Scripture quotations noted The Message are taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993,
1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Scripture quotations noted NKJV are taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations noted Amp are taken from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964,
1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
Scripture quotations noted NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996,
2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction..............................................................4
Visit JoelOsteen.com or
Lakewood.cc for service information
and more ministry resources!
Welcome to your
NEW BEGINNING!
Pray.
Prayer is our way to communicate with God. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
encourages us to “be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in
all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Begin
each day communicating with the Lord. Begin with praise. Thank
Him for all He has done in your life. Confess your mistakes. The
Bible tells us that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to
forgive...” (1 John 1:9). Then intercede for those things that concern
you the most. Pray for the needs of others – your family, co-workers
and friends. Talk to the Lord every day – He is interested in the
things that concern you.
For more information to help you in your walk with God, Visit the website for
resources designed to help you grow in every area of your life.
Sunday 11:00pm*
Sunday 12:00pm
Sunday 7:00pm
Tuesday 9:00pm (CST)
Monday 11:00pm Special One-Hour Program
Sunday 8:30am* Friday 8:00pm
Monday 12:00am*
* Dual Feed; Airs at time listed on both EST & PST.
WE BELIEVE... Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for our sins.
We believe that salvation is found by placing our faith in what Jesus did for
us on the cross. We believe Jesus rose from the dead and is coming again.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who
has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the minis-
try of reconciliation . . . (NKJV)
1 Timothy 2:3-5
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and
to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . . (NIV)
John 3:15-18
…everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to con-
demn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him
is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already
because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (NIV)
16-18 This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one
and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believ-
ing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all
the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the
world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone
who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since
been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of
that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when intro-
duced to him. (The Message)
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For
we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which
God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)
Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for
indulging the flesh. Put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your
physical nature. — Romans 13:14 AMP
Is there something in your life that you would like to put a stop to
today? Maybe it’s a certain behavior, addiction, or bad attitude that isn’t
pleasing to God? Just as Adam and Eve were exposed in their sin and
needed to be clothed in the garden, we need to clothe ourselves to protect
us from sin. When you “clothe yourself” with the Lord Jesus Christ, you will
be strong against temptation. How do you clothe yourself with Jesus Christ?
In the same way you cover yourself in the natural with clothing. When you
receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are covered and cleansed by
His blood. You are restored and renewed. Then, cover your mind with the
Word of God. Cover your ears by listening to the Word. Cover your eyes by
watching only what is pleasing to the Lord. Cover your mouth by speaking
the Word and encouraging those around you. As you cover yourself with
Christ, you will be strong against temptation, and you will walk in the victory
the Lord has planned for you!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to pay
the penalty for my sins. Thank You for providing a way out of temptation
so that I can stand clean before You. Help me stand strong as I submit
every area of my life to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Acts 2:36-39
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom
you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and
the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are
far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (NIV)
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.” (NKJV)
John 5:24
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears My Word and believes him who sent me
has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death
to life.” (NIV)
Friend of God
2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies
of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance
of the knowledge of God everywhere . . . (AMP)
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can
do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)
Galatians 3:28-29
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are
all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise. (NIV)
Sweet Fragrance
For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ which exhales unto God…
— 2 Corinthians 2:15
Did you know that your life is a sweet fragrance to God? Think about
how a wonderful aroma affects you personally. When it’s springtime
and the flowers are blossoming, everything feels new again. The sweet
aroma in the air is a sign that the flowers are fresh and alive. It catches
your attention! It makes you want to take a deep breath and partake of
the wonderful sweet fragrance.
God feels the same way about you! He loves wonderful aromas, and
when you are living your life to please Him, it’s a beautiful fragrance
that captures His attention! Just like the aroma in springtime is a sign
that the flowers are alive, the aroma of your life is a sign that Christ is
alive in you. It is pleasing to the Father! The next time you experience
a fresh fragrance, remember that your life is a fragrance unto God. You
can rest in knowing that He is pleased with a heart that seeks after Him.
As you continue to seek Him, you’ll be that sweet fragrance, and you’ll
experience His wonderful hand of blessing in every area of your life.
Prayer: Father in heaven, I come to You today surrendering all that I
am. May everything I do please You and be a wonderful fragrance to
You. Keep me close to You today and always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Judges 6:11-16
Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Oph-
rah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash
was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the
Midianites. The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero,
the LORD is with you!”
“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to
us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they
say, ‘The LORD brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the LORD has aban-
doned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and
rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest
in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
The LORD said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites
as if you were fighting against one man.” (NLT)
1 John 3:1-3
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that
is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that
we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are
already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when
Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him
as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves
pure, just as he is pure. (NLT)
Psalm 40:1-5
I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set
my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song
in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust
in the LORD.
Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect
the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.Many, O LORD my God, are Your
wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot
be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are
more than can be numbered. (NKJV)
1 John 2:12-14
I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on ac-
count of his name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who
is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have over-
come the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the
Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the
beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word
of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (NIV)
Galatians 4:6-7
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your
hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a
son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (NKJV)
5-7 Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can
tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God
sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t
that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are
not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with com-
plete access to the inheritance. (The Message)
His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is
Your faithfulness. — Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB
You may have done something last week or last month that you’re
not particularly happy about, but the good news is you don’t have
to carry that around with you. That’s part of what the Scripture
means when it says that God’s mercies are new every morning. God’s
mercy and forgiveness are available to you each and every day. His
compassions never fail. That means that as soon as you call on Him
and repent and change your ways, God pours out His compassion
and forgiveness. Simply open your heart and receive it. You can have
a new beginning every single day! Do you feel like there’s something
between you and God right now? Take a moment and call on His
faithfulness. Call on His mercy. Ask for His forgiveness. Don’t waste
another moment in the past. Let Him refresh and restore your soul
right now. Praise Him and thank Him for the work He is doing in your
life and enjoy a fresh new beginning today!
Prayer: God, I don’t want to go through another day dragging the
weight of the past. Thank You for opening the door of that prison
and setting me free. Help me to claim and enjoy Your new mercies
each day. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Philippians 3:13-14
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on
to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God,
through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (NLT)
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV)
This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I press forward to
what lies ahead. — Philippians 3:13
Are you determined to forget what lies behind? I know many
people don’t fully understand what it means to forget the past. They
wonder, “How can I forget something that’s happened to me?” But
one definition of the word forget means to disregard intentionally, or
to overlook. You have to intentionally disregard your past so that it
doesn’t keep you from moving forward. That means the good and the
bad. Sometimes our past victories keep us from rising higher as much
as past failures. If we don’t let go of the old, we’ll never be able to
embrace the new. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in your history,
it’s time to forget what lies behind. Make the choice today to press
forward. Trust that God has a better future in store for you. Trust that
He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you forget what
lies behind and press forward, you will see the abundant life the Lord
has in store for you!
Prayer: Father in heaven, I choose to forget the past today. I don’t
want anything to hold me back from the future You have prepared for
me. I choose forgiveness and ask that You help me, by Your Spirit, to
press forward in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
(NLT)
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not
forgive your sins. (NIV)
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
Isaiah 61:7-9
Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor.You
will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy
will be yours.
“For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully
reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with
them. Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations.
Everyone will realize that they are a people the LORD has blessed.” (NLT)
Romans 12:19
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.
For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,”says the
LORD. (NLT)
Lamentations 3:25-27
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to
bear the yoke while he is young. (NIV)
God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman
who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help
from God. It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the
hard times. (The Message)
Hebrews 12:15
Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God.
Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, cor-
rupting many. (NLT)
I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to His
people. — Psalm 85:8
No matter what is going on in your life right now, the Lord
promises that you can have peace. Notice in this verse that the
psalmist is making the decision to listen to what God says. When you
make the decision to listen to God and follow His direction, you will
have peace. You may be thinking to yourself, “God doesn’t speak
to me.” But the Bible says that you are His sheep, you can hear His
voice, and the voice of a stranger you will not follow. The Lord speaks
in many ways—sometimes through a friend, or a song, or in the
beauty of nature. Sometimes it’s a simple “knowing” deep down on
the inside of you. If you aren’t sure how God speaks to you, ask Him
to teach you. All you have to do is open your heart and be willing to
hear His voice. As you open your heart to Him, He will speak to your
heart, and you will live in peace all the days of your life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of peace. I open
my heart to You and ask You to teach me to hear Your voice clearly. I
give You all that I am today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes,
you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything,
to stand. (NIV)
Genesis 50:20
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me
to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” (NLT)
Psalm 31:14-15
But I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are
my God.
My times are in Your hands; deliver me from the hands of my foes and those
who pursue me and persecute me. (AMP)
Job 23:10
“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as
pure as gold.” (NLT)
1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had
to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of
greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be
proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ
is revealed. (NIV)
I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with
every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes
out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out
proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold,
that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. (The Message)
1 Thessalonians 5:18
. . . in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
for you. (NKJV)
16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter
what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to
live. (The Message)
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil; for You are with me. –Psalm 23:4 NKJV
Do you ever feel like you are walking through the valley of
the shadow of death? During the tough times, it’s easy to get
discouraged. I love what it says in the verse, “though I walk
through…” No matter what you are facing today, know this: you are
not alone, and you are just walking through. You don’t have to stop
and live in the tough times. They are only temporary. I encourage you
today; don’t allow fear to paralyze you in the middle of “the valley
of the shadow of death.” Remember, God is with you. He is walking
beside you. He is strengthening you. He is making a way of escape
for you. He is lining up people and situations to bring you out of that
tough place into a place of strength and victory. Don’t give up! Press
on and walk through! Begin to get a vision of your life on the other
side. See yourself more loving, more faithful, stronger and more
blessed than ever before. As you keep moving forward and walking
through, you will get to the other side and experience the victory God
has in store for you!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life.
