Scripture: Matthew 6:33

Your Devotional Life Will Determine Your Emotional Life

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 ESV).

There is a battle going on for control of your mind every day. It’s an epic fight to control your thoughts, decisions, and actions. If the enemy can control your thoughts and feelings, he can debilitate your mind. The enemy doesn’t initially attack your strengths. Rather, he will attack your weaknesses to zap your strength. 

The animated Pixar movie Inside Out tells the story of five emotions: Anger, Disgust, Fear, Sadness, and Joy. These emotions grapple for control of the mind of an 11-year-old girl named Riley. The movie cleverly illustrates how Riley navigates these emotions daily and how, when they get out of control, these emotions can hurt her and the lives around her. The same is true for us. When you wake up every morning, the enemy sends divisive emotions to fight for control. The main goal is to steal your joy and control your thoughts and mind. But there is hope! When you start looking for hope to deal with these seemingly never-ending emotions, only one thing is required – sitting at Jesus’ feet. 

If you are reading this devotional, you are putting Jesus first. Your response, perspective, and view of each day start with who or what you put first. When you put Jesus first, you are allowing the Prince of Peace to take control of your thoughts and emotions; there, you will find victory, even amid the storm. The Word of God is the most powerful tool we have. Find devotionals you can read every day. Commit to studying the scriptures. Declare them over your life each morning when you wake up. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). “The battle is not mine; the battle is the Lord’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). “If God is for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31). 

Pray and listen for God’s voice to provide the solutions you need. There is a difference between a good idea and a God idea. A good idea is where you might say, “I wish I would have thought of that.” A God idea is where you would say, “I would have never thought of that.” We need some “I would have never thought of that” moments on this journey. 

Stop fighting the battles meant for God to fight. It’s the Mary & Martha principle we see in Luke 10:41-42 where Jesus says to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her” (NLT). Jesus didn’t come to be served; He came to serve. When you allow Him to serve you, “all of these things will be added to you,” as Matthew 6:33 says (NIV). He will give you just what you need when you need it. 2 Corinthians 9:8 promises that “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others” (NLT). 

When you make the daily choice to put Jesus first in your life, your thoughts will slowly but steadily shift. Your thoughts will eventually move from war to peace, sadness to joy, despair to hope. Every day, make spending time with Jesus your first priority. He will respond and give you all the things you need and more. 

I will make a bold statement: The majority of favor I have received in life and ministry has not been due to things I’ve done, but from the times I have spent with Jesus. He is your ultimate power source. If your desire to do more for God is greater than your desire to spend time with God, you have a power issue. 

Here is the definition of devotion: To show love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause. The question is, what are you devoted to? What do you spend the most time doing? I had to ask myself that question. I found myself spending more time on things in life that were temporal instead of spending time on what would be eternal. When you look at it that way, it changes your perspective. Although putting God first will help you in the short and long term. Why? Because you are building your relationship with the One who can do it all for you daily. 

Daily devotional life will take your relationship with God to a new level. If I compared the favor I had in my life while putting Jesus first to the years I was sporadic in my devotional life, there would be no comparison between the two. God’s blessing and favor have been exponential in all facets of my life since making Him a daily priority. When you get up in the morning and put Jesus first place in your life, watch for His goodness to chase you down. 

Pray this: Dear God, Your Word says that when I put You first in my life, all of these things will be added. I stand on that promise today. I will not fight my emotions on my own. I will let You fight the battle for me. Amen (So be it). 

Declare this: There is hope and grace for today. I choose to surrender my emotions at the feet of Jesus and trust that He has everything I need. I will see His goodness as I put Him in first place in my life. I know that all of His blessings will be added to my life daily! 

Win for today: I will give God the first 15 minutes of my day by praying, reading His Word, or meditating on a devotional as I spend time with Him. 

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19

A Year To Remember

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV). 

What if this year became the best year of your life? Not a perfect year or a year without challenges, but a year full of growth and learning. A year where God brings you and your family out and up to a new level. Could you imagine having an unprecedented year? One definition of unprecedented is “Without previous instance; never before known or experienced; unexampled or unparalleled.” A year to remember!

