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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Don’t give place to envy
04 MARCH 2022

‘Lord…You guard all that is mine.’
Psalm 16:5 NLT

Have you allowed envy to form a ‘stronghold’ in your life? Do you find yourself avoiding or feeling resentful of certain people because of their success? The Bible says, ‘Envy rots the bones’ (Proverbs 14:30 NIV) and the New Living Translation paraphrases it this way: ‘Jealousy is like cancer in the bones.’ If you find yourself constantly criticising someone and craving what they have, read these words and think about them carefully and prayerfully: ‘I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen’ (Jeremiah 29:11-12 TLB). In essence, envy says to God, ‘You made a mistake when You made me like I am. I want to be like that other person, and have what they have!’ No, God has a unique calling and destiny for you. So instead of giving place to envy, let it motivate you to become the best possible ‘you’ – the person God intended you to be. If you’re fighting a losing battle with envy, here’s a prescription from God’s Word you need to take every day: ‘Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice’ (Psalm 16:5-9 NLT).

Numbers 5-6, Mark 4:1-20

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

The reason you’re still here
05 MARCH 2022

‘I saw God…and…my life was spared.’
Genesis 32:30 NIV

‘Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip’ (vv. 30-31 NIV). The truth is, without God’s protective hand on your life, you wouldn’t be here today! God is not finished with you yet. Do you remember when some of your friends (and your enemies) didn’t think you would make it? But God rescued you and placed you where you are today. After God finished wrestling with him, Jacob said, ‘My life was spared.’ And so was yours, right? That’s because there is more to come. The Bible says, ‘God…creates new things out of nothing’ (Romans 4:17 NLT). He wants to set in place in your life things that weren’t there before. Good things! But notice something very important: ‘Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak’ (Genesis 32:24 NIV). When God deals with you on important issues, He does it one-on-one, not as part of the crowd. In fact, being in a crowd can keep you from hearing His voice. Being alone with God can feel threatening because your facade and ego get stripped away. Your first impulse may be to stay with the crowd, but you soon discover they can’t calm the restlessness in your spirit. That restlessness is God calling you to a meeting! So, like Jacob, don’t be afraid to wrestle with Him until a new day breaks for you.

Numbers 7-8, Mark 4:21-41

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

It’s not too late for you
06 MARCH 2022

‘LORD…please strengthen me just one more time.’
Judges 16:28 NLT

In prison Sampson prayed: ‘Lord…please strengthen me just one more time…Then Samson put his hands on the two centre pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands…the temple crashed down…So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime’ (vv. 28-30 NLT). How did Samson end up in this prison? Delilah! The Bible says, ‘She pressed him daily’ (v. 16 KJV). Satan is persistent, and he waits to catch you in an unguarded moment. That’s why there are certain doors in life you should never open. If you feed the wrong appetite for a day, you can end up struggling with it for a lifetime. Perhaps you have seen the poster that says: ‘Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.’ The good news is, Samson remembered God! And it’s a wonderful day when you remember God and reach again for Him. Note the words ‘he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime’ (v. 30 NLT). Samson’s greatest victory was recorded in the final chapter of his life. In fact, he is named among the heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter eleven. Regardless of where you are today or what shape you’re in, turn to God. He will help you make a comeback. It’s not too late for you.

Luke 4:31-44, Psalms 26-28

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Practise being unselfish
07 MARCH 2022

‘I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you.’
2 Corinthians 12:15 NLT

Helping people brings great fulfilment. When you spend your day serving others, you can lay your head down at night and sleep soundly. And even if you have spent much of your life chasing selfish gain, it’s not too late to have a change of heart. Even Charles Dickens’ Scrooge discovered you can turn your life around and make a difference for others. That’s what Alfred Nobel did. He was shocked when he saw his obituary in a newspaper. (His brother had died, and the editor mistakenly named Alfred instead in an uncomplimentary statement, because the explosives his company produced and profited from had killed many people.) So, Nobel vowed to spend the rest of his life promoting peace and acknowledging contributions to humanity. That’s how the Nobel Prizes came into being! When you get outside of yourself and make a contribution to others, you really begin to live. Unselfishness is its own reward; it’s not dependent on the response of others. This is the principle by which the apostle Paul lived: ‘I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me’ (v. 15 NLT). When you see a four-year-old, you expect selfishness. But when you see it in a forty-year-old, it’s not very attractive, is it? Of all the qualities you can pursue, unselfishness seems to make the biggest difference towards cultivating other virtues. Yes, it goes against the grain of human nature. But if you can learn to think unselfishly and become a giver, it becomes easier to develop other virtues, such as gratitude, love, respect, patience, and discipline.

