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WORD FOR YOU!

Discovering your vision (5)
08 DECEMBER 2021

‘When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.’
Proverbs 29:18 NLT

When God gives us a vision, it doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone else will support it or believe in it. And if God gives us a big vision, we might not either. We might think it’s too big, or that there’s no way we’re qualified or capable of fulfilling it. But when we say yes to God and trust Him to guide us, nothing will stop us from achieving what God’s laid out for us to do. Here are three things to bear in mind: 1) Vision starts within. When you look inside yourself, what do you see? You can’t borrow someone else’s vision; you must look within and draw on your God-given gifts and desires. What do you feel passionate about? What do you think constantly about? What are you always praying about? What would you be willing to give up everything else to achieve? Your most persistent desire will help point you to your purpose. 2) Vision draws on your history. Moses grew up in the comfort of Pharaoh’s palace hearing the cries of Hebrew slaves. That experience prepared him to lead the exodus. Vision isn’t some mystical quality that appears from nowhere; it’s interwoven with your past and the history of the people around you. If your vision is born of God, it won’t just benefit you, it’ll benefit others too. 3) Vision attracts resources. One of the sure signs of vision is that it acts like a magnet, attracting, challenging, and uniting people. It draws the resources needed to complete it. The more challenging the vision is, the harder the participants will fight to achieve it. So ask God to give you a vision for your life, and watch how it all comes together.

What Now?

If you’re still waiting for God to reveal His vision for your life, ask Him if you could be a supporter of someone else’s vision while you wait to discover yours.

Joel 1-3, Revelation 2

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WORD FOR YOU!

Use your password
09 DECEMBER 2021

‘Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise.’
Psalm 89:15 MSG

There are so many things we use that need a password. It’s what enables us to sign in, participate, download, and get the information we need. And in a similar way, The Message paraphrases the psalmist’s words, ‘Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise.’ In other words, ‘Those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence’ (v.15 NIV). Praise isn’t just a reaction to coming into God’s presence; it does much more. It opens the door for God to enter our lives and go to work on our behalf. Praise brings God’s presence along with His direct intervention. The name Judah means ‘praise the Lord’, and when the twelve tribes of Israel travelled, Judah led the way (see Judges 20:18). On one occasion when Judah’s enemies were grouped against them, Jehoshaphat, their king, sent a choir to the front line ahead of the army to sing the praises of God. It sounded like a strange strategy, but it brought a supernatural victory. The Bible says, ‘As soon as they began singing, the Lord confused the enemy camp…Then they turned against each other’ (2 Chronicles 20:22-23 CEV). Praise is an expression of faith; an affirmation that we believe God is in control of the situation. The Bible talks about ‘the sacrifice of praise’ (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV). That means we must praise God even when we don’t feel like it. When it doesn’t come naturally, we must choose to do it anyway. Nehemiah said, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV). Praise can heal our emotions and lift the weight of negativity. Try it – use your password of praise!

What Now?

Is there a worship song that always reminds you of God’s presence? Make that song your ‘password of praise’, and play it before you pray or read the Bible to help you focus on Him.

Amos 1-3, Revelation 3

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WORD FOR YOU!

Heman and Jeduthun
10 DECEMBER 2021

‘Heman and Jeduthun…were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD.’
1 Chronicles 16:41 NKJV

