18/12/23

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!

17/12/23

I often hear people say, “God’s love is unconditional!” But the moment they fail, all of a sudden, the love they once said was unconditional becomes contingent upon their behavior.

Many believe that God loves them when they do right, but stops loving them the moment they do something wrong. Well, I’m going to shatter that wrong belief into smithereens with the truth of God’s Word!

While our love for God can fluctuate, His love for us always remains constant. His love for us is based on who He is anl emphatic the apostle Paul is when he says, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38–39). In the New International Version, it says, “For I am convinced . . .”

Are you persuaded and convinced the way the apostle Paul is that as a child of God, nothing, not even your sins, failings, and mistakes, can ever separate you from the love of God? Don’t go by what you feel, think, or have been taught. God’s Word proclaims in no uncertain terms that nothing can separate you from His love. Nothing means nothing!

His love for you is not contingent on your immaculate performance. He loves you even in your failings. That’s why it is called grace! It is the undeserved, unmerited, and unearned favor of God. If you can deserve God’s grace, then it is no longer grace.

So the next time you do something wrong, hold fast to His love as unconditional. Receive His love afresh, and you will have the power to overcome that failing—and every struggle—every time.

16/12/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
He then said, “God’s word: Dig ditches all over this valley. Here’s what will happen— you won’t hear the wind, you won’t see the rain, but this valley is going to fill up with water and your army and your animals will drink their fill.”
2 Kings 3:16–17, MSG

WATER WITHOUT RAIN
After traveling through the desert for seven days, the armies of Judah and Israel were completely out of water and desperate. Even though it never rained here, the prophet Elisha told them to dig ditches and God would supernaturally bring them water. In spite of thoughts telling them it was a waste of time, they started digging, and the next morning water flowed into the valley and filled their ditches.

Sometimes God will ask you to do things you don’t understand, something out of the ordinary. Don’t talk yourself out of it. Dare to trust Him and do what He asks. You have to stir up your faith. Don’t dig just one little ditch. Get a bulldozer and dig some big ditches. If you do what He’s asking, you’ll see water without rain—increase and abundance like you’ve never seen. One touch of God’s favor, and soon your ditches will be filled. God has new lands for you to conquer, new friendships, new levels of influence and favor. Be confident that He always performs His greatest victories in your future.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that it is an easy thing for You to fill the dry valleys of my life with water. Thank You for simply asking me to trust You and to obey what You are saying. I declare that I am trusting You to send the water and make happen what I could never make happen. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO

Remember how Noah was safe in the ark when the floodwaters came? While Noah was not perfect, God saw him as righteous because of his faith in God (Heb. 11:7).

When the flood came, everyone outside the ark died, but Noah and his family were protected and saved. Why? Because they were in the ark, which is a type of Christ, who is our salvation (Acts 4:12).

The ark didn’t have windows along its sides, only near the roof. The truth here is that God does not want you to focus on all the darkness, terror, and evil that are around you and in the world. He wants you to look up and know that His Son is coming back for you.

I want you to see something else: I believe there were times when Noah might have lost his balance and fallen as the storm waters crashed against the ark. But Noah fell in the ark; he never fell out of the ark.

Similarly, for the believer today, when the devil tempts you and you fall, you don’t fall out of your position in Christ; you are still in Christ. In the book of Proverbs, it says, “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again” (Prov. 24:16).

You see, a believer doesn’t fall in and out of righteousness. Our righteousness today is a gift from our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17). This means that even though we may fail from time to time because we are imperfect human beings, we are still in Christ our ark and do not forfeit His blessings of protection.

Now, in case you are wondering, does this make someone want to live recklessly? Certainly not! I believe that knowing you are righteous in Christ makes you live responsibly and in honor to the Lord (Rom. 6:10–14). The revelation of our righteousness in Christ produces righteous living (Titus 2:11–12).

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
“For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills.”
Deuteronomy 8:7, NIV

The Good Land
God has a place prepared for you just like He prepared a place for His people in Scripture. Notice that in this place God has prepared, there is no shortage of resources, no shortage of favor, no shortage of health, no shortage of creativity, of friendships, of joy and peace. In the good land, you will lack no good thing. He wants to lead you into a good land that’s flowing with increase, flowing with good breaks, flowing with opportunities. He wants you to live in a place where you not only have enough for yourself, but you’re running over with blessings for others.

If you’re not in this good land, don’t settle there. The key is, in order to get God’s results, we have to do things God’s way. Our obedience is what opens the door to His blessings. We have to do our part and humble ourselves before Him and keep pressing forward with an attitude of faith and expectancy. Today, put Him first, follow His commands, and let Him lead you into the good land.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life and for the good land that You have prepared for me. I humble myself before You and desire to be obedient in every area of my life. I want to follow You as You lead me into the land of more than enough. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

SECTION TWO

Let me show you examples of how you can use the written Word to come against the attacks of the enemy. Let’s say that while driving to work one morning, you hear some professor saying over the radio, “One in every five women will develop this disease by the age of forty.”

That’s the time you must say, “It is written—’Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence'” (Ps. 91:3). If you do this, you are putting up a shield of faith and you are releasing power as you declare that regardless of what the reports of the world say, your God shall deliver you from every deadly disease!

