely, and I encourage you to believe that with all your heart.

Prayer Starter: Lord, please show me what I need to talk to You about, and how I can begin to overcome the pain in my past. Thank You for comforting me, forgiving me, and giving me the strength to move forward. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

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

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

Right now, you’re probably believing God for something big to come to pass in your life—maybe a job, a relationship, a dream, or something else deep in your heart. If you look, you’ll find evidence of a small beginning. God always gives you seed—even if only a little, tiny seed—something that causes you to hope. Focus on that seed. Rejoice over that seed. It’s a sign of greater things to come.

When you despise something, you regard it lightly; you count it as nothing and don’t take care of it. But if you don’t take care of what God gives you, you will lose it. That’s why we have to learn to be content while things still seem small.

You know God is the Author and the Finisher of our faith, and everything else in our lives (see Hebrews 12:2). What He starts, He always completes (see Philippians 1:6). Don’t kill your seed by complaining or speaking negative things over it. Instead, say things like, “Lord, this is only a little thing right now, but thank You for giving me some hope, something to hold on to. Thank You, Jesus, for a beginning.”

Prayer Starter: Father, thank You for the beginnings You’ve placed in my life, even though they may be small. Please help me to care for those seeds well, and to trust You to bring the big dreams in my heart to life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. — Matthew 7:7-8 (AMPC)

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

I don’t believe we can make any strict rules on how often we should pray about the same thing, but I do think there are some guidelines that might help us to have more confidence in the power of prayer.

For instance, if my children need something, I want them to trust me to do what they’ve asked me to do. I wouldn’t mind, and might even like it, if they occasionally said, “Boy, Mom, I’m sure looking forward to those new shoes.” That statement would tell me that they believed I was going to do what I promised. They would actually be reminding me of my promise, but in a way that didn’t question my integrity.

When I ask the Lord for something in prayer and that request comes to my mind later, I talk to Him about it again. But when I do, I ask Him confidently, not as if I think He didn’t hear me the first time. I thank God that He’s working on the situation, and then let Him know I’m anticipating that He’s going to take care of me.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to pray confidently, knowing that You know my needs and you’re working to meet each one. Thank You for being faithful! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. — Luke 6:31 (NASB)

Adapted from the resource Power Thoughts Devo – by Joyce Meyer

The Bible teaches us to treat others the way we want them to treat us. Think about what you want to receive, and start to give that to those around you. For example, if you want to be encouraged, then be encouraging!

Be careful of your thoughts about people. If you think rude or critical thoughts, they’ll usually slip out of your mouth. Instead, look for and magnify the good in every person on purpose, and you’ll start to treat people better.

We all love to be encouraged and made to feel really good about ourselves. Compliments actually help us perform better, while nagging makes us behave worse. Choose a person you want to grow your relationship with, and begin to aggressively encourage and compliment him or her. I believe you’ll be amazed at how much better they respond to you.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me be more intentional to speak positively to and about the people in my life. Thank You for giving me the grace to be kind and encouraging today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Who satisfies your mouth…with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]! — Psalm 103:5 (AMPC)

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

A lot of our problems are often a result of complaining when we could have been praising or thanking God. Excessive complaining is definitely not God’s will or purpose for His people. The whole world seems to be grumbling about something, but each of us can make the decision to set a different and more positive example.

The next time you’re tempted to complain, please remember that it’s a complete waste of time, and it says loudly and clearly to God that you’re not satisfied with the way He’s taking care of you. You may not be able to change the thing that’s bothering you, but you can choose to change the way you think about it. As you start to focus on and thank Him for what He’s done for you, you’ll become more content, and He’ll help you get from where you are to where you need to be.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to keep my focus on the right things, to stay away from complaining, and to choose to speak positive words. Thank You for taking care of me, and for always staying by my side. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

…It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive.— Acts 20:35 (AMPC)

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

Since being good to people has become one of my personal goals, my ” joy tank” never runs dry for very long. I’ve even discovered that when I do get sad or discouraged, I can begin to think on purpose about what I can do for someone else, and before long I’m feeling better.

You might have heard the verse, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35 NKJV). The Amplified Bible says it this way: “It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive.” You may know that verse, but do you really believe it? If you do, then you’re probably doing your best to be a blessing everywhere you go. For a long time, I could quote this verse, but I obviously didn’t believe it because I spent my time trying to be blessed rather than looking to bless others.

