Kendall Hicks

A Vital Necessity

2010-11-15T03:04:00.001-08:00

Now set your mind and heart

to seek (inquire of and require

as your vital necessity)

the Lord your God.

1 Chronicles 22:19 (AMP)

What can't you live without?

What things do you consider a

vital necessity in your life?

Most people immediately think

of food, water, and shelter...

but in we reality, we cannot really

live unless our minds and hearts

are set on seeking the Lord.

We can exist without seeking Him,

but every one of us is called to more

than just existence.

You have complete control over

what you set your mind and heart on.

You decide what you'll think about.

Today, I encourage you to set your

mind and heart on seeking the Lord!

Write down your favorite scriptures

and commit them to memory.

Throughout each day, think about

those verses.

Think about God and His infinite love.

Make a habit of seeking Him and

ask Him to reveal Himself to you.

When you require the Lord as a

vital necessity, you will enjoy living

the abundant life He has in store

for you!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, today I choose to set my mind on You.

I seek You with my whole heart.

Show me Your love and character today.

Show me Your ways that I may walk

and live closely with You.

I love You.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Out of the Pit

2010-11-08T03:01:00.001-08:00

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

out of the mud and the mire.

He set my feet on solid ground

and steadied me as I walked along.

Psalm 40:2

Do you feel like you are in a pit today?

Financial struggles, a sick child,

a habit that you don't seem to be

able to overcome, or a

relationship that has gone bad

can bring us to a point of

frustration, disappointment,

or even discouragement.

When you are in a pit,

it's difficult to see a way out.

But in these times you've got to

remind yourself that God is still with you.

He will make a way where there seems to be no way.

God will never waste any experience

you go through in life.

If you'll maintain and attitude of trust,

He will turn your situation around

for your good.

It doesn't matter how you got there,

whether it was by your own poor choices

more maybe someone else has treated you

unfairly. God wants to use that

situation to do a work in you.

You may be uncomfortable at times,

but realize that you are growing,

and God is building your character.

Today, choose to shake off any negative,

self-defeating mindsets.

Choose to cooperate with God.

Trust that He is preparing you for

greater things.

As you live with an attitude of

faith, expectancy, and thanksgiving,

He will lift you up and set you on

the solid path of victory!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, today I lift my eyes to You,

for my help comes from You.

Thank You for working in my life.

Thank You for using every situation

in my life for my good.

I bless You today no matter what is

going on around me, knowing that You

have a good plan for me.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

It's a New Day!

2010-11-05T03:03:00.001-07:00

He who was seated on the throne

said, “I am making everything new!”

Revelation 21:5

Perhaps at one time you had a

big dream to do something great for God.

You were determined to excel in your career,

or excel as a parent,

or even excel in your walk with the Lord.

You started out strong, with good intentions,

but maybe along the way things got

a little difficult and your dream did not

happen as quickly as you thought it would.

At that point many people say to themselves,

"Let's just settle here. It's not exactly

what we wanted, but at least it's good enough."

Remind yourself of this every day:

you were created for more than good enough!

Just because things haven't worked out

as you had planned, doesn't mean you

need to stop and settle.

Today is a new day!

Now is the time to dig your heals in

and begin again.

God's plan for you is just as big today

as it has ever been.

If you have settled for good enough

in any area of your life,

take the first step into a new day

by declaring, "I am not going to settle

for mediocrity. I am made for so much more!

Things may be difficult, but I am pressing

forward. I'm going to keep believing and I'm

going to be all God created me to be!"

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for this new day.

Thank You for the opportunity to begin again.

I choose to press forward and keep believing

for the dreams and desires You've placed

in my heart. I trust You today with everything

that I am. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Fan the Flame

2010-10-29T03:15:00.001-07:00

For this reason I remind you

to fan into flame the gift of God,

which is in you...

2 Timothy 1:6

I believe that God has planted

a sense of purpose, a vision, talents

and abilities in every one of us.

You have been endowed with

seeds of greatness.

All of us have dreams and desires,

things we want to accomplish,

and a vision of doing something

great for God.

But many times life has a way

of stealing our dreams.

We experience disappointments,

face adversity, things don't turn

out as we would like.

When this happens, many people

end up settling for second best.

However, God doesn't want us

to settle for second best.

He doesn't want you to allow

your vision to die.

His desire is for us to be determined,

press on, and pursue the greatness

He has planted inside of us.

We should never settle for second best.

Neither should we ever let "good enough"

be good enough.

Stir yourself up and get your fire back!

Start speaking victory over your future.

Remind yourself of the God-given vision

He gave you, and stand firm on it.

Get around people of excellence who

live passionately.

Fan into flame what is in you

so you can move forward and be

a positive force for God in this world.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I come to You today

and give you my disappointments, setbacks,

hurts, and broken dreams.

I ask You to restore my passion and vision

for the future. Let your flame burn

brightly in me now and forever.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

2010-10-28T02:24:00.001-07:00

But those who plan what is good

find love and faithfulness.

Proverbs 14:22

There are so many negative voices

in the world today that it is easy

to get your focus turned in the

wrong direction.

Negative minded people seem

to be around every corner.

If you try to live by just letting

your life unfold, you are

setting yourself up to be

caught in the trap of

somebody's negativity.

Instead, we need to wake up

every morning planning for what is good.

When we plan for what is good,

the Bible tells us that we find love.

The Bible also teaches us that God is love.

So, when we plan for what is good,

we will find God in the middle of our plans.

Do you need more of God in your life?

