Thursday Scripture:
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12 (NIV)
Thursday Inspiration:
Today let’s take a moment out and reflect on how much the value of a penny has decreased over the years. I remember when we used to go to the candy store and buy penny bubble gum. Now days that same piece of gum will run us about twenty-five cents or more. It’s safe to say that at first glance the value of a penny has lost its value these days. I encourage you to grab hold of a penny and allow it to encourage you today. If you look at the back side of the penny there is a strong affirmation that we need recite, remember, and hold onto like never before: “In God We Trust!” It doesn’t say in my job, my pay check, my spouse, The President of the United States, my Tax refund, or even a stimulus check. But IN GOD We TRUST! Amen! The times that we are enduring right now reminded me of Paul in Philippians chapter 3. It is clear that Paul is stating he is a work in progress, just like us today. We are indeed a grace case, that if it had not been for the Lord on our side we would be lost. And Paul goes on to say that he continues to pursue becoming more like Christ. And we can do that by keeping God at the center of our life. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. So I encourage you to buckle down and push through depression, push through worrying, press through loneliness, press through getting ahead of God’s plan for your life. Instead praise God for being here today! Praise God for food and shelter. Praise God for your family! Praise God for being faithful! Make up in your mind that regardless of what you may be faced with on today, that you are going to push, press, and praise your way through! We all have addictions, whether it be chocolate, caffeine, Star-Bucks, sweets, shopping, soda, alcohol, or drugs…but my question for all of us today is, can we get addicted to giving thanks and praise to God in spite of how things may look? Can we just give him the praise that we owe him? The bible says we walk by faith and not by sight! Join me in giving him the highest praise, Hallelujah! Because he’s so worthy to be praised! PPP… Push, Press, and Praise your way through!!!
Thursday Prayer:
Our father, Lord we come first and foremost just to say thank you! Lord we thank you for blessing us to see another day. A day that wasn’t promised to us, but you saw fit to wake us up this morning and start us on our way! And for that we are so very thankful. Truly there is none like you in all the earth. Lord please forgive us for falling short of your glory, decrease us that you may increase more in our lives. We are striving each and every day to be more like Christ. Truly we are praying, that not our will but thy will be done. We are so thankful that you are a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. For we are reminded that you word said that the steps of a good man is ordered by you. Lord order our steps, our walk, and our talk that everything about our very being will line up with your will. Father you said that your sheep know your voice, so please speak Lord for your servants are listening. We want more of your word, more anointing, more of your power, and more of your wisdom in our life. We decree and declare that the enemy can’t have our joy and our peace! And that he is a liar and the truth is not in him! We cancel out every plot, plan, scheme, and trick of the evil one. And we speak that we shall live and not die! And we are determined to push, press, and praise our way through this pandemic! If you be for us, who can be against us! We are confident in your power to continue to provide all of our needs. We thank you in advance for being Jehovah Jireh. We love you, we honor you, and we exalt your holy and righteous name! Oh Lord let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight. Father we are leaning and depending on you! Father stop by the hospitals and nursing homes and touch them in special way! We thank you in advance for our provisions. Bless us individually and as well as collectively as a whole, for it’s in your darling son Jesus name we pray, give thanks, and say Amen!
Application:
Praise: God for giving you your daily bread on today. Everything we need begins and ends with him.
Offer Thanks: To God because the impossible is possible with him.
Confess: To God anything that is keeping you up at night and that you are worried about.
Ask God: To stretch your faith and give you peace.