Introduction

God wants you to enjoy your life. Jesus said, “I came

that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in

abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (John 10:10).

Your days can be filled with an overflowing joy that

will spill into the lives of others. You can experience

this joy all day if you learn to start your day right—

by spending time with God, reading His Word,

praying, and listening for His direction.

Listening to God each morning fills you with

expectancy and favor for a better day, and those days

add up to a better life. The Lord wants you to have

Him clearly in sight in order to follow Him. He is

willing to wake you in the morning and make your

ear alert to His instruction. If you will seek Him with

all your heart, He will renew your strength and make

clear your path (see Isaiah 40:31; Proverbs 3:6).

I have written this book to remind you of the benefits

of starting your day with God. It is not written to

replace your personal time with Him, but simply to

enhance it and to point you to your own daily

encounter with Him so that you will enjoy every day

of your life. He will teach you to balance out your

extremes, gain self-control, and live in a way that has

a positive impact on others. I encourage you to seek

God early each morning and to wait on Him to write

in your spirit direction for the day. God will fill your

heart with knowledge that will enlighten you at the

right time. Once you experience the empowerment

of beginning your day with God, you will never want

to start your day without Him.

JANUARY 1

Start Your Day Right

When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and

loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.

PSALM 94:18

Some people seem to start their day on the “wrong

foot.” They feel all right when they wake up, but as

soon as something goes wrong, they lose their footing

and walk with a “loser’s limp” the rest of the day.

Once they are off to a bad start, it seems they never

catch up.

If someone offends us early in the morning, our

anger can keep us defensive all day. If we start the

day rushing, it seems we never slow down. But today

our feet can be firmly planted in God’s Word. There

will be no “bad day” when God’s Word supports,

strengthens, and directs us.

JANUARY 2

Get Up And Get Going

I am weary with my groaning; all night I soak my

pillow with tears, I drench my couch with my

weeping . . . Depart from me, all you workers of

iniquity, for the Lord has heard the voice of my

weeping (emphasis mine).

PSALM 6:6, 8

Even before we are totally awake, Satan is bidding to

deceive us and is ready to plant defeating thoughts in

our mind. He wants us to be hopeless, faithless, and

negative. He definitely doesn’t want us to be positive

when we get up. He wants us to have a bad attitude

and be selfish and self-centered, full of hatred,

bitterness, resentment, doubt, unbelief, and fear—to

be mad at everybody.

But thank God, through Jesus Christ, we have been

redeemed from all of those negative patterns. We can

resist the devil and trust God’s power in order to live

victoriously today.

JANUARY 3

Keep In Touch With God

Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and

enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in

the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice,

their plans and purposes] . . . But his delight and

desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law

(the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of

God) he habitually meditates (ponders and

studies) by day and by night.

PSALM 1:1- 2

Keep in touch with God today; stay tuned to His

voice. You may have a plan for the day, but God may

lead you in a totally different direction if you are

sensitive to the Holy Ghost. Be brave enough to flow

with what you feel in your heart God wants you to

do.

Today is going to be a good day. Listen for the voice

of God to lead you. Be determined to walk in the

Spirit and stay in the flow of God’s leading today.

JANUARY 4

Avoid The Slingers

O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You;

my inner self thirsts for You . . . in a dry and

weary land where no water is . . . I have looked

upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and

Your glory. Because Your loving-kindness is better

than life, my lips shall praise You.

PSALM 63:1- 3

There were people in the Bible called slingers who

defeated their enemies by slinging stones and

throwing dirt into their wells, contaminating their

life source of water (see 2 Kings 3:25). We all know

people who sling accusation, judgment, criticism,

and faultfinding at others. We certainly don’t want

slingers in our life, and we don’t want to become

slingers either.

Don’t be a slinger who contaminates your own faith

or the faith of those around you. Spending time with

God will fill you with “living water” (see John 7:38).

You will be edified and become a source of

encouragement for others all day long.

JANUARY 5

Get In The Flow

You cause them to drink of the stream of Your

pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; in

Your light do we see light. O continue Your loving-

kindness to those who know You, Your

righteousness (salvation) to the upright in heart.

PSALM 36:8- 10

I have never been much of a swimmer. I may not be

the best at fighting the current, but I can float. It is

wonderful just to trust the water to keep us up and

go with the flow. We can trust God to keep us afloat

through the rapids and lead us to still waters.

The Bible says God’s mercy and loving-kindness are

“new every morning” (see Lamentations 3:22- 23).

His mercy isn’t just there waiting for us; it is new,

fresh, flowing, and powerful every new day. We need

to get in the flow of God’s river of life early each day

and learn to float on the power of His presence.

JANUARY 6

Get Rest

As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in

righteousness (rightness, justice, and right

standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when

I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and

having sweet communion with You].

PSALM 17:15

Each evening the sun sets on all of our problems and

on all of the mistakes we made that day. But

something marvelous happens to us as we sleep—the

Lord gives us rest physically, mentally, and

emotionally. We are renewed and rejuvenated to

face the next day.

Today we may wake up with the same problems we

had when we went to bed, problems that yesterday

we felt we just couldn’t take anymore. But somehow

today, after proper rest and sleep, we think, I can do

it; I can face it again. God promises to renew our

strength when we rest in Him.

JANUARY 7

Rejoice Today

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!

Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and

seek His face and to be in His presence

continually! [Earnestly] remember the marvelous

deeds which He has done, His miracles, and the

judgments He uttered.

1 CHRONICLES 16:10- 12

Many people don’t realize how important the

morning is, especially those first moments of time

that we are awake. God calls the sun to rise for us. He

is eager for us to wake up and talk to Him again.

David the psalmist talked a lot about mornings,

saying “This is the day that the Lord has made; I will

rejoice and be glad in it” (see Psalm 118:24). David

didn’t always feel like rejoicing, but he decided to

rejoice in God’s new day.

As soon as you get up, look at yourself in the mirror,

smile, and say, “I am going to have a good day

because Jesus loves me.”

JANUARY 8

Start Out Joyfully

You try the heart and delight in uprightness. In

the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered

all these things. And now I have seen with joy

Your people who are present here offer

voluntarily and freely to You. O Lord . . . keep

forever such purposes and thoughts in the minds

of Your people, and direct and establish their

hearts toward You.

1 CHRONICLES 29:17- 18

My husband always seems happy. Within five

minutes of waking, Dave is humming, singing, or

listening to music as he gets ready for the day. Years

ago I didn’t want music on in the morning. I didn’t

want singing or humming or noise of any kind. I

wanted silence so I could think.

Today I still need a little more quiet than Dave does

in the morning. But we have both found the way to

start our day out right. We set our hearts and minds

to follow God. And it works.

JANUARY 9

Listen For His Purpose

Who is the man who reverently fears and

worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way

that he should choose. He himself shall dwell at

ease . . . The secret [of the sweet, satisfying

companionship] of the Lord have they who fear

(revere and worship) Him.

PSALM 25:12- 14

It is God who wakes us each morning. If He didn’t

keep us alive overnight, it wouldn’t matter what kind

of an alarm clock we had! The prophet said, “God

wakens me morning by morning, and He wakens me

for a purpose so that I can hear; I am like a disciple

who is taught” (see Isaiah 50:4).

Before you even get out bed, listen to hear what God

has to say to you. It will be a good day if you start it

with a ready ear, taking time to listen to Him. God is

eager to reveal today’s plan to you.

JANUARY 10

Expect Something New

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the

morning I lay my requests before you and wait in

expectation.

PSALM 5:3 NIV

If you get up and do the exact same thing every

morning, you may get pretty bored after a month or

so. But seeking God when you first wake up is never

boring. He will always have a new revelation ready

for you to hear.

Keep your expectation fresh by changing what you

do in your time with God. You might worship the

Lord with singing one morning, listen to Christian

music another morning, read God’s Word the third

morning, sit in His presence or confess His Word the

following morning. Let the Holy Spirit lead you as

you learn to enjoy starting your day with God.

JANUARY 11

Form Godly Habits

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and

minds . . . talking about them when you sit at

home and when you walk along the road, when

you lie down and when you get up. Write them on

the doorframes of your houses and on your gates,

so that your days . . . may be . . . as many as the

days that the heavens are above the earth.

DEUTERONOMY 11:18- 21 NIV

Waiting for God’s direction each day is something

you may have to make yourself do at first, but

through practice, it will become natural to begin

your day this way. New habits are formed by being

consistent. Seeking God first in the morning will soon

be something you can’t do without.

When God wanted His people to remember

something, He told them to write it down. You may

have to post reminders to seek the Lord around your

house in order to follow through with your new

intention. But be consistent to seek God first every

day, and He will make your ways successful (see

Joshua 1:7- 9).

JANUARY 12

Crave God’s Presence

My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night, yes,

my spirit within me seeks You earnestly; for

[only] when Your judgments are in the earth will

the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness

(uprightness and right standing with God).

ISAIAH 26:9

If we are hungry enough, we will get something to

eat. And if we can’t eat before we leave home, we

will go to a drive-thru at a fast-food restaurant. Or we

will call a place that delivers food to bring us

something to eat.

If we are hungry enough for God, we will find a way

into His presence. We should be so hungry for the

presence of God that we absolutely will not go out of

our house or tackle any kind of project until we have

spent some time with Him.

JANUARY 13

Don’t Be Too Busy

It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-

kindness that we are not consumed, because His

[tender] compassions fail not. They are new every

morning; great and abundant is Your stability and

faithfulness.

LAMENTATIONS 3:22- 23

If we are too busy to spend time with God, then we

are just too busy, and we are asking for a disaster in

our life. We need to ask God to show us things we can

get rid of in our life that aren’t bearing any fruit.

In His Word God says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise

from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day

dawn) upon you and give you light . . . Live

purposefully . . . making the very most of the time

[buying up each opportunity], because the days are

evil” (Ephesians 5:14- 16). God wants us to be strong

in the power of His might and to be ever filled with

the Holy Spirit.

JANUARY 14

Pray And Listen

Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the

morning, for on You do I lean and in You do I

trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should

walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.

PSALM 143:8

We need to pray and then stop and listen. Sometimes

we can hear God as a still, small voice from deep

within our heart. Many times God will speak through

our inner witness so that we “just know” the truth

and it sets us free. Suddenly we know what we

should or shouldn’t do.

King David had a lot to say about seeking God in the

morning. He prayed in the morning and then

watched and waited for God to speak to his heart. I

like knowing that God is listening for our prayers. He

likes it when we listen to His answers too.

JANUARY 15

Go With What You Know

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

PSALM 90:14 NIV

This morning pray, “Lord, I am waiting for You to

direct me.” While you honor the Lord by listening for

His response, you may hear Him speak something

specific to you right away. It may seem as though He

inscribes direction in your spirit for the day. The

devil may tell you that it wasn’t really God who spoke

to you. Or while you are waiting to hear from God,

Satan may tell you that you are wasting your time.

It is important to know the truth of God’s Word so

that the direction God sows in your heart will not be

snatched away from you through doubt. God may not

lay out a blueprint for your day, but He will direct

your path, if you acknowledge Him in all of your

ways (see Proverbs 3:6).

JANUARY 16

Be Happy

The Lord is my Strength and Song; and He has

become my Salvation. The voice of rejoicing and

salvation is in the tents and private dwellings of

the [uncompromisingly] righteous: the right hand

of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength!

PSALM 118:14- 15

Happiness is the result of a radical, outrageous

relationship with God. If we want to walk in victory,

we have to put some time into our relationship with

the Lord. There is much to discover about His plans

for us.

Our contentment won’t last if we are not obeying

God by seeking Him with our whole heart. God wants

us to really talk to Him and pay attention to His

answers. Spend enough time with Him this morning

to walk in victory all day.

JANUARY 17

Give Personal Time

But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy]

Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by

the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the

cravings and desires of the flesh (of human

nature without God).

GALATIANS 5:16

Many believers serve God with their time, but still

miss spending personal time in His presence. God

wants us to abide in Him, not just visit Him

occasionally. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word

[hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance

with them], you are truly My disciples” (John 8:31).

Jesus will actually dwell, settle down, abide, and

make His permanent home in your heart! His

presence will cause you to be rooted deep in love so

that you may experience His love and be filled

through all your being with the fullness of God (see

Ephesians 3:17- 19).

JANUARY 18

Receive By Faith

I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight,

show me now Your way, that I may know You

[progressively become more deeply and

intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and

recognizing and understanding more strongly and

clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight . . .

And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you,

and I will give you rest.

EXODUS 33:13- 14

Everything that we receive from God comes by faith.

When you are waiting for Him to speak to your

heart, just believe that He will speak to you, even if

you don’t hear anything right that minute.

Believe that because you have acknowledged Him,

you can expect to see His hand moving in your life all

day long. Then step forward, knowing that He will

keep you on the right path because you have asked

Him to do so. Watching God’s hand of favor move on

our behalf is one of life’s greatest delights.

JANUARY 19

Don’t Chase Blessings

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the

man whom You choose and cause to come near,

that he may dwell in Your courts! We shall be

satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your

holy temple.

PSALM 65:4

Instead of chasing after blessings, we need to chase

after God. If we chase God, He will chase us with

blessings. That is why the kingdom of God is

sometimes called “the upside-down kingdom.”

God’s economy doesn’t work the way we think it

would. First is last, and last is first. If we want more,

we are to give away some of what we have. To be

great in God’s kingdom, we must serve the needs of

others. And if we want blessings, we must get our

mind off of them. God knows what we want and

what we need. He wants to give us blessings that we

haven’t even verbally asked for.

JANUARY 20

Don’t Fall Apart

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-

kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient

against any danger and enables you to bear the

trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are

made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show

themselves most effective in [your] weakness.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:9

Come apart and spend some time with God before

you come apart. No matter how strong and healthy

you are, no matter what your age is, no matter what

you think you know, without God, you are going to

get weary and tired.

God doesn’t get tired, and the Word says He gives

power to the faint and weary, and increases strength

to those who have no might. But those who wait for

the Lord, who expect, look for, and hope in Him, will

be renewed (see Isaiah 40:29- 31). God is willing to

increase your strength. Get alone with Him anytime

you need to be strengthened.

JANUARY 21

Wait For The Lord

Keep the charge of the Lord your God, walk in His

ways, keep His statutes, His commandments, His

precepts, and His testimonies, as it is written in

the Law of Moses, that you may do wisely and

prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.

1 KINGS 2:3

When you pray, wait for the Lord. This means to look

for, to expect, and to hope in God. This isn’t a passive

state of mind, but one of expectancy.

Tell Him, “God, I have my hope in You. I believe that

You are working on my problems. I believe that You

are making arrangements for my day. You are

posting angels all throughout my walk, everywhere

along my path where You already know I am going to

walk today. Thank you, Lord, that You are a pioneer

who has already gone before me and made a way for

me to have a blessed day.”

JANUARY 22

Lord, What’s Next?

Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach

me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You

[You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly]

all the day long.

PSALM 25:4- 5

Start your day saying, “I am excited about this day,

God. I can hardly wait to see what You are going to

do. I believe You are going to keep me, help me, bless

me, and give me favor. I love You, Father. I am

waiting on You, Lord, and I am listening to You.”

Ask God to put into your spirit everything He wants

you to know. Ask Him to show you things to come

and what you are supposed to do (see John 16:13). He

will give you direction, and you will have much to

praise Him for today.

JANUARY 23

Be Renewed

God selected . . . what the world calls weak to put

the strong to shame. And God also selected

(deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn

and insignificant and branded and treated with

contempt, even the things that are nothing, that

He might depose and bring to nothing the things

that are, so that no mortal man should [have

pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence

of God.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:27- 29

If you are weak in faith, in mind, in body, in

discipline, in self-control, or in determination, simply

wait on God. He will be strong through your

weakness.

Isaiah 40:31 teaches that if you expect God, look for

Him, and hope in Him, you will change and renew

your strength and power; you will run, and not faint

or become tired. The Bible doesn’t say “hope so, it

could be, or it may be”; it declares that you will be

renewed.

JANUARY 24

He Will Reward You

So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn

around and return [to God], that your sins may be

erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of

refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat,

of reviving with fresh air) may come from the

presence of the Lord.

ACTS 3:19

Success principles alone will not work in your life if

you don’t spend time with God, allowing His Holy

Spirit to be your Counselor and to give you revelation

and understanding of what to do each day. But if you

flow in God’s plan, you will learn to stop trying to

figure out how everything will work together for

your good.

Learn to seek God’s face and not His hand all the

time. Then keep your hands open and be ready to

receive from Him. God is good; you can trust what He

speaks to your heart to do.

JANUARY 25

Invest In Someone

The wicked borrow and pay not again [for they

may be unable], but the [uncompromisingly]

righteous deal kindly and give [for they are able].

PSALM 37:21

Take chances today and invest in someone else’s life,

especially if God tells you to do so. You may give

them something of value only to learn they waste it

as they have always done in the past. But remember

that God made an investment in you, and He wants

you to be willing to make an investment in somebody

else.

Jesus died to give everybody a chance. Not everyone

takes advantage of His provision, but we all have an

equal opportunity to enjoy the abundant life. If you

help someone, and they end up not doing what is

right with it, that is between them and God. Give

thanks that you are able to give, and then do

whatever God tells you to do.

JANUARY 26

God Will Keep You

[As for me] I am poor and needy, yet the Lord

takes thought and plans for me. You are my Help

and my Deliverer. O my God, do not tarry!

PSALM 40:17

God has a plan for each of us, and the good things

that happen to us are not just a coincidence. All good

and perfect gifts come from God (see James 1:17). It is

exciting to have a relationship with God when we are

aware that He is carefully leading and guiding us to

His blessings.

If you don’t understand something the first time God

speaks to you, He will give you another chance and

will continue to teach you until you know clearly the

way you should go. Jesus came to seek and to save

those who are lost (see Luke 19:10). This means that

He will find you if you go astray.

JANUARY 27

Love God First

Come and see what God has done, how awesome

his works in man’s behalf!

PSALM 66:5 NIV

We give attention to whatever we love the most. God

wants to be first in our life (see Exodus 20:3). Jesus

said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This

is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew

22:37- 38 NIV).

What might happen in your life if you became so

intent on seeking God that you hired a babysitter to

watch your children, or used a vacation day, in order

to spend time with the Lord? You can’t afford not to

spend time with God. Give Him your full attention,

and make a point to observe all He is doing for you.

JANUARY 28

Confess God’s Provision

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be

empowered through your union with Him]; draw

your strength from Him [that strength which His

boundless might provides].

EPHESIANS 6:10

When your faith feels weak, ask God to show you

how to pray. The Bible says plainly in Jude 1:20- 21

and 1 Corinthians 14:2- 4 that when you pray in the

Holy Spirit, you edify yourself, which means you

build yourself up on your most holy faith. Praying in

the Holy Spirit causes you to make progress, and His

leading will guard and keep you full of expectancy

and patience for God’s mercy to bless your day.

There is no excuse for anybody to drown in doubt

and unbelief, when God has given us His Spirit to fill

us with faith through prayer and time spent in His

presence. Today, start confessing what you have in

God. Declare that your needs are met because the

Word says so (see Philippians 4:19).

JANUARY 29

Keep Your Peace

Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with

all your heart; for consider how great are the

things He has done for you.

1 SAMUEL 12:24

To have peace, keep your eyes on God. Get alone to

fellowship with Him. If you have to get in a closet

and sit in the middle of all your shoes and hang

clothes over your head to hide in order to find

solitude, do it! Then focus on all that God has done

for you.

Jesus said to go to your most private room when you

pray to the Father, and He will reward you openly for

the time you spend with Him (see Matthew 6:6).

Don’t miss out on God’s abundant blessings for your

life.

JANUARY 30

Prepare to Love Others

The night is far gone and the day is almost here.

Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds

of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.

ROMANS 13:12

Before your feet touch the floor in the morning, put

on the full armor of God with which you can quench

all the fiery darts of the enemy (see Ephesians 6:13-

17). Put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of

righteousness, and the readiness of the gospel of

peace.

Don’t let the devil steal your peace in the morning.

Start talking to God before you even get out of bed.

Tell Him, “I love You, Lord, and I need Your help

today. Please strengthen me to walk in the fruit of the

Spirit. Help me walk in love all day long. Help me to

keep my thoughts on You, Lord.”

JANUARY 31

Enjoy Confident Trust

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You,

Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and

confident trust.

PSALM 4:8

Some people feel their lives are an emotional mess,

but they have a right to stability. There is stability,

peace, and power in the presence of God. People

don’t have to let their emotions control them; they

can learn to dwell in the secret place of the Most

High.

The Word says, “HE WHO dwells in the secret place

of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under

the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can

withstand]. I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge

and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and

in Him I [confidently] trust!” (Psalm 91:1- 2).

That is why we should dwell in that place where we

experience the presence of the Almighty.

FEBRUARY 1

Wait With Purpose

My [inner] self [as well as my body] is also

exceedingly disturbed and troubled. But You, O

Lord, how long [until You return and speak peace

to me]? Return [to my relief], O Lord, deliver my

life; save me for the sake of Your steadfast love

and mercy.

PSALM 6:3- 4

Avoid getting negative when you look at your

circumstances. Actively wait on God to give you

strength to walk in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians

5:22- 23). Wait with purpose, silently listening for

Him to speak, eagerly watching for Him to act.

Tell Him, “Lord, I receive strength to be Your

ambassador and witness. Your Word tells me to love

people who mistreat me. Though it is hard to do in

the natural, I receive strength from You to be loving

today.”

Then watch for the opportunity to act godly as He

gives you strength to do so.

FEBRUARY 2

Be Proactive

Have mercy and be gracious to me; grant strength

(might and inflexibility to temptation) to Your

servant.

PSALM 86:16

Jesus warned His disciples about all that He was to go

through, because He knew it would be difficult for

them too. He said, “Pray that you won’t be tempted”

(see Matthew 6:13; 26:41). He didn’t say, “Wait to

pray until you have been tempted, or until you have

given in to temptation, or until you are up to your

neck in sin and perversion!” Jesus teaches us to be

proactive, which Webster defines as “acting in

anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes.”

Many Israelites had already died from snake bites

before the rest of them finally said, “Pray for us,

Moses, for we have sinned” (see Numbers 21:4- 9).

They should have recognized their need for God’s

help much sooner than they did! Don’t wait until you

are in trouble to seek God. Ask Him to keep you from

being tempted to sin today.

FEBRUARY 3

Let God Strengthen You

My life dissolves and weeps itself away for

heaviness; raise me up and strengthen me

according to [the promises of] Your word. Remove

from me the way of falsehood and unfaithfulness

[to You], and graciously impart Your law to me.

PSALM 119:28- 29

We need to be strengthened and renewed on a daily

basis. We need to be strengthened physically,

mentally, and emotionally. We need to be strong so

we do not fall apart every time we have to face some

situation we had not planned on.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and

He expects us to develop stability in our lives. We can

be strengthened and renewed by drawing strength

from God, by exercising our faith, and by doing what

He tells us to do.

FEBRUARY 4

Be Secure

I love You fervently and devotedly, O Lord, my

Strength. The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and

my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength

in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield,

and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower.

PSALM 18:1- 2

God can strengthen us to the point that we can make

progress even during trouble. The psalmist said of

God, “He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand

firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of

testing and trouble] . . . You have girded me with

strength for the battle” (Psalm 18:33, 39 emphasis

mine).

Trials and testing do not come to cause us to lose

stability. They are opportunities to prove the strength

of God. We don’t have to waver in our confidence.

Nothing will keep us from making progress today

because God is our strength.

FEBRUARY 5

Be Strong

The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable]

Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and

confidently leans on Him, and I am helped;

therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my

song will I praise Him. The Lord is their

[unyielding] Strength, and He is the Stronghold of

salvation to [me] His anointed.

PSALM 28:7- 8

We can plan to be worn out before we ever feel tired.

I used to expect to be totally wiped out physically and

emotionally after my conferences. Then I prayed that

as I poured energy and strength into obeying God, He

would pour energy and strength back into me.

The Bible says that giving is sowing a seed that will

reap a harvest (Galatians 6:7- 10). If we give our

strength, we will reap God’s strength. We should

expect a harvest of strength in our life, as we serve

the Lord. He will anoint us with strength today, if we

call on Him to do so.

FEBRUARY 6

Make Adjustments

Adding your diligence [to the divine promises],

employ every effort in exercising your faith to

develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian

energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop]

knowledge (intelligence).

2 PETER 1:5

Sometimes we have to make a few adjustments in

our lifestyle to follow wisdom. We may have to say

no to too much activity. Hebrews 11:1 teaches that

faith is the assurance of things we do not see now.

But, like God, we can call “those things that be not, as

though they are” (see Romans 4:17). This spiritual

principle applies in the negative realm as well as in

the positive realm. So we may need to make some

adjustments to the things we say.

If you feel that it is hard to get up in the morning,

don’t say, “I am too tired.” Get all of that weak, tired,

wimpy, quitter, give-up talk out of your vocabulary.

Instead, say, “Because the Lord is my strength, I can

do whatever I need to do today.”

FEBRUARY 7

God Will Help You

The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable]

strength to His people; the Lord will bless His

people with peace.

PSALM 29:11

God has been showing me that we need to be aware

of His present provisions now, and not in the future.

In Psalm 28:7 David said of God, “I am helped;

therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my

song will I praise Him.” He did not say, “I will be

helped.”

Wait on God, because God’s help will strengthen you

to behave in a godly way all day long, if you trust in

Him. Even while you wait on God to manifest His

plan, your heart can greatly rejoice in His presence.

Tell someone something good that God has done for

you, and then watch Him move in the presence of

your praise.

FEBRUARY 8

Offer Yourself Freely

We are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which

exhales] unto God.

2 CORINTHIANS 2:15

The Bible says that every morning God’s people

brought freewill offerings to Him. They all had

various sacrifices such as animals, grains, and

cereals (see Exodus 35). God wants us to offer our

lives in dedicated service to him.

The Bible says that God is pleased with our sacrifice

of praise (see Hebrews 13:15), and that our prayers

go up before God as a sweet-smelling sacrifice. He

wants us to bring ourselves to Him every morning

and say, “God, here I am; I want to be a living

sacrifice.”

FEBRUARY 9

Sacrifice Yourself to Serve

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,

pressed down, shaken together and running over,

will be poured into your lap. For with the measure

you use, it will be measured to you.”

LUKE 6:38 NIV

Do you know what Romans 12:1 means when it says

that we are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice? It

means that we are to be alive with the power, zeal,

and enthusiasm that any born-again person ought to

have. It means we are to be excited about Jesus. We

are to offer our mouths, our thoughts, our words, our

attitudes, our bodies, our hands, and our feet to Him

to use to continue His ministry.

This may mean that we do not get everything we

want in life, but anything we give up for the sake of

the Gospel, Jesus has said we will receive back a

hundred times in this lifetime (see Mark 10:29- 30).

Enjoy God’s blessings now. Offer yourself for service

and watch the blessings return.

FEBRUARY 10

Sacrifice Praise

Know, recognize, and understand therefore this

day and turn your [mind and] heart to it that the

Lord is God in the heavens above and upon the

earth beneath; there is no other.

DEUTERONOMY 4:39

Praising God starts your day right. Start thanking

God as soon as you get out of bed in the morning.

Hebrews 13:15 says, “Let us constantly and at all

times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is

the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and

confess and glorify His name.”

Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture

has said, streams of living water will flow from

within him” (John 7:38 NIV). Acknowledge the Lord,

and drink that living water.

FEBRUARY 11

Enter His Gates

You shall [reverently] fear the Lord your God; you

shall serve Him and cling to Him, and by His name

and presence you shall swear. He is your praise;

He is your God, Who has done for you these great

and terrible things which your eyes have seen.

DEUTERONOMY 10:20- 21

It is not good to feel grumpy when we wake up.

Complaining won’t bring us into the presence of God.

Psalm 100:4 says that we are to enter His gates with

thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Without

thanksgiving we won’t even get into the gate! If we

want to enter into God’s presence, we must lay aside

all murmuring and complaining.

An irritable attitude may be keeping you from

enjoying God’s presence. Each morning look at all

you have to thank God for, and then enter into your

day with praise for all He has done for you.

FEBRUARY 12

Give Something Away

Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land

will yield its increase. Righteousness shall go

before Him and shall make His footsteps a way in

which to walk.

PSALM 85:12- 13

God is the ultimate Giver. He expects nothing less

than for us to follow His example. I challenge you to

give away something every day of your life. You may

think you won’t have anything left if you do that, but

if you give as the Lord leads you to do, soon you will

receive so much that you will have to figure out

where to put it all.

God gives you bread to eat and seed to sow (see 2

Corinthians 9:10). Some things that God sends your

way are given as seed for you to sow into the lives of

others. Ask God to show you what He wants you to

give away.

FEBRUARY 13

Live Unselfishly

The people curse him who holds back grain [when

the public needs it], but a blessing [from God and

man] is upon the head of him who sells it. He who

diligently seeks good seeks [God’s] favor.

PROVERBS 11:26-27

I believe strongly in living a “giving lifestyle.” I was

selfish for years before I finally realized that joy

comes in giving and reaching out to other people. We

don’t need to be afraid of losing our goods or ending

up with nothing, because the Word of God is true.

