“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” —Romans 12:2
Ready for a Reset? How to Be a Better You Today
Thank you so much for joining us. Today, we are discussing something that is vitally important to every relationship you will ever experience: clear communication. Precious friend, this topic will be a blessing to you and every person you interact with on a daily basis. So, grab your pad and pen, your water, coffee, or tea, and hey, let’s get started. Amen.
Father, I thank You for bringing those from the North, the South, the East, and the West to read this blog today. I thank You for opening up heaven and releasing a fresh outpouring of Your manifested glory upon Your people. I thank You, Father, that as they read, Your anointing is present, healing their bodies and their land. Father, we thank You for Your goodness, mercy, grace, and love. Amen.
Precious friend, how are you doing? Let’s face it: relationships can be tough at times. But what is the number one issue that we all face? Clear communication. Boom, boom, boom. Let’s get started with that. Hey, what is clear communication? Clear communication is being able to talk to the other person without screaming, yelling, cussing, or slamming doors. Amen.
Clear communication evolves whenever you and I have a clear communication relationship with our Heavenly Father. And so, precious friend, the dust on the Bible has to go. Amen. God has given us His Word, which is the most precious free gift, and God wants you to increase your time in the Word of God and in His presence so that you can have clear communication with the Father. This way, you can hear His voice and not be moved by your emotions. Amen.
Because, friend, when we make decisions based upon our emotions, we fall flat on our faces. So, precious Heavenly Father, we invite Your presence all over this today. Come, Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit.
Stop, Pause, and Pray
Do whatever you need to do. Oh Lord Jesus, we know there are times when we just don’t know what to do—when situations arise, and stress hits us, such as the loss of a loved one, leaving us bewildered about how to handle the situation. Well, Lord God, You have taught us that the three main steps are:
Stop – Take three deep breaths, breathing in the refreshing presence of the Holy Spirit. Precious friend, breathe in… breathe out… breathe in… breathe out… breathe in a refreshing of the Holy Spirit… breathe out… Amen.
Pause – Don’t immediately speak out of turn or allow emotions to overtake you. It’s important to be still and receptive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Pray – Invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your thoughts, decisions, actions, words, and the places you go. Amen.
As we stated earlier, every problem is solvable. You don’t need to be up at 2:30 a.m. worrying about the bills being paid. You need to give it all to Jesus. Lay your head on the pillow and rest. Precious friend, when you do this, you’ll find that you receive the much-needed sleep to wake up refreshed and ready to embrace the blessings of a new day.
Now, it’s time to reflect. Get your journal, pad, and pen. Write down what the Lord is telling you, because today is a new day. Amen. Today’s a new day. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.
So, if you’re experiencing sleeplessness, restlessness, or difficulty focusing, know that the tormenting spirits must bow to the name of Jesus right now. It you’re not sleeping you’re not able to focus properly. The battle is not yours; it belongs to the Lord. Say that three times:
“The battle is not mine; it belongs to the Lord. The battle is not mine; it belongs to the Lord. The battle is not mine; it belongs to the Lord.”
Walk in His Footsteps
I choose to serve the Lord Jesus, who was never confused, never anxious, and never stuck. It begins with you: getting up, getting dressed, giving God time in your devotions with your cup of tea, coffee, or water, a light breakfast, and then stepping out the door to do exactly what the Father has for you. Amen. To be about the Father’s business. It’s all about remaining single-minded. Amen.
Because we all know this world is a mess—it’s double-minded—but we are in a time of tremendous outpouring, and revival is breaking forth. I pray that as you leave this blog, you will be refreshed and understand that God is doing a new thing. From the White House to every house, from sea to shining sea, and in every family, God is restoring relationships and this great land.
The Lord loves you, and He longs to bless you and radiate in and through you. There is an important hierarchy: first to your spouse, then to your children, friends, family, community, state, and government. God needs you to rise up and step into the position He has for you. How do you know exactly what you’re supposed to do? By getting into His presence.
Spend at least 20 minutes every day in His presence—by reading the Word of God aloud, praying without ceasing, engaging in private worship, and practicing self-care. Self-care includes taking a walk, putting on your earbuds, raising your hands to heaven, enjoying nature, your friends, the sky, and the beauty of creation. The Lord has given us so much for free.
