Beloved, if you are grappling with something right now, stop struggling and start receiving. Start receiving the abundance of the Lord’s unmerited favor.

Gospel Corner

18/12/25

Joel Osteen Ministries

Today’s Word
Today’s Scripture
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
Psalm 119:1, 3, NLT

Break Out of the Compromise Rut.
Sometimes when we compromise and do something we know is wrong or questionable, we think we’re gaining an advantage with people, we’re getting their approval and acceptance. But that’s all we’re getting. When you walk in integrity, when you live by what God says in His Word and don’t lower that standard, you’re gaining an advantage with God. His favor on your life will take you much further than having an advantage with people.

We may cut corners here and compromise there, but it’s only going to hurt us in the long run. You may have made mistakes in the past and lacked integrity in certain areas. The good news is that it’s not hard to correct. It just takes effort. It takes being open to change. It takes being willing to dig down deeper and do the right thing. It means breaking out of ruts where we’ve gotten used to compromise and being less than our best. Let today be a new beginning. When you prove you’re a person of integrity, there’s no limit to how high God will take you.
A Prayer for

Today
“Father, thank You for challenging me to come up higher and be my best, especially when no one is watching me. Show me if there is anything I’m doing that is keeping me from becoming a person of integrity. I want to change, and I believe You have the power to change me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

My friend, here’s some more good news: every time you fail, there is fresh grace from Jesus to rescue you. Every time you fall short, confess your righteousness in Jesus by faith. I know you probably won’t feel particularly righteous, and that is why you need to say it by faith.

I have received so many testimonies of breakthroughs from people around the world who, even as they succumb to their addictions, would confess, “Even right now, I am the righteousness of God in Christ” and eventually found freedom from their bondages. It could be a smoking addiction or an alcohol or pornography addiction.

Michael, a brother in Australia, happily shared, “I have just given up smoking by following what you’ve taught in your books and DVDs (about being conscious of and confessing my righteousness in Christ) whenever I was tempted to smoke. I have also been set free from twenty years of drug and alcohol abuse and am free of paranoid thoughts. I couldn’t give them up through my own efforts, but through Christ I have.”

The more these people confessed and saw themselves as righteous in Jesus, even in the midst of their failings, the more they came to see their true identity in Christ. The dead leaves began to fall, and they came to the place where they didn’t have any desire to ever smoke another cigarette, drink another drop of alcohol, or visit another pornographic website.

New leaves, new flowers, and new fruits unconsciously and effortlessly sprang up in their lives. Grace put an end to the barrenness and torment of winter and ushered in perpetual spring for them.

Beloved, if you are grappling with something right now, stop struggling and start receiving. Start receiving the abundance of the Lord’s unmerited favor. Start receiving the free gift of His righteousness. Start receiving the cleansing power of His forgiveness. There is nothing for you to do but to soak it all up and to allow His resurrection power to drive out every symptom of death and decay in your circumstances and in your life.

Can I give you an assignment today? Every time you fail, come into God’s presence and pray today’s prayer. His grace will lift you up!