You will get joyful when you begin to think about

how you can bless somebody else. Consecrate your

gift to God, saying, “Lord, I give myself to You. I

renew my vow, and my commitment to obey You. I

want to stay strong in You, so I seek Your face. Bless

me, and make me to be a blessing to others.”

FEBRUARY 14

Bless Somebody

And let us not lose heart and grow weary and

faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due

time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if

we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

GALATIANS 6:9

The Word says, “Let each one of us make it a practice

to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and

for his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him

and build him up spiritually]” (Romans 15:2).

This tells me that we need to have our mind full of

ways to bless people. Early in the day, think up

something you want to do to bless someone. Think

up something you can do to surprise somebody or to

make somebody happy. You will be amazed at how

quickly the Lord leads you to something good you

can do for someone. Joy comes from giving on His

behalf.

FEBRUARY 15

Be Honest With God

I will wash my hands in innocence, and go about

Your altar, O Lord, that I may make the voice of

thanksgiving heard and may tell of all Your

wondrous works.

PSALM 26:6- 7

Each morning we need to come clean with God. If

there is anything between us and God, when we try

to pray and get into His presence, it will bother us

until we deal honestly with it. God wants us to

confess our faults. I have found over the years in a

ministry of dealing with other people, and also in

dealing with my own flesh, that we don’t really like

to confront wrongdoing as we should.

Most of us like to make excuses, but excuses keep us

deceived. An excuse is a reason stuffed with a lie.

The Bible says that the truth will set us free (John

8:32). Honesty with God will free us to enjoy our

whole day.

FEBRUARY 16

Receive Mercy

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and steadfast

love, even truth and faithfulness are they for

those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

PSALM 25:10

The Israelites were lost in the wilderness because

they didn’t believe that their problems were their

own fault. They blamed Moses, God, and everybody

else for their sorrows. They refused to take

responsibility for their sins, and their unwillingness

to repent kept them from entering the promised

land.

When you talk with God, be sure to ask for

forgiveness. “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned

and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to

His own nature and promises) and will forgive our

sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously]

cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not

in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and

action]” (1 John 1:9). Repent in the morning to enjoy

God’s mercy, forgiveness, and love all day.

FEBRUARY 17

Receive God’s Gifts

If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the

good of the land.

ISAIAH 1:19

What good is it to have a glass of water, if we won’t

drink it? Our thirst will not be quenched until we do.

Jesus said, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me

and drink!” (John 7:37). He said that if we have any

kind of need, we are to ask Him for what we want,

and then receive it. The good things of God are

available to those who simply surrender themselves

to Him and accept His blessings and mercy.

People beg God for forgiveness but forget to say, “I

receive that forgiveness right now; I believe I am

forgiven.” Mercy is a free gift. You can’t earn it, you

can’t deserve it, and you can’t buy it. The only thing

you can do is receive it. Just humble yourself, and

accept God’s forgiveness.

FEBRUARY 18

Abound in Grace

And God is able to make all grace abound to you,

so that in all things at all times, having all that

you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 NIV

My definition of get is to obtain by struggle and

effort, and receive is to act like a receptacle and

simply take in what is offered. We can receive mercy,

grace, strength, forgiveness, and love from the Lord.

It is a new day—and God’s mercy is new every

morning (see Lamentations 3:22- 23).

You can have a brand new start today. Allow God’s

mercy to strengthen and heal you before starting

your routine activities. Receive His healing power,

and let its grace work in you. Today can be effortless

as you depend on God’s grace to do what He has

called you to do.

FEBRUARY 19

Approach God’s Throne

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly

draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of

God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may

receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to

help in good time for every need [appropriate

help and well-timed help, coming just when we

need it].

HEBREWS 4:16

What a great High Priest we have in Jesus. He

understands our experiences, and He knows what it

is like to live in a human body. He positioned Himself

to go through the same kind of temptations we do,

but He didn’t give in to them.

He knows that the tempter lies in wait for us, and He

knows we need His mercy and strength. We still fall

short even when we have the best intentions to do

good. God tells us to receive, not strive to get, but just

to receive new mercy for each day.

FEBRUARY 20

Be Transformed

But now put away and rid yourselves [completely]

of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward

others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed

abuse and shameful utterances from your lips! . . .

And . . . clothe . . . yourselves with the new

[spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of

being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and

more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after

the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.

COLOSSIANS 3:8,10

If you want your life to be different, pray to receive

God’s transforming power. Simply say:

“God, please forgive my sins and change me into the

person You want me to be. I know You are working

in me, right now, because I have come to You. You

have said that if I abide in Your Word and come into

Your presence, I will be changed from glory to glory

into Your image. Thank You, Lord, for changing me

today.”

Believing that God is at work to change you will

bring its manifestation.

FEBRUARY 21

Simply Believe

We who first hoped in Christ [who first put our

confidence in Him have been destined and

appointed to] live for the praise of His glory!

EPHESIANS 1:12

In the world, you don’t believe anything until you see

it. When you pray, believe that you receive, and you

will get the manifestation of it. In God’s kingdom,

you have to believe it first, and then you see it.

Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever

you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22 NIV). God’s ear

is turned toward those who pray to Him in faith.

Peter was the only one who walked on water besides

Jesus, but he was also the only one who got out of the

boat. Until you make a decision to believe, and then

act on it, nothing will happen.

FEBRUARY 22

Throw Away Excuses

I will call upon the Lord, Who is to be praised; so

shall I be saved from my enemies.

PSALM 18:3

In Deuteronomy 7:1- 2, God instructed His people to

utterly destroy their enemies. They were to show no

mercy. When God tells us it is time to deal with our

negative, faithless attitudes, it is time to throw away

our excuses. No more rationalizing, “Well, everybody

else is negative; why should I be any different?”

Get some things over with in your life today. Get rid

of bad habits and negative attitudes and move on

with the future God has for you. Pray: “Lord, please

help me to change. Show me the root of my problem

and how to get over it. I want positive changes in my

life.”

FEBRUARY 23

Enjoy Forgiveness

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the

man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in

whose spirit there is no deceit.

PSALM 32:2

If we aren’t living the way God has instructed us to

live, we will be miserable until we confess our sins.

Once we thoroughly get everything out in the open

before the Lord, He gives us the power to be set free

from our sins: “BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be

envied) is he who has forgiveness of his

transgression continually exercised upon him, whose

sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1).

The Word says that God desires truth in our inner

being (see Psalm 51:6). So we need to be honest with

ourselves and with God, if we want to enjoy the

blessing of God’s forgiveness. Ask God to show you

what needs to be changed in your life, and trust His

forgiving power to continually bring about those

changes in you.

FEBRUARY 24

Seek God Early

And in the morning, long before daylight, He got

up and went out to a deserted place, and there He

prayed.

MARK 1:35

When Jesus told us to abide in Him and in His Word,

He used the Greek word meno, which is translated in

Strong’s concordance as “continue, dwell, endure, be

present, remain, stand, tarry.” We are to spend time

with God—continually. When we do, we get in the

flow of His plan for our day.

We are not told just to wish for everything to work

together; we are told to seek God for a fresh word

each day. If we seek Him early in the day, we will

have “a word in due season” to share with others

(see Proverbs 15:23). We can succeed at what God

calls us to do, if we listen for His instructions. He has

said, “If you seek Me early and diligently, you will

find Me” (see Proverbs 8:17).

FEBRUARY 25

Get Alone With God

But when you pray, go into your [most] private

room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father,

Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in

secret, will reward you in the open.

MATTHEW 6:6

Jesus rose early to be alone with God, but Peter

pursued Him to let Him know that everyone was

looking for Him (see Mark 1:35- 36). When you get

alone to pray, it may seem that everybody tries to

hunt you down. But Jesus sought time alone with God

so He could focus on His purpose.

We see the scenario of Jesus praying alone and then

meeting the needs of others again and again. Jesus

went throughout Galilee preaching and driving out

demons. When a leper begged to be clean, Jesus

touched him, and the leprosy completely left him

(see Mark 1:39- 42). If Jesus needed to be alone with

the Father before He ministered to others, so do we.

FEBRUARY 26

Speak God’s Mind

Hear, for I will speak excellent and princely

things; and the opening of my lips shall be for

right things.

PROVERBS 8:6

One of our biggest mistakes we make is that we

sometimes answer people too quickly, just giving

them something off the top of our head. Only a fool

utters his whole mind (see Proverbs 29:11 KJV).

Those who speak frequently and hastily are always

in trouble, as the Bible says, “There are those who

speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the

tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18).

Jesus operated in wisdom. He always knew just the

right thing to say, at just the right moment, to

astound everybody. If we don’t spend enough time

with God, we will say the wrong thing at the wrong

time. Decide to wait on God before speaking your

mind today.

FEBRUARY 27

Be Filled With Truth

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore

will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because

he knows and understands My name [has a

personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and

kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will

never forsake him, no, never].

PSALM 91:14

Don’t let the devil have your thoughts first thing in

the morning. Begin early to get your day started

right. As soon as you wake up, tell the Lord you love

Him. Tell Him you need Him and are depending on

Him. Read His Word and confess His promises as you

prepare for the day.

Listen to teaching tapes while you are driving to

work. Fill yourself with knowledge of God’s truth.

Don’t talk yourself into a disaster before the day even

begins. Instead say, “I am the righteousness of God in

Christ; because He is with me today, I will rejoice in

all things.”

FEBRUARY 28

Stay In Agreement

Know the God of your father [have personal

knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and

understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish

Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a

willing mind. For the Lord searches all hearts and

minds and understands all the wanderings of the

thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of

Him and requiring Him as your first and vital

necessity] you will find Him.

1 CHRONICLES 28:9

God’s Word reveals a wonderful plan for your life. It

shows how God sees you, and what He has for you

through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts and words

in agreement with God’s Word.

Say, “Everything I lay my hand to prospers and

succeeds. I am the head and not the tail, above and

not beneath. I am blessed going in and going out. The

blessings of God chase me down and overtake me.

God is on my side. I am blessed to be a blessing to

everyone I meet today.”

FEBRUARY 29

Obey Quickly

Jesus then said to them, I assure you, most

solemnly I tell you, Moses did not give you the

Bread from heaven [what Moses gave you was not

the Bread from heaven], but it is My Father Who

gives you the true heavenly Bread.

JOHN 6:32

Jesus said to ask God for daily bread (see Matthew

6:11). He also called Himself the “Bread of Life” (see

John 6:35). Seek God’s direction in the morning to

gather His daily words for you. You will feel well

nourished all day long. Obey quickly if God tells you

to do something.

Even if God gives you a difficult task, don’t put it off

and dread it all day. Abraham rose early to offer

Isaac on the altar; God blessed his obedience and

provided an acceptable sacrifice in place of Isaac (see

Genesis 22:1- 14). David rose up early on the morning

that he was to kill Goliath, and through him, God

delivered the Israelites from their enemies (see 1

Samuel 17:20- 53). He will bless and deliver you too.

MARCH 1

Break Free From Bondages

The humble shall see it and be glad; you who seek

God, inquiring for and requiring Him [as your

first need], let your hearts revive and live!

PSALM 69:32

If it is still hard to start your day right, pray this

prayer:

“Lord, I struggle in taking time to fellowship with

You and read Your Word. I know that spending time

with You is not a law, it is a privilege. It is something

that benefits my life. I pray that the bondages, the

lies of Satan that keep me out of the prayer closet

and away from time with You, will be broken off of

me.

“Help me to see clearly that this is something I must

do to live in victory. I pray for an anointing that will

draw me into Your presence and cause me to run

after You. Help me to get every morning started

right.”

MARCH 2

Wake Up With Praise

My mouth shall praise You with joyful lips when I

remember You upon my bed and meditate on You

in the night watches. For You have been my help.

PSALM 63:5- 7

Many people never have a decent finish to their day

because they let the enemy keep them from starting

it right. Satan tries to capture our thoughts early in

the morning. He wants to get us thinking about all

the wrong things as soon as we wake up. His intent is

to steal our peace by upsetting us as soon as our

alarm goes off. He is always working to set us up to

get us upset.

That is why it is important to learn how to defeat the

devil early each day. Every morning is a new

opportunity to start your day right. Praise God as

soon as your eyes open to a new day.

MARCH 3

Cling To God

My whole being follows hard after You and clings

closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.

PSALM 63:8

The Word of God has much to say about morning.

David started his day praying and listening to God.

He instructed the priests to stand every morning to

thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening.

He said “The Lord has given peace and rest to His

people” (see 1 Chronicles 23:25- 30).

Many times we pray and pray, but, like Lot, we don’t

listen. For example, angels prompted Lot early in the

morning to flee from Sodom and avoid its coming

destruction (see Genesis 19:15). We can avoid

disasters when we wait on God’s instructions before

acting.

A great beginning leads to a great finish. Begin your

day with thanksgiving and praise, and in the evening

before you rest, thank the Lord again for a great day.

MARCH 4

Answers Will Come

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave

and of good courage and let your heart be stout

and enduring.

PSALM 27:14

I used to wake up wishing it was night, and at night I

wished it was morning; I was not enjoying my life.

Now I look forward to each day. God arranged life in

twenty-four-hour periods; we sleep for a while, and

then wake up refreshed to start all over again. God

intended every morning to be a brand new start, a

fresh opportunity.

We can go to bed feeling hopeless and worn out,

thinking, I just don’t believe I can go on. But

somehow a good night’s rest renews us, and we wake

up with faith again, thinking, Maybe today my

breakthrough will come, and I will get an answer; I

can make it one more day. So thank God for

mornings.

MARCH 5

Speak Life

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and

they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for

death or life].

PROVERBS 18:21

If we ride to work with somebody and gossip about

our boss and talk about how we hate our job and

what a stupid place it is, we will have a bad day. The

Bible says, “A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with

the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of

his words he must be satisfied [whether good or

evil]” (Proverbs 18:20).

Clearly, we will have to eat our words, so we need to

talk about the right things to be happy. If we murmur

and gossip, we will eat the fruit of death. But if we

speak life, we will eat the fruit of the Spirit (see

Matthew 12:37). Choose to eat good fruit today.

MARCH 6

Be Prepared

What does the Lord your God require of you but

[reverently] to fear the Lord your God, [that is] to

walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve

the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart

and with your entire being.

DEUTERONOMY 10:12

Complaining is death, and thanksgiving is life. Yet

there are people who complain on their way to

church while hoping to receive blessings. They don’t

understand that complaining keeps them from

getting what they want. They don’t come prepared to

receive blessings in the Lord’s presence.

Prepare yourself for blessings by offering

thanksgiving for what God has already done for you.

The Word says, “For by your words you will be

justified and acquitted, and by your words you will

be condemned and sentenced” (Matthew 12:37).

Choose your words wisely today, and prepare

yourself for God’s blessings.

MARCH 7

Worship With Your Whole Heart

I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my

behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His

purposes for me and surely completes them]!

PSALM 57:2

Great worship leaders know to come into the

presence of God with their entire being, prepared to

give thanks and praise (see Deuteronomy 10:12).

They don’t just roll out of bed, throw water on their

face, and run a comb through their hair before

church. They know that the anointing comes from a

sincere pursuit of loving God with their whole heart.

Likewise, as you approach God in the morning, come

to Him with a heart full of worship, expressing your

awe of Him for His faithfulness toward you. He

promises that He will never forsake you, but will be

with you all day long (see Joshua 1:5).

MARCH 8

Find Quiet Time

The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring

forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and

righteous altogether. More to be desired are they

than gold, even than much fine gold; they are

sweeter also than honey and drippings from the

honeycomb.

PSALM 19:9- 10

Sometimes I set aside the entire day just to be with

God. I stop everything and seek Him. I know I am not

going to hear from God if I don’t get quiet on purpose

by that time set aside for Him.

It is so important to have some “down time” to be

alone and just sit quietly. You may think you don’t

have time, but if somebody was giving out thousand-

dollar bills at the mall, you would find time to get

there. Don’t use the time to try to figure out

something; just be still and available to the Lord’s

attention.

MARCH 9

Increase Your Days

Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him

[who revere and worship Him with awe], who

wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-

kindness, to deliver them from death and keep

them alive in famine.

PSALM 33:18- 19

When I talk about seeking God early, many people

think they will have to get up at three o’clock in the

morning!I am not trying to tell you how to do it. I am

not even suggesting that you pray for an hour. I am

just saying that some way, somehow, if you want to

start your whole day right, you must find time to

seek God’s wisdom in the morning.

Time with God adds years to your life! God is eager to

give us insight and understanding. His Word says,

“For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be

multiplied, and the years of your life shall be

increased” (Proverbs 9:11).

MARCH 10

Refill Your Peace

It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will

[march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go

or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or

flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken

[in spirit] (depressed, dismayed, and unnerved

with alarm).

DEUTERONOMY 31:8

Many times, believers with Christian bumper

stickers on their cars are seen driving around like

crazy people, yelling at their kids, throwing their

hands in the air, and looking mad at the world. If

there isn’t any peace in our heart when we leave

home, our bumper stickers are not going to impress

anybody. We need to get ourselves straightened out

before we go out.

Pray, “My [inner] self [as well as my body] is also

exceedingly disturbed and troubled. But You, O Lord,

how long [until You return and speak peace to me]?”

(Psalm 6:3). Let God refill you with peace.

MARCH 11

Put God First

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His

kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing

and being right), and then all these things taken

together will be given you besides.

MATTHEW 6:33

I have learned that spending time with God is a vital

necessity in my life. I cannot do what I am called to

do if I don’t seek the presence of God every day. If I

don’t have time for God first, nothing else in my life

works out.

God isn’t happy with second place or third place in

our lives.

When we are desperate enough, we find time to seek

God. We turn the telephone off, we say no to our

friends, and we turn our face away from all

distractions and seek Him. That is when we get our

breakthrough.

MARCH 12

Go To Your Room!

And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in

wisdom and ability, in understanding and

intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of

craftsmanship.

EXODUS 31:3

My children didn’t like it when I started spending

time alone to seek God. They said, “You’re always in

that room.”

One day I told them, “You’d better be glad I am in

that room, because it is making your life a whole lot

better. If you were smart, you would beg me to go to

my room, instead of calling me to come out.”

Next time you find yourself screaming, ranting,

raving, and carrying on at your children (or anyone

else), excuse yourself and say, “I am going to my

room.” Take time to ask God what He thinks of

everything that is going on. You will quickly get your

day started over right.

MARCH 13

Slow Down

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give

and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I

give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled,

neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing

yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do

not permit yourselves to be fearful and

intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

JOHN 14:27

Hurrying affects our spiritual life. Jesus wasn’t in a

hurry. We can’t even picture Him jumping up and

saying to His disciples, “Come on, boys, get up. Up,

up, up, up! Get this camp meeting cleaned up. Come

on, we have to get to the next town. We have some

preaching to do. Get the camels packed up, boys.

Let’s go, let’s go!”

When we think about Jesus, we picture peace. He

went slow enough to hear from God all day long. We

should set our pace with His today.

MARCH 14

Turn Down The Noise

Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am

gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and

you will find rest (relief and ease and

refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for

your souls.

MATTHEW 11:29

Noisy people don’t hear from God. And we don’t hear

from Him when we are making noise, or when

everything around us is noisy. The only kind of noise

you should have in the morning is my television

program; that’s all (I am teasing). But don’t turn on

the radio or television just for noise.

Learn how to get comfortable being quiet. The Bible

says, “But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall

dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be

quiet, without fear or dread of evil” (Proverbs 1:33).

MARCH 15

Linger In God’s Presence

Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and

patiently lean yourself upon Him.

PSALM 37:7

Sometimes in our conferences, we just “hang out” in

God’s presence. We sing and worship Him, and soon

we enjoy the freshness of His marvelous wonder.

When we sense God is working in people’s hearts, we

don’t worry about our meeting schedule or agenda.

We set everything aside to just enjoy His awesome

power working among His people. Many who came

feeling bad are refreshed, and the sick are healed

during this time of worship and waiting on the Lord.

It happens all the time—there is healing in God’s

presence.

If you feel discouraged, He will cheer you up. If you

feel tired, He will strengthen you. Just sit in His

presence and wait for Him to move in your life.

MARCH 16

Focus On God’s Promises

For I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I

am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help

you!

ISAIAH 41:13

The Lord says to you this morning the same thing He

told Jacob in a dream: “I am with you and will keep

(watch over you with care, take notice of) you

wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to

this land; for I will not leave you until I have done all

of which I have told you.” (Genesis 28:15). Keep your

mind on this promise in spite of any news you may

hear that tempts you to be afraid today.

God promises to be with you, watch over you with

care, take notice of you wherever you may go, and

bring you back again. He says He will not leave you,

and He will complete all the promises He has made

to you. This means that no weapon formed against

you will prosper (see Isaiah 54:17).

MARCH 17

Rededicate Yourself

O Lord, [earnestly] remember now how I have

walked before You in faithfulness and truth and

with a whole heart [entirely devoted to You] and

have done what is good in Your sight.

2 KINGS 20:3

“And Jacob awoke from his sleep and he said, Surely

the Lord is in this place and I did not know it”

(Genesis 28:16). Many times the Lord is with us, and

we don’t even know it. God is there with you even

when circumstances seem out of control. He is

already working everything together for your good.

“And Jacob rose early in the morning and took the

stone he had put under his head, and he set it up for

a pillar (a monument to the vision in his dream), and

he poured oil on its top [in dedication]” (v. 18).

Likewise, we should rededicate ourselves to God

every morning.

MARCH 18

Give Your All To God

Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and]

approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and

before you were born I separated and set you

apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as

a prophet to the nations.

JEREMIAH 1:5

Every day you need to give yourself entirely to God.

Say, “Lord, I am Yours. I want to be a vessel fit for

Your use. I dedicate myself to You: I give You my

hands, my mouth, my mind, my body, my money,

and my time. Father, here I am. I am Yours; do with

me whatever You want to do today.”

Once you dedicate yourself to God, then go on about

your business. But expect His leading all day long.

Listen for His voice to direct you in the way you

should go. Accept the challenge to be an instrument

for the Lord’s use today.

MARCH 19

Grasp Every Chance

I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever

[hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].

PSALM 119:44

You can meet with God while lying in bed. You don’t

have to be in a private room, with the door closed,

bowed down on your knees to meet God. You can

meet Him in the shower, while driving to work, or

when stuck in a traffic jam.

I am not suggesting that you shouldn’t set apart time

for God. But you should also take advantage of any

time you do have that you could be talking and

listening to the Lord. Don’t wait to talk to Him until

you have a full hour to spend with Him. Grasp every

minute you can find to open your ears to His voice.

Take advantage of the idle moments already

available to you and spend them with God.

MARCH 20

Make A Fresh Commitment

Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency

[from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of

all your income; so shall your storage places be

filled with plenty, and your vats shall be

overflowing with new wine.

PROVERBS 3:9- 10

The parable of the talents (see Matthew 25:14- 30)

instructs us to use what God gives to us to expand the

Master’s kingdom. Invest yourself, your time, and

your money in the Lord’s work. Rededicate your

finances to God today.

Make a fresh commitment to be a giver. Don’t let the

devil talk you out of giving just because you have

bills to pay and obligations that cause you to worry.

In Matthew 6:25- 34 Jesus said not to be anxious

about anything, for God knows your needs and

promises to care for you.

MARCH 21

Consecrate Your Money

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and

earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so

that you may always and under all circumstances

and whatever the need be self-sufficient

[possessing enough to require no aid or support

and furnished in abundance for every good work

and charitable donation].

2 CORINTHIANS 9:8

The apostle Paul said that the believers in Macedonia

not only gave their money to God, but they also gave

themselves to the Lord’s service (see 2 Corinthians

8:1- 5). Paul too gave his life in service to God’s

people.

Many people want to receive all they can from God,

but they are not willing to give all of themselves to

Him. If you have never dedicated yourself to the

Lord’s service, you are missing a great adventure.

Dedicate this day to Him; He will lead you on a path

to victory.

MARCH 22

Consecrate Your Life

He who brings an offering of praise and

thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who

orders his way aright [who prepares the way that

I may show him], to him I will demonstrate the

salvation of God.

PSALM 50:23

When I minister to people, I share with them my life

and my family. We tell about our victories and our

failures. We tell about our mistakes, the stupid things

we do, and the wise things we do. We give the

testimony of our lives to help others live victoriously

too.

Someone needs your life today. Give your life to God,

and let Him show you who needs ministry on His

behalf. Give Him everything that you are, everything

you hope to be, all your dreams, all your visions, all

your hopes, and desires. Make everything His, and

He will demonstrate His power through your life.

MARCH 23

Consecrate Your Mouth

I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in

the great assembly [tidings of uprightness and

right standing with God]. Behold, I have not

restrained my lips, as You know, O Lord.

PSALM 40:9

What would happen if every morning we gave our

mouth to God so that only godly things came out of

our lips? Psalm 34:13 says, “Keep your tongue from

evil and your lips from speaking deceit.”

Dedicate your mouth to God and use it only for what

pleases Him: praise and worship and edification and

exhortation and giving thanks. Put your lips on the

altar each morning. Give your mouth to God through

praying His Word: “O Lord, open my lips, and my

mouth shall show forth Your praise” (Psalm 51:15).

MARCH 24

Know God Intimately

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden

yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

PHILIPPIANS 4:4

In Philippians 3:10 the apostle Paul wrote, “[For my

determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I

may progressively become more deeply and

intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and

recognizing and understanding the wonders of His

Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I

may in that same way come to know the power

outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts

over believers].”

As you grow in the knowledge of God, you will get so

happy you will run the devil right out of your life.

Decide that today will be dedicated to recognizing

God’s power at work in your life. Keep your mind on

whatever is right and true and lovely and pure and

of a good report (see Philippians 4:8).

MARCH 25

Start With Praise

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at

all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise,

which is the fruit of lips that thankfully

acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

HEBREWS 13:15

Moses rose early in the morning, built an altar, and

offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.

Then he prayed and read the Book of the Covenant

(see Exodus 24:1-7). Thankfully, God no longer asks

us to build an altar out of rocks, slaughter a bull,

drain its blood, and build a fire in order to honor

Him with a burnt sacrifice.

God doesn’t want a dead sacrifice anymore. He wants

us, living sacrifices, full of zeal to serve Him each

day. All we have to do is wake up and say, “Thank

You, Lord. I give You the sacrifice of praise. I give You

myself, a living sacrifice, ready to live for You today.”

MARCH 26

Be God’s Ambassador

And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of]

utterance may be given me, that I may open my

mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good

news (the Gospel), for which I am an ambassador

in a coupling chain [in prison. Pray] that I may

declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to

do.

EPHESIANS 6:19- 20

If you start your day right, you will have a better day,

and you will be a better witness for the Lord.

Dedicate yourself to God afresh each morning.

Tell Him, “Lord, I give You the gifts and talents that

You put in me. I want to use them for Your glory. I

want to lead somebody to You. Put in my path

someone to whom I can minister, someone I can

encourage. Help me to be a blessing to someone

today. Lord, I want to be Your ambassador and

represent You today.”

MARCH 27

Petition With Thanksgiving

And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil

state of a soul assured of its salvation through

Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being

content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that

is, that peace] which transcends all

understanding shall garrison and mount guard

over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 4:7

We can petition the Lord for things we need every

morning. God’s Word tells us to lay our requests

before Him: “Do not fret or have any anxiety about

anything, but in every circumstance and in

everything, by prayer and petition (definite

requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your

wants known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

But don’t spend all your time with God petitioning

for things. You are out of balance if your petitions

outweigh your praise and thanksgiving. A heart full

of thankfulness will make any day better.

MARCH 28

God Will Brighten Your Day

He set himself to seek God . . . and as long as he

sought (inquired of, yearned for) the Lord, God

made him prosper.

2 CHRONICLES 26:5

Jesus got up early in the morning, long before

daylight, and went out to a deserted place, and

prayed—He got alone (see Mark 1:35). There were so

many people who followed Jesus everywhere He

went that He probably wouldn’t have had any time

alone if He hadn’t gotten up really early.

If you aren’t a morning person, the thought of getting

up early may make you nervous. But you can

decipher for yourself what “early” means for you.

Nine o’clock is early if you are used to staying in bed

until noon. Even if you only get up fifteen minutes

earlier than usual to have some time alone with God,

you will still honor Him, and that time with Him, will

make your whole day brighter.

MARCH 29

Enjoy The Pursuit

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who

considers the weak and the poor; the Lord will

deliver him in the time of evil and trouble.

PSALM 41:1

Do you ever feel that no matter where you go,

somebody pursues you and hunts you down? Does

someone seem to need something every time you

start doing what you set out to do? Someone needs a

ride to school, or somebody forgets their lunch, and

before you know it, half your day is wasted.

Jesus knows what it is like to be pursued, but He was

never upset by it. As soon as He ministered to

everyone in one place, He went to the next town to

find more people who needed Him. He never said,

“Leave Me alone.” Ask God to show you the needs of

people through the eyes of Jesus today, and your days

will never be wasted.