Do not allow yourself to be imprisoned in your home. Instead, put on your walking clothes, grab your earbuds and phone, and go for a walk. Just breathe. Because God wants you to enjoy your journey. He wants you to be refreshed and encouraged. Amen. He desires for you to live a long, joyful, and healthy life. Let’s begin with some prayer declarations. Amen.
Prayer Declaration #1
In the name of Jesus, come Holy Spirit, come. You are welcome here. Overtake us, overwhelm us. Let our cups run over. Fill us with Your presence and saturate us in Your anointing. Read Psalm 23 as you pray this declaration.
Prayer Declaration #2
In the name of Jesus, O Lord, break every rod of oppression assigned to discourage us through weariness, depression, anxiety, and fear. Let the blood of Jesus speak for us. O the blood of Jesus, how it washes white as snow. Read Psalm 91 and Colossians 1 as you pray this declaration.
Prayer Declaration #3
In the name of Jesus, we invoke our rights according to Your covenant with Jesus Christ as heirs of the Holy Promise. Release every blessing You have ordained for our success—for marriage, family relationships, joy, peace, faith, business, ministry, community, church, and more. Every blessing You have for us is designed to strengthen Joy Today Ministries, our leadership, staff, pastor, and supporters, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Read 2nd Peter chapter 1 as you pray this declaration.
Thirst for Righteousness
God will help you as you seek His guidance to identify those who truly belong in your life. Amen.
Let’s read John 6:26–43 (NIV):
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me: that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
At this, the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
What’s in the water and bread? They say that humans can only survive for three days without water and 21 days without food. Jesus says in two different texts that He is the living water and bread of life—that if any man eats or drinks of Him, they will never be thirsty again. How many of you have served God and find yourself thirsty at times? Have you ever been emotionally thirsty, spiritually thirsty, physically thirsty, relationship thirsty, or thirsty from your life?
I think we have all left texts and emails like this, confused at times. I think, “I drank, so why do I have thirstiness in my life?” There are several notable incidents in our text:
- The Samaritan woman was a woman!
- She is a Samaritan.
- This woman just happens to be a known adulterer!
Now, Jesus breaks down the barriers of fear and phobias. He demonstrates to us that the power of God is released by love; L-O-V-E of God, the love of God.
The love of God is the absence of hate, and hate is prejudice. That’s why, where there is little love, there is much legalism. There, Jesus is showing up right in the middle of her routine, her shame, her longing for love. Jesus shows up and asks for a drink. He put a demand on her that would bring her to Him, the Christ.
Then He offers her living water, so she won’t thirst again. Jesus not only claims to be the source of living water but also to be able to cause living water to become in whoever drinks—a fountain of water, springing up into everlasting life. Rather than being forced to visit the ritual back and again, and again, and again, Jesus would provide a continual refreshing.
Christ and His Word are inseparable. Jesus was not a man who became the Word but is the eternal Word who became a man. His very nature is the Word of God, and to reject or ignore what He says is to reject or ignore who He is.
Addiction Must Bow to the Name of Jesus
So let’s get excited! Let’s raise those hands to heaven and thank God for breaking off addiction in your life—whether you’re addicted to sugar, sex, pornography, alcohol, or pills. God wants you to be totally free, precious friend—free from toxic habits.
Maybe you’re a wonderful person, very kind, but you self-sabotage. God wants you to break free from self-sabotage today, in Jesus’ name. He wants you to have better self-care. He wants you to take good care of you, precious friend. Amen!
God longs to radiate in and through you so that you can understand what He is saying for you to do. But you’ve got to give Him time—in the Word of God—so He can clearly communicate with you. That’s why it’s so important to carry a little leather Bible (large print if needed), whether in your briefcase, your purse, or your vehicle. Amen!
Or use your Bible app on your phone during in-between moments—put on that Bible, plug in your earbuds, and listen to the Word of God. You will see that the more you listen to it, the more you’re going to feel the power of the Holy Ghost, and it’s going to heal you. Your Father in Heaven wants to heal you—and heal the land. Amen!
It’s so important that you do this. If you’re married, as a couple—and as a family—hold hands and pray together. Amen! Worship together, jump, skip, and enjoy your journey. Amen!