Thank You for walking with me even in the hard times. I trust that You
are taking me through my circumstances to a place of victory and
strength. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world
you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)
Luke 17:11-19
As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between
Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a
distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as
they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
Psalm 100:5
For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faith-
fulness and truth endure to all generations. (AMP)
But those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall
mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint. –Isaiah 40:31
Do you need strength today? Sometimes it’s easy to get down and
discouraged when you’re constantly looking at the circumstances of
life. You may feel tired and weary from a long battle. But when you
wait on the Lord, the Bible says your strength will be renewed.
Waiting on the Lord means you’re putting your trust and hope in
Him. You’re living with an attitude of faith and expectancy. In the
natural, if you are waiting for someone like a special dinner guest,
you’re probably not just sitting around the house wondering what
will happen. No, you’re probably preparing for that special person
by straightening the house and making sure everything is perfect for
their arrival. Most likely, you started weeks in advance making the
menu and deciding what to wear! In the same way, when you are
waiting on the Lord, it doesn’t mean you are just sitting around, it
means you are preparing for Him. Are you ready for God to move on
your behalf? Are you waiting on Him? As you take a step of faith, He’ll
meet you there. He’ll renew your strength and lead you into victory in
every area of your life!
Prayer: Father in heaven, thank You for Your promise to renew my
strength. I choose to wait on You. I choose to trust You. I choose to
prepare for You to move mightily in my life! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Psalm 90:12
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. (NLT)
Psalm 145:14
The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed
down. (NKJV)
1 Samuel 30:6
David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about
losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But
David found strength in the LORD his God. (NLT)
1 Peter 4:12
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as
though something strange were happening to you. (NIV)
Matthew 5:43-45
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your en-
emy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that
way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives
his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and
the unjust alike.” (NLT)
1 Peter 4:8-9
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a
multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. (NKJV)
Ephesians 5:1-2
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper be-
havior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company
with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was
not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from
us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (The Message)
Romans 12:10-18
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each
other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to
practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless
them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of
ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone
can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
(NLT)
Proverbs 26:18-19
Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who
lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.” (NLT)
Galatians 5:13-15
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an
opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law
is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as your-
self.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed
by one another! (NKJV)
It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure
that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do
and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in
love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word
is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s
an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no
time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious
freedom be then? (The Message)
1 John 4:7-8
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Any-
one who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love
does not know God, for God is love. (NLT)
James 2:8-9
Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures:
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others,
you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. (NLT)
Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is
just and right. Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your
mother—this is the first commandment with a promise—That all may be well
with you and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not irritate and
provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but
rear them[tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admo-
nition of the Lord. (AMP)
Ephesians 5:22-24
Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your sup-
port for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ
does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the
church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should like-
wise submit to their husbands. (The Message)
Ephesians 5:25-28
Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the
church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church
whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed
to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant
with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re
really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage.
(The Message)
Matthew 22:38-40
“This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love
your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two
commandments.” (NIV)
Proverbs 3:27-29
Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand
for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try
me tomorrow” when the money’s right there in your pocket. Don’t figure
ways of taking advantage of your neighbor when he’s sitting there trusting
and unsuspecting. (The Message)
Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself],
but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor.
(AMP)
Romans 15:1-3
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please
ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those
who insult you have fallen on me.” (NIV)
The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wis-
dom. — Psalm 111:10
Do you need more wisdom in your life today? The Bible says that
the reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
That word, fear, in this instance, doesn’t mean “to be afraid”; it means
to have honor and respect. It means that we revere Him because He
is God. Wisdom begins when you honor God. When you truly respect
and worship Him out of a grateful heart, then Wisdom will operate
in your life. One simple definition of wisdom is applied knowledge. It
doesn’t matter if you have all the knowledge, facts, and figures in the
world, or if you are a high school drop out. Honoring and worship-
ing God is what makes you wise. Start today and begin to declare His
goodness and faithfulness in your life. That’s worship. Declare who
He is with a humble heart of faith. Declare that He is your Provider,
your Healer, your Redeemer. When you focus on your God instead of
focusing on your problems, you are honoring Him. As you honor Him,
wisdom will flow through you, and you’ll be empowered to live the life
of victory He has in store for you!
