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The Word for Today Daily Devotional for 2024

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Friday, July 26, 2024 Protect your marriage ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; …’ John 10:10 NASB20 Why do 50 per cent of marriages, including Christian marriages, end in divorce? Jesus answers that question: ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10 NASB20). God performed the first wedding ceremony between Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. And the honeymoon barely began before Satan entered the picture and attacked them, causing feelings of shame and separation from God. Later in Scripture, when Satan couldn’t defeat the patriarch Job through...More Thursday, July 25, 2024 Don’t be afraid of failing (3) ‘Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.’ Matthew 14:29 NIV The Bible says, ‘”Lord, if it's you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”’ (Matthew 14:28-31 NIV). When you know that you have prayed, prepared, and planned, you must step...More Wednesday, July 24, 2024 Don’t be afraid of failing (2) ‘I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!’ 1 Corinthians 9:16 NIV Let’s take another look at how to conquer the fear of failure. 1) Pursue your God-given purpose in life. To truly succeed at something, you must have a passion for it. And God will not only reveal to you His purpose, He will give you a passion to pursue it. Paul had the gift, education, and connections to pursue a number of different careers. But he wrote, ‘For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!’ (1 Corinthians 9:16 NIV)...More Tuesday, July 23, 2024 Don’t be afraid of failing (1) ‘As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.’ 2 Chronicles 26:5 NIV Let’s look at some Bible strategies for overcoming the fear of failure. 1) Make sure that your vision and your values line up. The rise and fall of King Uzziah are told in these words: ‘Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. … He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, … He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success. … But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led...More Monday, July 22, 2024 You can conquer your fear ‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,...’ 1 John 4:18 NIV According to psychiatric reference, approximately two thousand classified fears exist. What’s interesting is that psychiatrists say we are born with only two innate ones: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. That means we learn every other fear. And more importantly, that means we can unlearn every other fear. The majority of us are shaped, for better or worse, by a handful of experiences. These defining experiences can plant a seed of confidence or a seed of uncertainty, a seed of hope or a seed of vulnerability, a...More Sunday, July 21, 2024 Keep your conscience clear ‘Keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.’ 1 Timothy 1:19 NASB20 Sometimes, we want to justify what we are doing and say, ‘It feels right, so it can’t be wrong.’ However, if God’s Word says something is wrong, it’s wrong, no matter how right it feels. The old saying, ‘Let your conscience be your guide,’ is only half the truth. The other half should read, ‘as long as your conscience is grounded in and guided by the clear teachings of God’s Word.’ As a redeemed child of God, you are called to live by His commandments...More Saturday, July 20, 2024 The secret of happiness ‘For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.’ Ephesians 2:10 CSB What kind of work environment brings out the best in you? Do you thrive on routine? Are you motivated by people’s needs? Do you enjoy tackling challenges that might discourage others? How about your relationships? Do you enjoy being part of a team, or do you work better alone? If you only come to life when you’re around people, you will probably be miserable sitting in front of a computer all day. What are your strengths? God said of Bezalel, the builder,...More Saturday, July 20, 2024 The secret of happiness ‘For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.’ Ephesians 2:10 CSB What kind of work environment brings out the best in you? Do you thrive on routine? Are you motivated by people’s needs? Do you enjoy tackling challenges that might discourage others? How about your relationships? Do you enjoy being part of a team, or do you work better alone? If you only come to life when you’re around people, you will probably be miserable sitting in front of a computer all day. What are your strengths? God said of Bezalel, the builder,...More Friday, July 19, 2024 Why church is good for you ‘For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere.’ Psalm 84:10 NASB20 Jesus attended church regularly. ‘… He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath …’ (Luke 4:16 NLT). The apostles also went to church on a regular basis: ‘They worshipped together at the Temple each day,…’ (Acts 2:46 NLT). And David loved God’s house. He said, ‘For a day in Your courtyards is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.’ (Psalm 84:10 NASB20). So, do you love God’s house? You should,...More Thursday, July 18, 2024 How to know God ‘They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.’ Romans 1:19 NLT There are three ways whereby you can know God is real and have a relationship with Him. 1) Intellectual knowledge of God. ‘They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God’ (Romans 1:19-20 NLT). 2) Subconscious knowledge of God. ‘Even Gentiles, who...More Wednesday, July 17, 2024 Knowing who belongs in your life ‘I will test them for you there; and he of whom I say to you, 'This man shall go with you,' shall go with you;...’ Judges 7:4 RSV Gideon chose thirty-two thousand soldiers to fight the Midianites. But the truth is, you don’t need lots of people in your life, you just need the right people. So, when Gideon said, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home’ (Judges 7:3 RSV), twenty-two thousand soldiers left. But God told him he still had too many, and added, ‘I will test them to determine who will go with you and who will not.’ (see Judges 7:4) Consequently, Gideon ended up with...More Tuesday, July 16, 2024 Always ask, ‘What does the Bible say?’ ‘Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things,...’ Acts 20:30 NKJV Paul writes: ‘Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified’ (Acts 20:30-32 NKJV). When someone claims ‘special revelation from God’ that doesn’t line up with what Scripture...More Monday, July 15, 2024 The blessing of unanswered prayer ‘When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.’ James 4:3 NIV A pastor writes: ‘According to legend, King Midas loved gold so much that when Dionysus granted him a wish, Midas asked that everything he touched would turn to gold. At first, Midas was delighted with his request, but when he discovered that his touch made food inedible and his embrace made loved ones lifeless, he stumbled upon what sociologist Robert Merton called the law of unintended consequences. Like Midas, getting what we want can result in undesirable consequences. So much for the Midas touch. Sometimes...More Sunday, July 14, 2024 When you feel inadequate (2) ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ 2 Corinthians 1 2:9 NKJV First, acknowledge your inadequacy to God. Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic, says, ‘Deny your weakness, and you will never realise God’s strength in you.’ God told Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV) Anything that makes you lean on God is a plus and not a minus. Second, stop putting yourself down. You say, ‘But I lack the qualifications to do the job.’ God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the...More Saturday, July 13, 2024 When you feel inadequate (1) ‘Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.’ 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NASB20 The fear of inadequacy is a state of mind in which you think your best is not good enough. Usually, it originated in childhood when our parents, teachers, and others we considered important, failed to appreciate and affirm us or compared us negatively to someone else. You will see it from Moses, who felt inadequate to be the spokesman and liberator for the Israelites. No statistics can measure the number of abandoned dreams due to this paralysing emotion. To...More Friday, July 12, 2024 How to influence and impact others ‘Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,’ James 1:19 NIV There is no magic trick when it comes to influencing and impacting others. The Bible gives you the formula, and here it is: 1) Try to listen carefully. The truth is that people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. They tend to filter what they hear through their own life experiences, hang-ups, and the particular problem that’s on their mind at that moment. So, if you want people to listen when you speak, listen carefully to them. 2) Don’t say too much. If you tend...More Thursday, July 11, 2024 Who helps you? ‘Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.’ Romans 1 6:2 NLT Captain Charlie Plumb was a US Navy fighter pilot in Vietnam. After seventy-five combat missions, his plane was demolished by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected from the plane and parachuted into enemy hands. He spent the next six years in a Communist prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on what he learned from his experience. One day when he and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man from another table walked over and said, ‘You’re Plumb! You flew jet fighters in...More Wednesday, July 10, 2024 Running to win ‘It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.’ Matthew 5:29 NIV Desperate situations sometimes call for desperate measures, and severing your supply line to your flesh means getting radical. Jesus puts it like this: ‘“If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into...More Tuesday, July 9, 2024 Stop covering up sin ‘He who covers his sins will not prosper...’ Proverbs 28:13 NKJV The Bible says, ‘He who covers his sins will not prosper. But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy’ (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV). Could this be the reason you’re not succeeding? Unresolved guilt has the ability to corrode your confidence like acid. But there is an answer: ‘Whoever confesses and forsakes [his sins] will have mercy.’ Confess it to God! He already knows what you have done—He is just waiting for you to deal with it so He can forgive you and bless you again. ‘… God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.’...More Monday, July 8, 2024 Do what God’s Word says ‘Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.’ James 1:22 NIV When you listen to or read God’s Word but don’t apply it to your life, you deceive yourself. How so? 1) You settle for knowledge rather than experience. The Bible says, ‘If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them’ (James 4:17 NIV). How does that grab you? When you know the truth but don’t act on it, you’re not simply making a mistake or exercising poor judgement, you’re sinning. The Bible says knowledge without obedience is sin. 2) You...More Sunday, July 7, 2024 Are you stressed out? (3) ‘I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.’ John 16:33 ESV Stress is like kryptonite (Superman’s nemesis), and it’s out to knock off your cape and diminish you to a heap of trembling, useless mush. What should you do? 1) Immerse your exhaustion. Try a bubble bath. Even simply standing in the shower can assist in washing away fatigue and reviving your breathless body tissues and brain cells. Feel the moment and focus on the water’s invigorating sensory contribution to your skin; allow it to spread resilience to your spirit. You say, ‘That doesn’t sound very...More Saturday, July 6, 2024 Are you stressed out? (2) ‘For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace;...’ Isaiah 55:12 NKJV Let’s look at three proven and effective strategies for dealing with stress. 1) Place yourself on your daily to-do list. Designate fifteen minutes twice a day to renew, regroup, and restore. Distance yourself from the stress source, even if that simply means stepping outside for a few minutes and going for a walk to refresh your brain. Sing your favourite song or do whatever helps you to chill. And persevere when other events threaten to crowd you out. You’re important – learn to value...More Friday, July 5, 2024 Are you stressed out? (1) ‘You will stand firm and without fear.’ Job 11:15 NIV When you ignore the warning signs, chronic stress can take a toll on your body. So, what are some of the signals? Well for starters, your stomach churns at any form of disagreement. When you can’t find an outlet for pent-up frustration, you may resort to overeating, smoking, drinking, drugs, and generally abusing your body. You isolate yourself, which affects your loved ones. However, it’s the signs you don’t see that can do the most damage. Cortisol, a hormone our bodies release in the grasp of stress, adds to out-of-control feelings of...More Thursday, July 4, 2024 Keep renewing your mind with God’s Word ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...’ Romans 12:2 NIV How do we renew our minds? One pastor wrote: ‘The way to upgrade your mind is to download Scripture. Doctors … of the National Institute of Mental Health did a fascinating study asking subjects to perform a simple motor task—a finger-tapping exercise. As subjects tapped, the doctors conducted an MRI to identify what part of the brain was being activated. The subjects then practised the finger-tapping exercise daily for four weeks. At the end of the four-week period, the brain scan was...More Wednesday, July 3, 2024 Wrestling with Satan up close and personal! ‘We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against … spiritual hosts of wickedness...’ Ephesians 6:12 NKJV Before doing battle with Syria, Joab told his brother, ‘…If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you’ (1 Chronicles 19:12 NKJV). If one was overwhelmed, the other could step in and help. Spiritual warfare is different, however. We’re not wrestling with ‘flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness’ (see Ephesians 6:12). And wrestling...More Tuesday, July 2, 2024 Start at his feet ‘Uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.’ Ruth 3:4 NKJV As a Moabitess, the law said Ruth was unqualified to mix with Jews. ‘An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; … ’ (Deuteronomy 23:3 NKJV). But when God has a plan for your life, He steps in and says, ‘… I have called you by your name; you are Mine … Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honoured, … Therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life’ (Isaiah 43:1, 4 NKJV). When Boaz began showering Ruth with kindness, she knelt before him saying, ‘… Why have...More Monday, July 1, 2024 Don’t get stuck in the past ‘Run for your lives! And don't look back or stop anywhere in the valley!...’ Genesis 19:17 NLT Before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He sent angels to warn Lot and his family to get out of town: When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, ‘“Run for your lives! And don't look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!’ … But Lot's wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.’ (Genesis 19:17, 26 NLT). By looking back, Lot’s wife disobeyed a direct instruction from God. As a result, she...More Sunday, June 30, 2024 The law of entropy ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish:...’ Proverbs 29:18 KJV A pastor wrote: ‘The second law of thermodynamics states this physical truth: If left to their own devices, everything in the universe moves towards disorder and decay. Cars rust. Food rots…It’s also called the law of entropy. And the only way to prevent entropy is to introduce an outside energy source to counteract it. The technical term for this is negentropy. And the refrigerator is a good example. You plug it into an electrical outlet, and it produces cold air that keeps food from rotting. If the refrigerator gets disconnected from...More Saturday, June 29, 2024 Why do we resist change? (4) ‘Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.’ Ecclesiastes 7:10 NIV Two more reasons we resist change are these: 1) Because it feels awkward and uncomfortable. When was the last time you tried something for the first time? Can you name it specifically? If you can’t remember, your comfort zone may have turned into a rut. A sign on a wall contained two statements. The first had an X through it. It said, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ The second read, ‘If it ain’t broke, break it!’ Sometimes, the only way to ‘get out...More Friday, June 28, 2024 Why do we resist change? (3) ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.’ Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV What happens when you try to implement change at the wrong time? For that matter, when is the right time to do it? From a leadership perspective, there are actually better times than others to make changes. Dr John Maxwell, who wrote the best seller The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, says: ‘I developed the following checklist to help me navigate the process: Will this change benefit the followers? Is it compatible with the purpose of the organisation? Is this change specific and clear? Are the top 20...More Thursday, June 27, 2024 Why do we resist change? (2) ‘By faith Abraham obeyed...And he went out, not knowing where he was going.’ Hebrews 11:8 NKJV Who among us wouldn’t like to have a success story like Abraham’s? He had fame, great riches, and ‘was even called the friend of God’ (see James 2:23). It doesn’t get better than that! But Abraham’s story begins with these words: ‘By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.’ (Hebrews 11:8 NKJV) How on earth did he do it? By faith! Why do we resist change? Doubt and fear! We fear...More Wednesday, June 26, 2024 Why do we resist change? (1) ‘Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!’ Psalm 80:3 NKJV When Italian explorer Christopher Columbus returned to Spain in 1492 after his first trip across the Atlantic Ocean, he was considered a national hero and credited with discovering new lands. But do you think people changed their minds about the earth being flat? Not at all—they went right on believing the earth was flat. It was not until that generation passed on and the next one took their place that people realised the earth was round, just as Columbus had claimed. That’s how long it took for people to change their...More Tuesday, June 25, 2024 God will test you in little things ‘You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. …’ Matthew 25:21 NKJV Your small deeds of kindness may go unnoticed by others, but God sees them. And they can reward you in ways you never dreamed possible. Take the case of Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers and lied about by his boss’s wife, he ends up sentenced to a thirteen-year prison term. If ever a person had reason to turn sour on life and God, it was him. But instead of giving in to self-pity, he focused on the needs of others. Joseph had two prison mates: a butler and a baker who had worked in Pharaoh’s...More Monday, June 24, 2024 The reason you’re being tested ‘For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.’ Psalm 66:10 NIV Have you tried to do right, yet things have gone wrong? When Joseph honoured God by saying no to Potiphar’s wife, he landed in prison. While there, he told a fellow prisoner, ‘For I was kidnapped from my homeland … and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it’ (Genesis 40:15 NLT). If that’s how you feel today, God has not turned His back on you. His plan for your life has not been derailed. ‘… the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. …’ (Jeremiah 30:24...More Sunday, June 23, 2024 Trust in God’s unchanging character ‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.’ Psalm 56:3 NIV If you live long enough, life will bring you bad news. It may be the loss of a loved one, your health, your income, your marriage, your reputation, etc. The psalmist wrote, ‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.’ (Psalm 56:3 NIV) When bad times come, you need to hold on to everything you know about who God is. You must remind yourself that He is loving, caring, and worthy of your complete trust. Sometimes, God will give you the answer; other times He will give you the assurance of His presence. In changing times, you must lay hold of...More Sunday, June 23, 2024 Trust in God’s unchanging character ‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.’ Psalm 56:3 NIV If you live long enough, life will bring you bad news. It may be the loss of a loved one, your health, your income, your marriage, your reputation, etc. The psalmist wrote, ‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.’ (Psalm 56:3 NIV) When bad times come, you need to hold on to everything you know about who God is. You must remind yourself that He is loving, caring, and worthy of your complete trust. Sometimes, God will give you the answer; other times He will give you the assurance of His presence. In changing times, you must lay hold of...More Saturday, June 22, 2024 Know what the Scriptures ‘also say’ ‘Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’” Matthew 4:7 NLT Satan will use half-truths to trap you. The Bible says, ‘Then the devil took Him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you.’” … Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God’”’ (Matthew 4:5-7 NLT). Satan will tell you, ‘Your spouse doesn’t understand you or meet your needs, you’re lonely, go ahead and...More Friday, June 21, 2024 What more could God have done for you? ‘What more could I have done...?’ Isaiah 5:4 NLT Author Brennan Manning tells the story of how he got the name ‘Brennan’. Growing up, his best friend was Ray. The two of them did everything together. They bought a car together as teenagers, dated together, went to school together, and so forth. They even enlisted in the army together, went to boot camp, and fought on the front lines together. One night, sitting in a foxhole, Brennan was reminiscing about the old days in Brooklyn while his friend Ray listened and ate a chocolate bar. Suddenly a grenade landed in the foxhole. Ray smiled at Brennan, dropped...More Thursday, June 20, 2024 The importance of good works ‘Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.’ 1 John 3:18 NLT The word ‘love’ isn’t just a noun, it’s a verb (an action word). And it’s not demonstrated simply by what you say but by what you do. In a small Jewish town in Russia, there is a rabbi who reputedly doesn’t show up for several hours every Friday morning. His followers claim that during this time, he goes up to heaven and talks to God. A stranger moved into town and was sceptical about all this, so he decided to check things out. He hid and watched. The rabbi got up in the morning,...More Wednesday, June 19, 2024 Get into the right environment ‘Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.’ Proverbs 13:20 NLT When you encounter someone who tries to ‘cut you down to size’, remind yourself they are probably trying to cut you down to their size. So, what should you do? Love them, but don’t be overly influenced by what they say. As a rule, instead of staying where you’re tolerated, go where you’re appreciated! The Japanese bonsai tree is tiny, growing only about eighteen inches tall. To create a bonsai, a young sapling is pulled from the soil. Then the taproot and some of the feeder shoots are tied...More Tuesday, June 18, 2024 Never give up ‘Therefore, … stand firm. Let nothing move you…’ 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV Failure doesn’t mean you will never succeed; it just means it may take a bit longer. American actor, John Wayne coined a great line in the movie The Train Robbers. He said, ‘You’re going to spend the rest of your life getting up one more time than you’re knocked down, so you’d better start getting used to it.’ That’s what success is—getting up one time more than you were knocked down. You have no idea how close you may be to what you want to achieve. But if you give up, you will never know—plus you guarantee that you...More Monday, June 17, 2024 Worship your way through it ‘But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.’ Acts 16:25 NKJV Don’t allow what’s wrong with you to keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. With their feet locked in stocks, their backs lacerated with whips, and the unjust contempt of society heaped upon them, the Bible says, ‘At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.’ They decided to stop focusing on what was wrong with their circumstances and start focusing on what is right with God. They could have complained, but they made a choice to worship God...More Sunday, June 16, 2024 A father’s blessing ‘By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.’ Hebrews 11:20 KJV Dad, here are two Bible ingredients for blessing your children and grandchildren: 1) The power of prayer. In Scripture, a father’s blessing included an open-eyed prayer to God for his children. Isaac, who was a farmer, said to his son, ‘May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness—an abundance of grain and new wine’ (Genesis 27:28 NIV). Have your children ever heard you talk to God about them? Perhaps they have heard you say harsh words like, ‘How could you be so stupid? Don’t you ever think?...More Saturday, June 15, 2024 Confess your sins to God ‘I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt … And you forgave me!’ Psalm 32:5 NLT In Scripture, the word confession is comprised of two Greek words: homo, meaning ‘the same’, and logeo, meaning ‘to speak’. Therefore, confessing your sin to God means saying the same thing about it as He does. It means calling a spade a spade—not a gardening tool! Nowhere does the Bible refer to our sins as mistakes, bad judgements, and slips. However, it clearly says God forgives our sin: ‘I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your...More Friday, June 14, 2024 Strong, firm and steadfast ‘The God of all grace … will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.’ 1 Peter 5:10 NIV If you want God to restore you and make you ‘strong, firm and steadfast’, meditate prayerfully on these four Scriptures, and look for ways to put them into practice each day: 1) ‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time’ (1 Peter 5:6 NIV). 2) ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:7 NIV). 3) ‘Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion...More Thursday, June 13, 2024 God will forgive and restore you ‘Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.’ Psalm 51:2 NKJV There is bad news, and there is good news. The bad news is, when David tried to hide his sin, God exposed it to the entire nation. The good news is, when he repented of his sin, God forgave him and expunged his record. And what God did for David, He will do for you. All you have to do is get down on your knees and pray, ‘Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me’ (Psalm 51:2, 10 NKJV). If you want to know how God...More Wednesday, June 12, 2024 How to have peace (5) ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;’ Proverbs 3:5 NKJV The Bible says, ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV). God wants you to trust Him. As long as you’re struggling to figure things out on your own, you’re not trusting God and you won’t have peace. You must trust Him with your health, your money, your relationships, and your future. Everything! God never makes a mistake. All that happens in your life fits into His plan for...More Tuesday, June 11, 2024 How to have peace (4) ‘He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;”...’ Psalm 46:10 NIV To have peace you must focus on God’s presence. What you choose to focus on either fuels your fears or your faith. The Bible says, ‘“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.’ Isaiah 26:3 NASB20). That verse could be reduced to one sentence: ‘Get your focus in order— look at me.’ The psalmist says, ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble’ (Psalm 46:1 NIV). Later in that psalm; ‘He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;”’ (Psalm 46:10 NIV). These verses...More Monday, June 10, 2024 How to have peace (3) ‘Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.’ Psalm 119:165 NIV In order to find real peace, you must do two things: 1) Live by the principles of God’s Word. ‘Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.’ (Psalm 119:165 NIV) Peace arrives when you live in harmony with God. A new car comes with an owner’s manual. It tells you that for your car to perform well, you must do certain things at certain times. Likewise, the Bible is your owner’s manual for life. It contains guiding principles for finances, health, marriage,...More Sunday, June 9, 2024 How to have peace (2) ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.’ John 14:27 RSV Jesus said His peace is a gift. That means you don’t have to work for it and you cannot earn it. You cannot psych yourself up for it, and you cannot try really hard to obtain it. No, it’s a gift you must accept by faith. Jesus also said that His peace is unique from what the world provides. In the last 3,500 years, the world has only been free of war for 286 of them—that’s less than 9 per cent. This world’s peace doesn’t last. Jesus told His disciples, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give...More Saturday, June 8, 2024 How to have peace (1) ‘Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,’ Romans 5:1 NIV God will give you three kinds of peace. 1) Spiritual peace. ‘Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,’ (Romans 5:1 NIV) That’s the foundation, the bottom line. You must have peace with God before you can have any other kind of peace. Jesus said, ‘”Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled or fearful.”’ (John 14:27...More Friday, June 7, 2024 Listen more carefully ‘The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise.’ Proverbs 15:31 NKJV One expert points out that leaders touch your heart before they ask for your hand. That’s the law of connection. Before a leader can touch a person’s heart, he or she has to know what’s in it. And you learn that by listening. A reluctance to listen is too typical among poor leaders. Over half of all management problems are the consequence of faulty communications. And the vast majority of communication problems stem from poor listening. Many voices are clamouring for our attention. As you think about how to listen,...More Thursday, June 6, 2024 Learn to listen to your marriage partner ‘The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”’ Genesis 2:18 NIV God designed your marriage partner to meet your physical needs, your emotional needs, and yes, even some of your spiritual needs. Adam enjoyed perfect health, worked at the perfect job, and lived in the perfect environment. He even went for walks with God every day. Nevertheless, he was lonely and incomplete. So, ‘The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”’ (Genesis 2:18 NIV) Note the word ‘helper’. God intended your...More Wednesday, June 5, 2024 Get ready to go! ‘Get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them—to the Israelites.’ Joshua 1:2 NIV The words for you today are 1) Get ready. For forty years, Joshua had served Moses and been mentored by him; now he was ready to lead Israel into the promised land. This raises the all-important question: are you ready for the success you seek? The frustrating thing about preparation is sometimes it takes more time than the event you’re preparing for. Are you self-disciplined? Are you up to date on your career or calling? Do you have the right relationships in place? Is your home life in...More Tuesday, June 4, 2024 Storm-proofed for life ‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say?’ Luke 6:46 NIV Remember the words of the old Sunday school song, ‘The wise man built his house upon the Rock … The foolish man built his house upon the sand’? The storm hit both houses leaving only the wise man’s house standing. Jesus wasn’t simply recommending the virtues of wisdom over foolishness. The truth is, we’re all wise at times and foolish at others. And He wasn’t saying the house that survived the storm was a believer’s house while the house that perished belonged to an unbeliever. Neither was He implying that the...More Monday, June 3, 2024 When you go through difficulties (3) ‘Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.’ Ephesians 4:31 NKJV Here is something else Joseph knew that you need to know too—you can’t afford the excess baggage of bitterness. After many years, Joseph met his brothers again when they came to Egypt to purchase grain during a drought. As they entered Joseph’s presence and bowed before him, Egypt’s second-in-command, they were unable to recognise him. And when Joseph tried to tell them who he was, they were stunned and horrified. Here was the brother they had tried to kill years earlier, and now he...More Sunday, June 2, 2024 When you go through difficulties (2) ‘In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?’ Psalm 56:4 NKJV Here are two more things Joseph understood that you need to understand as well: 1) You can’t afford to give in to self-pity. Perhaps you’re going through a trial right now and you’re an innocent party – the victim of a situation you didn’t cause. Consider Joseph’s reaction when he was in a similar position. The first thing he didn’t do was succumb to self-pity. Why? Because it’s a major contributor to depression. Often when we experience a serious problem and our self-esteem is already at its...More Saturday, June 1, 2024 When you go through difficulties (1) ‘But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.’ Genesis 39:21 NKJV To reach his destiny, Joseph went through betrayal, temptation, slander, and wrongful imprisonment. But he came out on top. Here is what Joseph recognised that you also need to recognise: 1) God knows what you’re going through, and He cares. There is a key phrase found five different times in the story of Joseph: ‘But the LORD was with Joseph.’ Even when everything was going wrong, Joseph never doubted that God was with him. 2) You have been given...More Friday, May 31, 2024 To grow we must keep asking questions ‘But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing,...”’ Matthew 21:24 NKJV Jesus often answered a question with a question. When asked about paying taxes, He took a coin and said, ‘…“Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus answered and said to them, ”Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marvelled at Him’ (Mark 12:16-17 NKJV). It seems we’re afraid of asking questions, and afraid of answering them. But God would much rather receive a genuine question born of...More

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 The right balance ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth;...' John 1:14 RSV Some of us major in grace but neglect confronting people with the truth lest we offend them. Others of us major in truth but fail to show God’s grace to people. But Jesus was ‘full of grace and truth’, (see John 1:14) and that’s the balance you must strive for! A man with little interest in spiritual matters related casually to the Christian who lived next door. They talked over the back fence, borrowed each other’s tools, and stuff like that. Then sadly the nonbeliever’s wife was stricken with cancer...More Monday, May 27, 2024 Are you a true friend? ‘A friend loves at all times,...’ Proverbs 17:17 NKJV Two men were travelling down the road together when a bear appeared out of nowhere. Before the bear could spot them, one guy ran for a tree at the side of the road, climbed into its branches, and hid. The other man, who wasn’t as nimble as his tree-climbing companion, threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead. The bear came up, sniffed all around him, and appeared to whisper something in his ear. The man had always heard that bears won’t touch a dead body, so he lay perfectly still and held his breath. Sure enough, the bear took him for a...More Sunday, May 26, 2024 Don’t strike back ‘If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all.’ Romans 12:18 RSV The Bible says, ‘And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV). You say, ‘But what they did to me was unfair, unkind, and unwarranted.’ Exactly – and God feels the same way about some of the things you have done! Any attempt to avenge a wrong is a violation of God’s Word. That includes bad-mouthing them, giving them the silent treatment, making sarcastic remarks, refusing to help them, and resorting to physical violence or verbal...More Saturday, May 25, 2024 Train your brain ‘Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’ Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV Anytime you substitute positive thinking for faith in God and obedience to His Word, you’re on dangerous ground! But don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. As a believer, you’re supposed to train your brain to trust God and think positive thoughts that are founded on His Word. A study conducted in the Netherlands found that people who are optimistic have healthier hearts than those who are grumpy. Self-described optimists died of cardiovascular disease at a lower rate than those of pessimists. Dr Becca Levy of...More Friday, May 24, 2024 Stand on God’s Word (5) ‘My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your Word.’ Psalm 119:28 NKJV When you’re depressed. When depression is physiologically based, God can heal you through a miracle, the right medical treatment, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. But sometimes it goes deeper, and just like your body can suffer from ‘dis-ease’, so can your soul. Thankfully, God is the ultimate soul doctor! The psalmist said, ‘In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul’ (Psalm 138:3 NKJV). Instead of giving up and settling for the fact that depression runs in...More Thursday, May 23, 2024 Stand on God’s Word (4) ‘God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.’ 1 Corinthians 1:9 RSV When you feel inadequate for the job. Have you been given a job you don’t feel qualified to do? No problem – it’s an opportunity for God to show Himself strong on your behalf (see 2 Chronicles 16:9). Fix your mind on your all-powerful, always-present, loving heavenly Father. ‘Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken’ (Psalm 55:22 NIV). Instead of fearing the challenge, start feeding your faith. ‘So then faith comes by hearing,...More Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Stand on God’s Word (3) ‘Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.’ Proverbs 27:20 NKJV When you’re controlled by materialism. The flawed philosophy behind materialism is ‘more, more, more!’ And it’s the result of ‘eye trouble’. The Bible says, ‘The eyes of man are never satisfied.’ (see Proverbs 27:20) It’s okay to want a nice home, a reliable car, and financial security. God will provide those things when you’re a good steward of what He has already entrusted you with. But when you want more than you need or more than what’s required to fulfil His will, the Bible calls it...More Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Stand on God’s Word (2) ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.’ James 1:5 NIV When you need to pass a difficult test or exam. The fear of failing can cause your brain to freeze just when you need your thoughts to flow freely. When you know you have done your best to study the material and prepare yourself, trust God with the outcome and stand on His Word: ‘Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the...More Monday, May 20, 2024 Stand on God’s Word (1) ‘I have blotted out … your transgressions, and … your sins. …’ Isaiah 44:22 NKJV When you have a hard time forgiving yourself. There is only one unpardonable sin named in the Bible (see Luke 12:10). And as a believer, you probably haven’t committed it, so God will forgive you for everything else. However, when God says He forgives you and you refuse to forgive yourself, it’s like opting to stay in prison after the judge has expunged your record and set you free. And worse, you’re committing the sin of pride. How come? Because when God forgives you, and you refuse to forgive yourself, you’re...More Sunday, May 19, 2024 Your Boaz season ‘She came and has continued from morning until now.’ Ruth 2:7 NKJV After ten years of sorrow and hardship in which she lost her husband and her support system, God introduced Ruth to her new husband, Boaz. Where? In the field where she worked each day. Who was Boaz? The owner of the field. One of the things that attracted Boaz to Ruth was her work ethic. The servant in charge of his reapers told him, ‘… she came and has continued from morning until now, …’ (Ruth 2:7 NKJV) As a result, she ended up married to the boss. That’s why the Bible has so much to say about the difference between...More Saturday, May 18, 2024 You can rise above worry (2) ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;’ Proverbs 3:5 CSB When you honestly evaluate your worries, you will find you are doing these: 1) Forgetting that God is your friend. The psalmist said, ‘The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.’ (Psalm 25:14 RSV). Friendship with God is built by sharing your life’s experiences with Him – every activity, every conversation, every problem, and every thought. When you don’t, you end up unaware of His presence, oblivious to His voice, resistant to His...More Friday, May 17, 2024 You can rise above worry (1) ‘But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.’ Matthew 6:33 RSV British missionary Gladys Aylward said, ‘The eagle that soars in the upper air does not worry itself how it is to cross rivers.’ You can’t escape worry; it will come at you from different directions and in different forms. But like the eagle, you can rise above it. Jesus said: ‘“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at...More Thursday, May 16, 2024 Are you hooked on pornography? ‘I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.’ Job 31:1 NIV There are certain doors in life that once opened are hard to close – pornography is one of them. And like any addict, once you’re hooked, you need increasing doses to satisfy yourself until finally, you end up shocked and shamed by the depths to which you have sunk. And statistically speaking, the problem is exactly the same in the church as it is in society. Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Deliver us from evil,’ (see Matthew 6:9-15), and some of that evil is now brought into our homes through television and the...More Wednesday, May 15, 2024 Raising great kids in a troubled world (5) ‘So that they won't become discouraged.’ Colossians 3:21 CSB Embittered children ultimately become discouraged. A discouraged child is less hopeful, less enthusiastic, lacking in determination, and easily led astray. By destroying a child’s hope, you’re undermining their God-given temperament. Children are born with optimism, inspiration, anticipation, and possibilities. Without hope, there is nothing to inspire them. Hopelessness brings depression and darkness of heart and soul. When you embitter the children in your care, you undermine their hope. When you demoralise them, you destroy their confidence,...More Tuesday, May 14, 2024 Raising great kids in a troubled world (4) ‘Fathers, do not exasperate your children,...’ Colossians 3:21 CSB Another point of parental confusion is this: Bitter versus better. What is bitterness? It is strong resentment or cynicism. How do parents create bitterness in their children? Consider the following triggers: a) Inconsistency. This happens when you are autocratic and authoritarian one day and permissive the next. What brought a strong rebuke today brings a smile of leniency tomorrow. So, your child never knows what to expect. b) Moodiness. Today you’re fun and enjoyable to be with; tomorrow you’re irritable...More Monday, May 13, 2024 Raising great kids in a troubled world (3) ‘Do not withhold discipline from a child.’ Proverbs 23:13 NIV Here are some more areas where parents are often confused. Discipline versus punishment. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.’ (Proverbs 22:15 NASB20). Notice God’s choice of words: ‘the rod of discipline’ not the ‘rod of punishment’. Discipline and correction are about teaching and learning; punishment is about making a child suffer for their behaviour. Children need discipline, not punishment, which is often administered by a frustrated and angry parent. ‘Do...More Sunday, May 12, 2024 Raising great kids in a troubled world (2) ‘Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,...’ Psalm 127:3 NKJV Over the next few days, let’s look at some practical areas where parents are often confused. (If you’re not a parent, why not use these points to help you pray for parents you know.) Guidance versus criticism. If you have a placid, agreeable, and compliant child who enjoys school, homework, and doing household chores, bringing ‘… them up in the training and instruction of the Lord’ will be a joy! (Ephesians 6:4 NIV). Many of us, however, are given assertive, strong-willed kids with their own agendas. These kids know what...More Saturday, May 11, 2024 Raising great kids in a troubled world (1) ‘Train up a child in the way he should go,...’ Proverbs 22:6 NKJV If you’re a parent, do you ever wish for a parenting do-over – a second chance to raise your kids? With hindsight and insight, you think you would do it right next time! Parenting is both rewarding and guilt inducing. It’s rewarding because we love our children and they bring us joy. It’s guilt inducing because we blame ourselves for their shortcomings and misfortunes. ‘Where did I go wrong as a parent?’ There is no perfect parent, and there is no universal blueprint because every child is born unique. Psychologists have...More Friday, May 10, 2024 Nothing is too small for God ‘He cut off a stick, and threw it in there, and made the iron float.’ 2 Kings 6:6 RSV Second Kings 6 tells of a prophet chopping trees near a river when his iron axe head falls in. He said to Elisha: ‘… “Alas, my master! It was borrowed”’ (2 Kings 6:5 NKJV). He uses the past tense. As far as he is concerned, this axe head is gone forever. He has no expectation whatsoever that the axe head will be retrieved. He shows Elisha where he lost it. Elisha cuts a stick and flings it into the water, and something happens that most likely never happened before or since. ‘… he cut off a stick, and threw it...More Thursday, May 9, 2024 The right attitude (2) ‘All things are possible to him who believes.’ Mark 9:23 NKJV Demosthenes, who was reputed to be the greatest orator in ancient Greece, had a serious speech impediment. Legend has it that he overcame it by reciting verses with pebbles in his mouth and speaking above the roar of the waves at the seashore. As a prisoner in the Wartburg castle, German priest, Martin Luther made use of his time by translating the New Testament into German. Beethoven wrote his greatest symphonic masterpieces after losing his hearing. John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress when he was in prison. Daniel Defoe also wrote in...More Wednesday, May 8, 2024 The right attitude (1) ‘Let each esteem others better than himself.’ Philippians 2:3 NKJV Observe: 1) The right attitude makes a difference in your relationships. Former US President Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘The most important single ingredient in the formula for success is knowing how to get along with people.’ And Paul writes: ‘Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others’ (Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV). If your track record with people isn’t...More Tuesday, May 7, 2024 Moving from failure to success (2) ‘Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.’ Job 8:7 NKJV It’s easier to recognise success looking back than it is looking forward. For some of us, it can be many years before we recognise our success, celebrate it, and feel secure in it. That’s because we lack a proper perspective. At its widest point, the Mississippi River requires a three-kilometre-wide steel span bridge to get across; while at its source, the stream is so small you can jump over it. But it’s still the same river. Most things start small! Have you ever heard the Serenity Prayer? It goes like this:...More Monday, May 6, 2024 Moving from failure to success (1) ‘This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands,...’ 1 Samuel 17:46 NIV Everyone who ever achieved anything significant had to beat the odds. The problem for most of us isn’t the odds; it’s that we sell ourselves short. As American politician Richard H. Headlee observed, ‘Most people think too small, aim too low, and quit too soon.’ The odds in favour of David defeating Goliath weren’t good. Unless you factor faith in God into the equation, which David did. Listen to his words: ‘… I’ll strike you down and cut off your head …’ (1 Samuel 17:46 NIV). Clearly, David was aiming...More Sunday, May 5, 2024 Honour God, and He will honour you ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego...’ Daniel 3:28 NIV There comes a time when we have to face our fears and take a stand for what we know is right. That’s what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. They risked their lives when they refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. They could have rationalised, ‘I’ll bow on the outside, but not on the inside,’ or ‘I’ll just pretend the idol is Jehovah.’ But they took a stand for what is right, and it set the stage for miracles. ‘Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren't there...More Saturday, May 4, 2024 Believe God for greater things ‘He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.’ Philippians 1:6 NIV Many of us have a God-sized dream within us, but we’re so afraid of failing we never even try. We can’t imagine how it could possibly happen. So, we don’t act on it. Here is a challenge: don’t worry about the outcome. That isn’t your responsibility. ‘… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 1:6 NIV) You simply need to act on it. It doesn’t have to be something big; in fact, it will probably be something small....More Friday, May 3, 2024 Don’t compete, and don’t compare ‘He alone decides which gift each person should have.’ 1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT In Scripture, the church is never described as a democracy. Certainly, every person deserves equal treatment in terms of kindness, love, and respect; but as our God-given assignments differ, so do our gifts. ‘It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have’ (1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT). Pay close attention to the words ‘He alone decides.’ We all want to succeed in life. But we also need to recognise that just as our talents differ, so do our unique destinies....More Thursday, May 2, 2024 Come out of that corner ‘You shall not wholly reap the corners of your field...’ Leviticus 23:22 NKJV Under Old Testament law, God commanded Jewish farmers: ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: …’ (Leviticus 23:22 NKJV). Ruth was working in an obscure corner of a field owned by a wealthy man named Boaz, who is a beautiful type of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. When Boaz saw Ruth, he called her out of the corner and into the midst of the harvest field. And...More Wednesday, May 1, 2024 Going forward or staying in your comfort zone ‘Entreat me not to leave you … For wherever you go, I will go; …’ Ruth 1:16 NKJV The book of Ruth illustrates the difference between those who step out in faith and take risks, and those who give in to fear, play it safe, and miss God’s best for them. The story begins with Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his two sons moving to the country of Moab. ‘…there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons’ (Ruth 1:1 NKJV). Things went well for a while, then tragedy struck. First Elimelech died, and she was left with...More Tuesday, April 30, 2024 Live in the present moment ‘This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ Psalm 118:24 NKJV God wants us to appreciate the season we are in; to live in the present moment. Some people live only for the future. ‘I’ll be happy when …’ Other people live in the past. Solomon addresses them: ‘Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this’ (Ecclesiastes 7:10 NKJV). The New Yorker magazine once had a cartoon in which two monks in robes and shaved heads were sitting side by side, cross-legged on the floor. The younger one, with a quizzical look on...More Monday, April 29, 2024 To be conformed is to be creative ‘To be conformed to the image of His Son...’ Romans 8:29 NKJV Since God is both our Creator and our Redeemer, we are called to be ‘conformed to His image’ in both senses. So, to become more like the Creator is to become more creative. When we apply our sanctified imagination to serve His objectives, we are doing what God does best and loves most. And our heavenly Father takes deep pride and joy in it. Just as we celebrate creativity in our kids, so God celebrates creativity in us. Have you ever noticed how often Psalms tell us to sing a new song? The creative command is repeated no fewer than half a dozen...More Sunday, April 28, 2024 Be patient, God is at work ‘Wait for the LORD and keep his way...’ Psalm 37:34 CSB When things don’t happen as quickly as we want them to, we can become anxious, frustrated, irritable, and negative. And if you’re a ‘make it happen’ person, you can rush ahead of God and get into trouble. ‘A person's steps are established by the LORD, and he takes pleasure in his way.’ (Psalm 37:23 CSB). Think about it: if you’re following the Lord, you can’t go faster than the One who is leading. So, just take the next step and trust Him to work things out for you. God knows what you don’t know. At best, you are working with...More Saturday, April 27, 2024 Don’t be so controlling! ‘In honour giving preference to one another.’ Romans 12:10 NKJV Do you get upset when you cannot control others? Or moody and irritated when people don’t do what you want? Do you react when your mistakes are pointed out? Or try to force people to comply with your demands? Do you exaggerate your pain, sickness, or need in order to gain attention or sympathy? Or criticise the opinions and choices of others and position yourself as superior? Do you become angry and abusive when someone disagrees with you or challenges your authority? Are you reluctant to compliment others but quick to try and fix something you...More Friday, April 26, 2024 Take time to wonder and worship ‘Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good...’ Genesis 1:31 NKJV The first reaction recorded in Scripture is God’s reaction to His own creation. He stepped back at the end of each day, looked at what He had made, and said, ‘It’s good.’ Then, on the sixth day, when creation was complete, He said, ‘It’s very good.’ This is why we feel so spiritual when we watch an ocean sunset or the towering summit of a mountain. Scottish historian Thomas Carlyle said, ‘Worship is transcendent wonder. Wonder for which there is no limit or measure; that is worship.’ It’s...More Thursday, April 25, 2024 Be a disciple of Jesus ‘The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.’ Acts 11:26 NKJV Today is ANZAC Day. It’s a day to commemorate the sacrifices made by Australian and New Zealand troops in World War I in 1915 on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. The British led a campaign aimed to secure a sea route to Russia by capturing Constantinople, now known as Istanbul. However, the mission faced immense challenges, leading to heavy casualties on both sides. Sacrificing your life for a cause is incredibly honourable. When you think of the sacrifice Jesus made for us so we could have eternal life, would you not gladly lay down...More Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Make an impact ‘Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus...’ Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV The men and women who made the greatest impact on the world were those who were totally focused and sold out to their vision. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, once said, ‘If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire.’ Jonathan Edwards, whose ministry sparked the Great Awakening in America, made this his life’s motto: ‘Resolution One: I...More Tuesday, April 23, 2024 How to deal with difficult people ‘If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.’ Matthew 5:41 NIV Jesus said, ‘If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.’ (Matthew 5:41 NIV) Roman soldiers were permitted to force a Jew to carry a burden a mile for them. They treated Jews as tools to be used as required. So, what do you do in that kind of situation? Jesus invites us to take the high road. A Roman soldier could be a young boy who was probably poor himself. All he receives is local resentment. So, you finish the mile and say, ‘You look tired. Can I help you some more? Can I carry it for you another mile?’...More Monday, April 22, 2024 God knows what’s best for you ‘Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.’ Proverbs 19:21 NIV We’ve all heard the saying, , ‘The devil is in the details.’ But for a redeemed child of God, He is in the details! When you set your heart on something, and it doesn’t happen, it’s only human to experience disappointment. At such moments, here is what you need to keep in mind: 1) At best, you’re always working with limited information. You may know the end result you desire, but God knows what’s best for you, and He plans accordingly. ‘I am God … declaring the end from the...More Sunday, April 21, 2024 Choosing a leader ‘Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.’ Matthew 15:14 NIV There are plenty of good leaders around—don’t be afraid to follow them. But what about the ‘blind guides’ that Jesus talks about? Here are some signs to help you identify and avoid them: 1) Inflexibility. True leaders have a teachable spirit and a servant’s heart. They rejoice in your growth and aren’t threatened by your development. They won’t try to ‘keep you in the nest’ when it’s clear that you’re ready to fly. 2) Elitism. Look out for the...More Saturday, April 20, 2024 Think before you speak! ‘If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.’ James 3:2 CSB The Bible has a lot to say about the danger of our words. James devotes an entire chapter to this subject: ‘For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.’ (James 3:2 CSB) Now, there is an aspect of self-control to consider! The Greek sage Publius said, ‘I have often regretted my speech, but never my silence.’ And novelist William Edward Norris wrote, ‘If your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with...More Friday, April 19, 2024 Finding self-worth ‘But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.’ Matthew 6:33 NASB20 When you read God’s Word, you discover how He feels about you. As a result, your memories begin to heal, your self-worth is restored, and you stop living with a devalued self-image. When that happens, you no longer believe that ‘anybody’s company is preferable to my own’. In a survey of supposedly happy couples, over 50 per cent said they wouldn’t marry the same person again. Why? Because the answer to loneliness isn’t people; it’s purpose! The apostle John was a...More Thursday, April 18, 2024 Use the gift God gave you ‘God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.’ 1 Corinthians 12:18 NKJV Have you ever opened a Christmas present only to be disappointed at the one you were given? You look around and see that others received a nicer present than yours. You noticed that some even received two great presents, which puts a damper on your Christmas experience. Maybe someone noticed your disappointment and offered to swap your present for something you like better. The same thing happens in the Body of Christ. We may be unhappy at the gift we’ve received from God and envious of the gifts...More Wednesday, April 17, 2024 You need God’s help ‘Without Me you can do nothing.’ John 15:5 NKJV Self-help books and motivational speakers are like cheerleaders standing on the sidelines shouting, ‘You can do it!’ They can be helpful, but if the ‘you can do it’ philosophy always held true, we wouldn’t need God. Paul understood this. That’s why he wrote, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). Discovering the will of God requires faith for the impossible and a childlike dependence on Him. The Bible is full of men and women who discovered their destiny in the perfect will of God by doing things that...More Tuesday, April 16, 2024 Your limited window of opportunity ‘Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.’ Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV Let’s read what God said to the parents who entered the promised land: ‘”Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, …’ (Deuteronomy 4:9 NKJV). Notice the progression here. First, ‘take heed to yourself’. Next, ‘teach them to your children’. Your ability to influence and mould the children you care for is based on your credibility with...More Monday, April 15, 2024 Give children convictions to live by ‘These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children...’ Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV If you’re a parent, are you trying to keep your children under lock and key in order to keep them out of trouble? Or if you’re a teacher or Sunday school leader, do you try to impose strict rules? It won’t work. You’re not keeping them out of trouble; you’re simply postponing it. Things like curfews, dress codes, internet use, and checking up on their friends are part of good parenting and good teaching. But when you are not around to guide them, they need sound principles to...More Sunday, April 14, 2024 Your harvest is on the way ‘The seed should sprout and grow, He himself does not know how.’ Mark 4:27 NKJV Have you sown a ‘seed’ of faith, and now you’re wondering when you will reap the ‘harvest’ God promised in His Word? If so, read on: ‘And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, “and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. “For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. “But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the...More Saturday, April 13, 2024 Stop and ask for directions ‘There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.’ Proverbs 14:12 NIV You can be sincere in your intentions – but sincerely wrong. The Bible says the rain falls on ‘… the just and the unjust alike’ (Matthew 5:45 NLT). The law of cause and effect applies to everybody, and all your good intentions won’t bring you to the right destination if you’re on the wrong road. Think about it like this: maybe you have considered investing in a particular company. You do the research, talk to the experts, and things look good. So, you proceed on the assumption that it’s a sound...More Friday, April 12, 2024 Your personal guide ‘The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.’ Psalm 23:1 NKJV It’s easy to say, ‘The Lord is my shepherd,’ but how can you tell if it’s real for you or if you’re just saying the words? Here is a simple test: when you need help, who do you turn to first? Most people go to God only after they have tried everything else. And when nothing else is working, then they try praying. Think about your last crisis. Whatever or whoever you turned to first for help, that’s your shepherd. A man on a trip to the African rainforests was following a guide. As they pushed deeper into the jungle, the guide with his...More Thursday, April 11, 2024 The Holy Spirit prays through you ‘The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us...’ Romans 8:26 NKJV Life can wear you down. You can get to the place where your anxiety runs so deep or your stress levels increase so high that you can’t think clearly. The problem or pain you’re experiencing is so overwhelming that you can’t put it into words. Good news: that’s when the Holy Spirit living within you prays for you and through you. As you bring your burden to the Lord and kneel in His presence, a wonderful thing happens. The Bible says, ‘Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we...More Wednesday, April 10, 2024 Having job security (4) ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ Philippians 4:13 NKJV Losing your job can be devastating. This is when you must keep the right perspective. Having less doesn’t make you a lesser person. God still values you, and you must keep valuing yourself. The Christian life is one of trial and triumph. Paul writes: ‘I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength’ (Philippians 4:12-13 NLT). What...More Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Having job security (3) ‘With favour You will surround him as with a shield.’ Psalm 5:12 NKJV To have job security you should: 1) Increase your visibility in your industry. Establish contacts and relationships with others outside your company by attending local industry gatherings wherever possible. Your goal should not merely be to know enough to get by but to develop your skills so that you will get noticed and get ahead. When the time is right, and you’re ready, God will open doors for you. ‘For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favour, You will surround him as with a shield’ (Psalm 5:12...More Monday, April 8, 2024 Having job security (2) ‘Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity...’ Proverbs 21:5 NLT To have job security you should: 1) Endeavour to be as indispensable as possible. ‘Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. Wealth created by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist and a deadly trap.’ (Proverbs 21:5-6 NLT). Strive for integrity and excellence in your work, while learning as much as possible about procedures and processes beyond your area of responsibility. Be willing to help others – but not at the expense of your own effectiveness. 2) If the fear of losing...More Sunday, April 7, 2024 Having job security (1) ‘Those who work their land will have abundant food...’ Proverbs 12:11 NIV God created the Garden of Eden, then He created Adam, and then He told Adam that his job was to take care of it. Why? Because work gives dignity and meaning to our lives. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Those who work their land …will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense’ (Proverbs 12:11 NIV). For the next few days, let’s talk about how to have job security. Negative world events can have a devastating impact on the economy, which in turn affects employment security. Accidents or illnesses can...More Saturday, April 6, 2024 Show grace under fire ‘He gives greater grace. …’ James 4:6 CSB Here are three important principles you need to keep in mind when conflict arises: 1) Deal with the issue without attacking the person. Some of the most vicious personal attacks have been waged over religion. What a shame! Some of us would rather lose the relationship than lose the argument. 2) Sometimes it’s best to go separate ways. When Paul and Barnabas argued over whether or not John Mark should travel with them on their next missionary journey, ‘They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company …’ (Acts 15:39 CSB). But...More Friday, April 5, 2024 Praying without saying a word ‘For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.’ Matthew 6:32 NKJV Jesus said, ‘”But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). You ask, ‘When I think about God, is that the same as praying?’ It can be. We’re all familiar with the power of unspoken communication. Many of us grew up with parents who didn’t have to say a thing to make their will known. It may have been a certain look in their eye or some other unspoken signal. But we knew exactly what was being communicated and how we were expected to...More Thursday, April 4, 2024 Get out of debt and stay out of debt! ‘The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.’ Proverbs 22:7 NIV It’s not by accident that these two Scriptures are back-to-back: ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.’ (Proverbs 22:6-7 NKJV). Your child’s college university education, an affordable home, and a reliable car are okay to borrow money for. Otherwise, unless you can pay for something – learn to wait! Jesus said, ‘… “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and...More Wednesday, April 3, 2024 God will speak to you – if you listen ‘I can do nothing on My own. …I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent me.’ John 5:30 NASB20 Jesus did only those things placed in His mind by His Father. And He wants you to learn to live that way too. You ask, ‘Is such a life possible?’ Yes, it’s not only possible, it’s essential to fulfilling God’s will for your life. The Bible says that Mary took time to listen to Jesus, but her sister Martha didn’t because she was too busy ‘serving’ (see Luke 10:40). You can get so busy serving the Lord that you lose your sensitivity to His voice and end up preoccupied with secondary...More Tuesday, April 2, 2024 To know God, examine what He has made ‘God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made...’ Romans 1:20 NIV The New Testament Greek word translated as ‘disciple’ means ‘learner’. By definition, a disciple is someone who never ceases to learn. He or she makes the most of the hundred billion brain cells God has loaned to them. They keep asking and seeking and knocking (see Matthew 7:7). Famous artist, Leonardo da Vinci, carried a notebook wherever he went. Some have estimated that he left fourteen thousand pages of notes to painter Francesco Melzi in his...More Monday, April 1, 2024 Be interested in everything God does ‘It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.’ Proverbs 25:2 NKJV Anything that reveals something about our Creator is something we ought to be interested in. Scripture is in a classification all by itself as God’s written revelation. But mathematics discloses a distinctive dimension of God’s personality too. Along with art, and science. The Bible says: ‘And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. … He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. Also,...More Sunday, March 31, 2024 Evidence of Christ’s resurrection (3) – Easter Sunday ‘This story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.’ Matthew 28:15 NIV Here are two more pieces of evidence of Christ’s resurrection: 1) You would be hard-pressed to find a time in recorded history when someone willingly gave up their life for what they knew to be a lie. American author Paul E. Little said, ‘Men will die for what they believe to be true, though it may actually be false. They do not, however, die for what they know is a lie.’ The fact that those early disciples were willing to endure such suffering makes the foundations of Christianity...More

Friday, March 29, 2024 Evidence of Christ’s resurrection (1) – Good Friday ‘He was raised on the third day.’ 1 Corinthians 15:4 NIV Trust the fact that Jesus rose from the dead! Here are two evidences of it: 1) The Lord’s Day. For thousands of years, the Hebrew people had maintained their Sabbath doctrine. Then later, a group of early Christians who were Jews changed the day of worship from the seventh day to the first day! What could account for their deserting a tradition to which they had held so steadfastly? The resurrection of Christ, which happened on the first day of the week, His appearance to the disciples on the first day of the week, and the...More Thursday, March 28, 2024 Work on growing closer ‘Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth.’ Proverbs 5:18 NKJV The more history you have with your spouse, the more joy and pain you have experienced. You’re closer at times than others as the circumstances of life rise and fall. Yet if you did due diligence at the onset of the relationship, were clear about what you desired in a partner, and honestly evaluated who that person is, what will keep your union going forward is remembering what brought the two of you together in the first place. What you initially enjoyed and esteemed about this person probably hasn’t changed. But...More Wednesday, March 27, 2024 Your secret place ‘When you pray, go into your room.’ Matthew 6:6 NIV Jesus said, ‘But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you’ (Matthew 6:6 NIV). The Christian life could be compared to the Old Testament tabernacle, which was divided into three compartments. There was an outer court to which everyone had access. And you, too, have an outer court; the place you go to work, shop, and play. It represents your outward appearance or public persona, the part of you everyone sees. The Tabernacle also had...More Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Walking with God ‘Enoch walked with God.’ Genesis 5:24 KJV Did the people in Scripture who ‘walked with God’ ever stumble? They did. Did they get off track sometimes? Yes. But when their feet hit the floor every morning, their commitment was to walk with God throughout the day. They drew on His strength, endeavoured to do His will, and aimed towards the goal that He had set for them. Paul writes, ‘I … beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called …’ (Ephesians 4:1 NKJV). That means you must know the direction God is leading you in and stay in step with Him. When He acts – you act. When He...More Monday, March 25, 2024 You’re growing in grace ‘Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.’ 2 Peter 3:18 NIV When Peter exercised enough faith to get out of the boat and walk on water, he sank and looked worse than any of the other disciples. When he tried to defend Jesus, he cut off a man’s ear. When he promised to be loyal, he fell flat on his face. When he tried to advise Jesus, he was the devil’s advocate (see Matthew 16:22-23). Eventually, he became a leader in the church—but he got worse before he got better. And his behaviour didn’t surprise or discourage Jesus one bit. He will never stop helping a follower of His who is sincerely seeking...More Sunday, March 24, 2024 Don’t shout about it ‘Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them...’ Matthew 6:1 CSB Jesus said: ‘“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don't sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do … to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you give to the poor, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.’...More Saturday, March 23, 2024 Prophecy fulfilled ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Matthew 16:16 NKJV One of the most convincing proofs that the Bible is truly the Word of God lies in the number of prophecies fulfilled during the life of Christ. Daniel prophesied the coming of the one and only Jewish Messiah prior to the temple’s demise. The Old Testament prophets declared He would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2) to a virgin (see Isaiah 7:14), be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (see Zechariah 11:12-13), die by crucifixion (see Psalm 22), and be buried in a rich man’s tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). Jesus Himself predicted He would be...More Friday, March 22, 2024 How to enrich and strengthen your relationships ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is...’ Galatians 5:22 NKJV You can enrich and strengthen any relationship by developing and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible speaks about being filled with the Spirit (see Ephesians 5:18) and walking in the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16). To be ‘filled’ with God’s Spirit means you’re a receptacle, whereas ‘walking’ in the Spirit means you’re a dispenser – a vessel God can fill and pour out into the lives of others. ‘What’s this fruit you’re talking about?’ you ask. The Bible describes it this way: ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,...More Thursday, March 21, 2024 God and work ‘They go from strength to strength.’ Psalm 84:7 NIV The phrase ‘discover your strengths’ was made famous by researcher Marcus Buckingham in what’s referred to as the ‘Strengths Movement’. It calls us to stop focusing on our weaknesses and name and develop our strengths – which reflects God’s design. God didn’t say, ‘Moses, your craftsmanship skills are weak. Let’s have you stop leading these people for a while and try to become more like Bezalel’ (see Exodus 31:1-5). The Bible speaks of going ‘from strength to strength’. And strength is an activity that, when you engage in it, makes...More Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Set other things aside and serve ‘Jesus … poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet …’ John 13:3-5 NKJV When it came to serving others, Jesus went first. He ‘… rose from supper and… laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He… poured water into a basin and… began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. … Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”’ (John 13:4-6 NKJV). Try to imagine God incarnate with an apron on, kneeling to wash the feet of those who were unworthy. The Bible says, ‘Jesus … laid aside His...More Tuesday, March 19, 2024 Learning to listen to God (4) ‘My immediate response was not to consult any human being.’ Galatians 1:16 NIV God’s direction will often be followed by a season of preparation. And the length of that season is determined by the size of your assignment. So when God speaks to you, it’s not always wise to rush out and tell people. Who wouldn’t want to talk about the amazing experience Paul had with Christ on the Damascus road? And there would be a right time for Paul to do that – but not yet. So don’t move until God gives you the green light. Why? Two reasons: 1) You need time, maturing, and equipping so that...More Monday, March 18, 2024 Learning to listen to God (3) ‘For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know...’ 1 John 2:27 NLT When you pray diligently and believe you have heard from God, but then you start asking other people what they think, you’re honouring their opinions above God’s. That kind of mindset will prevent you from developing a relationship where you constantly hear from Him. You need to trust Him. If you have made bad decisions in the past, this can be difficult. But you must learn to listen to God without constantly needing reassurance from others. The Bible says: ‘But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you...More Sunday, March 17, 2024 Learning to listen to God (2) ‘If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;...’ Isaiah 1:19 ESV People think they can’t hear from God when, in reality, there are things they already know He wants them to respond to, and so far, they haven’t done it. The quicker you do whatever the Lord has already told you to do, the sooner He will reveal the next step to you. His promise is, ‘If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;’ (Isaiah 1:19 ESV). Hearing from God is something you only develop with practice – especially if you’re a talker! That’s why He says, ‘Be still, and know that...More Saturday, March 16, 2024 Learning to listen to God (1) ‘He, the Spirit of truth...will tell you things to come.’ John 16:13 NKJV Jesus told His disciples, ‘”However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own [authority], but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”’ (John 16:12-13 NKJV). Jesus spoke these words to men He had spent the previous three years with. Now, wouldn’t you think if Jesus was with us in person, day and night for three years, we would have learned all there is to know? Not so. In fact, Jesus tells us to stay tuned because He always has...More Friday, March 15, 2024 Don’t give up! ‘Let’s not get tired of doing what is good.’ Galatians 6:9 NLT Paul writes, ‘Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up’ (Galatians 6:9 NLT). Look at Job the patriarch: attending the funerals of his ten children, losing his health and wealth in a single day, and listening to a wife with a tongue sharp enough to cut through steel. Yet he didn’t give up. Learn from him! ‘You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord’ (James 5:11 NKJV). Job stayed focused on the end goal and...More Thursday, March 14, 2024 Take control of the small things ‘Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself...’ Daniel 1:8 NKJV Can you imagine being uprooted from your home and taken prisoner to a hostile country? It happened to Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar conquered his homeland and carried him off to slavery in Babylon. He lost his house, his job, his freedom, his culture, his friends, and his status as a member of Israel’s nobility. He had to learn to speak a foreign language and live in a place where he didn’t want to be. If you had been Daniel, wouldn’t you have been tempted to focus on the things you couldn’t control, like blaming exile...More Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Four principles for victorious living ‘Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.’ 1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV Jesus said: ‘”Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”’ (Matthew 5:11-12 ESV). If you’re thin-skinned, you will have a rough time in life because you will be an easy target for the devil. Paul endured desertion by his friends, ugly letters from the Corinthians, disappointment with the Galatians, mistreatment in...More Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Put your heart into your part ‘The whole body … builds itself up … as each part does its work.’ Ephesians 4:16 NIV You have probably heard that unless you’re the lead dog, the view seldom changes. The problem is, however, not everybody can be the leading man or woman. And it’s better to be a working actor than an out-of-work star; at least you get to be in the play! Besides, most great achievers, if they are honest, will tell you they couldn’t have done it alone; they needed the contributions of each member of the team. So if God has placed you in a supporting role today, accept it without complaining. Do your part to...More Monday, March 11, 2024 Turning two families into one ‘“Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”’ Genesis 33:5 NKJV Due to the divorce rate today, both inside the church and outside, couples are falling in love and facing the challenge of blending two families into one. Here are some of those challenges: visiting rights, custodial care, court intervention, and ex-in-law involvement. Add to that a mountain of paperwork and legal specifications. It’s an incredibly stressful time for all involved, especially children, who may be struggling to express their feelings. So, it’s not enough to bring them...More Sunday, March 10, 2024 Take it easy, Mum ‘Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought...’ Romans 12:3 NIV An old, tired-looking dog wandered into a woman’s garden. She could tell from looking at him that he had a good home. He followed her inside, down the hall, and promptly fell asleep. Two hours later, he went to the door, and she let him out. The next day, he came back, resumed his position, and napped for a couple of hours. This went on for a week. Curious, the woman pinned this note to his collar: ‘Every afternoon, your dog comes to my house for a nap.’ The next day, the dog showed up with a note that read: ‘He lives at home with...More Saturday, March 9, 2024 The seven-day challenge ‘Do everything without grumbling.’ Philippians 2:14 NIV Some cancers, like skin cancer, are more obvious, and you can remove them. Then there is the kind that grows undetected and destroys your body. Complaining is like that; it impacts your health and sabotages your success. Paul says, ‘Do everything without grumbling or arguing.’ (Philippians 2:14 NIV) Christian Counsellor, Dr Ann Shorb, writes: ‘If you find yourself … feeling negative and down … listen to what’s being said around you. Is there a lot of grumbling and complaining? Are the people you spend time with constantly expressing...More Friday, March 8, 2024 Live the living Word ‘I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.’ Psalm 119:100 ESV If someone opened your Bible, would there be any evidence that it is being read daily? Would they find notes on the margins, highlighted text, dog ears or markers on your favourite pages? If someone looked on your social media accounts, would they find evidence that you’re a Christian? Do people at your workplace or in the community know you’re a Christian? How do you behave behind closed doors at home towards your family? It’s not enough to read God’s Word daily; you must practise its principles consistently. The...More Thursday, March 7, 2024 Do the Word ‘Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.’ James 1:22 NIV A pastor writes: ‘The Latin word for ‘listen’ is where we get our word audit. When you audit a class, you take in lots of information, but you don’t do anything with it. You don’t do the homework, or if you do, you don’t turn it in to get it graded. You don’t take the tests. And you don’t get any credit, either. The same is true in our spiritual lives. You don’t get credit for auditing Scripture. You’ve got to put it into practice. Every word of Scripture must be translated via...More Wednesday, March 6, 2024 Pull down those strongholds! ‘The weapons of our warfare are … mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.’ 2 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV When the Bible speaks of a stronghold, it’s referring to an area in your life that’s controlled by wrong thinking. And that stronghold will attract people who think the same way and feed off it. But there is good news. Not only will God reveal to you the strongholds in your life, He will also show you the experiences that caused them. Some of us worry obsessively about money because we grew up in hard times. As a result, we’re inclined to depend more on ourselves than on God. When it comes to...More Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Are you tired of living in defeat? ‘You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.’ John 15:3 NKJV God’s Word is like a prescription from your doctor. You don’t have to understand how the medication works – you just have to faithfully keep taking it. Something amazing happens when you feed regularly on God’s Word. Temptation begins to lose power, and overcoming strength begins to replace it. Each time a Scripture opens up and becomes real to you, your desire for God’s Word increases. But that means reading your Bible even when you don’t feel like it, or think you don’t have time to do it, or you don’t seem...More Monday, March 4, 2024 Don’t doubt your salvation ‘That you may know that you have eternal life.’ 1 John 5:13 NIV You would be surprised how many people harbour doubts about their salvation. So, let’s open God’s Word and settle the issue once and for all: ‘… God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life … I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life’ (1 John 5:11-13 NIV). Are you trusting Christ to save you instead of depending on your own good works? Then you’re saved! Jesus said, ‘He who believes in Me has everlasting life’...More Sunday, March 3, 2024 What you will do in heaven ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.’ Revelation 21:1 CSB Perhaps the reason some people are not as excited about heaven as they should be is because they have no idea what to expect heaven to be like. One thing we can look forward to is finally getting to meet Jesus face-to-face and being able to worship Him freely without persecution. How amazing will that be! But worshipping Him will not just consist of singing songs of worship forevermore. Think about it. When the singing and prayers in the average Sunday morning service last longer than fifteen minutes, many get bored. We will also be worshipping God...More Saturday, March 2, 2024 Is your business struggling? ‘God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.’ Psalm 46:1 NLT When your business is failing, you can lose your sense of security, your peace of mind, and your ability to sleep. It even affects your family. If that’s where you are today, read these words: ‘God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.’ Clear your mind for a moment and think about this: everything you have belongs to God, including your business, right? He is the owner, and you’re the manager. So when trouble comes, you have the right (and the responsibility) to go to Him for help...More Friday, March 1, 2024 Respond with love ‘Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.’ 1 Peter 3:9 NIV Some of the negative people in your life lack intimate relationships. So, they keep others at arm’s length, rarely share their feelings, and are uncomfortable with those who do. They find it easier to condemn than to accept. Their hard-and-fast views make them inflexible. Often, these people can’t handle freedom. They need rules that limit their choices, and they only feel secure within their own boundaries. Understanding that will help you deal with them the right way, which is to ‘take the high road’. Peter gives us the...More Thursday, February 29, 2024 Let God remould you ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.’ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV What would you like to change about yourself? How would you change it? To ask it another way, what would your spouse or your best friend like you to change? Maybe that would be more enlightening. How would you end the sentence, ‘It’s just like me to …’? Always be late? Not stay on a diet? Say the wrong thing? Burst out in anger? Be sad? Jeremiah puts it this way: ‘…Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil’ (Jeremiah 13:23 NLT). You say, ‘I guess it’s...More Wednesday, February 28, 2024 Changing how you pray ‘I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.’ Ephesians 1:16 NIV Bible prayers are powerful. They put things into perspective. For example, Paul prayed that God would give the Ephesians ‘… the Spirit of wisdom and revelation … that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you … and his incomparably great power’ (Ephesians 1:17-19 NIV). With this model in mind, American author JoHannah Reardon writes this: 1) Make your prayers God- centred. The creator of the...More Tuesday, February 27, 2024 Hope for the future ‘There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.’ Proverbs 23:18 NIV Are you surrounded by people whose mission is to inject a dose of reality into your life? They continually point out how tough the economy is, how dismal the job market is, and how the sky is falling down. American author Jon Gordon writes: ‘I remember my high school English teacher telling me not to apply to Cornell University because they wouldn’t accept me, and if they did, I wouldn’t be able to do the work … I almost didn’t apply, but a few days later a former teacher said, ‘If you get in, go. You can...More Monday, February 26, 2024 Try to be more flexible ‘The wisdom from above is … willing to yield to others.’ James 3:17 NLT Flexible people are happy people. They experience a lot less stress than the rigid types who insist on things always being done a certain way. One of the reasons inflexibility is so stressful is that we have to achieve our goals through thinking human beings who often have their own ideas, ideas different from ours. If you’re not the type who is receptive to new ways of doing things because you view them as a personal rejection of your own ideas, ask Jesus the Great Physician to perform some corrective surgery on you. The...More Sunday, February 25, 2024 Armed for spiritual warfare (3) ‘Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.’ Ephesians 6:18 NLT Your spiritual armour must be put on correctly so that all the pieces fit; otherwise, you’re vulnerable to defeat at Satan’s hands. So, how do you do that? Paul tells us how: ‘Pray in the Spirit at all times...’ Your clothes closet is where you find what you need to wear in the natural realm, and your prayer closet is where you find what you need to wear in the spiritual realm. Only through prayer do you become clothed for spiritual warfare, so don’t go into battle undressed. Paul writes, ‘But put on the Lord...More Saturday, February 24, 2024 Armed for spiritual warfare (2) ‘Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.’ Ephesians 6:13 NLT Let’s look at the next three pieces of spiritual armour God has provided for us to live victoriously: 1) ‘Hold up the shield of faith’ (Ephesians 6:16 NLT). For what? ‘ … to stop the fiery arrows of the devil aimed at you by Satan’ (Ephesians 6:16 NLT). Do you remember in the old western movies the battles between the Native Americans and the settlers? The settlers circled the wagons, and the Native Americans shot flaming arrows into them. They both understood that you can’t fight fires and...More Friday, February 23, 2024 Armed for spiritual warfare (1) ‘Put on the full armour of God...’ Ephesians 6:11 NASB20 Every day you live, you will battle the world, the flesh, and the devil. In order to be armed for spiritual warfare, Paul gives us six specific pieces of spiritual armour. Here are the first three: 1) The sturdy ‘belt of truth’ (Ephesians 6:14 NLT). During World War II, a plane flew many miles past its destination. Why? Because the crew, not realising there were such strong tailwinds, refused to believe the cockpit instruments. As a result, everyone on board perished. Yet when the plane was found years later, the instruments were still in...More Tuesday, February 21, 2024 Live with integrity at home ‘But to his sons-in-law, he seemed to be joking.' Genesis 19:14 NKJV Make your life an open book. Establish a system of values against which all of life is judged. Walk with God; maintain your integrity at work and at home, and you will make the right choice every time. Lot failed to do this, and it cost him dearly. ‘So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law and said, "Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law, he seemed to be joking' (Genesis 19:14 NKJV). When you lose your integrity, you lose your credibility. If you're a parent, guard...More Monday, February 20, 2024 What's the ‘most important' thing to you? ‘My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me '' Acts 20:24 NIV The story is told of Major Arthur Godfrey Peuchen, a wealthy Canadian man who survived the Titanic. After it struck the iceberg, he returned to his stateroom and, ignoring cash, jewellery, and other valuable possessions worth around $300,000, grabbed a favourite pearl pin and three oranges. Later, he was reported to have said, ‘The money seemed to be a mere mockery at that time.' Circumstances transformed his values; tragedy clarified his priorities. The question is not, will your calendar be full,...More Sunday, February 19, 2024 The breaking process (3) ‘He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples.' Matthew 14:19 NKJV The Bible says that Jesus ‘ took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes' (Matthew 14:19 NKJV). Notice the progression in this story: the loaves were taken, blessed, broken, and then given to others. That's how God works! In order to bless others through you, He will take you, bless you, break you, and give you to others. Paul had to be broken of pride. ‘ I have received such wonderful revelations...More Saturday, February 18, 2024 The breaking process (2) ‘A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.' Psalm 51:17 NASB20 Brokenness leads to blessing. To receive a double portion of the spirit of Elijah, Elisha, who was a farmer, had to break and burn his plough. To demonstrate her love for Jesus, Mary had to break open her box of costly ointment and pour it over Him. To defeat the armies of Midian, Gideon's three hundred soldiers had to break their pitchers, let their light shine, and make themselves a target. The truth is God has to break each of us in different areas in order to use us. What areas? Bad habits. Stubborn wills. Inflated egos. Evil...More Friday, February 17, 2024 The breaking process (1) ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;...' Psalm 51:17 NASB20 Brokenness is the process by which God strips us of pride and self-sufficiency so that the character of Christ can shine through. Brokenness doesn't necessarily mean experiencing some tragedy. Many people suffer tragedy without drawing closer to God. The issue in brokenness is not so much your circumstances but your response. What's God trying to teach you? Brokenness is when God strips you of self-sufficiency to the extent that you have no strength left to fix yourself. When He blocks every exit you try to take, and you come to see that He...More Thursday, February 16, 2024 Prepare yourself ‘Make this valley full of ditches.' 2 Kings 3:16 NKJV All things don't come to those who wait but to those who prepare. There is a great illustration of this in 2 Kings 3. As part of God's strategy for defeating the Moabites, God told the Israelites to dig a ditch, and He would fill it with water until it became a mighty river. They did, and as a result, they experienced a spectacular victory. But don't miss the point here. God said, ‘When you have dug the ditch, then I will fill it!' (see 2 Kings 3:17). God can use anybody, but He doesn't; He uses prepared people. Moses lived to be 120. His first...More Wednesday, February 15, 2024 God ideas ‘David gave Solomon the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the temple of the LORD.' 1 Chronicles 28:11-12 NIV The first Jewish temple ranks as one of the architectural wonders of the ancient world. It was built in the tenth century BC, and the project's scope was so massive that Solomon employed thirty thousand loggers and eighty thousand stonecutters. More than three thousand foremen managed the seven-year project. The temple was the epicentre of Judaism. It was the place of sacrifice. It was the place of worship. It was the place of pilgrimage. But like everything else, the temple was...More Tuesday, February 14, 2024 Keep hope alive ‘Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.' Hebrews 11:1 NASB20 At some stage in our lives, most of us will or have gone through times when things looked hopeless. But, when you decide things are hopeless, you slam the door in God's face. First: Take all your troubles or desires to God. If you've gotten to the stage where you feel things are hopeless, you've clearly neglected your faith, or you've been hoping for something that is not in God's will. ‘Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.' (Hebrews 11:1...More Monday, February 13, 2024 Tackle your giant head-on ‘David prevailed with a sling and a stone.' 1 Samuel 17:50 NKJV American Pastor Chuck Swindoll says: ‘Goliath reminds me of the visually impaired discus thrower. He didn't set any records but he sure kept the crowd awake! Every day, Goliath paraded along the slopes of the Valley of Elah, issuing threats. The only response from the Israeli troops was the sound of knees knocking and teeth chattering! The giant's strategy of fear and intimidation worked until David introduced him to the Lord of Hosts, and ‘ with a sling and a stone struck the Philistine and killed him, "' (1 Samuel 17:50 NKJV)....More Sunday, February 12, 2024 Being friends with God ‘The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.' Exodus 33:11 NLT When you talk to a close friend, you're relaxed, trusting, unguarded, and open. There is no need to watch your p's and q's; you can express how you feel without fearing you will be judged or rejected. That's how Moses and God talked to each other - like two friends, trusting and transparent. They said what they felt and thought straightforwardly, not in churchy language or religious jargon. The Israelites had made a golden calf to worship, and God was angry enough to disown them and choose a new people. Moses...More Saturday, February 11, 2024 Let's work together ‘For we are labourers together with God.' 1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV The Bible says we must love, honour, and work together. So, why don't we do it? Ego! We like to think we can do everything ourselves - but that's not reality! There are no supermen or superwomen. So, the question isn't whether or not you can do everything on your own; it's how soon are you going to realise you can't? Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie declared, ‘It marks a big step in your development when you come to realise that other people can help you do a better job than you could do alone.' After training His disciples for...More Friday, February 10, 2024 The right attitude ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.' Proverbs 23:7 NKJV What separates the best from the rest? Have you ever given that some thought? What separates a gold medallist from a silver medallist in the Olympics? What separates a successful entrepreneur from someone who doesn't make it? What makes it possible for one person to learn and flourish after making a mistake while someone else just gives up? It's attitude! The Bible says, ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.' (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). Your attitude can be your greatest asset or your greatest liability. It makes you or breaks you....More Thursday, February 9, 2024 Moving from failure to success (4) ‘We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.' Psalm 126:2 NLT To move from failure to success, you must do these: 1) Learn to laugh at yourself. No matter what you lose or how often you lose, never lose your sense of humour. When you take your mistakes too seriously, everything becomes a life-or-death issue. The psalmist wrote: ‘When the LORD brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, "What amazing things the LORD has done for them." Yes, the LORD has done amazing things for us! What joy!...More Wednesday, February 8, 2024 Moving from failure to success (3) ‘Many say of me, "There is no help for him."' Psalm 3:2 NKJV A Christian leader writes: ‘Oliver Goldsmith was born the son of a poor preacher in Ireland in the 1700s. Growing up, he wasn't a great student. In fact, his schoolmaster labelled him a ‘stupid blockhead'. He did manage to earn a university degree, but he finished at the bottom of his class. He was unsure of what he wanted to do. At first, he tried to become a preacher, but it didn't suit him Next, he tried law but failed at it. He then settled on medicine, but he was an indifferent doctor not passionate about his profession. He was...More Tuesday, February 7, 2024 Moving from failure to success (2) ‘You are snared by the words of your mouth.' Proverbs 6:2 NKJV A noted psychiatrist remarked that two of the saddest words in human vocabulary are ‘if only'. He believes people who get trapped by their failures spend their lives saying, ‘If only I had tried harder. If only I had been kinder to my kids. If only I had been more truthful. If only ' The way to change that mindset is to change your vocabulary by substituting ‘if only' with the words ‘next time'. ‘Next time, I will try harder. Next time, I will be kinder to my kids. Next time, I will be more truthful.' The...More Monday, February 6, 2024 Moving from failure to success (1) ‘Whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle.' Hebrews 11:34 NIV The writer of Hebrews said: ‘I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies' (Hebrews 11:32, 34 NIV). Some of the biggest success stories in Scripture are about people who struggled with weaknesses and character flaws. They were mired in seeming failure and defeat, yet by God's grace, they overcame the obstacles and odds stacked against them. The...More Sunday, February 5, 2024 Who are your true friends? ‘There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.' Proverbs 18:24 NIV Ancient Roman writer Marcus Tullus Cicero said, ‘Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.' The fact is, it's impossible to have more than a few close friends because true friendship takes time, attention, and commitment. ‘One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother' (Proverbs 18:24 NIV). The hallmarks of real friendship include these: 1) Trust. American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson...More Saturday, February 4, 2024 Never stop learning and growing (2) ‘Wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.' Proverbs 8:11 NLT To keep learning and growing, you must recognise these: 1) Successful people view learning differently than unsuccessful people. Joshua learned from Moses. Timothy learned from Paul. Who have you chosen to learn from? American author Sydney J. Harris wrote: ‘A winner knows how much he still has to learn, even when he is considered an expert by others. A loser wants to be considered an expert by others before he has learned enough to know how little he knows.' It's all a matter of...More Friday, February 3, 2024 Never stop learning and growing (1) ‘Wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.' Ecclesiastes 2:13 NKJV The most important skill you can acquire is learning to learn. Gifted people can sometimes act like they know it all, which makes it hard for them to keep growing. Teachability isn't so much about competence and mental capacity as it is about attitude; it's an innate hunger to grow. It's a willingness to learn, unlearn, and relearn. The famous American basketball coach, John Wooden, said, ‘It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.' Only as you remain teachable will you keep growing and continue to make an impact on the...More Thursday, February 2, 2024 Heed your own advice ‘My son, pay attention to my wisdom.' Proverbs 5:1 NLT Solomon told his son: ‘Pay attention to my wisdom the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end, she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword Stay away from her! Don't go near the door of her house! If you do, you will lose your honour and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved. Strangers will consume your wealth, and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labour You will say "If only I had not ignored all the warnings now I must face public disgrace'"...More Wednesday, February 1, 2024 Treasure your children ‘Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD...' Psalm 127:3 ESV A Christian psychologist writes: ‘Several months ago, I talked to a man who described one of the most painful experiences of his life. When he was seventeen, he was one of the stars on his high school football team. But his father, a very successful man in the city, was always too busy to come and see him play. The final game of the season came around, which happened to be the state championship. The boy was desperate to have his dad there. The night of the big game, he was on the field warming up when he looked into the stadium just in...More Tuesday, January 31, 2024 Give your worries to God ‘The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds.' Philippians 4:7 NIV When you feel anxious and afraid, here are two things you should do: 1) Find a ‘faith friend'. When anxiety grabs your mind, one of the most powerful ways to break the worry spiral is to disclose it to a ‘faith friend'. When Israel went out to occupy the promised land, here is what God said to them: ‘Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too' (Deuteronomy 20:8 NIV). Pessimism, fright, and discouragement are contagious. And so is...More Monday, January 30, 2024 Hear God's voice ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.' Revelation 2:11 NKJV You can read the same Scripture on different occasions, and it will speak to you in totally different ways. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is attributed with saying, ‘You never step into the same river twice.' And you never read the same Bible verse the same way twice. That is a testament to its heavenly author. And His illumination is based on His intimate and unlimited knowledge of your circumstances, your desires, your fears, your past, your personality, and your destiny. But you must take time to listen and cultivate...More

