“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 (NKJV)

DECEMBER 12 - To evolve means to gradually acquire new traits or characteristics. In order to improve in any endeavor, we must be willing to acquire new traits and skills. These new acquisitions cause us to excel above the rest. Always remember: The excellent get ahead during the times the mediocre waste.

We must spend any spare moment to improve our relationship with God, marriage, friendships, or our personal character. Our time is precious, and time is the price we must pay in order to see our lives continually improve.

• Why are people unwilling to evolve?
• Why don’t people want to change?

There are two reasons that I have discovered over the course of many years of ministry. The first reason is that people have a fear of failure. Ask the person who tried to overcome a negative habit in the last few years why they gave up. It is because they continually failed and don’t want to go through the pain of acknowledging their unwillingness to overcome that way of life. The second reason people don’t want to change is because they don’t know how. The desire is there, but the teacher to instruct them is not. I am focused on one thing…change. When people come around me, they have the desire to change things in their lives. Why is that? Because that is how it is with God. The moment we got saved, He has been changing us and He has not stopped since.

Father, I thank You that I am a new creature. Old things are passed away; behold, everything has become new. I am righteous because I am in Christ and Christ is in me.

Family Scripture Reading

Mark 14

Featured Resource

The Ultimate Guide To Winning Relationships

After almost three decades of strategic leadership and human resource management, Dr. Robb Thompson reveals the secret that will revolutionize your life: The single most important factor defining your future is the relationships you embrace.

In this series, Dr. Thompson delivers the time-tested, rock-solid principles that have opened the doors of success and favor to thousands of people. Whether it is your business, ministry, or personal life that needs to reach its maximum potential, your success or failure ultimately rests upon your ability to develop and maintain winning relationships with those who are assigned to be divine links to your future.

Don’t waste another day floundering at the shallow shoreline of mediocrity and disappointment. Learn from Robb Thompson how to build winning relationships with those who have been called to launch you into the deep waters of increased productivity and personal effectiveness!

Posted under Progress, Success

“For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”
James 1:21–24 (NKJV)

DECEMBER 11 - A sharp flurry danced in the air—transformation occurred everywhere. People who were blind since birth could suddenly see, the deaf had the joy of listening to parables of the Master, the disturbed were vibrantly whole, and thieves became as honourable as the temple rabbi. Yes, there were some who were unwilling to change. Many thought the Teacher, the Messiah, was merely another man, but because they were unwilling to embrace change, the miraculous for them was as distant as the Mediterranean Sea.

Ultimately, excellence can be devoured through our unwillingness to change. Life passes us by and causes us to live in regret over the lack of productivity from our past. The moment we become unwilling to embrace change is the moment we no longer achieve or reach the high standards to which Christ calls us.

Inherently, humanity has within itself the desire to settle, to hit a plateau and go no further. However, as men and women of excellence, we must refuse the cosy invitation to settle. We must be resilient and continue to climb the ladder of excellence. It is a daily pursuit requiring focus and persistence. When we are dedicated to this call, we walk victoriously over the enemy of mediocrity. Mediocrity can be beaten… we can overcome! We must, nevertheless, pursue excellence every day of our lives. The only question is this: Will we or won’t we pursue?

Father, I thank You that I am a doer of Your Word. I look into the perfect law of liberty and continue in it. I am not a forgetful hearer but I am an effectual doer and I am blessed in all I do.

Family Scripture Reading

December 11

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under Mediocrity

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.”
Proverbs 22:29 (NKJV)

AUGUST 23 - Stand before kings? Hard to believe, you might say, but it has happened in my life. I have had the privilege of standing before many great men and women, including kings, queens, and presidents of different nations. The verse above says, “Do you see a man who excels? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” Your pursuit of excellence awakens the remarkable process of transformation. You may say, “Dr. Thompson, not me. You don’t know me, I am just an ordinary Joe.”

