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O lord, I am your servant; yes, I am your servant, born into your household; you have freed me from my chains. Psalm 116:16 Imagine what you could become without the chains that are limiting you. What could you accomplish without that chain of fear and insecurity? What kind of relationship could you have without that chain of guilt, shame, and feeling wrong about yourself? How high could you go without that chain of negative words that were spoken over you, telling you how you don’t measure up and can never be successful? It’s time to be freed from those chains. Your destiny is too great, your assignment too important to go around bound. Quit telling yourself you’re stuck, you’ll always struggle, you’ll always be lonely, you’ll always fight depression. The chain breaker, the Most High God, is working in your life right now. When you least expect it, things are going to shift in your favor. Ask Him to set you free.

Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people ! Proverbs 18:16 God has entrusted us with gifts and talents, but too often we let fear hold us back. We’re hiding our gifts, hiding our talents, hiding our personality. We’re afraid to come out of our shell, afraid we may not be accepted. It’s time to quit hiding. If God has given you the gift to sing, start singing. If you can write, start writing. If you can lead, start leading. If you can build, start building. If you can teach, start teaching. That gift doesn’t do you or anyone else any good if you keep it to yourself. It has to be released. Your gift may seem small, but when you develop it, big doors will open. You don’t have to have a great gift for God to use you in a great way. Today’s Scripture doesn’t say you have to have a big gift, an important gift, an impressive gift. Whatever you have, if you develop it and keep getting better, it will open doors of opportunity.

What is faith ? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. Hebrews 11:1 There are times when we’re waiting on God to do something, but God is waiting on us. Think of all the people in the Scripture who didn’t wait for Jesus to come to them, but sought Him out passionately for their needs, even pushing through crowds to touch the hem of His garment for healing. God has a perfect time for each of us, but today’s Scripture says, “Faith is...” Faith is always in the now. It may not bring the change overnight, for we all have waiting periods. But our faith should stay active. Your faith is going to turn things around. Your faith is going to open the right doors. Your faith is going to bring unexpected favor. Live with the anticipation that it could happen today.

Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Romans 12:2 There’s a price to pay to become all we were created to be. You may not be able to do what others do, to watch what they watch, or to do your business as they do business. To always do the right thing, you’ll need to go the extra mile. People may not understand why you won’t talk behind someone else’s back, or why you won’t laugh about certain things. It’s not our business to judge them, but don’t become like them. Don’t lower your standard. Value God’s blessing more than what another person thinks of you. If you don’t feel good about something, if you have to talk yourself into it and make excuses as to why it’s okay, it’s not worth it. You’ll never go wrong taking the high road. Have a made-up mind. “I’m going to be a person of integr...

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 You may have shed some tears of sadness over what hasn’t worked out, over dreams that haven’t come to pass, over disappointments, over the loss of a loved one. The Scripture says that God is going to turn your mourning into dancing and those tears of sorrow into tears of joy. It may not have happened yet, but it’s not over. What God promised you doesn’t have an expiration date. It’s still on the way. Your breakthrough is coming. When it happens, it’s going to be more rewarding, more fulfilling than you ever imagined. Too often we disqualify ourselves. We think it would have happened if we had more faith, or hadn’t made so many mistakes, or were just good enough to deserve it. But God is full of mercy and doesn’t bless us based on our performance. What He promised is still going to come to pass. What He started, He’s going to finish.

By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35 It’s easy to write off someone because they don’t believe as we do, they’re making poor decisions, or they’re against what we stand for. Too often we try to make them believe, but some things don’t happen overnight. Their heart may not be open yet, but at the right time God will soften their heart. Jesus said your love for one another will prove you are His follower. It’s not by your doctrine, not by how many Scriptures you can quote, not by how right you are, but by how much you love them. You don’t judge them. You don’t look down because they don’t believe as you do. You just keep loving and being good to them. They’re in your life because God is counting on you to help them change.

And Pharaoh declared to Joseph, “I, the king of Egypt, swear that you shall have complete charge over all the land of Egypt. Genesis 41:44 After thirteen years of being imprisoned in Egypt for a crime he didn’t do, there was nothing in Joseph’s circumstances that looked as if he would ever accomplish his dream of ruling a nation. But one day Joseph was called before Pharaoh to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, and Pharaoh was so impressed that he made Joseph the prime minister of Egypt. You may be in an unfair situation that seems as though it’s never going to turn around. You don’t need everyone to be for you; you just need the right people to be for you. God has already lined up people in positions of influence who will open doors you couldn’t open and bring you opportunities and promotion that you didn’t see coming. As was true for Joseph, you don’t have to find them, they will find you. It is the hand of God in your life.

Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day, you are to march around the town seven times, with priests blowing the horns. Joshua 6:4 The city of Jericho, which was surrounded by a huge stone wall so thick that chariots could ride on top, was the last city that stood between the people of Israel and the Promised Land. God told Joshua to have the people march around the walls once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day. It wouldn’t have been so difficult if, while they were walking, they saw a little crack in the wall or a shift in the foundation, but nothing day after day. They didn’t understand it but just kept doing the right thing, and the final time around, the walls came tumbling down. We need to keep thanking God even though nothing is improving, keep walking by faith and not sight, and suddenly the walls of obstruction and opposition will come down.

Have I not commanded you ? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 In Joshua 1, Moses had died, and it was time for Joshua to step into the leadership role and take the Israelites into the Promised Land. What God had in store for him was undoubtedly scary. He had defeated opponents on the way, but the obstacles and responsibilities before him were far bigger and more intimidating than anything he’d ever faced. To take new ground in your life, you can’t stay in your comfort zone. What God has in store for you will frighten you at times, but that’s okay; fear comes to us all. The key is to step forward in spite of what you feel and what your mind is telling you. You’ve been equipped for every battle. God is setting you up to go to a new level. You’ll discover strength, talent, determination, and perseverance you didn’t know you had.

Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant…Answer me, lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God… 1 Kings 18: 36-37 In 1 Kings 18, four hundred and fifty prophets of the god Baal came against the one prophet Elijah in a challenge to prove to the entire nation of Israel who God was through a demonstration of power. After the prophets of Baal had failed, Elijah prayed the words of today’s Scripture, and God answered with an awesome display of fire from heaven. There was no question as to whether it was the hand of the true God. Sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you feel outnumbered. The sickness seems bigger, the opposition stronger, or the addiction too powerful. It’s easy to get discouraged and shrink back. But you have to do as Elijah did and not be intimidated by what’s against you. The battle is not yours; the battle is the Lord’s. He allowed that situation so H...

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life… Psalm 23:6 In today’s Scripture, the word “goodness” means God’s favor. David was saying, “Surely favor follows me all my life.” In effect, he was saying, “Favor is keeping enemies from defeating me. Favor is bringing promotion and opportunity.” He was releasing his faith for the favor of God. No wonder the prophet Samuel came to him and anointed him as the next king. No wonder he defeated a giant twice his size. No wonder King Saul couldn’t kill him. You also will overcome obstacles that seem impossible. Favor is opening doors that I can’t open.” The more you thank God for it, the more you declare it, the more favor you’re going to see.

…his word is in my heart like afire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in indeed, I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9 It may seem as though some of the dreams you’ve had didn’t work out, some of the promises you were believing for haven’t come to pass, and the fire has gone out in your life. Can I encourage you that underneath the ashes of disappointment, under the wrongs that people have done to you, and under the mistakes you’ve made, a flicker is still alive? You may not be able to see that it’s still burning, but all you have to do is stir it up. Stir up your passion, your dreams, your creativity, and your gifts. In today’s Scripture, the prophet Jeremiah was extremely discouraged, but deep down he realized that God’s promise was still burning. Start dreaming again, start looking for new opportunities, start declaring God’s favor, and start praying bold prayers. What God put in you didn’t go out.

Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever. Isaiah 61:7 You may be in a challenging time that has left you feeling upset, worn out and tired. It feels as though something’s been taken out of you that can’t be replaced. But, get ready, for God is about to breathe new life into your spirit. He’s going to renew your strength. He’s going to bring new opportunities, good breaks, the right people, and favour. He’s not going to just bring you out. He’s going to bring you out with double favour. You’re going to be so blessed, so healthy, so strong, so favoured that nobody will know what you’ve been through. That’s the way God restores.

Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up the entire nation against Moses and Aaron, and they all assembled to watch. Then the glory of Jehovah appeared to all the people. Numbers 16:19 In Numbers 16, a man named Korah led a conspiracy to rebel against the leadership of Moses. Korah was jealous of Moses and started sowing discord. Eventually, this one disgruntled man turned the whole nation against Moses and led to disastrous consequences. There’s nothing that God dislikes more than people that bring division. If there’s something you don’t like about your workplace, your friend, or your church, go to the people in charge and express your concern. Don’t go behind their back and start sowing discord, trying to get others on board. Don’t sit there inactive while they try to convince you of everything that’s wrong with your workplace, or with your life. Disconnect from them.

For the Lord God is our sun and shield. He gave us grace and glory. The Lord withholds no good thing from those who do what is right. Psalm 84:11 God not only knows everything you need in the future, but He knows when you’re going to need it. He’s the Source. He knows where all the good things are. He has already lined up everything you’ll need. He’s not going to withhold the finances, the health, the ideas, or the connections. Quit worrying about how it’s going to work out. God is in control. He has unlimited resources. He knows how to get you to the right place at the right time.

… to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness… Isaiah 61:3 The Scripture says to put on a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness. A garment is like a coat. Before you can put on a coat of praise, you have to take off a coat of heaviness. Sometimes we wonder why we don’t have any joy, why we’re not passionate. We’re wearing the wrong coat. That coat of discouragement doesn’t look good, that coat of self-pity is out of style, and that coat of bitterness over who left you or what you didn’t get doesn’t fit you anymore. Now do your part and take off that coat of offense and put on a coat of praise. If you’re going to rise to the next level, you have to adjust your attitude. You can’t have a defeated mentality and live a victorious life.

But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask. John 11:22 In John 11 we read - Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was very sick. They thought He would come immediately and heal Lazarus. But days passed, and Lazarus died. When Jesus showed up, Martha was upset. She said, “Jesus, if You had been here sooner, my brother would not have died.” Martha could have walked away in anger and bitterness, which would be the end of the story. But she added, “I know even now God will give You whatever You ask.” She was saying, “It seems impossible, but I know You have the final say.” They went to the tomb, the place where Martha stopped believing, and rolled away the stone, and Jesus gave them a resurrection. Start believing again right where you gave up. Get your passion back. It may have been dead, but that wasn’t the final word. God has the final say—freedom, wholeness, abundance, victory.

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way to escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 There are times when we feel overwhelmed by a loss, by a sickness, or by being treated unfairly by someone, and we say, “I can’t take the stress, the worry, the demands. It’s too much to handle.” But God wouldn’t be a just God if He didn’t design you with exactly what you need. Paul says that God will never let you face more pressure than you can handle. He will make a way of escape so you can bear it. Now you can choose in your mind to give up and think, “I can’t do this,” or you can choose to “not faint in your mind” (Hebrews 12:3). Your inner design is strong enough, now get your mind strong enough. Quit telling yourself, “It’s too big. It’s been this way too long. I can’t take it anymore.” You are well able. No weapon formed against you will prosper. That difficulty didn’t come to ...

Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up … Proverbs 24:16 When life knocks you down, steps on you, takes your health, or squashes your dreams, you just have to get back up again. The way you win some battles is not by defeating them but by outlasting the opposition. You have comeback power. Some enemies are stubborn. You can’t be weak and give up because it’s not happening on your timetable. You have to outlast the trouble at work. We all want God to deliver us from attacks, but if He’s not changing it, then it’s really simple—you have to keep getting back up and outlast the attacks. Sometimes we think God has forgotten about us. We’ve seen Him turn situations around in the past, but this problem won’t seem to go away. You have to have a holy determination and say, “Staying down is not an option. I’m going to outlast this sickness this injustice, these critics.” The victory will come through outlasting it.

The son started his speech: “Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.” But the father wasn’t listening. Luke 15: 21-22 In Luke 15, in the story of prodigal son, when the son returned home after having wasted his father’s inheritance on wild living and partying, he passionately started pouring out his genuine remorse, but his father wasn’t listening. He was calling his staff to kill the best calf for a party, declaring, “My son was lost and now he’s found!” Are you doing what this son did, telling your Father everything you’ve done wrong, how unworthy you are of His love? Can I tell you that God is not listening? You’re wasting your breath. The moment you asked God to forgive you, He forgave you and then He forgot your sins. You’re not worthy because of what you did or didn’t do. You’re worthy only because of what Jesus did for you on the cross.