What if you look back at the end of this year and say, “I remember” or “I will never forget” what God did? Could this year be a memorial stone for you and your family? 

What if, right now, you begin to speak this reality over yourself or your situation? Go ahead! Boldly say it out loud: 

“I declare that hard things will become easier. I speak restoration in my relationships, healing from loss, and unique opportunities to come my way. This year, I will give more, help more, and fight more for people than I ever have. Favor and blessings will chase me down. Doors that were closed will swing wide open. Hope that was lost will be found. Dreams I had locked away in my heart will break through. I will tell my children and grandchildren what I’ve witnessed this year. I will celebrate the fact that what should have taken twenty-five years took place in one. This will be my year to remember!” 

How do you feel after speaking that over your life? Did you feel faith rise? Do you believe it? You might say, “Craig, just because you say it doesn’t mean it will happen.” You’re right. But if you say it and believe God can do it, it can happen. 

The Bible says in Mark 11:23, “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in you’” (NLT). 

Are you still a doubter? Are you still saying, “I don’t believe that.” Then this isn’t for you at this time. This is for believers. But what if, just maybe, half of what you declared came to pass? Would it be worth it? Why don’t you get your faith up, believe again, and see what God can do? You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Go for it, and you’ll grow for it. 

With all that’s happening in the world, some people only expect the worst, while God plans the best. He’s just waiting for you to believe; this will be a year to remember! 

Pray this: Dear God, I am putting my faith out there. This will be my year to remember. You said if we had the faith of a mustard seed, we could move mountains by Your power. I believe what You say. I am asking You to move mountains in my life today. Amen (So Be It). 

Declare this: This year will be a year to remember, a year I will never forget. I will grow and be a blessing to more people than ever. It will be a breakthrough year of God’s abundance. I will stand and look back in awe of God and all He orchestrated in my life. 

Win for today: Make a short list of a few big dreams in your life. Believe and pray over them today. 

Scripture: Isaiah 55:10-11

Speaking With God’s Voice (Praying Scripture)

“As the rain and the snow come down from Heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV). 

Did you know Scripture wasn’t just meant to be spoken, but it was meant to be prayed? God is speaking through His words. When you pray Scripture, you are using the most powerful voice in the universe over your life. The Bible says, “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV). One day, God told me, “I love that you talk to Me when you pray, but begin to speak My words and watch what I will do.” 

So, we began to practice this, starting with our children. We found promises in God’s Word related to each unique child. We circled those Scripture promises and prayed them over each one. Different phases of our children’s lives would require different Scriptures. When they needed strength, we prayed Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV). When they were afraid, we prayed Isaiah 41:13, “For I, the Lord your God will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’” (NKJV). If they had to take a test in school, we prayed Proverbs 10:7, “The memory of the righteous is blessed” (NKJV). 

As each child faced challenges, we found specific Scriptures to pray over them. Cory needed confidence. For him, we prayed Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will protect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (NASB1995). Courtney had high expectations and felt down if she didn’t meet them. We would pray Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’” declares the Lord, “’ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (NIV). Connor battled autism, which brought anxiety and meltdowns. We prayed Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (NIV). 

God did miracles through those prayers. Cory overcame some of his biggest fears. Now, he’s a person of faith and a great encourager to others. Courtney kept dreaming big but never got overly discouraged when things didn’t work out. Now, she’s doing incredible work in the film industry. Connor overcame having meltdowns and is now impacting the world through his inspirational story. 

Find Scriptures that speak to the struggles you are carrying. If you are facing financial hardship, find Scriptures on finances and God’s provision. If you need healing, search for Scriptures on healing. If you’re battling with mental health challenges, find out what God’s Word says about worry or anxiety. Let God speak over what you need. 

Pray this: Dear God, you said in Your Word that Your promises are yes and amen. As I pray Scriptures, I believe You speak on my behalf. Your voice is powerful. You spoke the world into existence. You spoke and raised Lazarus from the dead. When You speak, miracles happen. I can’t wait to see all that You will do by the power of Your Word. Amen (So be it). 

Declare this: I will pray God’s Word and watch God do what He says He will do. Impossible things will become possible. A shift in the atmosphere is happening in my situation. Dreams that seemed out of reach are within my grasp. I believe God will do it again in my life. 

