Rejoice in the Difficult Times

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation"
(Romans 5:3-4, NLT).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Did you know that the way you handle your adversities has a huge impact on your success in life? If you shrink back, choose to get bitter, and lose your enthusiasm, then you are allowing the difficulties of life to bury you. You are allowing hardship to keep you from your God-given destiny. But if you choose to keep pressing forward with a smile on your face, rejoicing even in the hard times, you are allowing God’s character to be developed inside of you. You are setting yourself up for promotion.

Did you know that the only difference between a piece of black coal and a priceless diamond is the amount of pressure that it’s endured? When you stand strong in the midst of the trials and difficulties in life, when you allow God to shape and mold your character, it’s like going from a piece of coal to a priceless diamond. Those difficulties are going to give way to new growth, new potential, new talent, new friendships, new opportunities, new vision. You’re going to see God develop your life in ways that you’ve never even dreamed!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for giving me strength to overcome every obstacle in life. I choose to rejoice no matter what may come against me because I know You are working all things together for my good. Thank You for developing Your character in me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

You Have Been Planted

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain"
(John 12:24, NKJ)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

We all face difficulties and challenges in life. But you have to remember, as a believer in Jesus, you have the life-giving seed of Almighty God on the inside of you. When you go through disappointments or tough times, you may feel like you’ve been buried. You may feel like you’re in a dark, lonely place. You may feel like it’s the end, but in reality, it’s only the beginning. The fact is, you haven’t been buried; you have been planted. That means you’re coming back. And not only are you coming back, but you’re coming back in increase, better and stronger than before.

In those tough times, you’ve got to draw the line in the sand. Make a declaration, “This difficulty is not going to bury me. This loss, this disappointment, this injustice is not going to cause me to give up on my dreams. I refuse to live in self-pity. I know I am a seed. That means I cannot be buried. I can only be planted. I may be down, but it’s only temporary. I know I’m not only coming back, I’m coming back even better than I was before!”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for filling me with Your life-giving seed. I choose today to focus on the potential for my future. I know that I will overcome every obstacle by Your power that is at work in me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Let God Arise

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered…”
(Psalm 68:1, NKJ).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Let me ask you today, what are you letting arise in your life? In other words, what are you focusing your words, energy, and thoughts on? You might say, “Oh, Joel, it’s just so hard right now. I lost a lot of money in the stock market.” “My health doesn’t look good.” “Somebody walked out on me.” No, you’re focusing on the wrong things. You’re letting defeat, discouragement, and self-pity rise up. Why don’t you turn that around and say, “God is still in control. Somebody may have walked out on me, but I know God is going to bring me somebody better.” “I may be hurting right now, but I know God is the restorer of my soul.” “I may have lost money in the stock market, but I’m not worried. I know God is my provider. He is supplying all of my needs. He is fighting my battles.”

When you start giving God glory and letting Him arise in your life, you can’t stay defeated. Your enemies will be scattered! They’ll tremble at your words of faith. Begin right now by declaring God’s goodness in your life and let Him arise so that you can move forward in the victory He has for you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I repent right now for allowing any negative, self-defeating thoughts or attitudes rise up in my life. You alone are my God, and I put my trust in You. I bless You today and always choose to look for the good things You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Wait With Confidence

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"…See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm…"
(James 5:7-8, NIV).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

In the book of James, the Bible tells us that we should wait for God’s promises like a farmer waits for his harvest. Now, I’ve never seen a farmer plant a crop and then worry night and day about whether or not it’s going to come up. He doesn’t lose sleep thinking, “Oh, I hope that my corn is going to take root. Please God, let my corn bring a harvest.” No, he waits with confidence, knowing that the harvest will come. He does his part, and he knows that seed will produce a good crop.

