24/01/24
JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7, NIV
Your Mind Is the Bull’s-eye
No matter how long you walk in the faith, you’ll never get to the place where negative, discouraging thoughts don’t come. “You’ll never recover your health, never pay off your house, never see that relationship restored.” The enemy’s main tools are deception and lies, and your mind is the bull’s-eye of his target. If he can control your thinking, he can control your life. You can’t stop negative thoughts from coming, but you don’t have to keep thinking about them.
That’s why the Scripture tells us to guard our minds, to be selective in what we allow in. If the thought is negative, discouraging, and brings in worry or fear, don’t let it in. Don’t dwell on it. Too often we just allow these negative thoughts access and go around worried, discouraged, and intimidated. Start paying attention to what you’re dwelling on. Ask yourself, where is this thought coming from? If it’s not positive, hopeful, and encouraging, it’s not from God. That’s the enemy trying to plant negative seeds. Take control of the doorway to your mind and refuse to dwell on it.
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that I can take control of the doorway to my mind and stop allowing negative thoughts to enter and play over and over. Help me to clear out all the negative thoughts from my mind and dwell on what You have to say about me. May Your peace guard my heart and mind. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
SECTION TWO
While it’s true that we live in dangerous times, I want you to know this: We have our Abba’s promise that we can live safe, secure, and protected no matter what turmoil may be around us. Our heavenly Father does not want His children partaking of the fear that has invaded the hearts of people of the world.
In fact, He wants every trace of fear to be expelled from your heart, knowing that He has set you apart, and that He who watches over you never slumbers nor sleeps! When fear comes knocking, let God’s promises of protection fill your heart, mind, and mouth, and the God of peace, our Jehovah Shalom, will come into and move in your situation!
Our Lord Jesus desires to have an intimate relationship with us and He loves it when we acknowledge our need for Him. He loves it when we allow Him to hide us under the shadow of His wings, close to His heart of love.
The prayer of protection is not some magical chant or incantation that grants us protection. Our protection in the Lord is all about us being intimate with and close to Him.
As you involve Him in your day-to-day life, you will see Him lead you by His wisdom and protect you from making unwise decisions. And I pray that you will see His protection manifested more and more as you grow in your revelation of how deeply loved you are by the Lord, who protects like no other.
I am so grateful to the precious people who take the time to write to me to share the amazing stories of how the Lord has watched over them and their loved ones. My friend, God is no respecter of persons, and I believe that as you keep establishing your heart on the word of grace, as you keep hearing testimonies of His goodness, you will also experience miracles of deliverance, protection, and healing in your life. Whatever weapon the enemy may have fashioned against you, it will not prosper!
Today, as you put your trust in the Lord, I pray that you will experience not just His divine protection in a greater measure, but every blessing that the Lord Jesus has purchased for you on the cross of Calvary. Beloved, as we garrison our hearts with the truths and promises of Psalm 91, I pray that we will truly live confidently and fearlessly in these dangerous times.
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