Win for today: Find three scriptures focused on what you’re believing God will do and pray those scriptures today. 

Scripture: Proverbs 24:16

The God of The Comeback

“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again” (Proverbs 24:16 NIV). 

Everyone loves a comeback story, don’t they? No one remembers the blowouts in games, but everyone remembers a comeback. It’s impossible to forget a moment you’re down and out, but fight to come back. 

You may know baseball player Trey Mancini by name, but you’ve likely never heard his whole story. Outside of being a great baseball player, in 2020, Trey was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer and faced tremendous odds against him. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy and, most importantly, trusted God. Trey returned to play in the big leagues a year later and earned American League Comeback Player of the Year. A 2021 campaign during which he re-established himself as one of the game’s best hitters after a year away battling and beating stage 3 colon cancer. 

Beyond comeback stories in sports, we’re inspired to hear about folks who endured physical, emotional, or financial setbacks but refused to quit. We love to hear stories of those who persevered despite the near-impossible odds they faced. 

Did you know that the Bible is full of comeback stories? Take Joseph, for example. His own brothers were jealous of him and sold Joseph into slavery as a young man for 20 pieces of silver. He was rejected by his own family and later thrown into prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Yet, Joseph kept doing the right thing, and God turned his life into a comeback story. Joseph eventually became Pharaoh’s second in command, forgave his brothers, and saw his family restored. 

How about Job? He loses his wealth, land, and even his own family. Yet, he never curses God. Job held on through the storms of his life. God rewarded Job for his commitment to Him and blessed him with double what he had before. 

And, of course, the most remarkable comeback story of them all: Jesus. Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried, but three days later came back to life and saved the world. 

You might say, Craig, you don’t know what I’ve been through. Look, I get it; life can be challenging. When God closes one door, He opens another, but it can be hell in the hallway. 

Life is full of things trying to push us down. We all face disappointments and setbacks. Maybe you received some bad news about your health, or perhaps a relationship didn’t work out. You’ve made some mistakes that are difficult to bounce back from. That was a setback. It’s easy to get discouraged, lose enthusiasm, or even be tempted to give up. 

But, if we’re going to see the God of the comeback rewrite our story, we have to have a “comeback” mentality. When you get knocked down, you don’t stay down. You dust yourself off and get back up. Know that every time adversity comes against you, the God of the comeback is waiting to step into the ring and deliver the knockout blow to the enemy. We must only not give up and allow God to fight for us. 

My friend Prasad, whom I met in Sri Lanka, had to do this. His father had a history of mental health issues. At six years old, Prasad watched his mom go through physical and verbal abuse. The endless fighting, no money, and watching his dad go in and out of hospitals was overwhelming. The abuse continued through Prasad’s teenage years until, ultimately, Prasad tried to take his own life. Prasad said, “It was at the lowest point in my life, where anyone couldn’t feel more helpless or hopeless, that I experienced the life-transforming power of Jesus, which changed the course of my life.” Today, Prasad holds no bitterness towards his dad. He has a beautiful wife and son. He leads the compassion ministry at a church in Sri Lanka, which helps hundreds of thousands of broken families and children with PTSD. He’s rewriting his story. 

I’ve heard it said that sometimes you have to get knocked down lower than you have ever been to stand up taller than you ever were. Don’t let your gifts and anointing end with you. You are facing a challenge; you are not facing defeat. Remember that. Sometimes, rejection is redirection. God is in the business of giving people fresh starts. He is the God of the comeback. 

No matter what you left, all that matters now is where you go from here. 

God has already arranged a comeback for every setback, a vindication for every wrong, and a new beginning for every disappointment. The comeback is always greater than the setback.

As a believer in Jesus, the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives inside you. Your comeback story is about to be written. There is no challenge that is too difficult, no obstacle too large for God. No sickness, no disappointment, no person—nothing can keep you from the purpose God designed just for you. If you stay in faith, God will turn what was meant to harm you and catapult you into your God-given destiny. 

Pray this: Dear God, Your Word says that though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. I know You are rewriting my story. You are the God who will help me make a comeback to all I was created to be. Amen (So be it). 

