Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Dream Beyond



Dream Beyond

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
I lift up my eyes to the hills…
Psalm 121:1, NIV.

TODAY’S WORD
So many people today are stuck in a rut. It’s not because they aren’t talented; it’s not because they don’t have God’s favor, but it’s because their vision is limited. They can’t see beyond their circumstances. They don’t see themselves accomplishing their dreams, being promoted or living healthier. They just see more of the same because it’s what they are focused on. What you see is what you’re going to move toward.

The truth is, we all have vision. Every one of us has a picture in our mind of our self, our family and our future. The question is: what does your picture look like? Do you see yourself rising higher, overcoming obstacles, living an abundant life? Do you dare to dream beyond your circumstances?

Today, why don’t you change your focus? Lift your eyes beyond your circumstances. Get a higher dream, a greater vision for your life. See yourself the way God sees you and move forward in the abundant life He has prepared for you!

PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I choose to lift my eyes off my circumstances and look to You. Show me Your ways that I may walk with You on the path to victory all the days of my life in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***
"Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame." (Proverbs 4:25 TEV)
You don't need to walk around carrying a load of guilt. The Apostle Paul says, “Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us ‘not guilty’ of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins” (Romans 3:23-24 TLB).
God wants to forgive you. Imagine a giant blackboard with all of your sins written across it and God comes along with a giant eraser and erases it all. It's like an Etch A Sketch: You turn it upside down and shake it, then turn it back up, and the slate is clean. That's good news, isn't it? 
But we need to accept God's forgiveness. We may know about God's forgiveness intellectually, but we need to believe it, deep down inside, accepting in faith that it is true — because it is!
One thing that often blocks us from accepting forgiveness from God is that we are unable to forgive ourselves. You need to forgive yourself for your past failures and sins, for the habits and hang-ups that led you to sin. Forgive yourself!
God wants you to forgive yourself. He teaches us to “look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame” (Proverbs 4:25 TEV).
Have you ever committed a sin and asked God to forgive you, and, even though you know he's forgiven you, you still feel lousy? What do you do in that situation? Do you go back and ask him to forgive you again? Confess it again, over and over? 
No. You only have to confess a sin one time, and it's forgiven. But you may have to forgive yourself a hundred times and say it over and over until it sinks in: "God's forgiven me. It's over.”
Our problem is that we want to keep reminding God of things he's already forgotten. It's forgivenand forgotten. You've already dealt with it. Someone once asked Eleanor Roosevelt, "How did you accomplish so much with your life?" She replied, "I never waste time with regrets." 
Don’t waste time with your regrets. Accept God's forgiveness, and forgive yourself.
Talk About It

  • How does your life demonstrate that you are living fully in God's forgiveness and grace?
  • What do you need to forgive yourself for today? How does God’s grace apply to you?


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