Do you need more love, peace and faithfulness?

Plan for what is good and you will find God.

You'll find His peace and joy.

You will also find His victory unfolding in your life!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the good plan You have for my life.

I choose Your plan and ask that You direct my mind and thoughts

according to Your purposes. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Forever Begins Today!

2010-10-27T02:26:00.001-07:00

...and I will dwell in the house

of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:6

Did you know that as a believer

in Jesus Christ, your past

is forgiven AND your future

is secure.

We do not need to waste

our time fretting over what

tomorrow holds.

In a world that is growing

more and more pessimistic

concerning the future,

we can be optimistic

because of God's promises

to us.

FOREVER BEGINS TODAY.

We have the opportunity

to live every day in God's presence.

He will not only be with us

forever in heaven,

He is with us right now.

He will be with us tomorrow,

next week, next year, and

every day throughout our lives.

The Apostle Paul put it like this:

"For me to live is Christ [His life in me],

and to die is gain [the gain of the

glory of eternity]." Phil. 1:21 (AMP)

Whatever it is you are dealing with today,

and whatever issues are waiting on you

tomorrow, you do not have to face

them on your own.

God is with you!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for being with me.

Strengthen me to remember Your presence

as I live today and every day.

Thank You for being there, through

every circumstance and every trial.

Your presence insures my victory!

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Mercy Is Following You

2010-10-26T02:36:00.001-07:00

Surely... mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life...

Psalm 23:6 (NKJV)

Goodness and mercy are God's two sheep dogs.

Just as a shepherd uses these well-trained animals

to keep the flock safe and moving in the right direction,

our Heavenly Shepherd uses goodness and mercy

to insure that we reach our God-given destiny.

Every day we are tempted and we've all

blown it more times than we'd like to admit.

When this happens, the enemy tempts us

to believe that it's over, that God is finished with us

and that we'll never amount to anything.

Remember that mercy if following you.

Mercy means that when you are going

through a tough time--even one of your

own making--that God is there to help

you out of it.

The Bible teaches us that

mercy triumphs over judgment.

This means that even though we deserve

God's judgment and the penalty that

comes with it, because Jesus took

that judgment for us, we can receive

God's mercy.

Are you walking under a cloud of

self-condemnation today?

Are you defeated because of bad

decisions you've made in the past,

decisions that have hurt you and others?

God's mercy allows you to step out from

under the dark cloud of condemnation

and walk in the light of His love and goodness.

Have a Blessed & Powerful Day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for the mercy You have shown

me through Jesus' work for me on the cross.

Thank You that I do not need to be bound to my past

sins, but I can walk in freedom today.

Forgive me where I have failed.

Strengthen me to walk in Your freedom today.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Goodness Is Following You

2010-10-25T03:18:00.001-07:00

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the LORD

Forever.

Psalm 23:6 (NKJV)

God has a way of taking every hardship

you encounter and use it--not to beat you down

and make your life miserable.

Instead, God is working to take that difficulty

and supernaturally turn it around and use it

to bring you good.

God uses tough times to make you stronger,

more mature, and prepared for greater

works of service!

Wherever you are right now,

goodness is following you!

You may not understand everything

that's going on in your life right now,

but I encourage you to stand in faith.

Instead of getting caught up in your

circumstance, get caught up in your God!

God is working in your life.

Stay faithful to Him and

continue doing the right thing.

Be sure that in the end God is going

to turn things around in your favor.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your

goodness and faithfulness in my life.

Thank You for all You've done for me

in my past and for what You are preparing

for my future. Help me keep my eyes on You.

Strengthen me to stand in You and look

for Your goodness every day.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

God's Ways

2010-10-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the LORD.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

Are you going through a situation in your life

that you don't quite understand?

In times like these, it's natural to question things.

However, during times of uncertainty it is vital

that you continue to put your trust in God.

During times of uncertainty,

we need to remember that God's ways

are not our ways

and we won't always understand

what He is seeking to accomplish in our lives.

The Bible tells us that adversity will come,

but God is the one who promises to

lead us through to victory.

Serving God means the we are going

to have some unanswered questions.

You may never understand why a relationship

ended sooner than you would have liked.

You may never understand why you lost a loved one.

You may never understand why you went through

something difficult or why your prayers

seemingly went unanswered.

In times like these, you have to determine

to lay your questions aside and go on with God.

We must decide to trust His character even

when our circumstances don't make sense.

Remember, He has promised that He is

going to work your difficulties to your advantage.

He is faithful to His Word,

and you can be sure that He will!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, I choose to trust You with my unanswered questions.

I choose to release any doubt and confusion I have to You.

Empower me to focus on Your Word which is truth

that sets me free. Thank You for Your goodness

and for the blessings You have in store for me.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Resist Fear

2010-10-21T01:59:00.001-07:00

Withstand him; be firm in faith

[against his onset--rooted, established,

strong, immovable, and determined]

1 Peter 5:9 (AMP)

Fear must be confronted in order

for it to be conquered.

When you make the mistake of dwelling

on your fears, the next thing you know

you'll be rationalizing why you cannot

do what God is telling you to do.

Soon after that, you will have developed

a negative mindset that will make your

initial fears much more difficult to overcome.

When God told David to go fight Goliath,

the Bible says that David moved quickly

toward the battlefield.

He did not waste time and energy

thinking about it; he just did it.

David did not give fear a chance

to grip his heart and talk him out of it.

He simply did what God wanted him to do.

Have you allowed fear to put you on the

sideline of life?