In the same way, we should wait confidently for the promises of God. We have to stand firm on His Word. It’s not enough to just hope that your situation is going to turn around. Instead of the attitude “I hope I get well”, have the attitude of confidence and say, “Thank You, Lord that I am getting well.” Start waiting like the farmer. Wait with a knowing. Wait with confidence. Be sure that as you put God’s Word into practice, just like the farmer, you will see that harvest of blessing in your own life in return.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Today, I choose to stand firm on Your Word. I choose to follow Your commands and believe that I will see Your promises come to pass in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Always Remember...God is Good!

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. "
(Psalm 107:1, NLT).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

As a young man growing up, I loved to play baseball. And like any child that ever put on a uniform, I dreamed one day of making it to “the big leagues.” In the world of baseball, there’s nothing bigger than Yankee Stadium, and on Saturday night, I stood at second base in front of a packed crowd.

But instead of a baseball glove in my hand, I had the Word of God. A dream had come true – and it was better than I could have possibly imagined.

Our historic night of hope from Yankee stadium was the first non-baseball event ever held at the world-famous ballpark, and it was also our first open air stadium event as a ministry. It was a night Victoria and I will never forget.

My prayer is that the tens of thousands in attendance and the millions more watching on television will always remember – God is good!

When it feels like your dreams will never come true, when the challenges, pain and pressures in life become overwhelming, you’ll be tempted to forget that God is good. His Word reminds us that His faithfulness and His love endure forever.

God’s goodness is stronger and mightier than anything you’ll face in life. If you’ll keep holding on to your dreams and thanking God for His goodness, He’ll make your dreams come true. And it’ll be better than you could ever have imagined.

On behalf of our entire ministry team, Victoria and I would like to thank you for helping to make this amazing night happen. We believe that God did something extraordinary in the hearts of everyone who experienced this powerful event. We know we could not have done it without your prayers and support.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank you for being so good and loving us so much. Help us to always give thanks, no matter what we’re going through, because we know that we can count on your faithful love that endures forever. Give us the courage to keep holding on to our dreams as we trust in you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Say "Yes" to Jesus

There was a man in the Bible named Nicodemus who asked Jesus, "What is this new birth I keep hearing about? What does it mean to be born again? How can a person enter their mother's womb a second time?" Jesus answered him by explaining that it's your spirit that is reborn. Romans 10:9–10 tells us that we are born again when we say "yes" to Jesus.

When you say "yes" to Jesus, immediately you become new. You are cleansed of all sin, all unrighteousness, and God's Spirit makes His home inside of you. It's as if God takes the DNA of sin out of your spirit and puts the DNA of a saint in its place. You're not programmed to be a sinner anymore; in fact, it becomes hard to live the same old way because now you are programmed to say "yes" to Christ.

Remember, saying "yes" to Jesus isn't a one–time thing. We have to wake up every morning and choose to say "yes" in our minds, in our attitudes, and in our actions. We have to say "yes" to His Word and come into agreement with His promises. Just like you exercise and feed your body so you'll grow and be strong, you have to exercise and feed your spirit man if you want it to grow and produce the great things that God has deposited on the inside of you.

I encourage you today, if there's any area of your life that's been closed to God, open your heart and say "yes" to Him today. He loves you with an everlasting love, and He has a wonderful plan for your future. Say "yes" to Him in every area of your life so that you can live the abundant life He has prepared for you!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (II Corinthians 5:17, NKJ)

A Historic Night of Hope and Celebration

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel…"
(Ephesians 6:19 NIV)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Tomorrow night is a big night for us.

I'm constantly praying and asking God to open doors for us to preach the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as we possibly can – and God keeps answering those prayers in powerful ways.

Saturday night, we're hosting "A Historic Night of Hope" at the brand new Yankee Stadium in New York City. This beautiful new ballpark just opened last week and our celebration of faith will be the first non–baseball event ever held at this world famous location.

The Yankees are celebrated around the world as champions – that's why I am so excited that we are gathering in this place to worship and honor the Greatest Champion the world has ever known…Jesus!

