Joel Osteen - Your Best Life Begins Each Morning: Devotions to Start Every New Day of the Year

Copyright 2008 by Joel Osteen Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in review.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scriptures 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.

Scriptures noted AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible. Copyright 1954, 1962, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scriptures noted NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scriptures noted NKJV are taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

Scriptures noted TLB are taken from The Living Bible, copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scriptures noted NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scriptures noted The Message are from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scriptures noted KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Literary development and design: Koechel Peterson & Associates, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Portions of this book have been adapted from Your Best Life Now, copyright 2004 and Daily Readings from Your Best Life Now, copyright 2005 by Joel Osteen. Published by FaithWords.

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First eBook Edition: December 2008

ISBN: 978-0-446-54566-2

E3-20170824-JV-PC

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct

my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

PSALM 5:3KJV

THE KEY TO LIVING YOUR best life starts with how you approach every new morning, because today is the only day you have. You cant do anything about the past, and you dont know what the future holds. But when you wake up in the morning, you can make up your mind to do your best to enjoy your day. Youre not going to allow what does or doesnt happen to steal your joy and keep you from Gods abundant life.

Dont start your day off by feeling guilty about yesterday or recalling all the mistakes you made. Rather, when you make mistakes, simply ask God for forgiveness and then move on, confident that the moment you ask, God forgives you. You are ready for a great present and a bright future.

Get up every morning and receive Gods love and mercy and the power of His Word for your life. Start your day with God by saying, Father, I thank You that this is going to be a great day. I thank You that I have discipline, self-control; that I make good decisions. I may not have done all that I could have yesterday, but that days gone. Im going to get up and do better today.

These devotions are written to inspire ardent love and worship to God. While they are not meant to replace your personal time with God, it is my desire that the readings will be keys you can use to unlock doors leading a fuller life. I hope they will be a springboard to help you draw nearer to God and to help you overcome the obstacles that might keep you from living your best life now.

Your life can be transformed and renewed as you allow Gods Word to refresh and to reshape your thinking, speaking, and daily activities. Allow the Scriptures to speak to you. Be still and listen to what God is saying to you. No matter where you are or what challenges you face, you can start to enjoy your life right now!

JANUARY 1

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

ISAIAH 43:19 NLT

W HAT DO YOU WANT TO DO with your life? If you could write your best life story this morning, what would it say? Is your first reaction to see and describe yourself in terms of past experiences or present limitations, more in terms of losing or just surviving rather than fulfilling your dreams?

If youve packed away your dreams, dare to unpack them today and ask God to rekindle them in your heart and mind. Its time to enlarge your vision. He wants to pour out His far and beyond favor on you (see Ephesians 2:7). He wants to do big things and new things in your life.

JANUARY 2

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

JEREMIAH 29:11

Y OU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED adversity or trials in your past. Perhaps youve had more than your share of setbacks and heartaches. But today is a brand-new day. It is time to stretch your faith and pursue the excellence that God has placed in your heart. It is time to break out of the barely get by mentality, to become the best you can be, not merely average or ordinary, for the rest of your life.

We serve the Most High God, and His dream for your life is so much bigger and better than you can even imagine. Never settle for a small view of God. Start thinking as God thinks. Think big. Think increase. Think abundance. Think more than enough!

JANUARY 3

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

ROMANS 8:3132

G OD IS CONSTANTLY trying to plant new seeds in your heart. Hes trying to fill you with so much hope and expectancy that the seed will grow and bring forth a tremendous harvest.

Never allow negative thinking to keep you from Gods best. If you will get in agreement with God, this can be the greatest time of your life. With God on your side, you cannot possibly lose. He can make a way when it looks as though there is none. He can open doors that no one can shut. He can cause you to be at the right place, at the right time. He can supernaturally turn your dreams into reality.

JANUARY 4

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

ROMANS 1:17 KJV

P ERHAPS WE HAVE A GOAL to break a bad habit, to lose some weight, or to pay off our credit cards. At first, were so excited and we go after it! But over time, we get lazy; we get complacent. Maybe we see a little improvement, but then we get comfortable right where we are. Where we are may not be a bad place, but we know its not where were supposed to be. Were not stretching our faith. Were not pursuing the excellence that God has placed in our hearts.

Maybe youve been coasting lately, thinking that perhaps youve reached your limits. Youre not stretching your faith. You arent believing for an increase. No, dont stop halfway; go on up to the top of your mountain. Believe God for more.

JANUARY 5

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.