You might not have heard of Heman and Jeduthun. They’re some of the Bible’s more inconspicuous characters. In the wonderful worship choirs of King David, they were appointed to give thanks. Heman and Jeduthun were under the king’s authority (see 1 Chronicles 25:6). It was literally their job. And it’s our job too! We’re under the authority of the King of Kings who commands us to ‘be thankful’, ‘offer to God thanksgiving’, ‘come before His presence with thanksgiving’, ‘enter into His gates with thanksgiving’, and ‘in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (Colossians 3:15; Psalms 50:14; 95:2; 100:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV). Eugene Peterson writes, ‘The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise’ (Philippians 3:3 MSG). Nothing is more thrilling than being moved so much that we spring into spontaneous worship. And it doesn’t matter what our style of worship is – whether we lift up our hands, cry out, laugh, sing, dance, whatever – if we do it in a spirit of praise, thanksgiving, and gratefulness, God will absolutely love it. Praise and thanksgiving can also bring peace to a troubled heart and tranquillity to an anxious mind. The Creator of our souls is a master psychologist. He knows that thanksgiving is not only appropriate, but therapeutic. It’s hard to be thankful and at the same time be grumpy, critical, or bad tempered. Let’s choose to overflow with thanksgiving. ‘Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with joy; come before him with singing…Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving and into his courtyards with songs of praise…The Lord is good. His love is forever, and his loyalty goes on and on’ (Psalm 100:1-5 NCV).

What Now?

Most of us don’t praise God enough, so today, set reminders on your phone to praise God at least once an hour throughout the day.

Amos 4-6, Revelation 4

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WORD FOR YOU!

Coping with crisis (1)
11 DECEMBER 2021

‘When my spirit was overwhelmed within me…You knew my path.’
Psalm 142:3 NKJV

How we handle a crisis can make a difference whether we end up feeling overwhelmed or come out stronger. Here are some ideas to help us: 1) Acknowledge your feelings. David said, ‘When my spirit was overwhelmed…You knew my path.’ God already knows how we feel, which gives us freedom to talk to Him about it and begin the process of healing and recovery. 2) Confide in someone. That doesn’t mean we should pour our hearts out to everybody and anybody; it means opening up to those who love and care about us. The Bible says, ‘A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity’ (Proverbs 17:17 AMPC). Support from people who really care and want the best for us is so valuable. 3) Start a journal. Writing about a problem is a way of letting it out. It can help us reorder our thoughts and process the situation. And it gives us a record to look back on and gain a better understanding of where God was at work in the situation. 4) Avoid blame-shifting: When something goes wrong, we might say things like, ‘It’s the other person’s fault,’ or ‘My teammate didn’t play their part properly,’ or ‘I was never given a chance.’ There are times when it’s important to point out that someone’s made a mistake, but if we’re blame-shifting to make ourselves look better, we need to check ourselves and take responsibility for our part. 5) Forgive yourself. We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect, so when we make a mistake, we should acknowledge it, ask God for forgiveness, then forgive ourselves and move on. God’s Word says when He forgives, He doesn’t ‘keep a list of your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 MSG). Neither should we.

What Now?

If you don’t already, start a journal of the highs and lows of life. Don’t just write about the positive things; make sure you document the disappointments too. Use your journal to look back and see where God was faithful and what He was teaching you through the challenges.

Amos 7-9, Revelation 5

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WORD FOR YOU!

Coping with crisis (2)
12 DECEMBER 2021

‘Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.’
Philippians 1:9 NLT

When we find ourselves in a crisis, having the right attitude makes the difference between despair and determination. Here are some steps to take: 1) Look for ways to use the experience for something positive. Resilient people use their experience to help others. ‘[God] comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them’ (2 Corinthians 1:4 NCV). 2) Check your priorities. ‘Teach us to use wisely all the time we have’ (Psalm 90:12 CEV). How would you like to spend your time differently now? Who would you most like to spend it with? How can you use your strengths in the service of what is important to you? What kind of person would you want to be? 3) Believe you can overcome. A crucial aspect of resilience is faith that God will bring us through the crisis. Even if we have the practical skills to deal with it, we still need to lean on God’s strength to keep us going. 4) Step out of your comfort zone. ‘Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.’ Learning something new, like a foreign language or a sport, or trying a new hobby, can help build our confidence. Embracing the unfamiliar strengthens our capacity to handle new situations. The more we ask of ourselves, the more resilient we’ll become. 5) Clear the weeds that are choking your optimism. When we start thinking pessimistic or cynical thoughts, we need to step back and reframe our perspective. And the best way to do that is to consult God. Talking to Him about the problem helps us gain insights into His perspective and discover the steps we need to take towards the solution.

