22/12/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
Luke 1:35, NIV

THE POWER OF THE MOST HIGH
When the angel appeared to Mary, telling her that she was going to have a baby apart from a relationship with a man and that her baby would be the Messiah, she was confused. She thought, “That’s impossible. That defies the laws of nature.” She asked the angel, “How can this be? I’m a virgin.” Mary’s how question was answered in today’s Scripture. The angel was saying, in effect, “Mary, God will take care of the how. Believe the promise that His power will overshadow you.”

Like Mary, you may have a how. God has given you a promise, but it seems impossible. How can you get well? How can you come out of debt? How can you accomplish your dream? Don’t worry about the how. It may seem too big, too late, too far, too much. That’s the way Mary felt. Do as she did and keep believing that the power of the Most High is going to make things happen that you can’t make happen. Nothing can stop Him from overshadowing you.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for Your promise to Mary that her giving birth to Your Son was possible because of Your power. Thank You that Your promises to me are equally as possible because of Your power. My eyes are on You to do what only You can do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

There is a lot of fearmongering everywhere you turn today—on the news, in the papers, via social media, and unfortunately, on Christian media as well. However, it is vital that we do not let fear take over our hearts.

As believers, we have no business feeding on fear. If your mind is entangled with knots of anxiety, perhaps it’s time for you to examine your mental diet. What have you, consciously or unconsciously, been meditating on? Are you ingesting and believing everything you see in the news reports, or are you living by what the Lord Jesus has purchased for you at Calvary?

To help you understand God’s heart for you regarding fear and your walking in His protection, I want to share with you a powerful key from today’s verse, the very first verse of Psalm 91, the prayer of protection.

The Hebrew word for “dwell” is yashab, which means to sit down, to remain, or to settle. Notice that the very first thing that God wants you to do to enjoy His protection is to rest. His protection, peace, love, and other blessings flow in your life when you are in a place of rest.

Let’s camp on the word dwell just a little more. Let’s meditate on what it means to rest or “sit down.” The Bible says that we are seated with Christ at God’s right hand (Eph. 2:6, Heb. 1:3). The word “seated” is beautiful—it means that you are no longer standing and working.

Under the old covenant, the priest had to offer the morning sacrifice at 9 a.m., and then remain standing for six hours until after the evening sacrifice at 3 p.m. Our Lord Jesus was crucified at 9 a.m. and He hung on the cross for six hours until He died at 3 p.m., thus fulfilling the type of both the morning and evening sacrifices (Heb. 10:11–12).

Because Jesus became the final sacrifice, the work of the priest is done and he no longer has to stand. Because our Lord cried, “It is finished!” at Calvary (John 19:30), we are today seated in Christ.

We can dwell in the secret place of the Most High—a place of peace, safety, and security—and we can live fear-free because the blood of our Lord Jesus has paid for every blessing of protection in Psalm 91!

Today, whether you are dealing with a difficult financial situation, a sleep disorder, or plagued by depressive or even suicidal thoughts, my desire is for you to discover a God who loves you, and whose strong hands of protection are over your entire life and over every area that concerns you.

21/12/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Luke 1:34, NIV

WHO’S YOUR SOURCE?
The angel told Mary she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, the Messiah, without knowing a man. He was talking about the physical, but this has meaning for us as well. God was showing us that you’re not dependent on people. What you’re believing for can happen without getting your manager at work to like you or talking your friend into giving you a good break. You don’t need who you think you need. People are not your source; God is your source. When it’s your time, when God shows up in His power, nothing can stand in His way. Chains will break, doors will open, and opportunity will come. It can happen without a bank, without the treatment, without the experience, without the resources, without the connections. God is about to surprise you. As with Mary, it’s going to be something you’ve never seen.

*** Something that’s never happened in your family. Something that defies the odds, that catapults you into your destiny. Just stay focused on your true source.***

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that You are my provider, the source of everything good in my life. Thank You that I am not dependent upon other people, but it is Your favor that brings me the right people and the right connections. I will stay focused on You, knowing You make happen what no person can make happen. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The account of the woman caught in adultery demonstrates something very important. What enables someone to have the power to overcome sin?

The threat of the law obviously didn’t stop the woman from committing adultery. But receiving Jesus’ acceptance—knowing that even though she deserved to be stoned to death, He did not condemn her—that gave her the power to “go and sin no more.”

Notice that Jesus saved the woman righteously. He didn’t say, “Don’t stone her. Show mercy to her.” What He said was, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” And on their own accord, the Pharisees and religious mob all left.

Notice also that Jesus did not ask the woman, “Why did you sin?” No, what He asked was, “Has no one condemned you?”

It seems as if Jesus was more preoccupied with the condemnation of the sin than the sin itself. He made sure that she walked away not feeling the condemnation and shame.

Let’s not reverse God’s order. When God says something comes first, it must come first. God says “no condemnation” comes first, and then you can “go and sin no more.”

Christian religion has it in reverse. We say, “Go and sin no more first, then we won’t condemn you.”

What we need to understand is that when there is no condemnation, people are empowered to live victorious lives, lives that glorify Jesus. Grace produces an effortless empowerment through the revelation of no condemnation.

It is unmerited and completely undeserved. But we can receive it—this gift of no condemnation—because Jesus paid for it at the cross.

Truth be told, none of us could have cast the first stone. We have all sinned and fallen short. In Christ, we are all on equal ground.

If a brother or sister gets tangled in sin, our place is not to judge them, but to restore them by pointing them to the forgiveness and gift of no condemnation that are found in Jesus.

The only person who is without sin and who could have exercised judicial punishment on the woman was Jesus, and He did not. Jesus was in the flesh to represent what was in God’s heart. It wasn’t judgment. His heart is unveiled in His grace and His forgiveness.

I like to say it this way when describing what happened as the Pharisees waited to stone the woman: The Pharisees would if they could, but they could not. Jesus could if He would, but He would not. That’s our Jesus!

20/12/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:18, NLT

PEACE AND UNITY
Today, more than ever, peace and unity are so important because we have an enemy who targets our families and relationships and brings division. Adversity comes. Disagreements happen. We have to do whatever we can to stand together. One of the most powerful ways you can strengthen your relationships is by being a peacemaker.

Think about a campfire. It can only burn as long as someone is throwing logs on it. Maybe you feel as though you have a fire of strife and confusion in your home or in your workplace. If you stay focused on your differences, there is going to be division. However, if you change your focus and look for the common ground of peace, you can bring harmony into your relationships again. If you ask God to help you be a peacemaker, if you stop throwing logs on the fire, He will supernaturally cause that fire to be extinguished. When we dwell together in unity, we honor God and open the door for His hand of blessing in every area of our lives.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You for being the God of peace and for the promise that You will be with me. I choose to humble myself, to be patient, to bear with others, and live in peace and unity. I declare that I will stop fueling the fires of strife that divide us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

SECTION TWO
It’s interesting to see how God never despises the little things.

When the boy brought his five loaves and two fish, the disciple Andrew scoffed, condescendingly patted the boy on his head and said to Jesus, “What are they among so many?” (John 6:8). In direct contrast, God did not despise the boy’s small lunch.

My friend, don’t despise the little things that you have right now. See them as your very own “five loaves and two fish” even when people around you mock and belittle you.

Learn to disregard such people and lay your little before Jesus. While you and I have no power to multiply, Jesus certainly does!

So whatever you are building right now in your career, your ministry, or your business, don’t despise the day of small, humble, and seemingly insignificant beginnings. Involve Jesus and allow His provision of favor, wisdom, and power to multiply and grow the little things in your hands.

19/12/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow.
James 1:2–3, TLB

HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE

When we wake up in the morning, we get to choose how we’re going to live that day. We can choose to live in faith, happy, expecting favor. Or we can choose to live discouraged, defeated, focused on our difficulties. Happiness doesn’t happen automatically; it’s a choice we have to make. The first thing in the morning you have to make the decision: “I’m going to live this day happy. I’m going to see the good, be grateful, love my family, and enjoy this day.” You can’t allow negative circumstances decide for you and cause you to choose to live discouraged and have a lousy day.

Psalm 39 says, “Joy comes in the morning.” Every morning God sends you a fresh supply of joy. You can dismiss it and think, “This is not for me. I have too much coming against me.” Or you can receive it and say, “Things may not be perfect in my life, but I know God is on the throne, and His plans for me are for good, so I’m going to enjoy this day.”

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that no matter what difficulties I face, I don’t have to live unhappy, discouraged, and defeated. Thank You that I can choose to live in faith, to be happy, and to enjoy this day. I believe and receive the fresh supply of joy that You have for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

SECTION TWO

She never expected to be caught in the act of adultery, much less be dragged to the Teacher and flung at His feet. Those who did it smugly expected Jesus to condemn her.

None of them were prepared to hear Him say, “Let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!” Their consciences pricked, they left, one by one.

Alone with Jesus, she heard Him say to her, “Where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?”

Jesus knew how important it was for this woman to realize and say, “No one condemns me, Lord.” The only one who could condemn her, did not, because He was going to the cross to be punished and condemned in her place.

Something happens when you know that God does not condemn you today because of the cross. The woman received the power to “go and sin (which was her problem) no more.” Likewise you will receive the power to overcome sin and even rise from your bed of sickness and be sick no more!