Here’s another example of when and how you can quote the written Word. Suppose for some reason, you are crippled by vivid images in your mind of yourself dying young and leaving your spouse and little ones to fend for themselves. Again, this is the time to speak the Word of God against those fears. Declare, “It is written—’With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation'” (Ps. 91:16).

Maybe you might know of an acquaintance who was killed in a fatal accident. Now, you are fearful that the same thing might happen to you. My friend, the enemy has just shot you with a fiery dart. We do not know what the other person believed. We can only be responsible for our own beliefs and lives.

Perhaps your relatives or family members have died from the same illness and the enemy is now attacking you with thoughts that you will also develop diabetes like your father and uncle did, or die from the same heart condition they had.

My friend, if you have been entertaining thoughts like these, NOW is the time to rise up and make this declaration: “A thousand may fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall NOT come near me” (Ps. 91:7)!

For something to happen at your right hand means that it has to be really close to you. This means that even if something unfortunate happens to someone close to you, do not allow fear to hold you in its paralyzing grip. Speak forth the written Word of God!

14/12/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
John 6:12, NIV

NOTHING WASTED
When Jesus fed a crowd of five thousand, it says He blessed and multiplied five loaves and two fishes. Everyone had more than enough to eat, and there were still twelve baskets full of bread left over. That’s because we serve a God of abundance. Then Jesus told the disciples to collect all the leftovers so that nothing was wasted. With God, nothing is ever wasted. He’ll never waste an experience, never waste a hurt, never waste a dream, never waste even a piece of bread.

If you’ve felt as though you’ve wasted years of your life in the wrong job, hanging around the wrong people, or doing the wrong things, God will gather those years and restore them to you. He’ll take those experiences that the enemy meant for your harm and turn them around for your good. Every challenge you’ve gone through has deposited something inside you. He’ll make you stronger, wiser, and better off than you were before. Be encouraged today because with God, all things are possible! He is your provider, and nothing is ever wasted.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that You are able to take every bit of my life—my past, my present, and my future—and turn it around for my good. Thank You that You have the power to bless and multiply so that I am better off than I was before. I know that with You nothing is ever wasted. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle Jesus performed that is recorded in all of the four Gospel accounts! This tells us that Jesus wants us to draw out all the hidden revelations in this miracle. Are you ready?

Now, did you notice how John records that the people ate “as much as they wanted” until “they were FILLED” (John 6:11)? In other words, they ate and ate until they could eat no more! Everyone ate to his heart’s content and still there was plenty left over—12 baskets full, to be precise!

God’s supply of provision will always exceed your demand! He is such a BIG God, there is nothing He cannot do. My friend, don’t look to the world to supply your lack. Be wise—don’t touch easy loans with exorbitant interest rates hidden in the fine print, and become trapped in a financially sapping cycle of debt. Look to Jesus, His ways and His supply that never fails!

13/12/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

Today’s Scripture
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8, NIV

Yesterday, Today, and Forever
It’s so important to understand that our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is always with you and for you. What He’s done for others, He will do for you. The same God who displayed His favor in the Scripture is still at work today. He wants to open new doors of favor, to line up supernatural appointments, and to bring new increases and provisions just as He did for Abraham, Joseph, and Elijah. The question is, are you ready to receive it? Can you see it with your eyes of faith?

And when God pours out His favor, it won’t be just a drizzle. It’s going to be a flood—a flood of ideas, a flood of good breaks, a flood of talent and of opportunities for you to increase your influence in amazing ways. Don’t shrink back in doubt. Keep believing, keep hoping, and keep praising, because the same favor that was in the Scripture is coming your way. Dare to take those steps of faith and receive all that He has for you.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You that You are the same in Your character yesterday, today, and forever. Thank You for Your favor and blessings that are available to me each and every day. I believe and declare that a flood of ideas, good breaks, and talent is coming my way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO

Do you feel as though you are trapped on a never-ending treadmill based on your own efforts to try to earn God’s forgiveness, God’s approval, and God’s acceptance? That is Christian religion.

If you are trying to earn your own forgiveness and thinking that God is constantly mad at you, I am here to tell you that is not the heart of God.

When Jesus spoke of “the unforced rhythms of grace,” He means that there is an ease and enjoyment when you walk in His grace. This is in contrast to the struggle and strain found in self-effort. There is such rest when you know there is nothing you can do to earn His forgiveness.

Give up on your own self-righteousness, which the Bible describes as “filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6), and with open arms and an open heart, receive His forgiveness!

The key to getting out of a cycle of sin and defeat is to receive and to stop beating yourself up. Receive and stop punishing yourself because your sins have already been punished on the body of another—His name is Jesus, our beautiful Lord and Savior. No wonder the gospel is called the good news.

When you understand God’s grace and forgiveness, you will understand the difference between obligation and relationship. Under the old covenant of the law, right living is done out of religious obligation. Under the new covenant of grace, every thing we do today is birthed out of an inward motivation that flows directly from a love relationship with Jesus.

My friend, God is not a legalist. He doesn’t want you to read His Word just because He said so, as a religious obligation. He wants you to experience His love and spend time in His Word because you want to enjoy His sweet presence.

You can read His Word out of legalism and to try to earn God’s forgiveness and acceptance, or you can do it out of relationship because you know you have been forgiven. The reality is, when you don’t read the Bible, you should not be feeling guilty; you should be feeling hungry.

Jesus invites you to experience “the unforced rhythms of grace.” Keep company with Him and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly!