31 days of joy 33 page guide

33 Pages of Encouragement,

Focus Scriptures, andThought Provoking Activities

Presented By:The Pretty Girl's Life

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“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

John 15:11

Enjoy your journey.As long as we are living, we will always be heading somewhere or doing something. With all thatlife has to offer, we should be enjoying every moment we have. Do not hold yourself back from

appreciating life's simple pleasures. Don't become so focused on what's going on around you thatyou forget to enjoy the beauty of right now. You can enjoy your life - every single day of it. We must

make a conscious decision to choose joy. Wake up everyday and make up your mind to behappy! Yes, there are things in life that happen to us that we cannot control, and we may not

always like them when they happen - but what will be our response? Will you choose joy? Joy isconstant happiness that isn't based on circumstances. If we rely on ourselves to make it on ourown, our joy will not be constant. The important key to keeping consistent joy in our lives is to

recognize and enjoy God's presence. When things are good, God smiles with us. When things arebad, God is there to comfort us. Knowing He is there is a soothing assurance that everything will

always be OK. When you know and believe that everything will work out for your good in the end, itwill be easier to begin to take pleasure in your life. Let nothing steal your joy. Life isn't a race, or acompetition to be won. Don't wait on circumstances to be glad, God wants you to enjoy life now.

Learn how to celebrate who you are, and where you are right now.

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Focus Scriptures:Psalm 16:11

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there arepleasures for evermore.

Psalm 21:6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for

joy, and with my song I praise him.

“We have to choose joy, and keep choosing it.” ― Henri J. Nouwen

Choose a simple task to enjoy alone that will put a smile on your face. Try not to spend anymoney - instead, enjoy what your surroundings have to offer. Examples: Take a long walk, Read a chapter of your favorite book, Sit by the window andlisten to the birds sing.

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Joy in Action Today:

So often we become focused on the finish line,we forget to enjoy the beauty of right now.

Relax and rest.Did you know that relaxation is a necessity? It is a Biblical principle that all creatures must

rest. Without proper rest the human brain and body will break down. Daily we have somuch going on in their lives that sometimes we have to remember to just relax.

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Focus Scriptures:Psalms 127:2

It is pointless that you get up early and stay up late, eating the bread of hard labor because Godgives sleep to those He loves.

Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but

the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son,or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who

is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 33:14 My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest .

“Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will move mountains.” ― Unknown

Set aside a specific time to rest. Choose how long you want it to be, set a timer, and relax.Request to not be disturbed, put away all electronics, and ease your mind of all distractions.

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Give your mind a rest,and you will be doing your whole self a favor.

Taking care of your body, your health, and your emotions is not selfish. Your body is a placewhere the Spirit of God lives, and because of that reason, God has given you the job of

taking care of yourself for His sake. You are an instrument that He would like to use for Hisgreat purpose - but if you damage that instrument by running yourself until you are tired,sick, or emotionally exhausted, God cannot use you very effectively. The Bible certainly

supports taking the time to care for yourself and your needs. Just like your body needs foodand water, your greatest spiritual need is for Jesus Christ. So spend some time pouring out

your heart to Him in prayer as you soak in the tub or worshiping Him as you take a longwalk. Take your Bible and go to your favorite coffee shop and just spend a few hours

reading and thinking about God’s Word. These times of rest are so important, not just torefresh yourself physically, but to also renew yourself spiritually.

Be kind to yourself.When I say that you need to be kind to and love yourself, I'm not referring to the stuck-up, prideful,worldly type of loving oneself (also known as self-worship); I'm talking about a concept of being

thankful, and appreciating the person who God has made you to be. Did you know that inZechariah 2:8, God says that you are apple of His eye? You are a special treasure to God, and Heloves you very much. He wants you to be confident in who He made you to be. If you do not loveyourself totally, wholly, and fully, somewhere along the way you learned not to. Just like you learn

how to read, or learn how to ride a bike, you can learn how to love yourself. Start being kind toyourself right now. If you can't say something nice about yourself, practice giving yourself

encouraging compliments. David of the Bible was a humble man with a heart after God's own, yethe praised and thanked God for the marvelous work that God had made (referring to his ownphysical body). King David appreciated and thanked God for what God gave him. Instead of

saying, "I'm ugly", David was saying, "Wow! Look at what God gave me! It's marvelous!!" It's vitalthat we develop this same attitude about what God's given each of us as well. Say the same thing

God says about you. Let it change the way you think so that you can change the way you live.Every unique characteristic was given to you by God to do mighty things in the earth. Did you

know that you were created in God's own image, and whenever you consider yourself dumb, ugly,etc., you're actually considering something that God made as being ugly, dumb, etc.? Every talent,every gift, everything that makes you who you are is special and unique. Focus on your strengths,

not your weaknesses. Thank God for all that you are and all that you will one day become.

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I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soulknoweth right well.

Genesis 1:26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion overthe fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over

every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

“How you treat yourself is how you are inviting the world to treat you.” ― Anonymous

Practice giving yourself uplifting and encouraging compliments. Focus on your strengths andgood qualities. Write them down, and look back on them when you are feeling discouraged.Examples: "I am really blessed because..."; "I thank God for making me..."; "I am God'screation, and I am..."

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Too many people undervalue what they are,and overvalue what they are not.

Love others.One of God's greatest commandments is that we treat each other well. The Bible is full of great verses

and passages about the topic of love. The human love the Bible talks about isn't just a passing emotionalstate. It's something based on choice. We choose to care about another person unconditionally, despiteof what they may have done. Parents understand this kind of love, for they keep loving their children evenwhen the children don't seem to love them back. It is similar to God's love for us. He loves us when we

aren't at all lovable and then commands us to return the favor -- that is, love other people as He loves us,and make giving love your ultimate goal. Loving other people doesn't mean being "in love" with

everyone. There are also great verses about love in relation to marriage, brotherly love or friendship, andloving your neighbor. It is natural to love your family and friends, but to love those who hate you and

persecute you? Wow. This is a difficult one to understand, and it can’t be done in human strength. Whenwe learn to love, we need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us. Jesus commands us to love everyone,even the ones that are hard to love. We are to love all people, even those who we have not personallymet. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus showed that all men and women are our neighbors,

and we should love them as well, even if they were different than us. The purpose of your time on earthis not just about acquiring nice possessions, attaining status, achieving success, or even experiencing

happiness. Life is all about falling in love with God and showing love to other people. You may succeedin many areas, but if you fail to love God and share unconditional love with others, you’ll have missed the

reason why God created you in the first place.

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Focus Scriptures:John 13:34

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also areto love one another.

1 John 4:19-21We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; forhe who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And

this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Philippians 2:3-4Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let

each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 John 4:11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

“Don't wait for other people to be loving, caring, compassionate,giving, grateful, forgiving, generous, or friendly. Lead the way."