MARCH 30

Prepare For Ministry

You prepare a table before me in the presence of

my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my

[brimming] cup runs over. Surely or only

goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow

me all the days of my life, and through the length

of my days the house of the Lord [and His

presence] shall be my dwelling place.

PSALM 23:5- 6

Every day offers opportunities to “be in ministry.”

Someone will always need a helping hand, but you

won’t minister well if you don’t prepare yourself by

spending time with God. People can tell when you

have had intimate moments with God recently, and

also when you haven’t.

The Lord anoints us to meet the needs of others, but

if we are not being filled by Him, we will hinder the

flow of His healing oil in our lives. Seek God early,

before someone calls and needs your help.

MARCH 31

Operate In Wisdom

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and

knowledge of God! How unfathomable

(inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments

(His decisions)! And how untraceable

(mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His

methods, His paths)!

ROMANS 11:33

Without wisdom we can make poor decisions and

later wonder why we didn’t pray first. It is wise to

seek God early each day before we start making

decisions in order to know ahead of time what we

ought to do, and then to receive the grace to do it.

Wisdom keeps us from a life of regret.

Jesus operated in wisdom. When others went home

to rest, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to spend

time with God. And early in the morning (at dawn),

He came back into the temple and taught people (see

John 7:53- 8:2). Jesus always spent time with the

Father before facing the crowds. If Jesus needed time

with God, we need even more time with Him. Walk

in wisdom today.

APRIL 1

Realize God’s Continual Presence

Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his

days [seemingly] are prolonged [in his

wickedness], yet surely I know that it will be well

with those who [reverently] fear God, who revere

and worship Him, realizing His continual

presence.

ECCLESIASTES 8:12

You can form such a habit of prayer that you will

wake up in the morning talking to God. You can fall

asleep at night talking to God, and wake up in the

middle of the night still talking to Him. The Word

calls it “prayer without ceasing” (see 2 Timothy 1:3).

I have learned to start my day with prayer and just

keep praying all day. I pray when I see somebody

hurting. I pray if I don’t feel good. I pray when I feel

hurried.

Prayer is conversation with God. It is simply being

aware of His continual presence and acknowledging

Him in all of our ways. If we do, He promises to

direct our path to a place of peace and victory (see

Proverbs 3:6).

APRIL 2

Quit Complaining

Whoso is wise [if there be any truly wise] will

observe and heed these things; and they will

diligently consider the mercy and loving-kindness

of the Lord.

PSALM 107:43

Today thank God and decide not to complain about

anything. Ask Him to show you anytime you are

getting ready to complain, and to help you hold your

tongue. Today, give thanks for what you have without

looking at what you don’t have. Some people have

the same problems you have, but they don’t know

God. At least you can give thanks that God is in your

life.

The Word says, “Let there be no filthiness (obscenity,

indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt)

talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or

becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness [to

God]” (Ephesians 5:4). Guard your tongue today.

APRIL 3

Pray Before Answering

For [of course] I will not venture (presume) to

speak thus of any work except what Christ has

actually done through me [as an instrument in

His hands] to win obedience from the Gentiles, by

word and deed.

ROMANS 15:18

The Father has sent to us a Counselor—the Spirit of

Truth—who teaches us all things (see John

14:16,17,26). As we stay sensitive to God’s leading, He

will direct us. If we pray before speaking, the Lord

will keep us from overcommitting our time, and

from misleading people.

Jesus took time to listen to the Father before

speaking. God will also give us “a word in due

season” for somebody (see Proverbs 15:23), if we

listen for His input before we give what we may

think is a right answer. God will give us the right

words to say if we expectantly listen for His direction

before we speak.

APRIL 4

Aim Higher!

Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without

definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air

and striking without an adversary. But [like a

boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly,

discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear

that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and

things pertaining to it, I myself should become

unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and

rejected as a counterfeit].

1 CORINTHIANS 9:26- 27

Excessive sleep causes the downfall of many good

plans. You can set the clock to get up early and pray,

but your flesh is not going to help you get up in the

morning. Your body will nearly always beg for more

sleep.

Don’t let your flesh rob you of time with God. Aim for

the higher goal, and wake up with your alarm to

enjoy the best minutes of your day.

APRIL 5

Start Moving

Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord . .

. who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and

desire at your personal age and situation] with

good so that your youth, renewed, is like the

eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!

PSALM 103:1, 5

Proverbs 6:4 says, “Give not [unnecessary] sleep to

your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.” The Bible is

saying, “Get the sleep you need, but then wake up!”

Too much sleep brings poverty. It is like a robber

who steals from you and makes you helpless (see

Proverbs 6:11).

Too little sleep will ruin your day too. Being tired and

cranky doesn’t help you hear from God. Make rest a

priority, but then get up. Start moving first thing in

the morning, saying, “Thank You, Lord, that I am

alive for another day with You. I believe I am

anointed to do what You ask me to do today. My

youth is renewed like the eagle’s, just as You

promised.”

APRIL 6

Love Not Sleep

My eyes anticipate the night watches and I am

awake before the cry of the watchman, that I may

meditate on Your word.

PSALM 119:148

It is interesting that our popular greeting is “Good

morning.” Somewhere along the way, someone

realized that if we get started off right in the

morning, we will have a good day.

Proverbs 20:13 says, “Love not sleep, lest you come to

poverty; open your eyes and you will be satisfied

with bread.” And Psalm 57:8- 9 encourages us to

wake up ready to sing praises: “Awake, my glory (my

inner self); awake, harp and lyre! I will awake right

early [I will awaken the dawn]! I will praise and give

thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing

praises to You among the nations.”

APRIL 7

Make It A Habit

Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this

is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out

of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation

(final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when

we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and

relied on Christ, the Messiah).

ROMANS 13:11

The Word says that Jesus had a habit of going up the

mountain to spend time with God. Luke 22:39 says,

“And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the

Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed

Him.” Jesus formed a habit of communicating with

God every morning.

It has been said that if you do something consistently

for thirty days, it will become a habit. You can either

make or break a habit by consistently doing the same

thing. Follow Jesus, and form a habit of starting your

day with prayer.

APRIL 8

Require God’s Presence

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I

seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I

may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His

presence] all the days of my life, to behold and

gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness

and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to

meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.

PSALM 27:4

When I first became a Christian, I didn’t desire to

pray as much as I do now. Although I do spend time

with God every morning, I also spend time with Him

all day. It seems that I walk in prayer.

In her powerful book, Experiencing God through

Prayer, Madame Guyon says there is a difference

between praying to God and experiencing Him. At

first you must discipline yourself to pray, but

eventually you will give yourself to the ocean of

God’s love, and experience His continual presence.

APRIL 9

Pray Anywhere

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those

who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they

will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah

[pause, and calmly think of that]!

PSALM 84:4

Once in the habit of spending time with God, you will

miss these encounters if you start your day without

talking and listening to Him. You can spend time

with God anywhere, while doing anything—in the

grocery store, or while cleaning house, for example. I

have had great encounters with God while driving

my car.

God is always listening for the sound of your voice

calling out to Him. Develop a ready ear for His voice

too. Whatever you have to do today, do it with the

Lord. Acknowledge Him and talk to Him about

everything. You will greatly enjoy His company.

APRIL 10

Today May Be “One of Those Days”

Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your

faith (your conviction respecting man’s

relationship to God and divine things, keeping the

trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of

it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in

strength!

1 CORINTHIANS 16:13

Have you ever had “one of those days” where

nothing went right, yet you were hesitant to pray

because you didn’t know where God might lead you?

God won’t always ask you to do something;

sometimes He just wants to talk to you.

If He does ask you to do something, He will anoint

you to do it. You will enjoy the presence of His power,

and someone will be blessed by your obedience.

Those are the best days of your life. Take time to pray

this morning. Today may be “one of those days” that

God has a special assignment for you.

APRIL 11

Praise God

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a

thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be

thankful and say so to Him, bless and

affectionately praise His name!

PSALM 100:4

There are many opportunities to praise God

throughout the day. If thankfulness for your many

blessings suddenly rises in your heart, stop right

then and tell the Lord how grateful you are for all He

has given you.

Say, “I worship You, Lord, for You are worthy to be

praised. I need You, and I just want to tell You that I

love You. Thank You, Father, for everything.”

Then go on with what you are doing as if it is for

Him. You will be amazed at how much fun everyday

life becomes in the presence of the Lord.

APRIL 12

Be Fully Satisfied

Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall

flourish in the courts of our God. [Growing in

grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age;

they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and

[rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and

contentment].

PSALM 92:13- 14

Many people pursue possessions and awards to

satisfy their inner need for contentment. But we can

be fully satisfied in lean times and in times of

abundance, whether we abase or abound (see

Philippians 4:12), when we learn to enjoy fellowship

with the Lord as soon as we wake up.

Before you are fully awake, you can start talking to

God. Just thank Him for seeing you through

yesterday, and for being with you today. Praise Him

for providing for you, and for working out all the

situations in your life for your good.

Ask Him to make you aware of His presence all day

long. Peace fills your heart when your mind is on the

Lord. Nothing is more satisfying than walking with

God.

APRIL 13

Have A Glad Heart

From the fruit of his words a man shall be

satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s

hands shall come back to him [as a harvest].

PROVERBS 12:14

I used to live with an ongoing sense of dread until I

asked God to show me what was wrong. He spoke the

words “evil forebodings,” and then showed me His

Word concerning this subject: “All the days of the

desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious

thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad

heart has a continual feast [regardless of

circumstances]” (Proverbs 15:15).

Anxious thoughts make the day evil. If you expect to

have a dismal day, you will be unpleasant yourself.

Evil forebodings ruin the day, but faith makes the

heart glad and brings miraculous results. If you want

to have a good day, raise your expectations to be in

line with God’s Word.

APRIL 14

Don’t Dread It

The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful

will be put to forced labor.

PROVERBS 12:24

Don’t spend your day looking for something easy to

do instead of tackling the hard things that need to be

done. Do the hard things first, the ones you dislike

the most, and get them out of the way. For example,

don’t look at your distasteful jobs and think, I will do

those later. The hard tasks will nag at you all day

long and drain your energy for doing the things you

want to do.

The spirit of passivity will rob you of productive

energy, but you have the power of God in you to

overcome procrastination. Pray and ask God to help

you finish the tasks you have been dreading. Work

on what is important first, and soon they will no

longer be ruling or ruining your day.

APRIL 15

Have Confidence In God

No unbelief or distrust made him waver

(doubtingly question) concerning the promise of

God, but he grew strong and was empowered by

faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully

satisfied and assured that God was able and

mighty to keep His word and to do what He had

promised.

ROMANS 4:20- 21

No one believed David could defeat the giant, but

David wasn’t discouraged. David had sought the Lord

early, which gave him confidence in God to do what

he was supposed to do that day. When David killed

Goliath, he ran quickly to the battlefield and

proclaimed victory in the name of the living God (see

1 Samuel 17:20- 54).

People who rise early and seek God go forth to do

what they must do with courage. Ask God for

confidence to slay any giants in your life that have

set themselves against God’s plan for you.

APRIL 16

Be A Blessing

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and

constant peace whose mind [both its inclination

and its character] is stayed on You, because he

commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes

confidently in You.

ISAIAH 26:3

Galatians 6:10 says, “Be mindful to be a blessing,

especially to those of the household of faith.” Second

Corinthians 10:5 speaks of casting down

imaginations and every high and lofty thing that

exalts itself against the knowledge of God. In other

words, keep (set) your mind on God’s promises and

on what is relevant to His plan for your life.

Don’t let your mind be taken captive by the enemy.

Instead, “lead every thought and purpose away

captive into the obedience of Christ.” Decide to be a

blessing to everyone you meet today. Forgive anyone

who has hurt you, and leave unresolved

circumstances in God’s hands. Don’t use today to

relive yesterday. Say, “I am moving forward today, in

Jesus’ name.”

APRIL 17

God Gives Us All We Need

And they who know Your name [who have

experience and acquaintance with Your mercy]

will lean on and confidently put their trust in You,

for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek

(inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God’s

Word and the right of their necessity].

PSALM 9:10

In His Word God has given us the tools we need to

help us through each new day. He has given us “the

garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah

61:3 KJV). So, when you wake up in the morning,

decide that no matter what happens, you will not be

depressed today.

Put on the garment of praise first thing in the

morning. Listen to worshipful music, read the Word,

and renew your thoughts to bring them into line with

what God says you are—righteous and blessed. You

can think right, talk right, and act right all day, if you

spend time with God before trials come your way.

APRIL 18

Some Things Never Happen

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

Many times we get upset about things that never

happen. Satan likes to get us anxious about things

that are not even real problems. 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).

The Bible says that the kingdom of God is internal

righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (see

Romans 14:17). When we make Jesus Lord of our

heart, we have joy in our lives. Satan has no right to

steal from you today, so enjoy the good life that Jesus

paid for you to have.

APRIL 19

Love Yourself

Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except

to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor

[who practices loving others] has fulfilled the Law

[relating to one’s fellowmen, meeting all its

requirements].

ROMANS 13:8

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (see

Matthew 18:19). So we need a healthy respect for

ourself if we want to enjoy our relationships with

other people. If we don’t have a balanced love for

ourselves, it is difficult to love others. Life is no fun if we can’t enjoy other people, because they are

everywhere we go!

Sometimes it is difficult to get along with people

because they seem so different from us, but it is our

differences that make us need one another. God

designed us to need each other’s friendships and

talents. Do something nice for someone today. Let

someone know that you appreciate him or her.

APRIL 20

Get Along With Others

But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth

and shall delight themselves in the abundance of

peace.

PSALM 37:11

We can learn to get along with people. It is especially

important to learn to get along with our immediate

family members and coworkers. There are many

informative books about personality differences to

help us understand why people feel and act the way

they do. Understanding helps to smooth over

strained relationships.

People make decisions differently. Some give an

immediate answer, while others want time to think

about things first. Try to understand the people you

will see today. Ask God to show you ways to get along

with them. He will give you favor as you trust in

Him.

APRIL 21

Positive Change

Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and

troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill

and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the

Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your

obedience to it].

GALATIANS 6:2

Our happiness and joy are not dependent on

whether or not other people do what we want them

to do. We may never be able to influence anyone else

to do what we think is right. But with God’s help, we

can change ourselves to bring about the results we

want in life.

I have discovered that if I change in a positive way,

and if it is a permanent and stable change, it almost

always provokes change in the people around me. If

you want your life to be different, ask God to show

you how you need to change. Accept others for who

they are, and see how God works in you to complete

your joy.

APRIL 22

Live To Full Potential

For you are becoming progressively acquainted

with and recognizing more strongly and clearly

the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness,

His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and

spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so

very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very]

poor, in order that by His poverty you might

become enriched (abundantly supplied).

2 CORINTHIANS 8:9

I used to wake up feeling guilty and condemned. I

was full of judgment and criticism for every little

mistake I made. But that outlook creates pressure

inside of us that is apt to explode in the face of the

first person who comes around.

If you struggle this way, begin your day by reading

the Word. Knowledge of God’s mercy and forgiveness

is vital in learning to love yourself so that you can

love others. Live today to its fullest potential.

APRIL 23

A Useful Vessel

So whoever cleanses himself [from what is

ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from

contact with contaminating and corrupting

influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set

apart and useful for honorable and noble

purposes, consecrated and profitable to the

Master, fit and ready for any good work.

2 TIMOTHY 2:21

The Bible refers to us as earthen vessels (see 2

Corinthians 4:7); we are made of clay (see Isaiah

64:8). God formed Adam out of the dirt (see Genesis

2:7), and King David said, “Remember Lord, that I am

but dust” (see Psalm 103:14).

When we fill ourselves with God’s Word, we become

containers of His blessing, ready to be poured out for

His use. God can even use cracked pots! We are all

valuable to the Lord. We can offer His truth to people

everywhere we go.

Read God’s Word before you go about your routine

today, and see how many people you can bless with

the truth of His love.

APRIL 24

Show Jesus

And become useful and helpful and kind to one

another, tenderhearted (compassionate,

understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one

another [readily and freely], as God in Christ

forgave you.

EPHESIANS 4:32

I hope to show to everyone I meet the character of

Jesus through my words and actions. I pray that

everyone who contacts our ministry team will say:

“Those people are full of Jesus. They are patient,

kind, and sweet.”

We are containers capable of being filled to

overflowing with the Spirit of Jesus, who dwells in

our hearts. If we understand that everywhere we go

we can demonstrate His character and virtue, we

will be as the Word says—lights in a dark world (see

Philippians 2:15).

Jesus called us the salt of the earth (see Matthew

5:13). Salt gives flavor to what is otherwise bland or

tasteless. Be salt today—at home, at your job,

wherever you go.

APRIL 25

Stay Plugged In

Let your light so shine before men that they may

see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy,

noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor

and praise and glorify your Father Who is in

heaven.

MATTHEW 5:16

Jesus is the Light of the world and He lights up those

who come into relationship with Him. When Moses

spent time in God’s presence, his face became so

bright that he wore a veil because people feared to

come near him (see Exodus 34:29- 30).

As a lamp must be plugged into the electrical outlet

to illuminate the darkness around it, so we must stay

plugged into God if we want our light to shine before

others. The only way we can walk in love and behave

the way we should is to pray, read the Word, and

experience fellowship with God. Stay plugged in, and

be a light wherever you go.

APRIL 26

Don’t Get Upset

May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His

glory to be strengthened and reinforced with

mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy]

Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being

and personality].

EPHESIANS 3:16

The devil sets us up to get upset so that we act ugly,

throw fits, and ruin our witness of what God has

done in our lives. Without God’s love flowing

through us, it is hard to be nice to nice people, let

alone to treat difficult people nicely. We need God’s

help to live well.

The Holy Spirit will give you the power to walk in

love everywhere you go. Don’t leave home without

inviting Him to fill you with the grace to demonstrate

God’s love and compassion toward everyone you

meet.

APRIL 27

Really Come To Know God

[I pray] that you may be filled [through all your

being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the

richest measure of the divine Presence, and

become a body wholly filled and flooded with God

Himself]!

EPHESIANS 3:19

Paul was praying for us (the church) when he said, “I

pray that you might really come to know, practically

and experientially for yourselves, the love of Christ,

which far surpasses mere knowledge without

experience” (see Ephesians 3:19). He knew that we

needed to experience the love of God personally.

Our faith is not dependent on experiences, but our

relationship with God is real, and we can expect

visitations from God. We need times of God’s

outpouring in which we know, without a doubt, that

He is moving in our lives.

Begin the journey of getting to know God better and

better. Be aware of His love for you all day.

APRIL 28

Desire More Of God

I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight,

show me now Your way, that I may know You

[progressively become more deeply and

intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and

recognizing and understanding more strongly and

clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight.

And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your

people.

EXODUS 33:13

As you get to know God better, you will undergo a

transition from just praying during times of trouble

to wanting to serve Him with everything you are,

every breath you take, and every talent you possess.

When you fall in love with Jesus, you will crave more

and more time with Him.

Once you offer your time, your money, and your gifts

to the Lord, you will want to spend every day getting

to know Him more intimately. Ask God to fill your

entire being with His fullness as you seek Him with

all of your heart.

APRIL 29

Be Filled With God

My mouth shall be filled with Your praise and

with Your honor all the day.

PSALM 71:8

Consider again the verse from Ephesians 3:19: “That

you may be . . . a body wholly filled and flooded with

God Himself!” Imagine what your day will be like if

your body is wholly filled with God. You will be a

container, carrying God everywhere you go. It will

affect your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Being

filled with the divine presence of God will change

what you say, the entertainment you choose, and the

people with whom you elect to spend time.

When we are born again, Jesus comes to live in us as

a seed. Caring for that seed of new life by watering it

with the Word, nurturing it through direction, and

weeding out the sins in our lives makes the seed of

His presence grow bigger and bigger until it fills our

entire being.

APRIL 30

Bearing Fruit

You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you

and I have appointed you [I have planted you],

that you might go and bear fruit and keep on

bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it

may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the

Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM],

He may give it to you.

JOHN 15:16

The Bible says that we are blessed if our confidence

is in the Lord. We will be like trees planted by the

waters that continue to bear fruit (see Jeremiah 17:7-

8).

I admit that sometimes, at the end of a day, we may

feel that all of our fruit has been picked! But God will

replenish us if we abide in Him. If we put our trust in

God, we will bear all kinds of fruit, and will have

new fruit to share with others every morning.

MAY 1

Use The Keys

They who seek (inquire of and require) the Lord

[by right of their need and on the authority of His

Word], none of them shall lack any beneficial

thing.

PSALM 34:10

Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of

heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be

improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is

already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose

(declare lawful) on earth must be what is already

loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).

As a believer, you have authority to live a life of

victory and to forbid the devil to torment you. It is

not lawful for him to destroy you in heaven, so it is

not lawful for him to destroy you during your days

on earth. Use the keys of the kingdom of heaven that

Jesus has passed to you. Loose God’s blessings upon

your efforts and bind the evil works that come

against the fruit of your labors today.

MAY 2

Brokenness Is Good

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

David said, “Lord, I am like a broken vessel” (see

Psalm 31:12). Brokenness seems bad, but through

brokenness we rid ourselves of the outer shell, the

fleshly parts of us, that need to be thrown off in

order to bring forth the good things that are in us.

All of us need to be broken as David was; we need to

be totally dependent on God to deliver us from evil.

Pray today as David did: “But I trusted in, relied on,

and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are my

God” (Psalm 31:14).

MAY 3

Broken And Poured Out

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory

(majesty, splendor) of His Father with His angels,

and then He will render account and reward

every man in accordance with what he has done.

MATTHEW 16:27

Be willing to give your best to the Lord, and He will

use your gifts in ways beyond your imagination. The

lady with the alabaster jar of perfume that was

worth a year’s wages wanted to do something for

Jesus because she loved Him. So she poured out the

expensive perfume on Him, not realizing at the time

that she was anointing Him for His burial (see Mark

14:1- 9).

God led her to give what she had, no matter how

costly. As you pour out the gifts God has given you,

He will use them to prepare the world for the second

coming of His son. Your obedience today will reap

rewards in heaven that you are not aware of now.

MAY 4

Bless People

For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to

freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an

incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or

excuse [for selfishness], but through love you

should serve one another.

GALATIANS 5:13

As a believer in Jesus Christ, you have wonderful,

wonderful gifts on the inside of you. You have the

ability to make others happy today. You can

encourage. You can edify. You can exhort and uplift.

You can believe. You can pray. You can lead

somebody else to Christ.

People don’t have to have desperate needs before we

bless them. The Holy Spirit will lead us to be good to

people every day, if we will be sensitive to His voice.

Offer your gifts and talents to the Lord, and see what

happens.

MAY 5

Do Good

This message is most trustworthy . . . so that those

who have believed in (trusted in, relied on) God

may be careful to apply themselves to honorable

occupations and to doing good, for such things are

[not only] excellent and right [in themselves], but

[they are] good and profitable for the people.

TITUS 3:8

What an awesome thing it is to be good to people.

The Bible says that God anointed Jesus with the Holy

Spirit and with strength, ability, and power; and that

He went about doing good, for God was with Him

(see Acts 10:38). Jesus spent His days being good to

people—all people. He helped and encouraged

people everywhere He went.

We are anointed to bless people as Jesus did. God has

given us the strength, ability, and power to do

awesome works in His name. Do good all day—today.

MAY 6

Humble Yourself

Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble]

mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let

Him be your example in humility].

PHILIPPIANS 2:5

Humility comes from brokenness; brokenness hurts

so bad, but it “hurts good.” Brokenness comes when

we learn that we are not hotshots after all.

Brokenness comes when we judge others, and then

realize that we do the same things they do.

Brokenness comes when we think we are going to

step out and do something great, and then fall flat on

our face because we forgot to stay plugged in to God.

Brokenness comes when we give our opinion,

knowing that we are absolutely right to the point of

arguing about it, and then find that we are wrong.

Brokenness is good for us. Brokenness leads to

humility, and humility precedes honor (see Proverbs

15:33).

MAY 7

Let God Be Exalted

The proud looks of man shall be brought low, and

the haughtiness of men shall be humbled; and the

Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

ISAIAH 2:11

None of us are where we need to be, but, thank God,

we are not where we used to be. Don’t look at what

you are going through right now; look at the person

you are becoming. We are always in the process of

becoming like Christ (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Brokenness hurts, but the alternative is much worse.

The Word says, “Haughtiness comes before disaster,

but humility before honor” (Proverbs 18:12). Pray to

be bendable, pliable, and moldable so that you will

be more like Christ in all that you do today. Pray to

be broken so that the Lord may be exalted in your

life.

MAY 8

A Precious Treasure

All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are

inspired and brought to pass by one and the same

[Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person

individually [exactly] as He chooses.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:11

In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul says, “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.” God uses frail

people (cracked pots!) to proclaim the power of His

gospel.

He could send angels to preach the gospel, but He

uses plain, ordinary, everyday people to demonstrate

His power. He fills us with divine gifts, inspired and

brought to pass by the Holy Spirit, and distributes

them throughout His body of believers. Let us

network with God’s people today for the greater

good, as we work together to accomplish His

purpose.

MAY 9

It Must Be God

For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine;

the Lord my God illumines my darkness.

PSALM 18:28

The Bible says that God works through our weakness

so that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the

power in our lives may be shown to be from Him and

not from ourselves (see 2 Corinthians 4:7). God uses

ordinary people like us with flaws and cracks in our

pots (our earthen vessels), so that people will know

that it has to be God working in us if we are doing

good works.

If people knew us before we trusted in Jesus, they

especially notice the difference that a few years of

walking with the Lord has made in our lives. We

become totally different creatures when we allow

His love to shine through our weaknesses. We may

look the same, but we don’t act the same. We just

ooze with love when we are filled with God’s

exceeding greatness. Let His glorious light shine

through you all day.

MAY 10

Light Shines Through Cracked Pots

Let not those who wait and hope and look for You,

O Lord of hosts, be put to shame through me; let

not those who seek and inquire for and require

You [as their vital necessity] be brought to

confusion and dishonor through me, O God of

Israel.

PSALM 69:6

Everyone is like a pot that carries life. But not

everyone carries a presence that blesses others.

Religion tries to force people to follow laws to make

them perfect, like pots without cracks. But if a light is

put within a flawless pot and then covered, no one is

able to see the light inside the pot. Perfect pots are

not able to reveal internal light to illumine the way

for others.

God chooses to shine through imperfect, cracked

pots. People are blessed when our cracked pots let

the light of Jesus shine through. Choose to be a glory-

filled, cracked pot rather than an empty, pretty

vessel.

MAY 11

Die To Sin

And Peter answered them, Repent (change your

views and purpose to accept the will of God in

your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be

baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus

Christ for the forgiveness of and release from

your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the

Holy Spirit.

ACTS 2:38

Dying to sin requires a daily commitment. We all

have weaknesses, but that is why we need Jesus. He

would have died for us in vain if we didn’t need Him.

Each day we must ask Him to help us with our

problems and our flaws.

He will save us from our sins, tempers, selfishness,

jealousy, and greed. When we become Christians,

our fleshly desire to sin doesn’t die in us, but Jesus

will save us from our sins if we ask Him for strength

to die to selfish desires and follow Him.

MAY 12

Identify Who You Are

Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it,

and let him do right. Let him search for peace

(harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating

passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly.

[Do not merely desire peaceful relations with

God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but

pursue, go after them!]

1 PETER 3:11

Paul said, “I want to do what is right, but I can’t” (see

Romans 7:15- 25). He was a new person on the inside

because he was born again, but he still had to resist

the temptation to sin.

Paul explained that “the sin [principle]” (v. 20)

continues to dwell in us. We want to do right, but we

don’t have the power to perform it, because evil is

ever present to tempt us to do wrong. Only God can

deliver us from this tendency to sin; that is why we

must ask Him to deliver us from evil each day.

MAY 13

Enlarge Your Circle Of Love

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for

brethren to dwell together in unity!

PSALM 133:1

We can dress up and look pretty on the outside, but

God is more concerned about what is going on inside

us. When we judge others by the way they look, we

fall into the devil’s trap of rejecting everyone who

does not appear to be like us.

Purposely enlarge your circle of love today. Seek

ways to include others you may have previously

overlooked. Ask God to help you enlarge your circle

of love by taking in people of all types, colors, and

backgrounds. Pray for eyes to see into people’s heart,

and expect to enjoy a great day.

MAY 14

We Need Each Other

Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree

(harmonize together, make a symphony together)

about whatever [anything and everything] they

may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them

by My Father in heaven.

MATTHEW 18:19

We need each other in the body of Christ. Men and

women need each other—denominations need each

other. I believe that when we get to heaven, we will

learn the truth about our differences. We will learn

that all of us were right about some things and

wrong about others.

But even the things we were right about won’t

matter. God wants us to get along, to stop fighting

with everyone over petty things we disagree about,

and to begin to find the things we can agree about so

that we may get along with one another. Practice

looking for ways to agree with other believers, and

then watch what God does through the unity of faith.

MAY 15

Christ Is the Power

And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in

the world is lowborn and insignificant and

branded and treated with contempt, . . . so that no

mortal man should [have pretense for glorying

and] boast in the presence of God.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:28- 29

“But to those who are called, . . . Christ [is] the Power

of God and the Wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24).

