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The Word for Today Daily Devotional for 2022

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Saturday, December 31, 2022 Five resolutions to work on ‘Run with perseverance.’ Hebrews 12:1 NIV Susan Alexander Yates suggests five resolutions to work on. (1) Reach someone who doesn’t know Christ. God commands us to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16); that won’t happen if we spend all our time with believers. While reaching out feels scary, you’ll see God work through you when you take the risk. (2) Be more grateful. ‘I used to wake thinking about all the things I had to do and the people who needed me. I got depressed before I got out of bed! So I started meditating on God’s character traits, thinking about how awesome God...More Friday, December 30, 2022 Don’t look back (2) ‘Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ Isaiah 43:18–19 NIV We should not be boastful about our successes. That doesn’t necessarily mean we must forget the great projects we have completed. We are to work and live with excellence unto God, and He takes pleasure in our successes when they are offered to His glory. But we should forget past successes if they have defined our identity or caused us to be complacent, smug and self-congratulatory. We’re not to fondle the past, dwelling on past glories. Similarly, we must make sure our stories of God’s work and grace in our lives...More Thursday, December 29, 2022 Don’t look back (1) ‘Do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ Isaiah 43:18–19 NIV Don’t look back. It is fruitless. You can’t change the past. Paul says, ‘I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.’ (Philippians 3:13 NLT) (1) We must forget our sins. Obviously, we must remember our sins in order to confess them. But having done so, we must let them go. The fact that God forgets is like calling Heaven and being told that there is no record of any offence. They have been erased as if they never existed. Satan would lure us to live in guilt and fear. He...More Wednesday, December 28, 2022 What do you see? (2) ‘I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?’ Isaiah 43:19 NIV Your life will manifest what you continually keep in front of you. Paul says, ‘We have the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:16 NIV), and creativity and vision are part of the package. You need a vision to look forward to if you want to change the circumstances in your life. If you have problems, you’re in debt, or lonely, create a vision for what you’d like your life to be. See yourself stronger and healthier, in a good financial position, in a wonderful relationship. Once you’ve created a vision, you need to take...More Tuesday, December 27, 2022 What do you see? (1) ‘Look up into the sky and count the stars, if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!’ Genesis 15:5 NLT Vision is the God-given ability to see the invisible. Without it, people stumble all over themselves. When God told Abraham he would be the father of many nations, he and Sarah were old and childless. Naturally speaking, it looked impossible. So, God took Abram outside and told him to look up into the sky and try to count the stars. God told Abram that’s how many descendants he would have. It wasn’t enough to hear what God said: Abraham needed to see it in his mind’s eye. And although the...More Monday, December 26, 2022 Love Your Church—Jesus Does!!! ‘Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.’ Ephesians 5:25 NKJV The church isn’t made up of people who are better than everybody else. It’s made up of people who want to be better than they are, and who know that, by the grace of God, they can be. Have church leaders sometimes failed us? Yes, but Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, hasn’t failed us—and He never will! Christ’s church, of which your local church is a part, was planned by God before the world began (Ephesians 1:4). It was paid for in the crimson cash of Jesus’ blood and has been sustained through history by the...More Sunday, December 25, 2022 God’s gift is indescribable! ‘Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.’ 2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV Paul says that the gift God gave each of us that first Christmas is indescribable. The Living Bible says it’s too wonderful for words. Consider this: Isaiah says, ‘Unto us, a Child is born, unto us, a Son is given.’ (Isaiah 9:6 KJV) Jesus was both God and man. As a child, He was born, but as the Son of God, He could only be given, because He always existed. So, He is the perfect solution to our sin problem because He understands both the claims of divinity and the struggles of humanity. Today let’s examine this...More Saturday, December 24, 2022 Your provision is on the way! ‘Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.’ Matthew 2:11 NASB The Bible tells us: ‘When Jesus was born in Bethlehem… [astrologers] from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east… and have come to worship Him.” …and behold, the star… went before them until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was… And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they...More Friday, December 23, 2022 When it doesn’t feel like Christmas ‘He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.’ Isaiah 61:1 HCSB At this time of year, it’s tempting to buy into the myth that everybody else is enjoying a picture-perfect Christmas. The truth is, there are thousands whose lives have been forever altered by death, divorce, sickness, and financial problems. One woman who was recently divorced described how she got through that first Christmas. ‘It was five days until Christmas day, yet there was no hint of Christmas at my house. Usually, our tree and all the decorations were up at the beginning of the month. The house would be filled with Christmas...More Thursday, December 22, 2022 He gave His most precious possession ‘Thank God for His gift that is too wonderful for words!’ 2 Corinthians 9:15 CEV One afternoon a little girl stood outside Pete Richardson’s antique shop studying the treasures in the window. Then she went in and asked to see a string of blue beads. When Pete set them on the counter, she said: ‘They’re perfect. Will you gift wrap them, please? They’re for my sister. She takes care of me. This will be our first Christmas since Mum died, and I’ve been looking for the perfect present.’ ‘How much do you have?’ asked Pete cautiously. Pouring a stack of coins on the counter, she...More Wednesday, December 21, 2022 Speak to the Enemy ‘We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil.’ Ephesians 6:12 GWT In her classic book, War on the Saints, Jessie Penn-Lewis writes, ‘The chief condition… for the working of evil spirits in human beings, apart from sin, is passivity.’ That’s why the apostle Peter urges us, ‘Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.’ (1 Peter 5:8 NLT) Have you ever seen a hungry lion devour its prey? That’s a picture of what Satan is out to do to you....More Tuesday, December 20, 2022 Let God settle it for you ‘Dear friends, don’t try to get even. Let God take revenge.’ Romans 12:19 CEV When someone has hurt or betrayed you, it goes against your grain to resist the instinct for revenge, especially when there is an opportunity to settle the old score and your friends urge you to capitalise on it. Before you decide, consider the story in 1 Samuel 24. King Saul, consumed by jealousy, took every opportunity to try and destroy his God-ordained successor, David. Driven by a desire to eliminate him, Saul took three thousand soldiers to find him and kill him. By divine appointment, Saul stopped to rest in a large cave...More Monday, December 19, 2022 God is enough! ‘He gave us His Son—will He not also freely give us all things?’ Romans 8:32 GNT Do you like to collect Bible promises for challenging times? When your collection seems inadequate, do you add to it, thinking, ‘I just haven’t found the right promise yet’? Claiming the promise without understanding the all-sufficiency of the Promiser can disappoint you. Since there is no lack in God, He is all you need. And He is all you will ever need! The Bible says He can do ‘immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.’ (Ephesians 3:20 NIV) American author, Hannah Whitall Smith, born in 1832 was no...More Sunday, December 18, 2022 All you will ever need ‘Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.’ Psalm 62:8 NKJV Life can feel overwhelming when you’re responsible for mortgage or rent payments, maintenance bills, clothes for the family, escalating food and fuel expenses, university fees, plus the reality of preparing for your retirement! And the pressure is even greater if you’re underemployed or unemployed. Where can you turn? Surrounded by enemies, David turned to God. ‘My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation… I shall not be moved.’ (Psalm 62:5–6 KJV) Where...More Saturday, December 17, 2022 Who advises you? (2) ‘Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.’ Proverbs 15:22 NIV A good mentor does three things. They: (1) Observe you. (2) Instruct you. (3) Motivate you. At first, the thought of having someone evaluate you may be intimidating. But think about it; people are watching you anyway, so why not have a good adviser among the crowd? Here is a list of some areas where you might invite a mentor to evaluate you. These things are essential: spiritual development, personal discipline, family relationships, decision making, handling finance, conflict...More Friday, December 16, 2022 Who advises you? (1) ‘Wisdom is found in those who take advice.’ Proverbs 13:10 NIV To succeed in life, you must become a lifelong learner. And learning requires submission; a quality of character we sometimes think doesn’t apply to us. We think submission is just for others who need to be led. Reaching for a good mentor requires a humble heart. If you’re not teachable, your future is already decided! The more you think you know, the less likely you are to place yourself under the influence of those who really know and can help you. This is especially true when you view yourself as more capable, passionate, and talented than...More Thursday, December 15, 2022 Flee, fight, or forgive ‘Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.’ John 13:1 NKJV We all handle our relationship problems in one of three ways: flee, fight, or forgive. Some choose to flee. They leave the relationship and start again elsewhere, though they are frequently surprised when the problem resurfaces in the new relationship. Others fight. As a result, their relationships become combative, and stress becomes a way of life. Wise people choose the way of Christ: ‘Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.’ (John 13:1 NKJV) Was it difficult for Jesus to stay...More Wednesday, December 14, 2022 Believe in what you do ‘Showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve.’ Daniel 1:4 NIV When Daniel arrived in Babylon, he was a slave. But he rose to the top. The king gave these orders about those to be brought into the court: ‘Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve.’ (Daniel 1:4 NLT) To be promoted in any job, you must first prove yourself. The Bible says, ‘Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings.’ (Proverbs 22:29 NIV) Unless you...More Tuesday, December 13, 2022 Build people up ‘The lips of the godly speak helpful words.’ Proverbs 10:32 NLT How do you feel when someone puts you down? Consider this, so you don’t do it to others. ‘Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit.’ (Proverbs 15:4 GNT) You can crush someone with what you say, so be careful. Some of the people you meet each day need an emotional lift, so encourage them. ‘The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate, but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse.’ (Proverbs 10:32 CSB) Don’t be the kind of person who pounces on another person’s weakness. Maybe you do it in a...More Monday, December 12, 2022 Be sensitive to others ‘Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.’ Philippians 2:4 NIV Often, we are unaware of the other person’s needs in a relationship or friendship. We become calloused. We stop listening. We’re oblivious to the pressure they’re under. Simply stated, the root of many problems in a relationship is insensitivity. Everyone you meet needs kindness. The people who sit around you in church have major hurts; you’re just unaware of them. We find a great example of sensitivity in the life of King David. David’s friend, Jonathan, Saul’s son, had been killed....More Sunday, December 11, 2022 Be kind to others ‘Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness.’ Colossians 3:12 NIV When you get up in the morning, you must not only clothe yourself physically but spiritually and emotionally as well. As we gear ourselves up mentally, we all too often are choosing an attitude from a wardrobe of possibilities. Will we deck ourselves in the glamour of smiles or the serious tone of a frown? Now you might think that when you’re kind, people will constantly take advantage of you. That may sometimes happen, but here are two reasons to be kind: (1) ‘For it is by grace you have been saved.’ (Ephesians 2:8 NIV) Grace...More Saturday, December 10, 2022 Instant gratification leads to long-term misery ‘My God shall supply all your need.’ Philippians 4:19 NKJV God promised to supply your need, not your greed. When you get into debt by buying things you shouldn’t, don’t expect Him to bail you out. No responsible parent would do that, and God is a responsible parent. He gives you choices, and He points out consequences. He told Adam and Eve not to eat the forbidden fruit. Then Satan came along and said, ‘God doesn’t really mean it, you can do what you want and be okay.’ Sound familiar? Advertisers do the same thing. One furniture company offers a house full of furniture with no monthly...More Friday, December 9, 2022 Don’t neglect your faith ‘God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.’ Romans 12:3 NKJV You can’t sit back and do nothing, believing God will do everything for you. You have a part to play. Apostle Paul says God gives each of us a measure of faith. Jude says you develop spiritually ‘by building yourselves up in your most holy faith.’ (Jude 1:20 NIV) Faith under attack is just faith under construction. It’s in the battles of life that you discover whether you have nurtured faith or neglected faith. In Biblical times, many Roman soldiers used a scutum, a shield that protected them from head to toe. It was made of...More Thursday, December 8, 2022 The importance of sleep ‘I awoke and looked around, and my sleep was sweet to me.’ Jeremiah 31:26 NKJV Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is get to bed earlier and wake up refreshed and ready to fulfil God’s purposes for the day. When you constantly run on empty, it shows up in your attitudes, relationships, performance, and health. That’s why the Bible talks about the importance of sleep. (1) ‘It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones.’ (Psalm 127:2 NLT) (2) ‘In peace I will lie down...More Wednesday, December 7, 2022 Seven Scriptures you should stand on ‘His faithful love endures forever.’ Psalm 118:2 NLT Do yourself a favour and read the whole of Psalm 118! (1) ‘In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me.’ (Psalm 118:5 NLT) What are you battling today? A destructive habit? A crippling fear? A sense of worthlessness? God wants to set you free. (2) ‘The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.’ (Psalm 118:6 NLT) Your future doesn’t rest in the hands of people, but God—a good God who has good plans for you. (3) ‘He will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me.’ (Psalm 118:7 NLT) God...More Tuesday, December 6, 2022 Never forget those who helped you ‘Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.’ Philippians 1:3 NLT Paul often acknowledged those who helped him. ‘Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God...for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News.’ (Philippians 1:3–5 NLT) ‘You Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help…No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.’ (Philippians 4:15–17 NLT) He writes to the believers in Thessalonica:...More Monday, December 5, 2022 Having the right mindset (3) ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so he.’ Proverbs 23:7 NKJV Every family struggles with generational issues. These are things our parents and grandparents have passed down to us. Often, we say, ‘It runs in my family, I can’t do anything about it.’ Yes, you can! You may not be able to do anything about your family’s past but, by God’s grace, you can change the future for yourself and your children. The Bible says, ‘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) Note the words ‘in Christ.’ You...More Sunday, December 4, 2022 Having the right mindset (2) ‘We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.’ 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV How would you describe yourself? Are you naturally positive or negative? Are your decisions driven by faith in God or by fear? Do you feel good about yourself, or do you put yourself down? Whatever your answer, this much is certain: the patterns and attitudes that rule your life were not formed overnight—so don’t expect an overnight cure. But you can make a start by obeying these Scriptures: (1) ‘Set your minds and keep them set on what is I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of...More Saturday, December 3, 2022 Having the right mindset (1) ‘Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things).’ Colossians 3:2 AMPC What’s your biggest challenge right now? Breaking a bad habit or putting a new one in place? Launching a new business or turning an old one around? Recovering from a bad marriage or making a good one better? Getting out of depression or keeping yourself from falling into it? Paul gives us two powerful keys: (1) Set your mind in the right direction. (2) Keep your mindset in the right direction. Setting your mind is the easy part, keeping it set calls for a daily commitment. Anybody can...More Friday, December 2, 2022 Weathering the seasons ‘For everything there is a season.’ Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT When God gives you a vision, be prepared because with every vision comes a sacrifice. The road to triumph is full of tests and trials. But God has promised that there will be a harvest: ‘Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.’ (Psalm 126:5–6 NLT) That Scripture teaches us two things: (1) There is a season for weeping. This is not an excuse for passivity or a posture of weakness that reduces you to tears because life is not fair,...More Thursday, December 1, 2022 Self-control or controlling? ‘The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives… self-control.’ Galatians 5:22–23 NLT Are you self-controlled, or controlling? Let’s find out. Controlling people blame things like the devil, people, or circumstances for their problems and respond by blaming, resenting, or projecting frustration. They manipulate people and circumstances to their advantage. But it doesn’t work—their attempts intensify their pain and turn their relationships into power struggles. The more they try to control, the worse they feel, and the worse they feel, the more they try to control. God doesn’t...More Wednesday, November 30, 2022 Don’t forget to say thank you. ‘As they went, they were cleansed.’ Luke 17:14 NLT ‘Ten men with leprosy 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. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!”’ (Luke 17 12–15 NLT) We can confidently take our problems to Jesus. He can restore what you have lost and give you back your peace and joy. Cry out to Him. Forget about looking dignified; desperate people do desperate things, and God...More Tuesday, November 29, 2022 Ask God for wisdom ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God.’ James 1:5 NIV Solomon said: ‘Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honour you.’ (Proverbs 4:5–8 NIV) There are many ways to gain wisdom: (1) Gleaning from the collective knowledge of others. ‘By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is...More

Monday, November 28, 2022 Never compromise on God’s Word ‘We must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.’ Hebrews 2:1 NKJV We must constantly reaffirm our Scriptural foundations. What are these foundational truths on which the church of Jesus Christ is built? The infallibility of the Bible; Christ’s virgin birth; His sinless life; His atoning death; His bodily resurrection and mediatory work on our behalf; our need to be saved, baptised, and filled with the Holy Spirit; and the commission to carry the Gospel to the four corners of the earth and announce the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign. These truths...More Sunday, November 27, 2022 Are you in an abusive relationship? ‘He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.’ Psalm 147:3 NIV Please don’t suffer alone. Take the following steps today. (1) Get help. Solomon said, ‘A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.’ (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT) Be careful who you seek help from. It’s best to seek professional help, group support or a mediator for an intervention. (2) Separate. If you or your children are in danger, seek a safe place to stay once you have a safety plan in...More Saturday, November 26, 2022 You can defeat this giant ‘This is the Lord’s battle, and He will give you to us!’ 1 Samuel 17:47 NLT To defeat giants like addiction, resentment, fear, lust, pride, envy, or anger, you must understand these three Scriptures: (1) ‘The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT) Goliath was born a baby, but he grew into a giant. Our giants are often little sins we overlooked and indulged until they assumed a life of their own and came back to haunt us. So, as you begin to say no to small impulses, you will gain the strength to say no to bigger ones. (2)...More Friday, November 25, 2022 Rekindle your love for Jesus ‘You have forsaken the love you had at first.’ Revelation 2:4 NIV Jesus told the church at Ephesus three things: (1) Remember. ‘Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen.’ (Revelation 2:5 NKJV) Instead of focusing on the depth to which you have fallen, think about the height you once knew. Not the worst of times, but the best. Recall when spending time in prayer and reading the Scriptures was the highlight of your day. What were you doing then that you’re not doing now? (2) Repent. This word means to change your mind, your direction, and your actions. You can’t solve a...More Thursday, November 24, 2022 How to know your calling ‘He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.’ Ephesians 2:10 NLT When God called Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt, Moses first tried doing it his own way. Killing an Egyptian to save an Israelite’s life, he winds up a fugitive for forty years. After living in the wilderness and learning his lesson, he returns to do God’s will, God’s way. All of us, not just church leaders, are called to do God’s will, God’s way. You say, ‘But how can I know what I’m called to do?’ You begin by answering these questions: (1) What are your spiritual...More Wednesday, November 23, 2022 Don’t let go of your vision! ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’ Proverbs 29:18 KJV God has a plan for your life, one that will help you see what’s truly important. When God gives you a vision, you begin to see things as He sees them. Otherwise, things get blurred, and you end up not knowing where you’re supposed to go. Committing to your vision sometimes means sacrificing relationships, pastimes, and pleasures. ‘Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.’ (Proverbs 29:18 NIV) Moses saw the promised land while everybody around him only saw...More Tuesday, November 22, 2022 Don’t keep your love in a box! ‘She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head.’ Mark 14:3 NIV What will you be remembered for, a life of service or self-centredness? Jesus experienced a kind, selfless act that will always be remembered. ‘A woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume… She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold… and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus… “She has done a beautiful thing to Me. The poor you will...More Monday, November 21, 2022 Obey God, regardless (3) ‘So that it might go well with them.’ Deuteronomy 5:29 NIV What God commands you to do, He will give you the grace to do. But that doesn’t mean it will be easy. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were ordered by the king to be burned alive for refusing to worship his golden image. Their faith in God was so strong that they trusted Him to deliver them from being burnt alive. (Daniel 3:17–18) They never doubted God’s ability to deliver them. How did their story turn out? King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished when instead of seeing three men bound up in the fiery furnace, he saw four. ‘“Look!” he...More Sunday, November 20, 2022 Obey God, regardless (2) ‘We thought we would never live through it.’ 2 Corinthians 1:8 NLT Job describes the rewards of obedience: ‘If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity.’ (Job 36:11 NKJV) John adds, ‘Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.’ (1 John 3:22 NKJV) But Paul describes the cost of obedience: ‘We think you ought to know… about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live...More Saturday, November 19, 2022 Obey God, regardless (1) ‘Though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.’ Hebrews 5:8 NLT The rewards of obedience are awesome, but sometimes the process is agonising. ‘Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. In this way, God qualified Him.’ (Hebrews 5:8–9 NLT) Before God promotes you to a position of usefulness in His service, He qualifies you. We admire the faith of Abraham who took his son Isaac up Mount Moriah and laid him on the altar. But the story doesn’t make sense until you read the first verse in the chapter: ‘Some time later,...More Friday, November 18, 2022 Meeting Jesus at the Communion table Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Luke 24:30 NKJV Just before Jesus went to the cross, He instituted what has become known as The Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion. He said that the cup represented His shed blood and the bread represented His broken body. Then He ended by saying: ‘Do this in remembrance of Me.’ (Luke 22:19 NKJV) Now fast-forward to the house of Cleopas and his companion, following the resurrection. Jesus had walked and talked with them on the Emmaus road, explaining to them that all that had...More Thursday, November 17, 2022 God has redeemed you (2) But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You. John 11:22 NKJV Here are three more things we learn from the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead: (1) Whatever you have lost, God can restore. One of the great promises in Scripture is that God can restore to you the years that life has stolen (see Joel 2:25). Claim that promise; take it back to the place where you lost so much, and ask God to replace, restore, and renew. He will do it. (2) Whatever you’re bound by, God can set you free. Jesus cried out for Lazarus to come forth. ‘And he who had died came out...More Wednesday, November 16, 2022 God has redeemed you (1) But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” John 11:4 NLT Observe: (1) God has a plan in mind that you don’t see. Why did Jesus wait two extra days after hearing Lazarus was sick before going to visit the family? He waited for two reasons: (a) That your faith may be strengthened. Jesus said, ‘I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe.’ (John 11:15 NKJV) In life, crises come and go. Your next crisis will be different from your last one, but...More Tuesday, November 15, 2022 You’re perfect while being made holy. ‘He forever made perfect those who are being made holy.’ Hebrews 10:14 NLT Stop putting yourself down by saying, ‘I keep failing, so I’m no good. I never do anything right.’ If you keep telling yourself that, you will find evidence to prove it. Richard Carlson says: ‘Putting yourself down reinforces rather than corrects your imperfections by placing unnecessary attention and energy on everything that’s wrong, rather than what’s right with you. Why would you do this knowing the only possible result is a negative outlook, more negative feelings, and less appreciation for the gift of life? People who...More Monday, November 14, 2022 Instead of worrying, stand on God’s Word ‘Be strong and courageous. Be not afraid or dismayed.’ 2 Chronicles 32:7 AMPC Have you lost your sense of peace? Is your mind besieged with worry? If so, begin to program your thinking with these Bible promises—write them down, carry them with you, and read them regularly: (1) ‘The Lord Himself watches over you… stands beside you… keeps you from all harm… watches over your life… keeps watch over you as you come and go.’ (Psalm 121:5–8 NLT) (2) ‘Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.’ (Psalm 9:10...More Sunday, November 13, 2022 Do You Love God’s Word? ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.’ Matthew 24:35 NIV One of the first books to come off the printing press when it was invented was the Bible. And it’s still the world’s best-selling book. An anonymous author has written: ‘It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the fate of sinners, and the happiness of believers. It is a light to direct you, food to nourish you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller’s road map, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s weapon, and the player’s game plan. It’s a mine of incredible...More Saturday, November 12, 2022 Learn to unplug and unwind ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a little while.’ Mark 6:31 NASB Don’t you find it interesting that the most high-tech generation in history is also the most medicated generation? The Bible predicted this. God told Daniel that in the last days ‘many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.’ (Daniel 12:4 NKJV) That’s us! Research has shown that we have trained our brains to constantly flit around the universe of messages and information, seeking brief hits of excitement. Grazing ceaselessly, we never dig too deeply before moving on to the next distraction. This...More Friday, November 11, 2022 You will get through this ‘I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.’ Psalm 16:8 NLT When praying doesn’t seem to bring the answer, the question becomes, ‘How do I get through this?’ The Bible addresses this by telling us, ‘We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame.’ (Hebrews 12:2 NLT) The reason Jesus was able to endure His suffering was because He focused on the joy of pleasing the Father, building the church, and reaching the world. Here is how...More Thursday, November 10, 2022 Let’s care for each other ‘There were no needy people among them.’ Acts 4:34 NLT When we think about the New Testament church, we tend to focus on its power and growth. In Acts 2, three thousand people are won to Christ after Peter preaches. In Acts 3, a paralysed man who sat begging at the temple gate was healed through the ministry of Peter and John. In Acts 4, we read: ‘Many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totalled about 5,000.’ (Acts 4:4 NLT) Preaching! Soul winning! Miracles! Growth! Exciting stuff. But here is part of their story you must not miss:...More Wednesday, November 9, 2022 Learn to listen ‘You should be quick to listen and slow to speak.’ James 1:19 CEV In order to build good relationships, you must become a good listener. And in order to be a good listener, you must do these: (1) Listen without interrupting. And that’s true, even when you know more than the person talking to you! Respect them enough to value what they say and listen attentively until they’re finished. (2) Try to understand their point of view, feelings, thinking, and needs. In other words, listen to understand. Good listening is hearing what people actually think, mean, or feel, not what you imagine...More Tuesday, November 8, 2022 S.H.A.P.E. (5) ‘Then you will learn to know God’s will for you.’ Romans 12:2 NLT The letter E stands for experience. How can you know God’s will for your life? Paul answers, ‘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.’ (Romans 12: 2 NIV) The word transform means to change in shape. How is a diamond formed? It’s the result of unrelenting pressure over a long period of time. Your life’s experiences will point you towards your life’s purpose. God never wastes pain! ‘I used to wander off...More Monday, November 7, 2022 S.H.A.P.E. (4) ‘May He equip you with all you need for doing His will.’ Hebrews 13:21 NLT The letter P stands for personality. Before a company hires a leader, they often do a personality profile to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Are you compassionate or competitive towards people? Do you have a hard-driving type personality, or do you have a more nurturing temperament? The worst thing you can do is envy someone else’s personality type and wish you were just like them. God didn’t make a mistake when He made you. God will help you to change your conduct and strengthen your character, but you can pray until...More Sunday, November 6, 2022 S.H.A.P.E. (3) ‘I take joy in doing Your will, my God.’ Psalm 40:8 NLT The letter A stands for abilities. The Bible says, ‘God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.’ (Romans 12:6 NLT) What is your dominant gift? You might think you don’t have any gifts, but we all have gifts. Your gift may be undiscovered, undeveloped, unused, underused, or even misused, but you have a gift. Have you ever heard the saying, ‘There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come? When you put together the right opportunity with the right gift at the right time, the results can literally blow your...More Saturday, November 5, 2022 S.H.A.P.E. (2) ‘As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.’ Ephesians 6:6 NLT The letter H represents your heart. What do you have a heart for or feel passionate about? As a Jew, Paul was passionate about reaching the Jewish people: ‘The longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with Himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already...More Friday, November 4, 2022 S.H.A.P.E. (1) ‘Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.’ Psalm 143:10 NKJV In order for you to understand God’s will, for the next few days, let’s use the word S.H.A.P.E. as an acrostic. S represents your spirit. Your regenerated spirit is the part of you that’s capable of connecting with God and responding to Him. The Bible says: ‘People who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them, and they can’t understand it, for only spiritual people can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things.’ (1 Corinthians...More Thursday, November 3, 2022 In Christ, you are beyond condemnation ‘I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over Me.’ John 14:30 NIV The Bible says that Satan is the accuser. Satan holds sin over our heads to make us feel unworthy and trapped in our sin. If we refuse to repent of our sin, we give Satan an opportunity to condemn us. Now you understand why you feel so bad when you harbour unconfessed sin. By doing it, you are giving Satan power over you. Notice what Jesus said: ‘I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world (Satan) is coming. He has no hold over Me.’ (John 14:30 NIV) Satan couldn’t...More Wednesday, November 2, 2022 Where do you stand with Jesus? ‘What then shall I do with Jesus?’ Matthew 27:22 NKJV When it comes to Jesus, we have three choices. Let’s look at them: (1) Reject Him. That’s what the Pharisees did. ‘Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”’ (Matthew 27:22 NKJV) Why? Because His grace and power exposed their lack of both. His truth exposed their error. And when you don’t like the message, you reject the messenger. (2) Avoid Him. That’s what Pilate’s wife did: ‘While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his...More Tuesday, November 1, 2022 Are you doing God’s will? ‘Whoever does the will of God lives forever.’ 1 John 2:17 NIV The thing that should matter to you most is doing God’s will. And here is why: God’s will is the only thing that will last forever. God has a plan for your life, and that plan constitutes His will for you. So how can you know God’s will? Try to imagine these two things: (1) A Polaroid picture. Remember those? They’re back again! You take the shot, and out pops a picture. At first, it isn’t clear, so you have to wait. But as you continue to wait, the picture becomes clearer. That’s like God’s will. ‘The path of the...More Monday, October 31, 2022 Never be part of a clique ‘You are all one in Christ Jesus.’ Galatians 3:28 NKJV In order to have a clique, you must exclude certain people. And to feel excluded hurts deeply. David experienced it: ‘The one who shared my food, has turned against me.’ (Psalm 41:9 NLT) Cliques are made up of weak people who are afraid to be different. They believe that as long as they’re with others who think and act like they do, they won’t be surprised or required to change. It may be human nature to crave this kind of consistency, but it’s dangerous. Cliques in the workplace create dissension, resulting in a miserable atmosphere for others....More Sunday, October 30, 2022 Healthy compromise ‘Seek peace and pursue it.’ 1 Peter 3:11 NKJV Read these Scriptures: ‘Pursue peace with all people.’ (Hebrews 12:14 NKJV) ‘The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield… the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.’ (James 3:17–18 NKJV) ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.’ (1 Peter 3:10–11 NKJV) Healthy compromise doesn’t mean...More Saturday, October 29, 2022 Eight principles to live by 'Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity.' Proverbs 21:5 NLT People who set goals accomplish much more than people of equal education and ability who don't. With that in mind, build these eight principles into your life. (1) Decide what you want. But first consult God. 'Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.' (Proverbs 19:21 NIV) (2) Think on paper. Writing your goals down gives them a sense of permanency, plus it energises you. 'Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity.' Wishy-washy objectives won't get you where you want to...More Friday, October 28, 2022 Your stage and your standing ‘I am writing to you, dear children.’ 1 John 2:12 NIV John says, ‘I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.’ (1 John 2:12 NIV) When you’re born again, the only thing you know is that your sins are forgiven and you’re in right standing with God. But you have a lot more to learn. The Greek term for ‘children’ refers to toddlers. And toddlers keep tripping and falling. Until they learn to walk, they need someone to pick them up and reassure them that falling down doesn’t mean they will never walk or they’re not part of the...More Thursday, October 27, 2022 Communicate with your mate ‘I pray that your love will keep on growing and you will fully know and understand.’ Philippians 1:9 CEV Ever notice when you’re dating somebody, you can talk effortlessly for hours, but if you have been married a while, unless you work at it, conversation can become superficial and even lead to disagreements? The Bible says, ‘Be willing to listen and slow to speak.’ (James 1:19 NCV) There is an art to communicating. (1) Look for opportunities to compliment one another. You may think your partner is wonderful, but they need to hear you say it frequently. It takes twelve compliments to...More Wednesday, October 26, 2022 Help for your marriage ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it.’ Psalm 127:1 NKJV Nobody knows more about marriage than God. He not only thought up the idea—He put the first couple together. And His Word says, ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it.’ So let’s turn to His Word and see what kind of help He has to offer your marriage. (1) Be willing to take advice. Solomon says, ‘Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.’ (Proverbs 13:10 NLT) So before the argument reaches a stalemate and the stalemate becomes a full-blown crisis, get input...More Tuesday, October 25, 2022 Building good relationships ‘Not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.’ Philippians 2:4 NIV Paul writes, ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with others, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 2:34 NIV). That means do these five things: (1) Be genuinely interested in others. ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.’ (Romans 12:15 NIV) And you can only do that when you take the...More Monday, October 24, 2022 Night-time experiences (2) ‘Before you were born, I chose you to speak for Me to the nations.’ Jeremiah 1:5 CEV When God blesses you, get ready for the complainers who think He should have blessed them instead—or at least as much as you. When a dispute arose about the position of the high priest, God told Moses to have each candidate write his name on his staff and place it overnight in the tabernacle. Then God said, ‘The man I have chosen… buds will grow on his rod! Then at last this murmuring and complaining against you will stop!’ (Numbers 17:5 TLB) Imagine an old stick with no roots or sap blossoming in the...More Sunday, October 23, 2022 Night-time experiences (1) ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.’ Psalm 30:5 NKJV The earth is continually revolving, which means when it’s light in one continent, it’s dark in another. While one person is experiencing midnight, another is rejoicing because daybreak has finally come.. Both people live on the same planet, but they’re in very different places. So when you’re having a night-time experience, if you can just hold on a little longer, things will change. God guarantees it. The same way you rotated into the darkness, you will rotate out of it again. God works the night shift, and He...More Saturday, October 22, 2022 Use your God-given gift ‘Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.’ 2 Timothy 1:6 NIV Other people may not think you’re important, but God does. And His opinion is the one that counts most. Remember David? Before he became king, he had to overcome two obstacles. The first obstacle was his family’s inability to see his potential. When Samuel the prophet came looking for a king among Jesse’s sons, David wasn’t even considered. Maybe that’s because he was the youngest, or his brothers seemed more qualified, or his father wanted to impress the prophet. The second obstacle was Samuel’s inability to...More Friday, October 21, 2022 George Müller’s thoughts on meditation ‘I will delight myself in Your commandments.’ Psalm 119:47 NKJV George Müller was a man of great faith. He rescued thousands of homeless children in England. Sometimes when they gathered at the table for supper there was nothing to eat, so he would pray and thank God for supernatural provision. No sooner had he said, ‘Amen’, than a baker would show up at his door with bread, or a greengrocer with vegetables, or a farmer with milk. Here is an entry from his journal, dated 9 May, 1841: ‘I saw more clearly than ever that the first great primary business to which I ought to attend every day was… not how...More Thursday, October 20, 2022 Conquering bad habits ‘You shall conquer them utterly destroy them.’ Deuteronomy 7:2 NKJV American author Henry Van Dyke says, ‘As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge.’ Habits are like machines; they consistently turn out the same product. They can’t do anything else; they’re designed to produce that specific result. Change requires new behaviours, thoughts, relationships, and a willingness to do battle with old ways of thinking. And that calls for a strong relationship with God! Upon entering the Promised Land, God told His people to ‘utterly...More Wednesday, October 19, 2022 Feed your faith daily ‘God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.’ Romans 12:3 NKJV It’s easy to give in to negative thoughts and fears about how things will turn out based on your past experiences. As Jesus pointed out, we live in a ‘faithless’ generation. (Matthew 17:17 NKJV) That means you must constantly fight the defeatist attitude portrayed by the culture, the media, the educational system, the workplace—and sometimes your own friends. Unless you recognise this, it can wear you down by diluting your faith. That’s why you need to feed your faith daily with God’s Word. Jesus said, ‘If you have faith...More Tuesday, October 18, 2022 Be a cheerful giver! ‘Try it! Put me to the test!’ Malachi 3:10 NLT Guard your heart against believing that your money is something you earned all by yourself. If you struggle to give to God, it might be time to ask yourself if you have become more attached to the gift than the Giver. If you have never committed yourself to regular giving, read this: ‘Bring all the offerings into the storehouse… If you do… I will open the windows of Heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put Me to the test!’ (Malachi 3:10 NLT) A pastor received this letter from a...More Monday, October 17, 2022 How to live wisely and well ‘Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.’ Job 12:12 NLT An elderly lady says, ‘One benefit of living so long is sharing what I’ve learned. So make my day by letting me share three secrets that can make your life better.’ Then she offers us some great counsel: (1) ‘Time is precious; don’t waste it. After my husband died, I was staying with friends. One evening they started arguing and eventually stopped speaking to one another. Now, I know arguments happen; my husband and I had several doozies. But at that moment, I understood as never before that the time we have together...More Sunday, October 16, 2022 Walking by faith ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’ 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV Jesus said: ‘I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of Me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.’ (John 16:33 CEV) Life keeps handing us problems that test our faith. How do you know how much weight a bridge can handle? By testing it. Daniel’s success made him a target. Knowing he prayed regularly, his enemies persuaded King Darius that all prayers should be made to him as the king. Yet Daniel kept praying each day—in front of an open window,...More Saturday, October 15, 2022 Problem solving (2) ‘By my God I can leap over a wall.’ Psalm 18:29 NKJV John Maxwell writes: ‘When you come face-to-face with a problem, how do you react? Do you ignore it and hope it will go away? Do you feel powerless to solve it? Have you had such bad experiences trying to solve problems in the past that you’ve just given up? Or do you tackle them willingly? The ability to solve problems effectively comes from experience facing and overcoming obstacles. Each time you solve another problem, you get a little better at the process. But if you never try, fail, and try again, you’ll never be good at it.’ Author...More Friday, October 14, 2022 Problem solving (1) ‘When we are knocked down, we get up again.’ 2 Corinthians 4:9 CEV Every problem you face in life introduces you to yourself. It shows you how you think and what you’re made of. People basically respond to problems in three ways: (1) they refuse to accept them (2) they accept them and then endure them, or (3) they accept them and try to improve things. Which of the three people are you? Paul was a problem solver. He knew that with God on his side, he would prevail. ‘We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God...More Thursday, October 13, 2022 First, you must care about others Love does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV When you focus on what you have to offer instead of the needs of others, they discern it and quickly lose interest. Even in an endeavour as noble as sharing your faith, you can become so engrossed in your presentation and in ‘getting results’ that you leave the other person cold. In his book Presenting to Win, Jerry Weissman points out that when people communicate, they focus too much on the features of their product or service instead of answering the question,...More Wednesday, October 12, 2022 Signs of the times ‘He Who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”’ Revelation 21:5 NIV It’s said that the Titanic sank because of cheap rivets and poor planning. Faced with a shortage of quality bolts, the shipbuilders used substandard ones that popped when the ship hit the iceberg. So, how sturdy are the bolts of your faith? Reinforce them daily with God’s Word, seasons of in-depth prayer, and fortifying fellowship. Describing signs of the end times, Jesus said, ‘All these are the beginning of birth pains’ (Matthew 24:8 NIV), and birth pains signal the onset of the final...More Tuesday, October 11, 2022 Thoughts on good leadership ‘If a bugle call isn’t clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?’ 1 Corinthians 14:8 CEV No matter how great your vision is, if you’re not someone people are willing to follow, it will never be realised. Who you are matters! Here are six thoughts on good leadership: (1) Trust connects people to a leader’s vision; without it, they will be disconnected. With it, they will get on board and help move the vision forward. (2) Leadership isn’t just about what you do; it’s about inspiring and encouraging others. Good leaders bring out the best in people by sharing the best of...More Monday, October 10, 2022 Set your mind ‘Set your minds on things above.’ Colossians 3:2 NIV Setting your mind is similar to setting the temperature of your aircon, it determines the climate you live in. So, set your mind on God’s Word! Instead of trying to stop thinking wrong thoughts—which immediately brings to mind the very thoughts you’re supposed to stop thinking—fill your mind with God’s Word. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would remind them of what He had taught them (see John 14:26). So when you file the Scriptures in your memory bank, God’s Spirit will pull those files when you need them. Picture an...More Sunday, October 9, 2022 Hearing, understanding, and receiving ‘So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.’ James 1:19 NKJV To have a good relationship with someone, you must have good communication. And good communication is based on two things: talking, and listening. Stop and consider some of your recent conflicts and try to identify behaviours and attitudes that may have contributed to them. Fears. Insecurity. Jealousy. Stubbornness. Arrogance. Greed. Sin. Rebellion. Unexpressed or unmet expectations. Unrealistic expectations. Undefined roles and responsibilities. Differing standards, beliefs, philosophies, or views. Competing...More Saturday, October 8, 2022 Can you be corrected? ‘David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”’ 2 Samuel 12:13 NKJV God sent the prophet Nathan to confront King David over his affair with Bathsheba. As king, David had the power to have Nathan put to death. But he didn’t. He humbled himself, received correction, repented, and was restored to his throne and God’s favour. Question: can you be corrected? If you can, your future is bright and your potential is great. But you must be discerning. Not all correction is constructive and therefore does not have to be accepted. Someone may desire to tear you down, diminish your self-esteem, or...More Friday, October 7, 2022 You need adequate sleep ‘You will lie down and sleep soundly.’ Proverbs 3:24 NLT How are your sleep habits? Do you go to bed at a certain time and get up at a certain time? Or do you allow events, people, deadlines, or other circumstances to dictate your sleep schedule? It’s wise to allow yourself adequate time to wind down in order to sleep when you go to bed. We think of sleep as some passive process in which we drift off into oblivion and wake up several hours later well-rested. But sleep is an active state. Metabolic and other restorative processes occur during the various stages of sleep. If we don’t sleep long enough for...More Thursday, October 6, 2022 Fight your fears with God’s Word ‘Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.’ Psalm 56:3 NKJV Fear and faith are both powerful forces. And the one you surrender to will control you. So here are some Scriptures to fight your fears: ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord…will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.’ (1 Chronicles 28:20 NKJV) ‘The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.’ (Psalm 18:2 NKJV) ‘In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’ (Psalm 56:11...More Wednesday, October 5, 2022 The truth about giving ‘He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed.’ 2 Corinthians 9:10 NIV Here is what the Bible teaches about giving: (1) You cannot outgive God. ‘He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.’ (2 Corinthians 9:10 NIV) When Paul talks here about ‘seed’, he’s talking about resources. Notice, some of the resources God gives you is to be used for your own needs, and some is to create ‘a harvest of righteousness’. What does that...More Tuesday, October 4, 2022 The benefits of meditating on God’s Word ‘I will consider all Your works and meditate on all Your mighty deeds.’ Psalm 77:12 NIV What does the word meditate mean? ‘To engage in contemplation or reflection or to focus one’s thoughts on.’ David said, ‘I will consider all Your works and meditate on all Your mighty deeds.’ Question: until you meditate on God’s Word, what can you say that will make any real difference? All you will be doing is sharing your opinion, which is just one of many. You will not be able to speak convincingly or make any real difference in the life of the person to whom you are speaking. It’s God’s Word that...More Monday, October 3, 2022 The need for connectedness (3) ‘For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function.’ Romans 12:4 NIV Paul writes: ‘For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give...More Sunday, October 2, 2022 The need for connectedness (2) ‘They shared everything they had.’ Acts 4:32 NIV When you read the story of the New Testament Church, you tend to get caught up in its amazing miracles. But here’s a component you shouldn’t miss: ‘No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had… There were no needy persons among them… those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money… and it was distributed to anyone who had need.’ (Acts 4:32–35 NIV) You say, ‘If I just had more money I’d be happy.’ You might feel more secure and have fewer worries, but you wouldn’t...More Saturday, October 1, 2022 The need for connectedness (1) ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.’ Genesis 2:18 NIV At creation, God looked at everything He had made and said, ‘That’s good.’ Then there came a time when He realised man was lonely, unfulfilled, and incomplete. That’s when He said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone,’ and He made Eve, the first woman. The fact is, none of us can develop to our highest potential unless we’re plugged into nurturing, life-giving relationships. Here is an example: in twelve-step recovery programmes, the counsellor only does 10% of the work by offering guidance. 