A Mark of Honor

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling"
(Proverbs 20:3, NLT)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

I’ve found that for most people, it can be easy to start a fight but hard to end one. It’s easy to get offended and say things that we know we shouldn’t, but once you get started, it’s difficult to stop. It’s hard to let it go. That’s why the scripture tells us that it’s much better not to ever even start a quarrel.

If you want God to honor you, if you want to enjoy your life to the fullest, then always strive to be a peacemaker. Be the kind of person who goes the extra mile to avoid an unnecessary argument. Make your home a place of peace. Choose to be in harmony with your spouse and the people you live your daily life with. The Bible says that you are blessed when you are a peacemaker. So today, look for ways to make peace. Choose to overcome strife and wear the mark of honor He has given to you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, today I choose to be a peacemaker. I choose to wear Your mark of honor and avoid strife in my life. Use me for Your purposes today as I yield every area of my heart to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Overlook Offense

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense"
(Proverbs 19:11, AMP)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Not long ago, a lady came and told me, “Joel, the reason I quit coming to church, the reason I hadn’t been here in two months is because everybody was talking about me. Everybody was against me.” I didn’t say it, but I thought to myself, “Ma’am, everybody doesn’t know you. If you sit on one side of the building, the people on the other side probably have never even seen you.” What happened? She was carrying offense and got distracted trying to fight a battle that wasn’t worth fighting. Someone offended her or said something she didn’t like, and instead of letting it go, she fell into a trap. “Well, I’m not going to come to church. I’ll just show them.” She got distracted trying to prove her point and the only person she ended up hurting was herself. That’s what happens when we carry offenses. Things get blown out of proportion--“Everybody is against me. Everybody is talking about me.”

We shouldn’t allow offenses to distract us and get us off course. Instead, we need to stay focused on what God’s called us to do and overlook offense. Choose your battles wisely so you can fulfill the destiny God has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, search my heart today. Remove any offense or any wrong attitude that would stand in the way of Your best for my life. I love You and bless You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Turn Away From Discouraging Voices

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"And David turned away from Eliab..."
(I Samuel 17:30, AMP)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

When David was a shepherd boy, his father asked him to take lunch to his brothers out on the battlefield. When he arrived, he heard Goliath taunting and challenging the people of God. David asked the men standing around, “What is the prize for defeating this giant?” They said, “The reward is one of the king’s daughters in marriage and no more taxes.” That got David’s attention. He knew this was a battle worth fighting.

When David’s older brother, Eliab, heard him talking about fighting the giant, he tried to embarrass him. In front of all those men Eliab said, “David, what are you doing out here? And what have you done with those few sheep our father left you with?” He tried to make him feel small. He was saying, “David, you’re not important. You’ll never do anything great.” But I love the way David responded. The Scripture says that David turned and walked away from Eliab. I believe one of the main reasons that David was a champion is because he knew which battles to fight. He knew to turn away from discouraging voices so he could focus his energy on the real battle.

Today, what are the discouraging voices coming against you? Choose to turn away from those distractions so you can turn toward the victory God has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, I humbly come to You today releasing all my cares and concerns and focusing on the plan You have for me. Help me to turn away from the discouraging voices so that I can walk in the victory You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours"
(I Corinthians 9:24, AMP)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Many of the challenges that come our way in life are simply distractions to try to lure us from our destiny. Every day we have the opportunity to get upset—maybe someone is talking about you, or a competitor at work is spreading rumors, or a friend says something that they shouldn’t have. When this happens, you have to ask yourself, “If I engage in this battle and spend my time and energy trying to defend myself or trying to prove that I’m right, if I win this battle, what is the prize going to be?” For example, if someone cuts you off in traffic and you get all upset and cut him off in return, how is that going to benefit you? You don’t even know the person! What’s the point? There are no spoils. That’s not a battle that is worth your energy.

The reason many people are missing out on God’s best is they’re distracted fighting battles that don’t really matter, trying to prove themselves to others, trying to win over their critics, playing up to someone, trying to get their approval. Instead, choose to keep your focus and attention on becoming more like Jesus so you can fulfill the destiny He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, today I choose to refocus on You. I am determined to overlook offenses and choose my battles wisely. I will run the race You have set before me with purpose so I can lay hold of the prize You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Choose Obedience

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Give heed to Him, listen to and obey His voice..."
(Exodus 23:21, AMP)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Did you know that when God spoke to Noah about building the ark, it had never even rained before? Can you imagine that? Noah knew people were going to make fun of him or call him crazy. I’m sure he had every opportunity to talk himself out of it. He could have come up with plenty of excuses. But Noah didn’t do that. He recognized that God had asked him to do a difficult thing, and he chose obedience. Noah didn’t run from the challenge; he chose to believe God. Noah’s obedience is what opened the door for God to supernaturally empower him to fulfill his destiny. Now he is one of the great heroes of faith.

