Retrain Your Brain

Living your life as the conqueror God called you to be means that sometimes you have to develop new habits; you have to retrain your brain. If you’ve been negative for a long time, you’ve got to change your thinking from “I can’t” to “I can”, from “It won’t happen” to “It will happen”, from “I’ll never feel better” to “God is restoring health unto me”, from “I never get any good breaks” to “God’s favor surrounds me like a shield”, from “I’ve made too many mistakes” to “I’m redeemed and forgiven.”

It’s like reprogramming a computer. Sometimes you have to wipe off the old, outdated, dysfunctional software and load in something new. The bible says, ““Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

If you’ve been spending your time focused on how things won’t work out, it’s time to focus on how things WILL work out! It doesn’t matter how bad it looks, how many people have told you no, or how long it’s been that way, God has the final say. It’s not over till GOD says it’s over.

So today I want to encourage you to shake off the self-pity. Shake off the disappointment. Let go of the old and choose to believe that the Creator of the universe is doing what He said He would do. That He’s still in control and His promises are being worked out in your life, even if you don’t see it right now. Declare His favor over your life and watch as His blessings become more evident in every area of your life!

SPEAK Favor Over What Concerns You

Everyone goes through seasons when the challenges of life feel overwhelming. During these times it’s easy to be tempted to talk about how bad things are. Maybe you’re facing a situation right now that looks impossible. 


I want to encourage you though, don’t get discouraged and give up! God wants to do something awesome in your life. Be bold and start speaking favor over that situation. Jesus said, “if you have faith and do not doubt… you can SAY to this mountain, be taken up and cast into the sea and it will be done.”


Every day you need to say, “Father, thank You that Your favor is turning this around. Thank You that Your favor is making a way even though I don’t see a way. Lord, thank You that Your favor is doing remarkable, astounding, overwhelming things.”


When you release your faith like that, you’ll see God show up and do amazing things that you’ve never seen happen before! And remember, even if you don’t see how things could ever work out, God does. Just do your part and keep speaking to those mountains in your life. Declare favor over those situations and get ready to move forward to the victory and blessing God has prepared for you!

When You Think About Your Past

When you think about your past what events do you remember? What memories do you allow to play over and over in your mind? In the Old Testament they had what they called memorial stones. These were used to remind the people about the good things God did in their lives – their victories.

Today, if you’re feeling like God is far from you or that you’re not going to make it through your current situation, you need to remind yourself of when God blessed you in the past. Maybe a complicated time when God just caused everything to fall into place perfectly. Or a divine connection that turned out to be a  best friend or spouse, or someone who put in a good word for you or helped you out of a tough situation.

We’ve all had setbacks but when you meditate on your disappointments and failures it only drains you of valuable energy. It steals your confidence and joy. However, when you focus on your victories it builds your strength and confidence. It feeds your faith. It reminds you to trust God.

I encourage you today to get into the habit of focusing on your victories. Remember, every good and perfect gift comes from your heavenly Father. As you praise and thank Him for His favor and victory in your life He’ll pour out more of His blessing on you. He’ll open up supernatural doors for you to move forward in strength to fulfill the dreams and desires He has placed in your heart!

What Are You Saying?

When you wake up in the morning, do you expect the goodness of God in your life? Do you set the tone of the day for success, favor and blessing with your words? The bible tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. That’s why it’s so important to declare praises to God all throughout the day.

Things may be bad all around you, people may be negative and discouraged, but don’t let that spirit rub off on you. The worse it gets, the more you should make it a priority to be the positive beacon amongst the complainers.

The good news is that no matter how you feel, no matter what’s going on around you, you can choose your words. Don’t allow anything to stop you from constantly speaking your heavenly Father’s promises!

Today I want to encourage you to be determined to set the tone for your day by praising God and speaking words of faith over your future. Remember, when you put God first, He promises to honor you. He will pour out His favor on you and lead you into life, health, strength and blessing all the days of your life!