90% of the recovery process...More Friday, September 30, 2022 The blessing of repentance (2) ‘Create in me a clean heart.’ Psalm 51:10 NKJV Sometimes believers think that God will get frustrated and impatient with them if they don’t shape up to a model Christian life. They don’t like to excuse their behaviour, because God hasn’t smacked them down, they secretly wonder if He has a tolerance level. And if you go beyond it, you’re in trouble. Is there, they think, a safety limit for impurity, such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration has? Is the standard for purity high like that for homogenised milk, or is the threshold lower like that for meat pies, with lots of room...More Thursday, September 29, 2022 The blessing of repentance (1) ‘The kindness of God leads you to repentance.’ Romans 2:4 NASB When you find yourself on the wrong road, repentance allows you to make a U-turn and head back in the right direction. What a blessing. Now, repenting doesn’t increase God’s desire to be with you; it just increases your capacity to be with Him. Sometimes we think we need to repent because God is mad at us and needs time to cool off. Or we think of repenting as a way of punishing ourselves so that God will be less severe with us. That’s not repentance, that’s low self-esteem! Low self-esteem causes you to believe that you have so little...More Wednesday, September 28, 2022 Knowing who belongs in your life ‘A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity.’ Proverbs 17:17 AMPC Wherever you live and whatever your profession, ‘butcher, baker, or candlestick maker’, you will have to deal with these three kinds of people: (1) The critic. Let’s face it, most people are comfortable with the status quo. They not only fear change but will often attack it. So if you dare to be different, prepare to sail through some rough seas. The apostle Paul’s critics referred to him as a madman, a fool, and a babbler. So why would you expect the same crowd to treat you any...More Tuesday, September 27, 2022 Cultivating a taste for God’s Word ‘How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!’ Psalm 119:103 NIV The fact that we now enjoy the vegetables we hated as children indicates that, as we mature, we can cultivate a taste for healthy, life-giving food. And since the Bible is soul food, you can cultivate a taste for that too. Scripture nurtures followers of Jesus as food nurtures the body. We don’t simply learn or study it; we assimilate it in ways that energise us into acts of love. Consumer research indicates the average Bible owner has nine Bibles and is looking for more. What’s wrong with this picture? The...More Monday, September 26, 2022 Are you at the end of your rope? ‘Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart.’ Psalm 27:14 NKJV David said: ‘I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart.’ (Psalm 27:13–14 NKJV) The word ‘wait’ originates from a Hebrew word used in making rope. Every rope starts as a thread, and every added strand increases its strength. So each time you wait on the Lord, you add another thread to the rope; you become a little stronger and a little more able to...More Sunday, September 25, 2022 How to keep a good attitude ‘I will praise You seven times a day.’ Psalm 119:164 TLB A bad attitude is like a flat tyre; you won’t get anywhere until you change it. Few things in life are more important than your attitude, and here are four ways to help you keep a good one: (1) Realise your attitude needs to be constantly adjusted. Anything you don’t maintain eventually deteriorates. The stronger your natural inclination is towards doubt and negativity, the more you will have to work at it. Begin each day with an attitude check, and throughout the day, look for red flags signalling that you’re not doing so...More Saturday, September 24, 2022 Seek God’s approval, not people’s ‘Fearing people is a dangerous trap.’ Proverbs 29:25 NLT If your life’s goal is to have the approval of people, you will never really feel secure. Why is that? Because the time will come when you do something they disapprove of; then what? The Bible says, ‘Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.’ (Proverbs 29:25 NLT) A trap is just another word for a prison. If someone other than God can determine your worth as a person, that someone can make you feel like a prisoner anytime they decide to. When a critic’s opinion becomes your own opinion, you’re living in a prison of...More Friday, September 23, 2022 Feed your mind good stuff ‘I have taught you in the way of wisdom.’ Proverbs 4:11 NKJV Every day we are bombarded with messages from the media, employers, co-workers, people we meet, books, music—and from our own thoughts. Satan works in two ways. First, he tries to feed you with stuff like temptation, depression, and worry. Second, he tries to keep you from noticing what you’re putting into your mind. A healthy mind feeds on healthy thoughts. Jesus said He came to give us ‘life more abundantly’ (see John 10:10). Instead of constantly striving for self-worth, peace of mind, joy and happiness,...More Thursday, September 22, 2022 You belong to God ‘You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.’ Ephesians 2:19 NIV ’His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.’ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household, built on...More Wednesday, September 21, 2022 God has placed you where He wants you ‘You were made queen for just such a time as this.’ Esther 4:14 NLT The story of Esther teaches us two important truths: (1) You need mentors to guide you. Because she was willing to listen to Mordecai, Esther discovered that her calling wasn’t just to be a queen but a deliverer of her people. So, who is your Mordecai? Who knows you well enough to clarify and confirm your calling in life? Who loves you enough to challenge you when you get off track or strengthen and encourage you when you want to give up and run? Where we have blind spots, we need people with 20/20 vision to speak into our lives....More Tuesday, September 20, 2022 Go overboard for the Lord!! ‘He jumped into the water.’ John 21:7 CEV ‘At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who He was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then He said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he… jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat.’ (John 21:4–8 NLT)...More Monday, September 19, 2022 Overcoming discouragement (3) ‘Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.’ James 1:22 NKJV To identify the source of your discouragement, it’s helpful to talk to someone who can offer you insight and guidance. But be careful—you can talk your problems to death and get nowhere! That’s why the Bible says, ‘Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.’ So, (1) Always do what’s right. Few things increase discouragement like regret or a guilty conscience. It’s tough to apologise, admit your faults, forgive, restrain your temper, bear a deserved blame, or start over. But deciding to do these things...More Sunday, September 18, 2022 Overcoming discouragement (2) ‘He will have whatever he says.’ Mark 11:23 NKJV To overcome discouragement, here are two things to help: (1) Speak the right words. One of the main causes of discouragement is negative self-talk. In his book Spiritual Depression, Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of Britain’s finest heart surgeons, writes, ‘Most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself.’ By that he means we allow negative messages from our past to affect our thinking instead of actively telling ourselves good things that will assist us in thinking more...More Saturday, September 17, 2022 Overcoming discouragement (1) ‘Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You.’ Jeremiah 32:17 NIV If the issue you’re wrestling with has discouraged you and got you down, here are some things to do: First, take a short look at the problem. Someone once said, ‘To hatch despair, just brood over your troubles.’ Many people who experience setbacks ask why. But they never move beyond the question to the answer. Certainly, you can’t solve your problems by ignoring them, but you can’t solve them by becoming fixated and immobilised by them...More Friday, September 16, 2022 All the charges are dismissed ‘He cancelled the record of the charges against us.’ Colossians 2:14 NLT When someone is arrested for a crime and brought into court, the prosecutor will say, ‘The charges against you are…’ At that point, they hope their lawyer can get the charges dismissed. Well, God has a record of every sin you have committed from the womb to the tomb. It details all the bad decisions you have made, the hateful acts, the unforgiving attitudes, the prejudice, the greed, the lust, the lies; He has recorded them all. But you have never seen that record, nor has anyone else. That’s because ‘He forgave all our sins. He...More Thursday, September 15, 2022 The joy of the Lord is forever ‘Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!’ John 13:17 GNT Jesus summed up His teaching on happiness this way: ‘Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!’ The Bible gives us three keys that are vital to happiness. (1) Be content (see 1 Timothy 6:8). A man who tried everything to get rid of dandelions called a garden centre and asked, ‘What can I try next?’ The shop owner said, ‘Try getting used to them!’ In life, you get what you focus on. Paul writes, ‘Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right,...More Wednesday, September 14, 2022 When you’re disappointed ‘I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember You.’ Psalm 42:6 NLT Max Lucado says: ‘When God doesn’t do what we want it’s not easy; it never has been, and it never will be. Faith is the conviction that God knows more than us… and He’ll get us through. Disappointment is caused by unmet expectations… and it’s cured by revamped expectations… Don’t panic… don’t give up… be patient… God’s in control. It ain’t over till it’s over.’ So, when you’re disappointed: (1) Look inward. David asked, ‘Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?’ (Psalm 42:5 NLT)...More Tuesday, September 13, 2022 God is still on the throne (2) ‘My thoughts are not like your thoughts.’ Isaiah 55:8 NCV God said, ‘My thoughts are not like your thoughts… Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My… thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ (Isaiah 55:8–9 NCV) Until you come to terms with the fact that God doesn’t think like you, you will question His ways and even doubt His love. We try to avoid pain, but often God uses it to bring us peace. We want comfort, but He is more interested in character. We pursue stuff that doesn’t last, whereas He tells us to build our lives on that which endures for eternity. The fact is,...More Monday, September 12, 2022 God is still on the throne (1) ‘The Lord sits on His throne in Heaven.’ Psalm 11:4 NCV The psalmist asked, ‘When the foundations for good collapse, what can good people do?’ (Psalm 11:3 NCV) Then he goes on to answer his own question: ‘The Lord sits on His throne in Heaven.’ When sickness comes, when your marriage fails, when your children suffer, when death strikes, what are you to do? Remember that God is still on the throne, and He is watching over you. No detail escapes His notice or care. He works according to a plan, and it’s not usually a plan we can understand when we’re going through hard times. Only in looking back do...More Sunday, September 11, 2022 Don’t ‘chop off’ people’s ability to hear ‘Those who speak rashly will come to ruin.’ Proverbs 13:3 NIV Harsh words can ‘chop off’ a person’s ability to hear what you’re saying. When Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He didn’t retaliate even though He could have called twelve legions of angels to His defence (see Matthew 26:53). Then the mob came, laid hands on Him, and arrested Him. At that point, Peter drew his sword and chopped off the high priest’s servant’s ear. He was probably thinking, ‘We don’t have to take this!’ But Jesus said that’s not how you handle things! Then, ‘He touched the man’s ear and healed him.’ (Luke...More Saturday, September 10, 2022 Three things a leader shouldn’t do ‘If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.’ Romans 12:8 NLT As a leader, here are three things you shouldn’t do: (1) You shouldn’t be afraid to try something new. (See Isaiah 43:19). When you put someone into a new role, they will make mistakes; it’s inevitable, but it’s how they learn. While locking them into the same routine takes the wind out of their sails, being a leader means risking their failures and biting your lip as you let them toddle out into the unknown. Like a parent who prays harder when their teen takes the family car out for their first...More Friday, September 9, 2022 Never lose your passion for God ‘Passion for Your house has consumed me.’ Psalm 69:9 NLT Question: are you passionate about God, or merely passive? Notice the steps that led to Peter’s denial of Jesus. Step one: ‘Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers.’ (Luke 22:31–32 NLT) Jesus warned Peter he was a target, but Peter didn’t take him seriously. Step two: ‘They arrested Jesus and led Him to the high priest’s home. And...More Thursday, September 8, 2022 Don’t lose your peace ‘The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace.’ James 3:18 NKJV Satan knows that God’s Word can only be received by a heart and mind that are at peace, so he will do everything he can to keep you upset. He loves it when you get into an argument just before church and spend the entire service feeling bad. That’s why you must do whatever it takes to keep your peace. There is power in peace! If the devil can’t get you upset, he has no power over you. He only ‘gains’ control when you ‘lose it’. He keeps you upset in order to steal your peace, confuse you, and make you run in circles. Don’t let him...More Wednesday, September 7, 2022 How to be saved ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’ Acts 16:31 NKJV Have you heard of the ‘Romans Road’ to salvation? It’s based on four simple steps found in the book of Romans. Step one: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ (Romans 3:23 NKJV) We are all sinners to the core, desperately in need of a Saviour. Step two: ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.’ (Romans 6:23 NKJV) The gospel means ‘good news’. And here it is: all of your sins from the cradle to the grave have been paid for by...More Tuesday, September 6, 2022 Keep standing, keep believing, keep fighting ‘Patient endurance is what you need now.’ Hebrews 10:36 NLT Satan studies you. He understands your strengths and weaknesses and knows how to push you to your limits. But when you keep standing, keep believing, and keep fighting, the Bible says, ‘Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown.’ (James 1:12 NKJV) The word ‘approved’ means that victory qualifies you for greater things. The word ‘endures’ means your character and tenacity are being tested. You say, ‘How long will this trial last?’ Only God knows. Goliath defied the...More Monday, September 5, 2022 You can decide your legacy ‘He did not turn away from doing what was right.’ 2 Chronicles 34:2 NLT When Josiah became king, he cleansed Israel of idolatry and began rebuilding the temple. That’s when a priest discovered some long-lost scrolls containing God’s Word. As Josiah heard what they said, he was deeply moved upon realising his people had drifted far from God. So he sent word to the prophetess Huldah asking what would become of the people. She told him that since he had repented when he heard God’s Word, his nation would be spared while he lived (see 2 Chronicles 34:14–27). An entire generation received grace...More Sunday, September 4, 2022 Dad, Start a Tradition ‘Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.’ Ephesians 6:4 ESV Dad, your children deserve a father who will model the Christian life before them, teach them the truth of God’s Word, and show them how to receive the gift of eternal life. And it could be that in your family this beautiful tradition will begin when you commit your life to Jesus Christ. Author and Bible teacher Gordon MacDonald tells the story of three mediaeval stonemasons who were working on a building project, when a passer-by asked them what they were doing. ‘The first replied that he was laying bricks. The...More Saturday, September 3, 2022 Deal with your unresolved issues ‘No one who has a defect.’ Leviticus 21:18 NLT To help someone with their unresolved issues, you must first deal with your own. If the medicine you’re offering hasn’t made you whole, you will have no credibility when you try to apply it to the lives of others. Does that mean if you have unresolved issues, God won’t use you? No, it’s the broken who become masters at mending. But first, you must take time to be healed. It’s hard to talk about victory when you’re experiencing defeat. When you’re bleeding spiritually and emotionally, you can’t treat people’s problems with the same kind...More Friday, September 2, 2022 God will back you up! ‘Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.’ Matthew 18:18 NIV God told Joshua, ‘Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.’ (Joshua 8:18 NKJV) It’s amazing how courageous you feel when God is backing you up. When you know He is on your side, you can say, ‘No weapon that is formed against me will prevail’ (see Isaiah 54:17). But overconfidence is self-confidence that’s not based on God-confidence. Our problem is, we plan, say, and do things without first checking to find out if God is behind us. Do you remember what the evil spirit...More Thursday, September 1, 2022 Don’t be dismissive ‘By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.’ Proverbs 13:10 NKJV Why do we dismiss input that could help us? Sometimes it’s to protect our ego against a painful truth. When we have an entrenched opinion, we can easily adopt a dismissive approach towards the thinking of others. And not only do we hurt them, we hurt ourselves. ‘Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.’ (Ecclesiastes 4:13 NKJV) Yes, you have areas of expertise. But you also have areas where you need advice. The day you decide to stop listening is the...More Wednesday, August 31, 2022 Build your life on God’s Word ‘The Lord has not chosen any of these.’ 1 Samuel 16:10 NLT David had seven brothers. When it came time to pick a king to replace Saul, Samuel thought any one of them would make a better king than David. But God rejected them all. Why? Because: (1) They had the looks but not the spiritual core. God explained to Samuel, ‘People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’ (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT) David’s spiritual core was formed by years spent with God. His heart’s cry was, ‘As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.’ (Psalm 42:1...More Tuesday, August 30, 2022 You can’t change people ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick.’ Proverbs 13:12 NKJV You say, ‘Surely a man or woman can change when they meet the right partner?’ No. Only God can change people—and you are not God! Plus, when you ‘need to be needed’, it can cause you to make disastrous relationship choices in life. Perhaps you have heard stories of people who have experienced massive change through their marriage. But the truth is, the power to change must come from within the person themselves, not from you. When you try to change your spouse, it doesn’t work, and eventually your ‘hope’ for change makes you...More Monday, August 29, 2022 Has your love for God grown cold? ‘You don’t love Me or each other as you did at first!’ Revelation 2:4 NLT One of Paul’s letters was to the church at Ephesus. They were spiritual, doctrinally sound, and exemplary in their love for Christ. Then Jesus says to that same church years later, ‘You don’t love Me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first.’ (Revelation 2:4–5 NLT) Has your love for God grown cold? Then you must go back to where you first met Him and seek Him again like you did before you had heard so much and seen so much; before the...More Sunday, August 28, 2022 Start your day right ‘Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord.’ Genesis 19:27 NKJV Abraham was known as ‘the Friend of God’ (James 2:23 KJV) What an honour! But the secret of his greatness is easy to overlook: ‘Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord.’ He started his day with God. Do you? The way you get up in the morning sets the tone for your day. So try this: first thing tomorrow, get alone with God for a few minutes and go over your plans for the day. As you’re going over them, you will have some concerns. Just hand them...More Saturday, August 27, 2022 Find a mentor. Become a mentor. ‘The works that I do he will do also.’ John 14:12 NKJV Jesus was the perfect mentor. He told His disciples, ‘He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also.’ If you want to reach the fullness of your God-given potential, ask God for the right mentors. You will always go further with a good mentor coaching and pushing you. Some mentors are given for a short season, others for a lifetime, so you must know the difference. How do you recognise a mentor? In eight ways. The credo of the true mentor is this: (1) I am willing to spend the time it takes to build a close...More Friday, August 26, 2022 ‘Pause and calmly think about it.’ ‘God will establish it for ever. Selah.’ Psalm 48:8 KJV Seventy-one times in the book of Psalms we read the word ‘Selah’ at the end of a Scripture. What does it mean? To ‘pause and calmly think about it.’ You can’t rush into Bible revelation. You can’t skim the surface and discover the treasure hidden within it. That’s why David wrote, ‘With my whole heart I seek You; let me not wander from Your commandments! I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.’ (Psalm 119:10–11 ESV) When you hide God’s Word in your heart through meditation and...More Thursday, August 25, 2022 Develop a joy workout (2). ‘I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with My joy.’ John 17:13 NLT Here are two more ways to increase the level of your joy: (1) Start serving others. As long as you live with a sense of entitlement believing that others should serve you, your joy gauge will be reading ‘empty’. Jesus said it’s in giving away your life to others that you find abundant life (see Mark 8:35). Paul reminds us: ‘Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do.’...More Wednesday, August 24, 2022 Develop a joy workout (1) ‘My heart leaps for joy.’ Psalm 28:7 NIV Joy is like a muscle; the more you develop it, the stronger it becomes. Here are two exercises to help you develop inner joy: (1) Try to show more gratitude. ‘Give thanks in all circumstances.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV) Note, it doesn’t say be thankful for all circumstances, but in them. Hans Seyle, known as ‘the father of stress research’, says gratitude produces more emotional energy than any other attitude. So look for more ways to express gratitude. Send an email or make a phone call to someone to tell them how much they have meant in your...More Tuesday, August 23, 2022 How to be blessed at work (4) ‘Ill-gotten gains do not benefit.’ Proverbs 10:2 NASB In order to be blessed on the job, you must practise this: honesty. It’s unwise to steal, even if you’re never caught. ‘Ill-gotten gains do not benefit.’ You may steal and get away with it, but you won’t benefit by it. ‘Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles.’ (Proverbs 13:11 NASB) You can’t do the wrong thing and finish up with the right result. Not only will you have trouble, you will bring trouble on those who love you and depend on you. ‘He who profits illicitly troubles his own house.’ (Proverbs 15:27 NASB) Think about it: you...More Monday, August 22, 2022 How to be blessed at work (3) ‘In honour preferring one another.’ Romans 12:10 KJV Here is another important key to being blessed on the job: thoughtfulness. That’s true whether you’re the company president or the overnight shiftworker. The nameplate on your office door may say that you deserve respect, but you have to earn it every day through your work ethic and your attitude. In the Old Testament, most people earned their living by farming and raising cattle, so Solomon offers this advice: ‘Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds.’ (Proverbs 27:23 NASB) Good leaders make it their...More Sunday, August 21, 2022 How to be blessed at work (2) ‘Hard work will reward you.’ Proverbs 13:4 CEV Here is another key to succeeding on the job: hard work. ‘Hard work will reward you with more than enough.’ Ask any employer and he or she will tell you that their biggest challenge is finding and keeping good people. ‘ Hard-working hands lead to wealth.’ (Proverbs 10:4 ISV) Being diligent and hard-working means being self-disciplined, motivated, alert, dependable, and following through on something when you start it. And it is priceless because it’s so hard to find (see Proverbs 12:27) The Bible teaches that your boss is responsible to pay...More Saturday, August 20, 2022 How to be blessed at work (1) ‘Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings.’ Proverbs 22:29 NIV Solomon writes, ‘Someone skilled in their work… will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.’ (Proverbs 22:29 NIV) But skilfulness isn’t genetic; you have to work at it. Sometimes that means burning the midnight oil, stretching to your limits, and refusing to settle for less. As you watch true artisans, your esteem for them rises. You notice their attention to detail, refusal to cut corners, patience, dedication, and pride in their work. They inspire confidence and respect. There...More Friday, August 19, 2022 Ways to develop resilience ‘Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.’ Proverbs 24:16 NIV Like any skill, mental, emotional, and spiritual resilience can be learned. Here’s how: (1) Redefine setbacks as the gateway to something greater. (2) Remember successful people don’t just face adversity, they embrace it. (3) Tune out the critics and focus on doing your best. (4) Wake up every day remembering that prayer and gratitude create a fertile environment for faith. (5) Increase your faith-talk when you’re afraid. (6) Learn from failure, and remember the...More Thursday, August 18, 2022 Use your gift! ‘God has given each of you a gift.’ 1 Peter 4:10 NLT The Bible says: ‘God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God.’ (1 Peter 4:10–11 NLT) Some people think that you must have an epiphany, a Damascus Road experience such as Paul had, in order to know you are ‘called’. No, the gift God gave...More Wednesday, August 17, 2022 Pray God’s Word ‘Strengthen me according to Your Word.’ Psalm 119:28 NKJV The old saying, ‘Prayer changes things,’ takes on new meaning when you use the Scriptures in prayer. Such prayers move God to act on your behalf. More importantly, they change you. When you pray God’s Word, here is what happens: (1) Your faith increases and enables you to receive more of what God has promised. (2) Your mind is renewed, and it causes you to see things differently. (3) You know God’s perfect will. (4) You are able to walk in the truth. (5) You grow into spiritual...More Tuesday, August 16, 2022 Don’t worry, God will take care of you ‘I have not seen the righteous forsaken.’ Psalm 37:25 NKJV If you’re worried about making ends meet, start leaning on God: ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.’ (Psalm 37:23–25 NKJV) Stop trying to figure everything out and start relying on God and not on your own strategies and plans. ‘Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you...More Monday, August 15, 2022 How to handle disappointment (3). ‘So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work.’ Ecclesiastes 2:20 NLT When you’re disappointed in those you work with. You won’t succeed in life without the right people. But when the people you count on fail you, it’s painful. Imagine Moses’ disappointment. He leaves his brother Aaron in charge while he spends forty days on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. When he returns, what does he find? Israel worshipping a golden calf—made by Aaron. When Moses needs him most, Aaron fails miserably. But watch Moses: true leadership shines in disappointment. He...More Sunday, August 14, 2022 How to handle disappointment (2) ‘When I waited for light, then came darkness.’ Job 30:26 NKJV When you’re disappointed in leadership. It would be reasonable to assume you could trust Eli, the high priest in Israel. That’s what Samuel’s mother thought when she entrusted her son to him, confident he would mentor him for God’s service. But Eli had a serious character flaw. He was a weak parent, one who stood by while his sons abused their priestly privileges through taking bribes and consorting with prostitutes. Who would have blamed young Samuel for taking a nosedive, when the man he looked up to failed so badly? But no, he...More Saturday, August 13, 2022 How to handle disappointment (1) ‘The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.’ Proverbs 24:16 NLT For the next few days, let’s look at five different types of disappointment. Disappointment in yourself. This is the most debilitating kind of disappointment because it can put you into a downward spiral that’s hard to recover from. Peter experienced it. He swore loyalty to Christ saying, ‘Everyone else may abandon You but not me. I’m Yours until death!’ (see Matthew 26:33). Yet he denied Christ three times. Later he remembered Christ’s words: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times.’...More Friday, August 12, 2022 Be ‘wise’ with your money ‘There is desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise.’ Proverbs 21:20 NKJV God’s Word says you’re to do two things with your money. (1) Sow some. The Bible says, ‘Whoever sows generously will also reap generously.’ (2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV) You say, ‘But things are a bit tight for me right now.’ Don’t withhold because you are afraid of not having enough. Give God a seed to work with, and He will make sure you have a harvest when you need it. His ability to provide is not limited by the world’s economy. Do what Isaac did: ‘There was a famine in the land…Then Isaac sowed...More Thursday, August 11, 2022 Keep trusting God; He will intervene ‘He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.’ Exodus 2:25 NLT ‘The Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.’ (Exodus 2:23–25 NLT) Just when the Israelites thought life couldn’t get worse, Pharaoh withdrew their straw and ordered them to produce the same daily quota of bricks. That’s when they reached their breaking point! Is that where you are...More Wednesday, August 10, 2022 Thoughts about the Bible (3) ‘God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey.’ James 1:25 CEV Your life must be governed by the Word of God, not your impulses, or your thoughts, or the opinions of those around you. The Bible is not God’s attempt to offer you interesting insights or good advice for your consideration; it’s His fixed opinion. Jesus said, ‘Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.’ (Matthew 7:24 NKJV) This builder’s foundation withstood life’s storms. On the other hand, Jesus said, ‘Everyone who hears...More Tuesday, August 9, 2022 Thoughts about the Bible (2) ‘Your Word is settled in Heaven.’ Psalm 119:89 NKJV God’s Word must be a ‘settled’ issue in your life. Heaven is the Supreme Court; when it rules on a matter, it’s settled. Now, since God’s Word is a settled issue in heaven, the question is, ‘Is it a settled issue in your life?’ Jesus said, ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.’ (Mark 13:31 NKJV) The Bible never needs updating; it’s perfect and can’t be improved upon. That’s why Jesus instructs you to let His ‘words remain in you.’ (John 15:7 NIV) In other words, program your mind with...More Monday, August 8, 2022 Thoughts about the Bible (1) ‘You received the Word.’ 1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV ‘When you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God.’ (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV) Here are four things you must believe about your Bible: (1) It is life changing. In the parable of the sower, Jesus said, ‘The seed is the word of God’ (Luke 8:11 KJV) You may not understand the power within a seed, but you know that when you sow it in receptive soil, it will spring to life. It won’t just sit there and do nothing, it will produce fruit. Likewise,...More Sunday, August 7, 2022 When you’re in the dark (2) ‘About the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.’ Mark 6:48 NKJV ‘About the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea… when they saw Him… they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out… But immediately He… said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.’ (Mark 6:48–51 NKJV) Darkness isn’t always the work of the Enemy; sometimes it’s one of God’s best teaching tools. You get to know the Lord best by going through storms with Him; by reaching the place where you...More Saturday, August 6, 2022 When you’re in the dark (1) ‘Even in darkness light dawns for the upright.’ Psalm 112:4 NIV Faith is like film; it’s developed in the dark. Dark days make you lean on God. The truth is, if your faith was never tested, you wouldn’t be motivated to draw closer to Him. Hymnist Edward Mote wrote: ‘When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace… When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.’ It’s easy to praise God when your health is good and your bills are paid. But it’s during the dark days that you...More Friday, August 5, 2022 When life seems too hard ‘Is anything too hard for the Lord?’ Genesis 18:14 NKJV Much of our stress is brought on by our need to know everything ahead of time—to be in control. Even after we pray with the intention of turning the problem over to God, we live by the philosophy ‘hope for the best and plan for the worst’! You don’t put your money into the bank and then stay awake all night worrying about it, right? Well, have at least that much confidence in God! When you find yourself in the downward spiral of ‘How? What? When? Where?’ stop and give it to God. Not the limited God of your understanding, but the...More Thursday, August 4, 2022 Are you coming up empty? ‘That night they caught nothing.’ John 21:3 NKJV When Jesus first called His disciples, He told them, ‘I will make you fishers of men.’ (Matthew 4:19 KJV) Yet after hearing Him promise to rise from the dead and actually seeing Him alive, they went back to what they were doing before they met Him: fishing. Now, God will use your past experiences to teach you, but He always leads you forward—never back. When fear and uncertainty make you want to go back to the security of what you know, you end up like the disciples: ‘That night they caught nothing.’ But there is good news: if God has called...More Wednesday, August 3, 2022 You are commanded to love (3) ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ John 15:12 NKJV Picture in your mind the person you find hardest to love. How can you learn to love this kind of person? First, before you can love them, you must feel and understand how deeply God loves you. Paul writes: ‘I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvellous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love...More Tuesday, August 2, 2022 You are commanded to love (2) ‘Walk in love.’ Ephesians 5:2 NKJV The Greeks used four words to distinguish different types of love: (1) Storge, which means natural affection; (2) Eros, which means sexual attraction; (3) Philia, which means emotional affection or friendship; (4) Agape, which means unconditional giving, sacrificial love. When the Bible tells of God’s love for us and the type of love we are to have for Him and others, the word is always ‘agape’, indicating a commitment to act. Do you know it’s possible to love someone you don’t even like? Indeed, if God is going...More Monday, August 1, 2022 You are commanded to love (1) ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.’ John 13:34 NKJV Love is almost certainly the most misunderstood word in the world. We dilute its meaning by overuse: ‘I love my wife, I love my country, I love pizza.’ Giving and receiving love is difficult when we don’t even comprehend what it is. So, we need to clear up a couple of misconceptions. We think love is a feeling—a sentimental knot in your stomach. True love does create feelings, but it is more than a feeling. A second misconception is that love is uncontrollable. Have you ever said, ‘I fell in love’—as if you...More Sunday, July 31, 2022 It’s An Inside Job (4) ‘The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.’ Romans 8:26 NLT The twin pillars of a believer’s daily life should be prayer and Scripture. But, while praying may be simple, it’s not always easy. We lack motivation, we’re easily distracted, and we are not always sure what we should be praying for. So, recognising our human inadequacies, God provides help for us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes: ‘The Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father… knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us… in harmony with God’s own...More Saturday, July 30, 2022 It’s An Inside Job (3) ‘I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.’ John 14:16 KJV In the New Testament account, Jesus told His disciples, ‘I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.’ The Greek source for the word ‘Comforter’ is parakletos, which means ‘one who comes alongside’ to strengthen, encourage, and advise you. How good is that? When you feel discouraged, confused, and powerless, you have access to a wise, compassionate, competent Helper who will show up to support you and supply you with what you...More Friday, July 29, 2022 It’s An Inside Job (2) ‘It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.’ John 16:7 NKJV Even as the disciples’ hearts ached about Jesus’ departure, He assured them it was to their advantage because it would bring them a new era of power and authority (see John 14:12). Being ‘under new management’ wasn’t the end but a continuation of Christ’s ministry as the Holy Spirit took the baton from the Son’s hand and placed it in theirs. The Son would leave, but the Spirit would ‘abide with you [them] for ever.’ (John 14:16 KJV) This was their ‘advantage’. The Spirit...More Thursday, July 28, 2022 It’s An Inside Job (1) ‘He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.’ John 14:16 KJV Remember dinner without mobile phones, voice mail, texts, and brain overload? Friends and family enjoying each other’s company, uninterrupted by technology? We’re a generation that’s losing the art of communication and intimacy—and it’s impacting the time we spend alone with God. Although Jesus preceded the high-tech age, He was in constant demand; multitudes pursued Him at all hours of the day and night. Nevertheless, the Scriptures tell us: ‘Rising very early in the morning, while it was still...More Wednesday, July 27, 2022 Let God’s Peace Be Your Yardstick ‘The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:7 NIV You can have peace today regardless of your circumstances: ‘The Lord of peace Himself [will] grant you His peace… at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes].’ (2 Thessalonians 3:16 AMPC) Think about it: God has no worries or problems because He controls everything. And as you learn to trust Him, ‘the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ.’ Jon Walker put it like...More Tuesday, July 26, 2022 Zip It ‘They will start gossiping and become busybodies, talking about things that are none of their business.’ 1 Timothy 5:13 CEV The Bible says gossip is nothing less than meddling in other people’s business. Jon Zens says: ‘I have watched friends and families suffer untold pain because of gossip… the information someone dumps on you without your consent and consent of the person involved. It can be true, partially true, or completely false. It can be motivated by good intentions, but it always contains negative information and colours people’s perceptions of someone unjustly. The person being torn down is...More Monday, July 25, 2022 Give It All You’ve Got! ‘The rest of the apostles were Simon, known as the Eager One…’ Luke 6:15 CEV When Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Michigan Wolverines met in the 1968 college American football championships, Ohio soundly defeated their arch-rivals 50–14. The game will long be remembered because of what happened minutes from the end. With a commanding lead of 44–14, the Buckeyes pressed heroically to win a final touchdown. Instead of opting for the normal one-point conversion, the legendary Woody Hayes pushed unsuccessfully for a two-point conversion. After the game when he was asked by the press why...More Sunday, July 24, 2022 Three ‘Cheers’ ‘Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33 KJV In the mid-eighties, Steven Patrick Morrissey, better known as ‘Moz’, dominated the British rock charts. Known for his melancholy as much as for his music, Morrissey’s songs had predominantly depressive themes. They dwelled on fractured relationships, lonely nightclubs, and the hopeless weight of the past. In short, Morrissey was a singer who lived a cheerless life in a minor key. How different from the life Jesus called His followers to live! On three different occasions He encouraged His disciples to ‘be of good cheer.’ Bible...More Saturday, July 23, 2022 Science Recognises The Power Of Prayer (3) ‘Pray for each other so that you may be healed.’ James 5:16 NLT Paul writes, ‘Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:6–7 GWT) Here are three final thoughts on the power of prayer: (1) Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan found that when prayer and religious practices are important to people, their stress levels plummet and they experience much less...More Friday, July 22, 2022 Science Recognises The Power Of Prayer (2) ‘The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.’ James 5:16 NLT Seven more thoughts to consider: (1) When it comes to praying and getting involved in church, a University of Michigan study found that it reduced the emotional toll of financial stress. (2) A respected gerontologist reported that following heart surgery, private prayer can improve your overall state of well-being and make you feel less anxious. (3) A National Survey of Children’s Health confirms that kids who get involved in church have higher educational expectations...More Thursday, July 21, 2022 Science Recognises The Power Of Prayer (1) ‘Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God.’ Philippians 4:6 CEV God’s Word clearly tells us to ‘pray about everything.’ Today, science is beginning to recognise the value and the power of prayer. Researchers investigating the role of faith in health are discovering evidence that’s hard to refute. For example, a 2014 study conducted by The Mind Health Report confirmed that people who engage in private prayer, intercessory prayer, and church activities are healthier and live longer. Here are some additional...More Wednesday, July 20, 2022 When You’re Tested ‘Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.’ Genesis 22:10 NKJV We are not all tested in the same ways, but we’ll be tested on the same issues. Consider Abraham. After waiting for twenty years, God gave him a son destined to ‘father of many nations.’ (Genesis 17:5 KJV) Then God told him to sacrifice that boy on a remote wilderness altar. It didn’t make sense because it contradicted God’s promise, yet Abraham obeyed. Now, it’s unlikely you’ll be called to face the same challenges as Abraham, but, rest assured, you’ll be tested on the same issues. For example,...More Tuesday, July 19, 2022 Getting Older, And Better. ‘For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of My people; My chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.’ Isaiah 65:22 NIV In 1968 a scientist discovered a six-hundred-year-old necklace in a Native American grave. It was made up of seeds which had been strung together. He planted one of those seeds, and guess what happened: it sprouted and grew. Although the seed had been dormant for six hundred years, it still had the potential for life. Maybe you have been a Christian for years and have been spiritually dormant for most of that time, but now you would like to be productive. You desire...More Monday, July 18, 2022 Everybody Needs Somebody ‘Two are better than one.’ Ecclesiastes 4:9 KJV Sportswriter Rick Reilly gave rookie professional athletes this advice: ‘Stop thumping your chest. The line blocked, the quarterback threw you a perfect spiral while getting his head knocked off, and the good receiver drew the double coverage. Get over yourself!’ During twenty-seven years coaching his ten-time national-champion UCLA basketball teams, Coach John Wooden reminded them, ‘It takes ten hands to score a basket.’ His message lines up perfectly with Solomon’s counsel: ‘Two are better than one’! No one realises his or...More Sunday, July 17, 2022 Stress Dots ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!’ Isaiah 26:3 NLT Have you heard of stress dots? They are little pressure-sensitive dots that you place on your hand. As adrenaline changes in your body, the dots change colour and reveal if you are under stress. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a tiny internal warning light that informed us every time our focus was off the Lord? Or if we had a small beep or signal light that cautioned us we were out of tune with God? We do! It’s known as tension. Becoming tense is a sure indication that we have taken...More Saturday, July 16, 2022 Are You Producing For God? ‘I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit— fruit that will last.’ John 15:16 NIV Ever wonder how some people are able to accomplish so much? What makes them so productive? Fast-forward to the end of your own life. What will it take for you to be able to say, ‘I led a productive life. I accomplished what I set out to do’? What do you consider to be a productive life? More importantly, do you know God’s definition of a productive life? Let’s consider what it means to be a fruitful Christian. The word ‘fruit’ occurs sixty-six times in the New Testament. Three...More Friday, July 15, 2022 Responding Like Jesus ‘He did not retaliate.’ 1 Peter 2:23 NIV When someone disappoints or upsets you, what do you do? Pull out your big guns and react? Do you say, ‘You make me so mad!’? When you say that, you’re admitting someone else is controlling your emotions. You’re acknowledging you have given that person the power to determine your feelings and reactions. No one can take control from you—you give it away the moment you start reacting! The Bible says, ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’ (Romans 12:21 NIV) To retaliate is to react. But to forgive is to act. It’s saying, ‘I...More Thursday, July 14, 2022 Making Wise Decisions ‘Listen to the words of the wise.’ Proverbs 22:17 NLT Think about the major decisions we make over our lifetime: choosing a mate, deciding where to live, and what career to pursue. Looking back, can you say you have consistently made the wisest choices? Jennifer Winquist writes, ‘We make choices based on what feels best, what’s easiest… fastest… makes our kids happy… shuts up the boss… stops our problem for the moment… We buy wants instead of saving for necessities. We marry Mr Right-Now instead of waiting for Mr Right. We eat a bag of chips instead of a bag of carrots… We don’t...More Wednesday, July 13, 2022 Be Strong In The Lord ‘Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.’ Ephesians 6:10 NIV The Bible says, ‘Be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of His boundless resource. Put on God’s complete armour so that you can successfully resist all the devil’s methods of attack. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Therefore you must wear the whole armour of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and...More Tuesday, July 12, 2022 Keep Your Conscience Clear ‘I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.’ Acts 24:16 NLT It’s been said that our conscience was given to us after the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. In other words, our desire to know the difference between good and evil was granted through the mechanism God placed within us known as a conscience. So we must not ignore its promptings, silence its voice, or allow it to become calloused, because it’s a built-in warning system that protects us from danger and harm. That means you shouldn’t be troubled when your conscience bothers you; you should be troubled when it...More Monday, July 11, 2022 The Sin Of Omission ‘To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.’ James 4:17 NKJV We tend to focus on sins of commission—the wrong we do. But what about sins of omission—the good we fail to do? In Christ’s parables, when someone was condemned, it was often over a sin of omission. A man was put out of a wedding because he had no wedding garment (see Matthew 22:12). Five virgins were excluded from the wedding party because they’d no oil in their lamps (see Matthew 25:3–11). A servant who buried his talent in the ground instead of using it, forfeited it (see Matthew 25:25–28). A rich man who failed...More Sunday, July 10, 2022 A Key To Answered Prayer ‘Don’t refuse to help.’ Isaiah 58:7 GWT Max Lucado writes: ‘Ours is the wealthiest generation of Christians ever. We are bright, educated, and experienced. We can travel around the world in twenty-four hours or send a message in a millisecond. We have the most sophisticated research and medicines at the tips of our fingers. We have ample resources. A mere 2 percent of the world’s grain harvest would be enough, if shared, to erase the problems of hunger and malnutrition around the world. There is enough food on the planet to offer every person twenty-five hundred calories of sustenance a day. We have...More Saturday, July 9, 2022 God Will Help You To Succeed ‘All his companions were astonished at the catch of fish.’ Luke 5:9 NIV ‘[Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go...More Friday, July 8, 2022 An Apology That Works ‘If you have sinned, you should tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed.’ James 5:16 CEV A genuine apology can help heal and restore a strained or broken relationship. But as Dr Gary Chapman tells us, it doesn’t end there. Observe these: (1) Saying ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t enough! It’s a good and necessary start, but it’s not a good finish. For example, ‘I’m sorry you took it that way’ isn’t an apology; it’s a covert attack! You need to specifically confess what you’re remorseful about. ‘I’m so sorry that what I said insulted you’...More Thursday, July 7, 2022 Control Your Tongue ‘My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.’ Proverbs 23:16 NIV Never underestimate the power of a spoken word. Only one man in American history ever resigned from the presidency: Richard Nixon. Have you ever considered what brought President Nixon down? Traditional thinking says it was the tapes of his private conversations. But it wasn’t the tapes, it was his tongue. It wasn’t the tapes but what he said on the tapes that determined his demise. The words tongue, mouth, lips, and words are mentioned in the book of Proverbs almost 150 times; roughly five times in each of the...More Wednesday, July 6, 2022 Before Your Window Of Opportunity Closes ‘Come, my children, listen as I teach you.’ Psalm 34:11 CEV Your children will grow up fast, and before you know it, your window of opportunity will close at supersonic speed. What they want from you now is as much time and attention as they can get, and there will come a time when they won’t want it. Here is an eye-opening poem entitled ‘To My Grown-Up Son’ by Alice Chase. You might want to take a deep breath before you read it. ‘My hands were busy through the day. I didn’t have much time to play the little games you asked me to. I didn’t have much time for you. I’d wash your clothes,...More Tuesday, July 5, 2022 Keep Exercising Your Faith (2) ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Revelation 2:29 NKJV It’s not enough to simply listen to a sermon, you must try to hear what God is saying to you. You can hear something totally different from what the person sitting beside you in church hears. Why? Because God is personalising the message for you. The Bible is called ‘the living Word’ (see Hebrews 4:12) because certain Scriptures suddenly come to life and take root within you. Sometimes you will hear what nobody else hears. You may even miss several of the sermon points and still come home with the answer you...More Monday, July 4, 2022 Keep Exercising Your Faith (1) ‘If you have faith.’ Matthew 17:20 NKJV Paul writes, ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for.’ (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV) Observe the words ‘now faith’. Thank God for the faith of our fathers, but to move the mountain that stands in your way, you need ‘now faith’. Jesus said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move… and it will move.”’ (Matthew 17:20 NKJV) Your grandmother’s faith may have moved her mountain, but it’s going to take your own faith to move ‘this mountain’. We all have mountains in our lives, and God is...More Sunday, July 3, 2022 Try To Slow Down (2) ‘Whoever believes will not act hastily.’ Isaiah 28:16 NKJV Every time you get in a hurry mode, you send a ‘state of emergency’ signal to your body. And it responds by releasing the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol that prepare you to deal with danger. The body cannot distinguish between physical danger, or the danger of losing your job, or any other form of stress and pressure. It only knows that action has to be taken and that it must energise you to deal with it. Now, this is a good thing if you’re indeed physically threatened. But to live with your body constantly on high alert is like fighting...More Saturday, July 2, 2022 Try To Slow Down (1) ‘You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the Lord will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind.’ Isaiah 52:12 NLT Have you heard of ‘hurry sickness’? Those who have it zoom in and out of lanes in congested traffic; try to be the first off the plane, even though they must wait forever at baggage claim; honk at you if you don’t take off like a rocket when the traffic light turns green; tap their fingers against anything they can find when they have to wait; punch the lift button repeatedly in an attempt to move it faster. They remind us of...More Friday, July 1, 2022 God Will Provide ‘All Things’ You Need ‘Will He not also with Him freely give us all things?’ Romans 8:32 NASB The Bible says, ‘He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?’ Author Max Lucado gives this analogy: ‘Suppose a man comes upon a child being beaten by thugs. He dashes into the mob, rescues the boy, and carries him to a hospital. The youngster is nursed to health. The man pays for the child’s treatment. He learns that the child is an orphan and adopts him as his own and gives the boy his name. Then one night, months later, the father hears...More Thursday, June 30, 2022 How Are You Treating Your Family? ‘Is it not my family God has chosen?’ 