Are you allowing the tremendous potential

that God has placed inside you go untapped

because you keep listening to the enemy's

voice of fear, instead of God's call to faith?

Have you neglected your God-given vision

of victory for your life because every time

the enemy brings fear, you swallow his lies

hook, line and sinker?

STOP IT TODAY!

Obey God quickly.

Resist fear and boldly embrace

everything the Lord has in store

for you!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, today I choose to resist fear.

I choose Your Word. I choose Your love.

I believe that with You all things are possible.

Thank You for giving me the power to live

in victory in every area of my life.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Overcoming Fear

2010-10-20T02:17:00.001-07:00

For God has not given us

a spirit of fear and timidity,

but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

How much power does fear have over you?

Many people are missing out on God's

abundant life of joy, peace and victory

because they are paralyzed by fear.

They are afraid to make a decision,

afraid to confront issues,

afraid to step out in faith,

afraid of the past

and afraid of the future.

It is not God's will that

any of us live this way!

Fear is not from God.

The tendency to shrink back

from life's challenges was not

put in your heart by Him.

Instead, God has given you power,

and His power is greater than

the power of fear.

We must deal aggressively with fear.

You cannot be passive and expect

to live in victory.

The only way to conquer fear

is to confront it head on.

It's amazing how fear dissipates

when we face it instead of ignoring it

or running from it.

When we face and confront our fears,

we quickly learn that fear is simply

False Evidence Appearing Real.

Be strong-willed and resolute,

knowing that the enemy is already defeated.

As you declare God's Word that says you

can be bold and strong, you will have the

courage to conquer fear and moved

confidently into the abundant life

He has for you!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me power to overcome fear.

I choose to face fear head on and drive it out of my life.

Show me any areas of my life where fear is holding me back

so that I can press forward into the life of victory

You have for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Fear v Faith

2010-10-19T02:58:00.001-07:00

Fearing people is a dangerous trap,

but trusting the Lord means safety.

Proverbs 29:25

Fear can put the brakes on faith

if we allow it.

Our enemy despises seeing us

step out in faith and do what

God is tell us us to do,

so immediately he will bring fear.

He'll sow thoughts into your mind like,

"What if I fail?

What will others think?

Maybe I don't have what it takes."

Our enemy will do his best to use fear

to convince us to shrink back and settle

for staying where you are.

The Bible tells us that fear is a spirit.

If affects your emotions.

But when you choose to put your trust

in the Lord, no matter how you are feeling,

you are combating fear.

Stand up to fear!

Don't allow it to trap you and hold you back.

Instead, take a step of faith, knowing that God

is on your side.

He is for you and with you,

leading and guiding you in the path

of victory all the days of your life!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, I choose to put my trust in You.

I choose to press forward and overcome fear.

I believe You have my best interest at heart

and know that You are leading me in

paths of righteousness all the days of my life.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Friends

2010-10-18T02:35:00.001-07:00

He who walks with the wise grows wise,

but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 13:20

One of the biggest influences in our lives

are the friends we choose.

Jim Rohn once said that we become

the average of our top five friends.

That is, in time we will emulate

the character traits, priorities, and

even the personalities of these

influential people.

For this reason,

if we are going to be all that God

has intended us to be,

we must wisely choose our friends.

Moving forward into what God has in store for you

means that you must be willing to make

some changes in your life.

This may mean changing some friends

that you are spending time with.

Maybe they were fine for a season in your life,

but you've outgrown them.

This is a new season, and in order for you to rise higher,

you have to break away from relationships

that are limiting you.

You need to develop some new friendships

with people who are going to pull you up

and inspire you to rise higher.

If you are the smartest person in your circle,

your circle is too small.

Find people who are smarter than you are,

people who will challenge you to stretch

to the next level and become everything God

created you to be.

In order to grow in wisdom, you've got to spend

time with wise people.

Choose your friends wisely so that you can walk

and live in the destiny God has in store for you.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for grace and mercy.

Thank You for the good plan You have for my life.

Help me choose my friends and companions wisely

so that I can continue to move forward in the

destiny You have for me.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Forgetting the Past

2010-10-15T02:20:00.001-07:00

...but I focus on this one thing:

Forgetting the past and looking forward

to what lies ahead,

Philippians 3:13

Are you stuck in the past?

Have you allowed past successes

or failures to become your life's focus?

Perhaps you have wondered,

"How can I forget something that's

happened to me?"

One definition of the word "forget"

means "to disregard intentionally

or to overlook."

We must intentionally disregard

our past failures.

When we refuse to let go of the old,

we find ourselves unable to embrace

what God is doing now.

It doesn't matter what has happened

in your history.

It's time to forget what lies behind.

Make the choice today to lay

your past to rest.

Let your yesterday's rest in peace.

Trust in the future that God has

in store for you.

Trust that He is working behind the scenes

on your behalf.

As you press forward, you will move forward

and embrace the life of victory God has

planned for you.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, I choose to forget the past.

I don't want anything to hold me back from the future

You have prepared for me.

I choose forgiveness and ask that You help me

by Your Spirit to press forward in every area

of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

God Is Directing Your Path

2010-10-13T03:28:00.001-07:00

In his heart a man plans his course,

but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

As children, we all had dreams of the future.

Dreams of being ball players and actresses,

super heroes and firemen.

But most of those dreams ended up

just being wishful thinking.

As we grew up, we also grew out

of these childhood dreams.

It's good to play and have dreams as children,

but when we grow up, we need to be able

to tell the difference between a

God-given dream and a wish.

