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The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 6:63

JOEL & VICTORIA OSTEEN


Pastors of Lakewood Church

New Beginning
Scripture quotations noted NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by Permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations noted The Message are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture quotations noted NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations noted Amp are taken from THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) Scripture quotations noted NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Promises for a

Gods

2008 Joel Osteen Ministries

F R O M JOEL & VICTORIA


Dear Friend, Congratulations! You have made the most important decision in your life. Victoria and I are excited about your decision to begin a new life with Jesus! Our heartfelt desire is to help you reach your full potential and fulll your God-given destiny. We encourage you to give us a year of your life. Let us teach you about Gods Word. Let us pray for you and help you grow and mature into the Champion God created you to be.

Inside this booklet you will nd materials to help you along your new journey with the Lord. As you pray and study Gods Word, remember that God has great things in store for His children and believe this will be the best year of your life. Believing God with you,

Pastors Joel and Victoria

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction..............................................................4 2. How Can I Have New Life in Christ?........................10 3. How Can I Know Who God Says I Am?....................15 4. How Do I Let Go of the Past?..................................21 5. How Can I Find Strength in Adversity?...................26 6. How Can I Improve All My Relationships?................31 7. How Can I Grow in Character?................................38 8. How Can I Grow in Passion and Joy?......................43

Visit JoelOsteen.com or Lakewood.cc for service information and more ministry resources!

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

whats next?
The Christian life isnt about rules and regulations, its about a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, that will transform every area of your life! Our number one priority is to help you develop that relationship, which is why we have created two wonderful opportunities to help you grow in your new found faith in Christ.

1 If you live in the Houston, TX area, we encourage you

to be a part of our New Beginnings course which meets after every weekend service at Lakewood Church. We believe that once once you get a rm foothold on the path that God has planned for your life, thre is no limit to how high you can climb. The New Beginnings course is designed to be that rst step on your path toward total victory.

therefore, if anyone is in CHRIST, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

2 If you are unable to attend the New Beginnings class,


please take advantage of our online resources at JoelOsteen.com. Log on and walk through our New Beginnings course from your computer by clicking on the Did You Pray That Prayer box at the top of the screen. Also be sure to check out our Hope for Today section for many other free resources that will help build your faith and give you wonderful insights on nances, relationships and many other topics.

Welcome to your

NEW BEGINNING!

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

Congratulations on your decision to begin a new life with Jesus!


Here are a some important things you can do to build a strong foundation for your spiritual life with God:
You have been changed on the inside. The Holy Spirit now lives inside of you. You didnt change on the outside; the change is in your spirit. You may not feel different, but as a Christian, you should not base your life on what you feel. You should base your life on what you believe. And we believe Gods Word which says, If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). God has a plan for your life. God has a wonderful plan for you! He wants you to reach your full potential. Jeremiah 29:11 says your life is full of purpose and God has a divine destiny for you! Join New Beginnings. New Beginnings is a 7-week class. This life-changing class teaches the foundation of a successful Christian living. New Beginnings is held after every weekend service in the North Lobby. Make new friends. Your friends have a powerful impact on you. Dont let your friends and your old way of life pull you down. Invite your friends to church. If they dont come to church with you, God will bring new friends into your life that will encourage you in the things of God.

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

Be baptized. Once you are born again, the first commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ is to be baptized in water (Matthew 28:19-20). This is a public display of your decision to follow Him. Water baptism represents the death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Make plans to be baptized soon! Pray. Prayer is our way to communicate with God. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages us to be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. Begin each day communicating with the Lord. Begin with praise. Thank Him for all He has done in your life. Confess your mistakes. The Bible tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive... (1 John 1:9). Then intercede for those things that concern you the most. Pray for the needs of others your family, co-workers and friends. Talk to the Lord every day He is interested in the things that concern you. Read the Bible. The Bible is Gods love letter to you. It is one way that God communicates His plans and purposes for your life. The Bible is full of Gods promises for you. Begin by reading just one or two chapters from the book of John, plus one Psalm and a Proverb from the Old Testament each day. As you read His Word, God will reveal things to you that can be applied to your daily living.
GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING 7

RESOURCES
There are many resources available to you on the web. Visit JoelOsteen.com to sign up for our free podcast and daily e-votional, and check out our online streaming where you can enjoy previous messages from Joel. For more information to help you in your walk with God, Visit the website for resources designed to help you grow in every area of your life.

Visit JoelOsteen.com and subscribe to our free weekly audio & video podcasts.

Everyday, receive an inspirational e-mail from Joel & Victoria that will energize your daily life! Sign up at JoelOsteen.com.