― Anonymous

Enjoy time with someone you love. Call someone and tell them how much you appreciatethem or share a hug with someone who needs it.

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We love others best when welove God the most.

Don't take things personally.Here's a big secret about how to not take things personally: work on yourself to heal your own

wounds. As we heal, then we can see that other people have wounds that cause them to act orreact in all sorts of ways. Have you ever seen somebody who is tense, where it is easy to get ontheir nerves? Do they always seem irritable? Does this describe how you feel or someone you

know? Turmoil is usually caused by emotional buildup (things in the past that were never let go of).If something is bothering us, we need to make the choice to release our concerns to the Lord.

Whether it be bitterness, fear, hurt feelings, emotional damage, feelings of rejection orabandonment, those feelings are devastating to our spiritual health and must be released becausethey will cause more damage than good in our lives. The purpose of satan is to use offences as atrap to hold you from all that God wants you to be. The devil knows that harboring unforgiveness inour hearts stop our progress in the things of God and delay God’s perfect plan for our lives - so the

enemy constantly provides opportunity for us to be offended. God wants us to release ouremotional buildup, hurt feelings, etc. and give those things to Him. There is no need to be offendedby what someone did or said, the issue is not about you - it's about them. Every time we choose toforgive an offense, we are preserving our relationships and slamming the door in the devil's face.

We must choose to not let every little thing effect our mood and attitude. A wise person knows thatsomething can be learned from everyone - even those who aren't nice to you.

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Focus Scriptures:1 Peter 5:7

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Matthew 5:43-44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,

and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Proverbs 19:11A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

“If you take things personally, you will be offended the rest of your life.” ― Anonymous

Can you remember the last time someone did something you did not like? Write a letter tothat person and forgive them. After you write the letter, you can choose to give it to theperson, or throw it in the trash. Pray and ask God to remove any offenses or emotions youmay be holding in your heart.

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Treat everyone with kindness, even those who are rude to you -

not because they are nice, but because you are.

Forgive often.We will know the work of forgiveness is complete when we experience the freedom that comes

as a result. We are the ones who suffer most when we choose not to forgive. When we doforgive, the Lord sets our hearts free from the anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt that

previously imprisoned us. Forgiveness is a choice, and is not always easy for us. It's not a one-time choice and then we no longer have to deal with it. Forgiveness may require a lifetime of

forgiving, but it is important to the Lord. We must continue forgiving until the matter is settled inour heart. The best reason to forgive is because Jesus commanded us to forgive. We learn fromScripture, if we don't forgive, neither will we be forgiven. We also forgive so that our prayers will

not be hindered. The best reason to forgive is out of obedience to the Lord. It is a choice, adecision we make. However, as we forgive, we discover the command is in place for our own

good, and we are the one who ultimately receive the reward of our forgiveness—freedom.

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Focus Scriptures:Colossians 3:13

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive asthe Lord forgave you.

Matthew 18:21-22Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins

against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seventimes.

Luke 6:3-7Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive,

and you will be forgiven.

Mark 11:25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in

heaven may forgive you your sins.

“When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that

the real prisoner was yourself.” ― Lewis B. Smedes

Prayer is the best ways to break down the walls of unforgiveness in the heart. Talk to Godabout what has happened and ask Him to heal your heart. Pray for the strength to forgive.

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In the blink of an eye. everything can change - so forgiveoften and love with all your heart. You never know when

you may not have the chance again.

Think encouraging thoughts.What you think about does matter. As believers, we have the power to discipline our minds tothink uplifting and joyous thoughts. If you want to stay positive, you are going to have to thinkpositive. God has given us scriptures on how to keep a positive attitude. We need to ask theLord to "wash" our hearts and "renew" our minds to think only His positive, good thoughts.

He promises us that the more time we spend meditating on His Word, the more we will seeHis benefits in our everyday lives and even grow to have a closer relationship with Him. If you

are continually thinking about the goodness of God, you won’t have any time to dwell onnegative thoughts that may get you down and discouraged. Even positive thinkers deal withdisappointing situations. The difference between being discouraged or keeping your joy is tolearn to not let things and circumstances change your mood, but instead enjoy life no matter

what happens. Make up your mind to work toward changing your way of thinking. Stopyourself at every negative thought, and counteract it with a postive one. The best way to

become a positive thinker is to ask God for help—and to ask for it often.

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Focus Scriptures:Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Philippians 4:8“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever ispure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think

about such things”.

Proverbs 17:22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Joshua 1:8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day andnight, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt

make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

2 Corinthians 10:5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of

God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

“What you tell yourself every day will either lift you up or tear you down.” ― Anonymous

Practice thinking uplifting and encouraging thoughts. Write down your favorite scriptures,and meditate on them throughout the day.

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Train your mind to see the good in every situation.

Be a blessing to others.Blessing others is more than just saying, "God bless you." Being a blessing to others goes

beyond what we say and think; it's what we do that has the power to be a blessing to othersas well. God promises that if we will concentrate on blessing others, he’ll take care of ourneeds. There’s almost nothing that God won’t do for the person who really wants to help

other people. In fact, God guarantees this blessing. Because God has promised to bless usabundantly, we should be willing to give cheerfully to others. Blessings are not always

tangible things, but so much more. God does not just want to bless your life; He wants touse your life in a great way to change the lives of others. Here’s how it works. You start

blessing others with what you have and God will give you more. You don’t say, “When I get toa certain level. . . When I achieve a certain thing… When I get more time… When this happensin my life. . . then I will start sharing.” No! You start sharing what you’ve got and God will giveyou more. If all you have is a kind word to say, say it. If all you have is a hug to give, give it. If

someone asks for $5 to buy a sandwich, treat them out to lunch. A small gesture couldchange someone's entire day. Be the instrument that God uses to help someone else. WhenGod blesses you, your life will become living proof of how good God really is. When people

see you, they will see Jesus Christ in you - and the greatest blessing you can give tosomeone is an introduction to Jesus.

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Focus Scriptures:Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Leteach of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Genesis 12:2I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you . . . and you will be a blessing to others.

Acts 20:35I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember

the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” ― Anonymous

Pray and ask God to open your eyes to those around you who may need help. Take the firstopportunity you get to be a blessing to someone who really needs it.

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As you become a blessing to others,you set yourself up to be blessed.

