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Power over Fear Today's Scripture "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline" (II Timothy 1:7, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God's desire is that we continually progress, that we reach higher heights and go to new levels. Oftentimes, as soon as we make the decision to step out in faith and obey God, the enemy brings in fear to try to stop us. He'll bring thoughts like, "What if you fail? What are other people going to think? You don't have what it takes." He'll do...

Dare to Dream Big Today's Scripture "…No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him" (I Corinthians 2:9, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria What are the dreams and desires that you have for your future? Maybe you had some big dreams when you were younger, but things didn’t go the way you planned and so you put them aside and settled for status quo. We’ve all had disappointments, but we have to keep moving forward. Today is a new day, and we serve a God...

Make Plans for the Next Victory Today's Scripture "Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day" (Joshua 14:12, NKJV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria In the Bible, Caleb helped lead the people of Israel into their Promised Land. But I love that Caleb didn't just stop there. When he was 80 years old, he said, "God, give me another mountain." He was saying, "God, give me something else to do. Give me another assignment." Notice, he was planning on living out his life in victory. He could have said, "God, just let...

He is Strong in You Today's Scripture "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…" (Romans 8:26 NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Sometimes, people get distracted by what they consider to be a disadvantage or weakness in their lives. It may be something about their personality or looks that they don't like. Or maybe they've been through an unfair situation: a divorce, a bad business deal, or a bad break. We all have things that can feel like disadvantages; things that make it harder on us. It may even be a physical handicap where you can't...

Make the Right Plans Today's Scripture "May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed" (Psalm 20:4, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria The Bible tells us that true faith has actions with it. A lot of times people say they believe one way, but with their actions, they're doing just the opposite. We have to understand that faith will work in either direction. I know some people make plans to get the flu. They talk about it and say, "Every year I get the flu." Or, "It's going to be bad...

Prince of Peace Today's Scripture "For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and He will be called" Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace"" (Isaiah 9:6a) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria The Bible calls Jesus the Prince of Peace. That means He is the ruler of peace. He is the ultimate peace. The peace He gives to us is not the peace of the world. His peace is permanent. It never changes, and it can never be taken away from us. It's...

For God So Loved That He Gave Today's Scripture "…"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" (John 3:16, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have you ever thought about how your love affects your giving? I've heard it said that you can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. Love prompts us to give of ourselves—our time, abilities, and resources. Think about the fact that God is love. The scripture tells us that the world will know...

Unto Us Today's Scripture "…"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder…" (Isaiah 9:6a) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria When Jesus came to the earth, He brought with Him everything you need to be empowered to live a life of victory. He came as a little baby, but He represented all authority in heaven and earth. When you choose to serve Him, you have access to all of His resources. You have access to His peace, power, authority, provision, joy, and strength. He brought all...

Do Not Be Afraid Today's Scripture "…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:20, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have you ever felt overwhelmed or even afraid of what God has called you to do? Maybe you were pursuing a dream or goal and things didn't turn out the way you planned. Joseph had planned to take Mary as his wife, but when he...

Emmanuel, God with Us Today's Scripture "Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel--which, when translated, means, God with us" (Matthew 1:23, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria In the Bible, Jesus has many names that identify His character. One of those names is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Before Jesus came to the earth, the Spirit of God resided in the temple. The people had to go through all sorts of rituals to make them clean enough to go near Him. Now, as believers, we...

The Wonderful Counselor Today's Scripture "…"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you need wisdom or direction in your life today? The scripture tells us that Jesus is our Counselor. And He's not just any kind of Counselor, He's our Wonderful Counselor. When something is wonderful, it is unusually good, marvelous, or astonishing. Think about that for a moment. God is a...

Make Preparations Today's Scripture "…Prepare the way for the Lord" (Isaiah 40:3, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Everyone goes through seasons of waiting. A lot of times, people just sit back and wait for God to do everything. But you have to remember to do your part and make preparations. You have to talk like it's going to happen and act like it's going to happen. Some people might say, "Well, Joel, what if I do this and it doesn't happen?" But I say what if you do and it does happen? And even if things don't...

Run and Not Grow Weary Today's Scripture "But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount to up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired" (Isaiah 40:31, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you sometimes feel like there is so much on your plate that you are constantly running to get it all done? There are seasons...

