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…so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2:7 In another translation of today’s Scripture, Paul said that we would see “the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor).” That’s favor as we’ve never seen before. That’s what God wants to do for us. You may think your situation is permanent. You don’t see how you can ever rise any higher and accomplish your dreams. All the calculations are telling you that you’ll never get out of debt, but God is saying, You need to get ready. You haven’t seen His blessings yet. You haven’t seen the immeasurable, limitless, surpassing greatness of God’s favor. He will increase and it will be beyond your calculations.”

As for me, I look to the Lord for his help; I wait for God to save me; he will hear me. Do not rejoice against me, O my enemy, for though I fall, I will rise again. Micah 7:7-8 When we’re in difficult times, it’s easy to feel like the prophet Micah. He gave a list of negative things that happened to him—bad breaks, lack, injustice, betrayal. It was very depressing. But in today’s Scripture, he went on to say that he wasn’t giving up. He may have been knocked down, but in the middle of the difficulty, he was speaking victory. He was saying, “This problem didn’t come to stay; it came to pass.” Things may be coming against you, but know this: God didn’t create you to be overcome; He created you to be an overcomer. Down is not your destiny, and defeat is not how your story ends. If you’re going to come out of that challenge, you have to stop talking defeat.

Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:46 In today’s Scripture, the prophet Elijah had just defeated the 450 prophets of Baal who supported King Ahab. Yet it says that God gave him the special strength to outrun Ahab’s chariot over the twenty-mile journey to Jezreel. That chariot represented Ahab’s power, and it’s not possible for a man to outrun a horse even over a short distance. You may look at what you’re up against today and feel that you don’t have the strength, the endurance, the fortitude to keep battling. God is not going to let you stay feeling overwhelmed. When you have special strength, you’re going to overcome what looks impossible, you’re going to accomplish dreams that seem too far gone.

Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live.” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. John 4:50-51 When a government official made a desperate plea that Jesus would come to his house and heal his dying son, Jesus simply declared that his son would live and he should go home. All the man was given was Jesus’ word of promise, yet his attitude was to mix in faith with the promise rather than mix in doubt or worry. He had many reasons to doubt, but he kept believing Jesus’ word and found his son alive and well. That’s what happens when you mix in your faith with God’s promises—not doubt, not worry, not fear. Don’t be moved by what you don’t see, by how long it’s taking, by how bad it looks, or by what you don’t have. Keep thanking God for what He promised, keep declaring what He said, and keep talking like it’s on the way. God has the final word.

I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. Jeremiah 5:22 Jeremiah 5 says that though the ocean may be a billion times bigger and more powerful than the sand, God put an everlasting ordinance in the sand that it would keep the ocean in its boundaries. The ocean may roar and pound the sand with its waves, but because of God’s decree, the sand will not be overpowered. What you’re up against may look bigger, more powerful, but when you have God’s Word in your heart, that’s the everlasting ordinance. His Word is the decree that enables you to withstand storms that are stronger, overcome challenges that are bigger, and accomplish dreams that seem impossible. Now make sure you do your part and keep God’s Word in your heart. For any area that you’re struggling in, you need to find Scriptures that you can stand on. There’s nothing more powerful than saying what Go...

…so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2:7 In another translation of today’s Scripture, Paul said that we would see “the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor).” That’s favor as we’ve never seen before. That’s what God wants to do for us. You may think your situation is permanent. You don’t see how you can ever rise any higher and accomplish your dreams. All the calculations are telling you that you’ll never get out of debt, but God is saying, You need to get ready. You haven’t seen His blessings yet. You haven’t seen the immeasurable, limitless, surpassing greatness of God’s favor. He will increase and it will be beyond your calculations.”

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 One of the challenges we faced with the coronavirus was that our bodies had no antibodies to fight it. Without a cure, without a vaccine, we were at its mercy. Once you have the cure, the vaccine, you don’t have to fear the disease. But what about virus-like poisons you can’t treat with a vaccine—guilt, fear, depression, addictions. These can infect our thinking, poison our self-esteem, and make us sick with regrets, hurts, and disappointments. The good news is that the Scripture says by the stripes Jesus received before He went to the cross, He took our guilt, our shame, and our failures upon Himself, and “we are healed.” We are not at the mercy of fear, depression. We have the cure. Don’t let the fear, the guilt, or the depression hold you down. Take the antidote. “Father, thank You that I am forgiven, I...