NATIONAL TELEVISION LISTINGS

Sunday 11:00pm* Sunday 7:00pm Monday 11:00pm Friday 8:00pm Sunday 12:00pm Tuesday 9:00pm (CST)

Special One-Hour Program

Sunday 8:30am*

Monday 12:00am*
* Dual Feed; Airs at time listed on both EST & PST.

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

WE BELIEVE... the entire Bible is inspired by God, without error and the authority on which we base our faith, conduct and doctrine. WE BELIEVE... in one God who exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to this earth as Savior of the world. WE BELIEVE... Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for our sins. We believe that salvation is found by placing our faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross. We believe Jesus rose from the dead and is coming again. WE BELIEVE... water baptism is a symbol of the cleansing power of the blood of Christ and a testimony to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. WE BELIEVE... in the regular taking of Communion as an act of remembering what the Lord Jesus did for us on the cross. WE BELIEVE... every believer should be in a growing relationship with Jesus by obeying Gods Word, yielding to the Holy Spirit and by being conformed to the image of Christ. WE BELIEVE... as children of God, we are overcomers and more than conquerors and God intends for each of us to experience the abundant life He has in store for us.
GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING 9

CHAPTE R 1
The New Has Come

HOW CAN I HAVE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 As a follower of Christ, you are a new creation! You have a new spirit, a new walk, a new life! Are there old things in your life that you are trying to get rid of? Maybe you have old behaviors or addictions that you want to change. Remember, the new has come. Its a new year, and its time to be the new you. Let this year be the year you break old habits and addictions. Let this be the year that you move forward into a new life of victory. And your new life includes all the spiritual blessings the Lord has promised in His Word. You have the promises of peace, health, protection, and provision. Be encouraged today and know that no matter what is happening in your life right now, you can embrace the new life God has prepared for you. Make the choice today to leave the old behindleave behind old behavior, old thinking, old words. Embrace the new by faith, and youll move forward into the life of blessing the Lord has in store for you. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for making me new. Help me to understand Your plan for me so that I can fully embrace Your promises. I choose today to leave behind the old life and ask that You empower me by Your spirit today. In Jesus Name. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation . . . (NKJV)

1 Timothy 2:3-5
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . . (NIV)
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Romans 10:9-10
. . . if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justied, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (NIV) This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God Jesus is my Master embracing, body and soul, Gods work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. Thats it. Youre not doing anything; youre simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. Thats salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: God has set everything right between him and me! (The Message)

John 3:15-18
everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of Gods one and only Son. (NIV)

16-18 This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didnt go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing nger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that persons failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. (The Message)

Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godnot by works, so that no one can boast. For we are Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

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Ephesians 2:7-10
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. Its Gods gift from start to nish! We dont play the major role. If we did, wed probably go around bragging that wed done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. (The Message)

The Great Exchange


God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV If youve accepted Jesus today, you are the righteousness of God! That means you are an extension of His virtue. You are approved by Him. You are in right standing with Him. Jesus not only paid the punishment for your sins, the Bible says He actually became sin. He took it upon Himself and into His being so that you could take Gods righteousness upon yourself and into your being. Its the great exchange. Dont let sin hold you back any longer. Dont let the enemy lie to you and make you feel guilty and condemned. First John 1:9 says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If there is anything in your life that is holding you back today, confess it to God. Let Him cleanse you and make you new. Remember, He paid a precious price so that you could be His righteousness. Let that sink into your heart today. As you meditate on the truth that you are righteous, youll begin to change how you think and act. Youll reect more of Gods character, and you will move forward into the life of victory that He has in store! Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for cleansing me and making me new. Thank You for making me Your righteousness. Show me if there is anything in my heart that is displeasing to You. I choose to honor You with my whole being all the days of my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

Clothe Yourself
Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for indulging the esh. Put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature. Romans 13:14 AMP Is there something in your life that you would like to put a stop to today? Maybe its a certain behavior, addiction, or bad attitude that isnt pleasing to God? Just as Adam and Eve were exposed in their sin and needed to be clothed in the garden, we need to clothe ourselves to protect us from sin. When you clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be strong against temptation. How do you clothe yourself with Jesus Christ? In the same way you cover yourself in the natural with clothing. When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are covered and cleansed by His blood. You are restored and renewed. Then, cover your mind with the Word of God. Cover your ears by listening to the Word. Cover your eyes by watching only what is pleasing to the Lord. Cover your mouth by speaking the Word and encouraging those around you. As you cover yourself with Christ, you will be strong against temptation, and you will walk in the victory the Lord has planned for you! Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus to pay the penalty for my sins. Thank You for providing a way out of temptation so that I can stand clean before You. Help me stand strong as I submit every area of my life to You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Acts 2:36-39
Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucied, both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far offfor all whom the Lord our God will call. (NIV)