Laugh and have fun.When was the last time you had a really good laugh? The absence of laughter is a very serious thing

because laughter is God's idea, his special gift to us. In light of the sin, pain and chaos of this world, it'sone of the secret weapons we have to keep our joy. A lot of people imagine God like a grumpy old

grandpa who wants nothing more than for us to sit silent and still, minding our own business and keepingour hands to ourselves - and that is far from the truth! There is a great misconception that Christians don't

have any fun. Many non-believers think that Christians need to feel guilty if they are having fun, and thatGod's rules are designed to make our lives miserable. However, the Bible tells us that God meant for

Christians to have fun in a number of ways. Being a believer means great celebration and joy, both in ourlives here on Earth and after. David danced. The Jews celebrated upon their exodus from Egypt. God

meant for believers to celebrate and have fun because celebrations lift the spirit. He wants us to have funso we can see the beauty and true meaning in this beautiful life He gave to us. While God intended us toenjoy life, satan still is looking to destroy us in any way he can. It is important to use wisdom, even when

choosing leisure and entertainment. There are some activities that may seem fun, but can have long-termphysical and spiritual consequences. If the "fun" activity involves sin, then it isn't something that God

would want us to do. Sinful activity does not need to be a part of an activity to make it fun. God loves usand He doesn't want you to make a fool of yourself or do something you may regret later. "Having fun"

does not bring long term happiness, but it does need to be a part of life, ad God knows that so Hecommands celebration, singing and dancing. He wants us to enjoy our lives her on earth with full joy,

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Focus Scriptures:1 Timothy 6:17

Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them tohave faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life..

Deuteronomy 16:15For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For theLord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be

complete.

Proverbs 15:13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

“We didn't realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” ― Anonymous

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God doesn't want grumpy Christians;He wants people who are full of joy

to represent Him to the world.

Plan a "Fun Day"! Grab your closest friends or your favorite family members and dedicate a day to funand laughter. The only rule is to have fun! Examples: Pack a picnic and go to the park for outside funand games. Grab some board games and have a game board tournament. Go grocery shopping andcome home and cook dinner together.

Rely on Him.Anytime we demonstrate faith, we’re relying on something. When you sit in a chair, you’re relying

on the chair’s manufacturer to produce something that will hold you up. When you’re on thefreeway, you’re relying on every other driver around you. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a pathbefore each person that seems right, but it ends in death”. That's the problem with relying on

yourself. We’re often wrong. Human intuition is not reliable. In fact, it’s just good enough to makeus think we’re right – even when we’re not. When you rely on your own strength, your results will

only be as good as what you can do. When you rely on God, your results are blessed. Yourpossibilities become limitless because you are relying on His strength. God is reliable. He knowswhat you need, and He wants to meet those needs. You may say to God, “I have never seen youprovide for me.” Well God says to you, “You have never trusted Me to!” Unfortunately, we thinkwe know better than God. We think we have a better plan. We want to use our logic and get tothe answer in a way that makes us look good – and doesn’t require risk. But God wants us to

grow, and become better, so he takes us a different way. Many times in Scripture, God asks us todo what doesn’t make sense to our logic. The Bible never says "figure it out," instead it says "trust

God" over and over again. "Because we trust Him, we obey what He says – even if it doesn’tmake sense to us. Trust God for joy in your life and rely on Him to give it to you.

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Focus Scriptures:Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who arecalled according to his purpose.

Isaiah 41:13For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who

helps you."

Proverbs 3:6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Psalm 37:23-24 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they

stumble, they will never fall, For the Lord holds them by the hand.

“Faith don't come in a bushel basket, missy. It comes one step at a time. Decide to trust Him for one little thing today, and before you know it, you nd out He's so trustworthy you be putting your whole life in His hands.”

― Lynn Austin

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Don't ask God to guide your stepsif you aren't willing to move your feet.

Start by trusting God with the little things in your life. Pick one thing you will trust God for today. Pray and ask God to help you to trust Him.

Sing and dance for joy.

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Focus Scriptures:Jeremiah 31:13

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. Iwill turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

Psalm 30:11-12You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded mewith gladness, That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give

thanks to You forever.

Psalm 59:16But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing

love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.

“Music is the voice of the soul.” ― Unknown

Pull out all of your favorite praise and worship song and have them readily available with youthroughout the day. Whenever you get a chance, listen and sing along to a few songs.

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Behind every favorite song is an untold story.

Did you know that you were created by God to praise and worship Him? To sing and dancenaturally puts us in a better mood- we were just created that way, and there is nothing wrong

with it. Singing has such a unique way of bringing your heart, soul, mind, and strengthtogether to focus entirely and completely on God. In an age of distraction – singing grabs theattention of all our senses and focuses us on God. If you are at work, play your music softly atyou desk. When you are in the car, blast your music and sing loudly as you cruise down thehighway. When you are at home, put in your headphones, while you sit in your favorite chair.Put on some praise music and dance in your living room before the Lord. David was a manafter God's own heart because he often danced before the Lord with all of his heart. We areexhorted to praise the Lord with our whole being. Dancing and singing is a great way to do

this. Sometimes the right song is exactly what you need to take you mind off of everything elseand get focused on God. When you take you mind off of your problems, and onto God, youwill begin to experience true joy. Often times, we think only of singing when we’re happy andtimes are good, but singing can also bring strength in hard times. While in prison, Paul and

Silas sang praises to God while the other prisoners listened (Acts 16:25). Singing gives birth tojoy, and joy gives birth to singing. If you are struggling for joy – SING! If you are joyful – SING!

In God’s perfect design He has made joy and singing go together for His people.

Share your story.A testimony is simply honoring the Lord by sharing with another person His great work in

your own life. Testimonies bring God's truth to life. It is one thing to hear a sermon on God’sgrace; but it is a blessing to hear a brother or sister speak personally of his or her experience

of God’s goodness. Testimonies invigorate and excite us as we are reminded that God is aliveand at work in our midst. When we share our testimony, it encourages others to believe inGod and also receive His promises, just like we have. If you need courage or boldness to

share what God has done in your life, you can ask God for it. Don't be ashamed to share yourstory - you never know what others are going through. Your story may encourage them andgive them hope. Sharing what God has done in our personal lives is the best way for us to

remember all of the great things God has done for us. A reminder of God's goodness may beall it takes to bring joy back into your life. Maybe thinking on the things that God has done for

you in the past will give you hope for all of the mighty things God wants to do in your future.

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Focus Scriptures:Mark 5:19

Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath hadcompassion on thee.

Psalm 103:2Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—,

Psalm 119:46I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

Psalm 96:3Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.

Revelation 12:11They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony; for they did not love their lives

but laid them down for him.

“Your story is the key that can unlock someone else's prison. Share your testimony." ― Anonymous

Grab a piece of paper and write your story. Where were you born? What are your bestchildhood memories? What do you love most about your life right now?

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Every heart has a story to tell.