Then he said, “I am the god of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” Exodus 3:6 In the Scripture, it talks about the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. I can understand how He is the God of Abraham, the father of our faith. I can understand how He is the God of Isaac, who was the miracle child of God’s promise and extremely obedient. But when it says He is the God of Jacob, that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Jacob was a cheater. He went around deceiving people. He stole his brother’s birth right. Jacob was known for making poor choices. What was God saying? “I’m not just the God of perfect people. I’m not just the God of people who never make a mistake. I’m the God of people who have failed. You may have made mistakes, but be encouraged. Don’t beat yourself up. He is the God of Jacob. He is your God, too.

As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. Matthew 27:32 When Jesus was being led out of the city to be crucified, the custom was that the person had to carry his own cross. Jesus was so exhausted from the sleepless night, the suffering and pain of the trial, that He fell down under the weight of the cross. God provided a man named Simon to be there to carry the cross for Jesus. God is sending us the message that we don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Sometimes the weight of what we’re carrying gets too heavy. When you’re down, when you’re discouraged, God is not going to leave you there. He’ll always have someone to help lift you back up, someone to encourage you, someone to help you carry the load that you can’t carry. There will be a Simon there to help lift you back up.

Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again Luke 24: 6-7 The three women who went to the tomb on Sunday morning to care for Jesus’ body were met by the angel’s question, “Don’t you remember what He told you?” They came to the tomb discouraged, depressed, and defeated, and they left excited, passionate, full of faith and hope. They couldn’t wait to tell the disciples. When you’re under pressure, under stress, overwhelmed by a situation, too often we forget what God has said, and we go by what we see. We let negative thoughts drown out what God has promised. Recognize that’s a test. The enemy would love for you to get so caught up in your circumstances that you forget what God told you. Are you remembering that He says He’ll supply all your needs according to His riches?

At that time a great persecution arose against the church…Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. Acts 8:1 & 5 This persecution forced Philip out of Jerusalem. He was pushed out of his comfort zone. What’s interesting is that previously God had poured out His Spirit upon the believers in Jerusalem. The same God who showed them that powerful sign could have stopped the persecution, but it was for a purpose—a plan to push them into their destiny. It was in Samaria that Philip saw the greatest days of his ministry. If he had stayed in Jerusalem, he would never have reached his full potential. God knows how to get you out of your comfort zone. Maybe you’ve been pushed out of Jerusalem, so to speak. Don’t be discouraged. If it weren’t going to work for your good, God wouldn’t have allowed it. Jerusalem may have closed, but Samaria is about to open. God wouldn’t be pushing you if He didn’t already have a door open.

He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me. Matthew 26:38 On the night before Jesus went to the cross, He was so deeply troubled in the Garden of Gethsemane that He asked His disciples to stay there and pray for Him. He deserved their support, but they couldn’t stay awake. It was disappointing, but He accepted that He wasn’t going to have their encouragement and moved forward toward His resurrection. In life we all have disappointments, some that deeply trouble us. But God gives you grace for every Gethsemane, for every person who falls asleep. It’s very freeing when you can look at the frustration, look at the business that slowed down, look at the people who left you, and know that amazing things are ahead if you don’t give up in Gethsemane. Yes, there are crosses to bear, betrayals, and setbacks, but if you keep moving forward, there will be resurrections. There will be new beginnings, times when God pays you ba...

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days John 2:19 When Jesus spoke today’s Scripture, He was referring to His coming death. At the time, people thought He was talking about the actual temple building, but He was talking about Himself. He knew that His end had been established. He was saying that His final scene was not one of being betrayed and mistreated, hanging on a cross in great pain, or being buried in a tomb wrapped up in grave clothes. He knew that His final scene was that of being seated at the right hand of His Father, with all power, with the keys of death and hell. That’s why the Scripture says, “For the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame.” Now in the tough times, don’t let the twists, the turns, or the things that don’t make sense cause you to get discouraged. The way to keep your joy is to keep looking ahead, knowing that you will have a flourishing finish, knowing that God always c...