As adults, we all have dreams placed

inside us by the Creator of the universe.

In fact, the Latin word for "desire" means

"from the Father."

One way to tell if a dream is really from God

is if that desire just won't go away.

You may have had it for years

and you just cannot let it go.

In fact, you may have tried to let it go,

but it won't let you go.

Search your heart today

and allow those God-given dreams

to surface.

He placed those desires inside of you

for a purpose, and He's going to use them

to direct you into the destiny He has for you.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the dreams and desires

You've placed within me.

I submit those dreams to You and ask that

You direct my steps.

Search my heart and make my thoughts

agreeable to Your Word and to Your plan.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Write It Down!

2010-10-12T02:49:00.001-07:00

"Write the vision;

make it plain on tablets,

so he may run who reads it."

Habakkuk 2:2 (ESV)

Most businesses have a mission statement

that talks about the purpose of the company.

Likewise, every person should also have their

own mission statement.

What's your purpose?

What is your vision for the rest of your life?

What are your goals?

How do you intend to use your gifts and abilities?

Many people are simply "going with the flow"

and allowing life to unfold on it's own, day by day.

Something supernatural happens when

you write down your vision and make a plan.

Resolve develops inside of you.

Your vision moves from just being a dream

to something you can look at every day.

Other people around you will see it too.

You never know how God is going to use someone

in your life to help you get to where you need to be.

If they can see your vision, then they can run to it!

Choose today to stop living vaguely day by day.

Decide to write down the vision you have in your heart.

Submit your plans to the Lord and watch what

He will do to bring them to pass.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the dreams and desires

You have placed in my heart.

Direct my steps. Fill me with Your peace.

Show me the purpose and plan You have for me,

so that I can make them clear.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Planning

2010-10-11T02:23:00.001-07:00

Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity,

but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5 (NLT)

If you've ever been to the beach,

relaxing on an inflatable float,

you've noticed that after a while

the current will take you far away

from where you started.

Life works much the same way,

When we merely "go with the flow"

we put ourselves at the mercy of where

that "flow" takes us.

In order to make the most of your life,

you must have a vision for your life

and that vision broken down into

clear-cut goals with a plan to

accomplish each goal.

Without a plan, you'll just float

around in life easily distracted

and not knowing where you are headed.

You're not going to accidentally succeed in life.

Nobody develops good relationships by accident.

Neither does anyone accidentally lose 20 pounds.

Whatever it is you want to accomplish,

you must have a plan.

By the way, nobody accidentally grows

stronger in their walk with the Lord either.

Take some time today,

and examine where you are in life

and where you want to be:

spiritually,

physically,

relationally,

financially.

What are your goals for these areas?

What is your plan to accomplish them?

Maybe your first goal needs to be to make a plan!

Do some research.

Talk to people who are successful in each of these areas;

they didn't get there by accident either.

Ask the Lord to guide your steps and connect you with

the right people.

As you step in faith to accomplish your goals,

God will pour out His favor so that you can

experience His supernatural blessing

on everything you set your hand to.

It's the first work day of the week.

Take a few minutes right now to

prayerfully plan your week...

then spend the rest of your week

working your plan.

With God's help, the result will be

SUCCESS!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, I commit everything I am to You today.

Direct my steps. Order my destiny.

Give me the plan to accomplish every dream and desire

You've placed within me.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Sing the Right Song

2010-10-07T03:08:00.001-07:00

O my Strength, I sing praise to you;

you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

Psalm 59:17

In the Bible, David faced many challenges.

People lied about him, accused him,

and even tried to kill him.

In Psalm 59 he says,

"My enemies are coming against me like vicious dogs.

They are trying to destroy me. What am I going to do?

I will sing about Your power.

And I will shout for joy because You are my refuge,

my place of safety in my day of distress."

When David experienced times of need,

he did not sit down, pitch a pity party and complain.

Instead, he sang about the greatness of God.

His mindset was basically this:

"My enemies may be numerous,

but I know my God is all powerful.

My obstacles may be high,

but I know my God is the Most High."

David did not talk to God about

how big his problems were.

He talked to his problems about

how big his God was!

Do you need to change your song today?

Instead of complaining and thinking

about what you are not,

start thanking God for what you are becoming.

Just like David, stay in faith and sing to the Lord

knowing that He's going to complete what He's

started in you.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, today I choose to focus on You.

I bless and praise You no matter what my

circumstances look like.

I know that You are on my side and thank You

for always leading me in the path of victory.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Praise Precedes Victory

2010-10-06T03:00:00.001-07:00

Joshua commanded the people,

"Shout! For the LORD has given you the city!...

When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted,

and at the sound of the trumpet,

when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed;

Joshua 6:16 & 20

One of the classic Biblical accounts is

when Joshua and the Israelites took over

the city of Jericho.

Jericho was protected by a massive wall

that surrounded the city.

No army could penetrate it.

But that wall did not stop God from giving

them the victory.

God simply commanded the Israelites to march

around the city in silence for six days,

and on the seventh day they were to give

a shout of praise.

We need to remind ourselves that

they had to shout BEFORE the walls came down.

The natural thing to do would have been to

shout and be happy after the victory.

But that does not require faith.

Anyone can sing and praise God

when life is good and they are on

the mountaintop.

But God wants us to give Him praise

even when we are in the valley.

What difficulty are you facing today?

The walls standing in your way may seem

massive and impenetrable.

Remember, praise precedes the victory.