Please listen carefully: If God can take a man who did drugs, became an alcoholic by the age of fourteen, embezzled stereo equipment, and was institutionalized at a mental hospital, and cause him to stand before some of the greatest men and women on the face of the earth, then He can certainly do it for you.

But with every great achievement there comes a great price to be paid. As you pursue excellence, which is the continual pursuit of improvement, God takes you—an ordinary person—and does extraordinary things through your life. Now, the question is, do you believe it?

Father, I thank You that I excel in my work and I will stand before kings and not unknown men.

Family Scripture Reading

Genesis 32

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under Excellence

“Here is my final conclusion: fear God and obey His commands, for this is the duty of every person.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NLT)

AUGUST 22 - In a southern California city is a glamorous movie theatre whose towering spotlight flickers and floats across the desert sky, drawing people to their nightly showings. That spotlight is proof something is going on. Our unwavering obedience and positive attitude draw Heaven’s spotlight—proof that something exciting is going on—not in some old movie theatre, but inside the hearts of His people! The Bible never says, “If you love Me, you will eat the best of the land.” It says, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the best of the land.” Our obedience is the only proof that we trust God. The success of our life by Heaven’s standard depends on our obedience to the written Word of God. The more accurately we obey, the greater the rewards.
Picture this: a mother asks her son to take care of the dishes while she is out. She comes home to find a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a sweet “I Love You” card, and a sink full of dirty dishes. Is she to believe her son loves her because of the flowers and card? Perhaps, if he did the dishes, but his disobedience to her specific instruction speaks louder than the sacrifice he went through to buy the flowers and the card. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Solomon had everything, yet in Ecclesiastes 12:13 he came to one conclusion: fear God and obey His commands. Obedience to the Word of God is the one responsibility for which every man has to give an account on the Day of Judgment. God places such a high emphasis on obedience because our actions prove exactly who we are.

Father, I thank You that I fear You and keep Your Word. I prove my trust in You and my love for You by doing what You ask of me.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 12

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under Responsibility

“He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’”
Matthew 26:39 (NKJV)

AUGUST 21 - Just how important are the decisions we make? They are the determining factors of the success or failure of our future. The choices we make today determine who we become tomorrow. We make thousands of decisions every day, many of which we don’t even think about. Other decisions can alter our life for better or for worse. To create the future God desires in our lives, we must select our decisions by
principle, and not by emotion. Without Godly principles, we are like a ship with no one to man the sails. The wind fatefully decides the ship’s course.

Without principles, the circumstances of life have complete control over our direction. For example, many people do not tithe because they are in debt and cannot afford to give God ten percent. They claim that when things get better, they will tithe. God assures us things will not get better for them until they tithe. Another example is a teenager who promises to stop partying when he gets out of high school. Unfortunately, things only worsen for that young person in the meantime, making it almost impossible to escape the party scene later in life.

We must never make decisions based upon present circumstances, but rather on the ultimate outcome we desire. Whatever we find in the Word of God, we must embrace as truth and apply our lives to it.

Father, I thank You that I live by Your principles and every Word that proceeds out of Your mouth. I am a doer of the Word and not a hearer only.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 11

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under Principle Driven

“I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the Gospel.”
Philippians 2:20-22

AUGUST 20 - Long before Timothy was the renowned pastor of the church at Ephesus, he was a young man serving with his spiritual father, Paul. In those years of maturing, he chose to make himself a competent tool in the hand of the man of God. He didn’t do so because he wanted to be the pastor of a big church or because he knew it would lead to fame. He simply did what the Spirit of God inside of him whispered to him: Become a tool.

Paul writes that there was no one like Timothy. Everyone else was interested in their own welfare—in what they could get out of preaching the Gospel. That was not so with Timothy. He simply wanted to become whatever God desired him to become. And though Timothy did not realize it, his decision to do so prepared him to be entrusted with the lives of thousands of believers. He became a servant—a true servant. He laid aside his own agenda and readily picked up the agenda of another. I’m certain that the celebration in Heaven when Timothy finished his course was an outstanding spectacle to see. May the same hold true for us as we become a tool in the hand of the One we serve.

