WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts . . . “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:6-9

1. FORSAKE WRONG THINKING. Instead of thinking our own unrighteous thoughts, we are invited to actually think the thoughts of God – to trade our thoughts for His and actually view life the way God views it.

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THREE KEYS TO A BREAKTHROUGH

The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of my salvation, the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me. He delivers me from my enemies; surely You lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man. Psalm 18:46-48

1. LET GOD BE YOUR VINDICATOR. It’s a fallen world. People can be manipulative and hurtful. The Bible tells us we are not to take revenge or get bitter but instead let God deal with someone (Romans 12:19). God’s results are way better than if we try to act in our humanity. He will always deliver us.

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FUTURE AND HOPE

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

God is speaking hope to a people deported to Babylon at the beginning of 70 years of difficulty. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were some of those captives. The prophet Jeremiah also lived during that time and wrote this scripture that God has a good plan for the people of Israel even in a harsh situation.

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THE CURE FOR WORRY AND ANXIETY

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

1. WATCH YOUR WORDS. Life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). If we guard our mouths, we can actually guard our soul from trouble and worry (Proverbs 21:23). We will have to give account for every careless word we speak (Matthew 12:36-37). So, let’s carefully consider our words, and speak life instead of worry and fear.

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Be Assured of God’s Love

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God. 1 John 3:1a

1. MEDITATE ON GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU. God loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for you. He rose from the dead and now lives to intervene on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25 AMP). God has a plan for your life that is as pertinent now as any of the Bible characters’ experiences. Read scriptures that remind you how much you are loved by God.

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3 THINGS TO SPEAK OVER YOUR LIFE TODAY

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1: 1-3 NLT

1. CONTINUALLY CONFESS: “I DO NOT HAVE ANY CARES.” You can stand on 1 Peter 5:7: “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” It’s great to listen to sermons and to the Bible but there is nothing like speaking God’s Word out of your own lips. Declare His Word over your life. Instead of meditating on the evil, put your delight in what God says and meditate on it day and night. Sing praises to God all the time. As you walk with Him, you’ll be fruitful and whatever you do will prosper. That is such an outlandish statement, but because it’s in the Bible we have the biblical groundwork to accept that it is true!

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LOVE BRINGS REVIVAL

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. 1 John 3:1a

1. GOD LOVES YOU. He esteemed you so dear that He made the value of your life the death of His Son. When we know we are loved, we become secure. We can be kind toward others instead of overly guarded; confident instead of nervous; brave instead of timid; sincere instead of fake.

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PRAYER: YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

1. WHEN YOU PRAY, HEAVEN LISTENS.

The Bible says that God’s ears are open to the prayer of the righteous (1 Peter 3:12). Prayer is communication with God. It’s not religious ritual or formalism. It’s a relationship – going to God about things and interacting with Him. Never underestimate the power of your prayer. I am serving God because of my grandma, who prayed. A prayer movement is taking place right now that will precede revival in the church and harvest among the lost. Prayer is the most needed exercise in the church today.

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HOW TO HAVE A VIBRANT LIFE

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

1. WATCH OVER YOUR HEART. We all have a muscle in the center of our chest. It’s called a heart, and it’s pretty amazing. It pumps about 2,000 gallons worth of blood every day. But just as the physical heart gives life to our body, our spiritual heart serves as the central element of our existence. That’s why Proverbs is telling us to watch over it with all diligence.

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COURAGE FOR YOUR COURSE

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

1. EQUIPPED WITH COURAGE. God has a plan for your life, and He has called you to fulfill it with courage and conviction. If God tells you to be courageous, then you know you can do it—because when God calls you, He also brings it to pass (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

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JESUS IS YOUR SHEPHERD

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

1. FOLLOW JESUS. The Bible uses the example that we are like sheep and God is our shepherd: we can trust Him and follow Him. If you’ve lost your way, call on Jesus. He will find you.

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JESUS IS WILLING

When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:1-3


STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND. God has called us to reach both the large crowds and the isolated individuals. At the time Jesus was on earth, lepers were considered untouchables; yet Jesus crossed that divide and put His hand on this man who was suffering. Jesus’ response to the leper’s request resounds across time: “I am willing.” To those isolated today, to those who feel like rejects, to those hiding their problems—call out to Jesus. He is willing.