When God calls us to do something, He enables us to

do it. Remember, God uses inadequate people to do

important things because that way He gets the glory.

So if God calls you to do something today that seems

too big for you to handle, Christ will give you the

power and the wisdom that you need to do it. God

has said to each of us, “My strength and power are

made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show

themselves most effective in [your] weakness” (2

Corinthians 12:9).

MAY 16

God Uses What Others Throw Away

And the Lord said to him, Who has made man’s

mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or the deaf, or

the seeing, or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now

therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and

will teach you what you shall say.

EXODUS 4:11- 12

God purposely calls people to serve Him who don’t

know how to do what He tells them to do. His tool

chest is full of weak individuals who can’t seem to do

things right, “cracked pots” whom the world treats

with contempt (1 Corinthians 1:28).

But God knows that these individuals will depend on

Him and will pray, “Lord, help me,” “so that no

mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and]

boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:29).

Qualify yourself for God’s tool chest today by telling

someone what you have seen God do in your life.

MAY 17

God Enables Us

It is through Him that we have received grace

(God’s unmerited favor) and [our] apostleship to

promote obedience to the faith and make

disciples for His name’s sake among all the

nations, and this includes you, called of Jesus

Christ and invited [as you are] to belong to Him.

ROMANS 1:5- 6

God gives us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for

mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of

heaviness (see Isaiah 61:3). God gives us whatever we

need to be victorious. Because He enables us, we

credit Him for all the good things in our lives.

Get up today and do the best you can, and then let

God do the rest. Don’t try to make mistakes, don’t try

to fail; but when you do, repent and get things

straight with God. If you need to apologize to

somebody, go and apologize. Receive your

forgiveness, and go on.

MAY 18

Grow Continually

For this reason, since the day we heard about you,

we have not stopped praying for you and asking

God to fill you with the knowledge of his will

through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

And we pray this in order that you may live a life

worthy of the Lord and may please him in every

way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in

the knowledge of God.

COLOSSIANS 1:9- 10 NIV

God’s Word encourages us to strive for perfection by

growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind

and character, having integrity, as our heavenly

Father is perfect (see Matthew 5:48).

Paul said that even though he had not attained the

ideal of perfection, he pressed on to grasp and make

his own that for which Christ had laid hold of him

(see Philippians 3:12). We, too, should press toward

maturity and integrity today.

MAY 19

Repent, And Move On

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and

confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to

His own nature and promises) and will forgive

our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and

[continuously] cleanse us from all

unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to

His will in purpose, thought, and action].

1 JOHN 1:9

It is important to be sincerely sorry if we do

something wrong, but it doesn’t help anybody for us

to openly mourn over everything that is wrong with

us. We will never mature in our faith if we stay

angry at ourselves.

We are to repent of our sin, receive forgiveness of it,

and then forget it. We must not drag memories of our

old behavior around with us all the time. Sooner or

later we have to let go and say, “Well, I made a

mistake because I am just an old cracked pot.” Then

we must let God’s light shine through the holes in our

surface.

MAY 20

God Wants Your Heart

But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his

appearance or at the height of his stature, for I

have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man

sees; for man looks on the outward appearance,

but the Lord looks on the heart.

1 SAMUEL 16:7

Religious teaching turns our attention to our outward

appearance, but it doesn’t empower us to clean up

our inside thoughts and intentions. Jesus called the

religious Pharisees “whitewashed tombs full of dead

man’s bones” (see Matthew 23:27), because they

boasted of their perfect obedience to the Hebrew

laws.

But God didn’t see them as perfect, because their

hearts were not merciful as is His. God would rather

have someone with a sweet, wonderful heart toward

Him, who makes mistakes, than somebody with a

slick performance, who is rotten inside.

When God looks at your heart today, let Him find it

wholly seeking Him.

MAY 21

God Likes The Way He Made You

My frame was not hidden from You when I was

being formed in secret [and] intricately and

curiously wrought [as if embroidered with

various colors] in the depths of the earth [a

region of darkness and mystery].

PSALM 139:15

Have you ever asked God, “Why did You make me

this way?” Sometimes the things that we think are

our worst faults, God will use to His greatest glory:

“But who are you, a mere man, to criticize and

contradict and answer back to God? Will what is

formed say to him that formed it, Why have you

made me thus?” (Romans 9:20).

Jesus died so that we might enjoy our life in

abundance and to the fullest until it overflows. You

are not going to enjoy your life if you don’t enjoy

yourself. Be satisfied with yourself, and celebrate the

unique way God made you.

MAY 22

Live To Serve God

For even the Son of Man came not to have service

rendered to Him, but to serve, and to give His life

as a ransom for (instead of) many.

MARK 10:45

As the potter forms clay into vessels, some for

honorable use and some for menial use, so God

forms us to serve His purpose. Regardless of how our

position in life may look to others, we are all formed

to serve the Lord in some way.

If God made you to be a helper, then help with all

your heart. If you enjoy cleaning houses for people,

then do so as if you are cleaning the Lord’s house. If

you want to stay home with your children instead of

earning extra income, don’t worry that God has

called others to paying positions outside the home.

Do whatever the Lord puts in your heart to do—and

enjoy fulfilling your God-given purpose.

MAY 23

Only God Can Change You

The Lord will sustain, refresh, and strengthen

him on his bed of languishing; all his bed You [O

Lord] will turn, change, and transform in his

illness. I said, Lord, be merciful and gracious to

me; heal my inner self, for I have sinned against

You.

PSALM 41:3- 4

Don’t obsess over your faults, or you will never enjoy

the life that Jesus died to give you. Only God can

change you, so talk to Him about your desires. The

Word says that those who wait on the Lord will

change (see Isaiah 40:31).

Meanwhile, quit taking your flaws so seriously. Don’t

let discouragement or depression rob you of your

energy and make you angry. If you do, you may take

that anger out on other people and miss the blessings

God has in store for you today. Enjoy yourself, and

lighten up! Take the right steps today toward the

change you want to make by asking God to help you

all day long.

MAY 24

We Are Carriers

The Lord make His face to shine upon and

enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful,

and giving favor) to you; the Lord lift up His

[approving] countenance upon you and give you

peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

NUMBERS 6:25- 26

Looking at seemingly successful people and thinking,

Oh, I wish I was like them, wastes much time. We

don’t know their problems or their flaws. Everyone

has trials, and we should thank God for our own,

because if we didn’t have problems, we wouldn’t

need Jesus anymore.

Reveal to others the glory of God’s presence in your

life by being grateful for what He is doing for you.

Understand that God puts His treasures in earthen

vessels, like us, so that those who don’t know Him

will see His grandeur and glory in us (see 2

Corinthians 4:7). Let the light of God shine through

your life today.

MAY 25

In Our Weakness He Is Strong

Yes, You are my Rock and my Fortress; therefore

for Your name’s sake lead me and guide me.

PSALM 31:3

Each of us has our own unique flaws, like cracked

pots. But if we will allow it, Jesus will use our flaws to

grace His Father’s table. In God’s great economy,

nothing goes to waste.

So as we seek ways to minister together and as God

calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don’t

be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them and allow

Him to take advantage of them so that you too can be

a thing of beauty in His pathway.

Go out boldly, knowing that in our weaknesses we

will always find His strength. In Christ the answer to

every one of His promises is “Yes,” and for this

reason we say, “Amen, so be it!” (see 2 Corinthians

1:20).

MAY 26

His Strength Is Perfect

And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and

bread for eating will also provide and multiply

your [resources for] sowing and increase the

fruits of your righteousness [which manifests

itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].

2 CORINTHIANS 9:10

There are people who have a lot, but who do nothing

for others with what they have. And there are people

who have little, but who are able to do much with

what they have. Use what you have today, and don’t

worry about what you don’t have. God will make up

the difference of what you lack, if you will just give

Him what you can.

God’s strength is always made perfect in your

weaknesses. Don’t apologize for your shortcomings;

instead, watch for God’s presence to fill your void. Be

the best that you can possibly be, and enjoy the glory

God receives through your testimony every single

day.

MAY 27

Decide To Be Positive

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever

is worthy of reverence and is honorable and

seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind

and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue

and excellence, if there is anything worthy of

praise, think on and weigh and take account of

these things [fix your minds on them].

PHILIPPIANS 4:8

Negative people don’t enjoy life. Viewing each day

with positive expectations is one of the key principles

to godly happiness.

We act on what we believe, so positive thoughts

cause positive actions. If you want a positive life,

begin thinking positive thoughts. It is easy to do so if

you read the Word and meditate on all that God

wants to do for you and through you. Get alone

today, and think about all the good, positive things

God has done for you in the past, and all He has

planned for you in the future.

MAY 28

Bless Someone Today

In everything I have pointed out to you [by

example] that, by working diligently in this

manner, we ought to assist the weak, being

mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He

Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one

happier and more to be envied) to give than to

receive.

ACTS 20:35

To have a healthy love walk today, spend time this

morning thinking about what you can do for

somebody else. Don’t wait for God to ask you to do

something; take the initiative and say, “Okay God,

what can I do to be a blessing on Your behalf today?”

The best days you live are the ones you spend loving

other people. Choose a particular person, and think

about ways to bless him or her. If you don’t know

what to do, just listen to what he or she says, and

before long you will hear of that individual’s needs.

MAY 29

God Knows And Sees

The secret [of the sweet, satisfying

companionship] of the Lord have they who fear

(revere and worship) Him, and He will show them

His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner]

meaning.

PSALM 25:14

Nobody else may see the things you do, but God sees

them all. Every time you pray, God sees it. Every time

you do an act of kindness secretly, God sees it and

plans a reward to give you openly (see Matthew 6:1-

6).

Serve the Lord in all that you do today. The Word

says, “In the morning sow your seed, and in the

evening withhold not your hands, for you know not

which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether

both alike will be good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). God will

prosper what you do for Him.

MAY 30

You Can Change

We were buried therefore with Him by the

baptism into death, so that just as Christ was

raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of

the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and

behave in newness of life.

ROMANS 6:4

You will never reach your destiny by thinking

negative thoughts. When you first wake up in the

morning, start saying, “I love my life. It is wonderful.

I thank God for everything He has given me.”

You will do yourself a favor if you start thinking right

thoughts so that you will also choose right actions.

Sowing the right actions into your day will form new

habits. As you begin to operate in those new habits,

you will change in your character. And as your

character changes, you will move into the destiny

that God has for you. By God’s power you can live in

newness of life.

MAY 31

Enjoy Challenges

But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have

put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my

refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.

PSALM 73:28

Another key to starting your day right is not to dread

things. Don’t lie in bed dreading the whole day

before you even get up. Dread is a close relative of

the spirit of fear. When dread enters, joy leaves.

Dread sets you up for misery, because by choosing to

dread you decide that you cannot enjoy what you

must do today.

Be excited when you face new tests. Close the door to

the mindset of dread. Decide early to enjoy every

challenge that faces you today, knowing that God will

be with you to make your path straight and to

prosper in everything you set out to do.

JUNE 1

Have A New Mindset

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a

right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.

PSALM 51:10

We set ourselves up either for misery or for joy by

the mindset that we have toward the things in our

life. Mindsets are the patterns in which our mind

normally operates toward a certain determination.

For example, when we look at our schedule today, it

may seem that there is far too much to do. But if we

choose the mindset that God will help us through it,

we will enjoy watching how everything falls into

place.

Refuse to dread what must be done. Greet the day

with a right attitude and a thankful heart that you

have a Savior who is ready to rescue you from more

than you can handle. Enjoy yourself and say, “I

refuse to live in dread; I am going to enjoy my life

today.”

JUNE 2

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

I have strength for all things in Christ Who

empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal

to anything through Him Who infuses inner

strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s

sufficiency].

PHILIPPIANS 4:13

Dread is a relative of fear. The devil tempts us with

dread to get us to confess fear instead of faith. But 1

John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love [dread does

not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love

turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of

terror! For fear brings with it the thought of

punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not

reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown

into love’s complete perfection].”

Enjoy your day, knowing that God loves you

perfectly. Don’t dread the hard things that you must

do today, because God is on your side and is ready to

help you.

JUNE 3

God Is On Your Side

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will

beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the

wretched with victory.

PSALM 149:4

If you never face trials, you will never have to

exercise your faith. But even when facing hard times,

you shouldn’t dread life. Isaiah 8:13 says, “The Lord

of hosts—regard Him as holy and honor His holy

name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety],

and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread

[lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust

of Him].”

If you dread life and fear people, you are not trusting

the Lord to save you. Keep your reverential fear and

awe of God; dread displeasing Him, but don’t fear

anything else. If God is for you, who can be against

you? “No, in all these things we are more than

conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37

NIV).

JUNE 4

Be Ready

Forsake not [Wisdom], and she will keep, defend,

and protect you; love her, and she will guard you.

PROVERBS 4:6

Philippians 4:13 promises that Christ will empower

you for anything you must face. This means that He

will make you ready for anything and equal to all

challenges by infusing you with inner strength.

God will never put you in a position to do something

without giving you the strength and the ability to do

it. You can relax and enjoy your life, for God will

“strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what

you ought to be and equip you with everything good

that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself]

works in you and accomplishes that which is

pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ” (Hebrews

13:21).

JUNE 5

Renew Your Joy

Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence;

strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary.

1 CHRONICLES 16:27

Emotional trauma drains people of their energy. But

the Word says, “Be not grieved and depressed, for the

joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold”

(Nehemiah 8:10). The devil wants to steal your joy

because he knows that joy is your strength. He wants

you to be weak so that you won’t resist the turmoil

he sets against you. That is why sometimes we need

each other.

Some days God will send messengers to build you up

in faith and renew your joy. Some days He will send

you to someone else who is in a weakened condition

because Satan has been pounding on them. Be

someone’s friend today. They may need a friend to

stand beside them and encourage them and to lift

them up and pray for them.

JUNE 6

Think Ahead

But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom

of God once hidden [from the human

understanding] and now revealed to us by God—

[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed

before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into

the glory of His presence].

1 CORINTHIANS 2:7

Look ahead to the reward God has for you in heaven.

God has already written the end of the Book which

says that good news is in store for those who put

their faith in Jesus.

Even if you live to be a hundred years old, and have

trials every day of your life, Paul said that our

momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal

glory that far outweighs all the trials we face now

(see 2 Corinthians 4:17- 18 NIV). Keep your eyes on

the finish line and not on the turmoil around you.

JUNE 7

Be Satisfied

The poor and afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;

they shall praise the Lord—they who [diligently]

seek for, inquire of and for Him, and require Him

[as their greatest need]. May your hearts be

quickened now and forever!

PSALM 22:26

Many people constantly seek the thrill of a new

experience, but every new thing eventually becomes

an old thing. Sooner or later, people have to be happy

with old things too, or they will never reach God’s

higher goal of contentment (see 1 Timothy 6:6).

In Philippians 4:11- 12, Paul said that he had learned

how to be content and satisfied to the point where he

wasn’t disturbed or disquieted, no matter what state

he was in. He could live in humble circumstances or

enjoy plenty. He had learned that the secret of facing

every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, was to

be content. Seek contentment in God today, and you

will be satisfied.

JUNE 8

Enjoy Your Life

Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily

(from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord

and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that

it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you

will receive the inheritance which is your [real]

reward.

COLOSSIANS 3:23

Jesus died so that you can enjoy abundant life, not

just the days you are off work or on vacation or when

you get to go shopping or golfing—but every day of

your life.

He wants you to enjoy going to the grocery store. He

wants you to enjoy driving the kids to school. He

wants you to enjoy paying the bills. He wants you to

enjoy cleaning the house or mowing the yard.

You can enjoy life if you determine to do so. Say, “I

am going to enjoy every aspect of my life, because

Jesus died so that I could have joy unspeakable and

full of glory.”

JUNE 9

Follow God’s Spirit

And He Who searches the hearts of men knows

what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His

intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and

pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints

according to and in harmony with God’s will.

ROMANS 8:27

Many people follow their own desires or other

people’s advice instead of following the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit is given to each one of us to lead us

into the fullness of our destiny, and into the fullness

of what Jesus died to give us.

Your faith in Jesus gives you the promise of heaven,

but God wants to work all things together for your

good in this life too (see Romans 8:28). Don’t be

satisfied with receiving half of what Jesus died to give

you. Follow the Spirit’s leading so that you will get all

that God has for you. Seek God for clear guidance to

remain right in the center of His perfect will for

every single day.

JUNE 10

Go Where God Sends You

Let us all come forward and draw near with true

(honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified

assurance and absolute conviction engendered by

faith (by that leaning of the entire human

personality on God in absolute trust and

confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness).

HEBREWS 10:22

One of the main reasons people don’t enjoy their

lives is that they don’t follow the leading of the Holy

Spirit. Because Jesus fulfilled the law, we have full

freedom to enter into the Holy of Holies and

fellowship with the Father. Hebrews calls this “a

fresh (new) and living way” to enjoy our relationship

with God (see Hebrews 10:20).

Spend time with God today, and go wherever the

Spirit of God leads you. He will always give you the

grace to do what He calls you to do.

JUNE 11

A New Desire

For I endorse and delight in the Law of God in my

inmost self [with my new nature].

ROMANS 7:22

When we are born again, we get a new “want to.”

The law says we “have to, should, and ought to,” but

we want to do the right thing because God has put a

new heart in us to replace the hard stony one that

used to be indifferent to Him and His will (see

Ezekiel 36:26).

Learn to recognize the difference between the

desires of your flesh and the desires placed in you by

the Holy Spirit. Psalm 1:1- 2 says, “BLESSED (HAPPY,

fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who

walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly . . .

But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord,

and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the

teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders

and studies) by day and by night.”

JUNE 12

Everyone Is Different

Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that

differ according to the grace given us, let us use

them.

ROMANS 12:6

Don’t feel bad about yourself if you are not able to do

what someone else is anointed to do. God anoints

each of us to contribute to the body of Christ in some

unique way. What God enables you to do is no more

or less important than what He has called someone

else to do.

God made you different from everyone else to fulfill

the desire of His heart, and He promises to fulfill the

desires of your heart too (see Psalm 37:4). He will

anoint whatever He’s given you, so place your gifts in

His power today, and enjoy yourself.

JUNE 13

Change “Must” to “Want”

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no

adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in

Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the

dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the

Spirit.

ROMANS 8:1

Many of us compare ourselves and our achievements

to others and what they accomplish for the Lord,

thinking we have to do certain things to please God.

But God didn’t send Jesus into the world to condemn

us (see John 3:17). What pleases God most is our deep

craving to know Him better, which is achieved by

spending time with Him through study and prayer.

We are called to enjoy fellowship with God. Don’t let

condemnation rob you of your joy today. Pray: Lord,

I want to follow the law of my new being. By Your

grace, help me follow Jesus, because He has done

what the law could not do and has saved me from my

sins.

JUNE 14

Follow Peace

Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and

reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death

that comprises all the miseries arising from sin,

both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the

[Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now

and forever].

ROMANS 8:6

People hesitate to follow their desires, because they

don’t know how to divide their soul from their spirit.

If they can’t discern the difference between the

desires of their flesh and Spirit-led desires, then they

don’t know when God is truly leading them to do

something.

But you can learn to know if God is leading you or

not. When God gives you a desire for something, He

will give you peace along with it. You may not be

excited, but you will have peace, if the thing you

desire is from God. Wait for peace today.

JUNE 15

Recognize Your Calling

That is why I would remind you to stir up

(rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and

keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the

inner fire] that is in you.

2 TIMOTHY 1:6

Before I knew I was called to preach, I would

privately repreach entire sermons I had just heard,

thinking, I would have said this, and, I would have

done that. Then, I would think, Women don’t preach!

But my spirit was stirred by the preacher’s anointing

because I had the same anointing.

If you are called to do something, you will get stirred

up in the presence of someone operating in that

same anointing. For example, if you have an

anointing to lead worship, or to do special music, you

will probably get more excited about the music than

the sermon being preached. When in doubt, ask God

to make clear your calling.

JUNE 16

Iron Sharpens Iron

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the

countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy

purpose].

PROVERBS 27:17

If you want to do something for God, then don’t

associate with people who do nothing. You may have

to drastically change your life if you want to move on

with what God has called you to do. Spend time with

people who know how to use their days well.

Just as iron sharpens iron, positive people will

inspire you to be positive. Godly people will inspire

you to use your faith to do for the Lord what is in

your heart to do. Spend time with people who are

doing something for the Lord. Elisha got a double

portion of Elijah’s anointing, but he had to associate

with Elijah for a long time to get it (see 2 Kings 2:1-

14).

JUNE 17

Follow Your Heart’s Desires

Who is the man who reverently fears and

worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way

that he should choose. He himself shall dwell at

ease, and his offspring shall inherit the land.

PSALM 25:12- 13

To enjoy your life, start following the God-given

desires of your heart instead of the desires of your

flesh. You may need to mature in faith before you

can tell the difference between your flesh and Spirit-

led desires.

One way to tell if you are following a desire of your

flesh is that when you step out to do it, you will lose

your peace and face a struggle. If it is not of God, you

will feel like you are pushing a dead horse uphill. If it

is a God-given desire of the Spirit, it will work like a

well-oiled machine. It will flow, with what I call a

“Holy ease.” Start your day right, and follow your

heart.

JUNE 18

Get Peace From God

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of

the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally

and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or

faultfinding, and it will be given him.

JAMES 1:5

Be careful when somebody makes a suggestion that

sounds good; not every good idea is a God-idea. Don’t

rush into making a decision or accepting a new

responsibility without praying about it first.

Slow down long enough to ask God for wisdom, and

listen for His guidance. Take a little bit of time to see

if you have peace about the idea. If you don’t have

peace, you don’t even have to understand why you

don’t have peace. Just don’t do it!

JUNE 19

Quality Is Better Than Quantity

I call to remembrance my song in the night; with

my heart I meditate and my spirit searches

diligently.

PSALM 77:6

God cares more about the quality of what you learn

than the quantity of teaching to which you are

exposed. He would rather you read one scripture

verse and get revelation out of it than to read two

whole books in the Bible and not have a clue about

what you read.

Listen for key messages that the Lord is specifically

speaking to you when you hear good teaching

through television, radio, sermon tapes, a church

service, or weekly Bible study. Ask God to show you

how to apply what you hear to your own life.

Meditate on His Word each day and look for ways to

use what you have learned. Then you will know that

you are engaging in and enjoying true quality time

with Him.

JUNE 20

Study Daily

Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these

duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your

ministry], so that your progress may be evident to

everybody.

1 TIMOTHY 4:15

Second Timothy 2:15 says, “Study and be eager and

do your utmost to present yourself to God approved

(tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be

ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately

dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the

Word of Truth.”

It is difficult to grow if you don’t like to read the

Word. If Satan has created obstacles to keep you

from reading the Word, take authority over him.

Declare your love for the Word, and then read it—

even if only a couple of pages a day. Your desire for

more will quickly increase. If you truly don’t like to

read, then pray that God will give you a brand new

desire to do so right now.

JUNE 21

Choose How To Live

For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor)

that you are saved (delivered from judgment and

made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through

[your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of

yourselves [of your own doing, it came not

through your own striving], but it is the gift of

God.

EPHESIANS 2:8

You can live under the law of sin and death, with its

rules and regulations; or you can live under the law

of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which by grace sets

you free from the law of sin and death (see Romans

8:2).

Galatians 5:4- 5 explains that the law brings us to

nothing and separates us from Christ. But the Holy

Spirit will help us conform to God’s will in purpose,

thought, and action. Choose the law of life and say,

“Today I will enjoy a grace-filled day.”

JUNE 22

Let God Lead Others

Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and

look for You be put to shame or be disappointed;

let them be ashamed who forsake the right or

deal treacherously without cause.

PSALM 25:3

Our day might seem better if everyone would just do

what we tell them to do. But God doesn’t override

people’s will, and we are not to do so either. Instead

of trying to control people, pray that they will “hear”

God leading them.

If someone persists in doing something his or her

own way today, show your confidence in God by

stepping aside. You may learn that you were wrong,

or they may learn that you were right. God is big

enough to get both you and them out of any mess

they may make. Either way, He will get the glory, if

you put your trust in Him.

JUNE 23

Don’t Be Afraid To Stop

The thoughts and purposes of the [consistently]

righteous are honest and reliable, but the

counsels and designs of the wicked are

treacherous.

PROVERBS 12:5

Don’t be ashamed to back off if you get out in the

middle of something and find that God is not in it.

Just be secure enough to simply say, “I thought this

was God, but it’s not, so I am not going to do it

anymore.”

You can apologize to others if you caused them any

trouble or confusion. But there is no shame in

quickly admitting that you were wrong. It is more

important not to perpetuate a mistake than it is to

keep people from thinking you were wrong. Don’t be

afraid to say, “I didn’t hear from God.” Honesty will

keep your day going right, all day long.

JUNE 24

Wait For Peace

A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs

his steps and makes them sure.

PROVERBS 16:9

You may have to step out to find out the right thing to

do. If you don’t hear clearly from God, just step in the

direction you think you should go, and then wait for

peace. If you lose your peace, back out of wherever

you were headed.

Dave and I almost bought two different buildings to

house our ministry. We were in negotiations until,

one morning after praying, Dave said, “Joyce, I don’t

have peace about buying that building. I feel like God

is saying, ‘If you buy that building, you are going to

be sorry later.’” So we waited for peace, and now we

have a building that is completely paid for with room

to grow. Pray until you find peace.

JUNE 25

Follow God’s Leading

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust

them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts

to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your

plans be established and succeed.

PROVERBS 16:3

Trying to figure everything out before you obey God

will steal your joy. God doesn’t have to answer you

when you ask, “Why God, why?” Trust means that

you won’t always have answers when you want

them. Sometimes you just have to get to the other

side of a situation to see the whole picture of what

God is doing in your life.

God may be trying to separate you from some

influence in your life that is keeping you from

receiving the better plan He has for you. He may be

“pruning” you to encourage new, healthier growth

(see John 15:1- 8). Use uncertain times to

demonstrate your faith by trusting Him.

JUNE 26

Let Disappointments Go

But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who

bears in mind His precepts, who observes His

message in its entirety], truly in him has the love

of and for God been perfected (completed,

reached maturity).

1 JOHN 2:5

It can be disappointing when people who are close to

us don’t do what we would like for them to do. But if

we really love them, we should encourage them to

follow the Holy Spirit rather than try to keep us

happy all the time.

Help others grow spiritually by encouraging them to

listen for God’s voice. Remind them that God will

help them through mistakes and lead them to a good

life. Soon they will be making Spirit-led, rather than

people-led, decisions. It is tremendously gratifying to

see loved ones mature spiritually in Christ.

JUNE 27

The Law Of The Spirit

Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be

afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song;

yes, He has become my salvation.

ISAIAH 12:2

Life is not just one long party; there will always be

hard things and easy things mixed together in the

events of your life. Regardless of what today brings,

you can still have joy in the Lord, and that joy will

give you strength to handle whatever comes your

way on any given day.

When you follow Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life

keeps you free to enjoy yourself because you can cast

any burdens on the Lord (see Romans 8:2). God will

lead you to know what to do, and He will energize

you to do what needs to be done. You won’t feel

drained by life, but will grow through both the trials

and the triumphs as you walk with God today.

JUNE 28

Do Whatever God Says

So that the righteous and just requirement of the

Law might be fully met in us who live and move

not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the

Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards

and according to the dictates of the flesh, but

controlled by the Holy Spirit].

ROMANS 8:4

“In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts

17:28). God is everything. Talk to Him all day long,

every time you need to make a decision or overcome

anything negative. Whatever He says to do, do it. If

He says don’t do it, don’t do it. You don’t belong to

yourself; you belong to God.

Religious teaching tries to predetermine what God

wants from you. But He will write on your heart

what is good and what is bad for you to do. He will

speak to your inner conscience and keep you safe, as

long as you pay attention to His voice and do what He

tells you. Throughout the day today, occasionally stop

what you are doing and ask Him if there is anything

He wants to say to you.

JUNE 29

Love Is The Higher Law

Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor [it never

hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the

requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.

ROMANS 13:10

There are things that we shouldn’t do, simply

because we love God, and because we don’t want to

hurt somebody else’s conscience. We may have the

freedom to do these things, but our freedom could

offend others, or cause them to do something against

their conscience, and thus sin against God.

If you walk in love today, there may be things that

you have the right to do, but the Holy Spirit will

prompt you not to exercise your right out of love for

someone who is watching you. Love never demands

its own way (see 1 Corinthians 13:5). Love is always

the higher law.

JUNE 30

Wear The Right Armor

And all this assembly shall know that the Lord

saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is

the Lord’s.

1 SAMUEL 17:47

When David went out to face Goliath, everyone

around him said, “David, you can’t do this!” But God

put a sense of “knowing” within David that he would

succeed in the name of the Lord. When King Saul

decided to let David fight, he gave David his armor,

but David said, “I cannot, because I am not used to

this” (see 1 Samuel 17:31- 39). David knew he was to

go in the name of the Lord with only his slingshot

(see vv. 40- 50).

