This is the Day

Today's Scripture

“This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Every day that we are given is a precious gift from Almighty God. We should wake up every morning with a grateful attitude, full of faith and expectancy for what the Lord has in store. Sure, you may be facing some challenges in your every day life, or maybe things aren’t going the way you planned, but remember, each new day is a chance to stand strong in the midst of adversity and see the faithfulness of God. Every new day is an opportunity to praise and thank Him; to magnify your God instead of magnifying your problems. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Be glad that God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Be glad that God has given you a sound, healthy mind. Rejoice that He is making a way where there seems to be no way! As you focus on the gift of every day and rejoice in what God has done in your life, you will begin to experience His increase and blessings. You’ll rise up higher and set the course to live in victory all the days of your life!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, today I choose to rejoice in You. Thank You for this day and for every opportunity that You’ve given me to bless and praise You. I give You everything I am today and always. In Jesus Name’. Amen.

Completely Satisfied

Today's Scripture

“Blessed, fortunate, happy and spiritually prosperous…are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, uprightness and right standing with God, for they shall be completely satisfied” (Matthew 5:6 AMP).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God longs to pour out his abundant blessing on every area of your life. He wants you to live completely satisfied. When you hunger and thirst for righteousness--God’s way of doing things--then you will live in complete satisfaction. You direct your hunger by choosing what you focus on. For example, if you focus on your favorite food, if you start thinking about it early in the morning, and all throughout the day, chances are, by the end of the day you’ll be eating it! What you give your attention to, you will desire. In the same way, the more you give your attention to God and His Word, the more you will hunger for Him. Just like the scripture promises, when you hunger for righteousness, you will be completely satisfied. The world offers so many things for you to give your attention to, but they aren’t things that will satisfy. You might think you want a particular car, or certain clothes, or live in a particular neighborhood. There’s nothing wrong with those things, but understand that “things” won’t ever satisfy you. Recognize that only God will satisfy you. As you hunger for Him, you’ll live in peace and blessing and live completely satisfied all the days of your life!

A Prayer for Today

Father in Heaven, I come to You today, I ask for forgiveness for allowing anything to capture my heart and attention more than You. I choose today to give You top priority, and choose to hunger for Your righteousness. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Place of Blessing

Today's Scripture

“Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there” (I Kings 17:2-4).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

As a child of the Most High God, your steps are ordered by Him. He has a specific place of blessing prepared for you. When you live a life of obedience to the Word of God, He promises to supply every one of your needs. Just as God directed Elijah to his place of blessing, God is directing you, too. He’s aligning the right opportunities for you and causing the right people to come along your path to help you get ahead. He’s constantly working behind the scenes on your behalf. But you have to do your part to keep your heart open by following His Word and keeping an attitude of faith and expectancy. A major key to keeping your heart in the right place is choosing peace and unity. The Bible says that when we live in unity, there He has commanded the blessing. And when your heart is in the place of blessing, the rest of your life will be in the place of blessing, too!

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, I come to You with a grateful heart. Thank You for leading me and directing my steps. Help me to see others the way You see them so I can honor You and live in unity all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Rest for Your Soul

Today's Scripture

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

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God wants to give you rest. He wants to refresh and restore your soul, which is your mind, will and emotions. It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, and before long, your mind, will and emotions are so “spun up” that you can barely think straight! But even among the hustle of life, you can find rest, ease and relaxation. God wants you to enjoy your life. That’s why He tells us to come to Him. When you understand that God wants to take care of everything that concerns you, you will be able to find rest. Imagine that someone came up to you today and said, “Give me all your monthly bills, I’m going to pay them.” You’d get pretty excited, wouldn’t you? But it wouldn’t happen until you did your part to give that person your bills. They couldn’t pay them for you if you never release them. In the same way, when we release our cares and concerns to God, He promises to take care of them. Choose today to release your cares to the Lord. As you do, you’ll find that rest that He promises, and you’ll live the abundant life He has for you!

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, today I humbly come to you. I choose to cast my cares on You so that I can live in Your rest. Thank You for Your goodness to me. Help me find ways to share Your goodness with those around me today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Thriving not Surviving

You're not a survivor. You are more than a conqueror.