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

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Romans 6:6-11
For we know that our old self was crucied with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sinbecause anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (NIV) Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable lifeno longer at sins every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christs sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-theend. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. Thats what Jesus did. (The Message)

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV)

John 5:24
I tell you the truth, whoever hears My Word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (NIV)

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GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

CHAPTE R 2 HOW CAN I KNOW WHO GOD SAYS I AM?


Friend of God
Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called Gods friend. James 2:23 The All-Knowing, All-Powerful, Creator of the universe wants to be your friend today. He wants to walk with you and talk with you and share life with you. Thats why He created yourst and foremostfor fellowship. Its as simple as opening your heart of faith to Him. If you have faith in God today, then just like Abraham, you are Gods friend. And the Bible says that God is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. That means He is faithful. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. He is with you always. He is mindful of youthat means He is always thinking of you. What an honor and privilege it is to be called Gods friend! Let that sink down into your heart today. The next time the enemy tries to tell you that you are alone in this world, or that no one else understands what you are going through, just say out loud, I am a friend of God. With God as your friend, Hell walk forward with you down the path of victory He has prepared for you! Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being my friend today. Thank You for loving me and for being faithful to me. Help me to understand Your friendship today so that I can be a better friend to those around me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

2 Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christs victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere . . . (AMP)

Ephesians 2:10
For we are Gods masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)
GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING 15

Psalm 35:27
Let those who favor my righteous cause and have pleasure in my uprightness shout for joy and be glad and say continually, Let the Lord be magnied, Who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. (AMP)

Galatians 3:28-29
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise. (NIV)

Sweet Fragrance
For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ which exhales unto God 2 Corinthians 2:15 Did you know that your life is a sweet fragrance to God? Think about how a wonderful aroma affects you personally. When its springtime and the owers are blossoming, everything feels new again. The sweet aroma in the air is a sign that the owers are fresh and alive. It catches your attention! It makes you want to take a deep breath and partake of the wonderful sweet fragrance. God feels the same way about you! He loves wonderful aromas, and when you are living your life to please Him, its a beautiful fragrance that captures His attention! Just like the aroma in springtime is a sign that the owers are alive, the aroma of your life is a sign that Christ is alive in you. It is pleasing to the Father! The next time you experience a fresh fragrance, remember that your life is a fragrance unto God. You can rest in knowing that He is pleased with a heart that seeks after Him. As you continue to seek Him, youll be that sweet fragrance, and youll experience His wonderful hand of blessing in every area of your life. Prayer: Father in heaven, I come to You today surrendering all that I am. May everything I do please You and be a wonderful fragrance to You. Keep me close to You today and always. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, My grace is sufcient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christs power may rest on me. That is why, for Christs sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difculties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV)

8-10 At rst I didnt think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three
times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; its all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christs strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to sizeabuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. (The Message)

Judges 6:11-16
Then the angel of the LORD came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, Mighty hero, the LORD is with you! Sir, Gideon replied, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didnt they say, The LORD brought us up out of Egypt? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites. Then the LORD turned to him and said, Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you! But Lord, Gideon replied, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family! The LORD said to him, I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were ghting against one man. (NLT)

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

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Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (NIV) Oh yes, you shaped me rst inside, then out; you formed me in my mothers womb. I thank you, High Godyoure breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adorationwhat a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before Id even lived one day. (The Message)

1 John 3:1-3
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world dont recognize that we are Gods children because they dont know him. Dear friends, we are already Gods children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. (NLT)

Psalm 40:1-5
I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouthPraise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. (NKJV)

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GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

Ephesians 3:16-19
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into Gods love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all Gods people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (NLT)

The Apple of His Eye


Keep me as the apple of your eye Psalm 17:8 God cherishes and values you so much today. You are the apple of His eye; the center of His world! In this day and age, people are considered to be important for so many different reasonstitles, position, possessions, where you go, what you drive. But Gods value system is very different from the value system of the world. If youve ever thought that God has too many other important things on His plate to be concerned with you and your life, know this todayyou are Gods number one priority. And theres nothing you can do to be more important or less important. God values you today simply because He made you, and your value will never change. You are signicant. Your life is signicant. The things that concern you, concern God. He carefully watches over every detail of your life, and there is nothing too big or too small for His attention. Take your concerns and cares to the Father today. He loves to hear you call upon Him, and He is waiting to show Himself strong on your behalf. Because you are important to Him, He is ready to bless and empower you to live in victory all the days of your life. Prayer: Father in heaven, thank You for loving me today. Thank You for making me the apple of Your eye. I open my heart to You today and cast every care on You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

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John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. (NLT)

1 John 2:12-14
I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (NIV)

Galatians 4:6-7
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (NKJV)

5-7 Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, Papa! Father! Doesnt that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, youre also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance. (The Message)

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GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

CHAPT ER 3 HOW DO I LET GO OF THE PAST?