Set a goal, then reach it.Is there something you have always wanted to do, but never got around to doing it? What is

God's purpose for your life? What is your life passion? Every accomplishment begins with thedecision to try. Research has revealed that people have more difficulty setting goals than theydo accomplishing them once they are set. Setting goals is a part of spiritual discipline. It's not

just a good idea; the Bible says you need to set goals in order to grow in your faith. Goalsstretch you and help you become all God wants you to be. God says it makes good sense to

plan. It’s good to have goals in every area of your life – spiritual, marriage, family, career,finances, etc. But having goals is not enough. We need a way to reach them. Set a plan, and

work toward it. Don't let fear take control or get in the way once you start moving forwardtoward your goals. If our plans focus on Christ and honor Him, He will see to it that the best

results—the eternal results—are ours. Keep working hard and don't worry when or how it willhappen. Continue to pray about it. Praying for your goals does two things: It reveals desire, and

it shows your dependence. It shows God how much you want something, and it shows Himyou trust Him to help you. When you do accomplish your goals, remember to give God the

glory! It is not only by your own doing, but by God's strength you were able to do.

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Without a vision the people perish.

Proverbs 16:9In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Matthew 6:33-34Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

“Be stubborn about your goals, and exible about the method to get you there.” ― Anonymous

Write down one goal you would like to have complete by the end of the week. Next writedown one goal you would like to finish by the end of the month. Write down a third goalyou would like to accomplish by the end of the year. Now create a plan of action for howyou will reach each goal. Pray about each goal and ask the Lord to help you.

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Every accomplishment begins with the decision to try.

Get rid of stuff.What is it about stuff, anyway? Why are we so enthralled with it and why do we accumulate so

much more than we need or could ever use? Maybe we want to be cool. Maybe the latest"must-have" item will make us the envy of our friends. Maybe we enjoy being admired when

we’re driving in a shiny new car because t makes us feel successful. Stuff carries a high price, notonly monetarily, but spiritually as well. When these nice things become all we think about, the

things begin to control us and It draws us away from Jesus. It lures us into chasing after things,instead of after God. It can make us greedy because we want to use our money for more stuffinstead of maybe helping someone who is in need. It tempts us into loving things more thanpeople. Choosing God over material things may be one of the toughest decisions you'll ever

make, but it’s the only way to lasting fulfillment and peace of mind. Tangible things can break, bestolen, or fall apart. True joy comes from you relationship with God, which is forever. He will notleave you and no one can make Him stop loving you. He won't charge you to spend time withHim and He will be there in the good times and bad. God wants us to be abundantly blessedand have nice things, but He does not want those nice things to take His place in our hearts.

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Focus Scriptures:Luke 12:15

Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in theabundance of his possessions.

2 Timothy 3:1-5But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves,

lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving,unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty,lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And

from such people turn away!

1 John 2:17And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what

pleases God will live forever.

“Don't confuse having less with being less, having more with being more, or what you have with who you are.”

― Unknown

What possessions do I spend the most time with? Is there a daily activity that I do that is takingaway time that I can be spending with God? Set aside a time in your schedule to spend alone timewith God. Turn off the electronics, find a comfortable space, and ask to not be disturbed.

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Simplicity is a matter of focusing on what matters most.

Make a commitment to change a bad habit.

We all have habits, both good and bad. Anything you do automatically without consciouslythinking about it, or without specifically deciding to do it, is a habit. Good habits such as tidiness,courtesy, good manners etc. are great practices to continue - but when the habits you've pickedup are bad or destructive, we must ask God for help to change before these habits one day ruinour lives. There are many bad habits that we have that are more subtle than others, but are as

unacceptable as talking dirty, using tobacco or abusing alcohol. Some people have the bad habitof wanting their own way all the time, or continually talking bad about others. We should not justwant to change a habit only because it is embarrassing, expensive, unhealthy, or makes us feelguilty - instead, we should want God's greater purpose for our life to be fulfilled. God does not

want you to be controlled by or addicted to anyone or anything, He has given you freedom! Thefirst step is to make up your mind and make a commitment to get rid of the bad habit. Thesecond step is to do it! Defeating a habit requires changes in lifestyle. We are to make noprovision for the flesh. The person who wants to stop smoking should throw away all his

cigarettes and not buy any more; the person struggling with sexual sin should get rid of anysuggestive materials in his possession. Avoid the company of those who have the same problem.

Make up in your mind that you will change - then do it.

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Focus Scriptures:Galatians 5:16

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not

suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way toescape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Romans 13:14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."- Aristotle

What bad habit do you need to overcome to experience freedom? Pray daily and ask Godto strengthen you as you work to quit your bad habits.

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Your desire to change has to be greater than thedesire to stay the same.

Pray and don't worry.Once you have given God your love and your life, Jesus teaches you can give Him your worries by

asking God to provide for your needs and the trusting that He will provide. What do you need today?Energy to make it through the day? Finances? Wisdom? If you trust in God, then there is no need to

worry about your life. One of the best sayings to live by is "let go and let God." The only thing thatworrying will do is ruin your day. The emotion will make living dark, depressing, and adds up to hours

and hours of invaluable time that you'll never get back. Worry accomplishes absolutely nothing.Worrying is destructive to us in many ways. It becomes a mental burden that can even cause us to

grow physically sick. Worrying is the opposite of trusting God, and outs your focus on the wrongthings. So what do you do? You've got two to alternatives to worrying: panic or pray. When you talk to

God about your needs, you be specific, and do it with thanksgiving. Don't just say, "Lord bless me"because blessings can come in many forms. Be honest with Him. God says you can pray about

anything and everything. Nothing is too great for God's power. Nothing is too insignificant for His care.Anything worth worrying about is worth praying about. If we prayed as much as we worried, we'd have

a lot less to worry about! Give God your worries. We were not designed to carry burdens anddecisions that we can't control. As believers we have God's help to make it through anything. When

we keep our eyes focused on God, we remember his love for us and we realize we truly have nothingto worry about. God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking care of us.

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Focus Scriptures:Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requestsbe made known to God.

Psalm 55:22Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Proverbs 12:25Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

1 Peter 5:7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

“Worrying is stupid. It's like always walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain."

― Anonymous

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Replace thoughts of worry withthoughts of joy, hope, and victory.

Make a list of the things you worry about. Everyday, pray over each area of worry until Godintervenes . Pray that God will renew your mind and trust Him until things get better.