If you have battles to face in life, don’t let others tell

you how to fight. God will personally direct you in

the way you should go. His Word is your weapon;

that is why it is a vital necessity to arm yourself with

knowledge and to spend time in God’s presence

before you have to face any giants.

JULY 1

God’s Plan Is Greater

For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ

Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me

from the law of sin and of death.

ROMANS 8:2

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets us free

from the law of sin and death. We are free from the

law of sin and death only to the degree that we

follow the law of the Spirit. If we know what is right

but insist on doing wrong, our actions may still lead

us to miss out on the abundant life God has for us on

earth.

Follow the law of the Spirit, and you will remain

completely free from the law of sin and death. The

Holy Spirit will lead you into holiness, into

righteousness, and into the complete destiny that

God has for your life. God’s will for you is greater

than anything you can imagine for yourself. Be

willing to obey God even when you don’t understand

what He is doing with you.

JULY 2

Follow God’s Priorities

The sheep that are My own hear and are listening

to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

JOHN 10:27

Many people try to feel spiritual by obeying religious

laws. But they never get around to feeling good,

because there is always one more law to follow. That

is why God does not define our righteousness by our

works, but by our faith in Jesus. We feel inner peace

when we obey the voice of the Holy Spirit.

God may tell you that it is more important to give

away your favorite personal possession, than to try to

please Him by reading the Bible through in a year.

He may say that it is more important to just remain

silent, if He tells you to, than to volunteer for every

activity at church. His ways are not our ways (see

Isaiah 55:8- 9), so learn to listen for His direction

each day.

JULY 3

Have Fun

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating

and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy

in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves

Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved

by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do

what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

ROMANS 14:17- 19 NIV

Everything in your life doesn’t have to be serious in

order to be spiritual. If you are filled with God’s

Spirit, whatever you do has a spiritual connotation to

it. You can live a holy life, and still enjoy your day.

God measures holiness by how quick we are to obey

His voice. He promises that goodness and mercy will

follow us if we seek His presence (see Psalm 23:6). He

may even encourage you just to have fun today.

JULY 4

Pamper Yourself

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why

should you moan over me and be disquieted

within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for

Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my

God.

PSALM 42:5

God gave you your emotions, so it doesn’t work to

ignore them completely. You make a big mistake if

you refuse to meet any of your emotional needs. If

you are tired, you need rest. If you are stressed, you

need some fun.

If you need encouragement, spend time with

someone who knows how to build you up. Don’t

ignore your emotional needs in the name of

Christianity. You are a whole person—body, soul, and

spirit (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23). God will show you

how to be strong in all areas of your life.

JULY 5

Set Priorities

Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in

Your book all the days [of my life] were written

before ever they took shape, when as yet there

was none of them.

PSALM 139:16

Be determined to enjoy the abundant life that Jesus

Christ desires for you to have. The devil will always

try to set you up to get upset. The busy activities of

today’s society can make life seem like a blur. Most

people have a lot of stress, continuous pressure, and

really too much to do.

Set priorities. Start your day with God. Be

determined to follow His lead all day, and you will

enjoy every day of your life—not just on weekends,

vacations, or sunny days when the weather’s perfect.

Walking with God will give you pleasure and

relaxation even when things aren’t going your way.

JULY 6

Clean Up

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the

sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with

perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us

fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of

our faith.

HEBREWS 12:1- 2 NIV

Have you ever gone on a cleaning rampage to

straighten up your home or office? Did you enjoy

pitching junk, straightening objects, and organizing

materials so that you could find them when you need

them?

You may need to get on a Holy Ghost rampage and do

the same thing with your life. Say, “I’ve had enough

bondage. I’ve had enough negative thoughts. I’ve had

enough of the lies of the devil. I am not going to have

any more bad days. I am not going to be discouraged,

depressed, or despondent. I am going to enjoy my

life!”

Jesus is ready to help you live life to the fullest!

JULY 7

Joy Unspeakable

Now to Him Who is able to keep you without

stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present

[you] unblemished (blameless and faultless)

before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy

and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic

delight].

JUDE 1:24

I used to be so miserable when I went to bed that I

wished it was time to get up. And when I got up, I

was still so miserable I wanted to go back to bed. I

was under the curse of not obeying the voice of the

Lord or serving Him with joyfulness (see

Deuteronomy 28:15- 48).

Obedience to God fills our lives with so much joy that

we don’t even know how to talk about it. The Bible

calls it “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8

KJV). Experience the joy of being in God’s awesome

presence. Start your day by praising God for your

blessings, and worshiping Him with a heart ready to

serve Him.

JULY 8

The Key To Joy

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you

through and through [separate you from profane

things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to

God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be

preserved sound and complete [and found]

blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

(the Messiah).

1 THESSALONIANS 5:23

Righteousness is a key to enjoying every single day of

your life. Being in right relationship with God is

available to us simply through our faith in Jesus

Christ. That security gives us peace through every

situation, and having peace brings joy.

The Word says to listen with expectancy to what God

the Lord will say to you, for He will speak peace to

His saints (those who are in right standing with

Him), and those who don’t turn again to self-

confident folly (see Psalm 85:8). Before making plans

today, listen for God’s voice to make sure you follow

His peace for your day.

JULY 9

The Key To Loving Others

Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His

peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and

in all ways [under all circumstances and

conditions, whatever comes].

2 THESSALONIANS 3:16

The Bible says to love your neighbor as yourself

(Luke 10:27); the key is to love yourself. You won’t

enjoy your day until you learn to accept and enjoy

yourself, because you have to eat with yourself, sleep

with yourself, and be with yourself all day. Until you

are happy with who you are and where you are in

life, you will never learn to love others or get to

where you want to be.

Don’t get down on yourself about everything you

didn’t do right yesterday. Today is a new day. Learn

to love your life, right now, right where you are now.

Say, “I am grateful to be a child of God, redeemed

and made righteous in His eyes. I am going to enjoy

myself all day long.”

JULY 10

No Matter What

For you shall go out [from the spiritual exile

caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy

and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord

Himself, and His word] with peace; the mountains

and the hills shall break forth before you into

singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap

their hands.

ISAIAH 55:12

Peace is not dependent on circumstances. Our peace

and joy are found in the Holy Ghost. Jesus said:

He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in

and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his

innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs

and rivers of living water. But He was speaking here

of the Spirit, Whom those who believed (trusted, had

faith) in Him were afterward to receive (John 7:38-

39).

No matter what is going on today, you can drink from

your own well of joy through the indwelling

presence of God’s Spirit.

JULY 11

Enjoy Whatever You Are Doing

And there you shall eat before the Lord your God,

and you shall rejoice in all to which you put your

hand, you and your households, in which the Lord

your God has blessed you.

DEUTERONOMY 12:7

I used to hate waiting in the airport, but Dave always

wanted to arrive early. I finally changed my mind. It

is amazing what happens when you decide to enjoy

God every day. It is easy to get so caught up in all

your responsibilities that you forget to enjoy what

you are doing.

You can get so busy raising your children that you

forget to enjoy them. You can get so caught up in

cleaning your house, trying to pay for it, and

remodeling it, that you forget to enjoy it. But you can

learn to enjoy God so much that no matter what you

do today, you can truly say, “I enjoyed it.”

JULY 12

Don’t Worry

For You make him to be blessed and a blessing

forever; You make him exceedingly glad with the

joy of Your presence.

PSALM 21:6

It is a learning process to keep the devil from stealing

your joy, because he constantly tempts you in new

ways to lose your peace. If Satan gets your peace,

then he will get your joy. Be strong and resist his

temptation to make you worry.

The Word says that God gives riches and possessions,

and the power to enjoy them. To accept our

appointed lot and to rejoice in our work is the gift of

God. We won’t remember seriously the days of our

life, because the tranquility of God is mirrored in us

(see Ecclesiastes 5:19- 20). Determine that from this

day forward you will do everything you can to keep

your peace and enjoy your life.

JULY 13

Triumph Over Troubles

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us

exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in

our sufferings, knowing that pressure and

affliction and hardship produce patient and

unswerving endurance.

ROMANS 5:3

Some days it seems that everything goes wrong, one

thing after another, after another. Don’t just talk to

yourself, saying, “I just can’t take anymore of this.”

Don’t talk to your friends, saying, “I just can’t put up

with anymore of this.”

Don’t struggle with the same tests day after day;

instead, talk back to the devil as Jesus did (see Luke

4:1- 13). If you feel your peace and joy slipping away,

talk out loud to Satan. If he is trying to steal from

you, say, “Forget it, devil; you are not getting me

upset today!”

JULY 14

Joy Makes You Strong

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the

Lord is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust

and take refuge in Him.

2 SAMUEL 22:31

Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Be not grieved and depressed,

for the joy of the Lord is your strength and

stronghold.” Being happy and joyful makes you

strong, and being mad or sad makes you weak. But

the Lord is a Shield, and the Lifter of your head (see

Psalm 3:3).

Satan isn’t after your joy; he is after your strength.

The devil wants you too weak to pray. He wants you

worn out and burned out. But the Lord will lift your

head and shield you from the devil’s plot against you,

if you put your trust in Him.

JULY 15

One Day At A Time

My God, my Rock, in Him will I take refuge; my

Shield and the Horn of my salvation; my

Stronghold and my Refuge, my Savior— You save

me from violence.

2 SAMUEL 22:3

Trials can come like a freight train—one car after

another, after another—but eventually the last car

passes. When problems seem unceasing, remind

yourself, “This too shall pass.” Deal with one trial at a

time in the power of the Holy Ghost until each series

of events is over. God will give you fresh anointing

daily to handle everything that comes into your life.

Each time you endure a tough day, you can sleep it

off and start again the next day. So you may as well

enjoy the tough days too, because God’s favor is for a

lifetime; weeping may endure for a night, but joy

comes in the morning (see Psalm 30:5).

JULY 16

Experience His Joy

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God

of my salvation.

HABAKKUK 3:18 KJV

God created us with the ability to laugh, so we must

need to laugh. The Word says, “A happy heart is good

medicine and a cheerful mind works healing”

(Proverbs 17:22). Jesus said that His joy would be in

us so that we may experience His delight; He wants

to fill our hearts with His gladness (see John 17:13).

Jesus wants us to experience His joy, not just preach

about it, or read books about it. He wants us to

experience His joy.

Joy greatly depends on how you view life, so if you

need help getting your sense of humor back, ask God

to show you the lighter side of life today. Don’t

hesitate to laugh when you suddenly feel joyful; you

will quickly find that joy is very contagious.

JULY 17

Go With The Flow

Brethren, for this reason, in [spite of all] our

stress and crushing difficulties we have been

filled with comfort and cheer about you [because

of] your faith (the leaning of your whole

personality on God in complete trust and

confidence).

1 THESSALONIANS 3:7

Go with the flow, and stop being anxious about

things that may never happen. If you really trust

God, you don’t need a backup plan. Faith means that

you have peace even when you don’t have all the

answers.

Life will always be stressful if you constantly try to

rearrange it. For example, getting upset in a traffic

jam doesn’t get you out of it any sooner. But planning

for obstacles will inspire you to leave a little earlier

for your appointments and keep you from hurrying.

Grow in wisdom, and place high priority on keeping

your peace in spite of any jams you get into today.

JULY 18

Enjoy Ordinary Days

They who sow in tears shall reap in joy and

singing.

PSALM 126:5

Our days in the kingdom of God are like seeds

scattered upon the ground. We must continue to

sleep and rise, night and day, while the seeds that we

sow through our words and deeds sprout and grow

and increase (see Mark 4:26- 28).

Most days are not full of excitement, and some days

are more difficult to endure than others. But we can

learn to enjoy the ordinary and the challenging days

of our lives. As the earth produces first the blade,

then the ear, and finally the full grain in the ear, so

will our lives produce a great harvest from our

faithfulness in sowing righteousness.

Continue to do what you know is right to do, and

enjoy this ordinary day. You are one day closer to a

joyful harvest.

JULY 19

Stay Stable

The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish

like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright,

useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar

in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and

incorruptible].

PSALM 92:12

James 1:12 says, “Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the

man who is patient under trial and stands up under

temptation, for when he has stood the test and been

approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life

which God has promised to those who love Him.”

Don’t get upset if somebody gives you a hard time

today. Don’t get upset if you don’t get your way, or if

somebody says or does something you don’t like. If

you are set up for an upset, stay stable—it is only a

test.

JULY 20

Do Your Best

But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate

(One Who will intercede for us) with the Father—

[it is] Jesus Christ . . . And He [that same Jesus

Himself] is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice)

for our sins, and not for ours alone but also for

[the sins of] the whole world.

1 JOHN 2:1- 2

You are responsible to people, but God has not made

you responsible for their joy. You may have children,

or siblings, or a spouse God has given you to love and

nurture who seem uninterested in your testimony.

Some people just refuse to be happy, so don’t let

them steal your joy.

You cannot fix anyone, and you shouldn’t take the

blame for everything that goes wrong in someone

else’s life. Obviously, you cannot make everybody

you know believe in Jesus. But you can get up every

day and do your best, and then trust God for the rest.

JULY 21

God Is Always Working

Furthermore, brethren, we beg and admonish you

in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus, that

[you follow the instructions which] you learned

from us about how you ought to walk so as to

please and gratify God, as indeed you are doing,

[and] that you do so even more and more

abundantly [attaining yet greater perfection in

living this life].

1 THESSALONIANS 4:1

In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul wrote, “When you

received the message of God [which you heard] from

us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men,

but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is

effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its

superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust

in and rely on it]” (emphasis mine).

The Bible says that God’s Word works in those who

believe it. So no matter what you see today, believe

that God is working on your breakthrough.

JULY 22

Look To What Is Unseen

Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen

ones (His own picked representatives), [who are]

purified and holy and well-beloved [by God

Himself, by putting on behavior marked by]

tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a

lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and]

patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and

has the power to endure whatever comes, with

good temper].

COLOSSIANS 3:12

When you pray for other people, it may seem that

they get worse before they get better. The devil wants

to discourage you from believing that God is

answering your prayers. The apostle Paul said that

he learned not to be discouraged even when going

through terrible trials. He said to look to the things

that are unseen, not to the things that are seen (see 2

Corinthians 4:18).

Keep believing, and the power of the Holy Spirit will

fill you with joy and peace until you are overflowing

with hope (see Romans 15:13). Always trust God to

answer your prayers.

JULY 23

Ignore Distractions

And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one

but Jesus only.

MATTHEW 17:8

Our own flaws can distract us from keeping our eyes

on Jesus. If we think too much about what is wrong

with us, we will forget what God can do through us.

If we look too much at what we lack, we will forget to

be thankful for what we have.

The Bible says to look away from all that will distract

us from focusing on Jesus (see Hebrews 12:2). If your

faith begins to waver, quickly get your eyes on Jesus,

who is the Source of your faith and the Incentive for

your belief. Remember how He endured the cross,

despising and ignoring the shame of it, for the joy of

winning you to Himself. He promises to bring your

faith to maturity and perfection.

JULY 24

Be Thankful

Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-

hearted continually (always); be unceasing in

prayer [praying perseveringly]; thank [God] in

everything [no matter what the circumstances

may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is

the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus

[the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. Do not

quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16- 19

Be thankful for everything, and be careful not to

quench the Holy Spirit by complaining, or you will

lose your joy. You can be glad-hearted no matter

what your circumstances are.

Renew your mind to God’s ideals and attitude (see

Romans 12:2). If you spend time in God’s presence,

you will think differently about yourself, and about

the people around you. You will have the mind of

Christ, and be full of His love.

JULY 25

Discipline Brings Success

But if from there you will seek (inquire for and

require as necessity) the Lord your God, you will

find Him if you [truly] seek Him with all your

heart [and mind] and soul and life.

DEUTERONOMY 4:29

Proverbs 5:23 says that a person “will die for lack of

discipline and instruction, and in the greatness of his

folly he will go astray and be lost.” That doesn’t

necessarily mean that a person will die immediately,

but a lack of discipline leads toward deathly

situations.

In his book A Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozier said

(paraphrased) that God puts a desire in us to seek

Him. But we have to discipline ourselves to seek Him.

We can become too passive waiting for God to initiate

a relationship with us. If you want to have a

successful life, discipline yourself to seek God every

day.

JULY 26

Balance Life

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the

man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord,

and teach out of Your law, that You may give him

power to keep himself calm in the days of

adversity.

PSALM 94:12- 13

A person who is lazy and passive is not happy. A

passive person is someone who wants something

good to happen, but who just sits still and waits to see

if it does. Successful people live disciplined lives.

First Peter 5:8 says, “Be well balanced (temperate,

sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times.”

The devil would like you to go overboard in some

area, but stay steady and God “will Himself complete

and make you what you ought to be, establish and

ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you”

(v. 10).

JULY 27

God Works While You Rest

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the

[action of His] power that is at work within us, is

able to [carry out His purpose and] do

superabundantly, far over and above all that we

[dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest

prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].

EPHESIANS 3:20

Being well-balanced means that you don’t do too

much of one thing and not enough of another. If you

go overboard to be disciplined, you can become

legalistic, rigid, and boring! Learn to have fun too.

Don’t spend the whole day working, but don’t be lazy

either. Ask God to help you balance hard work and

rest. Stop working long enough to be thankful for all

God gives you to celebrate throughout the day. As

you rest in God, He will continue working in you to

help you become all He plans for you to be.

JULY 28

Make Time With God A Priority

Then Jesus, knowing that they meant to come and

seize Him that they might make Him king,

withdrew again to the hillside by Himself alone.

JOHN 6:15

If the devil can’t convince you to be idle and passive,

he will drive you to do too much. As soon as you are

out of balance, he can devour you (see 1 Peter 5:8).

The word disciple comes from the word discipline.

To be a disciple of Jesus, you must discipline yourself

to follow His ways.

Jesus spent a great deal of time going about doing

good for people, but He balanced His time by getting

alone to pray and commune with the Father. Time

with God renews your strength to do good things that

you want to do for others. Live a balanced life by

spending time with Him.

JULY 29

Walk In Love

And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in

one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself

up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for

you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

EPHESIANS 5:2

Jesus said, “If anyone intends to come after Me, let

him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose

sight of himself and his own interests] and take up

his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding

with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving

steadfastly to Me] (Mark 8:34, emphasis mine).

Living a disciplined life means laying aside personal

feelings, deciphering which choice is most important

in God’s eyes, and then allowing that choice to take

preeminence over the others. As Jesus laid down His

life for you, He is asking you to lay down your

interests for His greater cause.

JULY 30

Crucify Selfish Attitudes

All of you must keep awake (give strict attention,

be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that

you may not come into temptation. The spirit

indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

MATTHEW 26:41

To live in victory, we can’t make decisions according

to the way we feel, or by what we think we want. The

Word teaches that we are born with appetites

sensitive to our human nature. Our natural flesh is

carnal and unspiritual. It will keep us slaves to sin,

unless we crucify it and follow what the Spirit of God

leads us to do.

Studying God’s Word will build your faith and keep

you on the right path: “The wise also will hear and

increase in learning, and the person of

understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound

counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course

rightly]” (Proverbs 1:5).

JULY 31

Choose The Narrow Path

Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the

gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads

away to destruction, and many are those who are

entering through it. But the gate is narrow

(contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened

and compressed that leads away to life, and few

are those who find it.

MATTHEW 7:13- 14

Even when we know the right thing to do, it can be

difficult to do if we don’t feel like it. We may feel like

lying in bed much longer than we should, even when

we aren’t sleepy anymore. Sometimes we know we

ought to keep our mouth shut, but we don’t feel like

it.

The way to victory is a narrow path that requires

discipline regardless of our feelings. Sometimes it

may look too narrow to even squeeze through. But

victory comes by obeying God’s Word to us, in spite

of our feelings. Follow faith, not feelings, today.

AUGUST 1

Don’t Avoid Hard Work

For the time being no discipline brings joy, but

seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it

yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those

who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit

which consists in righteousness—in conformity to

God’s will in purpose, thought, and action,

resulting in right living and right standing with

God].

HEBREWS 12:11

An undisciplined person looks for ways to avoid hard

work. Passivity prevails in our culture; everything is

geared toward making life easier: ride the escalator,

take the elevator, get fast-food carryout. But the easy

way is not always the best way.

Just as we need to exercise our bodies, so we also

need to exercise our faith by facing difficult

challenges. Use faith to forgive those who offend you

and to trust God when you can’t see how problems

will be solved. Soon you will enjoy a harvest of

righteousness from the discipline you endure today.

AUGUST 2

Make The Most Of Time

Where is the wise man (the philosopher)? Where

is the scribe (the scholar)? Where is the

investigator (the logician, the debater) of this

present time and age? Has not God shown up the

nonsense and the folly of this world’s wisdom?

1 CORINTHIANS 1:20

In Ephesians 5:15- 17 God’s Word says that we are to

live purposefully, using wisdom as sensible,

intelligent people. This means to make the most of

the time we are given. Equal time is given to us all,

but we don’t always use wisdom to keep from

wasting it.

We are to buy up every opportunity we can to fulfill

our purpose on earth, which is to love God and

others. Verse 17 says, “Therefore do not be vague and

thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and

firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.” Get

alone with God to make sure you know how to use

your time today.

AUGUST 3

Words Are Power

Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look

[after one another], to see that no one falls back

from and fails to secure God’s grace (His

unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order

that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or

hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter

torment, and the many become contaminated and

defiled by it.

HEBREWS 12:15

Jesus said, “If you have faith (a firm relying trust)

and do not doubt . . . even if you say to this

mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be

done. And whatever you ask for in prayer, having

faith and [really] believing, you will receive”

(Matthew 21:21- 22, emphasis mine).

Don’t misuse the power of words by talking too much

without faith or talking too little about your faith.

Choose kind and gentle words that lift people and

quiet gossip and strife. Believe that God’s grace will

prevail through what you say.

AUGUST 4

Balance Discipline

And I will walk at liberty and at ease, for I have

sought and inquired for [and desperately

required] Your precepts.

PSALM 119:45

It takes discipline to balance your life. You should be

disciplined to pray, disciplined to read and study the

Word, and disciplined to spend quality time in

fellowship with the Lord. But you must also be

disciplined to spend quality time with your family,

and to take care of your health. You should even

discipline yourself to rest and have fun.

Examine your life today, and do what is needed to

bring balance to the way you use your time. God

wants your life to be full of joy. Psalm 23:2- 3 teaches

that He will lead you beside still and restful waters.

He will refresh and restore your life. And He will

lead you in the paths of righteousness for His name’s

sake.

AUGUST 5

Write The Vision

Where there is no vision [no redemptive

revelation of God], the people perish; but he who

keeps the law [of God, which includes that of

man]—blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is

he.

PROVERBS 29:18

The Lord told Habakkuk to write the vision that God

had given him, and to engrave it so plainly on tablets

that everyone who passed could read it easily. God

promised that His vision would be fulfilled on its

appointed day (see Habakkuk 2:2- 3).

If you have been asking God to lead you in the way

you should go, you will have a sense of purpose

building in you. You can ask Him to help you plan

your day, your week, and your life. I encourage you

to write down the things that God imprints on your

heart to do. Writing the vision, and placing it where

you can routinely see it, will help settle the plan God

puts inside of you.

AUGUST 6

Live With Purpose

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm

(steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the

work of the Lord [always being superior,

excelling, doing more than enough in the service

of the Lord], knowing and being continually

aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it

is never wasted or to no purpose].

1 CORINTHIANS 15:58

Life without purpose is vanity. Webster’s definition

of purpose is “something set up as an object or end to

be attained.” Christians ought to be people with

purpose. We are all purposed to seek the kingdom of

God, which is His righteousness, peace, and joy in the

Holy Spirit (see Romans 14:17).

Today is an opportunity to willfully and deliberately

seek God with the intent to know Him better than we

knew Him yesterday. Today we can deliberately

move forward with the intent to accomplish good

things for the kingdom.

AUGUST 7

Stay On Course

Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose],

and let your gaze be straight before you. Consider

well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be

established and ordered aright. Turn not aside to

the right hand or to the left; remove your foot

from evil.

PROVERBS 4:25- 27

Jesus knew what His purpose was. He disciplined

Himself to stay on course, living His life to fulfill that

purpose for which He came. As Christians, we need

to follow in His steps and focus on our purpose. We

were bought with a price to live our lives in such a

way that we become the salt of the earth, the light of

the world (see Matthew 5).

We are to lay down our selfish, self-centered

lifestyles, and gear our lives toward doing something

for the betterment of someone else. Then we will

experience that “joy unspeakable, and full of glory”

(1 Peter 1:8).

AUGUST 8

Keep Alert

Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are

those servants whom the master finds awake and

alert and watching when he comes. Truly I say to

you, he will gird himself and have them recline at

table and will come and serve them!

LUKE 12:37

In Ephesians 6:10 God’s word teaches, “Be strong in

the Lord [be empowered through your union with

Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength

which His boundless might provides].” We are to put

on God’s armor so we won’t be deceived by the devil.

Verse 16 says, “Lift up over all the [covering] shield

of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the

flaming missiles of the wicked [one].”

In verse 18 we are also told to “pray at all times (on

every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all

[manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep

alert and watch with strong purpose and

perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints

(God’s consecrated people)” (emphasis mine).

AUGUST 9

Act Now

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He

has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah]

to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor;

He has sent Me to announce release to the

captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send

forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who

are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken

down by calamity].

LUKE 4:18

Good intentions are not acts of obedience, and

procrastination devours opportunities to live a

purposeful life. Whatever God has inspired you to do

—do it today.

Just do what needs to be done, even if the first thing

you tackle is the dishes in the kitchen sink or a

garage that needs cleaning. If God has specifically

told you to bless someone, and you have intended to

do it, remember that now is the acceptable time, now

is the day of salvation (see 2 Corinthians 6:2).

AUGUST 10

Win The Race

But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it

roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it,

for fear that after proclaiming to others the

Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should

become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved

and rejected as a counterfeit].

1 CORINTHIANS 9:27

It is easy to leave unpleasant tasks for later. But God

wants His people to finish the race that He sets

before them to run (see 2 Timothy 4:7). Don’t be

afraid to do what seems to be hard. God will anoint

you to do whatever He tells you to do.

Paul spoke of this race for the sake of the gospel in 1

Corinthians 9:23- 26: “So run [your race] that you

may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.” He

said to run with definite aim, and to discipline

yourself to finish the race. Grace will make winning

easier than you imagined.

AUGUST 11

Brace Your Mind

I am able to do nothing from Myself

[independently, of My own accord—but only as I

am taught by God and as I get His orders].

JOHN 5:30

One of the reasons people don’t get things done is

that they mentally see their unfinished assignments

as monstrous undertakings. If they would just take

care of those projects, they would find they aren’t

that big of a deal.

First Peter 1:13 says, “Brace up your minds; be sober

(circumspect, morally alert); set your hope wholly

and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is

coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is

revealed.” Don’t let your mind rule you. When

thoughts of inadequacy fill your head, stop and

remember that God’s grace is sufficient to meet all

your needs. Just do things one at a time, and keep

your mind on God’s ability, not your own.

AUGUST 12

Keep A Positive Attitude

Keep your foot [give your mind to what you are

doing] when you go [as Jacob to sacred Bethel] to

the house of God. For to draw near to hear and

obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools

[carelessly, irreverently] too ignorant to know

that they are doing evil.

ECCLESIASTES 5:1

People who take a positive attitude and say, “I can do

it. I am going to do it right now. It is no problem.

Everything will work out fine,” are wonderful to be

around and work with because they tackle things

and get them done.

If you put off something you should have done

already, it will start to threaten you with fear. Don’t

allow an assignment to get out of proportion in your

mind. Keep your mind on what you set out to do

today. If you get interrupted, make yourself come

back to that task and finish it up. Nothing is so hard

that you can’t handle it, if you will keep a positive

attitude and do it God’s way.

AUGUST 13

Have A Plan

Make me go in the path of Your commandments,

for in them do I delight.

PSALM 119:35

Go to sleep at night with a plan in mind for the next

day. Don’t be vague about what you hope to

accomplish. One morning I was lying in bed when

the Spirit of the Lord said to me, “Stop being

ambiguous.” The dictionary defines ambiguous as

“doubtful or uncertain,” and “capable of being

understood in two or more possible senses or ways.”

Don’t be double-minded. Don’t just wait to see what

happens. Wake up with a plan that puts God first in

all you do. God’s Word is a lamp to your feet, and a

light to your path (see Psalm 119:105). Talk to Him

before you even get out of bed; ask Him to make

clear what you need to achieve today.

AUGUST 14

Develop Self-control

He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a

city that is broken down and without walls.

PROVERBS 25:28

Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-

23). It develops as we spend time fellowshipping with

God and practicing obedience to Him. Sometimes we

would rather that God control us and make us do the

right thing. But He wants us to rule over our spirit.

Proverbs 16:32 says, “He who is slow to anger is

better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit

than he who takes a city.” It takes self-control not to

get offended, not to become angry every time

somebody doesn’t do something the way we want it

done. Self-control is needed over our thoughts, our

words, and our appetites. But once we master our

own spirit, we are considered to be powerful in the

eyes of God—stronger than one who takes a city.