The Appointed Time

Are you waiting on specific provision in a specific area of your life right now? The bible says, “The vision is for an appointed time.” That means there is a specific time already determined for the fulfillment of the desires God has placed in your heart. And you have to trust that the appointed time is the best time.

We have to remember that God can see the big picture for our lives. He knows what’s up ahead. He knows what we’re going to need, who we’re going to need, and when they need to show up.

If God did everything we ask on our timetable it would limit us because sometimes what we’re asking for is too small.

Maybe the person we think we can’t live without, God knows down the road they’re not going to be good for us so He’s closing that door for our own good.

Maybe it’s a promotion we want badly, but if God gave it to us right now He knows it would keep us from a much bigger promotion that He has lined up later on.

The more God does (and doesn’t do) in my life the more I’m reminded that His plan is better than my plan. Today, trust that He knows what He’s doing. Trust that He has an appointed time, and it is the best time to bring to pass His promises in your life.

The Key To Your Promotion

We all face challenges, difficulties and times when things don’t go our way. God doesn’t send these storms, but He will allow us to go through certain things in order to shape our character and improve our faith. Really, it’s in our times of difficulty that we grow and mature.

God wants to use the tough times in our lives to do a work in us. He wants to strengthen and develop us. Our attitude in times of adversity is the evidence of our maturity. Are we going to treat people right even when we’re being mistreated? Are we going to stay full of peace even when the bottom falls out? Are we going to be faithful even in the dry seasons of our lives when we don’t see anything good happening?

It may take more effort. You may have to work harder to keep a good attitude, but remember that attitude and faith in God is the key to your promotion. As you keep that positive attitude and hopeful expectancy, even in times of adversity, God will deliver you and move you forward into the destiny He has prepared for you!

What Are You Cultivating In Your Life?

The bible tells us that God’s word is like a seed. Just like planting a seed in the ground, when you “plant” the word of God in your life it will cultivate a harvest of blessing and the fruit of God’s promises.

How do you cultivate God’s word? By simply putting it into practice. By obeying it and applying it to your everyday life. Later in Mark 4, the bible says that the seed of God’s word can be sown into different types of soil. The soil represents our heart condition.

The key is to make sure that nothing steals the word of God out of your heart. Don’t allow bitterness and offense to fester. Don’t compare and be envious of others. Instead, choose forgiveness and keep an open and humble heart toward your heavenly Father.

As you dwell on His words and stay close to Him through prayer and worship, that seed will take root. It will grow and develop and help you see clearer how to bring to pass God’s best plan for you, in every area of your life!

Blessings Will Chase You Down!

God rewards the people who seek after Him. The bible says, “When we fully obey God, blessings will chase us down and overtake us.” Every time you follow God’s directions His favor manifests in greater ways.

If you’ll learn to obey Him right away, if you learn to pass the small tests, there’s no limit to how high God will take you. He has big opportunities, new levels of favor, healing, restoration, vindication, promotion, planned in your future!

I want to encourage you today, that as you stay faithful to Him, you’re going to step into the fullness of your destiny. You will be all that God has created you to be and have all that He’s planned for you to have!

Don’t Overanalyze It

One of the best things I’ve learned in life is to obey God quickly. When God asks you to do it, do it right then.

When God told David to go face Goliath, the bible says David ran to the battlefield. Do you know why? If David would have thought about it long enough he may have talked himself out of it. If he had gone over all the facts, figures, how much bigger Goliath was, how much more experience he had, David may have lost his courage and missed his destiny.

When God asks you to do something, don’t overanalyze it. Don’t reason it out. If you think about it too long, you can miss your destiny.

Don’t think, “Why should I apologize? I apologized first last time.” Or, “Why should I be good to them? They’re not being good to me.”

Today I urge you to quit making excuses. Quit reasoning it out. Quit thinking that you heard God wrong and JUST DO IT. Learn to be quick to obey and you’ll open the door for the fullness of blessing God has in store for you!

The Little Things Do Matter

In the bible, the prophet Elisha told a man named Naaman to go wash in the Jordan River and he would be cured of his leprosy. Naaman was the Captain of an army, a very influential man. He didn’t want to go wash in the dirty Jordan River. His attitude was, “That’s absurd. That’s little. That’s insignificant. That’s not going to make any difference.”