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How to Be a Carrier of Encouragement

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

1. RESIST NEGATIVITY. Words are powerful. They can contain either hurt or healing and they can contribute to someone’s suffering or to someone’s cure. The Greek word for unwholesome in Ephesians is translated as “rot.” So, just like the expression “one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch,” one complaining person can contaminate a whole group of people.

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From Fear to Faith!

Peace I [Jesus] leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27

Jesus told us not to let our hearts be troubled or fearful because He knew there would be opportunities to do so. The cure for despair is to take practical steps to move from fear to faith. When confronted with a challenge, we have a few options: (1) be apathetic; (2) freak out; or (3) get busy in faith.

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HEARING GOD’S VOICE

[I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1:17-19a

Communication is key to every relationship, including our walk with God. In the beginning, Adam and Eve enjoyed direct, full-on fellowship with God. But one of the damages from the fall of man was the disruption of communication with God. But now, because of Jesus, our fellowship with God is restored, and we can all hear and know His voice and be led by His Holy Spirit.

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Why Words Matter

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3 NKJV

1. WORLDS ARE FRAMED. The whole universe is held together by the word of God’s power (Hebrews 11:3). What’s going to frame your world? Will you yield to doubt and fear? Cave into depression? Instead, let the promises of God fuel your faith.

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OCCUPIED WITH GOD’S PROVISION

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 9:8

1. UNDERSTAND GOD’S WILL & HIS NATURE. God is a giver. Parents know how to bless their kids. How much more will your Heavenly Father give what is good to those who ask (Matthew 7:11). God loves you, and that fact translates into spiritual and practical blessings. His will is to save you, heal you, bless you, fill you with the Holy Spirit, answer your prayers, deliver you, and protect you.

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An Intentional Heart

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20

I love that this verse is written in the context of God reaching out to some people who had become lukewarm in their relationship with Him. Think of a cup of coffee after it’s been sitting for a while, and now it’s reached room temperature. It’s no longer intentionally hot or cold but has become like the atmosphere around it. God doesn’t want us to become just like our environment. He wants us to be purposefully hot or cold. Both on fire for God and also having a cool, peaceful spirit when other people are volatile and jacked up (Proverbs 17:27). Again, it’s about intentionality.

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The Language of Faith

But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,” we also believe; therefore we also speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13

1. Words matter. All through the Bible, God emphasizes the connection between faith and words. In the beginning God used words to create the world. Our salvation starts with our confession (Romans 10:9-10). Jesus used a mountain to illustrate faith to us – telling us that when we believe, we can speak to the mountains in our lives (Mark 11:22-24).

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Living By Faith

Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4

1. Read God’s Word. God has called us to a life of faith. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Faith is produced when we pay attention to the Word of God.

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How to Run Your Race with Strength

One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13b-14

Hey, Family Church!

God wants to meet your needs right where you are. Today can be a new beginning, a season of refreshing and strength. He will help you make big decisions, get you unstuck, and lift you out of depression.

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God Is at Work

It is God Himself whose power creates in you both the desire and the power to execute His gracious will. Philippians 2:13 Weymouth

Hey, Family Church!

YOUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD. Any Christian who has taken on any kind of responsibility knows that we can’t do it alone – our help comes from God (Psalm 121:2). God never gets weary. When you hang out with Him, His likeness rubs off on you; His strength gets into you. That’s why we must take time to connect with the power source.

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STEPS TO EFFECTIVENESS

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Hey, Family Church!

These five actions from the Apostle Paul give us an amazing scriptural to-do list that can enable us to be effective all the way through our lives.

1. BE ON THE ALERT. We are called to keep watch and stay alert and always ready for what God wants to tell us (Habakkuk 2:1). This doesn’t mean we are to be anxious, but instead we’re to be distraction-free and ready to pray and act as the Holy Spirit leads.

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FORGIVEN & FREE

Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13b-14 NLT

On Good Friday, Jesus died on the Cross and canceled out our sin. Crucifixion was not the only form of execution during the Roman Period, but when used it conveyed rejection and shame – an extreme form of cancel culture. Jesus, who had never sinned, took all the shame and sin of humanity on Himself so that we could be free (2 Corinthians 5:21).

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