Numbers 9-10, Mark 5:1-20

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Releasing the power within you
08 MARCH 2022

‘God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him.’
Philippians 2:13 CEV

The engine in your car is its power source, and it’s activated when you put the car in gear. Only then do you have the momentum you need to get where you need to go. One of the dangers in seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit is that you can reduce it to an ‘experience’, rather than ‘putting it in gear’ to accomplish great things for God. In the New Testament when someone was filled with the Holy Spirit – things happened. People turned to Christ. Healings took place. On one occasion, they had a book-burning in the town square (see Acts 19:19). They didn’t just celebrate in church – they took it to the streets! In Scripture, the first picture we have of God is of Him in His creative role. He creates us in His image, breathes life into us, then tells us, ‘Go out and become productive’ (see Genesis 1:28). If you’re praying for someone with all the answers to come along and change your circumstances, it won’t happen. You’re not a helpless bystander. What God has placed inside you will change what’s outside you – provided you put it to work! What’s within you is greater than the trouble you have been through, the situation you’re in, or the obstacles that lie in your path. When everything around you is saying no and something within you is saying yes, that’s ‘God…working in you to make you willing and able to obey him’. The ‘willing’ is your part; the ‘able’ is His part. When you get those two things working in sync, your life will change.

Numbers 11-12, Mark 5:21-43

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Become a conduit
09 MARCH 2022

‘You will be blessed in every way.’
2 Corinthians 9:11 CEV

Think how ridiculous it would be for an electric company to generate power and then hoard it. Their customers would be in the dark, and the company would be out of business in short order! The same principle applies to our finances. ‘God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others…You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous’ (vv. 7-8, 11 CEV). Some people refuse to give because they’re greedy, but in most instances, that’s not so. The truth is, we’re concerned that if we don’t look out for our own interests, they might not get looked out for at all. But that kind of thinking doesn’t make sense. That’s like a farmer refusing to plant his next harvest because he is afraid to let go of his seeds. The Bible says, ‘Honour the Lord by giving him your money and the first part of all your crops’ (Proverbs 3:9 CEV). Is that because He is poor and He needs it? No! He wants us to sow into His kingdom so that 1) His work and His will can be done on the earth, and 2) you will have a harvest when you need it. Jesus said when you ‘put God’s work first and do what he wants…the other things will be yours as well’ (Matthew 6:33 CEV). When you become a conduit for God’s kingdom, ‘you will be blessed in every way’. In fact, when you consider your finances from a biblical perspective, the thing to fear isn’t giving away too much – it’s sowing too little!

Numbers 13-14, Mark 6:1-29

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

What only God sees
10 MARCH 2022

‘Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.’
Matthew 6:18 NKJV

Have you ever been to a concert where they used the latest audio-visual equipment? Chances are, you were blown away by the multidimensional sights and sounds, and afterwards, left talking about the amazing skills of the performers. If the performance went without a hitch, you probably didn’t think about the sound and lighting techs. Usually we only notice them when the equipment fails. They’re the invisible element; the people who do their job by making the star look and sound great. The real accolades go to those in the spotlight. That’s the order of things in the kingdom of man. But the kingdom of God operates on the principle that ‘the last shall be first, and the first last’ (Matthew 20:16 KJV). Jesus said when you fast, pray, and give without looking for recognition, ‘your Father who sees [your actions] in secret will reward you openly’. On a big ship, only the captain and a handful of officers are visible on the bridge. But the crew below deck determine the ship’s progress for most of the voyage. And in God’s church, it’s the ‘engine-room crew’ who faithfully carry out much of the work: caretaking staff, nursery workers, bus drivers, car park attendants, nursing home visitors, prison outreach workers, and prayer warriors. While high-profile people tend to get most of the kudos, God reserves special recognition and rewards for the below-deck crew! And if you’re one of them, soon enough you will hear His public announcement, ‘Good servant…you have been faithful in a small matter’ (Luke 19:17 CEB). And when that happens, everything else will pale by comparison!