His assistant said, “Naaman, if he would have asked you to do something hard, something big, you would do it. Why don’t you do this small thing?” Naaman finally went and washed in the Jordan, and he was totally healed.

I wonder how many of us would see our breakthrough, our healing, our promotion, or a dream come to pass if we would just do the small thing that God is asking us to do. People think, “Oh, it doesn’t really matter. I’ll do it one day.” But realize today, those little things mean a lot.

The bible says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much...” Not doing the so-called little things God calls you to do could be keeping you from the fullness of your destiny. It may be some small things, but your act of obedience will cause God to release the big things that He has in store.

When Darkness Overtakes You

Anytime you’re going through difficult, dark times, trust that God already has a plan to bring you through to victory. When you call on His name, when you surrender your circumstances to Him, that’s when His light will come forth through the darkness.

The bible says, “When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in.” Notice, it’s not going to trickle in, it’s not going to just barely get there. No, like a flood, like the breaking forth of waters, it’s going to come bursting in!

I believe it means that suddenly, you’re going to get well. Suddenly, you will meet the right person. Suddenly, you’re able to pay your debts off. Suddenly, the dream God placed in your heart will come true.

In the midst of that difficulty, don’t get discouraged. You’re in a prime position to see a flood of God’s goodness. Keep being your best and doing what you know is right. Keep seeking Him, stay in faith and watch as His light bursts through whatever darkness you’re currently in.

Making Your Crooked Places Straight

I want you to get this down in your spirit right now: whether you’ve been praying for victory in your finances, in a relationship, or in a dream you’re pursuing… it’s closer than you think – much closer! And your answer isn’t a year away, a month away, and for some of you, not even a week away. God has already gone before you. He’s already lined up the right people, arranged the right breaks, and put the right opportunities in place. Even if you can’t see it, know that God has already provided for you.

I know we all face situations from time to time that seem impossible. And I know it’s easy to become discouraged and think that things will never work out. But in the bible God gives us a promise of great hope. He says He will go before you and make the crooked places straight. That means the Creator of the universe, the One who controls it all has gone before you. He is fighting your battles. He will straighten out whatever needs straightening out.

Maybe you’re going through a relationship struggle or a financial uncertainty. I know how easy it can be to get negative and think nothing will ever change, but you have to realize this struggle is not a surprise to God. He has gone before you and prepared your victory. Rest on this truth today – before you ever had the problem, God already lined up the solution. Breathe and trust that all is going to work out in your best interest.

Now, don’t get caught up trying to figure it all out, and you don’t have to make it happen in your own strength. Your part is to just stay in faith. If you’ll stay in faith and keep being your best each day, you will see the hand of God at work in your life in amazing ways!

Get A Vision For Increase

God wants His people to constantly increase so they can live as an example of His goodness. But in order to partake of everything He has in store for us we have to be open to what He wants to do in our lives.

We have to get a vision for increase. If you’re not expecting favor, or if you‘re just satisfied with where you are, then you will live below God’s best plan for you. But if you’ll get a vision for increase, a vision for who you are as a child of the Creator of the universe and what He wants to do in your life, you’ll see supernatural opportunities, favor and increase in your life.

When you look for what God is calling you to do, when you follow His directions, you won’t just be average or good enough. No, if you conduct yourself and live as a child of the Most High, you’ll live at the most high level.

Today, take time to focus your heart and mind on God and His promises. Meditate on His words and ask Him to help you get a vision for increase. Embrace it and boldly move forward toward the good things God has lined up specifically for you.

Metamorphosis

The bible says, “Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God transform you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you.”

The word “transform” in the original bible language is metamorpho. It’s where we get our word “metamorphosis.” When a caterpillar changes from a lowly worm into a beautiful butterfly, it’s called a metamorphosis.

The caterpillar starts out as possibly one of the most unattractive insects. It’s very plain, nothing special about it. But God destined the caterpillar to go through a transformation. It goes from being one of the most unappealing creatures to one of the most beautiful.

