John 13:35, NKJV

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

It's easy to write off someone because they don't believe as we do, they're making poor decisions, or they're against what we stand for. Too often we try to make them believe, but some things don't happen overnight. Their heart may not be open yet, but at the right time God will soften their heart. Will you keep sowing seeds of love in that friend who shows no sign of changing? Will you keep loving that family member who says they don't believe. Will you keep praying for that coworker who ridicules believers? 

Jesus said your love for one another will prove you are His follower. It's not by your doctrine, not by how many Scriptures you can quote, not by how right you are, but by how much you love them. You don't judge them. You don't look down because they don't believe as you do. You just keep loving and being good to them. They're in your life because God is counting on you to help them change.

Father, thank You for Your unconditional love for me when I've been at my worst and farthest from You. Thank You for the people You've brought into my life that I might love and encourage in their journey to faith. Help me to be a reflection of Your love and to always be there for them. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

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Exodus 3:6, NIV

Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."

In the Scripture, it talks about the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. I can understand how He is the God of Abraham, the father of our faith. I can understand how He is the God of Isaac, who was the miracle child of God's promise and extremely obedient. But when it says He is the God of Jacob, that doesn't make a lot of sense. Jacob was a cheat. He went around deceiving people. He stole his brother's birthright. Jacob was known for making poor choices. 

What was God saying? "I'm not just the God of perfect people. I'm not just the God of people who never make a mistake. I'm the God of people who have failed. I'm the God of people who have blown it." You may have made mistakes, but be encouraged. You may have lost your temper, struggled with an addiction, or compromised your integrity. Don't beat yourself up. He is the God of Jacob. He is your God, too.

Father, thank You that Your love and forgiveness are not based on my performance, but upon the fact that I am Your child. Thank You that You love me, imperfect as I am, and that every mistake I've made has already been paid for in full. I believe that You are my God, too. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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Consistency: steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form. The word for the day is your: “Spiritual Highs Will Not Prevent Spiritual Lows”

Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, so let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. 1 Kings 19:2. {CTr 163.1}

Had Elijah, knowing he had done the divine will, maintained his confidence in God, had he made God his refuge and strength, standing steadfast and immovable for the truth, the impression made upon the king and the people would have wrought a reformation. Elijah had been braced for trial under the inspiration of God, but when Jezebel’s threatening message was brought to him and shouted in his ear, awakening from a deep sleep, he lost his hold on God. . .. {Christ Triumphant 163.4} This was the time when he should have had courage in the Lord, showing a living, active faith. He should not have fled from his post of duty. God had given him a wonderful manifestation of His power to assure him that He would not forsake him, that His power was wholly sufficient to sustain him, for He was the Lord of the powers of heaven and earth[1]. {CTr 163.5}

 Ephesians 4:1  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. Walk in them .... Walking in good works should be a habitual practice, not as something demanded, but as a natural expression of the new life that has been created in the believer (2 cor 5:17 therefore in anyone be in Christ…). The Architect of the universe is also the Architect of souls, working according to an eternal purpose (ch. 1.4). God has provided not only the opportunity for good works, but also the means for their performance 

1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Steadfast, unmovable .... Believers, we are urged to remain firm in our faith, allowing nothing to disturb us. This appeal to rocklike stability is reinforced by the grand truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the light of such wonderful assurances for the future, SDA believers should not be influenced by the manifold temptations of the devil, whether to indulge fleshy practices or, through the avenue of worldly philosophy, to turn from the certain facts of the gospel. No person or thing is to be permitted to shake us from the foundation of our faith and hope in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Abounding .... The great incentive to continual activity in the cause of truth is the positive assurance that such efforts will not be "in vain in the Lord, (ONLY GOD!)" but will result in the salvation of souls and the advancement of the glory of God. Galatians 6:9   And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. If we faint not .... Only those who endure to the end can expect to receive a reward for doing well. Too often in the Christian warfare would-be soldiers of the cross have fainted and given up the struggle. Overcome with temptation or disheartened in the way, they have turned wearily from following their Master. Paul cites the case of Demas, one of his faithful colaborers, who was attracted by the things of the world and returned to his former way of living (2 Tim. 4.10; cf. Col. 4.14) . give up worldly living, give up practicing sin give

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Psalm 23:6, NKJV

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life...

In today's Scripture, the word "goodness" means God's favor. David was saying, "Surely favor follows me all my life." In effect, he was saying, "Favor is keeping enemies from defeating me. Favor is bringing promotion and opportunity." He didn't just think about it. He spoke favor over his life. He was releasing his faith for the favor of God. No wonder the prophet Samuel came to him and anointed him as the next king. No wonder he defeated a giant twice his size. No wonder King Saul couldn't kill him. 

You can increase in favor. When you're constantly talking about the favor of God, bragging on His goodness, you will go places you couldn't go on your own. You will overcome obstacles that seem impossible. If you're struggling in your finances, start declaring, "The favor of God is bringing increase and promotion. Favor is opening doors that I can't open." The more you thank God for it, the more you declare it, the more favor you're going to see.

