Joy Comes With The Morning, Devotion By Curtis Edwards

Start your day by seeking Christ. At the beginning of your circumstance, choose to praise His name. Engage God at the beginning and seek Him for wisdom. Seek His counsel. Seek God for guidance. Seek His heart.No matter where you are on your journey — choose to praise the Lord. Let your life become a living declaration of His goodness. 

If you want to experience God's best, put your relationship with Him on the top of your list. Stay focused on Him and on the things that truly matter. What are you aiming at and striving for in your life today? Are you seeking His Kingdom?

God is always at work behind the scenes in your life. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. He is able to turn every circumstance around for our long range good.

When difficult times or temptations come, we can stand firm knowing that God Himself is at work in us. He has given us His strength, and He has eqquipped us with everything we need to live as overcomers in this life. Faith in Him that open the door to His power in your life!

God's peace do not come from human beings, the natural mind does not understand it. This peace is exercised through a life in the spirit. When we have the peace of God, our problems, whether big or small do not cause anxiety. The peace of God guards your soul and protect you so your condition and circumstances do not govern you!

None of us are exempt from suffering loneliness, dicouragement or unjust criticsm, why? Because those are things Jesus experienced and we need to experience them too, for God to develop the character of Christ in us. He can use our current trouble to teach us to trust Him, show us how to help others and draw us closer to other believers.

Are there people or activities in your life that you know you need to separate yourself from? The bible says that bad company will corrupt good morals! Separate yourself from corrupting influences, those influences are more than people but everything that you are allowing into your mind. Don't fill your mind with things that are going to pull you down. What you think about determines the quality and direction of your life!

Are you facing a situation that seems dark today? As a believer God promises that your path will shine brighter and brighter as you seek His truth and righteousness in every situation. No matter what you may be facing today in your life, take time to ask the Lord to shine His light on your thought and the activities of your life!

There are lots of times we don't realize that our own thinking that's keeping us from being our best. Examine your thought life, what are you thingking about? Have you allowed negative stronghold to form? You have to give your thought life over to Him. The way we think can be changed by the word of God

A person of integrity is a person who is faithful not only in the big things but also in the small things. Having integrity is important to God. Integrity is the foundation upon which God build a successful life. What is integrity? It is being who you say you are and doing what you say you are going to do.

There are things in our lives that can choke the seed of the word, the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of greed and selfishness acts as thorns that stop the seed from growing. For the seed to take root we need to stand strong during the difficult times when persecution and challenges come.

What are you looking at today? Where is the focus of your attention? Don't just look at your problems day in and day out, lift up your eyes and look toward heaven. We naturally move in the direction that our eyes are looking. As you lift your eyes to the Lord He will take you to places of greater victory than you ever thought possible.

There are something God want you to accomplish, somebody needs what you have! Find your purpose in God, He will lead you, guide you and prosper everything you put your hand to. Live a life of no regret!

Is there any area of your life that needs light tosay? The bible tells us that God's word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path. Whatever is going on in your life right now, God promises to illuminate and shed light every area of your life!

The Lord longs to pour out blessings on you constantly even when you sleep. He want you to enjoy your sleep as a time of blessing and refreshing. Make a decision today to enjoy the blessing of the Lord as you sleep tonight. Before you go to bed cast your cares on Him. Allow the Lord to bless and refresh you in sleep, you will see a tremendous change in your waking hours

Sometimes we Christian miss out on the blessing of God because of a lack of commitment and faith. We are sometime unwilling to stay the course when we are confronted with criticsm or opposition. Today, let us stay focus and ready to step up to do what God has called you to do. As you do your part, God is ready to fight your battle for you!

As a believer in Christ, you are now a citizen of God's Kingdom. You are an ambassador of heaven. As an ambassador of heaven, you represent God on earth. Reflect Him well by living in the peace , freedom and forgiveness He die for.

Don't let lies from the enemy or pressure from the world keep you from taking hold of everything the Lord has for you! No matter what today has in store, as a child of God, you can approach every day with boldness and confidence, because the Lord is with you and in Him is everything you need in life.

God want to do great things in your life! Do not let fear be a factor in the choices you make in life. Overcome fear by meditating on the promises of God's love and goodness in your life. The bible tells us that perfect love cast out all fear!

The best way to ease stress in your life is to get your mind off of the pressure by reaching out to help somebody else. Remember what you sow, you shall reap. When you sow life and strength into others you will be refreshed and renewed in return. Today, begin to serve and allow God to use you as you serve others!

Sometimes the challengs in life can seem like overpowering mountains. Have you been up against something that you can't seem to find a way around? Speak God's word to whatever mountain you are facing and watch it crumble out of your way! Be encouraged today because God has given you the power and authority to speak to those mountains!

Do you have behaviors in your life that you want to stop? Maybe it's a habit, a bad attitude or even negative mindsets. No matter what you may want to change in your life, you have to start by changing your thoughts. When you repent (change) and make a decision to follow Christ in every area of your life, you open the door for His supernatural power to work! Change your mind today by changin your words. Speak God's word, confess His word.

We all have areas of our lives that something feel dried up and lifeless. When you choose to trust God and release every area of your live to Him, you will see His power working in your life. Put your dead dreams, lifeless goals, or dry ambitions in His hands and then watch to see the faithfulness of God!

He created you to reflect His character, His righteousness and His holiness. Knowing that should make you and I think a little more carefully about where we go and what we choose to do with our time. God created you to reflect His glory!