New Every Morning
His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB You may have done something last week or last month that youre not particularly happy about, but the good news is you dont have to carry that around with you. Thats part of what the Scripture means when it says that Gods mercies are new every morning. Gods mercy and forgiveness are available to you each and every day. His compassions never fail. That means that as soon as you call on Him and repent and change your ways, God pours out His compassion and forgiveness. Simply open your heart and receive it. You can have a new beginning every single day! Do you feel like theres something between you and God right now? Take a moment and call on His faithfulness. Call on His mercy. Ask for His forgiveness. Dont waste another moment in the past. Let Him refresh and restore your soul right now. Praise Him and thank Him for the work He is doing in your life and enjoy a fresh new beginning today! Prayer: God, I dont want to go through another day dragging the weight of the past. Thank You for opening the door of that prison and setting me free. Help me to claim and enjoy Your new mercies each day. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Philippians 3:13-14
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (NLT)

Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (NKJV)
GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING 21

Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (NIV)

28-30 Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and youll recover your life. Ill show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with mewatch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I wont lay anything heavy or ill-tting on you. Keep company with me and youll learn to live freely and lightly. (The Message)

Forget What Lies Behind


This one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind I press forward to what lies ahead. Philippians 3:13 Are you determined to forget what lies behind? I know many people dont fully understand what it means to forget the past. They wonder, How can I forget something thats happened to me? But one denition of the word forget means to disregard intentionally, or to overlook. You have to intentionally disregard your past so that it doesnt keep you from moving forward. That means the good and the bad. Sometimes our past victories keep us from rising higher as much as past failures. If we dont let go of the old, well never be able to embrace the new. It doesnt matter whats happened in your history, its time to forget what lies behind. Make the choice today to press forward. Trust that God has a better future in store for you. Trust that Hes working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you forget what lies behind and press forward, you will see the abundant life the Lord has in store for you! Prayer: Father in heaven, I choose to forget the past today. I dont 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.

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Hebrews 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (NKJV)

1-3 Do you see what this meansall these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means wed better get on with it. Strip down, start runningand never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and nished this race were in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed that exhilarating nish in and with Godhe could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now hes there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you nd yourselves agging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (The Message)

Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (NLT)

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV)

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)

Isaiah 61:7-9
Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor.You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be recognized and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are a people the LORD has blessed. (NLT)

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Isaiah 42:9
See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you. (NIV)

Romans 12:19
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, I will take revenge; I will pay them back,says the LORD. (NLT)

The Blessing of Forgiveness


Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalm 32:1 The Scripture is lled with keys to obtaining Gods promise of blessing. It says in Psalm 32 that you are blessed when your transgressions are forgiven. God extends forgiveness to everyone, but we have to do our part to receive the forgiveness. We have to repent, or change our ways, with open hearts. The Bible also tells us that if we dont forgive others of their trespasses against us, we cannot be forgiven. Is there anyone in your life today that you need to forgive? Is there someone who has hurt or wronged you? Make the decision to forgive so that you can walk in the blessing of Gods forgiveness for you. Remember, forgiveness doesnt condone wrong behavior. It simply releases the person from the debt they owe you so that God can release you from the debt you owe from your own transgressions. When you make the choice to forgive and allow God to heal your heart, you will be able to receive His forgiveness for you, and you will walk in His abundant blessing all the days of your life. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise of blessing in my life. I open my heart to You and ask that You cleanse me of anything that isnt pleasing to You. Search me and show me if there is any unforgiveness in my heart so that I can release it and walk in Your blessing for me today. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them nds mercy. (NIV)

Lamentations 3:25-27
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. (NIV) God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. Its a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. Its a good thing when youre young to stick it out through the hard times. (The Message)

Hebrews 12:15
Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. (NLT)

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CHAPTE R 4 HOW CAN I FIND STRENGTH IN ADVERSITY?


