Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

As you continue to grow in your success, know that God is taking the steps with you. Today, even if fear is attempting to penetrate into your spirit and stop you from growing into the next level, walk through the obstacle with assurance that you are not alone nor will you finish the task alone. God is with you!

Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.

We often only associate God being good to us when our lives seem in order. Remember; when those difficult times felt impossible to bear, God allowed His mercy to fix your situation. From now on, smile just as wide during bad times as you do during your good times because you are being made stronger to endure all times!

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Each day we have on Earth is a day of growth in the Lord. Don't waste time out of your life trying to figure out the silly and small things in life; rather use this to become wiser, stronger, and more loving to the people around you.

Psalm 62:7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

For all that has occurred in Virginia, refuge for our souls. For all parents, students, and friends looking for understanding, refuge for their souls. For our nation, our media, our internet, Lord, we depend on you…refuge for our soul.

Proverbs 18:2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.

Are you the one that always has something to say and leave no room to listen to anyone? Maybe you know someone who fits the description. Either way, it's foolish to believe that you need to be heard all the time without listening to anyone else. Keep it up and you will soon be talking to yourself and only the walls. When was the last time you just listened?

Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."

Unsure of which way to go? More than likely, you've already tried one of them. This time, go with the guidance God will give you through prayer. Where ever you stand stuck, choose the path that makes you most happy, walk in it, and allow God to supply you the "rest." Remember, your peace is dependent on the road you're traveling.

John 15:5 – [Jesus says,] "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

Your relationship with Christ is your connection to your hopes, your dreams, your goals, your purpose. Staying connected to Christ allows you to see all of these things come to fruition. The next time you lose sight of your goal, check to make sure you're still connected to the vine.

Romans 12:12 Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.

Never give up on patience. Never give into tricks which will pull you away from God. No matter how far off your goal may seem, stay in prayer of patience and obedience and God will be faithful to you.

Psalm 103:1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

We love to sing that song, "When Praises Go Up, Blessings Come Down." Your praise can go up all day long, but if it doesn't come from the deepest part of soul, that praise will just keeping on going up and never reach God. Today, let your soul truly magnify and praise God for the wonderful things He continues to do for you; then you will see the blessings come down!

Job 2:9 [Job's] wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"

Even Job had the closest people in his life try to turn him from God. Sometimes, the decisions we make in life are influenced by the company we keep; and sometimes, they give the wrong advice. Today, before making a big decision, just plain and simple…talk to God!

Jeremiah 1:5 [God says,] "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

What an awesome feeling it is to know that your destiny is still in its forming stage.  Don't worry about friendships that do not last or people who walk out of your life; they are not suppose to be with you when God's purpose in your life is fulfilled.  In the meantime, concentrate on Him and the direction He is taking you in.  Before you know it, all the things you have been set apart from seem meaningless.  Could the problem be you are still holding onto what God is trying to set you apart from?

2 Timothy 2:4 “No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer.”

Getting yourself involved with pettiness, gossip, and other drama will only hinder you from completing your goals. Today, stand in the position that will defend God's Kingdom and He will be pleased with your attention you give Him.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But [God] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Boasting about feeling weak may seem strange, but grace is sufficient! Grace always defeats weakness. Grace knocks down barriers, fears, and rejections. Today, no matter how weak your atmosphere makes you feel, or how weak someone has attempted to make you feel, know that God's grace will see you through it. Your power is in His grace for you!

Isaiah 12:1-2" I will praise you, O Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."

People hold grudges over the smallest things! Thank God, our Savior doesn't react like that towards us. Even when we don't deserve a blessing, He still looks beyond our faults and comforts us. Today, look beyond what someone didn't do for you. You may learn that they needed you more than you needed them.

Jonah 2:8" Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

We love hanging onto junk. All that stuff you think you'll need one day, throw it away! What we need every day is grace and mercy. You leave more room for new mercies when you clean out your mind, clean out your spirit, clean out your heart. Today, throw out all mental and physical junk and leave room for God's promise.

Matthew 25:21" His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

God will test us with little projects to prepare us for bigger positions. If you are faithful as a Supervisor, you can become a Manager. If you are faithful as a Manager, you can become a Director. If you are faithful as a Director, you can become the CFO. If you are faithful as the CFO, you can become the Owner. Allow your faith to drive you through the smaller phases in life and you too can aspire to be a ruler over many!

Matthew 7:13-14[Jesus says,] "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life and only a few find it."

INSPIRATION

There are countless options to follow everything that is not of Christ; but there is only one road that leads to peace. You may have walked through the wide door because you thought you would have more options to get ahead in life, but instead found yourself lost in the crowd. Don't worry; it is never too late to find the road which is big enough for you God alone. It may seem like a small encounter, but the opportunities are great.

Isaiah 43:25"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins."

INSPIRATION

Don't you wish you could erase some areas of your past that others like to remind you of? Well guess what? The one who matters the most already did that. In the Lord's eye, your record is clean…walk tall!

Hebrews 11:6"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

INSPIRATION

Prayer and doubt do not work together. Today, let your faith in God lead you.

Hebrews 12:2"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

INSPIRATION

When something is fixed, the understanding is that it will not break again. When your eyes are fixed on Jesus, He understands you will not break your relationship with Him. Even in the darkest and bleakest of situations, keep your eyes and your heart fixed on Jesus. Don't walk around with a broken heart when there's a heart fixer waiting for you to keep Him as your own.

John 15:16"You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you."

INSPIRATION

Because you are special, you are chosen. To be chosen means you are set apart to do something great. Bearing fruit is more than just going to church; it means spreading the gospel and persuading others to follow Christ. In your circle of friends, what influence do you have on their relationship with Christ?

Psalms 102:7 I lie awake; I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.

INSPIRATION

"One" may seem like the loneliest number, but as long as it's you and God, you'll always have the majority…AND Majority always rules!

James 1: 13-15When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

INSPIRATION

There are no little sins or big sins; just sin. How long we stay in these evil acts is our decision. The longer you feed sin, the longer it will remain with you.

Psalms 1:1-2Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.

INSPIRATION

You sleep at your best when you follow God's law. If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night for not reason, check with God. If you find yourself waking up every morning doubting a decision you have made, it's because God is still not pleased with your direction. Try adding 15 more minutes in the morning and in the evening to meditate and worship with God. You'll see how the decisions you make in the day will help you sleep at night.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

INSPIRATION

You may have noticed how sharing your worries with someone can help you deal with them. This is how it is with God, too. When you talk to God, He listens and offers you relief from the anxieties that weigh you down. Which worries do you find it difficult to let go of?

Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.

INSPIRATION

Nobody likes a show-off or a big mouth.  If your heart is genuine, and your work is truthful, people will see and hear you without your help.

Ecclesiastes 7:3Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.

INSPIRATION

You know the phrase, "Turn Your Frown Upside Down?" Well everything isn't always about smiles and laughs. When stress, disappointments, and affliction hit us, these are not laughing moments, but rather a time to get serious. The best decisions are made when you've finally had ENOUGH! More importantly, our heart draws closer to God when we take His test seriously to get out of a situation. The next time you're disappointed, don't feel sorry for yourself, feel serious about yourself and let God lead you out.

James 3:16Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

INSPIRATION

If you step on someone while climbing to the top, you won't get to stay there for long.  If you deceive people for your own personal gain, your gain will be minimal.  When your steps are not ordered by God, expect confusion in your life.  Can you think of a chaotic time in your life?  How long did it take you to let God have control? Is He with you right now?