I’ve now learned that we don’t really know what joy is until we forget about ourselves, start focusing on others, and become generous givers. To be generous, we need to do more than just toss some change in a bucket during the holidays or give to our church once a week. Giving on Sunday should simply be practice for the way we live our everyday lives outside the four walls of the church. I don’t want to just give offerings; I want to be a giver. I want to offer myself every day to God for whatever He might need me to do. It took me a long time to develop this attitude, though! Over many years, I had to tell myself thousands of times, “I love people, and I enjoy helping people.” If you’ll put it into practice, this thought will change your life.

As you become a generous giver, you’ll be amazed at how happy you are and how much more you enjoy life! If you want to be like God, always go the extra mile, always give more than enough, and always be generous.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me be more intentional to love, serve and give generously. Thank You for showing me how to bless people today! In Jesus’ Name, amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

When life feels overwhelming, there’s only one place we can go for true, lasting peace—Jesus Christ. He is the “Prince of Peace” (see Isaiah 9:6) and the Bible says He’s our shelter in the storm. (see Isaiah 4:6).

I used to think that the way to have peace was to get rid of all my problems. It was a wonderful day when the Lord helped me realize that I could come to Him for peace in the midst of my problems.

It reminds me of the old hymn, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” This is what the refrain says:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face;

And the things of the earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

You see, when we take our cares and worries to God and spend time with Him, we magnify Him or make Him “bigger” in our eyes. When we do, all of our problems and concerns suddenly look smaller. Compared to God, they grow dim and insignificant.

Your problems may be big, and they are not insignificant to God. But when you keep your eyes on Him, He gives you perspective.

I love Matthew 11:28 (NIV). Jesus says, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

When we “come to Him”—when we read God’s Word, sing a song of worship or just sit and tell Him how good He is—He takes all of our worry, anxiety, fear and sadness and exchanges it with His peace, joy, hope and love.

When you feel worried and anxious, I know it’s easy to panic and allow fear to take over. That’s when you need to slow down, get still and focus on Jesus. He’s always with you, available any time of the day for you to cry out to Him for His supernatural peace.

Pray: “Father, right now I take a moment to come to You. Thank You for Your amazing love and how good You have been to me. Your strength, guidance and protection make all the difference in my life. Help me to always keep my eyes focused on You and receive Your supernatural peace and comfort. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

http://www.joycemeyer.org

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. — 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV)

Sometimes, when we’re going through a difficult season, we don’t think we can make it through. But God promises us in His Word that He will never allow more to come on us than we can bear as we rely on Him (see 1 Corinthians 10:13).

Second Corinthians 2:9 says that His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. This means when we go through hard times, God wants to show Himself strong through us.

In our family, when difficult things are happening, we like to say, “This too shall pass.” It’s an important reminder that it won’t last forever.

The truth is, getting upset about our problems never changes them. However, I’ve learned that choosing to adopt a positive attitude can make a difference. When bad things happen or we’re uncertain about the future, it can be even tougher to think and say things that are positive. But it’s helpful to remember that things will change…a new season is right around the corner.

When I am in the midst of a difficult time, I choose to dwell on passages like Romans 8:35-39. I remind myself that God loves meno matter how difficult life is at the moment. I focus my thoughts on His strength and ability to pull me through any situation. As I do, I can sense faith rising up inside of me.

During tough times, it’s easy to think, I can’t do this—it’s just too hard. Watch for that type of thinking. Then, when you recognize it, replace it with a God-inspired thought like:

I can do whatever I need to do because God is with me. This too shall pass. (See Philippians 4:13; Psalm 16:8.)

Pray: “God, thank You for the strength to make it through this season. I know You are with me and it won’t last forever. Help me to choose faith-filled thoughts and attitudes that will bring peace to the situation and remind me that You have good things in store for the future. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. — Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Fear can take many forms—worry, anxiety, panic or even dread. But it’s so important for us to get the upper hand on fear because it does not come from God.

Even when we face uncertainty or difficulties in life, God wants us to have faith that He is with us in the struggle and that He can do great things. He wants us to remain positive and full of hope!

Faith is the opposite of fear. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith allows us to believe that God is going to do something great even before it comes to pass. Faith enables us to believe things that may not make sense to our natural minds.

One of the main ways we release our faith is through what we say. So, even when it doesn’t look like good things are happening, it’s important to say what God’s Word says about our situation.

When you are going through a difficult time or find yourself expecting the worst, I encourage you to say things like:

“God has a great plan for my future, and I believe something good is going to happen today!” (See Jeremiah 29:11.)

“My future is bright, and I have nothing to worry about—God is taking care of me. The Lord’s goodness and mercy follow me every single day of my life!” (See Philippians 4:6; Psalm 23:6.)