I want to encourage you today, that as you meditate on God’s promises, as you pray and worship and surrender every area of your life to God, He is doing a work in you. He is transforming you from the inside out. Trust Him and stay in the process, knowing that He has great things in store for your future.

The Graveyard of Potential

The wealthiest places on earth are not the oil fields of the Middle East nor the diamond mines of South Africa. The wealthiest places are the cemeteries. Buried in the ground are businesses that were never formed, songs that were never sung, books that were never written, potential that was never realized, and dreams that never came to pass.

Friend, don’t let that be you! Don’t go to your grave with your treasure still in you. Keep growing; keep learning. Step out in faith and trust God. Aspire to bring forth the goodness and talent that He has placed within you.

If you don’t know where to start, start by meditating on what God says about you; what He wants for your life. Study His word and let Him speak to your heart. Seek to hear His voice and learn to obey quickly. Trust that He is good and that He will lead you down a great path.

Today, thank your Creator for all of the potential He’s deposited in you, and take it one step further by being faithful to develop that which He entrusted to you. Let Him guide you and introduce you to the people and experiences He lined up for you along the way, to encourage and support you in fulfilling His plan for your life.

Are You Prepared For New Opportunities?

When people hear the story of David and Goliath I know some think, “That was all God.” And yes, in a sense I know it was God. But the truth is that God didn’t sling that stone. It was the skill God gave David and then David disciplined himself to develop it.

God has put skills in you that can take you to a higher level, skills that can lead to a more abundant life. But the key is that your skill has to be developed. Every day that you spend growing, learning and improving, you’re getting prepared for that new level.

Today, while you’re waiting for new opportunities, start sharpening your skills. Study people who are successful in the area(s) you want to be successful in. When God sees that you’re serious enough to get prepared then He will open those new doors and bring about those new opportunities.

The bible says, “Your gifts can open many doors and help you meet important people." Keep developing your skills. Choose to be faithful with God’s gifts so that you’ll be prepared to take hold of and excel with every opportunity God has in your future.

A Spirit of Excellence

In the bible, many heroes of the faith started out at the very bottom. Think of Joseph. He was thrown in a pit and sold into slavery by his own brothers. But even as a slave, he developed his skills. And he became so valuable that he was put in charge of his master’s whole household.

When he was falsely accused and put into prison, he become so respected there that they put him in charge of the whole prison. What was that? His personal pursuit of excellence setting him apart from the rest; the ordinary; the average.

When Pharaoh needed someone to run the country and administer the nationwide feeding program during the famine, he didn’t choose a cabinet member or a department head – he chose Joseph; a prisoner, a slave. Why? Joseph developed his skills right where he was and this initiative and pursuit of excellence got him noticed and made the way for him.

Friend, there’s never an excuse to not keep growing and developing your skills. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like your current job; it doesn’t matter if other people don’t treat you right. God is saying, ”It’s time to shake off the past. It’s time to become all that I created you to become!”

Make the choice today to start developing your spirit of excellence. Choose to shake off the old; choose to forgive and press on to your awesome God-given destiny. Take your eyes off of your circumstances and focus instead on your God! Trust that He will lift you up to your rightful place – once you stop allowing yourself to settle in and for mediocrity. 

Stay Determined!

You may be praying for things that haven’t happened yet, but just because things aren’t happening on your timetable doesn’t mean they aren’t going to happen. God is a faithful God. Don’t give up on that promise. Don’t let negative people or thoughts talk you out of it. Get your fire back!

This is what the apostle Paul did in Acts 18-24. His circumstances  looked impossible. He was always facing persecution. People tried to talk him out of what he knew God called him to do. He was bombarded by negative, discouraging thoughts. Yet he stayed determined to do what God ordained him to do.

He wasn’t moved by those discouraging things. He was only moved by God and he was encouraged by God’s promises. I’m sure he quoted scriptures to himself like, “If God be for you, then who dare be against you?!” He kept his faith, that no matter what people said, God has the final say!