Father, I thank You that I look out for the interest of those I am called to serve. I choose to serve with the man of God in the work of the Gospel.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 10

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under Servanthood

“If you will only obey Me and let Me help you, then you will have plenty to eat.”
Isaiah 1:19 (NLT)

AUGUST 19 - Obedience simply means doing what God instructs us in His Word. It means to live up to the knowledge we receive. God told Abram, “Abram, I want you to move from your comfortable situation and go to a new country.” Abram obeyed God. If God talks to us about something, we must do it. Our Heavenly Father expects each of His children to yield to Him with wholehearted obedience. The entrance into this new life with Christ demands the vow of absolute obedience. As Christians, we must surrender our whole being, exactly as Jesus did, to be, think, speak, and act according to the will of God; it is not enough to just agree with Him. It is only through obedience that our agreement is proven, and in doing so, we have access to God’s favor and abundant blessings. As Jesus continued His sermon, distinct commands were given.  Instructions such as:

• Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad when persecuted.
• You are the salt of the world, so don’t lose your flavor.
• You are the light of the world, so don’t hide your light.
• You know it’s not right to kill, but neither should you be angry without cause.

Jesus knew that God requires obedience. Every act of our obedience is an added ingredient unto a just reward. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 that obedience is the very essence of salvation. Obedience opens the door to all that God has to give—most importantly, an intimate relationship with God Himself.

Father, I thank You that I do all my authority instructs. I obey and submit to my spiritual leaders and I humble myself as Your willing servant.

Family Scripture Reading

Revelation 9

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under General

“So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.”
1 Kings 17:15 (NKJV)

AUGUST 18 - People of all sizes, shapes, and circumstances hovered around the mountain’s rocky base, not only Galileans, but folks as far away as Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the River Jordan. Gathered to hear the Teacher, this prophet and carpenter from Nazareth, their respect for the Teacher caused a hush to settle over the crowd. His words meandered into their ears and wafted down into their hearts and souls, “Blessed, Blessed, Blessed.” The Teacher said the word “blessed” nine times in all. What a strange way of speaking! What an odd way of delivering a religious message. But with each compelling sentence, the people’s response was one of sheer, unwavering respect for the Man of God who thundered before them.

• Whatever you respect is whatever steadily increases inside your life.
• Stay very sensitive to respect and honor the men and women God assigns to lead your life.
• Look for opportunities to express that respect and honor, for before honor can become a harvest in your life, it must first be your seed.

Grasp and live this concept and you will operate at the highest levels of life.

Father, I thank You that I do all my authority instructs. I obey and submit to my spiritual leaders and I humble myself as Your willing servant.

Family Scripture Reading

Proverbs 12

Featured Resource

Winning The Heart Of God - Book

What is the ultimate prize that this world has to offer? The Nobel Peace Prize? An Oscar? A Super Bowl ring? A lucrative recording contract?

Certainly you can find all types of contests in which to compete and a host of valuable prizes to covet in today’s society. But in this book, Dr. Robb Thompson tells you how to win the ultimate prize of life – the heart of your Heavenly Father.

Using illustrations from the lives of Biblical men and women, Dr. Thompson vividly portrays what it means to be a person after God’s own heart. In the process, he tackles the all-important topics of submission and covenant loyalty – scriptural concepts that are frequently shunned and swept under the collective rug in Christendom today.

As Dr. Thompson so succinctly asks, “What else do you have in life, if you don’t have the heart of the Father?” That’s a question only you can answer for yourself. Pursue the prize of your Father’s heart, and watch everything else in your life fall into place (Matthew 6:33).