Did you know that your live will move in the direction of your most dominant thoughts. We have to make sure our thoughts are the same as God's thought. Just like a computer, whatever you allow into your mind is what will come out in your attitude and action (Proverbs 23:7 kjv ). Choose today to focus on the word of God and allow your mind to be renewed.

God desires that you live in victory in every area of your life! No matter what you maybe facing today, God want to make you more than a conquer. Start today by thanking Him for His goodness and the promise to give you the victory. Magnify your God don't magnify your problem!

Our God is a generous God. He loves to do exceeding beyond anything we can hope for or imagine. It gives Him pleasure to pour out His abudance and goodness in your life today. When you follow His word, when you do things God's way, you get God's results. Choose God's Kingdom, follow the word of God in everything you do!

Are you free today? Are you truly free? So many people hear that God wants to set them free, but yet still walk around feeling defeated and carrying unnecessary burdens. This morning, embrace the freedom that Jesus paid for. He has a plan for you to be "truly free" in every area of your life! Accept His freedom and walk with Him.

You may feel you are surrounded by all kinds of difficulties and you are tempted to just settle right where you are because it seems like there is trouble in every direction. Remember, God is still working behind the sceen in your life arranging things in your favor. He is your way maker, He is your deliverer!

Time is one of the most valuable assets that God has given us. Paul encourages us to "be careful how you live" making the most of your time. How are you spending your time? Do you have priorities in order? Are you investing in solid relationship with your family and friends? If you realize that your life has lost it's God given focus don't wait another day to get back on course.

Everyone goes through time in life when they feel a little lonely or wonder where they belong. God designed "family" to always be a place of love and acceptance. Jesus said in Matthew 12 that those who do God's will are His family, when you are part of the family of God, you are never alone! God wants to give you a circle of people that you can trust, who will embrace and accept you and encourage you in the things of God. You are not alone! You are loved!

The Lord has crowned your years with bounty and goodness. God has set up a system so that you can access His blessing. It is the principle of seedtime and harvest time. The principle is simple, if you have a need in your life, sow a seed! The bible says,"The amount you give will determine the amount you get back ,Luke 6:38."

When difficulties arise in your life focus on the fact that greater is He who live in you! He has provided peace for you even in the midst of your trials. When life seems uncertain you can have confidence because He has already overcome the world!

When doors look closed all around you, when your surrounding looks limited, when you feel like you are in chain remember God is still at work in your life. Like Paul, keep your hopes up, keep expecting! He is able to open the doors of opportunity in your life that no man can shut!

When you set your thoughts on higher things, you are looking at life through your eyes of faith. As you set your thoughts on higher things, your faith will become stronger and you will begin to see those promises of God become reality in your life!

Living a life of peace takes effort, it's something we have to work at each day. Living at peace doesn't mean you have to agree with everyone all the time, it means you seek to find the common ground. It means you don't have to be right all the time. It means you honor and esteem others. Whatever it takes, make the decision to be a peacemaker.

How do you excel in life? Just as muscle grows when you exercise it, your love grows when you exercise it and the grace to give grows when you exercise it. Take the step today and excel in your giving and set the blessing of God into motion in your life!

We are ambassador of Jesus and we should look for opportunities to build up the people around us. Do not belittled people but overlooked their faults and limitations and celebrate their strengths. Be a people builder, help build the lives of people that are around you!

God wants to do something new in your life! His plan for you today is full of blessing, His plan is to give you a future and a hope. No matter what you are facing in life today, focus on the truth that God is working on your behalf.

Is there someone in your life who has wrong you? The bible tells us that we need to release and forgive others so God can forgive us. Forgiveness puts God in charge of that situasion instead of you! A true sign that you have forgiven is that when you think about the other person or see them, you are at peace.

How are you investinh in the lives of the people around you? Are you helping others get ahead? Begin today to do your part and step out and sow a seed for someone else. Be on the lookout for ways you can help others. You are blessed so that you can be a blessing!

Do you spend all your time meeting the needs of other people but neglecting your own needs? Eventually you will burn out and you won't be able to be a blessing to others! Take time to invest in yourself! Living a balanced life brings peace, joy and health to every area of your life

Don't allow the circumstances of life to drag your thoughts down. Choose to think God's thoughts by meditating on His word. Set your mind on things above. Choose today to focus on the good things God has in store for you!

God wants every area of your life to be alive and filled with abundance. God is the source of all life and when you seek Him, you will find Him and the result will be everlasting life!

Remember the faithfulness of God in your life, never lost sight of who God is. He is your sure foundation. If you base your hope on pleasant circumstances or on certain expectation, you will be disappointed. But if your hope is based on God's everlasting, unconditional and unchanging love for you, your hope is on a sure foundation!

God promise that when you go through difficulty, He will be right there with you. You are going to make it because He is with you and when you come out, you will come out stronger, wiser, more alive and better than you were before.

God has uniquely gifted you to do something on this earth that no one else can accomplish. Do not let fear and adversity keep you from using your wealth of talents and abilities to make a difference in the lives of those around you!

I can tell you this morning that God is not only able but He wants to do just that, multiply to you by thousands.

Do you believe you can ever accomplish your dream or even get out of debt? Or even be healthy again? There may not be a way in the natural but God can do what man can't do! He is the way maker!

The all knowing, all powerful creator of the universe wants to be your friend. He wants to talk, walk with you and share life with you. That's why He created you first and foremost for fellowship.

Your words have creative power, and when you speak those words of faith and victory, you are bringing them to life. Speak God's favor and blessing over every area of your life today!