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I choose today to honor and respect You
as my God. Thank You for filling me with Your wisdom today so that I
can live in victory the way You intend. Help me make wise choices and
honor You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Mark 4:20
“But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word,
accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
(NKJV)
Proverbs 13:6
Righteousness (rightness and justice in every area and relation) guards him
who is upright in the way, but wickedness plunges into sin and overthrows
the sinner. (AMP)
Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its
passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the
Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (NIV)
Proverbs 10:9
He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will
become known. (NKJV)
Job 33:26-30
“When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with
joy and restore him to good standing. He will declare to his friends, ‘I sinned
and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it. God rescued me from the
grave, and now my life is filled with light.’ “Yes, God does these things again
and again for people. He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the
light of life.” (NLT)
Romans 5:3-5
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured
out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (NKJV)
There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re
hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop
Psalm 57:7
My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can
sing your praises! (NLT)
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teach-
ing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and
glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Him-
self for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for
Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (NKJV)
Philippians 2:12-16
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And
now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results
of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is
working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize
you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in
a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life;
then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race
in vain and that my work was not useless. (NLT)
Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they
received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every
day to see if what Paul said was true. (NIV)
Proverbs 11:3
Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. (NLT)
You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with
joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
— Psalm 16:11
Do you need more joy in your life today? God promises that joy is
found in His presence, and if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and
Savior, then His presence lives inside of you! That joy manifests when
you focus your mind and heart on the Father and begin to praise Him
for what He’s done in your life. The Bible says that He inhabits the
praises of His people. When you begin to praise and thank Him, you
are in His presence where there is fullness of joy. It doesn’t matter
where you are or what’s going on around you, you can access the
joy that’s inside of you at anytime, day or night. And know this: God
wants you to experience His supernatural joy and peace at all times.
That’s why He chose to live inside of you and give you an endless
supply. Don’t waste another minute feeling overburdened and dis-
couraged. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength, and you will move
forward in victory on the path of life He’s prepared for you!
Prayer: Father in heaven, thank You for an endless supply of joy. To-
day, I choose to cast my cares on You and give You the praise, glory,
and honor You deserve. Let joy flow through me today so that I can
be a witness of Your goodness to those around me. In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
Numbers 25:12-13
“Now tell him that I am making my special covenant of peace with him. In
this covenant, I give him and his descendants a permanent right to the priest-
hood, for in his zeal for me, his God, he purified the people of Israel, making
them right with me.” (NLT)
Joel 2:21
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. (KJB)
Proverbs 12:20
Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning
peace! (NLT)
Prisoner of Hope
Isaiah 42:12-13
Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands. The
LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.
(NIV)
Isaiah 59:17
For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on
His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad
with zeal as a cloak. (NKJV)
Romans 12:11-12
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be
joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (NIV)
Psalm 4:6-8
Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on
us, LORD. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant har-
vests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone,
O LORD, will keep me safe. (NLT)
Psalm 5:11
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy,
because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in
You. (NKJV)
Psalm 16:11
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and
the pleasures of living with you forever. (NLT)
Psalm 21:6
Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the
joy of your presence. (NIV)
Job 8:20-21
“Surely God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of
evildoers. He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of
joy.” (NIV)
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great
things. –Joel 2:21
God wants to do great things in your life! Notice this verse
starts out by saying “fear not.” Fear is a barrier to the promises of
God. The Bible says that whatever does not come from faith is sin,
or missing the mark. Don’t ever let fear be a factor in the choices
you make in life. If you make choices because you are afraid of
something, that fear will block the blessing of the Lord in that area.
Overcome fear by meditating on the promises of God’s love and
goodness. Perfect love casts out all fear. When you understand the
love of God, you have nothing to fear. You know the Lord will do
great things! Let that sink down into your spirit today. Meditate on
this verse and declare it out loud every day. As you study God’s
Word, your faith will grow and fear will be gone from your life. You’ll
know His love, and you will experience His goodness in every area of
your life!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for goodness and faithfulness.
Show me Your perfect love so that I may know You. I choose to
rejoice in You and trust that You will do great things in my life! In
Jesus’ Name. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is
God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Philemon 1:7
For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the
saints have been refreshed by you, brother. (NKJV)
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righ-
teousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit . . . (NIV)
17-18 God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for
goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it to-
gether, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ.
Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you
and proving your worth to the people around you. (The Message)
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and
peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope
through the power of the Holy Spirit. (NLT)
JoelOsteen.com Lakewood.cc