He Uses Our Difficulties (— Joel & Victoria Osteen )

mn];sw]:yip];tuiw];lgc]:yap],Puit],hw];

eKL:kYam];lik]:tL,miBw]:n}.'

!kgp]:pUiw]:n}El:sc],wL:'hG]:pQn]pun]:tL,sw]:Krit]:nn].' kw]etw}.sG]SUiw];nG];An]hqc];AUn]:nuc];sG] nn].' nG];An]pUin]:lUla}nn].' nG];An]kin];sG]nn].' nG];An]pUin]:tQk];sgm];nik]:sak]:cqn];ES; nn].' nG];tac];yap],Puit],sUiw];nn].yw]." pUiw]:wL:mUiw]:kw]KL:hqc];AUn]:nuc];sG]nn].' epL;nn]ekL: kw]mI;hqc];kqn],Kqc]w}.yw].eAL:"@
(2ekL;rin].'12;10'NIV)

eKL:kGam];tL,miBw]:n}.lbk].tI:kYOw];El:witBw];riySBc],pn]mL;'

hw];hL;tc];SQc]:l}:hUp].TUp];etL,cw];la}yap],Puit],tc];nm]nc],kn]yw]." kUn];mac]ekL.n}.Am],hQt]; etL,SUsgm];la};man],mqn]:suiw]:sG]:lInn].lG]' kan]can];SUn}.Am],Kiun]:yG],w};tan],SUmuc]:mgc];w}.nn]. lG]'Am],nn]ekL:' yUw]eK;SUn}.tuik].pQn]kUn];ekL.lQw]lqw];eSAm],p},l}:hUp].mI;Sun],man]etL,PG]eS ekL.nn].lG]hiuw]" tL,etpQn]sG]wac],wUiw]:kGL,pqt]:eSKIm}:sG]w}.yU,tac];nG];Agk];ngk];n}.' mn];pQn]ca}: nL,nL,yw]." SUAm],pgc],sG]sgm];lgc]:wL:hQt];Sc]El:mn];ep.mL;huin]nan];tan],nn].'Am],nn]ekL:' hQt];Sc]El:lgc]:tac];KUic]:pUic]tc];la}Kw]Am],pin],lqk],la}:Sc]nn]."

kUv];kL:nQn]kak],eSL;mn];n}.mI;nc],n}'-'ygn].kgp]:pUiw]:mn];pQn]Agc]:tI:An]Am],SL,sG]eSAit]; nn].El:' Am],KG]:pgc],wL:tI:nn]:n}.mn];Am],sG]:tI:SUkuic],tan],lIyU,lImI;w}.nn].n}Sc]" TL,wrL. JPL;sw]:n}.' yip];sG].lgc]:yap],Puit],tc];nm]tL,ethQt];kan]pn]nG];hw];An]nuic]:nn].AUiw]:" hw]; yG],mL:kL:Suc]mL;tI:nG];Kaw];yam];yap].yQn];Kan]sG]nn].yw]." nn].pQn]Kaw];yam];An]lgc]:kYac].tac]; km]hw];etPuin].PU;Kiun]:mL;nn].yw]." JPL;sw]:etAm],pn]l}:mI;mL;tac];yap],Puit],An]nuic]:ES:' Sc]sUiw].wL:mn];sw]:Am],mI;w}.AQn];Aan];yG],Tgt]:mYat]:An]nuic]:nn]." Sc]sUiw].wL:hw];Aan];KG]: hgt]:tI:Suc]Sut];nc],hqc];nm].kt].hw];mI;nn].epL;n}suic]' hw];tk];lUw]l}:tqp];tt];sG]hw];w}.wL:' !kw]etAm],pn]sG]kw]wac],wUiw]:kGL,ygn].kgp]:pUiw]:kw]Am],SL,sG]nn].Sc]" kw]etAm],sG]sL.eKL;KUm]' ygn].kgp]:pUiw]:KUic]:pUic]tc];la}n}.Am],Agk],pQn]mL;sgm];lgk];Kp].Kaw];yam];kw]mI;w}.nn].n}Sc]" kw]et Am],tuik];pqt]:mQw];An]kw]Am],kYOik]:Am],mqn]:sG]sUiw];nn].' kGL,kU:An]An]hQt];nn]Sc]"@ n}sUiw]; n}.nn]." PUiw],tL.ethQt];nn]' tL.yum],w}.lgc]:wL:JPL;sw]:n}.tuik].hQt];kan]mn];pn]tI:nG];SUw}. An]nuic]:yU,n}tL." yum],wL:mn];sw]:mI;An]lITiSut];tL,SUw}.yU,n}El:" eSEl:Aik],tUv];hn] wL: 'tUw]sw]:kw],n}.kaw].Kiun]:nL:kGL,nG];tac];Agc],ep.' An]mn];sw]:hac];hqn];Kp];Kiuc]w}.pn]tL,SU (mG];)nn].yU,n}El:"

eKL:SB;tgc];tL,miBw]:n}.'