It's easy to get into a survival mode. When times get tough and things aren't going our way, it's tempting to just settle where we are, not believe for increase and not believe to go any further. It's tempting to think, "If I can just hold on. If I can just make it through another year." If we're not careful, we'll develop a survival mentality to where we're not releasing our faith. We're not believing to rise any higher. We're just hoping to maintain. We'd be satisfied if we could just break even. But we're not supposed to break even. We're supposed to break through to a new level, to more of God's favor, increase and promotion.

God says in the book of Jeremiah that if we'll keep the Lord as our trust and confidence, God will prosper us even in the desert. He'll prosper us even in difficult times. That means when others are going under God says you'll go over!

God can prosper us even in the desert if we'll just be bold enough to believe. You were created to thrive in life! Won't you believe that for your life today?

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Avoid Strife

Today's Scripture

“ It is an honor for a man to cease from strife ” (Proverbs 20:3)

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Strife is a very destructive force. It can creep into relationships by starting small, maybe through a comment or a wrong look from someone, and can then escalate into something much bigger. But when you choose to cease from strife and overlook an offense, you are acting honorably, and you are honoring God. How do you avoid strife? The Bible tells us that love covers over many offenses. It means that you give people the benefit of the doubt. You consider what they may be going through over how they reacted to you. Maybe someone was short with you at the office, but they may have a loved one in the hospital, or they may have some other concern. Instead of getting upset, walk in love—be patient, be kind to them. Choose to avoid strife. Look for ways to walk in unity with the people in your life. The Bible says that He has commanded the blessing when we walk and live in unity. Choose unity today and watch the hand of the Lord move mightily on your behalf!

A Prayer for Today

Father God, today I choose Your ways. I invite Your plan to unfold in my life. Help me to avoid strife so I can walk in peace and unity and honor you all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Avoid Strife

Today's Scripture

“ It is an honor for a man to cease from strife ” (Proverbs 20:3)

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Strife is a very destructive force. It can creep into relationships by starting small, maybe through a comment or a wrong look from someone, and can then escalate into something much bigger. But when you choose to cease from strife and overlook an offense, you are acting honorably, and you are honoring God. How do you avoid strife? The Bible tells us that love covers over many offenses. It means that you give people the benefit of the doubt. You consider what they may be going through over how they reacted to you. Maybe someone was short with you at the office, but they may have a loved one in the hospital, or they may have some other concern. Instead of getting upset, walk in love—be patient, be kind to them. Choose to avoid strife. Look for ways to walk in unity with the people in your life. The Bible says that He has commanded the blessing when we walk and live in unity. Choose unity today and watch the hand of the Lord move mightily on your behalf!

A Prayer for Today

Father God, today I choose Your ways. I invite Your plan to unfold in my life. Help me to avoid strife so I can walk in peace and unity and honor you all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Give Cheerfully

Today's Scripture

“Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7)

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God has set up a system to bless and prosper you; it’s the system of sowing and reaping. When you give, God promises that blessings will come back to you in greater measure. Just like sowing a seed in the ground produces an abundant harvest, when you sow financially, you will reap a harvest of blessing in your life in return. Notice in the verse that God is concerned more about how we give than what we give. He loves it when you give with a cheerful heart because that shows that you are trusting in His promises. It shows that you love Him and love following His commands. When you understand that God wants to bless you, you can’t help but give with a cheerful heart! Meditate on His wonderful blessings today and allow that joyful attitude to rise up in your heart. Be a cheerful giver and expect His increase and blessing in every area of your life.

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, today I come before You giving You all that I am. I choose to be a cheerful giver because I love You. Help me to honor You in everything I say and do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

The Power of Peace

Today's Scripture

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

No matter what may be going on all around you today, you can still live in peace. The scripture encourages us to not let our hearts be troubled. In other words, don’t meditate on all the negative things in this world to the point that it steals your peace. If you have fear, worry or anxiety about anything, recognize that those feelings aren’t from God because He has promised to give you a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. There is tremendous power in peace. When you are at peace internally, you can think more clearly. You can hear the voice of God more easily. You’ll make better decisions. Even your physical body responds to peace. The enemy knows this, and his goal is to steal your peace. He tries to set you up to get upset. But when you choose to receive God’s peace, then no weapon formed against you shall prosper. You can live in peace, you can live in joy, and you can live the abundant life God has for you.