AUGUST 15

Don’t Be Lazy

Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his

business? He will stand before kings; he will not

stand before obscure men.

PROVERBS 22:29

Proverbs 24:30- 34 gives a clear warning about being

lazy. Laziness allows everything in our lives to get

overgrown or broken down. We are to observe the

fate of a lazy man and receive this instruction: “Yet a

little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the

hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come as a

robber.”

God will help you with anything in your life that has

become overgrown or broken down. If you put your

trust in Him, He can turn your mess into your

message. Set your way to follow God from this day

forth. Guard against the spirit of laziness. Get rid of

procrastination, and do whatever God has been

telling you to do.

AUGUST 16

Appreciate Correction

Happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) is the man

who finds skillful and godly Wisdom, and the man

who gets understanding [drawing it forth from

God’s Word and life’s experiences], for the

gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver,

and the profit of it better than fine gold.

PROVERBS 3:13- 14

Ask God to reveal areas in which you need to apply

self-control. You can even enjoy the journey to

becoming all that He has in mind for you to be, if you

learn to appreciate godly correction from others.

Remember, God loves you just the way you are, but

He corrects those He loves (see Proverbs 3:12).

Only mature Christians enjoy the meat of God’s

Word, and He has much to share with His grown-up

sons and daughters. There will always be more to

learn, so don’t make excuses for your weak points.

Accepting the truth will set you free (see John 8:32),

and God will give you strength to overcome in those

areas in which you are weak.

AUGUST 17

Fruit Of The Spirit

If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by

the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in

God, let us go forward walking in line, our

conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

GALATIANS 5:25

People crave love, happiness, and peace. They try to

buy these things and pay therapists to help them find

them. All these qualities are available by trusting as

their Savior, Jesus, who sends the Holy Spirit to help

them walk in obedience to God. Living the Spirit-

filled life will eventually produce those things that

people want most in their lives.

Galatians 5:22- 23 says, “But the fruit of the [Holy]

Spirit [the work which His presence within

accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience

(an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness

(benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness,

humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence).

Against such things there is no law [that can bring a

charge].” Let the work of God’s presence within you

shine through you to others today.

AUGUST 18

Be Diligent

But we do [strongly and earnestly] desire for each

of you to show the same diligence and sincerity

[all the way through] in realizing and enjoying the

full assurance and development of [your] hope

until the end.

HEBREWS 6:11

Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man diligent and

skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he

will not stand before obscure men.” A diligent man

lives by the principle of “just do it!” He is the one

who does it, does it, does it, and then does it some

more, until whatever he set out to do is finished.

Never give up on anything God has told you to

believe for; never quit doing anything He has clearly

shown you to do. Your diligence will pay off with a

blessing from God.

AUGUST 19

Complete Your Work

Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do

the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to

accomplish and completely finish His work.

JOHN 4:34

I believe the Lord wants us to finish whatever He

calls us to do, even when it requires patience,

perseverance, and hard work. God wants us to grow

roots and learn to endure until the fruit of His

promise is manifested.

Be willing to endure patiently to see God’s plan take

place in your life. If God has given you a vision of

something He wants you to accomplish, keep doing

whatever He has given you to do, even when the

excitement for the work is over, and all the goose

bumps are gone. If you don’t have a vision, ask God

to show you something that you need to do, and then

commit your work to the Lord until it is completed.

AUGUST 20

Rid Yourself Of Clutter

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind

is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

ISAIAH 26:3 NKJ

Sometimes we complicate our life by taking on things

that God has not told us to do. We add stress,

confusion, and clutter with the unnecessary things

we take on and hold on to. We need to use our faith

to let go of whatever clutters our mind and keeps us

from peace.

Ask God to show you ways to simplify your life. Take

an inventory today, and start throwing out whatever

is filling your life with unproductive distractions.

God wants you to enjoy your day, so get rid of

whatever He shows you to give up.

AUGUST 21

Love Your Critics

He who heeds instruction and correction is [not

only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way

of life for others.

PROVERBS 10:17

Love your critics. Appreciate people’s correction.

Appreciate God’s correction also. Proverbs 3:12 says,

“For whom the Lord loves He corrects.”

Self-discipline is the mark of maturity. If you don’t

have control of yourself in a certain area, you are

undisciplined. In that area you are not mature. If you

want to be a mature Christian, then you must be

disciplined.

If you want to be free to truly enjoy your life, you

must face the truth. You cannot be free if you make

excuses for any area of weakness that God has

pointed out to you. Everyone has weaknesses: give

thanks to God if you discover one of yours today, and

trust Him to be strong in that area in your behalf.

AUGUST 22

Get Rid Of Hindrances

Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you may be

fresh (new) dough, still uncontaminated [as you

are], for Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 5:7

If you are serious about growing in the Lord and

reaching a maturity of faith, you will embrace

Matthew 5:29- 30. It is a powerful Scripture which

basically says: “If your eye offends you, pluck it out;

if your hand offends you, cut it off.”

In 1 Corinthians 9:24- 27, Paul said, “I am running a

race, and I am running it to win. Therefore, I buffet

my body, I subdue it, and I handle it roughly”

(paraphrased).

If you have habits or hindrances in your life that are

fouling you up, get rid of them. Do it now! Don’t

waste today with regret. Ask God to show you any

area in your life that needs discipline, and then draw

from His vast supply of grace to make the changes

you need to make.

AUGUST 23

Control Your Moods

Receive instruction in wise dealing and the

discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness,

justice, and integrity.

PROVERBS 1:3

Moods can bring strange impulses that we dare not

heed. When we get moody, we want to do weird

things, or neglect our responsibilities.

“I don’t feel like doing anything today. I am in a bad

mood. Just leave me alone.”

Disciplined people submit their emotions to wisdom.

They say, “These are my feelings, but I don’t live by

my feelings. I may have moods, but they don’t dictate

my actions. I am going to do exactly what I would do

if I felt better.” You will enjoy your day more when

you discipline yourself to do what you believe,

instead of what you feel.

AUGUST 24

Control Your Speech

A gentle tongue [with its healing power] is a tree

of life.

PROVERBS 15:4

The Bible says that if a person can control his speech,

he can curb his entire nature: “For we all often

stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if

anyone does not offend in speech [never says the

wrong things], he is a fully developed character and

a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to

curb his entire nature”(James 3:2).

No one is completely mature in the Lord, so there is

always room for improvement. If your mouth is out

of control, other areas of your life will also be out of

control. Give your speech to God today. Ask Him to

direct the words you speak, and allow Him to fill

your mouth with words of life that lift up everyone

around you.

AUGUST 25

Choose Excellence

I am Your servant; give me understanding

(discernment and comprehension), that I may

know (discern and be familiar with the character

of) Your testimonies.

PSALM 119:125

The Word says, “Learn to sense what is vital, and

approve and prize what is excellent and of real value

[recognizing the highest and the best, and

distinguishing the moral differences], and . . . be

untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so

that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied,

you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling

nor causing others to stumble]” (Philippians 1:10).

People make choices and selections all day long. A

truly disciplined person has the ability to

subordinate the lesser choice to the greater, more

excellent choice. Think about that as you choose the

way you will go today. Select the greater cause, and

subordinate the lesser options to it.

AUGUST 26

You Are Secure

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord

with all your heart and mind and do not rely on

your own insight or understanding. In all your

ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and

He will direct and make straight and plain your

paths.

PROVERBS 3:5- 6

Following God is not a part-time lifestyle. The Bible

clearly teaches that we are to be cautious at all times

because the devil looks for opportunities to devour

us (see 1 Peter 5:8).

But God gives us grace to withstand the devil and to

be firm in faith against his onset. You can be rooted,

established strong, immovable, and determined,

knowing that whatever you face today is identical to

what Christians throughout the world are facing.

And God Himself will complete you and make you

what you ought to be. He will establish you and

ground you securely, strengthen and settle you today

(see vv. 9- 10).

AUGUST 27

Use Self-Control

For this very reason, make every effort to add to

your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control,

perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and

to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly

kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities

in increasing measure, they will keep you from

being ineffective and unproductive in your

knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 PETER 1:5- 8 NIV

The Word says that a person will die for lack of

discipline and instruction, and in his folly he will go

astray and be lost (see Proverbs 5:23). You can’t buy

discipline, but you have an inner ability to develop

self-control.

By spending time with God, you can be filled with

His Spirit and controlled by His power to live a calm

life with a well-balanced mind of discipline and self-

control (see 2 Timothy 1:7). Consciously add self-

control to your behavior today.

AUGUST 28

Give God Control

And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of

character (approved faith and tried integrity).

And character [of this sort] produces [the habit

of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

ROMANS 5:4

You will not enjoy your day if anything is out of

control. You can keep your temper, moods, emotions,

appetite, mouth, and thoughts in line with God’s

Word if you give Him control over the areas you

want to subdue with faith. God created us with a free

will, and we can choose the thing that is best for us.

Be free from old destructive habits by simply

forming new ones. Don’t let your emotions get out of

control today. If, for instance, you feel your temper

begin to rise, pray quickly for God to fill you with the

fruit of the Spirit. Use the self-control that He freely

makes available to you.

AUGUST 29

Desire God’s Heart

Arm yourselves with the same thought and

purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to

please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh

[having the mind of Christ] is done with

[intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself

and the world, and pleases God], so that he can no

longer spend the rest of his natural life living by

[his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives]

for what God wills.

1 PETER 4:1- 2

You have desires of the flesh, but you also have

desires inspired by the Holy Spirit. You have a mind

of flesh, but you also “have the mind of Christ” and

“hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His

heart” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Learn to determine where your desires are coming

from. Desires from your flesh don’t bring peace, but

desires from God’s Spirit bring joyful rewards.

Exercise self-control, and choose those desires that

are planted in you by the Holy Spirit.

AUGUST 30

Don’t Waste Time

Look carefully then how you walk! Live

purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as

the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible,

intelligent people), making the very most of the

time [buying up each opportunity].

EPHESIANS 5:15- 16

We need to be so self-controlled that we don’t waste

time. That doesn’t mean that we can never do

anything fun. It doesn’t mean we can’t do things that

we enjoy.

We don’t need to be rigid, stiff, or boring. But we do

need to use our time wisely, choosing to give the best

part of our day to spend time with God.

The Word encourages us to be prepared, saying,

“Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept

correction, that you may be wise in the time to come”

(Proverbs 19:20). Starting your day with God’s

instruction will keep you walking in wisdom, making

the most of your time.

AUGUST 31

Initiate Solutions

I have set before you life and death, the blessings

and the curses; therefore choose life.

DEUTERONOMY 30:19

Sometimes we complain about things that we could

change if we would stop feeling sorry for ourselves

long enough to do something about them. For

example, if we are lonely, we can make the effort to

be a friend to someone else. We can choose to be free

or remain in bondage to self-pity. We can choose to

be pitiful or powerful.

Psalm 25:12- 14 says, “Who is the man who

reverently fears and worships the Lord? Him shall

He teach in the way that he should choose. He

himself shall dwell at ease, and his offspring shall

inherit the land. The secret [of the sweet, satisfying

companionship] of the Lord have they who fear

(revere and worship) Him, and He will show them

His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner]

meaning.”

SEPTEMBER 1

Admirable Virtues

But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy]

Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by

the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the

cravings and desires of the flesh (of human

nature without God).

GALATIANS 5:16

“The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit, [the work which His

presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness),

peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance),

kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-

restraint, continence)” (Galatians 5:22- 23).

People throughout the world try to acquire these

virtues through counseling or self-help books. Yet the

Bible says that if we walk with God, the Spirit-filled

life will produce all these things within us. Give your

life to God each day, and He will create a right heart

in you, one that will want to do the things He would

have you do.

SEPTEMBER 2

Sowing And Reaping

So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to

us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only

being useful or profitable to them, but also doing

what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be

mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the

household of faith [those who belong to God’s

family with you, the believers].

GALATIANS 6:10

“For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature,

sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin

and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will

from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8).

We can enjoy our life (and avoid trouble) if we follow

the Holy Spirit’s leading. The Word tells us not to

grow weary from doing what is right, because God

promises that whatever we sow today we will also

reap sometime in the future (see v. 9). Be

courageous, act nobly, and continue doing what you

know is right.

SEPTEMBER 3

A New Direction

O Lord, You have heard the desire and the longing

of the humble and oppressed; You will prepare

and strengthen and direct their hearts.

PSALM 10:17

Sometimes we come to an unhappy place in our

lives. If we examine ourselves on those days, we will

most likely discover that the things that make us

most unhappy are the fruit of the choices that we

made earlier.

Today can be a new start. I think God gave us twenty-

four-hour days because He knew that was all we

could handle. His mercies are new every morning

(see Lamentations 3:22- 23). You can start over this

morning and live today for the Lord. Determine to

follow wherever God leads you, and do whatever He

tells you to do. You can expect better tomorrows

when you live right today.

SEPTEMBER 4

Walk In Integrity

The Lord rewarded me according to my

righteousness (my conscious integrity and

sincerity with Him); according to the cleanness of

my hands has He recompensed me.

PSALM 18:20

Talking about the Word isn’t enough; we need to do

what we say we believe. God will bless us if we are

people of integrity. As believers, we need to keep our

promises and do what we say we will do.

Look for ways to demonstrate integrity today. If you

can’t follow through with something you said you

would do for someone, at least call or write a letter,

saying, “Please forgive me; I was not being led by

God, and I just cannot do what I said.” This way you

will honor God and keep your steps going in the right

direction.

SEPTEMBER 5

Stay Out Of Strife

He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he

who puts his trust in the Lord shall be enriched

and blessed.

PROVERBS 28:25

Probably 80 percent of the places we visit in our

ministry have church members who are riddled with

strife. Strife is the devil’s tool against us. It takes

personal self-control to stay out of strife.

If you want to keep peace, you can’t always say

everything you want to say. Sometimes you have to

control yourself and apologize even when there is

nothing in you that wants to do so. But if you sow the

godly principle of harmony and unity today, a time

will come when you will reap the blessings of all it

can bring to you.

SEPTEMBER 6

Keep Your Promises

He who honors those who fear the Lord (who

revere and worship Him); who swears to his own

hurt and does not change; [he who] does not put

out his money for interest [to one of his own

people] and who will not take a bribe against the

innocent. He who does these things shall never be

moved.

PSALM 15:4- 5

There are times when I make a commitment to do

something that later I regret. Then I try to figure out

some way to get out of doing what I said I would do. I

argue, “God, surely You don’t want me to do this

thing and miss this other great opportunity.”

The only thing the Lord ever says to me is, “You gave

your word, Joyce. Be a woman of integrity, and I will

bless you.” If we are people of integrity, God will

bring other good opportunities around another time

with even more blessings.

SEPTEMBER 7

Ask For Help

Confess to one another therefore your faults

(your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your

sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you

may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of

mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt,

continued) prayer of a righteous man makes

tremendous power available [dynamic in its

working].

JAMES 5:16

Addictions, habits, or negative attitudes can wear

you out. If you need deliverance from some wrong

behavior, the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is

your Helper (see John 14:16). Confess your need to

God, and ask Him to deliver you.

He may lead you to confess your faults to other

believers whom you can trust to pray for you. The

Word says that we are to confess our faults to one

another so that we may be healed and restored. If

you are out of control in some area, be honest about

it. Today can be your day of deliverance.

SEPTEMBER 8

Eliminate Excuses

For the Lord your God walks in the midst of your

camp to deliver you and to give up your enemies

before you. Therefore shall your camp be holy,

that He may see nothing indecent among you and

turn away from you.

DEUTERONOMY 23:14

If a habit is controlling you, you will not enjoy the

best that God offers you. Don’t make excuses for

bondages that seem to have a hold on you. Denial

and excuses will keep you from enjoying your life.

Whether it is an eating disorder or a bad temper, you

cannot blame it on your genes or your family. God

makes a way of escape for us and promises a good

life for those who are born again. Claim your rights

as a child of God. Say, “I am a new person in Christ; I

can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

(see Philippians 4:13).

SEPTEMBER 9

God Will Change You

Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the

Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.

PROVERBS 19:21

Even though you may still be operating in old habits,

you still have hope of change, but you can’t change

yourself. God will change you, if you seek Him with

your whole heart.

Don’t be in a hurry for God to finish working in your

life. We want everything to be done instantly, but

God is not interested in our schedule. The enemy

may thwart your plans, but God’s plans don’t get

thwarted, and He has a unique plan for you.

Seek God’s plan for your life. Stay on fire, red hot,

zealous. Pursue His purpose for you with every

ounce of energy you have. There is nothing in this

world that is worth seeking more.

SEPTEMBER 10

Seek God Wholeheartedly

Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him

and His strength (His might and inflexibility to

temptation); seek and require His face and His

presence [continually] evermore.

PSALM 105:4

If you have a need today, seek God with your whole

heart. The Bible says to “aim at and seek the [rich,

eternal treasures] that are above” (Colossians 3:1). If

you seek the fruit of the Spirit wholeheartedly, God

will do a work in your life so that you will enjoy the

abundant life Jesus died to give you.

God promises, “And the Lord shall make you the

head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only,

and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the

commandments of the Lord your God which I

command you this day and are watchful to do them”

(Deuteronomy 28:13).

SEPTEMBER 11

Be Positive

I thank my God at all times for you because of the

grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God

which was bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, [so]

that in Him in every respect you were enriched, in

full power and readiness of speech [to speak of

your faith] and complete knowledge and

illumination [to give you full insight into its

meaning].

1 CORINTHIANS 1:4- 5

The Word of God says, “Depart from evil and do

good; seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue

(go after) it!” (Psalm 34:14). “Do all things without

grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against

God] and questioning and doubting [among

yourselves]” (Philippians 2:14).

Be positive. Get rid of gossiping and complaining.

Start your day by reading the Bible so that you will

know how to speak from the authority of God’s

Word. Spend time listening to God, and then tell

others what you hear Him say. Bring life to whatever

situations you face.

SEPTEMBER 12

Control Your Temper

He who is slow to anger has great understanding.

PROVERBS 14:29

It is uncomfortable for others to be around us if we

are easily angered. We need to learn how to respond

to life instead of react to it, so that we can enjoy God’s

power in our lives. God says that a person who can

control his or her anger is better and mightier than

an individual who can take a whole city (see

Proverbs 16:32).

God’s Word says, “Understand [this], my beloved

brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready

listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to

get angry. For man’s anger does not promote the

righteousness God [wishes and requires]” (James

1:19- 20). Be a ready listener, and enjoy the freedom

from anger that God offers you.

SEPTEMBER 13

Be Slow To Speak

For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good

days [good—whether apparent or not] keep his

tongue free from evil and his lips from guile

(treachery, deceit).

1 PETER 3:10

Have you ever regretted something you said as soon

as the words were out of your mouth? You can’t take

back the words you speak to others—and words can

damage relationships. The Bible says that if you can

control your mouth, you can control your whole

body (see James 3:2).

Before you respond to people too quickly, stop and

listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say about your

situation. James taught, “Let every man be quick to

hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take

offense and to get angry” (James 1:19). Commit your

mouth to God’s service today, and use words that

speak healing to others.

SEPTEMBER 14

Love Isn’t Touchy

Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own

rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no

account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention

to a suffered wrong].

1 CORINTHIANS 13:5

The Bible says that God’s love in us is not touchy. If

we wear our emotions on our sleeve all the time, we

may need to spend more time in His presence before

we face the day. Our tears can provoke sympathy, but

it is better to be a giver instead of a taker all the time.

Starting your day with God will keep you “sweetened

up” and full of confidence. As you enjoy His

gentleness and kindness, you will be built up in your

spirit and better able to overlook the offenses of

others. Ask God to give you a strong heart, one ready

to love people today as He does.

SEPTEMBER 15

Get In Balance

Love bears up under anything and everything that

comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every

person, its hopes are fadeless under all

circumstances, and it endures everything

[without weakening].

1 CORINTHIANS 13:7

We all get emotional occasionally or lose our temper

once in a while. But if you are out of balance in

either one of these areas, it is very important to get

back in balance if you want your day to go right.

If your feelings get hurt because someone looks at

you crossways or because friends or family forget

your birthday, you need to spend more time with

God. He will fill you with so much love and such a

sense of self-worth that you won’t feel ill-tempered or

touchy toward anyone. Seek God with your whole

heart today. Talk to Him about your problems, and

then enjoy yourself, knowing that He cares for you.

SEPTEMBER 16

Don’t Procrastinate

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which

His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy

(gladness), peace, patience (an even temper,

forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence),

faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility),

self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against

such things there is no law [that can bring a

charge].

GALATIANS 5:22- 23

The Bible says that we are to “be doers of the Word

[obey the message], and not merely listeners to it”

(James 1:22). In other words, we are to apply its

teaching to our everyday lives.

Procrastination is one of the greatest barriers to

putting God’s word into action in our lives. It takes

self-control to do something, and it also takes self-

control not to do something. Self-control is a fruit of

the Spirit that comes into our lives by spending time

with God. Ask God to fill you with the power of self-

control in order to overcome procrastination and be

a doer of the Word.

SEPTEMBER 17

Break Strongholds

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical

[weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty

before God for the overthrow and destruction of

strongholds, . . . and we lead every thought and

purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ

(the Messiah, the Anointed One).

2 CORINTHIANS 10:4- 5

The Bible teaches that Satan tries to build

strongholds in our lives. One way to identify the

strongholds in your life is to watch for repetitive

situations that pull you down in spirit.

We all know inside when something is not right in

our life or is getting out of control. If that happens to

you, seek God early to find out what is going on. If a

negative behavior becomes repetitive, that is a signal

that Satan is building himself a stronghold in your

life. God will destroy the devil’s strongholds within

you, if you draw near to Him.

SEPTEMBER 18

Find Truth

And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will

set you free.

JOHN 8:32

If you lose your temper easily, you will never enjoy

your day as God meant for it to be. Seek God with

your whole heart and find out what is wrong. The

way to get free from things that upset you is to find

truth—the truth will always set you free.

We don’t always want to face truth because

sometimes it is painful. Sometimes it shows us that

we need to change. If we are behaving badly, we

make excuses for our wrong behavior. But excuses

will never make us free. Let God get involved with

your day; when you feel your temper flare, ask Him

to reveal the truth of that situation. The truth will

always set you free to enjoy the rest of your day.

SEPTEMBER 19

Get Free

Out of my distress I called upon the Lord; the

Lord answered me and set me free.

PSALM 118:5

If you find yourself running late everywhere you go

(even 50 percent of the time), that is evidence of a

stronghold that Satan has built in your life. Get free

from it, or the devil will use it to keep you under

pressure. You may have an excuse for every time you

are behind schedule, but something is wrong if that

behavior pattern is repetitive.

Ask God to show you how to get free from the

pressure of always hurrying and being late. Starting

your day with God will help you set priorities for

your day. Get to the root of the problem, and enjoy

the fruit of God’s indwelling presence to get you

where you need to be—on time and without

hurrying.

SEPTEMBER 20

Run The Race

I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme

and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus

is calling us upward.

PHILIPPIANS 3:14

We live in a society that is used to doing whatever

feels good right now. But instant gratification never

brings lasting satisfaction.

If you operate in self-control through the power of

the Holy Spirit living in you, you will choose to do

things that contribute to the goal that you have in

mind. You must discipline yourself now so you will

reap the reward of reaching your goal later.

Paul taught, “Do you not know that in a race all the

runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize?

So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the

prize] and make it yours” (1 Corinthians 9:24). Stay

focused on the goal. God will give you the grace to

continue moving toward it.

SEPTEMBER 21

Get Fit

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of

cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning

fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and

of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and

discipline and self-control.

2 TIMOTHY 1:7

“Every athlete who goes into training conducts

himself temperately and restricts himself in all

things” (1 Corinthians 9:25, emphasis mine). That

word all is a difficult concept for us to grasp.

We need to live a disciplined life, physically,

spiritually, and emotionally, if we want to enjoy

God’s plan for us. The fruit of the Spirit is self-

control, and the fruit of the flesh is no control.

Paul said, “I buffet my body [handle it roughly,

discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that

after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things

pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not

stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a

counterfeit]” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

SEPTEMBER 22

Be A Doer Of The Word

My life makes its boast in the Lord.

PSALM 34:2

I have found three principles to be life-changing

when followed faithfully every day:

1. Eliminate excuses and avoid procrastination.

Being a doer of the Word is putting your faith into

action. Faith without action is dead faith (see James

2:20 KJV).

2. Face the truth no matter how painful it is. Truth is

the only thing that will set you free (see John 8:32).

God’s Word is full of truth. Start your day in the

Word of God.

3. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Understand who

you are in Jesus Christ. You are more than capable in

Him (see Philippians 4:13).

SEPTEMBER 23

Enjoy The Power To Love Others

So speak and so act as [people should] who are to

be judged under the law of liberty [the moral

instruction given by Christ, especially about love].

JAMES 2:12

It can be difficult to grasp the idea of the “law of

liberty,” because law and liberty seem to be worlds

apart: A law says one thing, while liberty says

another. I believe the law of liberty spoken of in

James 1:25 refers to the freedom of self-control,

because God puts a new heart in us that wants to

obey His law of love.

With this new heart that Jesus gave you, you have the

ability to be led of the Spirit, who gives you the

power and freedom to love others. Enjoy your day by

allowing the Lord to love others through you.

SEPTEMBER 24

Be Responsible

But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are

living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of

God [really] dwells within you [directs and

controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the

[Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does

not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God].

ROMANS 8:9

Romans 8:8 declares: “Those who are living the life of

the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of

their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or

be acceptable to Him.”

God wants us to enjoy the good life. Here He is saying

to us, “If you walk in the Spirit, you will reap

blessings from the Spirit-controlled life both now and

hereafter.”

Be responsible for your choices today. You cannot

choose to live in the flesh and still expect everything

to work out well. Choose to be obedient to the leading

of the Holy Spirit.

SEPTEMBER 25

Sow What You Want To Reap

Sow for yourselves according to righteousness

(uprightness and right standing with God); reap

according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up

your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the

Lord, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His

favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness

and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you.

HOSEA 10:12

There is never a harvest without a time of sowing

(see Ecclesiastes 3:1- 2). God can do anything He

wants to, but He has established a life principle that

works for everyone: “First you sow, and then you

reap.” It always happens in that order.

Those who sow trouble and mischief reap the same.

Those who sow righteousness reap mercy. If God

tells you to do something, and you sow obedience,

and once you have passed the test, you will reap a

good harvest. Remember the sequence: What you

sow today, you will reap tomorrow.

SEPTEMBER 26

Sow Generously

[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and

grudgingly will also reap sparingly and

grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that

blessings may come to someone] will also reap

generously and with blessings.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6

We don’t sow now and reap a harvest five minutes

later. We need to endure patiently in order to reap

the blessing of righteousness. Ten to fifteen years

may pass before a harvest comes, but God’s Word is

still true.

Be willing to go through the test of time in order to

enjoy the harvest God promises. His Word says, “In

the morning sow your seed, and in the evening

withhold not your hands, for you know not which

shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether both

alike will be good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). Sow good

seeds generously today.

SEPTEMBER 27

Reap The Good Life

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may

have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world

you have tribulation and trials and distress and

frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be

confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have

overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power

to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

JOHN 16:33

God showed me that my life was in a mess because of

the decisions I had made. He said, “Joyce, you have to

change; start sowing good seeds, and down the road

somewhere, you will reap.”

If trials come against you, don’t try to figure out

whether you sowed some bad seeds that produced

them. Trials will come, but if you will obey the Word

of God long enough (not just five minutes of trial and

error), sooner or later, you will come into the good

life that God has prearranged for you to live.

SEPTEMBER 28

Plant Purposefully

Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God

will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned,

disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or

professions, or by His precepts being set aside).

[He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to

delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and

that only is what he will reap.

GALATIANS 6:7

Choose carefully what you sow through your words

and actions, and plant only what you want to reap:

“For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature,

sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin

and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will

from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8).

Everything you do, all day long, is an opportunity to

sow good seeds, or bad ones, that can drastically

change things in your life. Get an early start in

sowing only what you want to come back to you.

SEPTEMBER 29

Depend On God

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing,

that He Who began a good work in you will

continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to

the time of His return], developing [that good

work] and perfecting and bringing it to full

completion in you.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6

Whatever you may be struggling with today, the Holy

Spirit will help you live a self-controlled life, because

the Bible says that self-control is a fruit of the

indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians

5:22- 23).

Allow the Holy Spirit to help you admit when you

have a problem that you need His help to overcome;

then ask God for help from the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, “Behold! I have given you authority and

power . . . and [physical and mental strength and

ability] over all the power that the enemy

[possesses]” (Luke 10:19).

SEPTEMBER 30

God’s Way Works

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is

everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the

Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according

to His commandments.

PSALM 128:1

The Bible says, “Do not be deceived and deluded and

misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at

(scorned, disdained, or mocked . . . For whatever a

man sows, that and that only is what he will reap”

(Galatians 6:7). God’s Word is true; He will not be

mocked.

If it seems that the enemy has erected walls to keep

you from your purpose, just keep doing what is right

anyway. Speaking of the Lord, the psalmist says, “You

have broken down all his hedges and his walls; You

have brought his strongholds to ruin” (Psalm 89:40).