Numbers 15-16, Mark 6:30-56

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Your prayers can make great things happen!
11 MARCH 2022

‘When a believing person prays, great things happen.’
James 5:16 NCV

While holidaying in England, D.L. Moody visited a London church that was spiritually dead. The pastor recognised him and asked him to preach at the morning service. Reluctantly, Moody agreed. Afterwards, he told a friend the congregation was so unresponsive it was all he could do to finish his sermon. Later, he remembered he had committed to preach there again that night. Wishing he had never interrupted his holiday plans, he spent the afternoon dreading what was ahead. But behind the scenes, something was happening that Moody knew nothing about. After the morning service, an elderly lady met her invalid sister for lunch and told her about Moody’s upcoming visit. Her sister’s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, ‘I’ve been praying God would send Moody to England! Put away the lunch, Sis. We’ll spend the afternoon fasting and praying for tonight’s service.’ When Moody took the pulpit that night, an ‘electric’ sense of God’s presence filled the sanctuary. He preached like a man on fire, and when he issued an invitation for people to follow Christ, five hundred responded. Thinking they had misunderstood, Moody had them sit down while he re-explained the gospel call. But when he issued a second invitation, the same five hundred stood to receive Christ. That Sunday initiated one of the greatest revivals ever to sweep England. What helped make it happen? Two elderly ladies who understood their church desperately needed the fire of God’s Spirit. They believed God’s promise, ‘When a believing person prays, great things happen.’ Today, tap into the power of prayer. Your prayers can help ignite the fire of God and make great things happen.

Numbers 17-19, Mark 7:1-16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

The Pharisee and the prostitute
12 MARCH 2022

‘All her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love.’
Luke 7:47 CEV

One day, Jesus was eating at the home of a Pharisee when a prostitute came in. ‘The woman kissed his feet and poured…perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If [Jesus] really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him!”’ (vv. 38-39 CEV). But Simon the Pharisee got it wrong. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t know, it’s that He didn’t care! That day, He forgave her sin and sent her on her way redeemed, restored, and redirected. This story confirms what we already know; Jesus came to save sinners on the street and hypocrites in the church. No one is beyond the reach of His grace. With that in mind, think this way: 1) Never forget what God saved you from! Note what Jesus told Simon the Pharisee: ‘Anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love’ (v. 47 CEV). Remembering the sins of his past, David wrote: ‘He…brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay…set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord’ (Psalm 40:2-3 NKJV). 2) Remember that Jesus isn’t looking at your past but at your future. The crowd saw this woman as a weed, but Jesus saw her as a rose, and He watered it. Bottom line: if you need forgiveness today, come to Jesus. And if you have been forgiven, pour out your heart to Him in praise.

Numbers 20-22, Mark 7:17-37

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Become a worshipper
13 MARCH 2022

‘The true worshippers are…led by the Spirit.’
John 4:23 CEV

Let’s talk about how to become a worshipper. First of all, there is no one-size-fits-all. The Bible doesn’t say you must worship God in a certain way. That’s because worship is such a powerful outpouring of our hearts towards the Lord that it can’t be limited to words or defined by a song, a shout, or silence. Jesus said, ‘True worshippers are…led by the Spirit…These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him’ (v. 23 CEV). Second, God created you to worship Him. Perhaps you have never thought of this – God created us to do the one thing He can’t do for Himself – worship! John the Apostle wrote, ‘Thou art worthy…to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created’ (Revelation 4:11 KJV). Nothing brings pleasure to the heart of our heavenly Father more than the love and adoration of His redeemed children. Third, worship can be expressed by anybody, anywhere, anytime. The Samaritan woman in Scripture grew up believing that true worship must be expressed at a sacred mountain called Gerizim, whereas the Jews believed it should be practised in the temple at Jerusalem. But Jesus said it wasn’t to be confined to church or a particular day of the week. The psalmist, in his inimitable style, puts it like this: ‘Servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised’ (Psalm 113:1-3 NKJV). So, become a worshipper.

Luke 5:1-16, Psalms 29-30