“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15, NIV

Perhaps you have a family member who has made poor choices and caused a lot of grief and pain. It may seem as though they will never get better, and you’re just about to write them off. I encourage you to keep on asking God to not only bring this person back, but also to help them do something great. I’ve found when God touches somebody who has been living way off course, He will use them to do amazing things.

You have the promise that “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” It says in Psalm 112 that the seed of the righteous will be mighty in the land—not ordinary, not average, but exceptional, powerful, amazing. Now, don’t pray a small prayer over your children. It doesn’t matter what they’re doing or not doing. Dare to ask big. Pray a bold prayer: “God, I’m asking that my children will be mighty in the land. I’m asking You to use them in amazing ways. Let them leave a legacy of faith that will be seen for generations to come.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your promise of restoring a family member who goes off course. Thank You that the seed of faith that was planted in their heart never dies and will blossom at some point. I declare that they are coming back and that together we will serve You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” 

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Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth. But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth. - Jeremiah 1:6–7, AMPC

God told Jeremiah that he was going to become a prophet to the nations, but Jeremiah responded, “I’m too young. I don’t know how to speak.” Doubts and insecurities filled his mind. God answered, “Jeremiah, say not that you’re too young.” He knew that if Jeremiah went around speaking negatively, he would miss his destiny. God was saying, “Don’t give life to doubts, weaknesses, and insecurities.” When you start to criticize yourself, when you tell God what you’re not, what you don’t have, and what you can’t do, God says, “Say not. Zip that up. Quit speaking lack, disadvantage, flaws, or defeat.”

When God created you, He put in you everything you need to fulfill your destiny. He gave you the right looks, the right height, the right personality. You have the gifts, the confidence, the wisdom, and the favor. Now start speaking positive, faith-filled words. When you speak victory in the face of defeat, health in the face of sickness, abundance in the face of lack, God will do what only He can do and bring it to pass.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your calling upon my life. Help me to not just zip my lips when I have negative thoughts, but to use my words to declare victory. I believe that as I speak positive, faith-filled words, I will see You release Your promises in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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[What would have become of me had I not] believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! - Psalm 27:13, AMPC

When David was a teenager, he was stuck out in the shepherds’ fields, taking care of his father’s sheep. He had a big dream for his life, but nobody paid attention to him. David could have been discouraged, but today’s Scripture says he believed he would see God’s goodness when all the circumstances were against him. He was confident that he would leave his mark despite how long it had been, despite who didn’t believe in him.

The Scripture says there’s a set time for God to favor you. There are marked moments when God has planned to suddenly promote you, suddenly turn it around, suddenly open the door. For David, that happened when the prophet Samuel showed up at his home and anointed him to be the next king. David was saying, “If I hadn’t believed in God’s favor, I wouldn’t have been anointed by Samuel, wouldn’t have defeated Goliath, outlasted King Saul, and taken the throne.” You can rest knowing that God has already lined up the breaks, the protection, and the promotion to take you into your destiny.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You have set times when You show me Your favor in special ways. Thank You for the absolute confidence I can have that if I keep moving forward in faith, I will see Your goodness. I believe that You will amaze me with what You have planned. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” - Ezekiel 37:3, NIV

The prophet Ezekiel had a vision of a valley filled with dry bones. In Ezekiel’s case, they represented the return of the people of Israel. But they also represent things in our lives that seem dead, dreams that didn’t work out, closed doors. When God asked Ezekiel if he believed the bones could live, He was saying, “What level of faith are you at?” Ezekiel answered back, “O Sovereign Lord.” He was saying, in effect, “God, You control the universe. You can do the impossible.” That was the faith God was looking for. He told Ezekiel to prophesy to those dead bones, and when he did, the bones came back to life.

You may face situations in your health, finances, or relationships that seem impossible. You can stay stuck there with little faith, but as with Ezekiel, great faith is in you. It’s not in your mind or your emotions; it’s in your spirit, and you need to wake it up. Now do your part and get in agreement with God. Prophesy health, victory, breakthrough, and abundance for every need. Dead things are about to come back to life. Great faith brings great favor.
Prayer: Father, thank You that You have the power to breathe life into the things that seem dead in my life. Thank You that You are taking me from little faith to great faith. I believe that as I speak words of faith, You will make things happen that I could never make happen. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. - Philippians 1:6, MSG

You may be facing some delays or setbacks, have had some hurts and disappointments, but be encouraged. That’s not how your story ends. That’s one chapter, but you have a whole book. You’re still going to laugh again, love again, dream again. When the thoughts whisper, “It’s too late to ever work out,” recognize that’s the enemy trying to keep you from the awesome future God has in store. Tune that out and get in agreement with your Creator. He’s saying, “It’s still going to happen. I’m going to bring you to a flourishing finish.” It’s not a defeated finish, a bankrupt finish, a lonely finish, or a betrayed finish. God has a victorious finish for you, an abundant finish, a flourishing finish. That means you’re blossoming, blooming, seeing dreams coming to pass, and going further than you’ve imagined. That means you’re healthy, whole, being a bigger blessing than you’ve ever dreamed. New doors are about to open. The right people are about to show up. What God has in mind is much better and more rewarding than what you had in mind.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the good work You’re doing in my life and for the promise that You will bring it to full completion. Thank You that my story is still being written and it’s better than I could have ever dreamed. I declare that You are bringing me to a flourishing finish. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” - Genesis 41:41, NLT

Joseph was taken to Egypt and spent a combined thirteen years in slavery and prison. He had no influence, no resources, no future to speak of, but kept doing the right thing when the wrong thing was happening, and God was with him. The day finally came when Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, and overnight Pharaoh put him in charge of all of Egypt. Joseph went from no influence to the highest influence, from no resources to being in charge of all the food supply of Egypt. And he provided his entire family with a place of abundance in which to live and thrive. What happened? A transfer.