Let me encourage you to be like the Israelites

and give a shout of praise anyway.

Stand and believe that God is at work

even if you don't see it.

You will see those walls come down,

and you'll move forward into the victory

He has prepared for you!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of victory.

I choose to stand in faith, giving You the praise

until I see my breakthrough.

Thank You for strengthening me

and directing my every step.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

2010-10-05T05:18:00.001-07:00

I think it right, as long as I am

in this tabernacle (tent, body),

to stir you up by way of remembrance...

2 Peter 1:13 (AMP)

Our moods are affected by what we dwell on.

When we dwell on the wrong things our moods will be negative.

We'll find ourselves down, discouraged and losing hope.

Some people do not have the joy and enthusiasm

God wants them to have because they are

constantly dwelling on negative thoughts.

In order to take hold of all that God has in store for us,

we need to stir ourselves up by changing our thinking.

Instead of dwelling on and remembering all the bad things

that have happened in life, we need to remember the good things

God has done for us.

Every time you give God praise, every time you sing a song of victory,

you are acknowledging and remembering His goodness.

You are causing your mind to focus on what He has done for you.

One of the reasons the Scriptures tell us to bless the Lord at all times

is because it is impossible to praise and complain at the same time!

Stay proactive.

Don't become passive in your thought life.

Don't let your guard down.

Keep stirring yourself up by remembering

His faithfulness and watch what He will do

on your behalf!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, today I choose to keep my mind focused on Your goodness.

Thank You for Your goodness.

Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and loving-kindness.

Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, so that I can live in victory.

I bless and praise You today.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

2010-10-04T02:31:00.001-07:00

...despite all these things,

overwhelming victory is ours

through Christ, who loved us.

Romans 8:37 (NLT)

The past can be paralyzing.

If we are not careful, we can allow

post struggles, hurts, and failures

become the focus of our present day lives.

When we get caught up in how

unfair our situation is,

our present possibilities lie

dormant and unfulfilled.

We must realize

that in order for a new door to open,

we must allow the old ones to close behind us.

Perhaps you got off to a rough start in life.

You may have had more than your share

of setbacks and let downs.

Be encouraged today:

it's not how you start

but how you finish that counts.

Your future is not determined by your past.

But holding on to the past will keep you

from moving into your future.

God has already given you victory through Christ.

His desire is for you to take hold of the dreams

He has given you.

As we release the past to Him,

and move ahead by faith,

He will see to it that His dream

that He has placed within us

comes to pass.

Every one of us can go beyond

where we are today.

None of us have yet to realize

our full potential in Christ.

Our best days are not behind us,

they are in front of us.

Let's shake off past discouragements

and take a step toward our future.

Choose today to stop looking back

and fix your eyes forward

on the new beginning God has for you.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, today I choose to let go of the things in my past.

I realize that despite of my past, I have the victory through Christ.

I ask you to show me any dreams that are lying dormant,

and bring them back to life in new ways.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Focus

2010-10-01T02:38:00.001-07:00

If God is for us,

who can ever be against us?

Romans 8:31 (NLT)

Our focus will determine our future.

Did this ever happen to you as a child?

You were riding your bike, saw a pot-hole

in the road, and began saying to yourself,

"Don't hit that pot-hole, don't hit that pot-hole."

The next thing you knew, you had hit that pot-hole!

The biggest mistake coaches make in sports

is telling their players what not to do:

"Whatever you do, don't throw him a fast ball

down the middle" or

"Whatever you do, don't foul number 23."

What happens?

You guessed it.

Fast ball down the middle with a resulting

home run.

Number 23 gets fouled and sinks the

game winning shot from the foul line.

Zig Ziglar puts it this way"

"Your mind doesn't know the difference

between reality and fantasy.

Your mind acts on what you feed it.

Feed it bad thoughts and you will fail...

Feed your mind good thoughts

and you will succeed."

What are you focusing on today?

Is your mind preoccupied with your

difficult situation, or on God's promises?

Maybe you are dealing with discouragement

as new problems and challenges have popped

up in your life.

It's easy to focus totally on the adverse situation.

Instead, focus on God and His promises to you.

It is vital that you keep your heart in an attitude of faith.

Remind yourself that God is for you.

Believe His plans for you have not changed

despite new problems or troubling circumstances.

The more you focus on what God is doing,

the more your faith will grow stronger.

If it feels like you're facing impossible challenges,

don't be afraid.

God is on your side and nothing is impossible for Him.

Focus on what God can do in your life.

Remember, He is always in control.

God knows the end from the beginning

and He allows challenges in your life to cause

you to trust Him more.

As you put your faith in Him,

you'll grow closer to God and you'll see

His mighty hand at work in your life!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for being with me.

I choose today to focus on You and not on my situation.

I refuse to allow the enemy's attacks to come against

Your promises to me.

I will continue to walk by faith, not by sight

knowing You are with me every step of the way.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Impossible?

2010-09-29T02:00:00.001-07:00

Jesus looked at them and said,

"With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

Are you facing an impossible situation?

Maybe your marriage looks bleak,

and as you think about this relationship

the idea of it getting any better seems

impossible.

It could be your health.

You've been sick for so long that

your illness has become part of your personality

and the notion of healing sounds impossible.

Or how about your career?

You've had a desire to start your own business

but in the current economic uncertainty

that sounds like a sure recipe for

financial suicide.

Too many times we limit God with our thinking.

God puts a big dream in our hearts...

a dream of a better marriage...

a dream of better health...

a dream of that business venture...

but in our eyes these dreams seem

impossible and too big to accomplish.

