JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
Elijah was afraid and fled for his life.
1 Kings 19:3, NLT

Faith or Feelings?
In 1 Kings 18, the prophet Elijah had just called down fire from heaven and destroyed all the prophets of Baal. It was a huge, dramatic victory. You can imagine the excitement, the high he was on. But when Queen Jezebel heard about it, she threatened to kill him. Elijah was terrified and fled for his life. When he finally stopped to rest, he was so discouraged that he wanted to die. He let his feelings rule and tell him he was finished when, in fact, his greatest impact was still in front of him. God was about to have Elijah mentor Elisha, who would do twice as many miracles as him.

Emotions are great when they’re working for us, but they can change in a minute. If you’re depending on feelings to determine your mood, your faith, or your belief, you’ll live up and down. Don’t let them dictate your life. Don’t live worried over that illness, stressed over your work, or guilty over past mistakes. God has you in the palms of His hands. Put your hope back in the Lord.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You have given me the power to rule over the negative emotions that come and try to overwhelm me. I come to You in faith declaring that I am finished with giving any room to negative thoughts and emotions. Fill me with Your joy and peace as I move forward in victory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

SECTION TWO

When I talk about not worrying and keeping our eyes on Jesus, some people think that I am not being practical. Beloved, you can worry all you like about your current crisis, but it will not improve or change your situation one bit.

Please understand that I am not making light of what you are going through. I am just offering you the best solution I know that works. Your breakthrough will not come as a result of your struggling. It will come when you rest in the person of Jesus and His finished work.

Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on” (Matt. 6:25). Now, Jesus was not saying that these things—food, drink, and clothing—are not important.

In fact, He says that “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” But what Jesus wants us to do is to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and He promises that “all these things shall be added to you.”

Now, who is God’s righteousness? Jesus Christ. And who is the king of the “kingdom of God” that we are to seek? Jesus Christ (Rev. 19:16)!

Jesus was actually referring to Himself when He was preaching this. When you seek Him first in your life and make Him your priority each day, all these material provisions—what you will eat, drink, and wear—will be added to you.

God does not delight in taking things away from you. He delights in adding to you, increasing you, promoting you, and enriching you.

Psalm 68:19 says, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits.” The Lord loads us with benefits daily! That is how good our Savior is. His mercies and His unmerited favor are new every morning. That is the way to live and enjoy life, knowing that Jesus is with you and for you every step of the way.

Put Jesus first in everything that you do. Honor Him and give Him preeminence in your daily life. Partake of His finished work daily by reading His living words to you. Practice the presence of Jesus and be conscious that He is with you, the same way that Joseph in the Bible was conscious that the Lord was with Him. Jesus will bless the works of your hands, and everything you touch will indeed prosper and bring good success into your life.