On behalf of our entire ministry team, I want to ask you to pray for us and this historic opportunity. I know that God wants the people of New York and around the world as it is televised live on the TBN network, to experience His love, His great blessings, and the hope we can call find in Christ. Victoria and I believe as you join with us in prayer, you'll experience these blessings in your life too!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank you for your great love for the people of New York City. Bless this Night of Hope with your presence and your power and give Joel the right words to share your heart with all those who need you. And help me to experience more of your hope and your power in my life too. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Armloads of Blessings

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"It seemed like a dream, too good to be true, when God [gave us the victory]…Now, God, do it again… so those with heavy hearts will come out laughing, with armloads of blessing"
(Psalm 126, Message)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

When you have a heavy heart, when life deals you a difficult blow, God wants to turn things around in your favor. Not only does He want to bring you out, but He wants to bring you out with a smile and better off than you were before. He wants to give you the victory and fill you with armloads of blessings!

You might be thinking, “That sounds too good to be true. You don’t know my situation.” But understand, God wants to overwhelm you with His goodness. He wants you to feel like you are living in a dream. The scripture says that He delights in the prosperity of His people. In other words, it gives Him great joy to bless you. You can be certain that when you stand in faith, even when it’s difficult, God will reward you. He’ll fill you with His peace. He’ll give you supernatural strength. He’ll give you the grace you need to face those challenges. You can be sure that He’ll always lead you into victory and fill you with armloads of blessings!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for Your promise of victory and blessing. I choose to keep my heart and mind focused on You. Have Your way in me and lead me into the life of blessing You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Breath of God

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"[It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me]"
(Job 33:4, AMP)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

In Genesis, the Bible tells us that God breathed life into Adam. Not only does God breathe life into our physical bodies, He breathes life into our dreams and desires. He breathes new life and inspiration into your heart. I believe, even right now, He’s breathing a bigger vision into your spirit. One scripture says, “It’s not by our might. It’s not by our power. But it’s by the breath of Almighty God.” As God breathes on your life, things are going to get easier. Negative situations are going to turn around. You’re going to have wisdom beyond your years. You’re going to have a resolve that will not give up, an attitude that refuses to quit.

Everywhere you go, you need to imagine the most powerful force in the universe is blowing in your direction. Believe that His favor and inspiration are on your life. Look for those opportunities that God will use to take you further than you dreamed. As you trust that God is breathing in your direction, you’ll see His hand of grace and favor moving you forward in victory in every area of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for breathing in my direction. Thank You for giving life to my dreams, hopes, and desires. I trust that Your favor is working on my behalf. I give You glory for every good thing in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

His Promises Are "Yes and Amen"

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."
(2 Corinthians 1:20, NKJ)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

You may not realize it, but God has already said “yes” to His promises in your life. You don’t have to beg God to be good to you. You don’t have to plead with Him to help you. God wants to help you. He wants to pour out blessing in your life.

It also says that His promises are “amen.” That means “so be it”—it’s a done deal. All you have to do is make sure you are living up to your end of the bargain. See, God’s love is unconditional, but He has requirements for us to fulfill in order to see His promises come to pass in our lives. For example, Malachi 3:10 says that we have to bring our tithes in order to see the windows of heaven opened. It says in Deuteronomy 5 that we are to honor our parents in order to live a long life. The good news is, when we surrender our hearts to Him, He empowers us to fulfill every one of His commands. You stand secure knowing that God is faithful! Keep standing, keep believing, and keep following His commands because His promises are “yes” and “amen” in your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for Your faithfulness and goodness in my life. I believe that Your plan is to pour out Your blessing and favor on me. Give me the strength to obey Your commands all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

He Anoints Your Head with Oil

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

“…You anoint my head with oil"
(Psalm 23:5, NKJ)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

In the Bible, oil is symbolic of the anointing of God. Do you know what oil does? It makes things flow. Whenever there is friction or something gets stuck, putting oil on it makes it become more fluid. That’s what God wants to do for you. He wants to anoint your head with oil. When he does that, notice what David says in Psalm 23, “Because God anoints me, because I walk in His favor; surely, goodness and mercy will follow me everywhere I go."