sw]:AB:hw];tI:KL:' wn];mUiw]:n}.' KL:Aw]eKL:Tam]tc];la}'lgc]:sG]Sn],kGc]mw];Am],nim]Sw];l}:tc]; nm]' lgc]:l}:m}:yap],sG]sgm];tc];nm]' El:lgc]:Tac],TUim]cm];cw];w}.sUiw];nn].' yuin]:pn]sw]:hw]; mUt];mUt];yw]." mL;Et,SQn]:tac];sw]:tI:nG];kw]KL:eSkm];" KL:yum],ym]wL:sw]:hw];tuik].hQt];kan] mn];pn]' kL:tI:nG];cw];la};yap],Puit],kU:An]An]' sUiw];An]mI;nG];ASak]:Pwkw]KL:n}.yU,n}eAL:" sUm];tac],ekY;sU;SU;tgc];lUv]:nG];suiw]:sw]:ey,SueAL:" ALmin]:"

He Uses Our Difficulties

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

(2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

We all face difficult situations. Somebody isn’t treating you right; your business is not growing as fast as you had hoped, or maybe you’re single and still haven’t met anyone. It’s easy to get frustrated and anxious on the inside. You don’t understand why it’s taking so long or why things haven’t changed. But here’s a key: just because it’s an uncomfortable place doesn’t mean it’s not where you’re supposed to be. God uses difficulties to do a work in us. We grow in the tough times. That’s when our character is being developed. God will not allow a difficulty unless He has a divine purpose for it. If we’re going to reach our highest potential, we have to make up our mind, “I’m not going to live frustrated because I am uncomfortable. I’m not going to be upset because things are not happening on my timetable. I’m not going to fight against everything that I don’t like.” Instead, believe that God is doing a work in you. Believe that He has the best for you. And see yourself moving forward in the victory He has prepared for you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, today I give You my questions, frustrations, concerns and doubts. Have Your way in me. I trust that You are at work in every difficult situation in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

2 Corinthians 12:1-10, - Tai New Version (TNV)

2ekL;rin].'12;1-10'

lgc]:muc];yUic];ma}JSL,epL;lEl:nam]An]sUk].mn];