Get to know Him.Helping us stay “connected” has become big business in our culture. Smart phones, Facebook, and

Twitter give us instant access to friends, family, work, and the world. But how much effort do we invest inconnecting with our Heavenly Father? The bible shows that joy increases because of our increasing

relationship with God. The bible says that joy is a gift to those who belong to Jesus. The Lord designedus to relate to Him. That’s what it means to be made in His image (Gen. 1:26). We’ve been given a spiritthat can communicate with His Spirit. Just look at the earth and the heavens above. Although God is theCreator of all these things, He can never interact with a mountain or a star as He does with you. There isno higher honor that He could have given us than to be made in His image. God wants you to discover

Him and experience Him a relationship with Him! So what does it take to begin a relationship withGod? Wait for lightning to strike? Devote yourself to unselfish religious deeds? Become a better personso that God will accept you? NONE of these. God has made it very clear in the Bible how we can knowHim. We have to fall in love with God for who He is. The first step for closeness with the Lord is getting to

know Him—who He is, what He does, how He thinks, and what He desires. Even though God isinvisible and inaudible to our physical senses, a close relationship with Him is cultivated the same wayhuman friendships are—through time spent together, communication, and vulnerability, and shared

interests. The more time you spend with God, the more you will get to know God. It's not hard, but youhave to start somewhere. Some Christians confuse knowing the Lord with knowing about Him. But noexperience we have with Him or fact we learn about Him should ever be a strictly academic pursuit.

Rather, such knowledge ought to continually transform us, influence others, and prepare us for heaven.

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May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

Psalm 16:11You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand

are pleasures forevermore.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine

heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

“A relationship with God is the best relationship you can have.You can be sure that it will last forever.”

― Anonymous

Get to know the same way you would get to know a new friend. Get to know Him by byreading your bible. Talk to Him by praying. In your prayer time, ask God to teach you howto get to know Him better.

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Just knowing about God and what He is offering us is not enough. To have a relationship with God, we need to welcome Him into our life.

Take a leap of faith.What is a leap of faith? While it may be true that people use this phrase in different ways, it

seems that there is one way in which it is generally used. For many, a “leap of faith” is awillingness to believe something, even if they have their doubts about it. As believers, God hascalled us to take leaps of faith in our lives. God wants us to trust Him when making decisions,even if we are not completely sure of the outcome. We don't have to be worry or fearful if God

tells you to do something, because when we jump, we know that we step into the arms ofJesus. Have you ever watched a small child at a swimming pool? The small child is at first

reluctant to jump into deep water. but when they see that one of their parents is in the waterwith arms outstretched, they know that they have nothing to fear and will gladly and even

eagerly jump because they totally trust their parent to catch them! The same concept appliesin life when we are taking leaps of faith and trusting God to protect and guide us. Know for

certain in your heart that God exists. Become convinced that His word is true. Be fully assuredthat He will keep His promises. Once you have this kind of faith, act upon it, and live by it. We

do not need to take a leap of faith to become a Christian; we simply just need to “walk by faith”and trust God in every decision to help us become who He has called us to be. God will

reward you for your obedience, and you will learn how to begin to trust Him more and more.

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Focus Scriptures:2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Hebrews 11:6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe

that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways

acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

― Anonymous

Pray and ask God to help you to step out of your comfort zone. Talk to Him about what youare concerned about. Ask Him to give you strength to try new things.

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By leaving behind your old self and taking a leap of faith into the unknown,

you find out what you are truly capable of becoming.

Have patience. So, you may be at a fork in the road of your life right now. Whatever your dilemma may be,

you must make a decision. Will you be patient and wait on God, or be impatient and act onyour own will? All over the Bible there are stories of men and women experiencing tough

decisions, and the reactions vary from all of them. Some grumbled against God because oflack of water (Exodus 15:24), others worshipped God in trials and adversity (Job 1:20), others

cried out to God in despair (Psalm 18:6), and the list goes on. Patience is the calmacceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.

Having patience means that we are going to wait and rely on God’s timing. In Scripture, Godconsistently rewards those who patiently wait for the fulfillment of His promises. Patience

teaches us to rest in Him, even during the storms of life. We all struggle with "waiting on theLord," even if we know that "good things come to those who wait." But if we choose not towait, 1 Samuel tells us that a "lack of patience" can also cause us to miss a blessing. When

we praise God in our waiting, He gives us the strength to keep going. Be strong enough to letgo, and patient enough to wait for what you deserve. The longer you wait for something, themore you appreciate it when you get it. Any blessing from God is definitely worth waiting for.

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Focus Scriptures:Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Galatians 6:9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

.Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Psalm 130:5-6I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than

watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

“Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process

of becoming what God wants us to be.― John Ortberg

What is one thing in your life you need to work on having more patience with? Pray andask God to show you how to have more patience with other people and things.

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Although His time is not always our time,we can be sure that the Lord always keeps His promises.

Have hope.What if everything you ever wanted just happened the way you planned? Biblical hope is a sure

foundation upon which we base our lives, believing that God always keeps His promises.Without hope we would never fully trust in God with all our hearts. House alarms, security

guards, and metal detectors offer some hope for protection against crime. The eternal hope inChrist means that you’re completely secure in God’s hand in this world, and in heaven. When thestorms of life are raging, your anchor is the hope that God is in control. Because of our hope inthe blood of Jesus, believers don’t have to worry about the shame of our sins. We confess oursins and are covered by His sacrifice. Christians can come boldly to the throne of grace and

seek God’s help because of hope. In the darkest hours and the deepest pain, we can still havehope. Believers in Jesus Christ can praise Him even when everything around them looks bad.

Our hope in God reveals that He is in control and He uses everything for our good. Thedemands of this life can beat us down spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Yet rememberingthe hope we have in Christ to overcome evil with good, to bless and not curse, and to draw on

His word gives us renewed energy to face the world.

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May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Psalm 62:5Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 119:114You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

Lamentations 3:21-22Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not

consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Psalm 25:3No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame.

“Once you choose hope, anything is possible.” ― Unknown

Write down today's focus scriptures. Recite them aloud. Whenever you start to lose hope,or feel completely hopeless, go back to reading your scriptures, and think about them.What is each scripture trying to tell you?

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You have within you right now, everything you need to dealwith whatever the world can throw at you.

Let go and move forward.Once you become saved and born again, the Bible tells us that we have now become

new creations in Jesus Christ. Our slates have now been wiped fully clean, and we havenow been given a brand new start in this life. Before we can lay hold of the new things that

God wants to do in our lives, we have to let go of the old things-and it becomes a test ofour faith. Many of us are bound up in our past – and as a result, we cannot fully live in thepresent. Past hurts, prior guilt, old disappointments, ended relationships, etc., should never

stop us from moving forward. All of us have a certain amount of baggage that we carryfrom our past. Some of us carry lighter loads than others. Some have learned how to let go of

their past because they have found out that it will seriously damage their walk with the Lord andwhat He wants to do with their lives. They have found that carrying around some of the baggagefrom their past and constantly dwelling on it will steal their joy and happiness in the Lord. Beforeyou can really start to move forward in your divine destiny with the Lord , you will first haveto learn how to let your past fully go. God can fully heal you and break off any past chain ifyou are willing to believe that He can do it for you. When we sense that the Lord is leadingus into new territory, we can either move forward in faith, or we can shrink back in fear to

what is familiar. Failing to trust God always robs us of receiving His best for us.