Don’t judge where you are as where you’re going to stay. God has some transfers of influence and resources for you. These transfers require obedience, honoring God, doing the right thing when it’s hard. There will be seasons, as with Joseph, when it’s not fair and nothing is changing. Don’t be discouraged. Your time is coming. It’s going to happen suddenly, out of the ordinary. You couldn’t have made it happen. It’s the hand of God. 

Prayer: Father, thank You that what so often looks like trouble or a setback is really Your hand moving me toward Your purpose. Thank You that what’s unfair is going to push open doors and bring transfers I could never experience without it. Help me to be patient while You work things out. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

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Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. - Proverbs 4:23, NCV

It’s interesting that as little children we start off with big dreams to be an astronaut, a writer, a scientist, or a singer. As a child, we have no limits. We believe we can do great things. But over time our dreams start to get watered down. People tell us what we can’t do. We go through disappointments, things that are unfair. We let negative thoughts taint how we see ourselves and what we’re capable of. We end up settling for so much less than what God has for us.

Pay attention to the story you’re telling yourself. Go back to what God put in your heart. He wants you to dream again, to believe again, to love again. Don’t let wrong thoughts limit your destiny. Don’t believe the lies that say, “I’ll never get well, never go to college, or never meet the right person.” Tell yourself a new story. You can still accomplish your dream. You can still get well, still meet someone awesome, and still go to new levels. Get rid of that limited thinking. Victory begins in your mind.

Prayer: Father, thank You that I can take back my story and stop allowing negative thoughts to enter and play over and over. Thank You that I can clear out all the thoughts that limit me and tell me what I can’t do. Help me to dwell on what You have to say about me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

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The men were afraid that the ship would hit the sandbanks of Syrtis, so they lowered the sail and let the wind carry the ship. - Acts 27:17, NCV

In Acts 27, God promised Paul that he would stand trial before Caesar in Rome, but the ship he was on was caught for fourteen days in a huge storm with hurricane-force winds. When all hope had been given up of being saved, the captain decided to stop fighting the storm, lowered the sails, and let the wind blow them. But when they shipwrecked on the island of Malta, Paul shared the good news with the islanders, and many were healed and became believers. What looked like a setback in God’s plan for Paul was actually a divine detour to move him to people in need.

While we stand against sickness, addictions, and abusive situations, there are some storms and troubles that are leading to where God wants you to go. You have to quit trying to make it work out your way. It’s a divine detour. If you fight it, you’re not going to win. What you can’t see is that trouble is transportation, moving you into your purpose, perhaps into a position to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Prayer: Father, thank You that the winds and waves that I face today cannot stop Your plan for my life. Thank You that my purpose is firmly and securely anchored in You. I believe and declare that the storms and detours cannot defeat me and are pushing me into my destiny. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. - Luke 24:27, NIV

On the Sunday after Jesus was crucified, two of His disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were so discouraged and sorrowful that Jesus was gone, that their hopes and dreams were shattered. They were so focused on what didn’t work out, this great disappointment, that they didn’t recognize the risen Jesus who suddenly joined them in their journey and conversation. In that incredible moment, He began to explain to them all that the Scripture had predicted about Him, how He would be crucified and rise from the dead on the third day. It wasn’t until later that day that they realized their seven-mile walk had been in the presence of the risen Savior.

How many times on our daily journey are we not recognizing what God is doing? We’re so caught up in dealing with problems, trying to fix our finances or our family or an illness, that we don’t see all the good things God is doing in the present moment. Don’t be so focused on what’s wrong that you don’t recognize that Jesus is walking with you through it all.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You are walking with me and working in my life every day. Help me to not be so focused on today’s challenges that I miss the good things that You’re doing in this present moment. Open my eyes as You did with these two disciples so that I can see. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. - Deuteronomy 8:2, NIV

When the Israelites faced tests in the wilderness, they kept failing. They complained about the giants, the food, the leadership, and their short comings. That group never made it into the Promised Land. What would have happened if they would have dealt with that negative, complaining spirit? They could have gone in, but they let those impurities keep them out. God gave them chance after chance to change, but He would not force them to do the right thing.

Before you go into your promised land, there will be times of testing, times of proving, where you have to show God that you’ll do the right thing when you don’t feel like it. You’ll keep a good attitude when it’s not fair. You’ll deal with the impurities He brings to light. Those tests are not there to stop you; that’s a sign that God is refining you, getting you prepared for something greater, for the new things He has in store. You have to do your part and be willing to change and make the adjustments. God wants to entrust you with more.

Prayer: Father, thank You that my life as well as my promised land is in Your hands. Thank You for the times of testing, the times of proving, when I don’t always understand where You’re taking me or why. I trust You to take me through the wilderness into something bigger for my future. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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