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your gift of peace in my life. I choose to receive Your peace in my heart and hold it close to me always. I receive Your Word as truth and life to my soul. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Cast Your Cares

Today's Scripture

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (I Peter 5:7).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God cares so much about you today. Not only does He love and care about you, He cares about the things that concern you as well. If you have concerns, worry or anxiety about something in your life today; finances, relationships, your job or anything else, know that your Heavenly Father already has a plan to take care of those things for you. It’s a good plan, and He wants to show Himself strong on your behalf. The scripture reminds us that the lilies of the field and the birds of the air are cared for, how much more will your Heavenly Father take care of you? Make the decision today to cast all of your anxiety on Him by choosing to trust that He is going to take care of you. Refuse to dwell on your problems and don’t allow them to steal your peace and joy any longer. Instead, choose to meditate on His Word and confess God’s promises over your life. As you cast your cares on Him, you’ll experience His peace and joy, and you will live the life of blessing He has in store for you.

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for caring for me. I choose today to cast my cares on You and trust that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. I bless and magnify You today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Government Steps In, Bails Out Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac

The government said its plan to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is meant to signal it is prepared to take all necessary steps to prevent the credit market troubles that erupted last year with losses from subprime mortgages from engulfing financial markets.

WASHINGTON -- Scrambling to bolster eroding investor confidence, the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department announced steps to brace slumping mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The companies' shares have plunged as losses from their mortgage holdings threatened their financial survival.

The plan, unveiled Sunday, is intended to signal the government is prepared to take all necessary steps to prevent the credit market troubles that erupted last year with losses from subprime mortgages from engulfing financial markets.

The Fed said it granted the Federal Reserve Bank of New York authority to lend to the two companies "should such lending prove necessary." They would pay 2.25 percent for any borrowed funds -- the same rate given to commercial banks and big Wall Street firms.

The Fed said this should help the companies' ability to "promote the availability of home mortgage credit during a period of stress in financial markets."

Secretary Henry Paulson said the Treasury is seeking expedited authority from Congress to expand its current line of credit to the two companies and make an equity investment in the companies -- if needed.

"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play a central role in our housing finance system and must continue to do so in their current form as shareholder-owned companies," Paulson said Sunday. "Their support for the housing market is particularly important as we work through the current housing correction."

The Treasury's plan also seeks a "consultative role" for the Fed in any new regulatory framework eventually decided by Congress for Fannie and Freddie. The Fed's role would be to weigh in on setting capital requirements for the companies.

Sen. Christopher Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, on Monday called the Bush administration's actions Sunday "probably the right steps" and said he will summon Paulson, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Christopher Cox to a committee hearing to answer questions.

"What's important here as well is to calm people's fears," Dodd said in an interview on CBS' "The Early Show."

He also drew a distinction between last week's failure of IndyMac — which engaged in originating riskier mortgages than traditional community and regional banks — and the two mortgage giants.

"There's a big difference between IndyMac and Fannie and Freddie," Dodd said. "IndyMac engaged in very bad mortgages, luring people into deals they could never afford. That's not the case with Fannie and Freddie." Dodd said that while there may be more bank failures, "I'm more optimistic about Fannie and Freddie than I am about these banks."

The White House, in a statement, said President Bush directed Paulson to "immediately work with Congress" to get the plan enacted. It also said it believed the steps outlined by Paulson "will help add stability during this period."

Investors may not be as sanguine, however, according to Chris Johnson, an investment manager and president of Johnson Research Group in Cleveland. Stocks of financial institutions "are going to get clobbered," he predicted. "It is a situation where regulators and the government are trying to play catch up, and that means everything is not discounted in the stock prices yet."

The Dow Jones industrials on Friday briefly fell below 11,000 for the first time in two years and Johnson said shares of investment banks and regional banks could move even lower as investors react to this weekend's developments.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac hold or back $5.3 trillion of mortgage debt, about half the outstanding mortgages in the United States.

The government denied it, but what has been seen by investors as an implicit guarantee of support has allowed Fannie and Freddie over the years to borrow at rates only slightly higher than the Treasury -- and lower than what their banking competitors had to pay.

