[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Satan wants to stop you (1)

‘We wanted to come to you…but Satan hindered us.'
1 Thessalonians 2:18 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 13 APRIL 2020

Paul writes, ‘We wanted to come to you – even I, Paul, time and again – but Satan hindered us.’ Note the words ‘time and again’. When you have an assignment from God, Satan will repeatedly attack you and try to stop you from fulfilling it.

Observe three things:
1) His attacks reveal that he believes you’re capable of accomplishing your goal. That’s why when you’re down, he wants to keep you there.

He knows if you rise again, you’ll be stronger and more effective than ever.

2) He always attacks the birth of something significant in your life. It may be the birth of your ministry, as with Jesus in the wilderness temptation.

It may be the birth of your ‘child of destiny’, like the birth of Moses, which initiated the killing of newborn males in Egypt in an effort to stop the exodus.

3) He uses those closest to you as a gateway to your heart. Jesus said, ‘Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ (Matthew 10:36 NLT).

So what should you do? Pray for them. Your intercession is often the only covering they have, so pray daily for the grace and mercy of God to be downloaded into their hearts.

And above all, never forget that your attitude is more important than the adversity you’re experiencing. Attacks pass, but your attitude, if bitter or demoralised, can grow into a root of bitterness that will poison every day of your future (see Hebrews 12:15).

Your influence in God’s kingdom determines the level of attack the enemy launches against you. So don’t get discouraged – keep on keeping on!

Judges 4-6, John 5:31-47

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Satan wants to stop you (2)

‘He showed me…Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.’
Zechariah 3:1 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 14 APRIL 2020

Sometimes Satan’s attacks are obvious. In the Old Testament the prophet Zechariah writes, ‘He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.’ Satan usually prefers to work incognito, so frequently he will attack you through people – especially those closest to you.

The Bible tells us, ‘The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas…to betray Jesus’ (John 13:2 NIV 2011 Edition). So what’s your best line of defence?

The living Word of God. Exposed to a greater level of temptation than any of us will ever face, Jesus quoted the Scriptures to Satan three different times and put him to flight.

When Satan attacks your mind with temptation, condemnation, doubts, and feelings of inadequacy, God’s Word is a shield he cannot penetrate. David said, ‘If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished’ (Psalm 119:92 NIV 2011 Edition).

Notice what happened when Jesus finished doing battle with the enemy: ‘The devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus’ (Matthew 4:11 NLT). You are not alone.

God has placed a cordon of angels around you to sustain and protect you. And ‘angels are only servants – spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation’ (Hebrews 1:14 NLT).

During seasons of adversity, remember you’re a champion, not a victim. Invest your words and energies into creating new goals and dreams.

Stay awake, alert, aware, productive, and focused. Exude faith. And expect your faith to be supernaturally honoured by the God who promised to intervene when you need Him most (see Isaiah 59:19).

Judges 7-8, John 6:1-21

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Do you have a plan for your life?

‘Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity.’
Proverbs 21:5 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 15 APRIL 2020

Without a plan for your life, life just ‘happens’ to you. Some of us plan our lives one day at a time.

We wake up, make our to-do list, and dive into action. Some of us even plan our lives one week at a time.

We review the calendar for the week, check our appointments, review our goals, and then get to work. Leadership expert John Maxwell writes: ‘At the beginning of every month, I spend a half day working on my calendar for the next forty days. Forty days works for me rather than just thirty.

That way, I get a jump on the next month and don’t get surprised. I begin by reviewing my travel schedule and planning activities with my family.

Then I review what projects, lessons, and other objectives I want to accomplish during those five to six weeks. Then I start blocking out days and times for thinking, writing, working, meeting with people, etc.

I set times to do fun things such as seeing a show, watching a ball game, or playing golf. I also set aside small blocks of time to compensate for the unexpected.

By the time I’m done, I can tell you nearly everything I’ll be doing, almost hour by hour, during the coming weeks. This is one of the reasons I have been able to accomplish so much.’

The thought of planning forty days at a time may overwhelm you, so start by planning your day. Then aim for a week, a month, a year, etc.

And if you consult God, ‘he will show you which path to take’ (Proverbs 3:6 NLT).

Judges 9-10, John 6:22-44

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Keep learning

‘A wise person is hungry for knowledge.’
Proverbs 15:14 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 16 APRIL 2020

It’s been said that we forget more than 80 per cent of what we learn in school and college. That raises the question, ‘Why bother?