God's dreams and His plans are always God-sized.

What He wants to accomplish will seem impossible.

God's desire is to show Himself strong on your behalf.

He wants to supernaturally turn your impossible

situation around.

The important thing for us to do

is to turn our focus from the situation

and turn it to God.

We need to view life through the lens of faith.

Make room in your thinking today for the dreams

God has placed upon your heart.

If life looks hopeless in the natural,

put your confidence in the promises God gave you.

Trust in Him to make all things possible for you.

As you do, you'll begin to see your dreams

come to pass in ways you never imagined.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I give my situation to You today

knowing with You all things are possible.

All of my hopes and dreams are in Your hands,

and I will not longer limit You in my thinking.

I choose to see my dreams through your eyes of faith

and to believe they will come to pass.

Thank You for working supernaturally on my behalf.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Be Your Best!

2010-09-28T02:46:00.000-07:00

Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will serve before kings;

he will not serve before obscure men.

Proverbs 22:29

With the unemployment rate higher,

and the economy teetering,

many people have given up

on providing a better life for their families.

God's promises are recession-proof.

He is not limited to what's happening

in Congress or on Wall Street.

In Proverbs, we are told that as

we increase in our sill-level,

the right people will take notice.

This is especially true today.

Have you ever noticed how

too many people take no pride

in their work?

They seem to be stuck in a rut,

going through the motions,

doing the same thing over and over.

God's desire is that His people

live at their absolute best in every area of life.

This means that we should constantly be growing

and sharpening our skills.

We should strive to learn and grow

every single day.

When we stop learning, we stop growing.

When we stop growing, we stop living

and are just merely existing.

How can you stretch yourself today?

What can you do to improve your skills?

"Good enough" is never good enough.

Average can be described as

"the best of the worst" or

"the worst of the best."

Neither of those categories

is where God wants you to be.

Take a step today to grow in your skills.

Take a class,

research online,

or find a mentor.

As you do,

you'll rise higher and higher.

You will stand before leaders and rulers,

and you'll live a life of excellence.

Why is this important?

Let me give you two reasons.

First, as God's people, we should

be our absolute best at everything we do.

The Holy Spirit within us produces excellence

in all areas of life.

Second, as we grow in our skills

and are promoted as this verse implies,

we increase our earning potential.

It's a simple truth: the more we have,

the more we can give.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, today I choose to rise out of mediocrity.

I choose to give my very best to everything I do.

Teach me to live skillfully so that my life

is a continual praise to you.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Power of Praise

2010-09-27T03:14:00.000-07:00

No unbelief or distrust

made him waver (doubtingly question)

concerning the promise of God,

but he grew strong

and was empowered by faith

as he gave praise and glory to God,

Romans 4:20 (AMP)

Sometimes we are tempted to believe

that praise and worship during a church service

is just the "warm up" for the sermon.

I know people who habitually come in late

so they can skip this part of a worship service.

Others will, for some strange reason,

stand out in a church lobby and chat

even after a worship encounter has begun.

If this is your attitude,

let me challenge your to consider the

power of praise.

Praise is the most powerful force at our disposal.

Praise is putting faith into action.

Just as putting your physical body into action

makes it grow stronger,

putting your faith into action

through prayer and praise

will cause you to grow strong as well!

Today's verse tells us

No unbelief made him waver

regarding the promise of God.

Abraham was able to remain

steadfast because he activated

his faith through praise.

To waver means to go back and forth,

like a tree blowing in the wind,

or like a politician who makes decisions

based on polling data rather than

his/her convictions.

Spiritual wavering is when we go

back and forth in believing the

promises of God.

Spiritual wavering shows itself

in our words and actions.

When you speak contrary to God's promises,

you are wavering and unsteady.

This verse does not say

that Abraham never had unbelief

or doubting thoughts.

It says that he didn't waver--

he did not allow his

words or actions

to go against God

no matter what he was thinking.

He took captive every thought

and stood strong through His

praise and worship!

Praise stabilizes us!

It makes us strong.

It's hard to be negative

when you are singing a song

of praise to Him.

Determine today to stand strong in worship.

Put your faith into action with your words

and watch what God will do no your behalf!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY!

Heavenly Father, today I choose to bless Your name.

I thank You for life. I thank You for breath.

I thank You for provision, healing, strength, and joy.

I praise You for abundantly supplying all my needs

so that I can be a blessing to others.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

What Are You Wearing?

2010-09-24T01:57:00.000-07:00

Provide for those who grieve...

a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:3

What are you wearing today?

Not on your physical body,

but what is covering your mind

and emotions?

Are you cloaked in despair

and disappointment?

Are you wearing "heaviness?"

God's desire is to give you new clothes.

He wants to exchange the hurt you are wearing

for His healing.

He wants to remove your turmoil

and clothe you in His peace.

He wants to discard your sadness

and wrap you in His joy.

Are the garments of yesterday

holding you back and weighing you down?

Maybe it's time to exchange that heaviness

for His garment of praise.

Perhaps it's time to release those heavy burdens.

It's time to forgive those who have hurt you

and begin to praise your way to victory!

You can start by thanking God for the

life you have right now.

Thank Him for the opportunities today

has to offer.

Thank Him for the beautiful sunrise.

When you wear that garment of praise,

you will stand strong and display His splendor

all the days of your life!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I humbly come to You asking

that You take my old, heavy garments of despair

and heaviness.

Make me new today.