God is in control; if you do right today, you will be

blessed.

OCTOBER 1

Keep On Keeping On

To those who by patient persistence in well-doing

[springing from piety] seek [unseen but sure]

glory and honor and [the eternal blessedness of]

immortality, He will give eternal life.

ROMANS 2:7

In Proverbs, Wisdom says: “Blessed (happy,

fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me,

watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my

doors” (8:34). Many people seem to jump from one

thing to another, when what they need is wisdom

and consistency.

It is important to keep on keeping on—doing what

you know is right, even if you are the only one doing

it. God is on your side (see Romans 8:31), and He has

already written the end of the Book. Those who obey

Him will win!

OCTOBER 2

Obedience Brings Success

Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His

inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for

reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of

error and discipline in obedience, [and] for

training in righteousness (in holy living, in

conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and

action).

2 TIMOTHY 3:16

The Bible says that we will reap what we sow. The

dividing line between success and failure is doing

what God tells us to do. We pray for fruit in our lives,

but we don’t always want to pray for roots.

If we want our days to go right, we need to do

whatever God tells us to do. If we don’t walk in

obedience, then we can’t complain if we wind up in a

mess. If we are lonely and God tells us to invite

somebody over, but we decide it is too much trouble,

then we will stay lonely.

Obedience brings the fruit of the Spirit in your life.

Dig deep into God’s Word before you walk away from

blessings today.

OCTOBER 3

Jesus Is Our Standard

His intention was . . . that [we might arrive] at

really mature manhood (the completeness of

personality which is nothing less than the

standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the

measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ

and the completeness found in Him.

EPHESIANS 4:12-13

One time I was comparing myself to the way I used to

be, and I thought, I am not doing too badly.

Then God said to me, “But Who is your standard?

How are you doing compared to Me?”

I said, “Lord, I have a long way to go!”

Refuse to live beneath the standard that Jesus has set

for you. Keep your eyes on Him and tell Him, “Many .

. . are the wonderful works which You have done . . .

no one can compare with You” (Psalm 40:5).

OCTOBER 4

Receive His Grace

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His

workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born

anew] that we may do those good works which

God predestined (planned beforehand) for us

[taking paths which He prepared ahead of time],

that we should walk in them [living the good life

which He prearranged and made ready for us to

live].

EPHESIANS 2:10

The Bible doesn’t say that you have to have self-

control in order to go to heaven. You are free to be

out of control if you want to; it is entirely up to you.

The Word does say that you have to believe that Jesus

Christ is your Lord and Savior (see Romans 10:9- 10).

But if you want to live the good life that God has

prearranged and laid out for you before the

foundation of the world, you will need to discipline

yourself to do whatever His Word says to do or

whatever the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart to do.

God offers you the grace to live a holy life that will

reap many blessings in the days to come.

OCTOBER 5

Enjoy The Good Life

You have put more joy and rejoicing in my heart

than [they know] when their wheat and new wine

have yielded abundantly. In peace I will both lie

down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me

dwell in safety and confident trust.

PSALM 4:7- 8

God has prearranged and made ready a good life for

you, but that good life is a choice. You have to decide

to follow God’s leading in order to walk in it.

The Bible contains guidelines for that good life. It is

not a book of laws; it is about the liberty and freedom

to live the life that reaps good things. It is a book of

wisdom that will lead you to peace and joy. If you do

what the Word says to do, blessings will chase you

and find you wherever you are (see Deuteronomy

28:1- 2).

OCTOBER 6

The Grace Of God

I have raised you up for this very purpose of

displaying My power in [dealing with] you, so that

My name may be proclaimed the whole world

over.

ROMANS 9:17

If you want victory over something, prepare yourself

to work at it. But it is not a matter of depending on

yourself or winning at life through your own

determination. God gives us grace to do good works.

But grace doesn’t mean that our human flesh gets a

free ride while we just lie down and go to sleep.

You are made for good works, to be a servant of

righteousness. You are built to take responsibility,

and God will help you accomplish all He gives you to

do. He set you free from the bondage of sin so that

you can conform to His divine will in thought,

purpose, and action (see Romans 6:18). Victory is

achieved through God’s grace, but you have to

choose to trust Him every step of the way.

OCTOBER 7

Choose Liberty

You were washed clean (purified by a complete

atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of

sin), and you were consecrated (set apart,

hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced

righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord

Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:11

As a believer, you are free to do anything you please:

“All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are

free to do anything we please], but not all things are

helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome)” (1

Corinthians 10:23).

God trusts you with liberty because He has also given

you a new heart full of desire to please Him. You

don’t have to struggle against immorality and sin

when you allow Him to fill you with His Spirit each

day. As a born-again, Spirit-filled believer, you have

been given the liberty to lead a good life. Choose

today what is wholesome, edifying, and constructive.

OCTOBER 8

Accept God’s Invitation

I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the

way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye

upon you.

PSALM 32:8

The devil wants to keep us believers subject to

legalism. If he can’t condemn us for what we do, he

will try to torment us for what we don’t do. He wants

us to feel guilty when we don’t read the Word and

pray, suggesting that God isn’t pleased with us, or

that He is even mad at us for what we haven’t done.

God never condemns us for not being disciplined,

but He lovingly invites us to spend time with Him.

Heaven is available to us through simple trust in

Jesus, but the good life is enjoyed when we act the

way Jesus acts. We should want to read the Word

because it holds the keys to knowing God intimately

and enjoying Him fully.

OCTOBER 9

Bless Yourself

I love those who love me, and those who seek me

early and diligently shall find me.

PROVERBS 8:17

Our motives are misplaced if we think we read the

Bible and pray to please God or to keep from making

Him mad at us. God once told me, “You think, when

you read the Bible, that you are making Me happy. I

am going to be happy whether you read it or not. No,

Joyce, if you read the Bible, you’re happy. If you pray,

you’re happy. If you give, you receive.”

Every single thing that God tells us to do, He tells us

to do so to bless ourselves. He doesn’t ask us to

devote ourselves to study and prayer for Him; it is for

us. The good life is our choice.

OCTOBER 10

It’s A Promise

Let Your mercy and loving-kindness come also to

me, O Lord, even Your salvation according to Your

promise.

PSALM 119:41

Some Christians want to make a law out of studying

the Bible or spending a certain amount of time with

God. But we should be motivated to read God’s Word

and spend time with Him because of our love

relationship with Him, not because of a

commandment to do so.

Jesus said, “If you [really] love Me, you will keep

(obey) My commands” (John 14:15). What He really

meant was, “If you love Me and walk in fellowship

with Me, you will keep My commandments.” If you

concentrate on loving God, then keeping His

commandments will become a natural part of what

you do. It is a promise He makes to you.

OCTOBER 11

God Does The Work

Work out . . . your own salvation . . . [not in your

own strength] for it is God Who is all the while

effectually at work in you [energizing and

creating in you the power and desire], both to will

and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction

and delight.

PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13

The Word of God brings liberty, not legalism;

promises, not laws; and guidelines to a good life, not

condemnation. Many work at following a Christian

lifestyle, but they are not happy because they are

focused on rules instead of on their relationship with

God.

If you are trudging along, believing you have to give,

have to read the Bible, have to pray, have to walk in

the fruit of the Spirit, I encourage you to stop

thinking you have to do anything. You will discover

that God will give you the grace to want to do the

things that lead to a victorious life in Him.

OCTOBER 12

Balance Is Safety

So everyone who hears these words of Mine and

acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a

sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built

his house upon the rock.

MATTHEW 7:24

Being out of balance opens the door for the devil to

rob people of the good life. The devil tempts them to

live in excess and extremes. He pushes some to be

workaholics and others to be lazy, whichever works

to keep them unproductive. He drives some to seek

wealth above God, and convinces others that poverty

is godliness.

I believe that the only safe life is a balanced life. And

a balanced life is obtained by keeping its priorities in

line with God’s truth. Build your life on solid, safe

ground by praying to God and listening to His plan

for you.

OCTOBER 13

Live Victoriously

Through Moderation

Let your moderation be known unto all men.

PHILIPPIANS 4:5 KJV

God demonstrates our need for balance through the

great varieties of foods He made available to us. We

need some of all of it, but not all of any of it. If we

overdo anything, it is just as bad as underdoing it.

Some people think, If it is a good thing, then more of

a good thing ought to be better. But that is not

necessarily true. Too much or too little can both be

big problems. Balance is the key to powerful,

victorious living. Ask God to show you how to stay in

balance today.

OCTOBER 14

Learn To Pray

Establish my steps and direct them by [means of]

Your word; let not any iniquity have dominion

over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man;

so will I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving,

loving, and obeying them].

PSALM 119:133- 134

You may pray fifteen minutes every morning, and

know you are touching heaven because things

happen as a result of your prayers. But if you have a

friend who prays for four hours every day, you may

feel that you should pray more too.

Trust God to lead you individually in how long to

pray and what to pray about. Spending an extra

three hours and forty-five minutes can become a

work of the flesh, if you do it just to be like your

friend. You can wind up miserable and unproductive

if you follow what someone else is doing, instead of

simply saying, “Lord, teach me to pray.”

OCTOBER 15

Show The Blessings

And the grace (unmerited favor and blessing) of

our Lord [actually] flowed out superabundantly

and beyond measure for me, accompanied by

faith and love that are [to be realized] in Christ

Jesus.

1 TIMOTHY 1:14

God wants to bless you today. You may feel that you

shouldn’t have nice things, but let God balance your

thinking when it comes to His blessings. He will help

you understand what you should have and what you

shouldn’t have. God blesses you so that you will be a

blessing to others.

When God provides for you, it offers hope to

unbelievers that He is faithful to provide for those

who serve Him. You are an ambassador for Christ

(see 2 Corinthians 5:20); expect His provision today,

and don’t hide His blessings when they come.

OCTOBER 16

Communicate Love

If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good

gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your

children, how much more will your heavenly

Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and

continue to ask Him!

LUKE 11:13

One day, my son sent me a text message on my phone

while he was away on a ministry trip. It read: “Mom,

I love you.” That blessed me so much. Of course, the

next time I went shopping, I wanted to find

something for him to bless him and let him know

how proud I am of him.

Send God a message today, and tell Him how much

you love Him. Just like a loving parent, God enjoys

meeting your needs, filling your desires, and blessing

you for the love you demonstrate to Him through

your obedience. He can’t wait to give you what you

need.

OCTOBER 17

Know God’s Character

And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full)

your every need according to His riches in glory

in Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 4:19

I believe Jesus tries to get us to sow a good seed by

making a statement that He is first in our lives. I

believe if we do that, we will receive more than we

give up. I am tested in this way all the time.

There have been many times when God has asked

me to give my last, my only, and my all. But every

time I have done so, I have ended up better off than I

was before.

Offer up your best to God today, and you will see His

character, that He is El-Shaddai—the God of more

than enough (see Exodus 6:3).

OCTOBER 18

Imitate God’s Goodness

For You make him to be blessed and a blessing

forever.

PSALM 21:6

God made a covenant with Abraham, that He would

bless him, and cause him to be a blessing to others

(see Genesis 12:2). You too are an heir to the true

riches of God (see James 1:9). As you mature

spiritually and are able to handle your inheritance,

God wants you to have an abundance to bless others

in His name.

Before you get involved with your daily routine

today, seek God and feed your soul with His truth for

your life. Experiencing God will cause you to imitate

His goodness, and prosper in His abundance.

OCTOBER 19

Don’t Let Feelings Rule

This is my comfort and consolation in my

affliction: that Your word has revived me and

given me life.

PSALM 119:50

God showed me that we are always going to have

feelings, and that denying the existence of them is

not godly. We do have to learn how to manage them,

so they don’t manage us.

If we live by our feelings, we will be destroyed,

because our feelings aren’t always in line with God’s

truth. We are to walk by faith in His promises, and

not by sight or how things appear or the way we feel

(see 2 Corinthians 5:7). Ask God to keep your feelings

balanced with the truth of His Word today.

OCTOBER 20

Temptation Isn’t Sin

In the day when I called, You answered me; and

You strengthened me with strength (might and

inflexibility to temptation) in my inner self.

PSALM 138:3

Temptation to do wrong can make you feel horrible.

You may think, I shouldn’t be going through this; I

shouldn’t be having a problem with this. But God

taught me that temptation isn’t sin; we sin when we

give in to temptation.

The Bible says temptation will come. It doesn’t say,

“Woe unto him to whom it comes,” it says, “Woe unto

him by whose hand it comes” (see Matthew 17:7).

Jesus told us to pray that we would not give in to the

temptation when we are tempted (see Luke 22:40).

Psalm 105:4 is a great way to start your day right. It

says, “Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave

Him and His strength (His might and inflexibility to

temptation); seek and require His face and His

presence [continually] evermore.”

OCTOBER 21

Forgiveness Wins

For if you forgive people their trespasses [their

reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting

them go, and giving up resentment], your

heavenly Father will also forgive you.

MATTHEW 6:14

Unforgiveness will ruin your day. If someone hurts

you, pray quickly, “God, I forgive them in Jesus’

name.” If your emotions feel strained when you see

that person, stand firm in your decision to forgive

them.

Pray for them, asking God to show you how to bless

them. Do whatever God leads you to do for them, and

let God’s love work through you to heal the rift

between you. If you do your part, God will bring

your feelings in line with your decision, and you will

enjoy your day and your life.

OCTOBER 22

Be Truthful

Do not say, I will repay evil; wait [expectantly] for

the Lord, and He will rescue you.

PROVERBS 20:22

God doesn’t mind if you tell Him how you honestly

feel. Actually, telling God how you feel will give you

relief. If you repress your feelings and pretend you

aren’t angry or hurting, and try to be superspiritual,

you will miss the healing that God can give to you.

Be truthful with God. Don’t carry a grudge all day.

Get in touch with what is going on inside of you and

talk to God about it. Truth is the only thing that will

set you free to enjoy the rest of your day (see John

8:32).

OCTOBER 23

Get Over It

Open rebuke is better than love that is hidden.

PROVERBS 27:5

Hiding your true feelings, like resentment or

unforgiveness, keeps you in bondage to them. It is

impossible to get your day started right if you keep

waking up with pain from yesterday’s wounds. If you

carry around this kind of “emotional baggage,” it will

poison your day.

Sometimes you have to confront things to make them

better. But use wisdom. While it is good to talk about

things, don’t dump all your thoughts and emotions

on every person who comes along today.

Talk to God about your situation before you meet

anyone. He may lead you to speak with someone you

trust. But if He doesn’t, learn to trust it completely to

Him, and let it go.

OCTOBER 24

Minister To Your Emotions

Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have

found refuge, and in You do I put my trust and

hide myself.

PSALM 16:1

God gave us feelings, and it is all right to minister to

your emotions or to the emotions of other people. Do

something kind for yourself to keep your emotions

healthy; just don’t be ruled by them.

Treat yourself to a hot bath or a walk in the fresh air.

Do what you need to do to get emotional release. If

yesterday wore you out, get refreshed spiritually and

emotionally before starting a new day. Find some

time alone with God, listen to teaching or music

tapes, and refill your heart with an awareness of

God’s presence.

OCTOBER 25

Find Balance

Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer

attention than ever to the truths that we have

heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and

slip away.

HEBREWS 2:1

When Satan finds people out of balance, he has an

inroad to destroy their lives. There are people who

get out of balance in everything: from not sleeping, to

sleeping too much; from not cleaning their house, to

trying to keep it so clean that nobody can move in it.

Find balance; balance keeps your day going right.

Satan doesn’t much care if you don’t do enough of

something, or if you do too much of it, as long as you

don’t stay balanced. Take time to examine yourself

prayerfully, and ask God to show you how to remain

balanced.

OCTOBER 26

Appreciate Your Calling

So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ

(the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of

another [mutually dependent on one another].

ROMANS 12:5

Learn to appreciate the call of God on your life. He

has a different call for everybody. None of us are

called to do all the work that needs to be done, but

we can each enjoy the assignments we are given. We

can also enjoy the work God does through others.

Today holds an opportunity to mature in the

knowledge of God and to enjoy whatever God has

called you to do. Your part is needed. Ask God early

in the day to show you where to use your gifts to help

others.

OCTOBER 27

Speak Positively

Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make

me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.

PSALM 51:6

Focus on speaking words in faith today; keep your

confession truthful but positive. Don’t deny the

existence of your circumstances, but confess what

God’s Word has to say about your situation.

For example, if you are sneezing, coughing, and

finding it difficult to breathe, it isn’t truthful to say

you aren’t sick. But you can learn to present a

negative situation in a positive way. You can say, “I

believe God’s healing power is working in me, and

that I am getting better all the time.”

OCTOBER 28

Avoid Extremes

Apply your mind to instruction and correction

and your ears to words of knowledge.

PROVERBS 23:12

When I first became a Christian, I heard a message

about keeping my mouth shut, so I made a decision

that the next day I wouldn’t open my mouth to say

anything. I was determined not to get myself in any

trouble with my words.

The next morning I did not say a word for several

hours. Then somebody asked me, “What is your

problem?” That made me mad all over again.

Eventually I learned that extremes never make our

days go right. Reading God’s Word helps us find

balance to face everything that comes our way. The

Word says we are to be well-balanced because the

devil seeks someone to devour (see 1 Peter 5:8).

OCTOBER 29

Unseen Promises Exist

And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith

and [really] believing, you will receive.

MATTHEW 21:22

Before the fulfillment of God’s promise to multiply

Abram, He changed his name from Abram (“high

exalted father”) to Abraham, (“father of a multitude”)

(see Genesis 17:1- 6). God spoke the promise long

before it was visible to anyone.

Anything that is in the Word of God is a promise that

be can rightfully and legally spoken forth even

before it visibly exists. Reach into the spiritual realm,

that you cannot see, and pull the promises of God out

of there, with the words of your mouth, and

prophesy them into existence. Read God’s Word and

speak as the Holy Spirit leads you to do so today.

OCTOBER 30

God’s Word Changes Things

Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had who

wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I

spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:13

God created with words everything that we see. God

said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Hebrews 11:3 says that everything that is visible was

made from the invisible. God has blessings stored up

for you in the spiritual realm that you may not be

experiencing, but they do exist.

Speak positive words today, and call those things that

are not (that are invisible) into your life (see Romans

4:17). If you face a problem today, say, “My problem

is temporary. God’s Word says that I am an

overcomer because of Christ’s love for me. Even

though I don’t see the answers now, God will provide

for all of my needs.”

OCTOBER 31

Esteem Others

Let each one of us make it a practice to please

(make happy) his neighbor for his good and for

his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him

and build him up spiritually].

ROMANS 15:2

There are people who make “ministries” out of

criticizing everybody else. But most people who

judge others who are actually doing something are

the ones who are doing nothing themselves. They put

down other people to try to lift up themselves.

The Word of God calls us to build up others,

esteeming them more highly than ourselves (see

Philippians 2:3). Avoid people who constantly

criticize others so their negative comments will not

rob you of godly enthusiasm. God can use you today

to help strengthen someone’s faith. Ask Him to make

you aware of these opportunities today.

NOVEMBER 1

Love Truth

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all

things grow up into him who is the Head, that is,

Christ.

EPHESIANS 4:15 NIV

If you want to become fully mature in the Lord, you

must learn to love truth. Otherwise, you will always

leave open a door of deception for the enemy to take

what is meant to be yours.

Some people have a difficult time facing truth and

reality. They prefer to live in a make-believe world,

pretending that certain things aren’t happening. But

we cannot deny the existence of problems or act as if

they are not real.

The devil is real, life is real, people are real, pain is

real, and poverty is real. The good news is that no

matter how real our pain may be, or how big our

problems may seem, we can overcome all of them

with the Word of God.

NOVEMBER 2

Enjoy Your Whole Day

I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I

will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your

marvelous works and wonderful deeds!

PSALM 9:1

Some Christians feel guilty when they are doing

something that isn’t “spiritual.” Somehow or another,

they feel the need to hurry through the grocery store,

dash through the house cleaning, and rush through

all the daily aspects of life that seem irrelevant to

their faith. They want to get back to doing something

“spiritual” so God will be pleased with them again.

God did not intend for you to hate the secular side of

life. You can enjoy holiness and time with God even

when you are doing daily chores, running errands,

or taking the children somewhere they need to go.

Don’t begrudge the routine things of life; see every

activity as an opportunity to serve God with your

whole heart.

NOVEMBER 3

Encourage, Don’t Criticize

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one

another and edify (strengthen and build up) one

another.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:11

We can improve our relationships with others by

leaps and bounds if we become encouragers instead

of critics. It is the greater person who does the right

thing; Christ’s righteousness dwells in you to help

you do what is right. You are great in God’s eyes

when you choose to do right and bless others.

No matter how rough your day is today, speak words

that uplift and encourage those around you.

Encourage others if you notice them doing a good job

—not just those who work with you, but people

wherever you go, such as store clerks, auto

mechanics, and waiters. Say something like, “I

appreciate the extra effort you are making to do your

job well.” You can change your life and someone

else’s by choosing to speak positive words.

NOVEMBER 4

Keep Balanced

For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted

in and relied on God) do enter that rest.

HEBREWS 4:3

It is easy to get overcommitted, burned out, bummed

out, worn out, and stressed out if you are trying to

keep up with too many commitments. It is out of

balance to try to do everything. If you are happy

doing what you do, keep doing it. But if it wears you

out and robs you of peace, don’t do it. What sense

does it make to commit to something, and then

murmur and complain about it while you are doing

it?

Being overcommitted will frustrate you. Anxiety is

usually a sign that God never told you to do what you

are doing in the first place. To avoid frustration in

your life, keep in balance.

NOVEMBER 5

Talk To God Anywhere

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?

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19

The angel of the Lord said to Moses, “Take the shoes

off your feet, for the ground on which you stand is

holy ground” (see Exodus 3:5). The ground was holy

because the Holy One was there. Now through faith

in Jesus, you are the temple of the Holy Ghost.

Everywhere you go becomes a holy place because the

Holy One dwells in you.

God is not in a building, where you can only visit

Him on Sunday morning. He is with you everywhere

you go. You can talk to Him while you vacuum, or

while you change the oil in your car. When you let

God become involved in every aspect of your life,

every day becomes exciting.

NOVEMBER 6

Pray All Day

Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You,

the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

PSALM 141:2

God wants to be the center of your life: the center of

your conversation, the center of your entertainment,

and the center of your relationships. Prayer keeps

Him in the center of all you do.

Years ago I could have told you that I prayed an hour

every day. But now, I couldn’t even determine how

long I pray, because I just pray every time I see or

feel a need. I pray while driving. I pray while

working, and while relaxing. Sometimes I just stop

what I am doing and praise God, and that is prayer

too. I cast my cares on Him and say, “Lord, I am not

going to worry about anything today; I am giving it to

You.”

Prayer should be like breathing, natural to do

anywhere you are.

NOVEMBER 7

Loving Actions Speak Clearly

[Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness

of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness,

gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with

one another and making allowances because you

love one another

EPHESIANS 4:2

It is good for the unsaved members of your family to

see you studying the Bible, going to church, and

bearing the fruit of the Spirit. But your family may

be more receptive to the gospel if you minister to

their needs. Ministering to them may require giving

up a prayer meeting to do things with them, such as

going fishing or shopping with your spouse, helping

your son work on his car, or taking your daughter

out for lunch.

The Bible says that the natural man does not

understand the spiritual man (see 1 Corinthians

2:14). So spiritual talk doesn’t always make sense to

unsaved people, but loving actions speak clearly to

them. Walk in love’s anointing today: be kind, joyful,

peaceful, and stable. Let God love others through

you.

NOVEMBER 8

Be Wise To The Enemy

Be well balanced . . . for that enemy of yours, the

devil, roams around like a lion roaring . . . seeking

someone to seize upon and devour.

1 PETER 5:8

Satan cannot devour just anybody he pleases. He has

to find someone who gives him an opening to do so.

One of the ways we give him an opening to destroy

us is through imbalance in our lives. A good example

would be, if we eat improperly and in an unbalanced

manner over a long period of time, we may open the

door for the enemy to bring sickness or disease into

our life.

Many times when people are recovering from illness,

they follow a strict diet that brings balance back into

their eating habits. Find balance in all you do, and

keep the enemy away from your door.

NOVEMBER 9

Internal Blessings Show Externally

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ

(the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature

altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual

condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and

new has come!

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

When God baptized me in the Holy Ghost, I felt like

He had filled me with liquid love. He did something

on the inside of me, and it showed on the outside of

me. Internal changes last, and keep showing up in

everything we do.

That is why you can’t really be a closet Christian. If

you are saved, it will show to others. If you say you

are saved, but nothing has changed in your life,

something is wrong. When Jesus comes to live in you,

He will get involved with how you live and how you

look at life to make you more like Him. Welcome any

changes He needs to make in you today.

NOVEMBER 10

Talk about God— Not the Devil

Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil

[give no opportunity to him].

EPHESIANS 4:27

God once said to me, “Quit talking so much about the

devil, what he is saying and what he is doing. I am

saying something! Talk about what I am saying. I am

doing something! Talk about what I am doing.”

Then one day God spoke a life-changing word to me,

saying, “Why don’t you study the Word, and see how

Jesus waged spiritual warfare?”

I found that Jesus didn’t talk or preach much about

the devil and what he was saying or doing. He simply

dealt with the devil by casting him out of people’s

lives. He told him to shut up. He quoted the Word to

him (see Luke 4:1- 13). Resist the devil today and tell

someone about the good things God is doing for you.

NOVEMBER 11

Hold On To Your Peace

In His [Christ’s] days shall the

[uncompromisingly] righteous flourish and peace

abound till there is a moon no longer.

PSALM 72:7

In the Bible, people are told to hold their peace,

because peace is a place of power. God tells us not to

be moved when our opponents and adversaries

come against us. We are to remain constant, fearless,

and at peace. His Word says, “The Lord will fight for

you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at

rest” (Exodus 14:14).

No matter what is happening, remain consistent;

continue treating people well, continue walking in

the fruit of the Spirit. You don’t know what kind of

fruit you have until somebody comes along and

squeezes it. You don’t know how much fruit you have

until somebody is picking it all day.

NOVEMBER 12

Do What Is Right

Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the

Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land

and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you

shall be fed.

PSALM 37:3

Powerful results happen when you do what is right.

Doing what is right is high-tech spiritual warfare! It

puts you in a position where the devil can’t affect

you, because you have decided to stand and not be

moved.

Remain in faith and trust God. The Bible says in

Psalm 37:1 that evildoers, “those who work

unrighteousness (that which is not upright or in right

standing with God),” will be cut down like the grass.

When problems arise against you, when your

enemies attack you, or when evil makes an all-out

assault upon you, trust in the Lord, and do good.

NOVEMBER 13

Don’t Lose Focus

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical

[weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty

before God for the overthrow and destruction of

strongholds.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:4

Sometimes we lose our focus. We can be walking in

love all day, going along fine, until someone comes

along and offends us. As soon as we forget our focus

of love, we stop making progress and come to a

standstill—aggravated, upset, and offended.

Understand that the mind is a battlefield. If you don’t

stop Satan when he gets into your thoughts, you are

not going to stop him from getting into your life. Stay

focused. Ask God to help you remain full of love, no

matter what comes your way today.

NOVEMBER 14

Build On Solid Foundations

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that

which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the

Messiah, the Anointed One).

1 CORINTHIANS 3:11

We can know a lot of spiritual methods (or formulas)

for getting things, but many such methods simply

have no power flowing through them. Powerless

methods are like empty containers—useless.

I had learned many spiritual methods, and I was

busy trying them, until I realized that methods don’t

work. It was like building on a cracked foundation;

nothing stood the test of time. If our foundations

leak, we get into trouble every time it storms.

Build your life on who you are in Christ. Take time to

meditate on the foundational things about being a

Christian. Build your life on the solid foundation that

you are an heir of God’s grace and His unmerited

favor.

NOVEMBER 15

Be Confident In God

For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and

strong, and shall keep your foot from being

caught [in a trap or some hidden danger].

PROVERBS 3:26

Jesus knew where He came from, He knew what He

was sent to do, and He knew where He was going.

When you get that confidence of knowing God and

His purpose for your life, you will not be affected by

the judgments or criticisms of other people.

You know you belong to God. You know His hand is

on you. You know His anointing is on you. You know

what you are called to do. You know that with every

breath you take, you are trying to follow Him, and

you know where you are going when you are all

finished. Say, “Nothing that happens today can

separate me from God’s love and His purpose for my

life.”

NOVEMBER 16

God’s Promises Will Be Fulfilled

Little children, you are of God [you belong to

Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome

them [the agents of the antichrist], because He

Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who

is in the world.

1 JOHN 4:4

Know who you are in Christ and understand that

through salvation, you are seen in the spiritual world

as wearing a garment of salvation and covered with

a robe of righteousness (see Isaiah 61:10). God is on

your side, and He is under you, over you, around

you, with you, for you, and in you.

The devil knows you belong to Christ because God

“[has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His

by] putting His seal upon us and giving us His [Holy]

Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit and

guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]” (2

Corinthians 1:22).

NOVEMBER 17

Powerful Christianity

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in

Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to

the ends of the earth.