2 Samuel 23:5 NLT Whether in church or in the workplace, if you’re ‘the person in charge’, here is a question you need to seriously address: if you don’t love and take care of your own family, why should the people who look to you for direction think you will love and take care of them? Does that question make you uncomfortable? Does it cause you to react by saying, ‘My personal life is nobody else’s business’? Well, that’s where you’re wrong! You lead by example. And while the people around you may not feel free to tell you...More Wednesday, June 29, 2022 Mind Your Mind ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.’ Proverbs 23:7 NKJV When we’re young, we’re told, ‘Mind your manners.’ When we launch out into a career, we’re told, ‘Mind your business.’ Well, here is some wise counsel that applies to all of life: ‘Mind your mind!’ When you lose out in that arena, you lose out everywhere else! In Proverbs 23, Solomon outlines six principles to live by when it comes to thinking: (1) Your thoughts determine your character. ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.’ Before you tell a lie, you first entertain it and think like a liar. Before you commit...More Tuesday, June 28, 2022 Wait On God! ‘Wait on the Lord.’ Psalm 27:14 NKJV When we become impatient and react without thinking, we can do damage to ourselves and others. Sometimes when we pray and God doesn’t respond quickly enough, we decide to take matters into our own hands and things get worse as a result. When God tells you to wait, He is saying, ‘Trust Me with the timing, the ways and means, and you will get a better result.’ David wrote: ‘I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your...More Monday, June 27, 2022 Jesus Knows Your Potential ‘I have come that they may have life.’ John 10:10 NIV Have the experiences you have been through made you a different person from the one God intended you to be? Have the people, pursuits, and pleasures you chose resulted in a feeling of hopelessness about your future? When you lose your sense of worth, it’s hard to believe God could love you—but He does. He knows that hidden inside you is a person who can do great things for Him. That’s why He is stirring your heart and letting you know He is moving in your life. So respond to Him in faith. Dare to believe that He can make you ‘a new...More Sunday, June 26, 2022 When You Fail, Jesus Prays For You ‘I have prayed for you.’ Luke 22:32 NKJV ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’ (Luke 22:31–32 NKJV) Are you involved in things you never thought yourself capable of doing? You never thought you would have an affair. You never thought you would cheat, steal, and lie to get ahead. You never thought you would become jealous and resentful of someone else’s success. You never thought you would neglect or mistreat your family. You never...More Saturday, June 25, 2022 Sparrows ‘Your heavenly Father feeds them.’ Matthew 6:26 NKJV Jesus said: ‘Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for...More Friday, June 24, 2022 Don’t Withhold It—Give It! ‘He makes you this solemn promise, “I will bless you.”’ Genesis 22:16–17 CEV God won’t ask you for what you don’t have, but sometimes He will ask for the thing you really want to keep. Why? To see if there is anything you value or depend on more than Him. Abraham was tested many times in many different ways. But he passed the tests and was blessed like very few others in the Bible. Imagine God saying to you, ‘Take now your son, your only son… whom you love… and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’ (Genesis 22:2 NKJV) Can you...More Thursday, June 23, 2022 How To Be Financially Secure ‘The righteous give generously.’ Psalm 37:21 NIV Your desire for financial security can discourage you from giving. Why? Because each dollar you give away feels like it’s no longer available for your protection. But the opposite is true. Our sense of freedom and security actually increases when we give, because giving is a declaration that our security rests someplace other than the bank or our own earning capacity. Giving is an act of confidence in God, and it’s the only way to overcome financial insecurity. Think of all the things in life over which we have little or no control. Illness....More Thursday, June 23, 2022 What are your values? (1) ‘The integrity of the upright guides them.’ Proverbs 11:3 NIV Here are some values based on Scripture: 1) God’s sovereignty. ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed’ (Psalm 139:16 NLT). You can rest in knowing that God has the last word on everything that concerns you (see Psalm 138:8). When all is said and done, you have an ordered destiny. When you know that, you don’t have to try and manipulate people and circumstances to your advantage. You simply have to walk through the doors God opens and be at peace...More Wednesday, June 22, 2022 You Need A Support System ‘Share each other’s burdens.’ Galatians 6:2 NLT God created our physical bodies with internal systems that support each other. And it’s the same in our relationships. Everybody needs a support system. Sometimes when others disappoint us, we say, ‘From now on it’s just going to be God and me!’ That’s a big mistake! It’s the sheep who strays from the fold that gets eaten by the wolf. Satan will isolate you in order to destroy you. ‘A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not...More Tuesday, June 21, 2022 Like Seeds Growing Within You ‘This Word is at work in you believers.’ 1 Thessalonians 2:13 GWT When you read God’s Word and believe it and act on it, it’s like seeds growing inside you. Those seeds have life! In the natural world, you don’t have to understand the process by which seeds grow; you just have to water, nurture, and protect them. And it’s the same with Scripture. Paul writes, ‘You welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.’ (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV) Note the phrase ‘effectively works in you.’ God’s Word is...More Monday, June 20, 2022 God Speaks To You Through His Word ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.’ John 6:63 NKJV God will speak to you through His Word. Jesus said, ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life,’ but don’t go cherry-picking for feel-good Scriptures. To grow in faith, you must spend time each day reading through your Bible. You can’t arbitrarily decide that one verse applies to you while another doesn’t. ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives… God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.’ (2...More Sunday, June 19, 2022 Be A Father To Your Children ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ Joshua 24:15 NKJV The beloved radio commentator, Paul Harvey, wrote: ‘At a time when being a buddy to one’s son is popular, I am going to stay a FATHER… If a gap exists between my sons and daughters and myself, I am going to work hard to understand, but I am also going to work hard to be understood… when they tell it like it is, I will listen, even if I like it better the way it was. If old-fashioned things such as prayer, Bible study, worship and faith in God ever seem to my children to be out of date, square, or whatever—I trust God’s help to have...More Saturday, June 18, 2022 Today, Deal With The Clutter ‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.’ Isaiah 43:18 NKJV We all have emotional attics and basements where we store our ‘clutter’. And it’s the same in our relationships. It’s hard for a relationship to thrive when either party hasn’t processed their mental and emotional clutter. We are talking about: (1) regrets we have over past mistakes; (2) grudges we hold on to when we feel we have been wronged; (3) hurts we hide under clouds of anger, scepticism, and isolation. If you’re the type to hold grudges and hang on to past...More Friday, June 17, 2022 The Godly Art Of Letting Go ‘By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.’ Hebrews 11:17 NKJV In Genesis 12, God told Abraham to leave his country, his family, and his security. When he said yes to God, he travelled an unfamiliar path to an unknown destiny based on the strength of a promise. Without hesitating, the seventy-five-year-old patriarch ‘went, as the Lord had told him.’ (Genesis 12:4 NIV) Now fast-forward twenty-five years and Isaac is born; the miracle son who would fulfil God’s promise that through Abraham’s descendants ‘all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My...More Thursday, June 16, 2022 Speak Words That Promote Wholeness ‘You have been trapped by what you said.’ Proverbs 6:2 NIV Stormie Omartian says: ‘Early in my walk with the Lord I spoke many negatives… “I’m a failure,” “I’m ugly,” “Nothing ever goes right,” “Nobody cares about me,”… Then the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart… “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV) I had been speaking words of death, not life. One clear example had to do with my speech problems. I’d had them since childhood and was teased about them all through school. When I was old enough to afford professional help, I worked with a speech...More Wednesday, June 15, 2022 Unconditional Joy ‘Be completely filled with joy.’ 1 John 1:4 GWT When joy is absent from your life, power is also missing (see Nehemiah 8:10). Our happiness shouldn’t be based on what’s happening around us; it should be dependent on our relationship with Jesus. John says, ‘We can be completely filled with joy.’ (1 John 1:4 GWT) Pastor Reimar Schultze notes: ‘John did not say this when all was well, but when… everything had turned to shambles. (1) All his fellow apostles had been murdered. (2) Rome had destroyed the temple [so]… not one stone was left upon another. Flavius...More Tuesday, June 14, 2022 Who Advises You? ‘Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.’ Proverbs 19:20 NIV You may be good at what you do. Indeed, you may be better than most, but without the help of others you will never be as good as you could be. You will never reach your highest potential without a good adviser. It’s impossible. Why would a world-class tennis player need a coach, especially one who is not as good on the court as he or she is? André Agassi answered the question this way: ‘Tennis requires subtle adjustments crucial to winning and my coach, Gill, is the best at making...More Monday, June 13, 2022 How To Build A Great Marriage ‘Place yourselves under each other’s authority out of respect for Christ.’ Ephesians 5:21 GWT If you want a great marriage, you’ve got to work at it every day. The Bible gives us God’s blueprint for one: ‘Place yourselves under each other’s authority out of respect for Christ. Wives, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority as you have placed yourselves under the Lord’s authority. The husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the Head of the church. It is His body, and He is its Saviour. As the church is under Christ’s authority, so wives are under their husbands’ authority in...More Sunday, June 12, 2022 God’s Faithfulness To You ‘If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.’ 2 Timothy 2:13 NIV Here is something you should be very glad about: God’s faithfulness to you doesn’t depend on your faithfulness to Him. The Bible says, ‘If we are faithless, He remains faithful.’ Your mistakes may take you out of God’s will, but they will never place you beyond His reach. Catherine Marshall tells of a great personal struggle she experienced after writing a novel titled Gloria. She began the book in 1969 and abandoned the project two-and-a-half years later. To her, the shelved manuscript was like...More Saturday, June 11, 2022 You Must Tell Your Children ‘Tell it to the generation following.’ Psalm 48:13 KJV Here is a sobering verse: ‘Another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord.’ (Judges 2:10 NKJV) How did it happen? Their parents failed to tell them. Read these three Scriptures carefully and prayerfully: (1) ‘Tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.’ (Psalm 48:13–14 KJV) (2) ‘We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord.’ (Psalm 78:4 NKJV) (3) ‘One generation...More Friday, June 10, 2022 Prove Yourself Faithful ‘There is no other god who can deliver like this.’ Daniel 3:29 NKJV The story of the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace teaches us these four lessons: (1) Doing God’s will can land you in trouble. Don’t expect the world to appreciate you. Look at Jesus: ‘In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.’ (John 1:4–5 NKJV) (2) God will be with you in your trouble. When Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fire, he said, ‘I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not...More Thursday, June 9, 2022 Will You Wish You Had Given More? ‘God loves a cheerful giver.’ 2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV The film Schindler’s List tells the story of one man’s efforts to do good in a desperate situation. As the director of a munitions factory in Poland, Oskar Schindler decided to use his position to save Jewish lives. By employing them in his factory, Schindler rescued many condemned Jews from the gas chambers. But keeping them employed was costly, and little by little he liquidated his personal property to keep his business afloat. At the end of the story, the Nazis are defeated, and the full impact of Schindler’s efforts is revealed as the dead are...More Wednesday, June 8, 2022 Keys To Answered Prayer (4) ‘Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.’ Hebrews 4:16 NLT Boldness. Boldness isn’t arrogance, presumption, or a sense of entitlement. It’s confidence based on who you are in Christ. Paul writes, ‘Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find His grace to help us when we need it most.’ (Hebrews 4:16 NLT) As God’s redeemed child, you have a right to approach Him at any time. And understanding that enables you to overcome Satan’s attempts to make you feel unworthy. It removes your natural inclination to say, ‘I know God can do...More Tuesday, June 7, 2022 Keys To Answered Prayer (3) ‘When you do pray, your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons.’ James 4:3 CEV Right motives. The reason you pray is much more important than the words you say. The motive is the why behind the what. And having a pure heart that loves God and loves people is always acceptable to the Lord. On the other hand, selfishness is unacceptable, revenge is unacceptable, manipulation and control are unacceptable, jealousy is unacceptable, pride is unacceptable, and praying to win the lottery is unacceptable. In fact, anything that’s selfishly based is an unacceptable...More Monday, June 6, 2022 Keys To Answered Prayer (2) ‘If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.’ 1 John 5:14 NIV Knowing God’s will. John writes: ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.’ (1 John 5:14–15 NIV) One of the surest ways to know you’re praying according to God’s will is to pray according to His Word. Use the Scriptures to back up what you’re praying for. Say, ‘Lord, You promised it in Your Word, and I’m believing You for...More Sunday, June 5, 2022 Keys To Answered Prayer (1) ‘We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for Him.’ Hebrews 11:6 CEV Just as the right key opens the door, there are Scriptural principles that act as keys to prayer. For the next few days, let’s look at them. Faith. ‘Without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for Him.’ (Hebrews 11:6 CEV) God doesn’t necessarily respond to your need. Look around and you will see that everyone has unmet needs. So what does God respond to? Your faith! But Satan will try to fill your mind with doubts. And when he does, you...More Saturday, June 4, 2022 Intimacy With Jesus—The Secret To Victory ‘I want to know Christ.’ Philippians 3:10 NLT Paul said, ‘I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death.’ Let’s take an in-depth look at this verse. (1) ‘I want to know Christ.’ In Scripture, the word ‘know’ indicates physical intimacy between two people who love one another. For example, ‘Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain.’ (Genesis 4:1 NKJV) (2) ‘And experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead.’ What’s dead in your life that needs...More Friday, June 3, 2022 Recognise Your Triggers ‘Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.’ Psalm 37:8 NLT A weapon can either protect or destroy; it all depends on who is using it. Anger works the same way; that’s why it’s wise to know what triggers or sets you off. Some of the most common triggers surface at these times: (1) When your rights have been violated. Is it always bad to get mad? No, sometimes the problem that infuriates you most is the one God has called you to help solve. This world is a better place because of men and women who devoted their lives to fighting disease, poverty, corruption, and injustice. That’s what...More Thursday, June 2, 2022 Begin To Say What God Says ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue.’ Proverbs 18:21 NKJV Don’t speak without thinking. And don’t say things that contradict God’s Word. Those aren’t easy principles to live by, but they’re life-and-death issues. The Bible says, ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue.’ That means you can bless yourself by what you say. ‘He who invokes a blessing on himself… shall do so by saying, “May the God of truth… bless me… because the former troubles are forgotten.”’ (Isaiah 65:16 AMPC) Notice two important things in this Scripture: (1) Your own words...More Wednesday, June 1, 2022 When You Die! (6) ‘Longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling.’ 2 Corinthians 5:2 NIV Dr Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a leading authority on death and dying, and Dr Raymond Moody Jr, a well-known psychiatrist, examined the case histories of over five hundred people who came back to life after being pronounced dead by their physicians. Their research convinces anyone with an open mind. The people in the study described either a location of beauty, marvel, joy, and peace, or they described something dreadful. And although their bodies were real, they reported floating outside them. After being confirmed ‘dead’, some...More Tuesday, May 31, 2022 When You Die! (5) ‘He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.’ Hebrews 2:15 NLT The Bible says: ‘Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power… of death… He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.’ (Hebrews 2:14–15 NLT) Adolf von Harnack had doubts about the gospels but still admitted: ‘Christ’s grave was the birthplace of an indestructible belief that death is vanquished and there is life eternal....More Monday, May 30, 2022 When You Die! (4) ‘As for me, justified, I will behold Your face; when I awake, Your presence will satisfy me.’ Psalm 17:15 ISV There has never been a race of mankind that didn’t believe in some kind of future life; whether it’s reuniting with ancestors as some Native Americans believe, or the sensual abode of bliss of the Muslim. How do you explain that? Long before any evidence for this worldwide belief had been gathered, Cicero said, ‘In everything the consent of all nations is to be accounted the law of nature, and to resist it is to resist the voice of God.’ On the night Socrates died, Crito asked him,...More

Sunday, May 29, 2022 When You Die! (3) ‘I desire to depart and be with Christ.’ Philippians 1:23 NIV In his Analogies of Nature, William Jennings Bryan wrote: ‘Christ gave us proof of immortality, and yet it would hardly seem necessary that one should rise from the dead to convince us that the grave is not the end. If the Father stoops to touch with Divine power the cold and pulseless heart of the buried acorn and to make it burst forth into a new life, will He leave neglected in the earth the soul of man, made in the image of his Creator? If He stoops to give to the rosebud whose withered blossoms float upon the autumn breeze, the sweet...More Saturday, May 28, 2022 When You Die! (2) ‘When we die and leave this earthly body, we will have a house in Heaven.’ 2 Corinthians 5:1 NLT When you die, you simply leave one form of life and enter another. Consider the first law of thermodynamics: neither energy (as in your soul and spirit) nor matter (as in your body) can be destroyed. They can be transformed into other forms, but they can’t be annihilated. Burris Jenkins said it this way: ‘No single atom in creation can go out of existence, according to the scientists; it only changes in form. We cannot burn up anything; we simply change it from a solid to a gaseous state. Neither is...More Friday, May 27, 2022 When You Die! (1) ‘If someone dies, will they live again?’ Job 14:14 NIV After AD 616, the first Christian missionaries came to the court of King Edwin in Northumbria, England. In his great hall, ablaze with the light of numerous torches, they presented the Gospel. The king listened, then consulted his advisors. One nobleman said: ‘Life is like a banquet hall. Inside is light… fire… warmth and feasting, but outside it is cold and dark. A sparrow flies in through a window at one end… and out through a window at the other end. That is what life is like. At birth we emerge from the unknown, and for a brief while...More Thursday, May 26, 2022 Conquering Selfishness ‘Consider others more important than yourselves.’ Philippians 2:3 CEV Paul writes, ‘Consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought.’ (Philippians 2:3–5 CEV) That kind of thinking goes against our natural instincts, but Jesus showed us how to do it. Hanging on the cross, He took time to care for the condemned criminal hanging next to Him (see Luke 23:39–43). As he was being stoned, Stephen prayed for those who were killing him, asking God not to lay the sin to their charge (see Acts 7:60)....More Wednesday, May 25, 2022 Use Your Faith ‘Your faith has made you well.’ Luke 8:48 NKJV The Bible says: ‘Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years… touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped… Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden… she declared… she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.’ (Luke 8:43–47 NKJV) There are three important lessons here: (1) Recognise and seize your moment of opportunity. This woman understood that Jesus was visiting her town and might not be...More Tuesday, May 24, 2022 Feeling Good About Yourself ‘We have this treasure in earthen vessels.’ 2 Corinthians 4:7 KJV When you don’t feel good about yourself, you live with a sense of insecurity. You keep looking to others for approval, and when you don’t get it, your sense of worth shrivels. As a result, you can spend your life living far short of your God-given potential. You are the only person you can’t get away from, and until you learn to accept yourself based on the fact that God loves and accepts you as you are, you will always battle insecurity. Stop and think about the last time you were around somebody you didn’t particularly...More Monday, May 23, 2022 Dress For Success ‘Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Romans 13:14 NIV Since first impressions are important, we’re encouraged to ‘dress for success’. But as a redeemed child of God, your first concern shouldn’t be how you look to others, but to God. Just like a mirror reflects your physical appearance so that you can make adjustments, the Bible reveals your spiritual condition and tells you what to do about it. James writes: ‘Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately...More Sunday, May 22, 2022 Intercede With God For Them ‘I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.’ 1 Timothy 2:1 NLT Paul writes: ‘pray for all people… intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Saviour, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.’ (1 Timothy 2:1–4 NLT) Intercession means ‘to mediate between parties with a view to reconciling those who differ or contend.’...More Saturday, May 21, 2022 Understanding God’s Love For You ‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ 1 John 4:18 NKJV Question: since we’re naturally drawn to people who love us, why is it so difficult for us to go to God in prayer? Answer: because we need a fresh revelation of His love for us! Paul prayed that the Ephesian church would ‘be able to understand how wide, long, high and deep His love is.’ (Ephesians 3:18 GWT) It’s multi-dimensional, going to the ends of the universe and back, above and beyond all that we deserve. The truth is, God couldn’t love you more than He does. What’s His love like? Look at the cross....More Friday, May 20, 2022 A Love For God’s Word ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’ Psalm 119:105 NKJV The Psalmist highlights two important things Bible reading does for you: (1) It shows you your spiritual condition. In Bible times there were no paved roads, so when guests entered a house, they paused to wash the sand, dirt, and grime from their feet. That’s what Bible reading does. The psalmist said, ‘How can young people [and older ones] keep their lives pure? By obeying Your commands.’ (Psalm 119:9 GNT) (2) It shows you the direction you need to go. When you’re faced with an important decision and you...More Thursday, May 19, 2022 What Does It Mean To Meditate? ‘I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.’ Psalm 119:15 NKJV Another word for meditation is rumination. Rumination is what a cow is doing when she chews her cud. The cow eats grass, chews all she can, and then swallows it. It sits in one of her stomachs for a while, and then a little later, she burps it up—with renewed flavour. The cow chews on it some more and swallows it again. This process continues in all four stomachs. That’s rumination. The cow is pulling every tiny bit of nourishment from the grass. And meditation is simply thought digestion. Meditation doesn’t mean...More Wednesday, May 18, 2022 Think Right, Live Right ‘Your life is shaped by your thoughts.’ Proverbs 4:23 GNT William James said, ‘You’re not what you think you are, but what you think—you are.’ Lasting change always begins with new thinking. How do you become a Christian? By repenting of your sin and placing your trust in Christ. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, and it means to change your mind. We’re not changed by willpower, but by the transforming power of God’s Word when we use it to renew our minds each day. The Bible clearly teaches that the way we think determines the way we feel, and the way we feel determines the way...More Tuesday, May 17, 2022 How God Changes Us (2) ‘Beatings purge the inmost being.’ Proverbs 20:30 NIV Another way God changes us is through circumstances. Problems, pressures, sorrows, hardships, and stress always get our attention. C.S. Lewis said, ‘Pain insists on being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures… but shouts to us in our pain.’ The J.B. Phillips translation of Romans 8:28–29 reads: ‘To those who love God, who are called according to His plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good. God… chose them to bear the family likeness of His Son.’ Nothing can come into your life without your heavenly Father’s...More Monday, May 16, 2022 How God Changes Us (1) ‘It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.’ 2 Timothy 3:16 NLT One of the ways God changes us is through His Word. Paul tells us: ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.’ (2 Timothy 3:16–17 NLT) The tale is told of a converted cannibal in the South Sea islands. He was sitting by a large pot reading a Bible when an anthropologist approached him and...More Sunday, May 15, 2022 Work It Out ‘Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil His good purpose.’ Philippians 2:12–13 NIV The Bible says, ‘Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.’ This Scripture almost sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? But instead, it is a paradox. And GK Chesterton described a paradox as ‘truth standing on its head to get attention.’ The key to understanding this particular paradox lies in the little word out. Notice that the...More Saturday, May 14, 2022 Do It Today! ‘He said, “Tomorrow.”’ Exodus 8:10 NKJV Every plague God sent on Egypt mocked one of their gods. For instance, the Egyptians worshipped a goddess with the head of a frog, so God sent them a lot of frogs. Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses and basically said, ‘All right, I give up.’ But when Moses asked him, ‘When do you want me to get rid of the frogs?’ Pharaoh’s response was classic; he said, ‘Tomorrow.’ He must have been insane! Why would you wait any longer to have the frogs removed? But we do the same, don’t we? We procrastinate by putting off the changes we know would be good...More Friday, May 13, 2022 Good Leadership ‘The Lord spoke to Moses.’ Numbers 1:1 NIV A good leader is like a ship’s good captain; they plan the whole trip in their mind before they leave the dock. They have a clear vision of their destination, they understand what it will take to get there, they know who needs to be on board for the trip to be successful, and they recognise obstacles long before they appear on the horizon. And because they prepare well, good leaders can take their people just about anywhere. Moses was such a leader. He spent forty days praying and fasting on a mountain, refusing to leave until he understood what God...More Thursday, May 12, 2022 God’s DNA Is In His Word ‘All Scripture is God-breathed.’ 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV On a cold day, have you ever tried breathing on your hands to restore warmth and life? That’s like what happens when you meditate on God’s Word, because ‘all Scripture is God-breathed’. Imagine yourself at a party where people are blowing up balloons and popping them with pins. A scientist could figure out which balloon was yours because your DNA (the genetic configuration that makes you unique) is in the lung cells expelled with your breath. Now apply that principle to reading the Bible, and you will understand how vital it is to your spiritual...More Wednesday, May 11, 2022 Be Faithful ‘You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.’ Matthew 25:21 NKJV In Scripture, to be faithful means to be steady, stable, dependable, and consistent. Do those attributes describe you? They should, because faithfulness pays big dividends with God. ‘A faithful person will abound with blessings.’ (Proverbs 28:20 NASB) Jesus said, ‘Many are called, but few chosen.’ (Matthew 20:16 NKJV) Why is that? Because talent may open the door and get you the job, but character and faithfulness will keep you there. When it comes to faithfulness, God will test you in two...More Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Aim For The Mark ‘I press toward the mark for the prize.’ Philippians 3:14 KJV Paul writes: ‘I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 3:14 KJV) Paul describes the Christian as a marksman. ‘All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.’ (Philippians 3:15 NIV) In Paul’s day, the mark would have been hit by an arrow, but in our day, the mark could also be hit at a firing range. If you have ever fired at a target, you know this: (1) Your aim...More Monday, May 9, 2022 The Smell Of Sin ‘Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.’ 2 Corinthians 2:15 NLT When food in your fridge goes bad, you know it the moment you open the door. And your life is like that. When there is something wrong inside, the people who come in contact with you often sense it. Jesus spoke some of His harshest words to Peter: ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are… not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’ (Matthew 16:23 NKJV) What was Peter’s sin? Pride. He openly contradicted Jesus (see Matthew 16:22). There are sins of the spirit and sins of the flesh. Peter’s was a sin of the...More Sunday, May 8, 2022 Thank You, Mum ‘Give your mother a reason to be glad.’ Proverbs 23:25 NCV There is no assignment on earth that requires the array of skills and understanding needed by a mum in fulfilling her everyday duties. Stop and think about what her job involves. She must be a resident psychologist, doctor, theologian, educator, nurse, chef, taxi driver, fire warden, and occasional police officer. Try to imagine what it would cost you to go out and hire all those skill sets. And even if you could, how would you know you could trust them? Go ahead, join Mum on a mid-morning visit to the doctor’s surgery. After sitting for...More Saturday, May 7, 2022 Be Passionate About It! (3) ‘He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.’ 2 Chronicles 25:2 NIV The enemy of passion is indifference. You go through the motions, but your focus is broken by other things. It’s not that you have said no to God; it’s that you haven’t said a resounding yes! In the Old Testament account, King Amaziah ‘did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.’ Think about it: at what point does the passion leave a marriage? It doesn’t happen overnight. It happens when you neglect and take each other for granted. Maybe you think your lack of zeal is no...More Friday, May 6, 2022 Be Passionate About It! (2) ‘I felt a fire burning inside.’ Psalm 39:3 CEV David wrote, ‘I felt a fire burning inside, and the more I thought, the more it burned, until at last I said: “Please, Lord, show me my future.”’ (Psalm 39:3–4 CEV) Passion is like fire; unless you feed it and stoke it, it will die. Question: on a scale of one to ten, how wholehearted are you about serving the Lord? Before you answer, think about these Scriptures: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’ (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV) ‘Blessed are those who keep His...More Thursday, May 5, 2022 Be Passionate About It! (1) ‘Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them.’ 1 Timothy 4:15 NKJV ‘Elisha said, “Pick up the arrows and hit the ground with them.” Jehoash grabbed the arrows and hit the ground three times, then stopped. Elisha became angry at the king and exclaimed, “If you had struck it five or six times, you would completely wipe out the Syrians. Now you will defeat them only three times.”’ (2 Kings 13:18–19 CEV) Elisha had given Jehoash, the king of Israel, a plan from God for not only defeating his enemy but eliminating him permanently as a future threat. But the plan depended on two important...More Wednesday, May 4, 2022 Monitor Your Mind (2) ‘We have the mind of Christ.’ 1 Corinthians 2:16 NIV There is a natural mindset, and there is a spiritual mindset. To live victoriously, you must develop a spiritual mindset. The Bible says: ‘The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God… and cannot understand them because they are [spiritually] discerned… But we have the mind of Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 2:14–16 NIV) As you programme your life in accordance with God’s Word and consciously submit yourself to do His will every day, He will plant His thoughts in your mind. What an advantage! For...More Tuesday, May 3, 2022 Monitor Your Mind (1) ‘We take captive every thought.’ 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV If thieves came to your door, would you invite them in? No, you’d call the police and have them arrested. And that’s what you need to do when wrong thoughts come to your mind! Take them captive—before they take you captive. And you must do it the moment the first one tries to enter your mind. When you entertain a thought, you empower it, and it will overcome you. The Bible says, ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ (James 4:7 NIV) On your own you don’t have the power to resist Satan, so...More Monday, May 2, 2022 Who Are You Depending On? ‘My God shall supply all your need.’ Philippians 4:19 KJV How can you tell when you’re depending on people rather than God? When you get upset with your boss because you didn’t get the raise you think you deserve. When you become angry with loved ones because they turned you down for a loan. When you do things like that, you’re sitting at the wrong door waiting for your blessing! Yes, it hurts when your efforts aren’t acknowledged. But you must understand this: God will use people as instruments to bless you, but He alone must always be the source of all your blessings! Ponder these...More Sunday, May 1, 2022 Look Before You Leap! ‘Don’t make rash promises.’ Ecclesiastes 5:2 NLT When it comes to making commitments and keeping them, Solomon doesn’t mince any of his words: ‘Think before you speak, and don’t make any rash promises to God. He is in Heaven and you are on earth, so don’t say any more than you have to… So when you make a promise to God, keep it as quickly as possible… Better not to promise at all than to make a promise and not keep it. Don’t let your own words lead you into sin.’ (Ecclesiastes 5:2–6 GNT) That means don’t be impulsive, listen as much as you speak, get as much information as you...More Saturday, April 30, 2022 Teach Your Children ‘That things will go well for you and your children.’ Deuteronomy 4:40 NCV As a parent, you’re constantly transmitting your values to your children, so do these: (1) Let them see you pray. Help them to understand that prayer is how we build a lifelong friendship with God. And they will need His friendship when you’re not around to help them. God said, ‘When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them.’ (Psalm 91:15 NLT) (2) Show them what God is like. Your child’s concept of God is formed by you. Whether you’re loving and...More Friday, April 29, 2022 The Benefits Of Being Unselfish ‘Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.’ Philippians 2:4 NLT Unselfishness does three things for you: (1) It improves the quality of your life. It gives you an appreciation for life and a comprehension of its higher values. Seeing people in need and giving to meet those needs sets a lot of things into perspective. John Maxwell writes: ‘There is no life as empty as the self-centred life. There is no life as centred as the self-empty life.’ If you want to enhance your world, focus your attention on assisting others. (2) It makes you part of...More Thursday, April 28, 2022 Have Confidence In Your Prayers ‘We are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.’ 1 John 5:14 NLT As a leader, Grover Cleveland, the only President of the United States to leave the White House and then return for a second term four years later, was remarkable. He would often personally answer the office phone in the White House, as well as opening the door for visitors himself. At the time, the people of America had a ‘direct line’ to the President. It’s like that in your relationship with God. But it’s much better. You not only have a ‘direct line’ to Heaven to get straight through to...More Wednesday, April 27, 2022 Strive For Integrity ‘The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.’ Proverbs 11:3 NIV Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matthew 19:19 NIV) But in order to love yourself, you must first be able to respect yourself. And self-respect is based on personal integrity. Author Ted Engstrom tells the following story in his book called Integrity: ‘For Coach Cleveland Stroud and the Bulldogs of Rockdale County High School [Conyers, Georgia], it was their championship season: twenty-one wins and five losses on the way to the Georgia Boys Basketball Tournament...More Tuesday, April 26, 2022 How To Keep From Falling ‘Whoever does these things will never be shaken.’ Psalm 15:5 NIV In Scripture we read, ‘If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover.’ (Proverbs 29:1 GNT) King Solomon was reputed to be the wisest man who ever lived. He wrote these words, but sadly he didn’t live by them, so he ‘crashed and burned’. And if it could happen to Solomon, none of us are immune! Character has become a crucial issue today because so many political, business, and religious leaders have fallen so publicly. As a leader, you don’t operate in a vacuum. You...More Monday, April 25, 2022 Competence Doesn’t Compensate For Insecurity ‘From that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.’ 1 Samuel 18:9 NLT One of the truest tests of leadership is how you respond to somebody else’s success. Do you rejoice, or secretly resent them? Do you feel like their blessing somehow came at your expense? King Saul sent David out to fight Goliath. When he succeeded and the Israelites began to sing David’s praises, Saul couldn’t handle it. ‘From that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.’ Leaders who lack confidence are a danger to themselves, their followers, and the groups they lead. That’s because leadership doesn’t camouflage your...More Sunday, April 24, 2022 Don’t Be A Slave To The Wrong Things ‘You become the slave of whatever you choose to obey.’ Romans 6:16 NLT Consider some of the people who are enslaved today through no fault of their own—children sold into the sex trade and immigrants sold into forced labour. That’s not the kind of slavery Paul is talking about when he writes, ‘You become the slave of whatever you choose to obey.’ When it comes to sin, the Bible draws a line in the sand and tells us not to cross it. Why? Because when you cross it once, it’s easier to cross it again. Whether your ‘drug of choice’ is alcohol, illegal or prescription drugs, pornography,...More Saturday, April 23, 2022 Knowing When To Let Go ‘As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother.”’ Ephesians 5:31 NLT When our children are young, we’re so busy providing them with things like love, protection, discipline, training, and authority that it feels like these responsibilities will go on forever. But they don’t. When our children reach their late teens and early twenties, we must open the door for them to the world outside. If you’re going through this right now and feeling anxious, try to realise that you’re in one of the most challenging and difficult parts of parenting. Your tendency to hold tightly to the...More Friday, April 22, 2022 Don’t Lose Your Joy! ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!’ Philippians 4:4 NKJV Paul writes, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!’ Why did Paul repeat himself? Because joy is the fuel we run on, and unless we maintain it, we can run out. That means regularly checking your fuel gauge to make sure you’re not being sucked into negativity and doubt. In the Bible, wine represents joy. In fact, Christ’s first miracle was turning water into wine—the best they had ever tasted. Jesus is a joy giver, and when you stay connected to Him, you experience His joy regardless of your...More Thursday, April 21, 2022 Immediately Following Death—Glory! ‘Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die.’ John 11:26 NLT At the graveside of His friend Lazarus, Jesus told his grieving sisters Mary and Martha two all-important things: (1) ‘Your brother will rise again.’ (John 11:23 NASB) (2) ‘Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this?’ (John 11:26 NLT) So, what’s going to take you beyond death and into your heavenly home? Sterling character? Charitable giving? Going to church? No. While those are all commendable, only by placing your trust in Christ can you have the...More Wednesday, April 20, 2022 It’s All About Getting Up Again! ‘Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.’ Proverbs 24:16 NIV If you have ever seen a child learning to walk, you know that falling down is an important part of the process. Getting back up again is crucial to developing the child’s balance and muscle development. Likewise, a boxer isn’t disqualified because he gets knocked down; he’s disqualified because he doesn’t get back up. Boxers know they will go down, so they focus on the art of falling safely and getting up quickly. Children and boxers both learn this: it’s all about getting up again. The Bible tells us that falling...More Tuesday, April 19, 2022 It’s Time To End The Standoff ‘God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.’ 2 Corinthians 5:19 NIV God created us to enjoy unbroken fellowship with Him and each other. That’s why Satan’s first ploy was to separate us from God—and from each other. Using things like pride, stubbornness, confusion, resentment, and selfishness, he drives wedges and polarises relationships. What starts out as a misunderstanding often ends in angry stand-offs or toxic silences that last for hours, days, and sometimes years. Furthermore, we delude ourselves by thinking it’s nobody else’s business. The...More Monday, April 18, 2022 Forgive And Bless ‘Put up with each other.’ Colossians 3:13 CEV Building a successful relationship calls for focusing on the other person’s strengths instead of their weaknesses. Benjamin Franklin said, ‘Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.’ It’s a mistake to rush into a lifetime relationship without taking time to get to know the other person. Without due diligence on the front end, you are sure to have problems on the back end. But an important relationship principle lies in learning to forgive and bless. American politician Edward Wallace Hoch is attributed with saying, ‘There...More Sunday, April 17, 2022 The Resurrection Calls For A Decision ‘He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.’ 1 Corinthians 15:4 NLT Paul wrote: ‘Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, He was seen by more than 500 of His followers at one time… Then He was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all… I also saw Him.’ (1 Corinthians 15:3–8 NLT) Some of history’s greatest intellectuals started as atheists and ended up putting their trust in...More Saturday, April 16, 2022 The Resurrection; God’s ‘Sting’ Operation ‘O Death, where is your sting?’ 1 Corinthians 15:55 NKJV In a ‘sting’ operation, law enforcement agents set the bad guy up in order to bring him down. That’s what God did to Satan at the cross. For three days it seemed as though Satan had won. Then Jesus rose from the dead and turned his plans upside down: ‘He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross.’ (Colossians 2:15 NLT) The thing Satan feared most, the birth of a church with the power to change the world through the Gospel, had come to pass. ‘The rulers of this world have...More Friday, April 15, 2022 He Did It With You In Mind ‘They made a crown out of thorn branches and placed it on His head.’ Matthew 27:29 CEV The hymnist Isaac Watts wrote; ‘See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?’ Jesus wore a crown of thorns so you could wear a crown of glory. Thorns in Scripture represent sin. In Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed, God said, ‘Cursed is the ground because of you… both thorns and thistles it will grow for you.’ (Genesis 3:17–18 NASB) Later He told Israel that unless they purged the land of their...More Thursday, April 14, 2022 Leadership Responsibility (2) ‘Our competence comes from God. He has made us competent.’ 2 Corinthians 3:5–6 NIV David was ‘on a roll’. He kept winning battle after battle. He had a golden touch. But success can go to your head, and David wasn’t exempt. He started wondering, ‘Just how strong are we?’ At that point, he conducted a census and discovered he had ‘one million one hundred thousand [fighting] men.’ (1 Chronicles 21:5 NIV) That could tempt any of us to think, ‘With an army this size, and a track record of success, who needs to pray for God’s help or ask Him for a plan?’ That was the point at which God stepped...More Wednesday, April 13, 2022 Leadership Responsibility (1) ‘Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census.’ 1 Chronicles 21:1 NIV Fresh from a major victory over the Philistines, King David made a major mistake. Instead of trusting God for his next battle, he conducted a census designed to measure his military power and determine his chances of winning. As a result, seventy thousand Israelites perished. This story teaches us three very important lessons about leadership responsibility: (1) As a leader, you’re Satan’s special target. He knows that in order to get to others, he must go through you, so he will use every strategy he has to...More Tuesday, April 12, 2022 Understanding Your Capabilities ‘Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities.’ Romans 12:3 PHPS It can be hard to remain positive at times. Television, newspapers and social media can create such a climate of fear and depression, it clogs up your ability to say ‘yes’ to things that are uplifting. Yet when we treasure the ways of God, and decide to become firmly grounded in Him, we have to prepare ourselves to say ‘no’ to those things in life that don’t match up to His Word and His ways. In today’s world, that can be so difficult. The Bible says:...More Monday, April 11, 2022 A Safe Place To Unload ‘Bear one another’s burdens.’ Galatians 6:2 ESV Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? Chuck Swindoll writes: ‘We act impulsively and realise, after the fact, how foolish we were… On top of all that, we hurt the ones we love the most. All this stuff caves in on us… and we wonder how anybody could ever love us… especially God. When we start thinking like this, we need to turn our mind to the “one anothers” in the New Testament. Love one another, build up one another, live in peace with one another, confess your sins to one another, speak to one another, admonish one...More Sunday, April 10, 2022 What ‘Colour’ Is Your Tongue? ‘The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart.’ Matthew 12:34 NCV When Mary Southerland came down with a raging fever, her doctor suspected viral meningitis. ‘How long have you had the solid white coating on your tongue?’ he asked. Mary was puzzled. Why did that matter? The doctor continued, ‘The health of the tongue is a very strong indicator of the health of the entire body.’ And spiritually speaking, the same principle applies. ‘The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. Good people have good things in their hearts… so they say good things… evil people have evil in...More Saturday, April 9, 2022 A Heart Of Flesh ‘I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.’ Ezekiel 36:26 NIV When you have been hurt, it’s easy to put up barriers. But be careful—a protective shell can turn into a ‘heart of stone’: resistant, unreceptive, impenetrable even to God. Kristin Armstrong writes: ‘The only thing more painful, and with… more serious ramifications than a broken heart, is a frozen one… Paul warns us [about]… allowing our hearts to harden. “They are darkened in their understanding… separated from the life of God… due to… hardening of their hearts.” (Ephesians 4:18...More Friday, April 8, 2022 Jesus’ Work Philosophy (2) ‘I must work the works of Him who sent Me.’ John 9:4 NKJV Like the rest of us, Jesus sometimes got tired (see John 4:6). But He was never stressed out by the job. He was led, but never driven. He knew what needed to be done and the amount of time required to do it, and He picked a team to accomplish it. Three of them—Peter, James, and John—were in His inner circle. It wasn’t that He showed favouritism; He just recognised the particular gifts of the people He worked with and what He needed from each of them to get the job done. An important step towards accomplishing something big is knowing the kinds of...More Thursday, April 7, 2022 Jesus’ Work Philosophy (1) ‘I must finish the work that He gave me to do.’ John 4:34 CEV Instead of confining Jesus to church on Sunday, let’s study His work philosophy (attitude, values, and beliefs) on how to get things done. The principles He lived by call for these: (1) Being clear about your assignment. He said, ‘I must finish the work that He gave me to do.’ Jesus understood that focus maximises skill and opportunity. So if you’re talented, energetic, and active and you’re still not seeing concrete results, your problem may be lack of focus. When Nehemiah was rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, his enemies said,...More Wednesday, April 6, 2022 Be Secure ‘God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit.’ 2 Timothy 1:7 GWT The foundation of good leadership is security. Paul told Timothy, ‘God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment.’ You must know with certainty that God called you, equipped you, and guaranteed your ultimate success. And you must keep this in mind when people stop liking you, when funding drops, when morale dips, and others reject you. If you feel insecure, fear will eventually cause you to sabotage your own leadership. Confident leaders see what is, while maintaining their vision of what can be....More Tuesday, April 5, 2022 Be Courageous (2) ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ John 8:32 NKJV Jesus said, ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ It takes courage to face a painful reality. It’s easier to bail out of a troubled marriage than to stay and work your way through to a better place. It’s easier to give in to despair and self-pity than go back to school and train for a new career. It takes guts to stand up for your convictions when you’re under fire. It’s often said, ‘Unless you stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.’ The truth is, anytime you’re willing...More Monday, April 4, 2022 Be Courageous (1) ‘Be strong and of good courage.’ Joshua 1:9 NKJV Knowing the battles he would have to fight in order to conquer the Promised Land, God told Joshua three times: ‘Be strong and of good courage.’ Anytime you move forward, obstacles will block your path. Count on it! H.G. Wells asked, ‘What on earth would a man do with himself, if something did not stand in his way?’ What did he mean? That adversity is your friend—even when it feels like your enemy. Every obstacle you face reveals your strengths and weaknesses, shaping you and making you wiser and more confident. Poet Ralph Waldo...More Sunday, April 3, 2022 Say No To Sin ‘You live under the freedom of God’s grace.’ Romans 6:14 NLT If you want to grow roses, you must declare war on weeds; otherwise, they will run amok in your garden. In other words, you must beware of weeds! There is a spiritual parallel at work here, and it’s this: unless you deal decisively with sin, it will take over your life. Paul tells us: ‘We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we...More Saturday, April 2, 2022 Choose Peace ‘When the Holy Spirit controls our lives He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace.’ Galatians 5:22 TLB Panic and anxiety are often our first reactions to conflict and problems. In those initial moments, choosing peace seems impossible. Your subconscious whispers, ‘If you really care, you will worry.’ As panic begins to rise, it’s important to turn to the Holy Spirit and tap into the peace He offers. Panic is the enemy, not the situation. Anxiety just empowers and enlarges the problems we’re facing. Your best problem-solving resource is always peace. Fear and anxiety block...More Friday, April 1, 2022 Living By Faith ‘The just shall live by faith.’ Hebrews 10:38 KJV Living by faith is something you learn to do by practising it daily. Before you became a Christian, you trusted in your own ability and intellect. But those things only took you so far and no further, right? Now you’re trusting God for the wisdom, guidance, resources, and ability to fulfil His will for your life. The Bible tells us, ‘By faith Noah… prepared an ark for the saving of his household.’ (Hebrews 11:7 NKJV) Think about it: when Noah built the ark, there was no sign of rain. Living by faith doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t...More Thursday, March 31, 2022 Yoked Together With Jesus ‘Take the yoke I give you.’ Matthew 11:29 CEV Jesus spoke to people who had given up on religion. People who were burned out trying—and failing—to observe a long list of rules and regulations. Here is what He told them: ‘If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to Me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from Me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.’ (Matthew 11:28–30 CEV) The ‘yoke’ Jesus spoke of was a harness that went around the necks of two oxen so they could...More Wednesday, March 30, 2022 Self-Control ‘Do your best to improve your faith by adding goodness, understanding, self-control.’ 2 Peter 1:5–6 CEV Ever notice how we tend to blame our circumstances for our character deficiencies? We attribute our problems to poor upbringing, financial difficulties, or other people’s shortcomings. Your circumstances may be beyond your control—but your character isn’t. You can no more blame your character flaws on circumstances than you can blame a mirror for how you look. Integrity is always a choice, and every time you make a character-based decision, you take a step forward in your spiritual growth....More Tuesday, March 29, 2022 Be A Restorer (2) ‘And that is what some of you were.’ 1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV After listing some of the worst sins imaginable, Paul told the Corinthians, ‘And that is what some of you were. But you were… justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.’ (1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV) So, before you pass sentence on someone else, remember what God has lifted you out of! Many of us think a ‘good’ sermon is one that goes over our head and hits our neighbour squarely between the eyes! In Scripture, the word restore has two shades of meaning. One is to remove a tumour. A tumour can kill...More Monday, March 28, 2022 Be A Restorer (1) ‘You who live by the Spirit should restore.’ Galatians 6:1 NIV Sometimes when we fall we can get up by ourselves; other times we need someone to help us. And sadly, not all Christians are willing to help. Sometimes they feel that by extending grace to someone they are condoning their sin. But Paul knocked that argument down when he wrote, ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ (Ephesians 4:32 NIV) Why should we be restorers? (1) Because God tells us to. ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that...More Sunday, March 27, 2022 Look For God’s Hand In It! ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.’ Matthew 21:42 NIV Sometimes the rejection of others, turns out to be ‘the Lord’s doing.’ After Joseph had been betrayed by his brothers and slandered by Potiphar’s wife, he said, ‘You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.’ (Genesis 50:20 NKJV) How often has something happened in your life, that you later realised was necessary? If you hadn’t sustained this, or walked through that, you wouldn’t be ready for the blessings you’re enjoying right now....More Saturday, March 26, 2022 Heaven Is Real ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Revelation 21:5 NIV John the Revelator wrote: ‘I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is… among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was...More Friday, March 25, 2022 Have You Sinned? God Will Forgive You! ‘He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.’ 1 John 1:9 KJV The story of David and Bathsheba is the stuff movies are made of—lust, adultery, premarital pregnancy, murder, and cover-up. And it looked like David was home free, except for one important detail: ‘The thing that David had done displeased the Lord.’ (2 Samuel 11:27 NKJV) In the Bible, God refers to David as ‘a man after His own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14 NLT), but the same Bible says, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out.’ (Numbers 32:23 KJV) So God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David, ‘I anointed you king… Why then...More Thursday, March 24, 2022 Listen To The Right Voice ‘This is the way; walk in it.’ Isaiah 30:21 NIV Joni Eareckson Tada tells of a group of friends who were on a mountaintop discussing which direction to go. One man said, ‘That’s south!’ Another countered, ‘No, that’s east.’ Everybody threw in their two-cents’ worth, until finally someone produced a compass and said, ‘We can settle this real fast.’ Within seconds the compass confirmed they were, in fact, facing due west! The only reliable source had the final say, and nobody was about to argue with it. During the day, many voices vie for your attention, and some so-called...More Wednesday, March 23, 2022 Stick With God’s Plan (2) ‘God is the one who began this good work in you.’ Philippians 1:6 CEV Paul writes, ‘God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain… He won’t stop before it is complete.’ (Philippians 1:6 CEV) You will notice that Jesus regularly took time out of His busy schedule to pray. In fact, He sometimes prayed all night. And He tells us why: ‘The Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing.’ (John 5:19–20 NLT) Under the weight of our...More Tuesday, March 22, 2022 Stick With God’s Plan (1) ‘God always does what He plans.’ Ephesians 1:11 CEV God said, ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the beginning and the end.’ (Revelation 22:13 CEV) God determines the end result He wants, then starts at the beginning and works towards it. He ‘always does what He plans.’ Joseph discovered that even when your family turns against you, God’s plan is still in effect. Looking back, he said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV) But don’t confuse ‘good’ with ‘comfortable’. When God corrects or redirects you, it doesn’t always...More Monday, March 21, 2022 Forgive Your Parents (2) ‘Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.’ Luke 6:37 NLT Once you understand that parents aren’t always capable of giving their kids what they didn’t get themselves—namely love, nurturing, acceptance, and physical affection—it becomes easier to forgive them. Stormie Omartian says: ‘Sometimes what one parent didn’t do hurts as bad as what the abusing one did. A parent’s uninvolvement or unwillingness to step in and rescue you feels like a betrayal. Unforgiveness for that uninvolved parent is more difficult to recognise but is more common than we think. Ask God to show...More Sunday, March 20, 2022 Forgive Your Parents (1) ‘Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.’ Ephesians 4:32 ESV There is nothing worse than the pain some parents can inflict on their kids. Often it stems from ignorance, but that doesn’t lessen the hurt when you’re on the receiving end. Stormie Omartian writes: ‘Needs not met in childhood will be just as strong in adulthood, but they will be expertly camouflaged. If you were abused as a child, don’t be misled into [thinking]… “I’m born again—I shouldn’t still hurt.” The fact that you still hurt doesn’t negate your born-again...More Saturday, March 19, 2022 Learning From Lepers ‘As they went, they were cleansed.’ Luke 17:14 NKJV Ten lepers saw Jesus and shouted, ‘“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”…He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and… glorified God… So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the [other] nine?… Your faith has made you well.”’ (Luke 17:12–19 NKJV) This story teaches us these three things: (1) Sometimes the answer comes quickly; other times it comes slowly, step-by-step....More Friday, March 18, 2022 Don’t Let Your Feelings Control You ‘Carefully guard your thoughts.’ Proverbs 4:23 CEV When it comes to everyday living, you can walk according to the unchanging principles of God’s Word or by your constantly changing feelings. When you live by God’s Word, you have stability. When you live by feelings, it’s like riding a roller coaster; one day you’re up, the next you’re down. God wants to bring you into emotional maturity, but you have to cooperate with Him. This calls for a daily act of your will; choosing to do things His way rather than your own. And once it becomes a habit, you discover that life is more enjoyable. Now,...More Thursday, March 17, 2022 Acknowledging God’s Sovereignty ‘God is good.’ Romans 12:1 CEV Paul writes, ‘God is good. So… offer your bodies to Him as a living sacrifice… Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to Him.’ (Romans 12:1–2 CEV) There are two ways to understand God’s sovereignty: (a) through His initiative, and (b) through our response. In essence, Paul is saying this: (1) Resist the pressures of a world system that pulls you in the wrong direction; (2) Renew your mind every day through prayer and reading God’s Word; (3) Recognise His will for you and...More Wednesday, March 16, 2022 People With A Past (3) ‘When Jesus saw her, He called her to Him.’ Luke 13:12 NKJV This woman tried religion, but it couldn’t help her. She tried doctors, but they couldn’t cure her. And the people around her thought her problem would never be solved. Even she did! But not Jesus. His promise is: ‘Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will… relieve and refresh your souls.’ (Matthew 11:28 AMPC) What a relief; you can give your burden to Jesus. No matter how hard life seems, relief is just a prayer away. Regardless of the obstacles standing in your way, reach out to Jesus. You...More Tuesday, March 15, 2022 People With A Past (2) ‘When Jesus saw her, He called her to Him.’ Luke 13:12 NKJV We don’t know how long it took this woman to get to the front of the church when Jesus called her. People who are hurting can’t always move as quickly as others. There are two important lessons for you in her story. (1) Sometimes you won’t grow and mature as fast as others because you have been struggling with a debilitating problem for a long time. What seems easy for others can be very difficult for you. But there is good news: Jesus will wait for you, and He will work with you until you overcome your problem. (2) Your...More Monday, March 14, 2022 People With A Past (1) ‘When Jesus saw her, He called her to Him.’ Luke 13:12 NKJV ‘There was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.’ (Luke 13:11–13 NKJV) This woman couldn’t walk properly because she had been bound by ‘a spirit of infirmity’ for eighteen years. That’s a long time to struggle with something. And during that time, she had come...More Sunday, March 13, 2022 Become A Worshipper ‘The true worshippers are being led by the Spirit.’ John 4:23 CEV Let’s talk about how to become a worshipper. First of all, there is no one-size-fits-all. The Bible doesn’t say you must worship God in a certain way. That’s because worship is such a powerful outpouring of our hearts towards the Lord that it can’t be limited to words or defined by a song, a shout, or silence. Jesus said, ‘True worshippers are being led by the Spirit… These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship Him.’ (John 4:23 CEV) Second, God created you to worship Him. John the Apostle wrote, ‘You...More Saturday, March 12, 2022 The Pharisee And The Prostitute ‘All her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love.’ Luke 7:47 CEV One day, Jesus was eating at the home of a Pharisee when a prostitute came in. ‘The woman kissed His feet and poured… perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman is touching Him!”’ (Luke 7:38–39 CEV) But Simon the Pharisee got it wrong. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t know, it’s that He didn’t care! That day, He forgave her sin and sent her on her way redeemed, restored, and redirected. This...More Friday, March 11, 2022 Your Prayers Can Make Great Things Happen! ‘When a believing person prays, great things happen.’ James 5:16 NCV While holidaying in England, DL Moody visited a London church that was spiritually dead. The pastor recognised him and asked him to preach at the morning service. Reluctantly, Moody agreed. Afterwards, he told a friend the congregation was so unresponsive it was all he could do to finish his sermon. Later, he remembered he had committed to preach there again that night. Wishing he had never interrupted his holiday plans, he spent the afternoon dreading what was ahead. But behind the scenes, something was happening that Moody knew...More Thursday, March 10, 2022 What Only God Sees ‘Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.’ Matthew 6:18 NIV Have you ever been to a concert where they used the latest audio-visual equipment? Chances are, you were blown away by the multidimensional sights and sounds, and afterwards, left talking about the amazing skills of the performers. If the performance went without a hitch, you probably didn’t think about the sound and lighting techs. Usually we only notice them when the equipment fails. They’re the invisible element; the people who do their job by making the star look and sound great. The real accolades go to those in the...More Wednesday, March 9, 2022 Become A Conduit ‘You will be blessed in every way.’ 2 Corinthians 9:11 CEV Think how ridiculous it would be for an electric company to generate power and then hoard it. Their customers would be in the dark, and the company would be out of business in short order! The same principle applies to our finances. ‘God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others… You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous.’ (2 Corinthians 9:7–8, 11 CEV) Some people refuse to give because...More Tuesday, March 8, 2022 Releasing The Power Within You ‘God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey Him.’ Philippians 2:13 CEV The engine in your car is its power source, and it’s activated when you put the car in gear. Only then do you have the momentum you need to get where you need to go. One of the dangers in seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit is that you can reduce it to an ‘experience’, rather than ‘putting it in gear’ to accomplish great things for God. In the New Testament when someone was filled with the Holy Spirit—things happened. People turned to Christ. Healings took place. On one occasion, they had a...More Monday, March 7, 2022 Practise Being Unselfish ‘I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you.’ 2 Corinthians 12:15 NLT Helping people brings great fulfilment. When you spend your day serving others, you can lay your head down at night and sleep soundly. And even if you have spent much of your life chasing selfish gain, it’s not too late to have a change of heart. Even Charles Dickens’ character, Scrooge, discovered you can turn your life around and make a difference for others. That’s what Alfred Nobel did. He was shocked when he saw his obituary in a newspaper. His brother had died, and the editor mistakenly named Alfred instead in...More Sunday, March 6, 2022 It’s Not Too Late For You ‘God, give me strength just one more time!’ Judges 16:28 GWT In prison Samson prayed: ‘Please strengthen me one more time… Then Samson pushed against the pillars with all his might… And the temple crashed down upon the Philistine leaders and all the people. So those he killed at the moment of his death were more than those he had killed during his entire lifetime.’ (Judges 16:28–30 TLB) How did Samson end up in this prison? Delilah! The Bible says, ‘She nagged at him every day.’ (Judges 16:16 TLB) Satan is persistent, and he waits to catch you in an unguarded moment. That’s why there...More Saturday, March 5, 2022 The Reason You’re Still Here ‘I saw God face to face and yet my life was spared.’ Genesis 32:30 NIV ‘Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.’ (Genesis 32:30–31 NIV) The truth is, without God’s protective hand on your life, you wouldn’t be here today! God is not finished with you yet. Do you remember when some of your friends (and your enemies) didn’t think you would make it? But God rescued you and placed you where you are today. After God finished wrestling with...More Friday, March 4, 2022 Never Be Jealous ‘Jealousy is like cancer in the bones.’ Proverbs 14:30 NLT Is it hard for you to compliment others on their achievements? When someone’s name comes up in conversation, do you feel good because something bad has happened to them? When you hear something complimentary about another person, do you feel the need to say, ‘Yes, but…’ and proceed to point out their negative traits or failures? Do you keep comparing yourself to other people? Are you preoccupied with what they’re doing, buying, wearing, and who they mix and mingle with? Do you trust the people you love, or are you always checking up on...More Thursday, March 3, 2022 What To Do When You Feel Down (2) ‘My glory and the One who lifts up my head.’ Psalm 3:3 NKJV When Elijah was at his lowest point, God told him these three important things: (1) Spend more time with God. ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ (1 Kings 19:11 NKJV) That was where God spoke to him in ‘a still small voice.’ (1 Kings 19:12 NKJV) The word ‘still’ teaches us that instead of always working for God, we need to spend time with Him. If you don’t, you will run on empty, and get nowhere. When David was feeling down, he wrote: ‘Many are saying… “God won’t rescue him.” But, Lord, You are my...More Wednesday, March 2, 2022 What To Do When You Feel Down (1) ‘Elijah was just as human as we are.’ James 5:17 CEV Elijah got so ‘down’ he was ready to end it all. And it happened on the heels of his greatest victory. He had just called down fire from Heaven on Mount Carmel, when he went from exhilaration to exhaustion. We forget that even when we’re successful and love what we do, it can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. So, if you’re a purpose-driven person with no boundaries, pay attention! (1) Exhaustion made Elijah lose perspective. He had just defeated 850 false prophets (see 1 Kings 18:19), and now he was running from one woman:...More Tuesday, March 1, 2022 Respect Authority (2) ‘As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you!’ Jeremiah 44:16 ESV Do those in authority sometimes abuse it and prove themselves unworthy of it? Yes, but that doesn’t let you off the hook. The Bible says that in His youth, Jesus submitted to the authority of His parents (see Luke 2:51). And even though His ministry was marked by demonstrations of supernatural power, He still taught submission to the governing authorities in Rome. ‘Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ (Luke 20:25...More Monday, February 28, 2022 Respect Authority (1) ‘Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive.’ Hebrews 13:17 NKJV Until you learn to respect authority, you will never be qualified to exercise it. Why? (1) Because you will have no credibility. (2) Because you won’t really understand what it means to be a follower. Today the entertainment industry glamorises rebels and turns them into heroes. But that’s not how it works in everyday life. An insubordinate attitude will buy you a one-way ticket to a life of trouble and failure. The Bible says this: (1) Children must be taught to respect the authority of their...More Sunday, February 27, 2022 Make The Most Of Your Time ‘Making the most of your time.’ Ephesians 5:16 NASB The life of John Wesley is a great example of the Scriptural principle ‘making the most of your time.’ He averaged three sermons a day for fifty-four years, preaching a total of more than 44,000 times in his life. In doing this he travelled by horseback and carriage more than 320,000 km—about 8,000 km a year. Even for a very productive man, that would seem to be a full-time effort. Still, Wesley found time to write and edit. His published works include a four-volume commentary on the entire Bible, a five-volume work on natural philosophy, a...More Saturday, February 26, 2022 Forgiving Others (2) ‘Take me back so that I may come back.’ Jeremiah 31:18 NCV The Bible tells us: ‘Isaac’s servants dug… a well… But the herdsmen of Gerar quarrelled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So… they dug another well, and they quarrelled over that one also… And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called it… Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”’ (Genesis 26:19–22 NKJV) What a great example of practising forgiveness. During a drought, Isaac dug wells...More Friday, February 25, 2022 Forgiving Others (1) ‘“I will pay them back,” says the Lord.’ Romans 12:19 NLT Long after you think you have forgiven someone, you can still be harbouring hard feelings. Some indicators that you still have work to do are these: you keep thinking about the person who hurt you and become resentful. You avoid them. You rehearse the incident mentally and in conversation. You take every opportunity to remind them of what they did. Do you know what you’re doing? Justifying an unforgiving attitude! There are two things God won’t share. (1) The praise that’s due Him. ‘I will not give My glory to anyone else, nor...More Thursday, February 24, 2022 Adjusting Your Vision ‘My eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’ Isaiah 6:5 NIV Before God called the prophet Isaiah to a position of leadership in the nation, He adjusted his vision. Uncorrected vision leads to skewed perspective, poor judgment, and wasted effort. Israel’s constant rebellion was putting them in jeopardy with God, and they needed a leader with clear vision. So, the first thing God did was give Isaiah a vision of His glory and power. Without it, he could not have done the job. Without this life-changing encounter with God, he would never have been strong enough to complete his mission. And the same applies...More Wednesday, February 23, 2022 It’s A Blessing In Disguise ‘All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.’ 2 Corinthians 4:15 NIV If you’re going through a difficult time right now, let Paul’s words encourage you. ‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.’ (2 Corinthians 4:8–9 NIV) Who was Paul talking to? Followers of Christ who were having a rough time. Here is what he told them: ‘We are not discouraged. No, even if outwardly we are wearing...More Tuesday, February 22, 2022 When Preparation Meets Opportunity ‘I have finished the race.’ 2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV Seneca the Younger said, ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’ As you read in Scripture about the people God used to accomplish great things, you discover that much of their time was spent preparing for what seems like a relatively brief assignment. The ego in each of us craves two things—limelight and longevity! But with God only one thing matters: doing His will. When you can say like Paul, ‘I have finished the race,’ you have lived successfully. So, who does God use? Those who are prepared! Whether you’re...More Monday, February 21, 2022 Are You Doing It For The Right Reasons? ‘He had this testimony, that he pleased God.’ Hebrews 11:5 NKJV When you grow up with rejection, it can manifest itself in a need to isolate and withdraw or in a drive to constantly ‘prove yourself’. One man said it like this: ‘I can still hear my father yelling, telling me I’d never be any good, never amount to anything. The more he yelled, the more determined I became to prove him wrong.’ Are the wrong voices speaking to you? If they are—read on! The Bible says Enoch ‘had this testimony, that he pleased God.’ How? ‘By faith.’ (Hebrews 11:5 NKJV) God sees you differently from...More Sunday, February 20, 2022 Servants To God’s Will ‘As the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.’ Ephesians 6:6 KJV The word ‘servant’ can have a negative connotation, but not in this Scripture. Knowing how pressures and people distract us from our God-given purpose, Paul uses the strongest possible language, doulos (meaning ‘slave’ or servant’), to remind us that we’re supposed to be servants to God’s will. Jesus loved people so much that one day He would die to redeem them, but that didn’t stop Him from saying ‘no’ when He needed to. Pleasing and appeasing people to win their approval is never a good idea...More Saturday, February 19, 2022 God Will Give You Another Chance ‘Turn back to Me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers.’ Jeremiah 29:12 CEV Because they disobeyed God, the Jews spent seventy years as slaves in Babylon. They lost their joy, their freedom, and their identity; all the things that make life worth living. But God hadn’t finished with them. He told them this: ‘After… seventy years, I will be kind and bring you back to Jerusalem, just as I have promised. I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. You will turn back to Me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. You will worship Me with all...More Friday, February 18, 2022 To Succeed, You Must Study God’s Word ‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.’ Psalm 119:18 NIV The key to Bible study is to do it daily, systematically, and prayerfully. The psalmist prayed, ‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.’ This involves three things: (1) God will show you the truth about Himself. You will discover His nature, His opinions, and what He values. And if you grew up with an absent or abusive parent, you will discover that your heavenly Father is entirely different—lovingly different! (2) God will show you the truth about others. You will begin to understand and...More Thursday, February 17, 2022 Where There Is Strife, Sow Seeds Of Peace ‘For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.’ James 3:16 KJV When a well-known pastor was asked by a sceptic, ‘Do you believe there is such a thing as a real devil?’ he smiled and replied, ‘Have you ever been to an annual church business meeting?’ Seriously, if you have been a church member for any length of time, you know that strife rears its ugly head in the family of God just like it does everywhere else. Paul and Barnabas, a brilliant ministry team, allowed their differences over John Mark to separate them to the point where they could no longer work...More Wednesday, February 16, 2022 Don’t Exaggerate ‘My words are plain to anyone with understanding.’ Proverbs 8:9 NLT King Solomon wrote: ‘Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding.’ (Proverbs 8:6–9 NLT) We usually embellish the truth in order to get these two things: the attention and the approval of the listener. But eventually, it backfires. Over time, people discover your propensity to stretch the truth, and you lose your credibility with them. And once you lose that, it takes a...More Tuesday, February 15, 2022 Making Jesus Look Good, On The Job ‘You are the salt… You are the light.’ Matthew 5:13–14 NKJV Do the people you work with know that you are a follower of Christ? What do they think of your attitude towards those in authority? How about the people who work under you—are you critical or complimentary towards them? How is your timekeeping? Do you arrive to work on time and give 100%? Do you demonstrate a commitment to personal growth and excellence on the job? In other words, on the job, are you making Jesus look good? When you begin to think seriously about it, the eternal destiny of some of the people you work with may be...More Monday, February 14, 2022 Remember To Say ‘I Love You’ ‘Jonathan asked David to repeat his promise of love for him.’ 1 Samuel 20:17 NCV Hoping to save their relationship, a woman dragged her husband to see a counsellor. During their session, the counsellor asked him, ‘Do you tell your wife you love her?’ The man growled, ‘I told her when we got married I loved her—and that if I ever changed my mind, I’d let her know.’ Seriously, people know you love them when you show them and when you tell them. The relationship between Jonathan and David was so strong that they were willing to lay down their lives for one another. Yet the Bible says,...More Sunday, February 13, 2022 Learning To Confront (2) ‘For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.’ Hebrews 12:11 ESV Healthy confrontation calls for putting the other person’s well-being above your own interests. So how do you confront someone in the right way? By doing these three things: (1) Be sure. There must be a good reason to confront. And it should be a rare event, not an everyday one. You shouldn’t relish the experience. If you do, you need to examine your motives. Are you feeling superior? Are you redirecting your anger towards this person over a completely...More Saturday, February 12, 2022 Learning To Confront (1) ‘If you accept correction, you will be honoured.’ Proverbs 13:18 NLT We don’t enjoy confrontation, but it’s impossible to grow without it. Healthy confrontation calls for ‘speaking the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15 NIV) to those we value. Just as God confronts each of us in areas where we need to grow, He expects us to do the same for others. Is it easy? No. But here are some guiding principles to help you: (1) Talk to the person, not about them. Healthy confrontation should be direct and, when possible, done in private. It calls for thoughtful communication, delivered firmly but...More Friday, February 11, 2022 What Are You Called To Do? ‘Jesus went around doing good.’ Acts 10:38 NLT Your value in God’s eyes was established at the cross. The Bible says, ‘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 8:32 NIV) Notice the words ‘all things’. We’re all equal in Christ. But when it comes to your career, your value is determined by the complexity of the problem you solve. That’s why we pay a cardiologist more money than a short-order cook. Jesus was a problem solver. People were spiritually hungry so He said, ‘I am the Bread...More Thursday, February 10, 2022 The Supporting Cast ‘As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you.’ Luke 22:10 NLT At Oscar time, Hollywood hands out awards to the best actor, producer, director, editor, costume designer, etc. But the Screen Actors Guild knows there would be no place for big stars and best movies without the supporting cast and the contributions of technical and artistic crews. The Oscars remind us that the brightest lights can only shine because of the lesser lights that go unrecognised. Scripture tells us that God also has a supporting cast; people who are happy to work behind the scenes....More Wednesday, February 9, 2022 Praying And Meditating On Scripture Can Improve Your Health ‘Pray without ceasing.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV Gone are the days when gun-shy theologians bowed to the god of science. Reliable scientists are now affirming how ingenious God is and how His principles hold up under the piercing light of scientific scrutiny. Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, MD, who studies the relationship between spiritual phenomena and the brain, has demonstrated that we were designed physically and mentally to interact with God through prayer and Scripture. It’s a known fact that there are centres in the human brain that respond positively to prayer, reading and meditating on...More Tuesday, February 8, 2022 For God’s Sake, Control Yourself! ‘A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.’ Proverbs 25:28 NLT Trials, disagreeable people, and frustrating circumstances are potentially upsetting—and the bad news is, they’re not going away anytime soon. However, the good news is, they’re not your problem! The fact is, it’s not what happens to you that determines your mood; it’s what happens in you! We imagine life would immediately change for the better if we could alter people and circumstances, but there would be new people and circumstances to deal with, right? Solomon had it right; it’s not about...More Monday, February 7, 2022 How To Lower Your Anxiety Level (2) ‘Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.’ Matthew 6:34 NIV When you’re anxious about the future, stop and remind yourself that two of God’s names are ‘Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.’ (Revelation 22:13 KJV) Where you’re going—God already is! Jesus said, ‘The sheep hear his voice… he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.’ (John 10:3–4 NKJV) How do sheep get to know the shepherd’s voice? By spending time with him! Notice ‘he goes before them’, which means as long as you’re moving forward, God can...More Sunday, February 6, 2022 How To Lower Your Anxiety Level (1) ‘Cast your cares on the Lord.’ Psalm 55:22 NIV When we’re stressed, the surge of negative emotions can be overwhelming. And unless you unburden your soul before God, it’s easy to make wrong decisions, succumb to wrong impulses, move in the wrong direction, and explode at the wrong people. The psalmist addresses this: ‘Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you.’ The extent to which you consciously lean on God, drawing strength from Him, is the extent to which you will lower your anxiety level. It’s no coincidence that many of the psalms start with David crying out to God for help...More Saturday, February 5, 2022 Focus On The Inward Instead Of The Outward ‘Though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.’ 2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV Next time you’re at a supermarket checkout, notice the magazine covers. Airbrushed faces, toned bodies—ads for diets and products that promise you can look that way too. Now, there is nothing wrong with looking your best and taking care of your body. After all, it’s the temple of the Holy Spirit and you are responsible for maintaining it. But there is much more to you than clothes and a hairstyle. It’s a mistake to focus on the outside and not appreciate and cultivate the inner qualities God...More Friday, February 4, 2022 Worry Less And Trust God More ‘The message gets choked out, and they never produce anything.’ Mark 4:19 CEV In the ‘Parable of the Sower’, Jesus said the seed fell into four kinds of soil. Here is one of them: ‘The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are… people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything.’ (Mark 4:18–19 CEV) Observe what keeps God’s Word from working effectively in your life: (1) Worrying that God won’t...More Thursday, February 3, 2022 God Is Teaching You Patience ‘Be patient and trust the Lord.’ Psalm 37:7 CEV Patience is born of trust. David said, ‘Trust the Lord and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. Do what the Lord wants, and He will give you your heart’s desire.’ (Psalm 37:3–4 CEV) God has a plan for your life. It includes things you can’t have today that you will be able to enjoy tomorrow. When rain comes, the grass grows on its own. So, stop struggling to accomplish something now that will be easy when the time is right. When you refuse to give a toddler something that’s not good for him, he stamps his foot and...More Wednesday, February 2, 2022 Give Jesus A Chance ‘Come, follow Me, and I will show you how.’ Matthew 4:19 NLT When others don’t see your potential, Jesus does. In common fishermen, He saw the capacity to change the world. Here is something you may not have considered: there are two sides to following Jesus—you believe in Him, and He believes in you. Jesus told Simon Peter and Andrew, ‘Come, follow Me, and I will show you how.’ Do you doubt that? So did Nathanael. When he was invited to meet Jesus, he said, ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’ Philip replied, ‘Come and see for yourself.’ (John 1:46 NLT) Even after three years...More Tuesday, February 1, 2022 Overcoming Rejection ‘Think how much the Father loves us.’ 1 John 3:1 CEV When you struggle with a sense of rejection, it will manifest itself in things like these: (1) Perfectionism. But it doesn’t work, because other people’s needs and expectations vary so much that it’s impossible to make everybody happy. (2) Settling for less. You put up with neglect and abuse because you think it’s what you deserve. Or you’re concerned this may be your only chance at ‘love’. (3) Becoming aggressive. Rejection can feel like you’re being attacked when you’re not, so you put on your boxing...More Monday, January 31, 2022 Taking In And Giving Out ‘Go, and tell this people.’ Isaiah 6:9 NKJV When you’re involved in God’s work, it’s easy to get out of balance and end up enjoying the work of the Lord more than the Lord of the work. First, Jesus called His disciples to Him; then, He sent them out from Him. The power you need to succeed in your God-given assignment comes from the time you spend with the Lord, not people. One day Jesus took three of His disciples to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration. ‘His face shone like the sun… there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.’ (Matthew 17:2–3 NIV) Peter was...More Sunday, January 30, 2022 Speak Life To Their Spirit (2) ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.’ Genesis 28:16 NKJV We have all heard people say, ‘The Lord told me,’ and it turned out not to be so. As a result, we have become doubting and cynical. What a loss! God speaks through people, and your fear of someone ‘getting it wrong’ can rob you of vital input—in some cases, the very input you need. One night, God appeared to Jacob in a dream, saying: ‘“I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and… bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” Then Jacob...More Saturday, January 29, 2022 Speak Life To Their Spirit (1) ‘We regard no one from a worldly point of view.’ 2 Corinthians 5:16 NIV Paul writes, ‘We regard no one from a worldly point of view… if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’ (2 Corinthians 5:16–17 NKJV) Here is an important spiritual principle. When you’re trying to help a believer who is battling adversity, addiction, or physical affliction, speak life to their regenerated spirit. Speak to the part of them that’s capable of rising up in faith and responding to God’s Word: ‘Faith comes from hearing the message… through the word about...More Friday, January 28, 2022 Speak Words Of Healing ‘I would strengthen you with my mouth.’ Job 16:5 NKJV Even when a surgery is successful, the patient can carry within them scar tissue that causes lingering pain and discomfort. And it’s the same in life. Some people around you wear a mask of success, but within, they carry wounds they’re unable to talk about. Comedian Jonathan Winters said in an interview that his life was scarred by cruel things his parents said to him as a child. ‘I’m no cry-baby, but I remember things with almost total recall—there’s a lot of pain there.’ His father said to him, ‘You’re the dumbest kid I...More Thursday, January 27, 2022 Remember What You Used To Be Like? (2) ‘I try to find common ground with everyone.’ 1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT It’s easy to develop ‘spiritual amnesia’. You forget what you used to be like. And that attitude affects the people you deal with each day. Kelli Trujillo writes: ‘I’ve a workplace acquaintance who embodies all the negative stereotypes of evangelical Christians. She’s judgmental… her behaviour borders on bizarre… she’s completely (and purposefully) out of touch with culture. She considers any attempt to tone down her evangelism as persecution… None of us wants to be like that so we hop on the pendulum as it swings in the...More Wednesday, January 26, 2022 Remember What You Used To Be Like? (1) ‘God had mercy on me.’ 1 Timothy 1:15 NLT If you want to win people to Christ, you won’t do it with a holier-than-thou attitude. Sadly, this is how society sees many Christians; their hearts are in the right place, but their ability to relate with compassion to those outside their immediate circle does God no favours. If you want people to respond to the Gospel, take a leaf from Paul’s book. He said: ‘Though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ… When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew… When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish...More Tuesday, January 25, 2022 Build On Your Strengths ‘Who makes you different from anyone else?’ 1 Corinthians 4:7 NIV Your success isn’t found in your similarity to others, but in your difference. Instead of comparing yourself with somebody else and competing with them, try to discover your point of God-given difference, for that’s where you will excel. Singer Pearl Bailey said, ‘There are two kinds of talent, man-made and God-given talent. With man-made talent you have to work very hard. With God-given talent, you just touch it up once in a while.’ Paul writes, ‘God has… given each of us different gifts.’ (Romans 12:6 CEV) Would...More Monday, January 24, 2022 Relationships (3) ‘Don’t participate in the things these people do.’ Ephesians 5:7 NLT Letting go of a person doesn’t mean you no longer love them; it just means the relationship is not right for you. How should you handle it? (1) A gradual separation is sometimes the best solution. There are relationships you need to get out of for your own good. But because you have a cord to cut, doesn’t mean that it should be ripped. Dissolving a relationship is stressful, so try to end it graciously. If the cord that binds you is constant phone calls, emails, and visits, that’s a good place to start. (2)...More Sunday, January 23, 2022 Relationships (2) ‘He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.’ Proverbs 13:20 NKJV Not everyone who starts out with you is capable of going where God wants to take you. Sometimes they don’t have the emotional capacity required. Other times their vision differs from yours. So how can you know when it’s time to exit a relationship? Avoid relationships that leave you depleted. This calls for establishing clear boundaries for the relationship up front. You don’t have time to spend your life straightening out misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and injured egos. How far are...More Saturday, January 22, 2022 Relationships (1) ‘Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?’ Amos 3:3 NLT Having the right relationships will help you to soar in life; they’re like the wind beneath your wings. But the wrong relationships will drag you down; they’re like a ball and chain around your feet. To know which relationships are good for you and which are not, here are three guidelines: (1) When a relationship is not working, acknowledge it. Sometimes you must cut your losses. The old saying goes, ‘When you’re in a hole, stop digging!’ Accept the fact that sometimes your efforts are not enough and that you...More Friday, January 21, 2022 There Is No Turning Back ‘But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’ Hebrews 10:38 NKJV A little boy in Sunday school heard the story of how Lot’s wife looked back towards Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt (see Genesis 19:26). ‘That’s nothing,’ he said. ‘Last week when my mother was driving down the street, she looked back—and turned into a telephone pole!’ Seriously, God says, ‘If anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’ Every pilot knows there is a point of no return. The runway has all been used up; it’s fly or die! In Hebrews chapter eleven we find a list of...More Friday, January 21, 2022 In training for better things ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.’ Romans 8:28 NKJV When Joseph was thrown into prison, it was hard for him to see how this road would lead to the fulfilment of his dream, but it did. That’s because God had a plan for his life. And He has one for yours too! Your current job may just be preparation for the job God really has in mind for you. Perhaps not today or tomorrow, but, if you stay faithful, there will come a time when you look back and realise how God directed your steps (see Psalm 37:23). Refuse to embrace any concept of victimhood that would steal your...More Thursday, January 20, 2022 Don’t ‘Fly Off The Handle’ ‘A quick-tempered person does foolish things.’ Proverbs 14:17 NIV When people lose their temper, one of the most common expressions used to describe their reaction is ‘flying off the handle’. The phrase refers to the head of a hammer coming loose from the handle as you attempt to use it. And several not-so-good things happen as a consequence. (1) The hammer becomes useless. Your message may be all-important, but the manner in which you deliver it determines whether or not you get the results you desire. Simply stated, when people don’t take you seriously, you don’t get the outcome you hoped...More Wednesday, January 19, 2022 The Story Of Cyprian ‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.’ Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV Cyprian, a wealthy noble who lived during the third century, enjoyed galloping about Carthage in his gold and bejewelled chariot. He wore fancy clothes studded with diamonds and precious stones and lived a debauched life. In a letter to one of the Christian theologians of his time, Cyprian said he couldn’t possibly conceive how he could change his life—the life he had lived for so long. The inveterate habits, tastes, and desires that he had developed, the sins he clutched to his bosom, how could he possibly give these things...More Tuesday, January 18, 2022 Be Gentle (4) ‘Whoever heeds correction is honoured.’ Proverbs 13:18 NIV When someone corrects you, be teachable and not unreachable. ‘Let every man be quick to listen but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper.’ (James 1:19 PHPS) If you do the first two things, the third one naturally falls into place. If you are quick to listen and slow to answer back, you’re going to be slow to lose your temper. ‘Whoever heeds correction is honoured.’ So use your ears more than your mouth, and be willing to accept correction. The wisest people have a ‘teach me’ attitude and are willing to learn from...More Monday, January 17, 2022 Be Gentle (3) ‘A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.’ Proverbs 15:1 GNT When someone disagrees with you, be tender without surrender. You will never be able to please everyone. You will always meet people who like to argue and quarrel. Some people will contradict everything you say. How should you respond to them? One of the tests of spiritual maturity is how you handle those who disagree with you. Some people have a need to demolish anyone who disagrees with them. If you challenge them or offer a comparison, complaint, or criticism, they respond with a full-blown personal attack. Then what do you do?...More Sunday, January 16, 2022 Be Gentle (2) ‘Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling.’ Romans 14:1 NIV When someone upsets or disappoints you, God expects you to be gracious towards them instead of judgmental. The Bible says, ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.’ (Galatians 6:1 NIV) You say, ‘Tempted how?’ Tempted to become judgmental or ‘holier than thou’. That’s the wrong response. ‘Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling.’ Instead of criticising their faults, you’re supposed to help...More Saturday, January 15, 2022 Be Gentle (1) ‘Show a gentle attitude.’ Philippians 4:5 GNT The Greek word used for gentleness means ‘strength under control’. It pictures a wild stallion that has been tamed. It doesn’t mean to be weak and wimpy. The only two people in the Bible who were called gentle—Moses and Jesus—were both strong. Gentleness is restraining your reactions. It’s choosing your response to people rather than merely reacting to them. For the next few days, let’s look at what it means to be gentle. When someone serves you, be thoughtful and not demanding. Paul writes, ‘Don’t just think about your own affairs, but...More Friday, January 14, 2022 Be Wise—Say Nothing! ‘The prudent hold their tongues.’ Proverbs 10:19 NIV The story is told of a wealthy grandfather who went to his doctor to be fitted for a special hearing aid. The device not only allowed him to hear perfectly, it was hidden so no one could see it. When he went back for a follow-up visit, the doctor said, ‘Your family must be happy to know that now you can hear.’ The grandfather said, ‘Well, I haven’t told them about my hearing aid. I just sit around and listen to their conversations—and I’ve already changed my will three times!’ The Bible says, ‘The prudent hold their...More Thursday, January 13, 2022 Go Back And Make Things Right ‘Tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.’ Psalm 78:4 NIV A legacy, good or bad, is something handed down from one person to another. Perhaps, over time, God has healed your hurts and you have moved on, but what have you left behind? The harsh words you spoke may have been based on what was happening at the time, but now you see things more clearly. It’s wonderful when you move from resenting others to forgiving them—but have you left unhealed wounds? James writes, ‘Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God...More Wednesday, January 12, 2022 The Case For God (4) ‘They began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.’ Romans 1:21 NLT Contemplating the amazing design of our universe, physicist and Nobel laureate, Arno Penzias, tries to explain it this way: ‘Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe… created out of nothing, one with the very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life. In the absence of an absurdly improbable accident, the observations of modern science seem to suggest an underlying, one might say, supernatural plan.’ Harvard biologist...More Tuesday, January 11, 2022 The Case For God (3) ‘Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities.’ Romans 1:20 NLT They say, ‘There are none so blind as those who wilI not see!’ Richard Dawkins, the well-known atheist said, ‘It is absolutely safe to say that, if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane.’ But the truth is, most great scientific minds from the past—brilliant men who founded and developed key disciplines of science—were creationists. For example: (1) Physics: Newton, Faraday, Maxwell, Kelvin. (2) Chemistry: Boyle, Dalton,...More Monday, January 10, 2022 The Case For God (2) ‘He who built all things is God.’ Hebrews 3:4 NKJV Imagine a human skull evolving with holes and sockets in just the right places. ‘Then,’ as Ray Comfort writes, ‘by accident came the brain, interconnected to two eyes, two ears, one nose, skin, blood, nerves, mouth, teeth, tongue, salivary glands and taste buds, connected to a neck and a body with heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, in both male and female with complex, complementary reproductive systems—and that a similar thing happened throughout all the animal kingdom.’ Atheists claim something can bring itself into being from nothing, and...More Sunday, January 9, 2022 The Case For God (1) ‘He never left them without evidence of Himself.’ Acts 14:17 NLT Do you believe there is a God who made all things, including you? Yes? Then you’re blessed. On the other hand, if you don’t believe in God, try to make an eye, an ear, or a brain. Only make one… from nothing! Or create a flower that can produce nectar which can be collected by bees you made and make them transform it into honey for you to eat. You breathe in life-giving oxygen released by trees, then you breathe out carbon dioxide giving the trees what they need for their survival. Brilliant, right? And since atheists believe all this came...More Saturday, January 8, 2022 Love Is A Decision ‘You must love.’ Matthew 22:37 NLT When a lawyer asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, He replied that he must love God, others, and himself (see Matthew 22:37–39). Observe that He said, ‘You must love.’ This tells you a lot about the true nature and behaviour of love. If love can be commanded, then it can’t be only emotional, or a matter of feelings. Genuine love is much more than feelings; it’s a matter of the will. That’s why Jesus could command us to express it. It’s a commandment followed by a commitment. Although feelings are important, true love functions regardless of how you...More Friday, January 7, 2022 Weigh Your Words Carefully ‘If we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.’ James 3:2 NLT When it comes to your tongue, here are three rules: (1) Don’t speak too quickly. ‘We all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we… could also control ourselves in every other way.’ Because you can never be totally aware of all the sensitivities of a person, you must rely on the Holy Spirit to direct your speech in a way that doesn’t tap into their pain or other negative experiences. Everybody has a different sensitivity level, depending on their past...More Thursday, January 6, 2022 How To Be Fruitful (5) ‘He prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops.’ John 15:2 TLB You must submit to the pruning process. ‘He prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops.’ Pruning entails cutting off dead branches and cutting back living branches. Both are necessary to shape the tree and stimulate growth. Professional pruners will tell you that most people are too hesitant when it comes to pruning. But God is not. He not only cuts off that which is sinful and superficial, He cuts back that which is alive and successful; a business that’s doing great, a satisfying relationship, or...More Wednesday, January 5, 2022 How To Be Fruitful (4) ‘They are choked by life’s worries.’ Luke 8:14 NIV You must eliminate the weeds. In His famous ‘Parable of the Sower’, Jesus said the seed fell into four different kinds of soil. ‘The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.’ Notice, three varieties of ‘weeds’ can keep you from growing into spiritual maturity. (1) Worry. You become so preoccupied with everyday cares that you take your eyes off Jesus. (2) Riches. Making money and buying things dominates...More Tuesday, January 4, 2022 How To Be Fruitful (3) ‘Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him.’ Colossians 2:7 NLT Paul writes this: ‘Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ… you… are complete through your union with Christ.’...More Monday, January 3, 2022 How To Be Fruitful (2) ‘The godly have deep roots.’ Proverbs 12:3 NLT You must cultivate deep spiritual roots. ‘Blessed are those who trust in the Lord… They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by… heat or worried by… months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.’ (Jeremiah 17:7–8 NLT) This Scripture gives you one reason why you need deep spiritual roots: to make it through the rough times—times of heat and drought. Solomon said, ‘No one can be established through wickedness, but the...More Sunday, January 2, 2022 How To Be Fruitful (1) ‘I chose you and appointed you that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.’ John 15:16 NIV When Jesus said, ‘I chose you and appointed you that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last,’ He was saying, ‘Spend your life in pursuit of that which has lasting significance and eternal value!’ What does He mean by ‘fruit’? ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’ (Galatians 5:22–23 NIV) Those nine qualities describe the only life that’s truly worth living. Fortunately, you’re...More Saturday, January 1, 2022 This Year, Glorify God And Enjoy Him ‘Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’ 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV In 1643, the Houses of Parliament in England abolished the way the Church of England was governed. An assembly of one hundred and twenty-one ministers and thirty laypeople was called together at Westminster Abbey to rebuild the English church. The documents coming out of that six-year assembly are some of the most famous in church history. The first question in the Shorter Westminster Catechism reads, ‘What is the chief end of man?’ Answer: ‘To glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.’ The implications of that question and...More

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