A New Chapter

The only thing standing between you and your goals is the same story you keep telling yourself over and over again. There comes a point in your life when you have to turn the page and begin a new chapter in your life.

When you become fully committed to moving forward in victory, nothing will stand in your way. The circumstances of your day will not dictate the blessings of your future. Where you’re going is so much greater than where you’ve been.

As the year comes to an end, don’t look back on yesterday’s disappointments. Look straight ahead to God’s wonderful promises that are yet to unfold. My prayer for you in this upcoming year is that God would bless you over and beyond all that you could ever ask for, think, or imagine.

Scripture Focus: 

“Your future will be brighter by far than your past.” – Job 8:7 (CEV)

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Every Good and Perfect Gift

One of the most powerful ways to radically change your outlook on life is to shift your focus from grumbling to gratitude. Today’s scripture is a reminder that we are blessed and where our blessings come from. 

Every good and perfect gift that we receive comes from the hand of God. Whether it’s our health, or our families, every blessing comes from the Father of heavenly lights. When we make the conscious choice to count our blessings rather than our problems, we will begin to see our trials in a new light—God’s heavenly light.

Focusing on God’s faithfulness and His unchanging goodness will help you to meet your current circumstance with confidence. You will begin to see that whatever looks like anything but a “good and perfect gift” is actually a blessing in the making. As your journey of faith continues to unfold, the tests and trials along the way will soon translate into testimonies.

Scripture Focus:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17 (CSB)

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Are You Fighting the Wrong Battles?

Have you ever found yourself fighting the wrong battles in life? Do you struggle with this constant need to prove your point and set everybody straight?

There will always be opportunities in life to quarrel and disagree about something. None of us are exactly alike. To avoid unnecessary stress, it is important not to let everything upset you. When you choose your battles wisely, you have more energy, patience, and clarity to focus on those things that are most important.

So often, we run around fighting battles that aren’t ours to fight. Consequently, we end up being exhausted, overwhelmed, and always on the edge. If we live in a constant state of confrontation, we run the risk of turning our lives into a war zone. Instead of being filled with peace and love, we end up living a life of anger and hostility.

Every battle that presents itself to you is not yours to fight. Choosing your battles wisely means there is a time to fight and a time to step back and let go. If you are faced with conflict today, I want to encourage you to step back and ask God whether this is your battle to fight or His. And always remember, never go to war when there are no spoils to be gained.

Scripture Focus:

“If you follow this advice… then you will be able to endure the pressures.” – Exodus 18:23 (NLT)

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Where To Find True Happiness

The Declaration of Independence of the United States boldly claims that each person is “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This pursuit of happiness seems to be a driving force for many people.

Generally, we all want to be happy. But what is happiness? And how can a person be truly happy? As a Christian, your happiness in life should not be dependent on the things the world offers. True happiness cannot be found in people, money, status, or any special achievement.

Life’s greatest pleasure is only experienced in a relationship with the One who made us and knows what’s best for us. Therefore, true happiness can only be found in God. Yes, we can enjoy the things we have in this life, but what makes these gifts so special is the One who gives it.

Scripture Focus: 

“You brought me more happiness than a rich harvest of grain and grapes.” – Psalm 4:7 (CEV) 

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A Life Worth Living

Have you ever wondered, “Why do I exist?” “What is my purpose in life?” One of the most powerful discoveries you will ever make is when you realize you were made for something greater than yourself.

In fact, the Scriptures reveal that God created us to bring glory and honor to Him. Knowing this is what guarantees that our life has incredible meaning and purpose. Since God created us for His divine purpose, when we align our lives with that purpose, we will become the most fulfilled.

There is a wealth of promises that can only be experienced when we choose to live for the glory of God. We weren’t created to live for our own pleasures or pursuits. But, if we’ll choose instead to seek God’s purpose for our lives, to pursue the life He intended for us, we’ll find meaning and a life worth living.