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Focus Scriptures:Isaiah 43:18-19

But forget all that--it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

Philippians 3:12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take

hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Luke 9:62But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the

kingdom of God.

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

― Unknown

Pray and ask God to help you to forgive. Ask Him to give you the strength to move on from yourpast, and not remember old hurts. Pray that the Lord would renew your joy, then choose joy.Choose to be happy. Choose to forget anything that will make you feel anything other than happy.

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Beautiful things happen in your life when you distanceyourself from all of the negative things.

Use what God has given you.Do you realize that you have value and that you can make a difference in the world? God has given

you unique abilities, talents, and gifts. You are a manager of the gifts God has given to you. Theymay be great or small in your eyes, but they matter to God. If you think your talents are simply for youto make a lot of money, retire, and die, you’ve missed the point of your life. God gave you talents tobenefit others, just like He gave other people talents that benefit you. God makes a habit of takingsimple things and simple people and using them in profound ways. Throughout history God has

taken shepherds, fisherman, tax-collectors, children and a whole list of unique individuals and usedthem to change the world. We’re all a part of the body of Christ, and each part matters. There are noinsignificant people in the family of God. You are shaped to serve God, and he is testing you to seehow you are going to use the talents he gave you. When God gives you a talent, he expects you touse it. It’s like a muscle. If you use it, it will grow. If you don’t, you’ll lose it. If you have a talent but are

afraid to use it, or if you get lazy and don’t use it to benefit others, you’re going to lose it. Like theparable of the ten talents in Luke 19, if you don’t use what God has given you, He will take it away

and give it to someone else who will. But if you use your talents wisely, God will give you more. If youuse your time wisely, God will give you more time. If you use your energy wisely, God will give youmore energy. If you use your influence wisely, God will increase your influence. God will bless yourlevel of faithfulness. Whether you are a musician or an accountant, a teacher or a cook, God gave

you those abilities to serve others, so practice it, love it, and do it to the best of your ability.

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Focus Scriptures:1 Peter 4:10

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve oneanother.

James 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who

does not change like shifting shadows.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are

different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the sameGod who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

“Good things aren't going to just fall in your lap. God is generous, but He expects you to do your part rst."

― Unknown

Make a list of the things that you are good at. What do you love to do? How can you usethese talents to help others?

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When God sees you doing your part,He will open doors for you that no man can shut.

Stop making excuses.The dictionary definition of "excuse" is "to make allowance for a short-coming; to overlook; to serve as justification for;to vindicate." As people, we are especially good at making excuses. Sometimes we make excuses to try to keep fromhurting someone's feelings. Other times we make excuses to avoid responsibility for our actions. We make excuses

for things we did wrong, times we failed, things we don't want to do, situations we don't want to be in. Makingexcuses isn't a good practice and it is especially dangerous when we start making excuses in our spiritual walk withGod. Excuses began with the first sin ever committed. It's in the Bible, Genesis 3:11-13. God asked Adam, 'Have you

eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?' Adam said, 'The woman you put here with me—shegave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.' Then God said to Eve, 'What is this you have done?' The woman said,

'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.' When God gives direction He expects cooperation not excuses. We makeexcuses when we don't want to obey (like commands to forgive, or to stop gossiping). We make excuses when wedon't want to go where God sends us (it may be a mission field, or it may be a visit to a friend, or it may be church)

We make excuses when we don't want to believe what God tells us (that all things work for the good). Whatever thechallenge, God will be with you. You may not be strong enough by yourself, but you are not by yourself! God is with

you. Many people are living miserable lives right now because they refuse to do what God has told them to do.Rather then moving forward, they continue to make excuses to stay in their comfort zone. Instead of obeying God

they try to come up with reasons why they shouldn't have to obey. Instead of trusting God's promise they trust theirfears. It's time to stop resisting and start following. It's time to stop saying, "I can't" and start saying, "He can".

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Focus Scriptures:3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well withyour soul.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have

received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God withyour body.

Hebrews 10:26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more

sacrifice for sins,

“If it is important to you, you will nd a way.If not, you will make an excuse.”

― Unknown

Make a list of things you need God to help you with. Pray and ask Him to help you to makea change in you. Continue to pray the same prayer until you see a change in your life. Example: "Lord, please help me to stop..." "God I need your help to..." "Lord, I know withyour help I can..."

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Today's progress is determined by yesterday's choices.

Serve others in love.A servant is one who is under submission to another. For Christians, this means submission to God first, and then

submission to one another. A servant is one who helps to meet the needs of the person he is serving. It meanswillingly giving of oneself to do whatever it takes to accomplish what is best for another. Mothers serve their

children. Pastors serve their congregation. God calls you to a service far beyond anything you could everimagine. You were put on Earth to make a contribution. You weren’t created just to consume resources — to eat,

breath, and take up space. God designed you to make a difference with your life. God wants you to givesomething back. The Bible says, “In our union with Christ Jesus He has created us for a life of good deeds, which

He has already prepared for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). These “good deeds” are your service to the world.Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God and fulfilling one of your purposes. Love is

an action - not so much a feeling, but it’s what you say and do. Serving in love means helping someone becauseyou honestly want to; not grudgingly or because you are expecting anything in return. Whatever we are doing weshould be doing it “for the Lord and not for men" because ”our inheritance" will ultimately come from Jesus Christ.Jesus said "if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you,

that person will certainly not lose their reward”. (Matt 10:42) Even though we are not physically serving Jesus,when we serve another person here on earth, it’s like giving Jesus a cold drink of water. What we do for others,

Jesus sees it as doing it for Him. Many times we think that helping only comes in the form of cash donations, andthis is not true. We serve others by giving our time, our advice, or even a shoulder to cry on. Serving in lovecomes in many forms. Some people choose to visit the sick. Maybe you can serve by running errands for

someone who is unable to. Perhaps you can offer to share your umbrella with a stranger on a rainy day. Find away to be a blessing to someone else, and the Lord will be pleased with you.

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Focus Scriptures:Colossians 3:12

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility,meekness, and patience,

Colossians 3:23-24Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will

receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:24Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.

Galatians 5:13For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to

satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

“Often the best way to see the needs of others is to stop looking at our own.” - -Kristen Welch

Task yourself to complete a good deed today. Don't tell anyone about it, just do it. Once it is done, thank Godfor enabling you to be a blessing to someone else.

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God did not add another day to your life because you needed it;He added it because someone out there needed you.