Give me a garment of praise so that I can

be a display of Your glory and splendor.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

God Cares

2010-09-23T02:34:00.001-07:00

You keep track of all my sorrows.

You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book.

Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

I'm sure all of us have wondered

if God really cares about us.

With so many people on the earth,

does God even know who we are.

These thoughts can be especially true

during times of difficulty

when we feel isolated and alone.

Be encouraged today!

You are not alone.

You are very important to God

and He cares about every detail of your life.

In fact what you are going through

is so important to Him that He records

every sorrow and collects every tear

you have ever shed.

Why would God record your sorrows

and collect your tears?

It's because He loves You so much.

He is your Vindicator.

He is keeping an account of every wrong

that's ever been done to you

so that He can make up for every single

one of them.

He wants to restore everything

that has ever been stolen.

He wants to heal every single hurt and pain.

He sees the longings and desires of

your heart, and you can rest assured

that behind the scenes He is working

things out for your good!

God is with you!

He is on your side!

He has your best interest at heart,

and He is working to bring restoration

and peace to every area of your life.

Have a blessed & powerful day!
Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and setting me free.

Thank You for being my Vindicator.

I choose to release every hurt, pain and sorrow,

knowing that You will make all things new.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Prisoners of Hope

2010-09-22T04:30:00.001-07:00

Return to your fortress,

O prisoners of hope;

even now I announce that

I will restore twice as much to you.

Zechariah 9:12

God's desire is to fulfill every promise

He has made to you.

He is not a promise breaker.

Life hurls difficult challenges our way.

At times, we are tempted to believe

that our lives will never get better.

During hard times it is easy to succumb

to the notion that our lot in life

is to be on the bottom,

wallowing in disappointment.

But God says that He wants

to restore to you twice as much

as what's been stolen from you!

In order for this to happen,

you must do your part and stay

filled with hope.

Remaining hope-filled means

that no matter how long you've been

in your negative circumstance,

no matter how many setbacks you've

had to deal with,

you still get up each day with an attitude

that this could be the day that God

turns it all around!

The Bible teaches us that

the Name of the Lord is a strong tower.

When you put your trust and hope in Him,

you are in a fortress of strength.

Nothing can steal your joy,

peace, or enthusiasm.

You are positioned for victory!

You are positioned for power!

And you are positioned to receive

every promise God has made to you!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness.

Thank You for Your promise to restore every area of my life.

I choose to be a prisoner of hope,

trusting Your name alone.

I bless You today and always.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

In an Instant

2010-09-21T02:39:00.000-07:00

And in an instant, suddenly,

You shall be visited and delivered

by the Lord of hosts...

Isaiah 29:5-6 (AMP)

The Bible is filled with examples

of how God suddenly showed Himself

strong on behalf of His people.

When we struggle in an area

for a long time, it's easy to just

give up and accept things they way they are.

One of the enemy's favorite lies is to tell us

that nothing is ever going to change.

He'll whisper in your mind that

you're never going to get well,

that your marriage isn't going to work out,

that you're never going to break

that addiction.

The truth is, it doesn't matter

how long you've been in those

circumstances,

God can change things in an instant!

In a split second of time

He can turn it all around.

One touch from Almighty God can

instantly change your life!

Let me encourage you today

to keep believing and standing strong.

Resist the enemy's attempts to drag you down

because God is working behind the scenes.

Your deliverance is coming,

and your breakthrough is going to happen

suddenly!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, I choose to trust that You

are working things out for my good.

I choose to stand in faith,

believing that my season of breakthrough

is coming. Give me Your strength and

peace as I patiently wait on You.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Growing Stronger

2010-09-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

Isaiah 40:29

Perhaps you are familiar with the story of Joseph.

His story if found in Genesis, and there we learn

that he endured seasons of difficulty.

Joseph was rejected by his family,

sold into slavery,

lied about and mistreated,

abandoned,

falsely accused,

and thrown into jail.

(And sometimes we are tempted to think

that life is tough on us!)

Through it all, God never stopped working

on Joseph's behalf.

Joseph, himself, never gave up either.

He kept doing the right thing

even when the wrong thing happened.

Through his hardships,

God developed a supernatural strength

in him that no one could steal.

If you are going through difficulty today,

God wants to increase your strength.

He wants to increase your power to overcome.

He wants to make your inner man as strong as steel.

Strengthening the inner man

is much like strengthening your body.

In order to grow stronger physically,

you must push yourself.

You've got to lift more weight than you want to lift.

You've got to workout out an intensity level

that at the time is uncomfortable.

Likewise, spiritual strength

is forged in the fires of pushing

through difficult times.

It is when we hang in there,

don't give up,

and endure

that we experience God's strength.

When you keep standing,

keep believing,

keep doing the right thing,

you are opening yourself

to God's supernatural strength.

That's when you know you are growing in Him.

Be strong today!

Keep pressing forward

because God is at work

increasing strength in you

so that you can live in victory

in every area of your life!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, today I surrender every difficulty to You.

I release the questions, hurts, and frustrations.

I choose to trust You and do the right thing.

Increase Your strength in me so I can

live the victory You have in store for me.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Facing Adversity

2010-09-16T03:15:00.001-07:00

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Challenges and difficulties hit all of us.

God doesn't send these storms,

but He does allow us to go through certain things

in order to shape our character and prove our faith.

It is during these times of difficulty

that we can grow and develop.

God's desire is to use these tough times

to do a work in us.

He wants to strengthen and develop us.

Our attitude in times of adversity is the evidence

of our maturity.