Saturday, January 28, 2024 Fulfilling God's plan for your life ‘Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.' Ephesians 5:17 ESV To fulfil God's plan for your life, you need to do these: 1) Map out your day. Plan your time and stick to your plan. Only one out of three people do that. One leadership expert says, ‘It's rare that I get up in the morning wondering what I'll be doing that day.' That's why he is a leader - and an expert! 2) Keep first things first. German author, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, ‘Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.' Most of us don't...More Friday, January 27, 2024 ‘Just as I am' ‘By the grace of God I am what I am.' 1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV There is a tale about a boy who comes home and doesn't know his mum is visiting with their pastor. He carries a dead rat in his hand. ‘Mum, you'll never guess what. There was a rat running around in the garage. I saw it, threw a stone, and hit it. It just lay there, so I went over and stamped on it. Then I picked it up and hurled it against the wall.' Then he sees the pastor, and if his mum's looks could kill, he knew that he would be one dead kid. So, he holds the rat up and adds in a pious voice, ‘And then the dear Lord called him...More Thursday, January 26, 2024 Insecurity in leadership ‘They loved human praise more than the praise of God.' John 12:43 NLT The Bible says: ‘Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn't admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God' (John 12:42-43 NLT). How secure are you as a leader? When someone else has a great idea, do you support it or suppress it? Do you celebrate other people's successes, or feel threatened by them? If your answers are that you suppress and feel threatened, you have a problem with insecurity and...More Wednesday, January 25, 2024 Be disciplined ‘Do not neglect the gift that is in you.' 1 Timothy 4:14 NKJV The only way to keep improving is to keep practising. If you desire to grow in a particular area, figure out what it will really take, including the price, and then determine to pay it. David didn't suddenly discover his talent as a harpist when he arrived at King Saul's palace. He developed it through years of practice on lonely hillsides while tending his father's sheep. Paul instructed Timothy: ‘Till I come, give attention to reading Do not neglect the gift that is in you Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that...More Tuesday, January 24, 2024 Listen more carefully ‘Hear Me, everyone, and understand.' Mark 7:14 NKJV Jesus said, ‘Hear Me, everyone, and understand.' He spoke life-changing words, but He understood that preoccupied minds don't always listen too well. Are you a good listener? 1) If you're a leader, do you listen to your followers? The kind of leaders people want to follow do more than conduct business when they interact with you; they take the time to get a feel for who you are as a person. Philip Stanhope, the Earl of Chesterfield, believed, ‘Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request.' If you're...More Monday, January 23, 2024 Bracing your children for the turbulent years ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful...' Psalm 139:13-14 NIV In order for your child to thrive and have self-worth, they must understand four things: 1) How God feels about them. The psalmist says, ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever' (Psalm 136:1 NIV). Knowing this is foundational to your child's spiritual development and to their relationship with God. 2) How you feel about them. So, let them know that though you correct them, you will never reject them. 3) How they feel about themselves. The most painful aspect...More Sunday, January 22, 2024 A relationship problem? Take action! ‘To whom much is given, from him much will be required.' Luke 12:48 NKJV One author writes: ‘It took me half my life to discover the great power of choices and chances. Good relationships are God's gift to you; what you do with them is your response to Him. Too often we drape our passivity, or lack of courage, or disregard for our relationships in the frayed tapestry of fate. We weave excuses and give alibis to our guilty hearts, which failed to alter circumstances. We then dismiss our responsibility like a cheap attempt at religious absolution, living in denial that things could have been better in...More Saturday, January 21, 2024 What the Bible teaches about money ‘Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.' Psalm 62:10 NIV Let's settle it once and for all. If God can trust you with something small, He will trust you with more (see Luke 16:10, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11). But His blessings come with certain conditions, and here are four you need to honour. 1) Don't try to claim credit. God told the Israelites, ‘You may say to yourself "My hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth If you ever forget you will surely be destroyed' (Deuteronomy 8:17-19...More Friday, January 20, 2024 Grace in marriage ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV Who in the Bible would you say had the best marriage? Adam and Eve started in Paradise, and it all went downhill from there. Abraham lied and said his wife, Sarah, was his sister, then impregnated her servant, Hagar. Isaac and Rebekah spent much of their marriage battling because he favoured Esau and she favoured Jacob. Jacob had children by two different wives and the wives' servants. All we know of Moses' wife is they had an argument over circumcising their son and she called Moses a ‘bridegroom of...More Thursday, January 19, 2024 Prayer gives us a God's-eye view ‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.' Colossians 4:2 NIV The word ‘watchful' is a throwback to the Old Testament-era practice of sitting on a city wall and keeping watch. Watchmen were the first to see attacking armed forces or travelling merchants. They had the optimal vantage point. They saw what nobody else saw. They saw them sooner than others saw them. That is exactly what happens when we pray. We see what nobody else sees, and we see them sooner than others see them. Why? Because prayer provides us with a God's-eye view; it enhances our awareness and gives us a sixth sense...More Wednesday, January 18, 2024 Sensing and seeing God ‘But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.' 1 Corinthians 2:10 NKJV The Bible says, ‘"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit' (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NKJV). The Holy Spirit compensates for our sensory limits by enabling us to conceive things we cannot perceive with our five senses. Think of Him as a sixth sense. That sense must be cultivated, matured, and fine-tuned. And that can only happen when we spend time meditating in the Scriptures and...More Tuesday, January 17, 2024 Read the signals with your children ‘My children, listen as I teach you to respect the LORD.' Psalm 34:11 CEV Smithsonian magazine once featured a British master stonecutter named Simon Verity. He restored thirteenth-century cathedrals in Great Britain. As the authors watched him work, they noticed something fascinating. ‘Verity listens closely to hear the song of the stone under his careful blows. A solid strike and all is well. A higher-pitched ping could mean trouble. A chunk of rock could break off. He constantly adjusts the angle of the chisel and the force of the mallet to the pitch, pausing frequently to run his hand over the...More Monday, January 16, 2024 Stop and ask for directions ‘The Spirit of truth will lead you and tell you what is to come.' John 16:13 NCV Making decisions without seeking God's guidance is like trying to fly without radar and a compass. You can do what makes sense based on your past knowledge and experience, but what ‘looks right' can end up destroying what's most important to you. The Bible says even the most profound human thinking is foolish to God (see 1 Corinthians 1:18-20). He alone knows the way, and He wants to go ahead of you. It's a mistake to assume that every opportunity that comes along is from God. Paul says, ‘Satan changes himself to...More Sunday, January 15, 2024 Guard against envy and jealousy ‘Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.' Galatians 5:26 CSB Paul cautioned the early church about envy, and it's still a problem. Your co-worker gets a raise, a friend's child wins a scholarship, and a neighbour takes a dream holiday. Do you rejoice with them, or force a tight smile? We're human; an occasional flicker of envy is normal. But beware of harbouring a chronic sense of being short-changed. Tacitus said, ‘When men are full of envy, they disparage everything good or bad.' When somebody else prospers, before you ask, ‘Why not me?' ask yourself if you...More Saturday, January 14, 2024 Growing through criticism ‘If you accept correction, you will be honoured.' Proverbs 13:18 NLT Solomon said, ‘If you accept correction, you will be honoured.' American author, Charlie Shedd gives us ten ways to grow through criticism: 1) Criticism is often a compliment. The barbs in daily life strike only those who raise their heads above ground level. Jesus said, ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name as evil because of the Son of Man' (Luke 6:22 CSB). 2) Accept that you have faults that are open to censure. Stay humble, and criticism won't...More Friday, January 13, 2024 Don't be afraid of getting old (2) ‘They shall still bear fruit in old age.' Psalm 92:14 NKJV Does the thought of getting older depress you, make you anxious, or make you fatalistic in your outlook? If so, read this: ‘Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing' (Psalm 92:13-14 NKJV). Here is how to stay fresh and flourishing as you grow older: 1) Guard your health. Studies show that good health is the number-one factor in determining the level of happiness in old age. So try to eat healthy, and exercise...More Thursday, January 12, 2024 Don't be afraid of getting old (1) ‘My chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.' Isaiah 65:22 NIV We live in a fickle society where a few wrinkles can devastate our self-worth. But we don't have to be victims of that value system. ‘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). Someone said, ‘Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!' So: 1) Build a strong relationship with God. Spend time talking with Him and reading His Word. ‘Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you...More Wednesday, January 11, 2024 What it means to love someone ‘God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.' 1 John 4:16 ESV In today's culture, the word ‘love' means different things to different people. You can love your husband or wife, your country, your dog, your new mobile phone, and your car. But you don't love your husband or wife the same way you love your mobile phone or your car, right? The television and tabloid kind of love where you fall in and out of love at the drop of a hat isn't real love, it's selfishness and immaturity. The Bible word agape (God's love) is an unconditional commitment to love that's rooted in an...More Tuesday, January 10, 2024 Are you dealing with relationship problems? ‘For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again...' Proverbs 24:16 NASB20 When it comes to handling relationships, we all have our pluses and minuses, strengths and weaknesses. So to survive and flourish in a relationship, we must learn to persevere. Even when we have done the best we can to lessen our potential for failure, we must still be ready for it. If we stay mired in self-defeat, guilt, and shame over missed chances and incorrect choices in one particular relationship, we will never encounter the freedom to sustain our other relationships. Some good advice is to allow yourself a 10 per cent...More Monday, January 9, 2024 The gift of confession ‘Walk in love as Christ also has loved us.' Ephesians 5:2 NKJV Spiritual healing takes place when you're able to confess your problem to someone mature enough to handle it and committed enough to not give up on you. What does it mean to walk in love? a) To be confident of God's unfailing love towards you. b) To show His love to others. c) To be able to accept their love in return. Only then can you become spiritually whole. You can only be loved to the extent that you're known. When you keep part of your life a secret, others may tell you they love you, but deep...More Sunday, January 8, 2024 Angels ‘He will command his angels to guard you in all your ways.' Psalm 91:11 NIV In Scripture, there are over three hundred references to angels, and they're described in two words: many and mighty. But it took only one angel to shut the mouths of lions for Daniel and bring Peter out of prison the night before he was due to be executed. And do you remember Elisha's servant? When an enemy army surrounded the city of Dothan, Elisha asked God to open his servant's eyes: ‘And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about...More Saturday, January 7, 2024 Work on improving your communication skills ‘When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.' Proverbs 21:11 NKJV Whether in your personal life or your career, learning how to communicate with others is essential to success and happiness in a relationship. Apart from obtaining facts, communication should deliver a way to gain some understanding into the heart and mind of another person. And good communication calls for translation. Really, you're learning that other person's language. We all use the same words, but we have unique languages when it comes to love. What you mean when you say, ‘I need someone to be here for me,' might not be...More Friday, January 6, 2024 Blind chance versus God's command (2) ‘By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.' Hebrews 11:3 NIV Speaking of our amazing bodies what about DNA? Each human cell (up to 100 trillion) contains a database larger than the Encyclopedia Britannica! Could all that have originated by chance? English physicist Paul Davies makes this comparison: ‘It's rather like exploding a stick of dynamite under a pile of bricks and expecting it to build a house. You may liberate enough energy to raise the bricks, but without coupling the energy to the bricks in a controlled...More Thursday, January 5, 2024 Blind chance versus God's command (1) ‘I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made...' Psalm 139:14 NKJV Could life as we know it - plant, animal, and human life - have spontaneously happened by chance? Could our amazing solar system be the result of an accident? The more advanced science becomes, the more evidence there is for a Master Designer. Researchers continue to uncover the divine order in each tiny human cell. American biochemist Bruce Alberts, former president of the National Academy of Sciences, writes, ‘We have always underestimated cells; undoubtedly we still do Cells are the basic unit of life indeed the...More Wednesday, January 4, 2024 Never stop learning (2) ‘A wise person will hear and increase in learning...' Proverbs 1:5 NASB20 Loving God with all your mind means managing your mind and making the most of it. It means loving God logically and creatively, intuitively, and thoughtfully. Albert Einstein, one of history's greatest minds, said: ‘The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvellous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy...More Tuesday, January 3, 2024 Never stop learning (1) ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your...mind.' Mark 12:30 NKJV God has created us with the capacity to keep learning until the day we die, which is something we shouldn't take for granted. The average brain weighs approximately three pounds, yet neurologists approximate that we have the ability to learn something new every second of every minute of every hour of every day until the day we die. Awesome, right? But it's more than that. It's an awesome obligation. Learning isn't an indulgence; it's a stewardship matter. Jesus said, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all...More Monday, January 2, 2024 This year, do first things first ‘Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.' Psalm 90:12 NIV We all get the same twenty-four hours every day. That's 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. And we ‘must give an account to God' for how we use them (see Ecclesiastes 11:9). A good place to start is by asking yourself, ‘How would I spend the next twenty-four hours if I knew I would stand before God tomorrow?' Your answer can help you prioritise your life. Think about it: if somebody steals your car, you can get another one. If they steal your wallet, a few phone calls to the credit card company usually resolve the...More

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