Today I want to encourage you to keep trusting your circumstances to your heavenly Father. Choose to stand strong and rest in the peace and hope that comes from believing His promises. As you stay determined to meditate only on these things you will be able to see His blessings in a greater way.

Preprogrammed For Victory

Did you know that you are preprogrammed for victory? As a child of the Most High God, you are filled with His conquering power. You are filled with the power to overcome all the negative, self-defeating forces of the world. Do you know what that power is? It’s you’re faith. When you activate your faith, you are tapping into His unlimited strength. You are opening the door for Him to move supernaturally in your life.

Understand that faith causes you to live your life differently. It causes you to speak and act differently than before. When things come against you, instead of complaining and giving up, faith causes you to rise up and say, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I am able to do all things through Christ who gives me strength!”

Faith causes you to obey God’s Word and do the right thing even when the wrong thing is happening. When you choose to live the life of faith, you are choosing God’s best. You are choosing blessing. You are choosing to allow His conquering power to flow through every area of your life!

Need Help?

The bible says that we are to acknowledge God in all of our ways. One way to acknowledge God is to simply ask for His help.

A simple acknowledgement of needing God’s help is an act of faith. It opens the door for Him to direct your steps, even in the little things. Oh sure, you can try to do it in your own strength, but why? You have the Creator of the universe promising to fight your battles for you! And when you learn to hear His voice in the little things, you’ll be more confident to hear Him in the big things.

When you acknowledge God, He breathes His favor on you. You’ll come into an anointing of ease. What should have been a struggle won’t be a struggle. That’s God crowning your efforts with success.

I want to encourage you today and every day, ask Him for help. His ways are higher; His plan for you is better. Let Him lead you and guide you in every area of your life and you will see Him open doors you can’t open on your own. He said He would make your crooked places straight and provide you with streams in the desert – let Him!

How To Inherit God’s Promises

In our culture today, people are used to getting things right away. We’ve been programmed for immediacy. People don’t like to wait. But the bible says, “It’s through faith and patience that we inherit God’s promises.”

Sometimes, it’s easy for people to have faith. We declare, “God, I believe I’m going to accomplish my dreams. God, I believe I’m going to overcome this obstacle.” But, it gets harder when we have to walk in patience.

Can you say, “God, I not only believe for big things, but I trust Your timing. God, I’m not going to get discouraged if it doesn’t happen immediately. I’m not going to give up because it’s taken a week, a month or five years. I know the set time is already in my future, so I’m going to wait with faith and patience because I know that it’s on the way.”

Remember, through faith and patience we inherit God’s promises so I urge you to do yourself the favor of trusting His word, trusting His timing and trusting that your answer is on its way!

Destiny Moments In Store

The bible tells of a lady who had been sick with a bleeding disorder for 12 years. She went to the best doctors, received the finest treatment, but her health continued to decline. One day she got word that Jesus was coming through her town. When she heard that something sparked in her!

She had so much coming against her but she didn’t focus on that; she had faith that it was her time for healing. Instead of giving up, she fought her way through the crowds and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. When she did she was immediately made whole.

I wonder how many other people were there like her, in a similarly desperate situation. But they just watched the Solution pass by. They didn’t act, they didn’t persist, they didn’t pursue. They just let excuses keep them from their becoming better.

Friend, don’t let that be you. Don’t let your circumstances keep you from choosing to come up higher. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your past – God has destiny moments in store for you. Keep pressing in, keep praying and, like this woman, reach out to Him. Know that He’s faithful and He’ll meet your faith with His power, and that power can change your situation in ways you thought impossible.

What Lies Ahead

The bible says, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me” God is constantly calling us to higher places in Him. He wants us to know Him more. He wants us to walk in His ways so that we can experience His full blessings on our life. 

Paul was saying to the Philippians that he was pressing on toward the goal of God’s calling. How did he press forward? In verse 13 he says, “One thing I do is forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.”

See, in order to press forward, we have to let go of the past. We let go by forgiving and choosing not to dwell on things that hold us back. We have to lighten our load so that we can rise higher and take hold of ALL the things God has for us.