He Promises Peace
I will listen to what God the Lord will say; he promises peace to His people. Psalm 85:8 No matter what is going on in your life right now, the Lord promises that you can have peace. Notice in this verse that the psalmist is making the decision to listen to what God says. When you make the decision to listen to God and follow His direction, you will have peace. You may be thinking to yourself, God doesnt speak to me. But the Bible says that you are His sheep, you can hear His voice, and the voice of a stranger you will not follow. The Lord speaks in many wayssometimes through a friend, or a song, or in the beauty of nature. Sometimes its a simple knowing deep down on the inside of you. If you arent sure how God speaks to you, ask Him to teach you. All you have to do is open your heart and be willing to hear His voice. As you open your heart to Him, He will speak to your heart, and you will live in peace all the days of your life. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of peace. I open my heart to You and ask You to teach me to hear Your voice clearly. I give You all that I am today. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Ephesians 6:13
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (NIV)

Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. (NLT)

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Habakkuk 2:3
This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fullled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. (NLT)

Psalm 31:14-15
But I trusted in, relied on, and was condent in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God. My times are in Your hands; deliver me from the hands of my foes and those who pursue me and persecute me. (AMP)

Job 23:10
But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. (NLT)

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faithof greater worth than gold, which perishes even though rened by remay be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (NIV) I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the re comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, its your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. (The Message)

1 Thessalonians 5:18
. . . in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (NKJV)

16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (The Message)

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Walk Through
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. Psalm 23:4 NKJV Do you ever feel like you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death? During the tough times, its easy to get discouraged. I love what it says in the verse, though I walk through No matter what you are facing today, know this: you are not alone, and you are just walking through. You dont have to stop and live in the tough times. They are only temporary. I encourage you today; dont allow fear to paralyze you in the middle of the valley of the shadow of death. Remember, God is with you. He is walking beside you. He is strengthening you. He is making a way of escape for you. He is lining up people and situations to bring you out of that tough place into a place of strength and victory. Dont give up! Press on and walk through! Begin to get a vision of your life on the other side. See yourself more loving, more faithful, stronger and more blessed than ever before. As you keep moving forward and walking through, you will get to the other side and experience the victory God has in store for you! Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Thank You for walking with me even in the hard times. I trust that You are taking me through my circumstances to a place of victory and strength. In Jesus Name. Amen.

John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (NIV)

Luke 17:11-19
As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! He looked at them and said, Go show yourselves to the priests. And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
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One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, Praise God! He fell to the ground at Jesus feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, Didnt I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? And Jesus said to the man, Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you. (NLT)

Psalm 100:5
For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations. (AMP)

Wait on the Lord


But those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 Do you need strength today? Sometimes its easy to get down and discouraged when youre constantly looking at the circumstances of life. You may feel tired and weary from a long battle. But when you wait on the Lord, the Bible says your strength will be renewed. Waiting on the Lord means youre putting your trust and hope in Him. Youre living with an attitude of faith and expectancy. In the natural, if you are waiting for someone like a special dinner guest, youre probably not just sitting around the house wondering what will happen. No, youre probably preparing for that special person by straightening the house and making sure everything is perfect for their arrival. Most likely, you started weeks in advance making the menu and deciding what to wear! In the same way, when you are waiting on the Lord, it doesnt mean you are just sitting around, it means you are preparing for Him. Are you ready for God to move on your behalf? Are you waiting on Him? As you take a step of faith, Hell meet you there. Hell renew your strength and lead you into victory in every area of your life! Prayer: Father in heaven, thank You for Your promise to renew my strength. I choose to wait on You. I choose to trust You. I choose to prepare for You to move mightily in my life! In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Philippians 4:10-13
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (NIV)

Psalm 90:12
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. (NLT)

Psalm 145:14
The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. (NKJV)

1 Samuel 30:6
David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God. (NLT)

1 Peter 4:12
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. (NIV)

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CHAPTE R 5 HOW CAN I IMPROVE ALL MY RELATIONSHIPS?


Love Never Fails
Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8 We all have people in our lives that are difcult at times. Maybe its someone you work with, a family member or even your spouse. Relationships can be complicated, but remember: love never fails. The Word of God clearly denes love in 1 Corinthians 13. It says that love is patient and kind. It doesnt seek its own way. Love doesnt keep a record of wrongs. And most importantly, love never fails. Notice that this chapter doesnt talk at all about how you feel. Gods love isnt about feelings. Its a choice. You can choose to be patient, even when you dont feel like being patient. You can choose to be kind, even when you dont feel like being kind. No matter what situation you nd yourself in, you can choose love. You are never more like God than when you are walking in love. And when you are walking in love, you will never fail because love never fails. Open your heart to Gods love today. Ask Him to show you how to love others better. As you walk in love, youll nd peace and live in victory all the days of your life! Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love which never fails. Thank You for loving me so that I can be free to love others. Empower me, by Your Spirit, to walk in love no matter what I may face today. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Matthew 5:43-45
You have heard the law that says, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. (NLT)