If you will decide to do the difficult things God is telling you to do—even when it looks impossible—if you’ll choose to be obedient, then God will do more than you could ask or think. He’ll take you places that you’ve never dreamed of. He’ll bring up out of you gifts and talents that you never even knew you had. He’ll empower you to fulfill your destiny, and who knows, you may become the next hero of faith.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for calling and equipping me. I choose to be obedient to Your Word and follow Your voice. I give You first place in every area of my life and trust that You are empowering me to do Your will. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Armor of God

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places"
(Ephesians 6:11-12, NLT)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

God has equipped us to stand and fight every battle we will face in life. The Bible tells us in Ephesians chapter 6 that we are to put on the whole armor of God—everything that He has equipped us with. The armor tells a lot about how we are to fight our battles. If you study the armor of God, you’ll find that it only mentions things that cover the front of us. It talks about wearing the breastplate of righteousness which covers our chest, our heart. It talks about having our loins girt about with truth; it tells us to put on the helmet of salvation, and to protect our steps with the shoes of peace. Then it mentions the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit.

But notice, interestingly enough, not one piece of that armor covers our back. Why is that? It’s because God never intended for us to be running from the enemy. If you’re running from adversity, then you’re leaving yourself wide open to the enemy. But if you’ll put on the whole armor of God and stand on His Word, you’ll move forward into the victory God has already prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for equipping me to overcome every challenge and obstacle I will ever face in life. I choose to put on the whole armor so that I can stand in victory the way You intend. I bless You always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Be Determined

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"“[We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy,"
(Colossians 1:11, AMP).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Do you know what causes God to act on your behalf? Do you know what gets His attention? God is not moved by our needs. He’s not moved by whining or complaining. He’s not moved by a “poor me” mentality. No, God is moved by our faith in Him. We have to be determined to stand on God’s Word no matter what is going on around us.

Remember, God promises in His Word that He will fight our battles, but understand that it’s not going to happen automatically. We have to do our part. We have to dig our heels in with an attitude of faith and exercise endurance, patience, and perseverance. We have to be determined to stand strong in faith and face those challenges that come against us.

Just like the scripture says, I pray that today you are strengthened with His power to exercise endurance, perseverance, and patience so that you can stand strong and be determined to take hold of every promise He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for giving me a measure of faith that grows as I receive Your Word. Today I declare that I am determined to put You first and stand on Your promises so that I can live the life of victory You have prepared for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Take Hold of Your Freedom

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery"
(Galatians 5:1, NAS).

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

So many people today are missing out on the freedom that God has in store for them simply because they’re always running from their adversities. They’re continually running from their challenges or difficulties, content to stay right where they are. And I know that it’s sometimes difficult to stand against the enemy. It can be uncomfortable to confront our challenges in order to take hold of freedom. But I believe that it is actually more difficult to run from our challenges than it is to stand and face them.

See, if you’ll face your challenges, then it will only be a temporary difficulty. But if you spend your whole life running from your challenges, it’s as if they never go away—like a ball and chain around your ankle, those challenges will follow you everywhere you go. But that doesn’t have to be you! Instead, stand firm on God’s promises. Declare His Word over your life. Ask God to give you wisdom and direction as you face the difficulties in your life so that you can take hold of the freedom He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, thank You for freedom through Christ Jesus. I choose today to stand firm on Your promises. I choose an attitude of faith and expectancy knowing that You are leading me in paths of victory all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

You and God Are a Majority

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

"...If God be for us, who can be against us?"
(Romans 8:31, KJV)

TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria

So often when difficulties come, people tend to feel overwhelmed, unequipped, or outnumbered. They shrink back or look for an easy way out or a place to hide. But that’s not God´s best for us. He never intended for us to be consumed by our challenges; He intends for us to overcome our challenges!

If you´re facing a difficulty today, it´s time to dig your heels in, stand strong, and show the enemy what you´re made of! Remember, you aren´t alone in the fight; God is with you. He´s promised to never leave you nor forsake you. Just like the scripture says, if God is for you who can be against you? Friend, you and God are a majority. There´s no weapon, no enemy, no challenge, no disease, no failure, there´s nothing that can overtake you when God is on your side!

I encourage you today; choose an attitude of faith and victory. Keep declaring His promises over your life. Be bold and stand strong because God promises that He has victory in store for the upright. As you keep that attitude of faith, you´ll rise above those difficulties and walk in the freedom He´s prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to me. Thank You for equipping me and filling me with Your joy, strength, and boldness. I choose to trust You, to stand on Your Word and look for the victory You have in store for me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.