Father, thank You that Your favor is following me all the days of my life. Thank You that goodness is causing me to stand out, to overcome obstacles, and to receive increase. I declare that Your favor is helping to take me to places I couldn't go on my own. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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Proverbs 13:22, NIV

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children...

God's dream for you is that His blessings will be so amazing and abundant on your life that you have to pass them down to your children. You can't contain it all. He says that generational blessings are coming that you won't have room enough to receive. Increase that goes to your children, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren. Property, businesses, and contacts that continue blessing people after you're gone. 

You need to get rid of a barely-get-by mentality. Quit telling yourself all the reasons why it's not going to happen, how you've had too many bad breaks, how your obstacles are too big, how your dream seems impossible. That is not your destiny. Start expecting God's favor, start believing that new levels are coming, start talking like it's going to happen. The blessing on your life is going to cause you to lend and not borrow, to have more than enough. You're going to say as David said, "My cup runs over." There are some running-over blessings in your future. Blessings that you cannot contain.

Father, thank You that Your blessing on my life is bringing me into overflow. Thank You for generational blessings, that You're opening doors that I can't open, putting me at the right place, bringing the right people, taking me where I could not go on my own. I declare that I am blessed. In Jesus' Name, Amen 

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John 11:39, NLT

"Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man's sister, protested, "Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible."

In John 11, when Jesus showed up at Lazarus' house four days after he had died, Lazarus had been in the tomb so long that his body stunk. At times, we all have things in life that stink. Maybe a relationship feels so dead that it stinks. Your finances stink. The layoff stinks. That mistake you made that set you back stinks. 

Jesus went to the tomb, where the stink was, and told them to roll away the stone. Sometimes we think that God will help us only if we're good enough, but God goes to the stinky places in our lives. That person who hurt you--it stinks. God is saying, "Let Me in. I'm going to wake up the healing, wake up the restoration, wake up the new beginning." That past mistake you made and feel condemned about--it stinks. God is saying, "Roll that stone away. I'm waking up forgiveness, cleansing, and redemption." It's not too late for whatever stinks in your life. God is saying, "Let Me in."

Father, thank You that You are the God who is willing to go to the stinky places in my life and bring redemption and resurrection. Thank You that You don't require that I be good enough to qualify for Your goodness. I am inviting You in to touch and wake up what seems dead. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

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Proverbs 24:16, HCSB

Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up...

When life knocks you down, steps on you, takes your health, or squashes your dreams, you just have to get back up again. The way you win some battles is not by defeating them but by outlasting the opposition. You have comeback power. Some enemies are stubborn. You can't be weak and give up because it's not happening on your timetable. You have to outlast the trouble at work, outlast the slow season in your finances, outlast the difficulty in your marriage. We all want God to deliver us from attacks, but if He's not changing it, then it's really simple--you have to keep getting back up and outlast the attacks. 

Sometimes we think God has forgotten about us. We've seen Him turn situations around in the past, but this problem won't seem to go away. You have to have a holy determination and say, "Staying down is not an option. I'm going to outlast this sickness, this addiction, this injustice, these critics." The victory will come through outlasting it.

Father, thank You that You have given me comeback power to tap into in order to outlast whatever is coming against me. Thank You for sustaining faith that takes me through the challenge. I will keep getting back up until the victory is mine. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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(James 1:17, ESV)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

It’s easy to look to people or to our job as our source. Yes, God uses people, jobs, and
contracts, but they are not the Source. They are simply resources that the Source uses. If you’re seeing anything or anyone other than God as your source, when something happens to that something or someone, you’ll think, “What am I going to do? My source has been cut off.” No, the Source is just fine. God is still on the throne. That good gift may come through people, but it came from your heavenly Father. Your salary or contract may come through a connection, but it came from God. 

That’s why you don’t have to play up to people at work or compromise to get a good break. You’re not at the mercy of the economy, or who likes you, or what your boss
does. People are not your provider; God is your provider. God has all kinds of
resources He can use.

“Father, thank You that You are my Source. You are constantly working, constantly showing me Your goodness with every good gift that comes into my life. I want to live
today with an attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. I will not take Your goodness for granted. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

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Acts 2:25–26, MSG

David said it all: I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; he's right by my side. I'm glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I've pitched my tent in the land of hope.

David said he pitched his tent in the land of hope. Where have you pitched your tent? "Well, I've had a lot of disappointments." "I'll never get well." "I can't accomplish my dreams." The problem is where you've pitched your tent. As long as you're thinking of all the reasons why it's not going to happen, that's going to limit you. Why don't you pick up your tent and move out of the land of doubt, negativity, and self-pity? Move out of the land of "It can't happen. I'm too old. I never get any good breaks." Pitch your tent in the land of "With God all things are possible," the land of "Goodness and mercy are chasing me down," the land of "What was meant for my harm, God is turning to my advantage." You are just one good break away from God catapulting you to a new level. Just one touch of God's goodness and you'll beat the cancer or the addiction. Get up every morning expecting God to surprise you.

Father, thank You that just one person, just one promotion, just one touch of Your goodness can set my life on a brand-new course. Thank You that I can pitch my tent in the land of hope where all things are possible through You. I look forward to what You're bringing my way. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

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