Give Your Faith a Target

Give Your Faith a Target TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1, NLT. TODAY'S WORD: So many people today are depressed and discouraged simply because they only focus on their present circumstances. They’re constantly dwelling on their problems, what they don’t have, and what’s wrong with them. They don’t realize it, but they’re allowing the enemy to steal their hope. This negative frame of mind is what keeps people from moving forward in life. Understand today that faith is confidence and assurance about the things we hope for according to the promises of God. Like an arrow, your faith points to the target of hope. If you don’t have hope, that arrow of faith will just drop to the ground. It won’t accomplish anything. But when you keep your hopes up, when you keep expecting and believing, it’s as if that target gets larger and larger—easier to hit! Choose today to live with an attitude of expectancy. Get your hopes up! Start by taking captive any negative thoughts you may have one at a time. As you focus on God’s goodness and faithfulness, you’ll feel that hope inside you growing. You’ll give your faith a target, and you’ll move confidently into the blessings and peace the Lord has in store for you! PRAYER FOR TODAY: Father, today I surrender every thought to You. I choose to release my cares and concerns so I can focus on Your goodness in my life. Thank You for the gift of faith to see the impossible become possible as I continue to place my hope and confidence in You in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Sow Today to Reap God’s Blessing   by Rick Warren "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9 KJV) Every farmer knows that what you sow in one season, you will reap in another season. You plant in the spring, and you harvest in the fall. The way you respond right now is definitely going to affect your future. If you respond correctly in a season of life and you do the right thing, even when you don't feel like it, it pays great dividends in the future. "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9 KJV). In other words, don't give up. No matter which season you're in, there are four questions you need to ask yourself so that you will reap God’s blessing in the next season. What can you learn in this season of life? There are some things we only learn through experience. Deuteronomy 11:2 says, "Remember ... what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him” (GNT).   What can you enjoy in this season of life? The Bible says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV). We are to live the good and the bad days with a sense of gratitude, because each day is a gift from God.   What is most important for this season? Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” If that's true, then you can't have it all at one time. You have to make some tough decisions about what really matters at this particular time in life.   How can you help others in this season of life? The Bible says very clearly that you weren't put on this earth just to live for yourself: "Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help”(Proverbs 3:27 NCV). God gave you abilities, talents, and energy to help other people. Pray this prayer today: “Jesus Christ, I want to grow in you. I want to develop spiritually. Would you use the seasons of my life? Would you teach me to learn to trust you in every season, even the difficult ones? Lord, I invite you to be at the center of every season of my life, so you can build the character that I will take with me to Heaven. In your name I pray. Amen.”