Is education really worth what we invest in it?’ It is.

There are many valid reasons for learning, even if forgetting will take its usual toll. Here are five of the most important ones:

1) The most important function of the learning process is the self-discipline and control that it fosters. Good students learn to follow directions, carry out assignments, and channel their mental faculties towards a constructive end.

These are skills you’ll need in order to succeed in life.

2) Even if the facts and concepts can’t be recalled, you know they exist and where to find them. So you can retrieve the information when you need it later on.

3) Old learning makes new learning easier. Each mental exercise gives you more associative clues with which to link future ideas and concepts, and you are changed for having been through the process of learning.

4) Your brain is like the programming in your computer. You don’t really forget anything that is beyond the reach of your memory.

The information is still stored in your brain and will return to consciousness when properly stimulated.

5) You are shaped by the influence of the people who teach you. The Bible says, ‘The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge’ (Proverbs 15:14 NKJV).

Perhaps you wish that an easier process for shaping the human mind could be found, rather than the slow, painful experience of education. But until a ‘learning pill’ is developed, the old-fashioned approach will have to do.

Judges 11-12, John 6:45-71

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

You’re ‘connected’

‘If anyone does sin, we have an advocate.’
1 John 2:1 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 17 APRIL 2020

The moon and stars you can see on a clear night are mere drops in the vast sea of the universe. Our sun is one of more than 100 billion stars that make up the Milky Way galaxy.

And there may be as many as 100 billion other galaxies – billions of which may have hundreds of millions of planets like ours. The Hubble Space Telescope relays images of galaxies as far away as thirteen billion light years – that’s thirteen billion times six trillion miles!

And all this was created because God uttered one sentence: ‘Let there be’ (see Genesis 1). But here’s something even more amazing: the One who created it all loves you and cares about every detail of your life.

When you are weak, He is strong. When you blow it, He forgives you.

The Bible says, ‘If anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins’ (1 John 2:1-2 NLT). God’s grace is truly amazing, and you don’t have to do anything to deserve it.

Because God is your Father, you can call home anytime and find a welcome. You’re ‘connected’ to the One who ‘understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most’ (Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT).

You’re connected to unending mercy and grace – how awesome is that?

Judges 13-15, John 7:1-21

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Saying the right thing

‘The word…in your mouth.’
Romans 10:8 MSG

The UCB Word for Today - 18 APRIL 2020

If you’re not careful, it’s easy to speak words of doubt that contradict what God says in His Word. Paul writes, ‘The word that saves is…as near as the tongue in your mouth…It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us.’

So, speak God’s Word over your situation and watch Him go to work on your behalf, setting things right for you. The word ‘confession’ comes from the Greek word homologia, which means ‘to come into agreement with, or say the same thing’.

That means you must come into agreement with God’s Word and learn to say what He says, no matter how bad things look at the time. If it’s not what God is saying, it’s counterproductive.

But if it is, your words become powerful weapons. The Bible says, ‘How forcible are right words!’ (Job 6:25 KJV).

This word ‘forcible’ comes from the Hebrew word marats which means ‘to press’. Just like a king’s signet ring pressed his seal of authority onto a document, your confession of faith seals the matter before God.

Jesus said: ‘Assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore…whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them’ (Mark 11:23-24 NKJV).

Don’t just speak to God about your mountain – speak to your mountain using God’s Word! When you make God’s Word your word, your mountain will begin to move.

Judges 16-18, John 7:28-53

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Look for good counsellors

‘In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.’
Proverbs 11:14 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 19 APRIL 2020

To succeed in life, you need wise and competent people around you, informed people with a proven track record who can assist you. But be advised: the best people with the most knowledge will challenge, stretch, and confront your previously held viewpoints.

That doesn’t mean you should avoid them. On the contrary – that’s exactly why you need them!

You must get over your fear of people who are smarter, more talented, and more experienced than you are, and learn from them instead. What stops many of us from approaching competent people is that we feel ignorant when we’re around them.

It’s okay to be ignorant – but it’s not okay to stay that way! Don’t keep running back to familiar, mediocre interactions with people who don’t challenge you to grow.

The more you move into new arenas in life, the more you need ‘the multitude of counsellors’ who will push you to be more than you are, even if it’s uncomfortable at first. Go where they are, listen to what they say, and evaluate their opinions.