Declare this: I know that God is writing my comeback story. It will be better than I ever dreamed. No disappointments or setbacks will keep me from God’s plans. My new life is just beginning. 

Win for today: Watch or read about an amazing comeback story and let it inspire you today. 

Scripture: Psalms 118:24

Make Today the Very Best Day of Your Life 

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24 ESV). 

What if you got up every day and said, “I’m going to make today the very best day of my life!” That’s what a very successful restaurateur named Randy would say when anyone asked how he was doing. At first, people would be taken aback by it, wondering if he was serious. His positive outlook seemed fake or inauthentic to others, but for Randy, it was real. Even if he didn’t feel it, he practiced saying it. Then he started believing it, leading him to live it out. It was contagious. Randy always set the tone. 

Will Guidara, author of Unreasonable Hospitality, says, “Let your energy impact the people you’re talking to, as opposed to the other way around.” 

When Pastor Joel Osteen gets up every morning, the first thing that comes out of his mouth as he jumps out of bed is, “It’s going to be a great day.” What is he doing? He’s setting the tone for his day rather than letting the enemy or someone else set it for him. 

Looking at today’s Scripture, we see David setting the tone in Psalm 118. He sets the tone by acknowledging who will have control over his day. When you wake up in the morning, who is setting the tone? Your family, the TV, a situation, your phone? Or is it you and God? 

I read how the author John Maxwell’s friend approached every day. His friend calculated that if the average person lives for 75 years, multiplied by 52 weeks in a year, they will have 3,900 Saturdays in their lifetime. He said, “It took me until I was 55 years old to think about all this in any detail, and by that time, I had lived through over 2,800 Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be 75, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.” He went on to explain that he bought 1,000 marbles and put them in a clear plastic container in his favorite work area at home. “Every Saturday since then,” he said, “I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There’s nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.” Then the gentleman finished, “Now let me tell you one last thought before I sign off and take my lovely wife out to breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it to next Saturday, I have been given a little extra time.” 

Maybe we can’t choose how much time we get, but we can determine what we will do with it. Let’s set the tone for today and make this day the very best day of our lives. 

Pray this: Dear God, like David, I want to set the tone for my day. This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it. I pray that You will help me make every day the very best day of my life. Amen (So be it). 

Declare this: I will try to make today the very best day of my life. I will focus on God and what He can do. Every day, I will make God a priority and allow Him to make it happen. It’s going to be a great day! I receive it by faith. I am setting the tone for my day and my future! 

Win for today: Start the day by saying, “It’s going to be a great day!” Then, throughout the day, when people ask you how you are doing, say, “I’m just trying to make today the very best day of my life.” See how it changes your day. 

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:17

This is How I Fight My Battles 

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah, and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:17 NLT). 

Having faith doesn’t exempt us from difficulties in life. The storms of life come to every person. We get a bad medical report. Our child is not progressing. Our marriage is struggling. In difficult times, it’s easy to think, “God, where are You? How could You let this happen to me?” Remember, the God who fights your battles in the good times is the same God who fights your battles in the hard times. God will not allow a difficulty unless He has a divine purpose for it. He never said He would prevent every difficulty, but God did promise to bring you through it and use every difficulty for good. 

In my experience, it works best to release control and allow God to fight for us. I’ve found that peace and control do not go together. When we try to control things, there is no peace. We have to let go of control and receive God’s peace. Your lowest points may be launching pads to God’s greatest miracles. Don’t stress over anything you can’t change. Don’t use your energy to worry; use your energy to believe. 

That’s what King Jehoshaphat and the nation of Israel had to do. In 2 Chronicles 20, three armies were going to attack Israel. King Jehoshaphat knew that these three armies would wipe them out. They were too strong and powerful. Have you ever felt like a circumstance would wipe you out? This is how the entire nation of Israel felt. In the natural, they didn’t have a chance to win against these armies. But all of a sudden, a man in the middle of the crowd speaks out and says, “This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV). 

The man continued speaking, giving instructions from God to the Israelites. They were told to go to the place of the battle, but instead of fighting, they were to stand firm, give praise to God, and watch God give them victory. 