A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty, rescue them, and you will have to do it again. Proverbs 19:19 Are you so good-hearted that you’re sacrificing your time and happiness to keep everyone around you happy? You need to know the freedom that comes when you get free from controlling people. Some people are always having a crisis and in desperate need of something. It’s good to help people who are in real need. But if it seems the emergencies never stop, you need to recognize that’s a manipulator and you are their puppet. They know if they pull one string, you’ll feel guilty, or another string and you’ll bail them out. If someone is playing you like a puppet, it’s time to cut the strings. No more letting them make you feel guilty. No more will you come running. If you feel you’ll lose their friendship if you won’t meet unreasonable demands, that person is a manipulator, not your friend. The sooner you break free, the better off you’ll be. Be bold, take charge o...

The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. Deuteronomy 7:6 God’s creation is filled with magnificent scenes and things, but He says you are His most prized possession. Don’t go around feeling wrong about yourself. Quit letting your thoughts tell you that you’re ordinary. God went to great lengths to make you exactly as He wanted. You have what you need to fulfill your destiny. When God created you in His own image, He stepped back and stamped His approval on you.

Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. Psalm 1:2-3 Today’s Scripture says that when you meditate on God’s Word day and night, “You’re a tree…always in blossom.” That’s God’s dream for your life—that you always have a smile, that you’re always in peace, that you’re always excited about your future. And, no, it doesn’t mean that you’ll never have adversities. But in those difficult times, because you have your thoughts fixed on Him, thoughts you’ve drawn from His Word, deep down there will be a confidence, a knowing that everything is going to be all right. You will know that God is still on the throne. He is fighting your battles, and you’re not only going to come out, you’re going to come out better off than you were before. When you’re in agreement with God, the Creator of the universe goes to work. God will cause His favor to shine down...

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. Matthew 14:19 When Jesus was about to feed a multitude of thousands of people, “He broke the loaves,” and the bread was multiplied. Notice the blessing was in the breaking. The more He broke it, the more it multiplied and fed a tremendous multitude, with basketfuls of leftovers. There are times in life when we feel broken. We have broken dreams. When you feel broken, don’t get bitter and give up on your dreams. That brokenness is not the end; it’s a sign that God is about to multiply. The more broken you are, the more God is going to increase you. The bigger the disappointment, the bigger the blessing. The more they hurt you, the more He’s going to reward you. That brokenness may have been meant to stop you, but if you stay in faith, God is going to use it to bless you. The h...

At that time a great persecution arose against the church… Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them Acts 8: 1 & 5 This persecution forced Philip out of Jerusalem. He was pushed out of his comfort zone. What’s interesting is that previously God had poured out His Spirit upon the believers in Jerusalem. The same God who showed them that powerful sign could have stopped the persecution, but it was for a purpose—a plan to push them into their destiny. It was in Samaria that Philip saw the greatest days of his ministry. If he had stayed in Jerusalem, he would never have reached his full potential. God knows how to get you out of your comfort zone. He opened the door; He can close the door. Maybe you’ve been pushed out of Jerusalem, so to speak, through a bad break, a disappointment. Don’t be discouraged. If it weren’t going to work for your good, God wouldn’t have allowed it. Jerusalem may have closed, but Samaria is about to open. God wou...

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”---He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house Mark 2:10-11 In the Scripture, four men carried a paralyzed man to see Jesus. When Jesus saw them, He said to the man, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Some of the religious leaders were offended and began to murmur, “Who does He think He is? Only God can forgive sins.” Challenged by His critics, Jesus said to them, “Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?” To prove to them that He was the Son of God, He turned to the paralyzed man and told him to rise up. Jesus could have just forgiven the man’s sins and moved on, but when His enemies murmured about it, Jesus healed him. When people are talking about you, trying to push you down, don’t worry—God sees and hears them.

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Corinthians !0:4 We know God has forgiven us from past mistakes and failures, but some of us still have a sense of unworthiness as though we don’t deserve it. God’s mercy was there for you before you made the mistake. It’s time for you to shake off the shame, to shake off the guilt. This is a new day. Don’t let negative events become your identity. You are a child of the Most High God.