What Now?

Think about a crisis or challenge you’ve faced. Ask God to help you see what you’ve learned because of that experience, and then try to think of ways you could use that knowledge to help someone else in a similar situation.

Luke 23:26-56, Psalms 129-135

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WORD FOR YOU!


Caring
13 DECEMBER 2021

‘In Christ’s body we’re all connected.’
Ephesians 4:25 MSG

Many people have no one who loves them enough to tell them the truth. That’s because it’s easier to say nothing when others are messing up. But it’s not the loving thing to do. The Bible says, ‘Giving an honest answer is a sign of true friendship’ (Proverbs 24:26 CEV). Usually we know what needs to be said, but fear keeps us from saying it. However, if you knew the brakes on a car weren’t functioning properly, would you allow a loved one to drive it? In a similar vein, Paul wrote, ‘If someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again’ (Galatians 6:1 NCV). More often than not, when an issue arises that might cause tension, it’s glossed over to preserve the peace. We don’t want to ruffle any feathers, so it never gets resolved. Here’s how Paul addresses this: ‘No more pretence. Tell…the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected…When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself’ (Ephesians 4:25 MSG). But let’s be clear – honesty doesn’t give us permission to be rude or hurtful and say whatever we want. Thoughtless words can wound people. ‘Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honour an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters’ (1 Timothy 5:1-2 MSG). In short, we should be thoughtful and gracious in the way we speak and the words we use. When a difficult issue comes up, caring means getting involved in an honest and loving way.

What Now?

Ask a trusted friend to be a care-partner – agree to pray regularly for each other and to honestly and gently point out when you see each other making a mistake or about to take a step that could lead them away from God’s path.

Obadiah, Revelation 6

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Spiritual priorities
14 DECEMBER 2021

‘We must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth.’
Hebrews 2:1 NCV

Our highest priority should always be our relationship with God and fulfilling His will for our lives. We shouldn’t ever let that priority slip. There’s a serious illustration of this in a parable told by a prophet in the Old Testament. A soldier was given custody of an important prisoner. He was told, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he gets away, you will either die or pay a fine of seventy-five pounds of silver!’ (1 Kings 20:39 NLT). In spite of the warning, he allowed his prisoner to escape. How did it happen? Through carelessness and busyness. ‘“While I was busy doing something else, the prisoner disappeared!.” “Well, it’s your own fault,” the king replied. “You have brought the judgment on yourself”’ (v.40 NLT). Keeping our spiritual priorities in place is our own responsibility and no one else’s. If we don’t do it, we’ll end up paying a high price. Beginning our day with prayer is a great way to start putting God first – but there’s more to it than just that. We also need to take time to listen to Him and get His direction and wisdom before we rush into the day. We need to keep in mind all the Scriptures that tell us to ‘wait on God’. He’s working in our lives right now. We might not be fully aware of it, but without His input, we’ll never be equipped to handle what God has in mind for us. The Bible says, ‘Jesus often withdrew…and prayed’ (Luke 5:16 NIV). Spending time with God is the price we must pay for hearing from Him and doing His will. There are no shortcuts in building our relationship with God.

What Now?

Have a think about how you spent your time yesterday. Were there any times when you pushed God aside for some reason? Start today by resolving to keep Him as your top priority.

Jonah 1-4, Revelation 7

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God will make it work
15 DECEMBER 2021

‘He makes everything work out according to his plan.’
Ephesians 1:11 NLT

When people around us make the wrong decisions, God can turn the situation around so things work in our favour and in accordance with His plan. So when things go wrong, instead of trying to find someone to blame, let’s turn our attention to looking for God’s hand at work. Joseph’s brothers made a wrong decision by resenting him. Potiphar’s wife made a wrong decision by falsely accusing him. And the butler made a wrong decision by turning his back on him. But God arranged every step Joseph took, all the way to him becoming the pharaoh’s highest official. After years apart, Joseph stood face-to-face with the brothers who had treated him so badly, and said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV). Joseph discovered three things through his experience, which we can also take on board: 1) When God wants you in a palace, nobody can keep you in a prison. 2) Your future isn’t in the hands of others; it’s in the hands of God. 3) Your God-given assignment in life doesn’t require the cooperation or approval of everyone, but it does need the cooperation of one person – you. God’s purposes will eventually overcome human plans. No one can stop God using us, blessing us, and giving us success – except ourselves. So let’s keep our hearts and our attitudes right. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words, ‘Long before we first heard of Christ…he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone’ (Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG). So let’s look for the hand of God in everything – even when things look impossible or unfixable to us, He’ll make it work.

What Now?

Take some time to thank God that other people’s mistakes, opinions and intentions can’t derail His plan for you.

Micah 1-3, Revelation 8

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Problem solving
16 DECEMBER 2021

‘The Holy Spirit…will teach you everything.’
John 14:26 NLT

Are you unsure how to begin finding answers to problems? Let’s take a look at some biblical wisdom about problem solving. First, listen to the Holy Spirit within you. He’ll constantly remind us of God’s plan and show us how to carry it out. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will ‘teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you’ (v.26 NLT). Has God instructed you to do something? If you haven’t done it yet, trust Him and take that step. Second, spend time with God every day: ‘One thing have I asked of the Lord…that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…He will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble’ (Psalm 27:4-5 ESV). A shelter is a place of safety and protection. Even if things around us seem to be going horribly wrong, God’s sheltering presence is an oasis of peace. And if we spend time with Him in prayer and praise every day, we won’t have to run far to find Him when problems appear. Alone time with God helps restore our perspective and see problems from God’s point of view. Third, never be too proud to seek advice and assistance. The Bible says those of us who are strong should bear the burdens of the weak (see Romans 15:1). There are times when we need to lift others, and times when we need to be lifted. The paralysed man in Luke 5 couldn’t get himself to Jesus, so his friends got him there. David turned to the men of Issachar because they ‘had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do’ (1 Chronicles 12:32 NKJV). When God provides help, let’s reach for it.

What Now?

Are you wrestling with a problem? Today, try taking it to God and asking for His perspective on it and for wisdom in finding an answer. Remember to listen to what He says, and to act on His advice.

Micah 4-5, Revelation 9

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Restoration
17 DECEMBER 2021

‘Go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!’
1 Samuel 30:8 NLT

While David and his men were off fighting, the Amalekites destroyed their homes and took their families captive. First, David’s army wept. Second, they looked to David for guidance. Third, David looked to God, saying, ‘“Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”’ There are four important points we need to remember: 1) Satan will attack our loved ones to get to us. It might be big stuff like a parent losing their job or a brother or sister becoming ill; or it could be little stuff like low-grade family tension and lack of consideration for each other.

We need to stay alert and discern Satan’s attacks so we can defend ourselves against them. 2) Love people but lean only on God. The people David fought side by side with were the same ones who turned against him. That’s why our strength, strategies, and solutions must come from God, not others. 3) Talk to God. ‘David found strength in the Lord his God’ (v.6 NLT). If we talk about our situation, we can become discouraged. But if we talk to God, the One who can change our situation, we’ll be encouraged.

The Bible says, ‘As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life, but dishonest words crush the spirit’ (Proverbs 15:4 NCV). God’s words will strengthen and uplift us. 4) We can get back what we’ve lost. God told David, ‘Go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you.’ And what God did for David and his men that day, He’ll do for each one of us if we seek Him.

What Now?

Do you know anyone who’s lost something, such as a job, or missed a great opportunity? Make time to have a chat with them – speak words of encouragement over them, and remind them of God’s love and restorative power.

Micah 6-7, Revelation 10