Daily Readings from It's Your Time: 90 Devotions for Activating Your Faith, Achieving Your Dreams, and Increasing in God's Favor by Osteen Joel

Author:Osteen, Joel [Osteen, Joel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Howard Books
Published: 2010-12-28T00:00:00+00:00

Today’s Prayer to It’s Your Time

Father, I’m preparing myself for the new things You will do in my life.

Today’s Thought to It’s Your Time

I can be good to people even when they are not good to me.

ENCOURAGE YOURSELF

DAILY READING 3:12

SCRIPTURE READING TO IT’S YOUR TIME PSALM 84:6

Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs; the early rain also fills [the pools] with blessings.

PSALM 84:6 (AMP)

A PASTOR FRIEND TOLD ME about a man in his congregation who was always complaining, always in need. My friend finally got tired of it. He prayed, “God, would you just move this man to another church? He is draining all my strength and energy, taking all my time.”

The pastor told me he heard God speak to him deep down inside. God said to him, “I won’t move him from your church. That man has kept you on your knees praying like nothing I’ve ever seen before!”

It’s not happening to you. It’s happening for you.

The fact is, we grow in difficult times. That’s when character is developed. Yes, it’s fun to be on the mountaintop where it’s easy but you are not being stretched. Growth comes when you have to overlook an insult, forgive a wrong, and do the right thing even when the wrong thing is happening.

I’m not saying anyone should ask for tough times. But when they come my way I’ve already made up my mind that I will not grow sour. I’ll not be bitter. I’ll be better. I’ll know God is trying to deposit something on the inside.

I love what David said: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . .” He didn’t say, “Though I live in the valley.” Or “Though I’m stuck in the valley.” Or “Though I’ll probably die in the valley.”

No, he described this valley as temporary. He said, “I will not die with these problems. This too shall pass.” The fact is, everyone faces challenges at some point, whether you have health problems, financial difficulties, or a struggling relationship. We all have something in the natural that could steal our joy and cause us to be worried. But we’ve got to keep things in perspective, like David, and say, “No, I’m going through this. This didn’t come to stay. It came to pass.”

If you are dealing with a challenge, you need to remind yourself all through the day, “This is temporary. I may be lonely right now, but I will not stay lonely. I know God will bring the right person into my life.”

Or “I may be wounded emotionally. I may be hurting on the inside. But I will not stay wounded. I know God is the restorer of my soul. He will bring healing and give me beauty for these ashes.”

Encourage yourself. Don’t settle in the valley of darkness. That is not your permanent address.

You’ll look up and think, I should be down. I should be stressed out. I have so much working against me. But I’m happy.

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