"This really blows away the notion of an implicit guarantee," independent banking consultant Bert Ely said of the Treasury's plan to ask Congress to allow it to make equity investments in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. "It suggests a greater concern about how these companies are doing. It says the problems are deeper. It gets to the solvency of the companies, not just the liquidity."

A critical test of confidence will come Monday morning, when Freddie Mac is slated to auction a combined $3 billion in three- and six-month securities.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said "Senate Democrats stand ready to work with the administration to quickly and effectively address the situation currently facing these institution."

House GOP leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Republican Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said they "stand ready to work with Secretary Paulson and congressional Democrats to take appropriate steps to ensure the soundness of our mortgage markets."

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama said the government's main concern should be "to make sure that home ownership remains attainable and affordable for American families. Second, any measures should protect taxpayers and not bailout the shareholders and management of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."

Republican rival John McCain believes the measures announced Sunday "are consistent with the goal of providing support for a path through the current duress toward steps that include regulatory reform, market discipline and mission focus," said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, senior policy adviser.

© 2008 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

You Are An Overcomer

God created you to be an overcomer! Sometimes, it's easy to get down and discouraged when things aren't going the way you planned. If you go around thinking, "It's never going to work out" or "It's never going to get better", you limit what God can do. But if, when you face difficulties, you dig your heels in—knowing that God is bigger than your problems—your faith will open the door for God to turn your negative situation around!

Isaiah 54:17 says that, "No weapon formed against you will prosper. This is your heritage as children of the Lord." Notice you have a heritage. You have rights and privileges because you belong to Christ. As long as you keep God first place in your life, you have a hedge of protection around you, a hedge of favor, and a hedge of mercy. When difficulties come, because you are His child and honor Him, those difficulties won't prosper in your life. When it's all said and done, God will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for your good.

Declare over yourself, by faith, that you will overcome every obstacle. Declare that every dream and desire God placed in your heart will come to pass. Declare that you have the favor of God and that whatever you set your hand to will prosper. As you speak those words of faith, the Lord will work on your behalf and you will live as an overcomer all the days of your life!

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You can watch Joel on a variety of cable networks in addition to your local broadcast station. View program times in your area »

You Are An Overcomer

God created you to be an overcomer! Sometimes, it's easy to get down and discouraged when things aren't going the way you planned. If you go around thinking, "It's never going to work out" or "It's never going to get better", you limit what God can do. But if, when you face difficulties, you dig your heels in—knowing that God is bigger than your problems—your faith will open the door for God to turn your negative situation around!

Isaiah 54:17 says that, "No weapon formed against you will prosper. This is your heritage as children of the Lord." Notice you have a heritage. You have rights and privileges because you belong to Christ. As long as you keep God first place in your life, you have a hedge of protection around you, a hedge of favor, and a hedge of mercy. When difficulties come, because you are His child and honor Him, those difficulties won't prosper in your life. When it's all said and done, God will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for your good.

Declare over yourself, by faith, that you will overcome every obstacle. Declare that every dream and desire God placed in your heart will come to pass. Declare that you have the favor of God and that whatever you set your hand to will prosper. As you speak those words of faith, the Lord will work on your behalf and you will live as an overcomer all the days of your life!

Watch another Live Like a Champion Devotional

You can watch Joel on a variety of cable networks in addition to your local broadcast station. View program times in your area »

All Things Are Possible

Today's Scripture

"What is impossible with men is possible with God" (Luke 18:27).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Is there a situation in your life today that seems impossible? As a child of the Most High God, you are not limited by what you see. You are not limited by your circumstances, the economy, or what others say because with God all things are possible! It doesn't matter how it may look in the natural, when you see things through your eyes of faith, you will see new possibilities. You will see the answer that is on its way!

It all starts by having a grateful attitude: an attitude of faith and expectancy. When you declare the promises of God over your life and meditate on His Word, it activates faith in your heart. Faith draws the good things of God into your life. When you wake up every morning, declare that with God all things are possible. Declare that you are blessed and you cannot be cursed. Declare that you are above only and not beneath. Expect God's favor and blessing in your life every day. As you do, you will see Him move on your behalf, and you'll see new levels of possibility in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, thank You for making a way where there seems to be no way. I choose an attitude of faith and expectancy today. Work in my heart and life that I may be a living testimony of Your goodness to those around me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.