If you’re going to build yourself up spiritually, emotionally, and financially, you must go outside your comfort zone. If you don’t, you won’t have the information you need to move beyond the familiar and attain your future goals.

Only those who are willing to be stretched achieve their dreams. And remember, the people you need most are usually busy people.

Generally speaking, they won’t reach for you, so you must reach for them. And be prepared; some of them may turn you down, while others, recognising your hunger for wisdom and knowledge, will respond and help you to succeed.

Luke 7:31-50, Psalm 40-42

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Today ‘be ready’

‘[I am ready for anything…through Him Who infuses inner strength into me.]’
Philippians 4:13 AMPC

The UCB Word for Today - 20 APRIL 2020

The Bible says, ‘Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring’ (Proverbs 27:1 NLT). The truth is, when you wake up every morning you have no idea what will happen to you that day.

You hope for a trouble-free day where your expectations and wishes will be fulfilled – but you know from experience this isn’t always the case. We live in a real world with real problems.

Your enemy the devil is real, and he works in every possible way to bring discouragement, fear, and failure. Knowing this, the psalmist wrote: ‘If you make the Lord your refuge…no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.

For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go…The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.

When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them.

I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation”’ (Psalm 91:9-16 NLT). No matter what comes your way, you must trust that when it arrives God will give you the grace to handle it.

Remember, Satan loves to attack those who are in line for God’s blessing. That’s why Paul wrote, ‘[I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me.]’

Inner strength is better than outer strength. Why?

Because as long as you remain strong inwardly, you can handle anything that comes against you outwardly and keep moving forward. So today – be ready.

Judges 19-21, John 8:1-27

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The most important thing

‘There is only one thing worth being concerned about.’
Luke 10:42 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 21 APRIL 2020

Here are two enemies that threaten your spiritual life:

1) Boredom. Missionary and educator Frank Laubach said, ‘If you’re weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are.’

Walking with God is the most rewarding life possible. ‘In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore’ (Psalm 16:11 NKJV).

2) Busyness. Jesus told Martha, ‘You are worried and upset over all these details!

There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it’ (Luke 10:41-42 NLT). And what was Mary doing? Sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to Him!

Martha loved Jesus and she couldn’t do enough for Him. But she was so busy serving Him that she didn’t know how to relax and enjoy being with Him.

Maybe like Martha, you think that unless you do the job yourself, it won’t get done properly. And you may be right.

But God will never ask you to do anything that takes His place in your life. He wants to be your top priority.

Sometimes we approach God with a list of requests the length of our arm because we’re more interested in His presents than His presence. David said, ‘The one thing I ask of the Lord – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple’ (Psalm 27:4 NLT).

Can you imagine having ‘one thing’ at the top of your agenda at all times: needing and desiring to spend time with God? Think how that could revolutionise your life.

Ruth 1-4, John 8:28-59

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

People pleasing

‘I’m not trying to win the approval of people.’
Galatians 1:10 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 22 APRIL 2020

People pleasing does two things:
1) It makes you neglect your own needs in order to meet other people’s.
2) It causes you to make decisions based on their approval.

Either way, you can end up feeling like a doormat. Maybe you became a people pleaser early in life to get the attention you craved and couldn’t get any other way.

Or maybe you never learned to trust your own judgment. The Bible says, ‘Fearing people is a dangerous trap’ (Proverbs 29:25 NLT), because it always backfires.

Not only do others get upset with you, you end up disappointed with yourself when things don’t work out. Peter struggled with people-pleasing.

The night before the crucifixion when ‘a servant girl…said…”You were one of those with Jesus”…But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about”’ (Matthew 26:69-70 NLT). Afterwards he ended up weeping over his failure.

When Samuel confronted Saul about his decision not to completely destroy the Amalekites: ‘Saul admitted…“I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded”’ (1 Samuel 15:24 NLT). Paul, on the other hand, wrote, ‘I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God.

If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.’ It’s good to be considerate, loving, and patient, but you can’t let yourself be intimidated and manipulated: ‘God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power’ (2 Timothy 1:7 NASB).

When you yield to the fear of others you allow them, not God, to control your life. God doesn’t want you to serve people out of fear, but out of love for them – and Him.

1 Samuel 1-3, John 9:1-23