“I don’t have to fear, because God is always with me.” (See Joshua 1:9.)

Living by faith doesn’t mean that we ignore our circumstances, but it means that we choose to focus on God and believe that He is greater than anything we are going through (see Ephesians 3:20).

Pray: “God, thank You for watching over every detail of my life. When things are uncertain, help me to believe Your Word more than my doubts and fears. Help me to speak words of faith and say what You say about my situation. I know that You are greater than my fears and You have good things planned for my future. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

http://www.joycemeyer.org

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God…. — Isaiah 43:2-3 (NIV)

When you’re going through difficult times, it’s so important to remember that God is right there with you, and you can trust Him to help you through it.

God never promised us a trouble-free life, but He does promise to never leave us or forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5). In the hard times, we can take comfort knowing that He loves us tremendously, He has His eye on us, and He is already working behind the scenes to help us (see Romans 8:38-39; Psalm 33:18).

I’ve also learned from experience that we can trust God to use these times for our benefit (see Romans 8:28). When everything seems uncertain and unstable, He helps us draw closer to Him and hang on to the rock of our salvation—Jesus Christ—who cannot be moved or shaken!

When we’re hit by life’s storms or experience things we don’t understand, that’s when we have to remember that God is always with us—no matter what we think or feel, and no matter what our circumstances look like.

Jesus is with you through every storm, and you are going to come out stronger on the other side. He’s the One Who loves you unconditionally, and He’s the One Who can turn your difficult times into something great.

And as you trust God through it all, He will give you something stable—He will give you more of Himself.

Pray: “God, I thank You for always being with me—in the good times and also when life gets difficult. Please help me to draw closer to You when life doesn’t make sense. I trust You, and I know that You will work everything out for My good. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

http://www.joycemeyer.org

The Lord is my helper; I will not fear…. — Hebrews 13:6 (ESV)

There was a time in my life when I had more fears than I could count. I was always afraid the absolute worst would happen. I worried about our finances, our kids, the state of the world and what tomorrow would bring. As a result, I couldn’t enjoy my life or have the peace God wanted to give me.

Fear is one of the primary weapons Satan uses to keep us from moving forward and enjoying the good life God has for us. Especially when something negative happens, the enemy wants us to focus on all of the “what ifs” and fill our lives with worry and anxiety. He desires to pull our focus away from God’s love and faithfulness.

The Bible says, There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear… (1 John 4:18 NIV). Understanding God’s love is the antidote for fear! God wants us to know just how much He loves us and desires to help us.

When I think of my own children, especially when they were younger, there’s almost nothing I wouldn’t do to help them if they were in trouble. Or if someone tried to harm them, they’d better watch out…because no one gets between a mom and her kids!

If we feel this way about our children, then how do you think God feels about us? And unlike us, He has no limitations. Nothing is impossible with Him—He can help us in every situation, on every occasion.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (AMP) is one my favorite passages of Scripture. Just look at what God says about you: “…I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless, nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!

Remember, whatever you’re facing today, God is bigger than your worries, your problems and your fears. He knows every one of your needs before you ever have them, and He delights in taking care of you.

Pray: “God, when I am fearful, help me to focus on Your love and faithfulness. Especially during times of difficulty or uncertainty, fill my heart with Your peace and help me to place my trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

http://www.joycemeyer.org

But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. — Luke 6:32 (NIV)

Adapted from the resource Love Out Loud – by Joyce Meyer

The Bible teaches us that love is the most important thing—”the main thing”—and we should let the main thing be the main thing in our lives. Are you majoring in things that really don’t matter and paying very little attention to walking in love? For many years that was exactly what I did, and as a result I constantly felt unfulfilled and dissatisfied. I had a relationship with God; I even had a ministry to others! But I wasn’t happy, and I couldn’t understand why. It seemed like I had most of what I wanted in life, but joy evaded me. As I cried out to God to help me, He showed me that my priorities were out of line—I was more concerned with how I was being treated than with how I treated others.

I believe our level of love for others can be seen (or not seen) in how we treat people, espe­cially people who don’t particularly interest us or have the ability to do anything for us. According to Jesus, our love should include everybody, not just those who can pay us back. He said if you only love those who love you, what credit do you get? Even a sinner can do that!