How do we respond when people mistreat us?

Will we stay full of joy even when the bottom falls out?

Are we faithful, even during dry seasons,

when we don't see anything happening?

It takes effort to have the right attitude

during times of adversity,

but remember this:

your attitude is the key to your promotion.

As you maintain a positive attitude

of faith and expectancy,

even in times of adversity,

God will deliver you and move you forward!

Tough times never last...

people with a tough faith do!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father,

I want to grow spiritually and be more like You.

I choose to trust You in times of adversity,

knowing that You are working things out for my good.

Renew a right attitude within me by Your Holy Spirit.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Integrity

2010-09-15T01:27:00.001-07:00

A good name is more desirable

than great riches...

Proverbs 22:1

How do people think of you?

Can you be described as

trustworthy, faithful,

and a person who always does the right thing?

Or...

are you the one co-workers feel

they must watch out for, because

they never know what you are going to do?

It's easy to develop an attitude that says,

"Oh, I'm a pretty good person.

I do the right thing most of the time."

Or...

"Compared to most people, I'm very honest!"

Here's the problem with that kind of thinking.

You can veer off course just a little bit

and before you know it, you are miles away

from your destination.

And usually, it's the little things that

keep us from fulfilling God's destiny for us.

The Bible tells us that it's the little foxes

that spoil the vine.

Don't allow the little things to rob you.

Choose integrity--

even when no one is looking.

For example,

you may need some paper at home,

but you shouldn't take supplies from the office.

Or, you may be need some extra money this week,

but if the checkout clerk makes a mistake

and gives you back too much money,

that's not God's provision...

instead, that's a test of integrity.

If you'll be faithful and choose integrity

in the little things,

it will lead to great treasure in your life.

Integrity allows God to pour His blessing

on you as you honor Him all the days of your life.

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, today I commit to live a life of integrity.

I choose a life of excellence and ask Your hand of favor.

Show me any area that is not pleasing to You

so that I can continue to grow and increase in You.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Behind the Scenes

2010-09-14T02:40:00.001-07:00

And we know that in all things

God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

God is at work behind the scenes in your life today.

No matter what you may be facing,

no matter what trial you may be enduring,

God has a plan to us them for your good.

Right now, He is working out a plan

to turn things in your favor.

As you read this, rest assured that

God is orchestrating the right people

to cross your path.

He is orchestrating the right

opportunities to open up for you.

You may not see it yet,

and it may be invisible in the natural,

so observe with your eyes of faith today.

Keep standing.

Keep believing.

Keep hoping.

Keep following His Word.

Focus on His goodness in your life,

knowing that He rewards the people

who seek after Him.

As you meditate on the faithfulness of God

and show your love for Him by following His Word,

you will see His plan come to pass.

You'll experience His peace and joy,

and you will live in victory all the days of your life!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life.

I trust that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf.

Give me Your strength and peace today.

Fill me with Your Holy Spirit today,

and grant me Your faith to overcome.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Overcoming Disappointments

2010-09-09T03:01:00.001-07:00

Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

Isaiah 43:18

Disappointments are inevitable.

Everyone faces them from time-to-time.

It may be something simple like not

getting that promotion you were hoping for,

or not closing that big deal you

worked so hard on.

Perhaps you did not qualify for the house

that you really wanted.

Or, it may be something more serious:

a relationship is not working out,

the death of a loved one,

or some kind of illness in your body.

Whatever it may be,

the reality is that we are all going to

suffer setbacks.

One of the main keys to overcoming

disappointments is learning to let go of the past.

The past weighs you down and holds you back.

The past can be paralyzing.

If you are feeling "stuck" today,

you may want to examine what you are

holding on to.

Be willing to let go of the past

by choosing forgiveness.

Who hurt you?

Who wronged you?

Release it to God.

Do you need to forgive yourself?

Do you need to receive God's forgiveness?

Choose today to let go of the past

so that you can experience the bright future

God has for you!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, search my heart and mind today.

Show me any area where I may be holding on to the past.

Help me to receive Your forgiveness so that I can

extend forgiveness to others and move forward

in the wonderful plan You have for me.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Standing Firm

2010-09-08T03:05:00.000-07:00

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil.

He prowls around like a roaring lion,

looking for someone to devour.

Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT)

How does our enemy seek to devour us?

Many believers are being devoured by fear.

Fear is our enemy's favorite weapon

to keep us from experiencing all that

our Lord has in store for us.

When fear comes against you,

do you dwell on those defeating thoughts

or do you rise up and start confessing

the promises of God over your life?

If you choose to dwell on your fears

and think about all the reasons why you

can't do what God is telling you to do,

then in time you will develop a negative mindset

that will hold you back.

Once you let fear set in,

it is much more difficult to overcome.

Don't spend your life on the sidelines.

You have so much potential inside of you!

Don't allow the enemy to hold you back

with fear any longer.

Be bold and step out in faith!

Today is a new day!

It's your new beginning.

Just because you feel fear,

doesn't mean you have to follow fear.

Every person feels fear at some point.

The greatest men and women of the Bible

all had to deal with fear.

But when fear comes, don't give in!

Stay the course of faith and follow God's Word.

Break the negative power of fear over your life

and move forward into the freedom and joy He has in store for you!

Have a blessed & powerful day!

Kendall

A PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me strength

to stand strong against fear in my life.

I choose to have an attitude of faith and expectancy

by focusing on Your promises.

Today I am rising up and pressing forward

into the life of victory You have for me.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.