Today, if you are struggling in an area, ask God what you need to let go of. Then ask Him to help you leave it in the past. Ask Him to help renew your thinking and make better choices for the future. Let go of the past, forgive, and press forward to the prize of your heavenly Father’s awesome calling!

True Identity

Did you know that wrong labels can keep you from your destiny? You are not who people say you are. You are who God says you are! People will label you not good enough, too slow, too old, too many mistakes. God labels you strong, talented, valuable, more than a conqueror.

Make sure that you’re wearing the right labels. Don’t go the next 20 years allowing any negative comments to hold you back. Many people don’t know any better. They wear the negative labels like they’re the truth. They become so engrained in their thinking that they end up becoming what people say they are instead of what God says they are.

Are there labels that are holding you back today? What a teacher said? What a boss said? Even negative comments spoken by your relatives? This is the time to remove every negative label. People don’t determine your destiny; GOD does.

The only power any label has over you is the power that YOU give it. If you will remove it; if you will forgive that person and quit dwelling on it, then that label will have no effect on you and you can instead, embrace God’s words, God’s plan, which is your TRUE identity and destiny.

No One Likes Waiting

God has put dreams and desires in every person’s heart. But most times there’s a season of waiting involved. Maybe you’re waiting for a relationship to improve; waiting for a promotion, or waiting to overcome an illness/injury. Much of life is spent waiting.

But there’s a right way to wait and a wrong way to wait. Too often, when things don’t happen on our timetable, we get down and discouraged or anxious and fretful. That’s because we’re not waiting the right way.

The bible says many times “WHEN you wait” and “AS you wait.” The fact is that we’re all going to wait. You should choose to wait expectantly on Him. Trust that He is working behind the scenes on your behalf. Put your faith and hope in the Creator of the universe, knowing that He’s still in complete control and just like He promised, He has good things in store for your future.

Today, no matter what you are praying for, expect things to change in your favor. You don’t really know, today could be the day that God turns it all around! As you wait with patience and expectancy, you’ll open the door for God to move. He’ll fight your battles, and you’ll see that abundant harvest He’s promised in every area of your life.

Encouragement

When you see someone who is struggling, a friend who is discouraged, how do you respond? Our words can be what keeps a person going; our compliments can put a spring back into their step. The bible says, “Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.”

Now more than ever, we need to let the encouragement flow. We need to tell others how much we love them, how we value them, and tell them that they are well-able and talented and creative. Always remember, with your words you can give hope, healing, encouragement and new beginnings, and you can pour it out everywhere you go.

Today, choose to speak encouragement. Choose to speak victory and faith. Instead of telling people what they’re doing wrong, instead of pointing out all their faults, find what they are doing right. Focus on the good. There are already enough critical, judgmental people in the world. Let’s be people who lift up others and restore them! Let’s be the salt that makes people thirsty for the way we live and want to give joy and comfort like us.

I want to share a prayer that I pray daily before I write these blog posts, in hopes that you would pray the same. “Thank You for speaking through me. Thank You for using me to be a blessing to others. Thank You for encouraging my heart as I find more ways to better encourage the people around me.”

Imprisoned By Wrong Thoughts

“I will set no dishonorable or wicked thing before my eyes...” In this Psalm, David was determined to honor God with his mind. He knew that what he watched would affect his thinking. He learned the hard way what could happen if you don’t guard your mind by choosing carefully what you look at. He himself (the person who God said was “a man after My own heart”) was drawn to do things that weren’t pleasing to God when he didn’t stay disciplined.

The same is true for us today. If we are watching things on TV or reading things in books, magazines or in person that aren’t pleasing to God we’re opening a door to the enemy; a stronghold is building in our thinking. Eventually we become imprisoned by those wrong thoughts. But, God has given us the power to break those strongholds!