Scripture Focus:

”God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. This is why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” – Ephesians 2:10 (CEV)

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Giving Thanks During Difficult Times

If the year of 2020 has taught us anything, it’s gratitude. Despite these unprecedented times that we face, there are plenty of reasons to be thankful.

Thankfulness helps us to readjust our focus. Instead of having our minds distracted by the problems of the world, God and His goodness become the center of our focus.

Giving thanks is a way of recognizing the faithfulness of God in the midst of it all. When we give thanks, we become more conscious of His blessings—family, health, and peace of mind.

My challenge to us all is that we continually spend time in reflection on what the Lord has done for us. Embracing gratitude during difficult times may be the one thing that will get us through them.

“With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD.” – Ezra 3:11 (NIV)

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Energy Givers Vs. Energy Drainers

There are two kinds of people in the world—energy givers and energy drainers. While there are certain people that just lift our spirits and make life better when we are around them, there are those who seem to just suck the life right out of us.

Who are the energy drainers? These are people who are constantly negative, always focused on what could go wrong, and spend most of their time trying to tear someone down. Surrounding yourself with an energy drainer has the potential to leave you emotionally drained and exhausted.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are people who are energy givers. Energy givers are filled with positivity. They are solution-focused and always leave you feeling invigorated and full of life. They enjoy sharing faith, love, and encouragement with others.

Basically, it all comes down to energy. In every instance, we are either an energy giver or an energy drainer. Decide to be an energy giver and do not allow the drainers to deplete you! 

Scripture Focus:

”A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one’s strength.”– Proverbs 17:22 (ISV) 

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Worth the Wait

The most challenging part about fulfilling our dreams is enduring the process of waiting. It makes no difference what you are believing for, there is always a waiting period before the manifestation.

Waiting on things to happen can often be frustrating, especially when you have been waiting for a long time. But God has a way of using the waiting period as a training room to build our faith, develop our character, and prepare our hearts to receive the promise.

If you are currently in a space of waiting, whether it’s for a breakthrough or clear direction, please remember that waiting on God is always worth the wait. Why? Simply because God is faithful, reliable, and trustworthy. Everything He does is beautiful in His time.

Scripture Focus:

“It is beautiful how God has done everything at the right time.”– Ecclesiastes 3:11 (GWT)

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A Word For You

Are you ready for God to move in your life? Do you long to see God at work in your family and your finances? Have you been praying for change in your workplace and community? The time for waiting is over. God is moving right now! 

Today, you are being ushered into a new season of victory. Your opposition is now being replaced with opportunity. Doors are swinging wide open in your favor. Stumbling blocks are turning into steppingstones. What used to be hard will now become easy. 

You are transitioning out of this season of adversity and heading into a season of advancement. God is moving you into a better place, a higher place, a wealthy place. The breakthrough you need is upon you.

The promise of overflow begins now. Just as God spoke to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1:6, He is speaking to you. “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”

You have been at this current level of struggle long enough. You have been in the same predicament long enough. Every mountain is moving out of your way. Every obstacle and hindrance leaves today! 

Scripture Focus: 

“You have stayed long enough at this mountain.” – Deuteronomy 1:6 (ESV)

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God’s Unlimited Supply

Have you ever faced a need in your life that was far beyond your own means to meet it? If you are struggling to meet your needs, God wants you to draw from His unlimited supply.

It’s humanly impossible to fathom the depth and range of God’s glorious storehouse. His resources are without limits, because He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. All that we have or need comes from Him.

Whether it’s your finances, health, family, or church, you will never face a need that is beyond God’s ability to supply it. The good news is that no one has ever exhausted God’s supply, nor suffered a shortage when trusting Him.

When it comes to having your needs met, trust God as your source. As a child of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, we are plugged into an unending supply of grace and favor. So never think or talk lack. Always be supply-conscious.

Scripture Focus: 

“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 (AMPC)

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