Take responsibility .We must stand up and accept responsibility for our thoughts, our feelings and our actions. No

one else is responsible; not the devil, not our friends, nor our neighbors, our families and definitelynot our circumstances (as some would have us believe). What each and every individual thinks,

feels or does is his or her responsibility. It's a result of free choice. For instance, 2 Peter 3:18commands us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

Whose responsibility is it to work on my personal growth? Is it the preacher's job to get us togrow? Is it our parent's task to babysit us as we grow? We need to quit blaming our actions,thoughts and feelings on someone or something else. If I'm not growing it's because I'm not

doing the things growth requires. If I'm not learning, its because I'm not studying. If I feelabandoned by God, its because I've separated myself from Him. If I feel empty, its because I'venot allowed God to fill my life with meaning. If I feel lonely, its because I won't allow God to holdmy hand and lift me up. I must work out my own salvation and only God can help me do that.

Friends and family, brothers and sisters in Christ can assist me, but whether I have their help ornot, I am ultimately responsible for all that I think, all that I feel and all that I do.

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Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

1 Corinthians 3:8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward

according to his own labour.

Psalm 62:12and with you, Lord, is unfailing love"; and, "You reward everyone according to what they have done.

1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the

work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

“Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.”

―Marianne Williamson

Take a hold of your responsibility today! Is there something you have been procrastinatingin doing? Is there someone you need to call? Is there a task you need to plan for? Do it! Setaside a time today to take one step toward accomplishing something.

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If you are still waiting for that one person to comeand change your life, look in the mirror.

Let go of your fears.Sometimes the world that we live in can be a very scary place. Maybe you fear what people think ofyou, or not having enough money. Some have a fear of public speaking, flying, being far from home,

or spiders. Some fear failure, rejection, pain, or losing a loved one. This world has many thingscapable of inducing fear, but with God and the Bible, the wonderful news is that you don't have to be

afraid. What are you afraid of? Why are you afraid? Whatever it is that you fear, chances are it’saffecting you in both seen and unseen ways. Fear is a cancer in your life. Fear in your mind leads to

stress in your body. Jesus spoke the Word of God throughout his ministry. When faced with the devil'slies and temptations, he countered with the truth of God's Word. The spoken Word of God is like a

living, powerful sword in our mouths (Hebrews 4:12), and if Jesus depended upon it to facechallenges in life, so can we. More than any other command, the Bible says, “fear not.” You will find this

command and its variations in the Scripture many times. One example is Psalm 56. David has beenseized by the Philistines and he starts to become afraid, but instead he sets his vision on his Lord and

Savior in his midst. He praises God and God says to him: “Fear not!” David then puts his trust in theLord. Every occasion of “fear not” throughout the Bible is accompanied by something important that

God wants to say to us, not with an angry tone, but rather in the loving invitational way. Just saying thatmight not mean much - but when you think about it, it is true. God is always there for you in your timesof trouble. You can pray to Him for guidance. Sometimes simply knowing He is there can calm your

spirits and make you less afraid of what you are experiencing in your life. To be free of fear you have toeliminate the habits of fear-based thinking. Replace thoughts of fear with thoughts of peace and

victory..

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Focus Scriptures:2 Timothy 2:7

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Isaiah 41:10Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I

will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 27:1The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of

whom shall I be afraid?

“The key to change is to let go of fear."― Anonymous

Pray like David, “When I am afraid of _________, I will trust in you, O Lord.”If you’re not afraid now, pray it anyway! A time of strength is the best time to pray becausethen you can “watch and pray” with Jesus, preparing your heart now to take refuge in theLord when temptation or fear does come.

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On the other side of fear lives freedom.

Have an attitude of gratitude.Anything good that you have has come from God. You didn’t get it by luck, ingenuity, hard work, wit, or wisdom.It is proper to be thankful to God for every good thing in your life. You’re not just simply to be thankful one day ayear. One day is not long enough to thank God for all that He’s given you. His blessings come daily. Every day

God has brand-new blessings for you. Every prayer that you pray ought to be salted with thanks. Everymorning when you get up, instead of fretting and complaining, instead of turning to the media to see how badeverything is, just go and look out of the window. Take a deep breath and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He

is good; His love endures forever.” It makes you feel better just to think of doing that, doesn't it? How muchbetter it will make you feel if you follow that practice every day! Thankfulness should be a way of life for us,

naturally flowing from our hearts and mouths. In everything give thanks. Not in some things, but in all things.Every thing, every area of life is to be a the subject of thanksgiving. There’s so much to be thankful for. Be

thankful for spiritual things. If you didn’t have anything else but Jesus, you would have enough to praise God forall eternity. Be thankful for the simple things. You should be thankful for your families, health, food, and even a

glass of water. Even be thankful for the sorrowful things. You can even be thankful for the heartaches, thepains, and the sufferings because Romans 8:28 says, “…All things work together for good…” Although the

situation may not good, it is God Who is working all things together for our good. It is God’s will that we “givethanks in everything”. All of us have simple, beautiful things that God has given us, which we can appreciate.Open your eyes and see that God “does wonderful things without number” every day! Thankful people are

joyful people.

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Focus Scriptures:1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you inChrist Jesus.

Psalm 68:19Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah.

James 1:17Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the

creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.

Psalm 107:1O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” ― Cynthia Ozick

Start a gratitude journal. Each and every day, write down one thing you are thankful for. At the endof each day, read each entry. Give God thanks and praise for all that He has done for you. Continuedoing this daily.

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Pray not because you need something,but because you have so much to thank God for.

Realize who you are.You know your name, you know your birthday, and you know your favorite food. But do you really know

who you are? Do you know who God says you are? Negative thoughts, bad attitudes, and poordecisions can effect our lives if we do not fully know our identity in Christ. When we know who we are

in Christ, we become joyful just to know who we really are. When we became born again, God gave usa new start in life. I am now the person God says I am. Regardless of what I was before God saved me,regardless of what other people think of me, I am now the person God says I am. God has forgiven me

of all my sins—past, present, and future. I am loved by God, not because of what I have done, butbecause of who I am. I am a child of God, and friend of Jesus. I am more than a conqueror through

Christ who strengthens me. Within each choice and decision we make, we discover a little more aboutwho we are. When we don't realize who we are in Christ, our faith will be crippled. If you don't feel

worthy to exercise your authority in Christ, then you won't be doing it in the fullness of faith and will lackassurance. Satan works diligently to program people's minds to feel unworthy and unable to walk inpower of God here on earth. The truth is that we, by our own power and effort, are unworthy, but it is

the Blood of Jesus that makes us worthy.

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Focus Scriptures:Hebrews 10:17

Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

John 1:12But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become

the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—

John 3:30He must increase, but I must decrease.

