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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....

Line up Your Heart Today's Scripture "…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (I Samuel 16:7, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria When the Lord looks at your heart, what does He see? Every one has an outer life and an inner life. The outer life is our public life that people around us see. The inner life is made up of our thoughts, attitudes, and motives. Only you and God know what's going on inside of you. Too many people...

A Vital Necessity Today's Scripture "Set your mind and heart to seek (inquire of and require as your vital necessity) the Lord your God." (I Chronicles 22:19 AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria What things do you consider a vital necessity in your life? In other words, what can't you live without? Most people would immediately think of food, water, and shelter; but in reality, we can't really live unless our minds and hearts are set on seeking the Lord. Sure, you can exist without seeking Him, but you are called to more than just existence. You are...

Who Will See God? Today's Scripture "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…" (Psalm 24:3-4, NKJV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you want to see more of God in your life? As believers in Jesus, the Bible says that He makes His home in us, but we have to do our part to develop our relationship with Him. We have to choose to submit our hearts to Him and allow Him to purify us on the inside. We...

In Due Season Today's Scripture "I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase and the trees of the field yield their fruit" (Leviticus 26:4, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God has set up seasons in our lives. It's easy to get frustrated when our dreams aren't coming to pass on our timetable, but every season is not harvest season. There are plowing seasons. There are planting seasons. There are watering seasons. Sure, we would love for every season to be a time of increase left and right, good breaks here...

Visits from God Today's Scripture "…And God has visited His people [in order to help and care for and provide for them]!" (Luke 7:16, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Every person has times of visitation from the Lord. These are the times when God distinctly intervenes in our lives to bring us help, direction, care, and provision. He's ordained special times to pour out His love, favor, and blessing. It may be through a person we meet, an unexpected promotion, or supernatural favor so that in a split second we are thrust years ahead. These marked moments...

Marked Moments Today's Scripture "…time and chance happen to them all" (Ecclesiastes 9:11, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God created every one of us to be successful. Before the foundation of the world, He laid out an exact plan for our lives. In this plan, He has marked moments that are going to come across your path. These moments are not ordinary. They are destiny-altering moments. They are designed to thrust you years ahead. Today's verse says that time and chance comes together for every person. That means you'll have opportunities to meet the right people, opportunities...

Out of the Pit Today's Scripture "He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on the solid ground and steadied me as I walked along" (Psalm 40:2, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you feel like you are in a pit today? That pit can be frustration or disappointment or a feeling of discouragement, despair, or hopelessness. And maybe you can’t see a way out, but you’ve got to know that God is still with you, and He will make a way where there seems to...

Begin Again Today's Scripture "He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!…" (Revelation 21:5, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Can you remember the time when you first discovered a big dream in your heart? Maybe you were determined to excel in your career, or excel as a parent; or even excel in your walk with the Lord. You probably started out strong, but maybe things got a little difficult and didn't happen as quickly as you would have liked. At that point many people decide, "Let's just settle here. It's not exactly...

He Will Multiply You Today's Scripture "And I will make My covenant (solemn pledge) between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly" (Genesis 17:2, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God is in the multiplication business. It doesn't matter what your need is today, God wants to increase you. One time in the Old Testament, God simply multiplied the sound of four men's footsteps and caused them to sound like a mighty army. When their enemies heard them coming, they took off running. Thousands of people, thousands of troops running for their lives, scared to death, thinking...

Whose Report Will You Believe? Today's Scripture "I have heard a report from the Lord…" (Jeremiah 49:14, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Every day we get "reports" from the news, our experiences, our friends and family, and many other sources. We also get reports from the Word of God, which oftentimes, contradicts what others are saying. That's when we have a choice: do we believe what we hear in the natural, or do we believe the report of the Lord? Friend, we serve a supernatural God! Just because we don't see a way doesn't mean that He...

Possess Your Promised Land Today's Scripture "The Lord your God will thrust them out from before you and drive them out of your sight, and you shall possess their land, as the Lord your God promised you" (Joshua 23:5, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria We all have giants or obstacles that try to keep us from possessing what God has promised. We have two choices: we can quit and live in mediocrity, or we can fight and take hold of the victory. In the Bible, the children of Israel were camped right next door to their Promised...

Keep Stretching Today's Scripture "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back…" (Isaiah, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Are you just barely getting by in an area of your life, or are you enjoying the abundant life God has for you? God wants you to constantly be increasing. He wants you to be happy in your marriage. He wants you to enjoy your work. He wants you to be continually rising to new heights. If you're in sales, God wants you to lead that company. If you're an athlete, God...