Protect Your Seed Today's Scripture "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Did you know that when we say prayers, when we are believing God for something, it's like planting spiritual seeds? It's a principle that God established at the beginning of time. We determine the harvest we have in our lives by the seeds we sow. In the natural, think about how the farmer waits for his harvest. He knows that if he protects his seed...

Waiting the Right Way Today's Scripture "…faith without works is dead" (James 2:20, NKJ) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Are you waiting for God to do something in your life? One thing I've learned is that waiting should not be a passive thing. When we're waiting the correct way, we're on the lookout. We talk like what we are believing for is going to happen. We act like it's going to happen. We're making preparations. It's just like when you're expecting someone for dinner; you don't wait till they show up before you decide to start cooking. Most...

As You Wait Today's Scripture "Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen." (James 5:7, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God has put dreams and desires in every person's heart. But most of the time, there's a season of waiting involved. Maybe you're waiting for a relationship to improve; waiting to get married; waiting for a promotion; or waiting to overcome an illness. Much of life is...

Exceedingly Abundantly Today's Scripture "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever" (Ephesians 3:20-21, NKJ) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God wants to do exceedingly abundantly above all you can ever ask, think, or imagine. In another place, it says that no person has ever seen, heard, or even imagined the wonderful things that God has in store for those who love the Lord. But...

I don’t know what you feel about the prosperty gospel; the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel. But I’ll tell you what I feel about it; hatred. It is not the gospel. It is being exported from this country to Africa and Asia. Selling a bill of goods to the poorest of the poor, “Believe this message, your pigs won’t die. Your wife won’t have miscarriages. You’ll have rings on your fingers and coats on your back.” That’s comin’ out of America! The people that out to be giving our money and our time and our lives, instead selling them a...

Receiving the Overflow Today's Scripture "…we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance" (Psalm 66:12, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Friend, no matter what your circumstances may look like today, God's plan is to bring you through to a place of abundance. He wants you to have an abundance of peace, an abundance of joy, an abundance of resources—He wants you to overflow with His blessings so that you can be a blessing to the people around you. One thing I've learned is that if you want to live in...

Keep Pressing Through Today's Scripture "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness'" (II Corinthians 12:9, NKJ) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria We all go through seasons of difficulty that can sometimes feel overwhelming. But during these times, we have to remember that Almighty God is greater than the struggle we face! He'll take those challenges and use them to strengthen us, but we have to do our part and get into agreement with Him. Think about the caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly. When it's wrapped...

Take the Limits Off Today's Scripture "They turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41, KJV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria We serve a God of increase! He wants to do new things in our lives. We should always be rising to new levels, but it's so easy to get stuck in a rut and just settle for the status quo. Sometimes we think, "Well, I've reached my limits. I've gone as far as I can go. This is as happy as I'll ever be." But if we're going to continue to...

What if They Don't Believe? Today's Scripture "What if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" (Romans 3:3, KJV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have the opinions of others caused you to water down your dreams? There will always be critics and naysayers in life. One of the most important things you can learn is that other people don't have to believe in you in order for your dreams to come to pass. Other people don't set the limits for your life–you do. It's not what others say about you that...

Vision for Overflow Today's Scripture Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation . . . —2 Corinthians 7:10 Today's Word from Joel and Victoria What is the vision you have for your life? Do you see yourself rising higher? Do you see yourself increasing and growing in the blessing of God? Friend, if we are going to live the abundant, overflowing life that God has promised us, we have to have a vision for it. We have to see ourselves so blessed and so filled that we overflow on to the people around us. We should have so much...

Pave the Way for Victory Today's Scripture "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation" (Psalm 5:3, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Did you know that every morning you have the opportunity to set the tone for your whole day? When you put God first and decide to go out with a grateful attitude and a positive frame of mind, you'll not only feel better, but you're going to draw in the good things of God. You are paving the way for success...

Having an Overflow Mentality Today's Scripture "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God wants us to have His very best. He doesn't want us to just barely get by in life; He wants us to thrive and overflow with His goodness. Notice what our part is as His children - we have to be willing and obedient. It's not just doing what the Word of God says; you've got to do it with the right attitude. It's one thing to give because you...

The God of More than Enough Today's Scripture "…the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God…" (Genesis 17:1, NKJ) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you need more peace, joy, or any provision in your life? Friend, we serve a God who is more than enough and He has more than enough! The original Hebrew word in this verse is El Shaddai which means "the All-Sufficient One" or the God of plenty. In other words, our God is simply more than enough! He's not worried about how He's going to meet your needs....