Ephesians 1:4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

“Who you were, who you are, and who you will be are three different people.” ― Unknown

Who does God say you are? Do you know? Grab a piece of paper, then write down somethings you love to do. How do you like to spend your free time? What do you enjoy doingmost? What drives you in life? Pray and ask God to show you your purpose and how youcan help be an asset to the Kingdom of God and His people.

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Be who God says you are -not who the world wants you to be.

Keep going.Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is life so difficult sometimes? When will I

get my blessing? God can handle your emotions — He gave them to you, after all! So tell Him howyou feel. He can handle your anger, doubt, fear, questions, grief, and even your complaints. Be

honest; tell it to God. Get it off your shoulders. Spill your guts and tell God exactly how you feel. Afteryou pray about it, get up and do something about it! Don’t look at the temporary problem; look at thelong-term reward. Don’t look at the temporary pain; look at the long-term gain. Don’t look at it with the

short-term view, “What’s happening to me right now?” Instead, look at the character that you arebuilding because you haven’t given up. You’re hanging in there. God is more interested in what youare becoming in the process, than what you accomplish. So what are you doing while you wait?

Take the first step. Don't quit, because a month from now you will be much closer to your goal thenyou were today. Consistency always pays off. It's like paying a bill off, each payment you make, the bill

gets lower and lower until you completely finish paying off that bill. Doing good things consistently,will pay off later down the line. Read scriptures to encourage yourself to keep going. Make today

count.

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Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do notgive up.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18This is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long, but they will produce for us animmeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don’t look at the trouble we can see right now;rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but

the joys to come will last forever.

Philippians 4:13I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Hebrews 6:10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped

his people and continue to help them.

“It is hard to beat someone who never gives up.” ― Babe Ruth

Grab a sheet of paper and write a letter to God. Pour out your feelings and tell Him how you feel. Be honest.Fold up your letter, put it in a safe place, then pray about what you wrote. Thank Him for all that you have,then ask the Lord to help you deal with whatever issues you may be facing.

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God is more interested in what you are becomingthan what you accomplish.

Speak life.The words we speak will either build us up or tear us down. So when we speak, where do the words

come from? Do they come from some thoughts conjured up in our brain? What we speak depends onwhat’s filling your heart. Jesus said, “. . . out of the abundance of the heart [the] mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).A critical heart produces a critical tongue. A self-righteous heart produces a judgmental tongue. A bitterheart produces an acerbic tongue. An ungrateful heart produces a grumbling tongue. But a loving heart

produces a gracious tongue. A faithful heart produces a truthful tongue. A peaceful heart produces areconciling tongue. A trusting heart produces an encouraging tongue. So fill your heart with life, grace, andlove by soaking in your Bible. Read Matthew 5, or Romans 12, or 1 Corinthians 13, or Philippians 2. Be verycareful taking in the words of death from the newspaper, on the radio, the TV, or the Internet. Our tongue

can either bring blessings or curses upon us. For example, a liar can cause the death of an innocent man,or a comforter can give hope to a suicidal person by an uplifting word. A slanderer can destroy the

reputation of a good person, and a seductive woman can use her tempting words to ruin a man's life.Godly parents can teach and encourage their children the truth of God's Word, setting them on the path oflife. Pay attention to the way your speak to yourself. Are you speaking words of life or discouraging words of

negativity over your mind and body? How do you talk to those around you? Are you encouraging anduplifting the ones you care about? Good words give life and timing is important. The wise person will

speak the truth when and where it's fitting and needful. If you are giving advice, be sensitive andcompassionate to the one you are advising. Think before you speak. Be careful with your words. Once they

are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten. We are here to love each other, serve each other anduplift each other. Use your to words to pronounce blessings on those around you.

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A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 12:18The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue,And those who love it will eat its fruit.

“Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others enjoy speaking to you.”

― Anonymous

Practice speaking life. Intentionally speak good and kind words today. Example: Look in the mirror and recite one of your favorite scriptures. Give someone acompliment. Express your appreciation for someone you love, by calling them and tellingthem how much you value them.

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Think before you act.Think twice before you speak.

Surrender it all to Him.You cannot fulfill God's plan for life while focusing on your own plans. God can only change you life if you let Him.

God gives us free will to choose Him - or not. In this world, it is easy to be a good person. Be kind, share withothers, and go to church. But sometimes our best is not good enough, and in this life there will always be

situations that are out of our control. You can’t control the economy. You can’t control the weather. You can'tcontrol the people around you. You can’t control a lot of things that will affect and impact your life. Surrenderingyour life to the Lord will cause a total transformation to take place, and give you an everlasting assurance that

everything will always be OK. Surrender means the giving over of one person's, rights, and possessions to another.But you will have to surrender more than just your physical body. It also includes one’s heart, mind, spirit,

emotions, thoughts, talents, and gifts. If someone placed a bowl of chocolate candy in front of you, you wouldhave to make a choice. You couldn’t just ignore it or wish it would go away - you would have to take action and

make a decision, a choice – whether to eat it or put it away. Your life is an example of something that you possess.It belongs to you. To surrender your whole life to the Lord is a decision that only you can make. No one else canmake that decision for you. Many Christians have made a concrete decision to open their hearts to Jesus and to

say “yes” to His will, and so can you. When you begin to give every area of your life over to Him you will see a realchange. Let God perform a makeover on your life! He loves you, but He doesn't want you to stay the way you are,He wants better for you. He wants you to allow Him to mold you into the person you were intended to be - full ofjoy, life, and hope. Take that step of faith and begin living the life God has for you. He doesn't want a part of you,

He wants all of you. It may not seem logical at first, but you do what God says because God’s way is always best.With every act of obedience to Him, there is a blessing for you, and your life will be better for it. God only wants the

best for you - but you cannot receive what He has for you until you decide to let Him in your heart. It does takeeffort on your part, and you can do it with His help. Will you decide to live for God, or live for yourself? Time and

time again we will have to surrender to Him both the big and little things in life. But I can promise you this - if youchoose to live for Him, you can rest knowing that your joy of a better life is on the way!

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Focus Scriptures:Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give youan expected end.

James 4:8Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your

loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Romans 6:13Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completelyto God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is

right for the glory of God.

“A wife who is 85 percent faithful to her husband is not faithful at all. There is no such thing as part-time loyalty to Jesus Christ.”

― Vance Havner

You decide! Choose what you will do today that will help you to produce consistent joy in your life. Talk to God.Pray daily. Meditate on encouraging scriptures. Write in a journal. Fight negative thoughts, and surroundyourself with people who will help build your character. Joy is portable, so take it with you wherever you go!

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Let God decide what path is best for you. He doesn't' make mistakes.

Notes

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31 days of joy 33 page guide

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