In the natural, that sounds crazy. How can you win a battle without getting in the fight? But that’s exactly what they did. It was amazing! One army started fighting another and then another until all three armies were wiped out. Get this: King Jehoshaphat didn’t have to lift a finger. He just watched God fight for him. The Bible says not only did they win the battle, but they took back more plunder than they could contain. If you believe, God will fight your battle and give you more than you can contain. 

Remember: the victory didn’t happen until they were willing to let go of control and let God fight for them. 

How many of you are fighting battles that God was meant to fight? You’ve gotten a scary diagnosis or heard some difficult news. Instead of releasing control, you’ve tried to figure out how to deal with the situation. You’ve let worry, fear, and the unknown affect you, and now you feel defeated. Can I encourage you to do what King Jehoshaphat did? There comes a point when you’ve done everything you can: you believed and stood in faith. Now you’ve got to do what they did: quit fighting. Quit trying to make it happen your way. Quit trying to force it to work out and relinquish control. Let God fight your battle. 

Pray this: Dear God, I will do what Jehoshaphat did and let You fight my battle. I am releasing control and trusting you to lead me to victory. Amen (So be it). 

Declare this: I know God will fight my battles for me. I will stand firm, believe in faith, and watch God do it. I will stop fighting battles God was meant to fight. The battle is over already. We are victorious. I believe it and declare it! 

Win for today: Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-29 and get this story deep inside your spirit. At the end of the reading, declare, “If God did it for Jehoshaphat, God will do it for me!” 

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

It’s Not How You Start, It’s How You Finish 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV). 

In life, we will all have a start, a middle, and a finish. Some start well; others are less fortunate. But it’s not how you start that matters the most; it’s how you finish. As we go through life, we get excited at the beginning of an opportunity, a relationship, or a new venture. We also enjoy celebrating our achievements and having the satisfaction of fulfilled desires. But between the beginning and the end, every situation or pursuit has a “middle.” The middle is where we often face our greatest challenges, hurdles, roadblocks, and detours. 

All of us will face tests. It’s inevitable. But it’s how you respond to the tests that makes the difference. 

Many of us witnessed Demar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills face a test on live TV in front of the world. After making a tackle on the field, Damar suddenly collapsed. Many people, including doctors, wondered if he would ever recover after being carted off. Then something extraordinary happened. Players and coaches began kneeling, lifting their fallen brother up to God. The crowd started praying. Announcers on TV broadcasts began praying for healing. Spectators around the world came together in unity, praying for a miracle. Over the next few days, as the world watched, we saw God do the miraculous. Demar came back to life. When Demar woke up, he asked, “Who won the game?” Doctor Timothy Pitts said, “You’ve won the game, Damar… the game of life.” 

You see, for Demar, this injury was a roadblock. It wasn’t the end. God is still writing Damar’s story. Why? Because he kept running the race even in the face of incredible obstacles. He not only pushed through his near-death experience but, against all odds, returned and played for the Buffalo Bills. Because he pushed through the “middle,” God used his story to change the world. 

The enemy wants you to stop short of receiving and enjoying everything God has for you. He will tempt you to give up by making the middle of your journey seem too long or too hard. God, on the other hand, wants the very best for you. Because of the purpose He has for you, God wants you to finish the race set before you. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “As you live in close contact with me, the light of my presence filters through you to bless others. Your weakness and woundedness are the openings through which the light of the knowledge of my glory shines forth. My strength and power show themselves most effective in your weakness” (AMP). 

Determine to be faithful throughout each part of your story and enjoy your journey to victory. The best way out is always through. It’s not how you start that’s most important; it’s how you finish. You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. 

Pray this: Dear God, with Your help, I will not give up. I will push through the middle and accomplish my dreams. I will run my race with perseverance and finish with joy. Amen (So be it). 

Declare This: God sees my potential. He knows what I am capable of. I may feel weak, but God calls me strong. I may be intimidated, but God calls me confident. I may feel less than, but God calls me well-able. I will finish the race God has for my life and push through to victory! 

Win for today: Find a friend you admire who you have noticed finishes well. Ask them to share their story and any advice they would give to you.