!¹kw]tk];lUw],l}:Suip],Sm],mqn]kGL,yU,yw]."pqk].Sm].wL:'mn];Am],mI;tL,l}:AI:Sc]n}ekL:'kw]etSuip],kGL,sgm];lgc]:muc]:yUic];ma}tc];la}El:lgc]:Kiun];puit],Enpn]sUiw];An]luk].tI:sw]:hw];mL;nn].eAL:"²kw]l}:hU.sk];kUn];sa};ekL.yum],yU,nG];sw]:Krit]:ekL.nuic]:'pQn]ekL.An]l}:Kam],tiAw]Kiun]:mUiw];mUic];kac]haw]TiSam]'mUiw]:pUn].mL;Sip];SI,pInn].eAL:"(mn];pQn]kGL,tc];tUw]huiw]'Am],nn]ekL:'Am],pL;tUw]Kic];mn];huiw]'n}Et.ekL:kw]Am],hU.')JPL;sw]:hU.eAL:"³El:Aik],kw]hU.wL:kUn];sa};ekL.n}.n}.'(mn];pQn]kGL,tc];tUw]huiw]'Am],nn]ekL:'Pat],tUw]Kic];mn];nn].kGL,eShuiw]'n}Et.ekL:kw]Am],hU.'kUv];kL:JPL;sw]:hU.)'⁴lgc]:wL:mn];l}:Kam],tiAw]Kiun]:mUiw];mUic];KYam];SL,nn].eAL:"mn];l}:yin];mQw];An]Am],sac]:puit],Agk],mgk],lat]:Enl}:'mQw];An]Am],mI;PG]ekL.lG]ekL:mI;AKGac].mgk],lat]:l}:nn].eAL:"⁵kw]KL:etSm],mqn]lat]:lgc]:kUn];sa};mUin]mn];nn].yw].'kUv];kL:kw]etAm],Sm],mqn]lat]:lgc]:tUw]sw]:kw],'pqc],lUiw]eSlgc]:kw]KL:hqc];AUn];nuc];sG]nn]."⁶etL:nc],Sc]wL:'kw]tk];lUw],l}:lUik]:tac];Sm],mqn]nn].n}ekL:'kw]etAm],hQt];kUn];ygc],'kgp]:pUiw]:kw]etAup],lat]:lgc]:Aman],JtL;nn].eAL:"kUv];kL:kw]Ew:An]nn].yw].'nn]sc],etAm],mI;PG]ekL.lG]Tac],yG],kw]nm]lUiw]eS'An]AL,mKam],pn]sgm];An]kw]hQt];Am],nn]lat]:nn].'⁷Am],nn]ekL:'ygn]lUv]:lgc]:Kiun];puit],Enpn]An]yG],lUc]Kqm].tgn];lUiw]nL,sUiw];n}.nn].eAL:"pUiw];n}El:'tL,hG]:kw]epL;kac];kn]yan]k}kn]tc];'An]pQn]mL;ekL.Tac],yG],tUw]sw]:kw]pUn].nn].'mn];mI;An]pn]hG]:nam]sUk].nG];tUw]nUiw].nc]kw]w}.SQn]:nuic]:'hG]:kUn];SUc],Kaw],PIsL,tn],ekL.nuic]:'mL;nik]:sak];cqn];ES;kw]w}.yw]."⁸kw]KL:lw]:lat]:Tuic]tI:sw]:hw];Sam]pgk]:'ygn];hG]:mn];sw]:Aw]An]nn].Agk],nG];kw]KL:pqt]:n}yw]."⁹kUv];kL:mn];sw]:lat]:kw]KL:wL:'!kbc],ekY;sB;kw]n}.kbm],TBn]:lItL,mG];yB,'piBw]:wL:AQn]hqc];kw]n}.hQt];w}.hG]:Kqm].lqp]:man],mqn]:suiw]:sG]lI'nG];miBw]:hqc];ABn]:nuc];sG]nn].AUiw]:"@wL:n}eAL:"kgp]:n}El:'kw]KL:etSm],mqn]pL;tc];sUm];SUiw];eSAup],lat]:lgc]:kw]KL:hqc];AUn]:nuc];sG]nn].nm]nm]yw].'pun]:nc],huiw]AL,nL,sw]:Krit]:etmL;luiw]:mI;w}.nUiw]kw]KL:nn].eAL:"¹⁰kgp]:pUiw]:n}El:sc],wL:'hG]:pQn]pun]:tL,sw]:Krit]:nn].'kw]etw}.sG]SUiw];nG];An]hqc];AUn]:nuc];sG]nn].'nG];An]pUin]:lUla}nn].'nG];An]kin];sG]nn].'nG];An]pUin]:tQk];sgm];nik]:sak]:cqn];ES;nn].'nG];tac];yap],Puit],sUiw];nn].yw]."pUiw]:wL:mUiw]:kw]KL:hqc];AUn]:nuc];sG]nn].'epL;nn]ekL:kw]mI;hqc];kqn],Kqc]w}.yw].eAL:"@(2ekL;rin].'12;1-10' NIV)

2 Corinthians 12:1-10,(NIV)

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn

    ¹ I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. ² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. ³ And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴ was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. ⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. ⁶ Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Love Drives Out Fear (— Joel & Victoria Osteen )

lgc]:hk].luip]:Agk],pqt]:lgc]:kUw]

eKL:kYam];lik]:tL,miBw]:n}.'

!nG];tac];hk].n}.mn];Am],mI;lgc]:kUw]Sc]yw]." kUv];Am],kL;' tac];hk].sqt];sac],n}.luip]:Agk],pqt]: lgc]:kUw]nn].yw].'..."@
(1ygn]<'4;18'NIV)

eKL:kGam];tL,miBw]:n}.lbk].tI:kYOw];El:witBw];riySBc],pn]mL;'

wn];mUiw]:lQw]n}.'

eKL:kYam];lik]:mgk],lat]:pn]hw];wL:'JPL;sw]:n}.pQn]tac];hk].n}yw]." mn];sw]:n}.sqt]:sac],' eS el:tac];hk].mn];sw]:n}.sqt]:sac],eAL:" mn];Am],mI;AI:Sc]An]SUsac]:hQt];hG]:mn];JPL;sw]: hk].SUnm]nm]' eSAm],kL;'Am],mI;AI:Sc]An]SUsac]:hQt];hG]:mn];sw]:hk].SUeA,eA,nn]." tac]; hk].mn];sw]:mI;w}.nUiw]SUn}.mI;tL,eS,Am],Tat],Am],Sut]:Am],hUn]" mn];Am],pin],lqk]:la}:kGL,eS pgk]:" Kqn]mn];sw]:n}.yuin];hgt]:lqn];Tuic]SUw}.yU,tL,eS,' eSEl:' mn];sw]:n}.hqn];tUw]tn];w}. tL,eS,' pun]:tL,SUmL;sU;mL;hLmn];sw]:nn].eAL:"