Overflowing With Passion for Life Today's Scripture "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord" (Romans 12:11, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Zeal is simply another word for passion. I've noticed that too many people today have lost their passion and enthusiasm for life. At one time, they were excited about their dreams and got up every day with purpose and passion. But now, because time has passed and they've experienced disappointments, they're not excited about those dreams anymore. They've lost their fire. Friend, God wants you to live with passion! You...

Every Day is a Gift Today's Scripture "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Sometimes, our days can be so full and busy that we forget how fragile life really is. It can be easy to allow little things to creep in and steal our peace and joy. Something doesn't go our way, or someone says something upsetting. Even traffic can cause us to lose focus if we let it. We have to remember that each day is a gift. If we...

Constant Gratitude Today's Scripture "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever" (I Chronicles 16:34 AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Gratitude is a powerful force in the life of the believer. No matter what may be happening in the world around you, you can always find something to thank God for. Having constant gratitude shows that you have faith in God because not only do you thank Him for what He has done in the past, you thank Him for what He will do in the future. It's...

A Door of Opportunity Today's Scripture "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close" (Revelation 3:8, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria I believe that God is ready to present you with new opportunities. He wants to open new doors before you. It doesn’t matter what’s happening in the world around you, God’s Word remains true! Remember, in an instant, God can bring the right people into your life, the right opportunities, and the right resources to take you to a whole new level. But in...

The Keys of the Kingdom Today's Scripture "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven" (Matthew 16:19, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Keys represent access. They represent authority. Whether it's a key to a building, car, or safety deposit box; if you've been given a key to something, it means you have a right to use it. You have access to whatever that key will open. Friend, because of Jesus, we have the...

He Holds the Keys Today's Scripture "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" (Revelation 1:18, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have you ever been locked out of your car or house? It can be very frustrating and inconvenient. Not having the right keys can keep you stuck and unproductive. It steals your time and can steal your peace and joy if you let it. On a spiritual level, we need keys to access what God has for us—eternal...

“I don’t have to go to church — God comes to me. He’s with me and around me wherever I am.” Those words, offered by a mother to her son, contributed to the apparent self-actualization of best-selling author — I’m talking been-on-the-New York Times-bestseller-list-for-hundreds-of-weeks-best-selling — Neale Donald Walsch. His books, which all revolve, in one form or another, around the very appealing premise of “Conversations with God,” speak to people in ways that apparently rival Sacred Scripture; however, Sacred Scripture they are not. This prompts the question: How do millions of Christians get duped into believing the ramblings of New...

Offer Praise Continually Today's Scripture "Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name" (Hebrews 13:15, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Praise is a powerful weapon. Many times in the Old Testament when God's people would go into battle, they would send the worshipers out first. That's because praise precedes the victory. When you live a life that offers Him continual praise, you are setting yourself up to see continual victory. Praise is more than just singing songs in church on Sunday. In fact, praise isn't even...

Living the Abundant Life Today's Scripture "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)" (John 10:10, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Too many people today have a barely-get-by mentality, "Barely able to pay my bills, got an okay job, an okay marriage." Friend, don’t settle there. Jesus came so we could live an abundant life! That means an abundance of joy, an abundance of peace, an abundance of health, an abundance in our...

Continue in the Faith Today's Scripture "If indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard…" (Colossians 1:23, NAS) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have you been holding on to a promise or dream in your heart that seems to be taking a long time? When things don't go the way we've planned, it's easy to get discouraged and feel tempted to give up. But God wants to breathe new life into your dreams. He wants to breathe new hope into your heart....

Pray For an Open Door Today's Scripture "And at the same time pray for us also, that God may open a door to us…" (Colossians 4:3, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria In this life, we are blessed with so many opportunities and privileges. In this day and age, we have tools and resources to figure almost anything out. It's easy to just depend on our own natural ability to make things happen. But God wants to be intimately involved in our lives. He wants us to come to Him, depend on Him, and allow Him to show...

Press Past Adversity Today's Scripture "For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries" (I Corinthians 16:9, NKJ) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Are you walking by faith or sight today? In other words, are you choosing to believe God no matter what your circumstances look like, or are you making decisions and focusing your mind on what you can see. Remember, it's always darkest right before the dawn appears. I believe that you are about to give birth to that promise. The enemy sees the supernatural doors that are opened before...