We don’t have the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us do easy things, but to do things that are hard and sacrificial. Loving some people is very hard. They don’t act lovable, they don’t seem to want to be loved, and they certainly don’t return any love shown to them. But when we start treating others as we want to be treated and not as they treat us, we’re obeying a principle that releases countless blessings and joy into our lives and makes God smile.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me love everyone, even those who are the hardest to love. Thank You for giving me strength to show Your love to the people around me today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life. — Psalm 25:1 (AMPC)

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

I love to lift up my hands in the morning and pray the prayer found in today’s verse, “Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life.” This really defines consecration—complete, voluntary surrender to the Lord. In a prayer of consecration, you’re saying to Him:

“Here I am, God. I give myself to You. Not just my money, but myself. Not just one hour on Sunday morning, but myself. Not just a portion of my day, but myself. Unto You, God, do I bring my entire life. I lay it before You. Do what You want to do with me. Speak to me and through me today. Touch people through me today. Make a difference through me today. I am not the owner of anything You’ve given me; I’m a steward. Everything I am and everything I have has come from You and is available to You today.”

When we consecrate something, we set it apart for God’s use. Therefore, when we consecrate our lives, we turn our backs on our fleshly desires, the world’s way of thinking, undisciplined living, bad habits, and everything else that doesn’t agree with God’s Word. We close our ears to the noise of the world and open them to the voice of God. We intentionally put distance between ourselves and ungodly things, so we can be prepared and available for God to use us. Consecration is not easy, but it’s so worth the discipline and sacrifice it requires!

Prayer Starter: Father, I give you myself today. Please teach me how to live my life set apart for You; give me the strength to leave the world’s way of thinking and living behind. Thank You in advance for helping me live in a way that honors You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

We possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. — 2 Corinthians 4:7 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Confident Women Devotional – by Joyce Meyer

God works through jars of clay, or what I often call “cracked pots.” This means we are flawed, so when people look at us and see amazing things happening, they know it must be God at work because it certainly could not be us.

I believe anyone who really knows me does not have any difficulty realizing the work I am doing on earth today certainly must be God at work in and through me. They give Him the glory, not me, because they see my imperfections and know my limitations. God chooses the weak and foolish things on purpose so no human can have reason to boast in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:27–29).

Imagine a pot with a lamp in it and a lid on it. Even though it may be filled with light, no one can see the light within it. Yet if the pot is cracked, the light will shine through the cracks. In the same way, God works through our imperfections.

Can you love a cracked pot? God can! It is godly to love yourself in a balanced, healthy way. It is ungodly to reject and despise yourself.

Prayer Starter: Father, You and I are both well aware of my imperfections. Please shine Your light through my life, and help me remember that You get every ounce of glory for it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

The inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit . . . is very precious in the sight of God.— 1 Peter 3:4 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Confident Women Devotional – by Joyce Meyer

How would you label your thoughts, attitudes, imaginations, opinions, and judgments? Are they clean or corrupt? Pure or carnal?

Inner purity is a challenge that requires you to pay attention to your inner life with determination and diligence. In the beginning, it may feel like most of your thoughts, imaginations, and attitudes are corrupt. But as you keep at it (with the Holy Spirit’s help), new habits will develop, and you’ll be able to enjoy inner purity.

What you do outwardly—the things that people see—determines your reputation with people, but your inner life determines your reputation with God.

Choosing inner purity is something you do to honor God. No wonder He says a pure heart is precious in His sight!

Prayer Starter: Father, please give me grace to pay close attention to my inner life, and to consistently choose pure, positive thoughts. Thank you for helping me to walk in greater levels of purity and closeness with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org

And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking. — Matthew 6:7 (AMPC)

Adapted from the resource The Confident Women Devotional – by Joyce Meyer

I was dissatisfied with my prayer life for many years. I was committed to praying every morning, but I always felt something was missing. I finally asked God what was wrong, and He responded in my heart by saying, “Joyce, you don’t feel that your prayers are good enough.” I wasn’t enjoying prayer because I had no confidence that my prayers were acceptable.

Too often we get caught up in our own works concerning prayer. Sometimes we try to pray so long, loud, or fancy that we lose sight of the fact that prayer is really just conversation with God. The length or loudness or eloquence of our prayer is not the issue. The only important elements to prayer are the sincerity of our hearts and a confidence that God hears and will answer us.

We can be confident that even if we simply say, “God help me,” He hears and will answer. We can depend on God to be faithful to do what we have asked Him to do as long as what we’re asking is in agreement with His will.

Prayer Starter: Father, please help me to pray in line with Your Word, and to let go of the pressure to pray perfectly. Thank You for loving me, and for hearing and answering my prayers! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

http://www.joycemeyer.org