Get Your Fire Back Today's Scripture "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…" (II Timothy 1:6, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria I believe that God has planted seeds of greatness on the inside of every one of us. We all have dreams and desires, things we want to accomplish; things we want to see changed. But so many times, life has a way of stealing our dreams. We go through disappointments, face adversity, things don't turn out as we would like. Too often, we just end...

Encourage Someone to Dream Today's Scripture "The Lord had said to Abram, '… I will bless you … and you will be a blessing to others.'" (Genesis 12:1-2, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have you ever worked toward a dream, but felt worn out by the uphill climb? At times like this, you need encouragement–someone to remind you about what it will be like when you get to the finish line. God created us to need each other. You may be facing challenges that you can't overcome on your own; having a friend to walk with you...

See the Whole Picture Today's Scripture "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." (Philippians 1:6, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria It's easy for people to let go of their dreams when all they see is what they're lacking or what's not happening for them. But God sees the whole picture when He looks at your dreams. He has equipped you for the victory, even though you sometimes can't see how you will win with what...

Hold On to Your Dream Today's Scripture "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria At some point in life we all face hardships. It may be something physically or emotionally challenging. Or it may be a dream or an opportunity that we missed out on. Whatever your difficulty is, don't let it discourage you from believing in God's best. The enemy wants to keep you focused on everything negative that's happened, but don't let him steal the dreams God has given you....

Take Action Today's Scripture "…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have you ever met a person who prayed one way and spoke another? One minute they’re believing for their dreams to come to pass, and the next minute they're talking about how they're never going to get where they want to be. What they haven't realized is that their actions aren't working together with their faith. This lack of consistency doesn't do our prayers any good. God wants our words, actions and beliefs to...

Expect and Prepare Today's Scripture "See how the farmer waits expectantly for the precious harvest from the land." (James 5:7, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Too often people passively sit around waiting for their dreams to come true. As time goes by they begin to think things will never change for them, and the longer the wait, the more frustrated they feel. It's important to keep moving toward your dreams in faith and hope. Expecting God's best and making preparations to succeed will help you stay in faith during times of waiting. "Joel," you might ask, "How...

The Secret Things Today's Scripture "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God……" (Deuteronomy 29:29, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Are you going through a situation in your life that you don't quite understand? During these seasons, it's natural to question things in your mind. But during these uncertain times, it's important to continue to put your trust in God. We have to remember, God's ways are not our ways, and we don't always understand what He is trying to do in our lives. The Bible tells us that adversity will come, but God is the...

Resist Fear Today's Scripture "Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined]…" (I Peter 5:9, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria The very moment you first feel fear, you have to resist it and act against it. If you make the mistake of dwelling on your fears and start thinking about all the reasons why you can't do what God is telling you to do, then it won't be long before you develop a negative mindset that will make it much more difficult to overcome. When God told David to go fight...

Deal Aggressively 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 missing out on God's abundant life of joy, peace, and victory because they keep giving in to fear. They are afraid to make a decision, they are afraid to confront issues, they're afraid to step out in faith, they're afraid of the past, and they're afraid of the future. But as believers, we don't have to live that way. Fear...

Trust over Fear Today's Scripture "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe" (Proverbs 29:25, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Fear is one of the enemy's favorite tools to keep us from going forward in our lives. As soon as we make a decision to step out in faith and do what God is telling us to do, immediately the enemy will bring fear. He'll put thoughts in your mind like, "What if I fail? What will others think? Maybe I don't have what it takes." He'll...

Who Are You Walking With? Today's Scripture "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm" (Proverbs 13:20, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Sometimes, in order to embrace the destiny God has in store, you have to be willing to make some changes in your life. You have to be willing to examine where you are and what you need to move forward. This may mean you need to change some friends that you're spending time with. Maybe they were fine for a season in your life, but you've outgrown them....

Plan for Good Today's Scripture "…those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness" (Proverbs 14:22, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you wake up every morning expecting favor and blessing on everything you do? Do you plan for what is good? When we plan for what is good, the scripture tells us that we find love. The scripture also tells us that God is love. So, when you plan for what is good, you will find God in the midst of your plans. I encourage you today; don't let the negative voices of the world...

Forget What Lies Behind Today's Scripture "…but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead," (Philippians 3:13, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Are you focused on forgetting 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...

God–Given Dreams Today's Scripture "A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure" (Proverbs 16:9, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Oftentimes as children, we have dreams of the future. Dreams of being ball players and actresses, super heroes, and firemen. But most of the time, they end up just being wishful thinking. As we get older, we grow out of them. It's good to play and have dreams as children, but when we grow up, we have to know the difference between a God-given dream and a wish. I remember...