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John 13:34-35
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (NLT)

1 Peter 4:8-9
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. (NKJV)

Esteem One Another


And walk in love (esteeming and delighting in one another) as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us Ephesians 5:2 We dont often hear the word esteem used very much in our culture, but the Bible tells us to esteem and delight in one another. One denition of esteem is to hold in high regard. That means we are to honor and value one another. You may not always agree with everyone around you. They may not always act honorably, but we are to honor and esteem people because they are valuable in the eyes of God. If you had a very costly and valuable piece of jewelry, you wouldnt just wear it to the gym or leave it on the kitchen sink. No, you would treat it carefully. You would put it in a safe place and protect it. When we see others as valuable, the way God sees them; we should treat them carefully as well. We should watch how we talk to other people. We should look for the good in others and honor them for who God made them to be. The Bible tells us that the way we treat others is like sowing seeds, and it will come back to you. Choose to esteem and delight in one another. Sow good seeds, and you will see a harvest of blessing in your own life in return! Prayer: Heavenly Father, today I choose love. I choose to honor the people around me. Help me to see the value in others the way You see the value in me. Help my actions and words to esteem and delight in others so that I can be an example of Your love and light. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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John 15:12-13
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down ones life for his friends. (NKJV)

11-15 Ive told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. Im no longer calling you servants because servants dont understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, Ive named you friends because Ive let you in on everything Ive heard from the Father. (The Message)

Ephesians 5:1-2
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didnt love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (The Message)

Romans 12:10-18
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our condent hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When Gods people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Dont curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Dont be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And dont think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (NLT)

Proverbs 26:18-19
Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, I was only joking. (NLT)
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1 Thessalonians 4:7-12
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (NIV)

Galatians 5:13-15
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the esh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fullled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! (NKJV) It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you dont use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; thats how freedom grows. For everything we know about Gods Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. Thats an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch outin no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? (The Message)

1 John 4:7-8
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (NLT)

James 2:8-9
Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. (NLT)

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Matthew 5:21-24
Youre familiar with the command to the ancients, Do not murder. Im telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother idiot! and you just might nd yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell stupid! at a sister and you are on the brink of hellre. The simple moral fact is that words kill. This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. (The Message)

Ephesians 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right. Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your motherthis is the rst commandment with a promiseThat all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them[tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord. (AMP)

Ephesians 5:22-24
Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands. (The Message)

Ephesians 5:25-28
Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the churcha love marked by giving, not getting. Christs love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. Theyre really doing themselves a favorsince theyre already one in marriage. (The Message)

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Colossians 3:18-21
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is tting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. (NKJV)

Matthew 22:38-40
This is the rst and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (NIV)

The Blessing of Unity


How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity... for there the Lord has commanded the blessing Psalm 133:1-3 Did you know the Lord has commanded that blessing come upon you when you are at peace with your brothers and sisters in the Lord? As believers, we are called to work together in unity in order to fulll Gods purposes. We are called to serve one another in love and serve together in the house of the Lord. Is there someone that you dont quite get along with? Pray for that person. Go out of your way to be a blessing to them. Do your best to walk in peace and unity. As we serve one another in love, the Bible says the world will know that we are Christians. The world will recognize that we are true followers of Christ by our actions, not by our words. Make the decision today to live in peace and unity with your brothers and sisters in the Lord. If the only thing you can agree on is that Jesus is Lord, focus on that. Focus on the love you have for God and for seeing people come to know Him. As you focus on walking in peace and unity, you will walk into the place of blessing the Lord has commanded for you! Prayer: Heavenly Father, search my heart today and see if there is anything that is keeping me from walking in unity with other believers. I choose love today. I choose peace today. I choose unity today. Help me to be an example of love to those around me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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1 Peter 3:1-7
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. Dont be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands. For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do. In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in Gods gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. (NLT)

Proverbs 3:27-29
Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is Gods hand for that person. Dont tell your neighbor Maybe some other time or Try me tomorrow when the moneys right there in your pocket. Dont gure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor when hes sitting there trusting and unsuspecting. (The Message)

Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor. (AMP)

Romans 15:1-3
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. (NIV)

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CHAPTE R 6 HOW CAN I GROW IN CHARACTER?