ACTS 1:8 NIV

Being Spirit-filled is not limited to one particular

brand of Christianity. Spirit-filled people are found in

every church and denomination. They are people

who understand the need for the power of the Holy

Ghost within them so they won’t live a weak,

defeated life.

The Word says to “ever be filled and stimulated with

the [Holy] Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), indicating that

being Spirit-filled is something to which we submit

ourselves. Ask God to fill you to overflowing with His

Spirit so that everything you do today will be done

through His power.

NOVEMBER 18

Stay In God’s Presence

And now shall my head be lifted up above my

enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer

sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I

will sing praises to the Lord.

PSALM 27:6

The psalmist David said that the thing he wanted

most was to be with God and to dwell in His presence

all the days of his life (see Psalm 27:4). David loved

God for who He is, not just for what He did for him.

The Word says that if we abide in the presence of

God, He will defeat our enemies, and hide us in the

day of trouble (see v.5). God’s attention is on us, but

we must keep our attention on Him to enjoy the

fullness of His presence in our lives. We must invite

God to be involved in everything we do, and then

remember to praise Him for His goodness.

NOVEMBER 19

Seek God First

[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of

[getting the] food and drink [one likes], but

instead it is righteousness (that state which makes

a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and

joy in the Holy Spirit. He who serves Christ in this

way is acceptable and pleasing to God and is

approved by men.

ROMANS 14:17- 18

Forget all the things you think you need, and just

admit to God that you need Him. Seek first the

kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all that

you need will be added to your life (see Matthew

6:33).

God knows your needs even before you ask. Don’t

become a seeker of promotion or position. Don’t

spend your life seeking prosperity. Seek the One who

prospers. Seek the One who heals. Seek the One who

is the giver of every good and perfect gift.

NOVEMBER 20

Remain Steadfast

And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on,

remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted

it to him as righteousness (right standing with

God).

GENESIS 15:6

Spending time with God keeps you stable, steadfast,

and calm. God says He “will strengthen and harden

you to difficulties” (Isaiah 41:10). When your faith is

fed daily by God’s presence, the devil can’t control

you, because you don’t get easily upset.

Being filled with God’s truth makes it easier to live

the life God has for you. Let God be your anchor in

the midst of the raging waves of circumstances.

Remain steadfast in God.

NOVEMBER 21

Don’t Be Entangled

Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-

armed soldier which God supplies], that you may

be able successfully to stand up against [all] the

strategies and the deceits of the devil.

EPHESIANS 6:11

We are called to be soldiers in the army of God. Paul

told Timothy that no soldier gets entangled with

civilian affairs, but “his aim is to satisfy and please

the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:4). Likewise,

as we serve the Lord, we should focus on His work,

not our own concerns.

If we want to be a witness of God’s power, we must

first do what He says to do, and show others the fruit

that comes from serving Him (see vv. 6- 7). We do

this by keeping our minds constantly on Jesus Christ.

We must still handle the business of everyday life,

but we are not to let the affairs of the world pull us

down.

NOVEMBER 22

It’s The Lord’s Battle

The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who

fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe]

and each of them He delivers.

PSALM 34:7

In the Old Testament, people carried banners when

they went to war, sending the singers and praisers

into the battle first. When the tribe of Judah sang,

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His

mercy endures forever” (see 2 Chronicles 20:21), the

enemy was so confused they were self-slaughtered

and self-defeated (see v. 22).

When King Jehoshaphat prepared for battle, he took

the position of getting on his face to worship God (see

v. 18). If you have battles to face, get in the position

of warfare, and just worship the Lord. God’s

response to our worship is, “Be not afraid or

dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not

yours, but God’s” (v. 15).

NOVEMBER 23

Spiritual Warfare

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes)

from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in

your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all

questions that arise in your minds, in that

peaceful state] . . . And be thankful (appreciative),

[giving praise to God always].

COLOSSIANS 3:15

You are waging spiritual warfare when you give

radical praise to God in the midst of your need and

lack. When you are thankful to God for all He has

done and is doing, you are defeating the enemy.

When you hold your peace in the midst of the storm,

you are warring with spiritual weapons (see 2

Corinthians 10:4-5).

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I

now give and bequeath to you . . . [Stop allowing

yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not

permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and

cowardly and unsettled]” (John 14:27). Jesus has

given you peace! Put it on, and wear it everywhere

you go.

NOVEMBER 24

Stand!

[Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I

did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else;

I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the

end and the result from the beginning, and from

ancient times the things that are not yet done,

saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My

pleasure and purpose.

ISAIAH 46:9- 10

There may be times when it seems that you cannot

go forward, but at least you do not have to go

backward. You may not know how to forge ahead,

but you can stand firmly on what you know of God.

Instead of passively yielding to the enemy, you can

say, “This is the ground I have gained, and I am not

giving it up, devil. You are not driving me back into

the hole that God pulled me out of. I am going to

stand strong in the power of God until He delivers

me.”

NOVEMBER 25

Submit Yourself To God

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit

to Him; for my hope and expectation are from

Him.

PSALM 62:5

James 4:7- 8 gives the best advice on how to wage

spiritual warfare: “Be subject to God. Resist the devil

[stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

Come close to God and He will come close to you.”

When you humble yourself in the presence of the

Lord, He will exalt you and lift you and make your

life significant (see vv. 9- 10). God will show you how

to resist the devil. Spend time in God’s presence, and

do whatever He tells you to do!

NOVEMBER 26

Don’t Stay Angry

Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not

yourself—it tends only to evildoing.

PSALM 37:8

The Word tells us another way to resist temptation:

“When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath

(your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last

until the sun goes down. Leave no [such] room or

foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]”

(Ephesians 4:26- 27).

Paul said that we should forgive people to keep Satan

from gaining an advantage over us (see 2 Corinthians

2:10- 11). If someone offends you, get over it quickly

so you won’t leave open a door for the devil. It is a

sin to hold anger and bitterness, so never go to sleep

mad. If you forgive everyone before you fall asleep,

freedom from wrong attitudes in your heart will help

you start your day right the next morning.

NOVEMBER 27

Go On Through

Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless]

valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread

no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect]

and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

PSALM 23:4

Knowing God personally requires trusting Him

through the hard times in life and not running away

from trials. It requires being faithful to do whatever

He says to do, being steadfast while waiting for Him

to work out your problems.

You understand how faithful and how good God is

when you see His deliverance in your life. You can’t

get that certainty by reading a book about Him. Your

faith increases by going through tough times and

seeing His presence make a difference in your life.

Don’t run away from God during tests and trials;

draw near to Him, and listen for His voice of

assurance.

NOVEMBER 28

Be Determined

Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own]

shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive

together in fellowship and in union with Christ;

[He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the

same new life with which He quickened Him, for]

it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did

not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from

judgment and made partakers of Christ’s

salvation).

EPHESIANS 2:5

Paul said, “My determined purpose is, that I may

know Christ, and the power of His resurrection, the

power that lifts me out from among the dead, even

while I am in the body” (see Philippians 3:10- 11).

You can use every day to get to know God in a deeper

way. Read the Bible for understanding of what He

wants to reveal to you, and receive His grace to be

lifted out of every past fault. Let His power lift you

into life His way.

NOVEMBER 29

Don’t Get Rattled

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such

grievous opposition and bitter hostility against

Himself [reckon up and consider it all in

comparison with your trials], so that you may not

grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and

relaxing and fainting in your minds.

HEBREWS 12:3

We have authority over the devil, but that doesn’t

mean he will never come against us. Resisting the

devil doesn’t rid us of the problem. But standing in

the faith of God’s promises while we are waiting for

God to do something keeps us from acting like the

devil ourselves.

Don’t get rattled about the devil. If he causes

problems for you today, just say, “Forget it, devil! I

am not staying hurt, bitter, wounded, or angry. My

trust is in God. I am a Christian—watch me be

happy.”

NOVEMBER 30

Let Christ Live Through You

The life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by

adherence to and reliance on and complete trust

in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave

Himself up for me.

GALATIANS 2:20

Some people need to unlearn some things before

they can start learning what God wants for them. For

example, some people try to manipulate others with

their self-pity or anger. They believe these emotional

tools will get what they want from others. Some

people who have been hurt or abused feel that they

have to take care of themselves because nobody else

will.

Both attitudes display the common fear, “What about

me? What about me?” But Paul offers us a life-

changing principle to follow: “I have been crucified

with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in

me” (Galatians 2:20 NIV). When Christ lives through

you, you will enjoy every day of your life.

DECEMBER 1

Trust God

But let all those who take refuge and put their

trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout

for joy, because You make a covering over them

and defend them; let those also who love Your

name be joyful in You and be in high spirits.

PSALM 5:11

Many wounded people don’t know how to get what

they really need, so they wallow in self-pity. God

once told me, “Joyce, you can be pitiful or powerful,

but you can’t be both.”

Taking our eyes off of ourselves enables us to look to

God. This positions us to trust Him to meet every

need in our lives. God knows exactly what we need,

and He promises to provide it through His abundant

grace and mercy.

Ask Him to fill you with His power today, and trust

Him as Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord our Provider (see

Genesis 22:14 KJV).

DECEMBER 2

Wait For God’s Justice

Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the

Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the

inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One

Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord

Christ (the Messiah).

COLOSSIANS 3:24

God has brought a great reward in my life in

recompense for the abuse that I suffered in my

earlier days. Now I have a wonderful life. God blesses

me. He does things for me. He opens doors of

opportunity for me. He makes me happy. He gives

me joy.

When you really trust God, He will bring justice into

your life. In Isaiah 61:7 the Lord says, “For your

former shame I will give you a double reward”

(paraphrased). If someone has mistreated you,

rejected you, abused you, or abandoned you, hold on

to that promise. You have many blessings ahead of

you. Trust God with your future, and enjoy your day

as you wait for God’s justice.

DECEMBER 3

Choose To Be Changed

But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and

do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of

His heart.

1 CORINTHIANS 2:16

Do you get mad every time somebody tries to correct

you, or tell you what to do, because you always have

to be right? If you answered yes, I am sure that you

are not a happy person. You cannot change others,

but you can allow God to change you so that things

don’t bother you anymore.

With Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can learn how

to live a different way. You can have peace. You can

sleep well at night. You can like yourself. You can

restore relationships that have been ruined. Your

mind can be renewed to be like Jesus’, if you read His

Word and ask Him to help you live the abundant life

He came to give you (see John 10:10).

DECEMBER 4

Use Your Authority Well

Whoever wishes to be great among you must be

your servant, and whoever desires to be first

among you must be your slave—just as the Son of

Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to

give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid

to set them free].

MATTHEW 20:26- 28

God desires to restore us to our rightful position of

authority in Christ. But first, we must learn to respect

authority before we are fit to be in authority.

We all have authorities to whom God expects us to

submit. Our government, our law officers, and even

our merchants have the right to set rules for us to

follow. If we are not submitting to God’s appointed

authority, it will soon be revealed.

Keep a submissive attitude in your heart, and enjoy

the authority you have been given to spend time in

God’s presence today.

DECEMBER 5

Change Things With Knowledge

Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose

each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on,

rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will

bring it to pass.

PSALM 37:5

We are all eager for our situations and relationships

to change, but nothing will change in our lives

without knowledge of God’s Word. In Hosea 4:6 God

says, “My people are destroyed for lack of

knowledge.”

Change comes through prayer, and then through

waiting patiently on God. While we are waiting for

God to solve our problems, we are not to complain to

everybody else about our situation.

God tells us to trust Him. He is not asking us to trust

the people involved in our problems; He is asking us

to trust Him. There is a difference. He is faithful to

rescue us from all our troubles.

DECEMBER 6

Lend A Helping Hand

He who is greatest among you shall be your

servant.

MATTHEW 23:11

If we help someone become what God wants them to

be, God will send someone along to help us be

everything God wants us to be.

One day I asked one of our musicians if he would like

to do something that needed to be done. He said, “I

will do whatever you tell me to do; I am here to serve

you.”

I said, “But do you want to do this? You don’t have to

do it; we can find someone else.”

He said, “It doesn’t matter if I want to or not. Tell me

what you want me to do, and I will do it.” He was

anointed to help others and enjoyed doing whatever

needed to be done.

To enjoy your day, be ready to help people with

whatever God has called them to do.

DECEMBER 7

Opportunity Brings Opposition

But he who looks carefully into the faultless law,

the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and

perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless

listener who forgets but an active doer [who

obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of

obedience).

JAMES 1:25

Many people agree with a sermon or a Scripture, but

they don’t apply it in their everyday life, so nothing

changes. They think that just because they agree with

the Word, it should bring change into their life.

But change doesn’t happen automatically; a person

has to be a doer of the Word, not a hearer only. Jesus

said, “Keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious

and active) and watch and pray, that you may not

come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing,

but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).

Every time you have an opportunity to believe God

for something, you will have a temptation to give up

on it. Pray that you will overcome temptation when it

comes.

DECEMBER 8

Enjoy Liberty

Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is

patient under trial and stands up under

temptation, for when he has stood the test and

been approved, he will receive [the victor’s]

crown of life which God has promised to those

who love Him.

JAMES 1:12

Life is miserable when we won’t listen to anybody

else, or when we get mad every time somebody

doesn’t agree with us. To be so emotionally ruled and

controlled that we are stressed every time something

doesn’t go our way is bondage. When Jesus sets us

free, it means that we are free not to get upset just

because we don’t get everything we want.

It is wonderful to be free. We can give thanks for the

liberty to receive God’s help and walk in patience

despite our circumstances. Our lives can be happy,

blessed, and peaceful. We can experience joy no

matter what the situation may be.

DECEMBER 9

Enjoy A New Beginning

But there is forgiveness with You [just what man

needs], that You may be reverently feared and

worshiped.

PSALM 130:4

People sometimes tell me, “I did something wrong,

and I just don’t know if God can ever forgive me of

it.” Even when we have made serious mistakes, there

is always a place of forgiveness and a new beginning

in Christ. When we have a new beginning with

Christ, we don’t have to mourn over the past. We just

have to repent and go on. We don’t need to repent

again and again.

If you know the character of God, you know He will

forgive any sin, no matter how terrible, because to

Him sin is sin. Remember, God can make miracles

out of mistakes. If you need forgiveness today, simply

confess to the Lord what you have done, and enjoy

your new beginning (see 1 John 1:9). It begins at the

moment of forgiveness.

DECEMBER 10

Accept Responsibility

Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be

strengthened (perfected, completed, made what

you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and

comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one

with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of

love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill,

love, and benevolence toward men] and the

Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.

2 CORINTHIANS 13:11

Each one of us needs to accept our responsibility to

do what is right in God’s eyes, whether others do the

right thing or not. Otherwise we will have a standoff:

“Well, if you won’t say you’re sorry, then I won’t say

I’m sorry.”

“You’re not nice, so I’m not going to be nice.”

“You haven’t given me a compliment in a year, so I’m

not giving you one either.”

That attitude gets relationships in trouble. God wants

us to live above the pettiness of selfish arguments by

loving one another.

DECEMBER 11

Start Something

[Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what

is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from

wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.

Love one another with brotherly affection [as

members of one family], giving precedence and

showing honor to one another. Never lag in zeal

and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning

with the Spirit, serving the Lord.

ROMANS 12:9- 11

If all of us started having a godly attitude, it would

catch hold and spread like a virus. Wouldn’t it be

great if we could spread a good virus?

Imagine the whispers: “Have you heard? There’s

something wonderful going around. Have you caught

it? It is running rampant all over the place.

Everywhere you look, people have a new attitude!”

Let’s start something today! Let’s decide to think like

Christ. Let’s decide to love everyone we meet today,

and pass the word so that everybody catches on to it.

DECEMBER 12

Start Something Good

For there shall the seed produce peace and

prosperity; the vine shall yield her fruit and the

ground shall give its increase and the heavens

shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant

of this people to inherit and possess all these

things.

ZECHARIAH 8:12

Start something good in someone’s life today. Sow

faith for a healing. Sow hope for a restoration. A

sincere compliment can sow confidence in someone

who is starving for encouragement. Your forgiveness

of an ongoing offense can sow a seed for a miracle

breakthrough in that situation.

Pray for someone else’s need, or make a special

offering to start something positive in the name of

the Lord. Remember, God won’t ask you to sow

anything that He doesn’t give you the grace to give.

Enjoy the abundant harvest that is returned to your

own life when you sow into someone else’s life.

DECEMBER 13

Be Christ’s Bond Servant

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of

the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from

bondage, freedom).

2 CORINTHIANS 3:17

Paul said that he would not become the slave of

anything or anyone but Jesus Christ: “Everything is

lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of

anything or be brought under its power” (1

Corinthians 6:12).” He also said, “If I had been trying

to be popular with people, I would not now be a

bond servant of the Lord Jesus Christ” (see Galatians

1:10).

If you let other people control you, you will not fulfill

the call of God on your life. If you let their rejection

frighten you and change your focus, you won’t do

what God wants you to do. Be a slave only to God,

and a servant to people on His behalf.

DECEMBER 14

Follow Jesus

All who keep His commandments [who obey His

orders and follow His plan, live and continue to

live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them.

[They let Christ be a home to them and they are

the home of Christ.]

1 JOHN 3:24

Some people wanted to follow Jesus, but they were

afraid they would be put out of the synagogue (see

John 12:42). Some people are still afraid to follow the

Lord because they might be put out of their family,

their group, or even their church.

Eventually, there will only be one Person to face—

God. You won’t want Him to say, “I had so much for

you, but you didn’t receive it because you were too

concerned about what people thought; you were a

people-pleaser.” Jesus wasn’t swayed by men’s

opinions, threats, judgments, or criticisms. Follow

Jesus, and enjoy life.

DECEMBER 15

Listen To God

Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept

correction, that you may be wise in the time to

come.

PROVERBS 19:20

You may wonder, “How do I know when to confront

someone about an issue, and when to let it go?” If

you are too eager to set someone straight, it may not

be God motivating you. Correction must be done in

love to build up the person and not tear them down.

Always pray and wait until you know what God

wants you to do.

You must be led of the Spirit. If after prayer you still

feel that you are to talk to someone about their

behavior, be absolutely sure that you are doing it for

their good and not yours. If it is what God has told

you to do, you may not even want to do it, but it will

be done as an act of obedience to Him. Whatever you

do, do it in love.

DECEMBER 16

Don’t Get Burned Out

And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your

mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual

attitude].

EPHESIANS 4:23

Expect God to show you something new today. Some

people resist change, but God created us to need

variety in our life. If we do the same thing over and

over, we get burned out on it. God will keep our lives

exciting if we seek Him every day.

Look for new ways of doing things. If you have been

working on the same job for thirty years, driving to it

the same way, at least find a new route you can take

once in a while to get there. Do something to invite

newness into your life so you can discover God’s

many ways of revealing Himself to you.

DECEMBER 17

Be Led By The Holy Spirit

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of

God.

ROMANS 8:14

We live in a society in which people are driven to

engage in many activities. We can get almost too

tired to move from doing so much in a day, but

busyness is not the kind of life to which God has

called us.

God will not drive us to do things; He will lead us by

putting in our heart what we are supposed to do. If

you follow the Holy Spirit, you may have to say no to

some activities that you are saying yes to right now.

If what you are doing leaves you drained and worn

out, you may not have God’s anointing to do it. When

He leads you to do something, He will also energize

you to fulfill your true call.

Prune your life of things that drain you, and trust

God to lead you to the works that keep you growing

and healthy.

DECEMBER 18

Change, Don’t Complain

All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are

free to do anything we please], but not all things

are helpful (expedient, profitable, and

wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all

things are constructive [to character] and

edifying [to spiritual life].

1 CORINTHIANS 10:23

People complain about stress, but some people

would rather complain than change. It is easy to be

frightened at the thought of jumping off life’s high-

speed treadmill, especially if you aren’t sure what to

give up in order to slow down your life.

God wants you to enjoy a beautiful life with

simplicity, sanity, and clear direction. That only

comes by spending time with Him, reading His Word,

talking to Him, and listening for His response. If you

are too busy to get alone with Him each day, then set

some boundaries in your life. Say no to whatever is

keeping you from starting your day with God.

DECEMBER 19

Rest Awhile

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-

laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to

rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your

souls.]

MATTHEW 11:28

Getting stress out of your life takes more than prayer

alone. You must take action to make changes and

stop doing whatever is causing the stress. You can

learn to calm down in the way you handle things.

Jesus invited us to come to Him if we are

overburdened. He promised to refresh us if we are

weary, worn out, or overworked. Take time to go to

Jesus anytime you feel that you are going over the

edge of peace and into the pit of stress. Let His

presence refill and refresh you.

DECEMBER 20

Come Apart To Stay Together

And the effect of righteousness will be peace

[internal and external], and the result of

righteousness will be quietness and confident

trust forever.

ISAIAH 32:17

If you are feeling compelled to do so much that you

are physically worn out, you may be driven instead

of led. Remember, you have to come apart from a

busy routine before you come apart yourself. You

have to get away from everything before you come

apart physically, mentally, and emotionally. Give

yourself time to get a good night’s sleep.

It is tempting to do everything that everybody else is

doing, be involved in everything, know everything,

hear everything, and be everywhere, but it isn’t

God’s best for you. Be willing to separate yourself

from compulsive activity before you come apart at

the seams! Spend time with God, and ask Him to give

order to your day.

DECEMBER 21

Take A Break

Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has

dealt bountifully with you.

PSALM 116:7

We all need a break in the action from time to time.

Resting isn’t just a good idea—it is a command of

God: “Six days you shall do your work, but the

seventh day you shall rest and keep Sabbath, that

your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of

your bondwoman, and the alien, may be refreshed”

(Exodus 23:12). The Lord added that “even in

plowing time and in harvest you shall rest [on the

Sabbath]” (Exodus 34:21)

That means that for one day a week we are to

withdraw from common labor and to rest. Don’t

work that day, even in the busy seasons. Dedicate

that day to spending time with God, worshiping Him.

Start your week off right by getting back to what is

really important—honoring God.

DECEMBER 22

Quality Makes The Difference

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is

(springs) from God; and he who loves [his

fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is

coming [progressively] to know and understand

God [to perceive and recognize and get a better

and clearer knowledge of Him].

1 JOHN 4:7

Sometimes we think that the busier we are, the more

we are doing in the kingdom of God. But it is not how

much we do, it is the quality of what we do that

makes the difference. Most people will admit that

they need to spend more of their time developing

good relationships.

You can’t be a good friend to somebody if you never

put any time into your relationship. Ask God to bring

someone to mind that He would like for you to bless

today. Then follow through and let that person know

that God brought them to your heart.

DECEMBER 23

Rest Is God’s Law

Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves

and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to

know and experience it for ourselves], that no

one may fall or perish by the same kind of

unbelief and disobedience [into which those in

the wilderness fell].

HEBREWS 4:11

Don’t work so hard that you miss your time with

God. Rest is important for your spiritual and physical

life. The need for rest can’t be ignored; it is a law of

God. Just like the laws concerning eating, sowing,

and reaping, we cannot break the principle of rest

without paying the price of disobedience.

Paul sent Epaphroditus home saying that he came

near death through working for Christ (see

Philippians 2:25- 30), but God had mercy on him and

spared his life. Find time to be still on a regular

basis. It is in moments of rest that you are most likely

to hear God speak to you.

DECEMBER 24

Rest And Renew

So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete

Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of

God; for he who has once entered [God’s] rest also

has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of

human labors, just as God rested from those

labors peculiarly His own.

HEBREWS 4:9- 10

We all have gifts and talents far beyond what we use,

but many of us are so worn out that we don’t feel like

doing anything. Even God rested from all of His

labors, not because He was tired, but just to enjoy His

creation (see Genesis 2:1- 3). Stop working all the

time, and enjoy yourself.

Even the land needs to rest every several years to

produce good crops. If you don’t rest, you are going

to cut down your production and stifle your

creativity. You don’t have to work at God’s plan for

you; He will cause it to come to pass (see Philippians

1:6). Rest in Him.

DECEMBER 25

Re-energize Yourself

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach

me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You

[You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly]

all the day long.

PSALM 25:5

If you are worn out all the time, it will affect your

spiritual life because you won’t want to pray, study

the Word, or walk in the fruit of the Spirit. If you are

no longer sensitive to other people’s needs, you

aren’t hearing from God.

If you are this tired, it is time to reenergize your life.

Prune away the things that wear you out; don’t try to

do what you think everyone else is doing. Wait on

God to lead you, and get the rest you need to enjoy

your walk with Him.

DECEMBER 26

Enjoy Yourself

There is nothing better for a man than that he

should eat and drink and make himself enjoy

good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from

the hand of God.

ECCLESIASTES 2:24

We all have things that must be done, but God wants

us to enjoy our life’s journey. If we are too busy, we

will block the flow of what the Holy Spirit wants to

do through us.

Busyness keeps us from being fruitful in the kingdom

of God. God didn’t put us here just to work, strive,

accumulate things, and become stressed out. He

wants us to enjoy Him and His creation.

Take time to enjoy what God has given you. Enjoy

your family, your home, and yourself today.

DECEMBER 27

Move Forward

I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured

and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is

my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind

and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press

on.

PHILIPPIANS 3:13- 14

God will anoint you to do what He calls you to do. But

when His anointing is gone, let it go. Get rid of the

things that God’s anointing was on at one time, but

not anymore. Don’t keep doing the same thing

because people expect you to.

I encourage you to prune off activities that fill your

day but don’t add to your life. Sometimes we hold on

to assignments that God is finished with for us. Ask

God for wisdom, then walk away from tasks He no

longer is asking you to do. Make room for new life to

flourish through the work of your hands.

DECEMBER 28

Let God Set Your Agenda

But this thing I did command them: Listen to and

obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will

be My people; and walk in the whole way that I

command you, that it may be well with you.

JEREMIAH 7:23

Remember, you made your schedule, and you can

change it. Pray about your day, your week, and your

life goals to find out what God wants you to do, and

what He doesn’t want you to do.

If you don’t do what God is telling you to do, you may

let people control and manipulate you to do what

they want you to do. You may end up doing things for

which you are not anointed. If you do what God tells

you to do, He will bless you with joy, peace, rest, and

wonderful relationships.

DECEMBER 29

Get Rid Of Distractions

That which is desired in a man is loyalty and

kindness [and his glory and delight are his

giving].

PROVERBS 19:22

Sometimes you may just need to clear away the

clutter so you can clearly see what is worthwhile.

Here is a simple suggestion: Don’t keep more than

you can take care of. If you have so much junk in

your home that it takes you hours to dust it, get rid of

something.

Find a big carton and write “Blessing Box” on the

side of it. Start putting extra things into it until

cleaning is more manageable. Find someone who

doesn’t have much and bless them. You will be

amazed at how easy it is to start your day right when

you are no longer distracted by things you don’t

need.

DECEMBER 30

Get Up And Work

And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of

the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and

establish the work of our hands—yes, the work of

our hands, confirm and establish it.

PSALM 90:17

It is obvious we are supposed to work more than

rest. Some people just lie on the couch, eating junk

food and watching television all day, and then they

wonder why their lives are a wreck.

Once rested, get up and work. You can’t take

authority over your life if you don’t have authority

over a sink full of dirty dishes or a messy garage. If

you want to grow in ministry to others, the Word

says you must get your own house in order first (see

1 Timothy 3:5). Stay home and clean if you need to;

but win the battle of getting your life in order before

tackling the whole world.

DECEMBER 31

Ministry Is Fulfilling Work

For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your

hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall

you be, and it shall be well with you.

PSALM 128:2

There is nothing more fulfilling than being rested

and ready for the work that God has called us to do.

God puts the desire in us to minister to people

through whatever work we do. But ministry is work

that requires physical, emotional, and spiritual

strength.

Hard work is rewarding when you follow God’s way

and minister to other people through “the labor of

your hands.” That is why it is so important to start

your day with God. His presence will build you up

emotionally, His words will strengthen you

spiritually, and the time of rest that He calls you to

enjoy will make you physically able to handle

whatever may come your way.

About The Author

JOYCE MEYER has been teaching the Word of God

since 1976 and in full-time ministry since 1980. She is

the bestselling author of over 54 inspirational books,

including Secrets to Exceptional Living, The Joy of

Believing Prayer, and Battlefield of the Mind, as well

as thousands of cassettes and a complete video

library. Joyce’s Life In The Word radio and television

programs are broadcast around the world, and she

travels extensively conducting “Life In The Word”

conferences. Joyce and her husband, Dave, are the

parents of four grown children and make their home

in St. Louis, Missouri.

Contact The Author

Joyce Meyer Ministries

P.O. Box 655

Fenton, MO 63026

Or call: (636) 349-0303

Internet Address: www.joycemeyer.org

To contact the author in Canada, please write:

Joyce Meyer Ministries Canada, Inc.

Lambeth Box 1300

London, ON N6P 1T5

Or call: (636) 349-0303

In Australia, please write:

Joyce Meyer Ministries-Australia

Locked Bag 77

Mansfield Delivery Centre

Queensland 4122

Or call: 07 3349 1200

In England, please write:

Joyce Meyer Ministries

P.O. Box 1549

Windsor

SL4 1GT

Or call: (0) 1753-831102