Write the Vision Today's Scripture "…Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it" (Habakkuk 2:2, ESV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Most businesses today have a mission statement that talks about the purpose of the company. In life, every person should also have their own mission statement. What's your purpose? What are you dreaming about? What are your goals? How are you going to use your talents and abilities? Many people have an idea about where they are headed in life, but something supernatural happens when you write down your vision...

What's Your Plan? Today's Scripture "Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run; hurry and scurry puts you further behind" (Proverbs 21:5, Message) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria One thing I've learned is that success is not accidental. You're not going to accidentally accomplish your dreams. You don't accidentally have good relationships. You won't accidentally lose twenty pounds. You have to have a plan. If you're going to get to the right destination, you've got to know where you’re going and how you are going to get there. If you've ever been at the beach just floating...

Get into Position Today's Scripture "Sing, O childless woman, you who have never given birth…" (Isaiah 54:1, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Sometimes, when we don't see our dreams and desires coming to pass, we can feel empty and barren like a woman who is unable to have children. But look at what this verse is saying: if you've got unborn promises, don't just sit around in defeat. Don't just give up and say, "Too bad for me." No, God says when you're barren, the first thing you need to do is sing a song of praise....

Change Your Song Today's Scripture "Unto You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my Defense, my Fortress, and High Tower, the God Who shows me mercy and steadfast love" (Psalm 59:17, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria In the Bible, David had all kinds of challenges. People lied about him, accused him, and tried to kill him. In Psalm 59 he says, "My enemies are coming against me like vicious dogs trying to destroy me. But as for me, what am I going to do? I will sing about Your power. And I will...

Praise Precedes the Victory Today's Scripture "…Joshua said to the people: 'Shout, for the LORD has given you the city!'…And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat" (Joshua 6:16 & 20, NKJ) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria One of my favorite passages in the Bible is when Joshua and the Israelites took over the city of Jericho. Jericho had a massive wall built around the city that no army could penetrate. But that didn't stop God from giving them the...

By Way of Remembrance Today's Scripture "I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle (tent, body), to stir you up by way of remembrance" (II Peter 1:13, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you know that when we dwell on the wrong things, it affects our moods? We get down, discouraged, and lose our hope. Some people today don't have the joy and the enthusiasm God wants them to have because they are constantly dwelling on negative things. But if we want to be in the position to take hold of all that...

Watering Your Seed Today's Scripture "Bless our God, O peoples, give Him grateful thanks and make the voice of His praise be heard" (Psalm 66:8, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you know why praise is so important? When you give God praise, you are putting yourself in a position of power. You are connecting with Him and strengthening your inner man. You are watering the seeds of destiny He has placed on the inside of you. If you are believing God for something specific, all throughout the day just thank Him that the answer is on...

Act on Your Dream Today Today's Scripture "Write the vision [dream] and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it." (Habakkuk 2:2, NKJV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have you ever known someone who had an exciting dream to do something great but did nothing to make it happen? It's so important to act on the dreams that God has given you. You can take ownership of your dreams by planning and preparing for them. Remember, success is not accidental. Where do you see yourself in your career, finances or relationships? Put some action...

Let Your Dreams Take Root Today's Scripture "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. " (Hebrews 11:1, NKJVT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Are you expecting your dreams to come true? It's important to look beyond present circumstances and believe for God's best. Someone battling sickness may say, "I could never be healthy." Or, "This report from the doctor says too many things are wrong with me." What they don't realize is their lack of faith is holding them back from receiving God's best. They allow adversities to keep them...

Take Hold of the Dream Today's Scripture "…despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." (Romans 8:37, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Many people struggle with letting go of past hurts and failures. They get caught up in how unfair their situation is. And the whole time, their dreams are lying dormant and unfulfilled. It's time to realize that in order for a new door to open, you must let old ones close behind you. Maybe you got off to a rough start in life. You may have had more than your...

Focus on the Dream Today's Scripture "If God is for us, who can ever be against us? " (Romans 8:31, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria What are you focusing on today? Are you focusing on your difficult situation, or on God's promises? You may have all kinds of problems coming at you. Maybe you're feeling discouraged as new problems and challenges have popped up in your life. Don't let it get you down. Don't let it take your focus off of God. He is working on your behalf in the supernatural, even when you can't see it....

Dream Without Limits Today's Scripture "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" (Matthew 19:26, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Too many times we limit God with our thinking. God puts big dreams in our hearts, but in our eyes they look impossible and too big to accomplish. Although we want to see our dreams come to pass, we end up focusing on the mountain of obstacles before us. Maybe you dream of starting a business but you don't know where to begin. Perhaps years of physical...