The Beginning of Wisdom
The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. Psalm 111:10 Do you need more wisdom in your life today? The Bible says that the reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. That word, fear, in this instance, doesnt mean to be afraid; it means to have honor and respect. It means that we revere Him because He is God. Wisdom begins when you honor God. When you truly respect and worship Him out of a grateful heart, then Wisdom will operate in your life. One simple denition of wisdom is applied knowledge. It doesnt matter if you have all the knowledge, facts, and gures in the world, or if you are a high school drop out. Honoring and worshiping God is what makes you wise. Start today and begin to declare His goodness and faithfulness in your life. Thats worship. Declare who He is with a humble heart of faith. Declare that He is your Provider, your Healer, your Redeemer. When you focus on your God instead of focusing on your problems, you are honoring Him. As you honor Him, wisdom will ow through you, and youll be empowered to live the life of victory He has in store for you! Prayer: Father in Heaven, I choose today to honor and respect You as my God. Thank You for lling me with Your wisdom today so that I can live in victory the way You intend. Help me make wise choices and honor You all the days of my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Mark 4:20
But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred. (NKJV)

Proverbs 13:6
Righteousness (rightness and justice in every area and relation) guards him who is upright in the way, but wickedness plunges into sin and overthrows the sinner. (AMP)
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1 Timothy 3:1-7
This is a trustworthy saying: If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position. So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of Gods church? An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devils trap. (NLT)

Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucied the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (NIV)

Proverbs 10:9
He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known. (NKJV)

Job 33:26-30
When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing. He will declare to his friends, I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it. God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is lled with light. Yes, God does these things again and again for people. He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life. (NLT)

Romans 5:3-5
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (NKJV) Theres more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when were hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop
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passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, were never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrarywe cant round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (The Message)

Psalm 57:7
My heart is condent in you, O God; my heart is condent. No wonder I can sing your praises! (NLT)

You are Equipped


Every scripture is God-breathedso that the man of God may be complete and procient, well-tted and thoroughly equipped for every good work . 2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP God has equipped you with everything you need to fulll your destiny through His Word! The Scripture tells us that as believers in Jesus Christ, we are anointed. The word anointing is the power of God which gives you courage, strength, and ability. That means you are well able to do what He has called you to do. You can accomplish your goals. You have the ideas, the creativity, and talent to be successful. You can overcome any obstacle! Youve been armed with strength for every battle! The forces that are with you are greater than the forces that are against you! Not only has God equipped you, but He is also working on your behalf. He has already lined up the right people to come across your path. Hes already lined up the right breaks. You have everything you need to live a victorious life. You were created to excel! You have seeds of greatness on the inside of you. You may not have seen it in the past, but if youll stay in faith, its just a matter of time. Its on its way. Dont settle where you are. Dont have a weak, defeated mentality. Have the attitude, I am anointed. I can accomplish my dreams. I can overcome any obstacle. I am equipped and empowered by the Creator of the universe! I am able to live the abundant life God has in store! Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping me. Thank You for empowering me. Help me stay focused on Your Word and Your plan for me today. Help me understand Your anointing so that I can do all Youve called me to do. I bless You today. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Titus 2:2-6
Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be lled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. (NLT)

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (NKJV)

Philippians 2:12-16
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold rmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christs return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. (NLT)

Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (NIV)

Proverbs 11:3
Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. (NLT)
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James 1:22-25
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing ithe will be blessed in what he does. (NIV)

Change Your Mind


Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2 Do you have behaviors in your life that you want to stop? Maybe its a habit, a bad attitude, or even negative thoughts. No matter what you may want to change in your life, you have to start by changing your mind. You have to change your thinking so that your thoughts are in line with Gods thoughts. When you repent and make a decision to follow God in every area of your life, you open the door for His supernatural power to work. When you take control of your thought life, you are cooperating with that power that is at work in you. Remember, your life will go in the direction of your thoughts. You cant just allow any old thought or image to play in your mind. You have to choose right thoughts. The easiest way to change your thoughts is by speaking Gods Word. When you say orange, you probably wont start thinking about an apple. In the same way, when you confess the Word of God, which says you are more than a conqueror, it will drive those negative, defeated thoughts away! Change your mind today by changing your words. As you think thoughts of faith and victory, you will move forward into the abundant life He has in store for you! Prayer: Heavenly Father, today I choose to take captive every thought that is contrary to Your will. I repent for anything in my life that is displeasing to You. Empower me today by Your spirit so that I can bring honor to You. In Jesus Name.

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CHAPTE R 7 HOW CAN I GROW IN PASSION AND JOY?