mac]pgk]:mac]lG]n}.kUn];tc];la}Kw]Am],epL;lp].lgc];lItI:wL:' JPL;sw]:etKam],sL;hn]Tuic]nUiw]Kw] sUic].huiw]n}nn]." Kw]Tac],wL:yUw]eK;mn];sw]:etsG]lm]S}:km],etL,Kw]w}.huiw]n}' kUv];kL:eKL:kYam]; lik]:mgk],lat];pn]hw];w}.' An]Kt];Kiun];mn];nn].kUv];yw]." JPL;sw]:n}.Am],sG]lm],S}km],etL, SUSc]' mn];sw]:n}.pg},tUw]pg},sG]eShk].SUTUn]:TI;nL,Am],tan],nn].kUv];&" pqk].wL:SUl}:hQt];AI: Sc]mL;' Am],nn]' luk].tI:lG]mL;n}ekL:yL,tL.' Ek:Kqn]nG];wac]:hUw]AUk];JPL;sw]:n}.puit],hp].tgn]: SUw}.yU," mn];sw]:n}.mgc];KG]:EnSUlgc]:lImn];sw]:El:kuc],ekY;sU;mn];sw]:nL,nL,yw]." pQn]sG] es,tnL,mqt].tL,yG],mn];sw]:nn].yw].' An]Agn]hQt];hG]:hw];ngc],twa},sG]Kiun];eSpin],lqk]:la}: pn]la};tac];hQt];hw];nn]."

wn];mUiw]:n}.'puit],Puv],mak],hUw]sG]SUpn]mn];sw]:eShp].Aw]tac];hk].sqt]:sac],mn];sw]:El:" pn] hG]:mn];mL;luip]:Agk],pqt]:lgc]:kUw]An]mI;nG];ASak]:PwSUnn].eS' hQt];hG]:SUpQn]ekL.mG]kUn];mG]mL; nn].El:" pn]hG]:tac];hk].mn];sw]:Suk]:lac].pn]SUmUt];SG]eSekL,Sac]:lgc]:yum],mn]:tm];sG]tI: nG];SUnn].El:" ygn].kgp]:pUiw]:tac];hk].yG],lUc]mn];sw]:El:' hw];sac]:w}.sG]ht];ht];nUk],nUk], eSmL;sU;mL;hLmn];sw]:eSEl:' sac]:l}:hp].Aw]krunL,Aik],tac];lImac],klL,An]mn];sw]:Sim]; pqc];mI;w}.pn]nn].yw]."

eKL:SB;tgc];tL,miBw]:n}.'

sw]:AB:hw];tI:KL:' KL:tac],ekY;sU;sw]:pun]:An]sw]:hk].kw]KL:w}.Kqm].lqp]:nL,n}.KL:eAL:" KL:KG]:hU. sk];sw]:hw];nm]nm]' eSKG]:hU.lgc]:tac];hk].sw]:hw];eAL:" lUv]:tac];yum],mat];eSKL:hp].Aw] tac];hk].sw]:hw];yw].mUiw]:n}.' eSEl:Aik],' ygn];hG]:sw]:Enpn]kw]KL:SQn]:tac];la};tac];sw]: hw];nn].eS' PUim].Tqm]SG],pn]kw]KL:lUv]:lgc]:cm];yQn]sw]:hw];hG]:tQm]w}.pik];pik];' sgm];nc],KL:Aw] mak],hUw]sG]El:sG]KL:Sw];w}.tI:sw]:hw];nn].eSkm];"SU;tgc];lUv]:nG];suiw]:sw]:ey,SueAL:"ALmin]:"

Love Drives Out Fear

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear...”

(1 John 4:18, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Scripture tells us that God is love. He is perfect, and His love is perfect. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more and nothing you can do to make Him love you any less. His love toward you is steadfast; it’s unchanging. His arms are always stretched out toward you, and He is always ready for you to come to Him. Sometimes people aren’t sure how God feels about them. They think He might be mad at them, but scripture tells us just the opposite. God’s not mad at you; He’s madly in love with you! It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or where you’ve come from, God’s arms are open to you. He’s longing to show you His goodness and grace. It’s His kindness that leads us to repent and change our ways. Open your heart to Him today and receive His perfect love. Let it drive fear out of your life and make you new. Let His love wash over you and build confidence in you. Because of His great love, we can boldly come to Him and receive the mercy and blessings He has in store.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, thank You for loving me perfectly. I want to know You more, and I want to know Your love. I receive it by faith today and ask that You show me Your ways and fill me with Your peace as I keep my heart and mind stayed on You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen