As you ready yourself to face the day, you have a choice: you can either grumble about your troubles or you can turn your mind to the Father in praise. Before you decide, realize this important truth: there is power when you give thanks to the Lord. Not only do you honor God as He deserves, but you also refocus your attention to His positive attributes rather than your negative circumstances – and that sets you up for victory. Of…..

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Today, offer the Father a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Even if everything is awry and you’re feeling discouraged, praise Him anyway. How do you do so? Deliberately look for reasons to be grateful even in the most difficult of your circumstances. Review all the ways He’s helped you in the past. Rejoice in His character, His love for you, and the salvation He’s freely given you. List all the blessings you can think of which are yours in Christ. Personalize the…..

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Unforgiveness can be the source of a great deal of conflict and stress in your personal relationships. Therefore, examine your heart now to see if you need to forgive anyone. Do you secretly hope that someone will get what he or she deserves? Do you talk negatively about anyone to others? Do you indulge in fantasies of revenge – even seemingly harmless ones? Do you spend time mulling over what others have done to you? How do you feel when…..

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God is the only One who can truly satisfy your heart’s desire for wholeness. When you feel lonely or disconnected, what you’re really sensing is your soul’s longing to be one with Him. And He alone knows how to bring that profound intimacy about in your life. Once you recognize this and turn to the Lord to satisfy your loneliness, you are in a healthier position to receive the love and affection of the people God sends to you. Rather…..

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Most people don’t like to admit when they don’t know something. Even if it means going in circles for hours, many of us would rather stumble upon the right answer ourselves than ask for help. The same can be said of our Christian walk. We may believe that the Father has a specific purpose for our lives and unique blessings set aside for us, and yet not seek Him to tell us what He has planned. But how can we…..

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The people, conflicts and circumstances may be different – but it’s the same challenge you’ve faced for years. Why can’t you break free from these ever-repeating issues? Your situation is just like the baker who set out to make a delicious cake, but used salt instead of sugar in her recipe. She tried different mixing techniques, pans, and ovens, but every cake turned out inedible. And she continued to fail until she finally realized that she had to change the…..

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Events may occur that make you feel isolated and insignificant. Perhaps loved ones fail to understand the pressures you face, or obstacles arise that make your goals appear unreachable. Even commonplace aspects of your life may suddenly become unmanageable – stealing your joy and making you feel defeated. You wonder if you’ve wasted your time trying so hard when no one seems to appreciate your sacrifices. Friend, God has not abandoned you – and your love for Him is never…..

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Whether it is the driver who cut you off in traffic, a friend who betrays you, a boss who overlooks you, or a loved one who makes you feel inferior, there will always be someone in your life who needs your forgiveness. Sadly, sometimes the deep roots of hurt prevail and the bitterness tightens its grip on your spirit, making reconciliation very difficult. But friend, when you remember the immense debt that Christ has pardoned you of, it is so…..

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There’s no escaping criticism, nor the wounds it can cause. But moments of censure can be opportunities for you to experience God’s power if you’ll respond in a manner that honors Him. The truth is, when you’re living in obedience to the Savior, others will persecute you for it. Instead of retaliating, Scripture admonishes you to respond by doing good to, praying for, and forgiving the people who attack you – in the hope that they’ll “come to their senses…..

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At times, people hesitate to build a deep relationship with the Lord because they think He will require painful sacrifices from them. They assume that they have troubles because the Father doesn’t care about them or is punishing them. But once they submit themselves to Him, the pressure they once felt lifts. They understand they can trust Him – and that He only wanted what was absolutely best for them. God is God. There is none like him, and He…..

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