If you’re struggling with thoughts that you don’t want anymore, today, you can choose to be free. First, receive God’s forgiveness and make the choice to change what you are looking at and thinking about. Focus your thoughts on His will and refuse to engage in or focus on wrong things. As you determine to honor God in this way, He will empower and bless you so that you can live in freedom and peace and experience meaningful, lasting increase and success the rest of your life!

Fulfilling Your Destiny

Oftentimes, people who aren’t fulfilling their destiny will try to discourage you from fulfilling yours. Some may not even do it intentionally, but they’ll tell you what you can’t do and how things won’t work out. They’re quick to remind you of all your impossibilities. Your relatives, co-workers and friends may try to talk you out of your dream, but that’s because God didn’t put that promise inside of THEM; He put it inside of YOU!

The bible says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” You have to remember that other people don’t determine your destiny; God does. He holds your destiny in the palm of His hand. If you will keep believing, God will not only bring it to pass, He will do more than you can ask or think!

Friend, don’t let someone else’s unbelief keep you from believing. Don’t let other people talk you out of your dreams. It’s time to get into agreement with God. He says you are well able. He says you are equipped. He says you are qualified. He says you are anointed, called and appointed to fulfill every dream and desire He’s placed within you!

It Starts In The Mind

Many people today don’t realize that the reason they’re not happy, the reason they’re not enjoying life is simply because they’ve trained their minds in the wrong direction. This is why when I talk about “getting better” I don’t just talk about physical training but more of an overall health, STARTING with the mind.

People tend to get it twisted, just going along with whatever pops into their head. As if they have no choice but to go with it, never realizing that THEY have programmed their minds to worry. THEY’VE programmed their minds to complain. THEY’VE programmed their minds to see the negative. And just as we can train our mind to focus on the negative, we can also reprogram our minds to focus on the positive. It all depends on what you meditate on.

When we meditate on God’s directions and promises, we reprogram our minds. When we meditate on God’s goodness, we are developing a right mindset. When we choose to be grateful and focus on what’s right rather than what’s wrong, we are choosing a positive attitude.

This doesn’t happen automatically though. You do have to discipline yourself to focus on the right things. You have to make a conscious effort to spend time with God every single day until a habit is formed. Read and embrace His promises for yourself.

The bible says, “Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you...”  Ask for His help, give your full effort toward this end and then let Him change your way of thinking.

I’ve seen in my life and countless others, that as you honor God with your time, He’ll multiply it back to you. As you stay faithful and focused on Him, He will direct your steps, and you will receive ALL of the blessings He has in store for you!

That Disappointment Is Not The End

Everyone goes through things that don’t seem to make sense. It’s easy to get discouraged and wonder, “Why did this happen to me?” “Why did this person treat me wrong?” But we have to understand, even though life is not always fair, God is fair. And, He promises to cause everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them.

I believe the key word is this verse is “together.” In other words, you can’t just isolate one part of your life and say, “This is not good.” Yes, that may true, but that’s just one part of your life.

God can see the big picture. That disappointment is not the end. Remember, when one door closes, God has another door for you to walk through – a better door. Those difficulties and challenges are merely stepping stones toward your brighter future.

Be encouraged today because God has a plan for you to rise higher. He has a plan for you to come out stronger. He has a plan to work all things together for your good so that you can move forward into the awesome triumph and success He has prepared for you!

Labels

Throughout life, people are constantly sticking labels on us, telling us what we can and can’t become. And sometimes this is good. People speak faith into us and encourage us. But then, there are times that people put negative labels on us. And you can’t stop the negative comments, you can’t prevent the negative labels, BUT you can choose to remove them.

As a teenager, Walt Disney was told by his art instructor that he wasn’t creative; he didn’t have any imagination. Disney was smart enough to remove that label and look at the vast amazing things he’s created.

Lucille Ball was told that she didn’t have any acting skills; she should try a different profession. She removed that label and look how that worked out for her.

Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade; he was told he wasn’t smart enough. He went on to become one of the greatest Prime Ministers that ever lived.

The common denominator in the success of these people is that they chose to remove the negative labels. It can be the same way with you. Don’t focus on what others say; focus on what GOD says! Remove the negative labels and embrace who God created you to be.