Table of Contents

Introduction
Part 1: A Submitted Heart
David: A Man After God’s Own Heart
The Subtle Trap of Rebellion
God’s Way of Relating to Authority
Choose Obedience
God’s Only Path to Fulfillment

Part 2: A Loyal Heart
The Foundation of Faithfulness
The Steadfast Loyalty of our God
Loyalty: Our Link to Divinity
Loyalty is a Choice
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Posted under General

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

MAY 26 - Rome’s invincible legions (tough units of 6,000 professional fighting men) enforced peace throughout the empire, among which was the tiny town of Bethlehem. These soldiers possessed razor-sharp
swords, edged with blood dried from their latest victim, tangible proof they were fully prepared for the next battle, the next war. Each of us is in a battle, a raging war that is being fought upon the battlefield of our mind. God gave us twin tactical weapons with which to fight–His Word and our mouth. But we must faithfully use these weapons to pull down and bring into captivity every traitorous thought to the obedience of Christ.

The thoughts you harbor in your mind are potent seeds that soon develop and produce after their own kind. If a thought is not constructive, it is destructive. There is no middle ground. There are no neutral thoughts—although Satan wants you to believe otherwise!

All self-limiting thoughts of weakness, impending failure, unhappiness, or poverty are harmful and self-destructive. If God did not say it, then we are not authorized to think it. Those thoughts are fatal enemies and trenchant thieves, attempting to hinder our future progress. The key is to counterattack with the ruthlessness of the Roman soldier, and substitute those thoughts with God’s Word whenever they try to gain ascendancy in our minds.

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that I think upon Your Word. I choose to meditate upon what is pure, noble, just, lovely, and that which is of a good report!

Family Scripture Reading

2 John

Featured Resource

The New You - CD

Have you accepted your new identity in Christ or do you continually deal with shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. The thoughts we identify with, whether good or bad, sculpt our destiny. Envision the marvelous transformation that would take place if we learned how to walk in our true identity. Imagine what life would be like if you were able to confidently identify with Christ instead of your old sin nature – nothing but victory, joy, and fulfillment. If you desire to learn the keys to walk in your new identity, this series is for you!

Posted under God's Word

“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.”
Romans 14:13 (NKJV)

MAY 14 - Knowledgeable that his decision would affect the lives not only of his soldiers, but of the entire nation, on October 29, 1956, Moshe Dayan executed a daring, surprise attack near the southern end of the Suez Canal. With emphasis on the tactics and night maneuvers he learned from Captain Orde Wingate, within days, Israel’s aptly-called “Hundred-Hour War” with Egypt was over.

Every decision we make brings with it a consequence, not only to our lives, but also to the lives of others. What we do affects other people. Before we articulate even one word, we must ask ourselves: What will the words I speak mean to this person? How will they precisely affect him or her?

Asking such questions is known as discretion. Discretion puts you in
the position of another, helping you understand the explicit effect of your words and actions. If we realize that what we are about to say will bring unnecessary pain or embarrassment, we should simply choose to keep quiet. The above passage tells us that if we ever do anything that hurts someone or causes him or her to sin, we must determine never to do it again. We cannot allow ourselves to be brought under the power of anything that will adversely affect another person’s life and their life’s direction.

As we consider the affect we have on others, we are more conscious of the decisions we make.

Daily Confession

Father, I thank You that I do not judge others. I do not cause my brother to fall or put a stumbling block in his way. The words I speak build up and edify, pointing others toward You.

Family Scripture Reading

1 Peter 5

Featured Resource

Power Over Fear - Confession CD

Jesus said the thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). One of Satan’s most powerful tools of destruction is fear. The ruthless tyrant of fear will paralyze you and control every decision you make. It desires to rule and dominate you, until you cower in a corner and helplessly watch it destroy everything you are.

Your Heavenly Father did not design you to live a life of shrinking back in fear. Fear may be a cruel master, but it doesn’t have to be your master! In this powerful audio CD from the Great Exchange Collection, Dr. Robb Thompson helps you defeat the giant of fear with scriptural confessions from the invincible Word of God. Let God set you free from fear’s control, once and for all!

Posted under Decision