You see, precious friend, God has a purpose for you. He wants you to be useful. He wants you to enjoy your life.
The past is behind you. The past doesn’t define you—but it helps you become a better person. It teaches you what not to do. And sometimes, you just have to realize: it’s not always the people causing the problems—it’s your mental state. You have the choice to just let it go. Let go of the past hurt and allow Jesus to handle the situation. Invite Him to come into your heart and heal you from the inside out.
Yes, situations happen that are very hard. But we have the choice today to say:
Father, I choose to have clear communication with You.
I make a vow—from this point on—to set aside 20 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes at noon, and 20 minutes before I go to bed to read Your Word, to pray, and to worship.
Let’s face it—your life should be a life of worship, laughter, smiles, and enjoying your journey. Because we have one life to live—live it.
God’s Peace is Available to You Now
Yesterday, as I was coming back home from the church event, God placed this vehicle right in front of me. It was like a Jeep-type vehicle with a round wheel on the back of it, and the cover said, “You have one life. Live it.” The license plate also read, “One life. Live it.” That was a sign. You and I have one life—live it to the fullest today.
Choose whom you will serve—serve the Lord. God is all about peace, and He tells us that in His Word. In the book of James, if you would go to James 3:16–18:
“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” —James 3:16–18
And so, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the earth.” So make peace—with God, with yourself, and with those the Lord is telling you to make peace with. Happiness is homemade when you’re enjoying your journey. Amen!
When you know you are where you’re supposed to be, when you’re flourishing—a spouse that is sent from God will help you blossom into everything God has created you to be. They encourage you. They’re not “nag, nag, nag.” They encourage. They uplift.
And let’s face it—no one’s perfect. But today, we’re making a vow to God: Lord, help us. When we feel overwhelmed, help us to stop, to pause, and to pray. We invite Your Holy Spirit to lead and guide our thoughts, the words we speak, and the decisions we make. In Jesus’ name—Amen.
Key Takeaways
Precious friend, as you implement “Stop, Pause, and Pray” in your daily routine, you will be refreshed. Choose each day to go to bed between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m., rise at 6:00 a.m., and spend that first part of the day with the Father in devotions. You will see—God will turn your mess into a miracle. It’s all about clear communication, because Jesus went to the Father for instructions. For as He is, so are you and I in this world. Jesus came to set the example. The words He said, He meant. He was slow to speak and quick to listen. He was a great listener.
Remember, we are remembered in this world by two things: the problems we cause and the problems we solve.
So, precious Heavenly Father, we thank You for helping us be the best problem-solvers ever. Lord God, I thank You that You lead and guide Your people. I pray that You bless them in the name of Jesus. I pray You release healing where there needs to be healing. I speak Jesus all over you, and I decree and declare the Word of God over you:
Isaiah 53:5 — He was wounded for your transgressions. He was bruised for your iniquities. He was chastised for your peace, and by the stripes of Jesus, we were healed.
Receive that healing. Step out of the old and go forward. Be happy—in Jesus’ name.
And when you don’t understand, don’t overreact: stop, pause and pray. Invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide. Have the tough conversations. God is all about face-to-face. This saves marriages. This saves your relationship with your children, your grandchildren, your friends, your community, and your colleagues.
You’ve got to be able to say, “Hey, maybe I made a mistake. Maybe I misunderstood. Please forgive me.” Pray with the person. Ask the Lord to help you have a better mental state. The mind is your servant—command it to come into alignment according to the Word of God. Amen. And let’s all walk single-minded.
I love you, precious friend. Today, you did a great thing because God is all about clear communication. So grab those Bibles, pads, and pens—and let’s dedicate that time to the Father. Watch your marriage and everything else be restored, because God is restoring you like it never happened, and He’s taking you to the next level.
And maybe you’re here just to be refreshed. Everything’s going great—that’s wonderful. God is refreshing you now. Be encouraged. Be uplifted, precious friend. Be willing to say, “Hey, I’m doing a heart check. I’m going to do a reset. I’m going to be an even better person,” because great leaders help other leaders rise up and step into their calling and purpose.
Related Texts: Psalm 51:10; Psalm 107:14; Proverbs 13:20; Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18; James 1:19; and Hebrews 4:12.