His anointing makes things easier. People will go out of their way to be good to you for no reason. You’re going to have creativity, wisdom, and good ideas. God’s anointing on your life will cause the right doors to open. It will bring the right people across your path. It will make things go smoother. And the good news is, all you have to do is ask Him for it. Remember, He longs to be good to you. You can trust that His anointing will make things easier, and He will lead you into the abundant life He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your favor in my life today. Thank you for causing me to be at the right place at the right time. Anoint my head with Your oil so that I move forward in the path You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Next Chapter

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed"
(Psalm 139:16, NLT)

TODAY'S WORD

Did you know that God has already recorded every part of your life from the beginning to the end? He knows every disappointment, every loss, every challenge; and the good news is that your story ends in victory! God has written out a plan to bless and prosper you. Your final chapter concludes with you fulfilling your God-given destiny. Here’s the key: when you go through a disappointment, when you go through a loss, don’t stop on that page in your life. You’ve got to decide to keep moving forward. There’s another chapter in front of you, but you’ve got to be willing to take the next step.

Sometimes, we get so focused on what didn’t work out that we stay stuck, reliving the disappointment. If that’s you, recognize that you’ve been on that page long enough. It’s time to let it go and turn the page to the new chapter God has in store. You may not understand, it may not have been fair, but remember, the next chapter is full of blessing, full of favor, and full of victory! Make the decision to let go of the old so you can move forward into the abundant life God has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for the good plan You have for me. Today, I lay aside the disappointments of the past knowing that You have blessing in store for my future. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Keep Your Hopes Up

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"And you shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope…"
(Job 11:18 AMP)

TODAY'S WORD

In the world today, it seems there are so many things trying to pull us down. Every time you turn around, you're being bombarded with bad news. Life can be difficult, but there is a peace that God can give you in the midst of the challenge. If you'll keep your hopes up and keep your mind focused in the right direction, you'll get to the place where you'll say, "I should be upset. I should be losing sleep at night. But I'm not the least bit worried. I know God is still on the throne. I know He's working this out for my good."

When you keep your hopes up, you eventually step into the anointing of ease. You don't drag around discouraged or despondent. You're in faith, hoping, believing, and expecting. That's when God will move on your behalf. That's when you'll look up and say, "You know what? I don't struggle in this area anymore. God took the pressure off. Things are starting to fall into place." You may not be there just yet, but there is hope! God who promised to deliver you is faithful, and He will lead you in victory all the days of your life!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

"Heavenly Father, I declare that I put my trust and hope in You. I know that You are faithful, and I believe that You are making a way where there seems to be no way. Fill me with Your peace and joy and give me the strength to serve You all the days of my life. In Jesus' Name."

He Makes Crooked Places Straight

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

“Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain”
(Isaiah 40:4, AMP).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Have you been struggling in an area of your life for quite some time? God has promised He will go before you and prepare a path for you; He’ll make your crooked places straight. He wants to smooth things out for you. I believe that as you continue to commit your ways to Him, He will bring you into a season where things are going to start falling into place. You’re going to get breaks that you didn’t deserve. The promises that you’ve been standing on, you’re going to see them begin to come to pass. It’s time for you to get ready and get your fire back!

Start expecting that you are coming in to a new season. Maybe it’s in your finances. Maybe you’ve struggled for a long time. Begin to declare that you’re going to see supernatural increase, supernatural opportunities, supernatural promotion. Remember, the economy is not your source—God is. He’s the One who opens doors that no person can shut. Keep standing, keep believing because God is going to make your crooked places straight and lead you down the path of blessing and victory in every area of your life!!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for preparing a path for me. I know You are working behind the scenes to make the crooked places straight and the rough places smooth. Give me Your strength to keep moving forward on the good path that you have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Anointing of Ease

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

“For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light”
(Matthew 11:30 NLT).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

We all go through seasons that are more difficult than others; seasons where we're working hard but not making much progress. Maybe in a relationship you're doing your best, but it still seems stagnate. Sometimes, there are seasons in our finances where it's one struggle after another. If we're not careful, we'll lose our enthusiasm and think, "This is just the way life is. Life is just hard."

