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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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.

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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.

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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