Walk by Faith Today's Scripture . . . whatever you do, do all to the glory of God —1 Corinthians 10:31 Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Are you walking by faith or sight today? In other words, are you choosing to believe God no matter what your circumstances look like, or are you making decisions and focusing your mind on what you can see. As believers, we have to remember that we aren't just subject to this natural realm–what we can see, hear, touch, and smell. No, we have access to the unseen, supernatural realm where all the...

You've Come Too Far Today's Scripture "I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward" (Philippians 3:14, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria One thing I've learned is that whenever life seems extra difficult, whenever it seems like the intensity has been turned up, that's a sure sign that you are close to your victory. Whenever negative thoughts are bombarding your mind, or you're tempted to get discouraged, that's not the time to give up! That's not the time to back down. That's the...

Payday Is On Its Way Today's Scripture "So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!" (Hebrews 10:35, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria What are you believing God for today? Promotion? Healing? Stronger relationships? Freedom from addiction? God has promised all these things to you in His Word. He wants you to live in blessing and wholeness all the days of your life. But in order to experience His promises, we have to do our part. We have to keep believing and trusting in Him. That's what today's...

You Are Closer Than You Think Today's Scripture "So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit" (Galatians 6:9, the Message) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God has put dreams and desires in every person's heart. We all have goals we want to accomplish and situations we are believing will be turned around. Sometimes it seems to take longer than we thought. Sometimes things don't work out the way we planned, and it's easy to lose enthusiasm. Negative thoughts come...

He Opens Doors Today's Scripture "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria What doors are you knocking on today? Are you looking for a door of opportunity to be opened? A door of escape? A door of shelter from the storms of life? God loves persistence. He honors diligence. When you diligently do the will of God, obeying His Word and following His commands, it's like knocking on the...

A Different Spirit Today's Scripture "But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it" (Numbers 14:24, NAS) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria One time in Scripture, Moses sent twelve men to spy out the Promised Land. The people of Israel were camped right next door and excited about possessing the land. But after 40 days, ten of the men came back with a negative report. They said, "Moses, there are giants in the land,...

Speak Life Today's Scripture "The tongue has the power of life and death…" (Proverbs 18:21, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God has given every person incredible power through the use of our words. Maybe you aren't where you want to be in life today, but could it be because of the words you've spoken in the past? Have you spoken words of death by saying things like, "I'll never rise any higher; I've gone as far as I can go"? Or maybe you've said, "I'll never break this addiction. I've had it too long. It's too hard."...

In Everything Today's Scripture "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (Thessalonians 5:18, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Are you giving thanks in every circumstance? This might seem like a stretch at first, especially when you are going through a season of difficulty. But notice today's verse doesn't say to give thanks "for" everything, it says give thanks "in" everything. In other words, no matter what's going on, find something to be thankful for. Don't just focus on what's wrong in your life; focus on what God will do...

Find a Reason Today's Scripture "For this I will give thanks and extol You, O Lord, among the nation; I will sing praises to Your name" (II Samuel 22:50, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Any time you're tempted to get discouraged, the quickest way out is to stop focusing on what you don't have and start thanking God for what you do have. You have to find a reason to be grateful! Being grateful will lift you out of depression and discouragement. Being grateful can help turn a relationship around. It can even save a marriage! It's...

Retrain Your Mind Today's Scripture "Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind…" (Romans 12:2, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Many people today don't realize that the reason they're not happy, the reason they're not enjoying life is simply because they've trained their minds in the wrong direction. They've trained their mind to worry. They've trained their mind to complain. They've trained their mind to see the negative. But just as we can form these negative...

Finished with Fear Today's Scripture "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline" (II Timothy 1:7, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria So many people today are living with less than God's best because they've allowed fear to stop them from pursuing their dreams. We have to remember that fear is not from God. It's a lie from the enemy to paralyze us and steal our power. Today's verse tells what God has given us: power, love, and self-discipline or self-control. When you are confident in God's promises,...

Growing in Faith Today's Scripture "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17, NKJV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Did you know that your faith in God can grow and increase every single day? Notice today's scripture doesn't say, "Faith comes because you have heard the Word of God one time." No, it says that "faith comes by hearing"–in the present tense. Sure, God's Word can transform us in an instant; but most of the time, we need to hear God's principles over and over again before they become active in our lives....