Yes, there are seasons when we have to stand strong and do the right thing even though it's difficult; but don't make the mistake of settling there and thinking that's the way it's always going to be. Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." There is something called the anointing of ease that can change everything! When you step into this anointing, the things that used to be difficult will suddenly become easy. Things you used to struggle with won't be a struggle anymore. God gives you a supernatural grace–a favor–that lightens the load and takes the pressure off. Your part is to stay in faith, keep believing, and keep hoping. No matter how difficult things may seem, stand strong because His anointing of ease will carry you through!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for the anointing of ease. Today, I cast my cares on You knowing that You care for me. I ask for Your supernatural anointing to remove every burden and destroy every yoke of bondage in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Confidence to Receive

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

“And we will receive from Him whatever we ask because we obey Him and do the things that please Him”
(I John 3:22, NLT).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

When you pray, are you confident that you will receive what you’ve asked? Many people today wonder if God hears their prayers. They aren’t certain if He will answer. But the scripture promises that when we obey God’s commands, when we live a life that is pleasing to Him, we can be sure that we will receive what we ask.

Understand that God’s Word is His will. That’s why it’s so important to make His Word the number one priority in our lives. When you keep God’s promises in your heart and mind, it changes and shapes your character. It makes your thoughts and desires line up with God’s thoughts and desires. And when you are praying according to God’s will, you can have the confidence to receive what you’ve asked.

Make the commitment to obey the Word and do what pleases Him. As you do, you’ll see His hand of blessing in every area of your life. You’ll be equipped to move forward in the confidence and victory He has planned for you!.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I declare that I am committed to Your Word. I invite You to reshape my thoughts and character. Make me more like You. I bless You today and thank You for giving me confidence when I pray. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Anxious for Nothing

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”
(Philippians 4:6, NASB).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

So many people today are living uptight, worried and anxious about the future, filled with frustration and concern. In the natural there may be good reason, but understand, that is not God’s best. God doesn’t want us to live in anxiety and frustration; He wants us to live in peace. You can find rest in Him knowing that no matter what is happening around you, God Almighty has His hand on you.

The next time you’re tempted to worry or be anxious about something, remember this verse. God invites us to come to Him. In fact, the Bible says He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. But notice, we can’t just come to Him any old way. He wants us to come to Him with a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving. Begin by simply saying, “Father in heaven, thank You for the privilege to come before You. Thank You for hearing my prayers.” As you come to Him with an open and humble heart, He will hear you and fill you with His peace and joy all the days of your life.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, today I choose to be anxious for nothing. I choose to set aside my worries and concerns. I thank You for Your faithfulness to meet every need in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

He Will Answer

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

“I will answer them before they even call to Me…”
(Isaiah 65:24, NLT).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Have you ever thought about something you wanted or needed, and suddenly, that need was supplied—before you ever even stopped to pray about it? God knows your needs before you even speak them. He wants to provide for you and answer the very desires of your heart. When you put Him first in everything you do, when you faithfully follow His commands, He’ll pour out an extra portion of His goodness and favor upon you.

Don’t ever think God is too busy to answer your prayers. Don’t ever think your needs are too small or that you don’t matter. He cares about everything that concerns you, and He loves to hear you call upon His name. You are very special to God, and He promises to answer in His timing, and sometimes, before you even call. Stand in faith knowing that God wants to shower you with His abundant blessings today.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Reveal Your good plan for me and teach me to trust in You as I surrender to You every area of life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.