Joy in His Presence
You have made known to me the path of life; You will ll me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Psalm 16:11 Do you need more joy in your life today? God promises that joy is found in His presence, and if youve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then His presence lives inside of you! That joy manifests when you focus your mind and heart on the Father and begin to praise Him for what Hes done in your life. The Bible says that He inhabits the praises of His people. When you begin to praise and thank Him, you are in His presence where there is fullness of joy. It doesnt matter where you are or whats going on around you, you can access the joy thats inside of you at anytime, day or night. And know this: God wants you to experience His supernatural joy and peace at all times. Thats why He chose to live inside of you and give you an endless supply. Dont waste another minute feeling overburdened and discouraged. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength, and you will move forward in victory on the path of life Hes prepared for you! Prayer: Father in heaven, thank You for an endless supply of joy. Today, I choose to cast my cares on You and give You the praise, glory, and honor You deserve. Let joy ow through me today so that I can be a witness of Your goodness to those around me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Numbers 25:12-13
Now tell him that I am making my special covenant of peace with him. In this covenant, I give him and his descendants a permanent right to the priesthood, for in his zeal for me, his God, he puried the people of Israel, making them right with me. (NLT)

Joel 2:21
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. (KJB)
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Psalm 69:7-9
For I endure insults for your sake; humiliation is written all over my face. Even my own brothers pretend they dont know me; they treat me like a stranger. Passion for your house has consumed me,and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. (NLT)

Proverbs 12:20
Deceit lls hearts that are plotting evil; joy lls hearts that are planning peace! (NLT)

Prisoner of Hope
If you will be a prisoner of hope, God will restore back to you double everything that was stolen. Zechariah 9:12 Are you in an emotional prison today? You may not have thought about it that way, but if you are holding unforgiveness or bitterness towards someone who has wronged youwhether it was ve, ten, or thirty years agothat is an emotional prison. The Word of God promises that if youll step out of that prison and become a prisoner of hope, God will restore back to you double for your trouble! That means if someone does you wrong, instead of getting negative and bitter, your attitude should be, They just did me a favor. They just qualied me for double. That attitude will make you a prisoner of hope. When youre a prisoner of hope, you simply cant stop hoping. You are locked in! Lock into that attitude of victory that says, I will not be defeated. It may look impossible, but I know God can do the impossible. They may have treated me wrong, but Im not worried. I know God is my vindicator. It may be taking a long time, but in due season, I know I will reap if I just dont give up. Stand in that place of hope knowing that you will come out with twice the peace, twice the joy, and twice the victory today! Prayer: Gracious, Heavenly Father, today I choose to release those who have wronged me. I know You are my vindicator. You are my redeemer. Today I choose to be a prisoner of hope. Teach me to see others the way You see them today. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Proverbs 21:15
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. (NIV)

Isaiah 42:12-13
Let them give glory to the LORD and proclaim his praise in the islands. The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies. (NIV)

Isaiah 59:17
For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak. (NKJV)

Romans 12:11-12
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in afiction, faithful in prayer. (NIV)

Psalm 4:6-8
Many people say, Who will show us better times? Let your face smile on us, LORD. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. (NLT)

Psalm 5:11
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. (NKJV)

Psalm 16:11
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. (NLT)

Psalm 21:6
Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. (NIV)
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Psalm 68:3
But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. (NIV)

Job 8:20-21
Surely God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evildoers. He will yet ll your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. (NIV)

He Will Do Great Things


Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Joel 2:21 God wants to do great things in your life! Notice this verse starts out by saying fear not. Fear is a barrier to the promises of God. The Bible says that whatever does not come from faith is sin, or missing the mark. Dont ever let fear be a factor in the choices you make in life. If you make choices because you are afraid of something, that fear will block the blessing of the Lord in that area. Overcome fear by meditating on the promises of Gods love and goodness. Perfect love casts out all fear. When you understand the love of God, you have nothing to fear. You know the Lord will do great things! Let that sink down into your spirit today. Meditate on this verse and declare it out loud every day. As you study Gods Word, your faith will grow and fear will be gone from your life. Youll know His love, and you will experience His goodness in every area of your life! Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for goodness and faithfulness. Show me Your perfect love so that I may know You. I choose to rejoice in You and trust that You will do great things in my life! In Jesus Name. Amen.

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3 John 1:3-4
It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Philemon 1:7
For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. (NKJV)

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit . . . (NIV)

17-18 Gods kingdom isnt a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness sake. Its what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and youll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you. (The Message)

Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will ll you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overow with condent hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (NLT)

GODS PROMISES FOR A NEW BEGINNING

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