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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Don’t be dismissive
01 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.’
Proverbs 13:10 NKJV

Why do we dismiss input that could help us? Sometimes it’s to protect our ego against a painful truth. When we have an entrenched opinion, we adopt a dismissive approach towards the thinking of others. And not only do we hurt them, we hurt ourselves. ‘Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more’ (Ecclesiastes 4:13 NKJV).

Yes, you have areas of expertise. But you also have areas where you need advice. The day you decide to stop listening is the day you decide to stop growing. Thomas Carlyle said, ‘Every man is my superior in that I can learn from him.’ ’Even if what you learn is negative or a lesson in what not to do, it’s still valuable information that can protect and enrich you.

Dr John Maxwell says: ‘What is the one thing – more than any other – that will determine the growth of an organisation? The growth of the people in the organisation. And what determines the people’s growth? The growth of the leader! As long as people are following you, they will be able to go only as far as you go. If you’re not growing, they won’t be growing – either that, or they will go somewhere else where they can grow.’

The story is told of an old farmer who entered his mule in the Kentucky Derby. ‘Your mule has no chance of winning against all those thoroughbreds,’ a race official told him. ‘I know,’ he replied, ‘but I thought the associations would do him some good.’ To grow, you need the right associations and the right input.

Song of Songs 1-3, 2 Corinthians 8

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

God will back you up!
02 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’
Matthew 18:18 NIV

God told Joshua, ‘Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand’ (Joshua 8:18 NKJV). It’s amazing how courageous you feel when God is backing you up. When you know He is on your side, you can say, ‘No weapon that is formed against me will prevail’ (see Isaiah 54:17).

But overconfidence is self-confidence that’s not based on God-confidence. Our problem is, we plan, say, and do things without first checking to find out if God is behind us. Do you remember what the evil spirit said to those trying to mimic Paul’s ministry when they weren’t empowered by God’s Spirit? ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ (Acts 19:15 NKJV). When you’re under attack, you need to know that 1) you’re in right standing with God (see 2 Corinthians 5:19), 2) it’s God’s fight as well as yours (see 2 Chronicles 20:15), and 3) ‘whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven’ (Matthew 18:18 NIV). There must be agreement in both realms. If it’s not approved where God is, it shouldn’t be approved where you are.

Your confidence comes from knowing you’re operating in His will. The Bible calls us ‘labourers together with God’ (1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV), so you can’t go off and do your own thing. Don’t try moving any mountain the Lord doesn’t want moved or raising anybody from the dead except the Lazarus He calls forth. We do on earth only what He has declared to be His will in heaven. And He backs us up!

Song of Songs 4-5, 2 Corinthians 9

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Deal with your unresolved issues
03 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘No one who has…scabs.’
Leviticus 21:18-20 NLT

To help someone with their unresolved issues, you must first deal with your own. If the medicine you’re offering hasn’t made you whole, you will have no credibility when you try to apply it to the lives of others. Does that mean if you have unresolved issues, God won’t use you? No, it’s the broken who become masters at mending. But first you must take time to be healed.

It’s hard to talk about victory when you’re experiencing defeat. When you’re bleeding spiritually and emotionally, you can’t treat people’s problems with the same kind of aggressive faith you would have if you had already worked through the problem. Is it wrong to have a broken heart? No, for God ‘heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3 NKJV). So let God make you whole so He can use you.

In Old Testament times, you could not serve as a priest if you had a scab, which is an unhealed wound. This is why: 1) You wouldn’t be up to par spiritually. 2) You couldn’t get close to others in case they bumped into you and knocked the protective cover off your scab. 3) You couldn’t be at your best because the pain was sapping your strength. 4) You would be afraid to talk about your scab in case people rejected you. So you would live on two levels, and become insecure, hypocritical, or controlling. 5) Worst of all, you would be so busy working for God and taking care of others, you wouldn’t have time to stop and take care of yourself. So the word for today is – deal with your unresolved issues.

Song of Songs 6-8, 2 Corinthians 10

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Hanging by a thread?
04 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘Wait on the LORD …and He shall strengthen your heart.’

Psalm 27:14 NKJV

Psalm 27:14 NKJV
David said: ‘I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart’ (v.13-14 NKJV). The word ‘wait’ originates from a Hebrew word used in making rope. Every rope starts as a thread, and every strand that's added increases its strength. So each time you wait on the Lord, you add another thread to your rope; you become a little stronger and a little more able to cope.

Are you hanging on by a thread? Spend more time with God and watch Him turn the thread into a rope. Waiting isn't always passive; sometimes it’s active, like waiting on a customer and seeing that their needs are met. In this case, waiting is more of a focus than a position. The Bible says, ‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you’ (Isaiah 26:3 NIV). Whether it’s sitting prayerfully in God’s presence or actively serving Him, you'll have the assurance that your strength will be renewed.

If you're feeling like you're at the end of your rope today, grab hold of and cling to these promises: ‘Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint’ (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV). ‘As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters…so our eyes look to the Lord our God’ (Psalm 123:2 NKJV).



What Now?

When you’re waiting for God to move or give you the next step, get some lengths of string, thread, or ribbon. Start with one length, then each time you pray or talk to Him about the situation, add a new piece and twist them together. Soon you’ll have a ‘rope’, a reminder of how God strengthens us in the waiting!

Luke 17:1-19, Psalms 91-93

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Knowing what god’s called you to do
05 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘Who are you?’
John 1:22 NKJV

When asked, ‘Who are you?’ John the Baptist replied, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord”’ (v. 23 NKJV). After listening to John for a while, his disciples left him to follow Christ. And that was okay with John, because he knew what he was called to do. Do you?

You can only go on for so long ‘trying things.’ At some point you’ve got to discover what God’s called you to do and give yourself fully to it. Apparently Paul wasn’t a particularly great speaker: ‘I came to you in weakness – timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain’ (1 Corinthians 2:3-4 NLT). But what Paul lacked as a speaker, he more than compensated for as a writer. He wrote the inspired word that enabled others to preach! Something so powerful was released through Paul’s writings that even when they threw him in jail he didn’t ask for a lawyer or a gourmet meal because he was tired of prison food. No, he wanted paper so that he could keep writing. In fact, Paul wrote all the way to the end of his life. And because he did, lives are still being changed today. What a legacy! And all because one man discovered his calling and devoted himself to it.

So the question is: Have you discovered your calling and devoted yourself to it? George Bernard Shaw wrote: ‘Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I get to hold for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before turning it over to future generations.’

Isaiah 1-2, 2 Corinthians 11

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Keep standing, keep believing, keep fighting
06 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘Patient endurance is what you need now.’
Hebrews 10:36 NLT

Satan studies you. He understands your strengths and weaknesses and knows how to push you to your limits. But when you keep standing, keep believing, and keep fighting, the Bible says, ‘Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown’ (James 1:12 NKJV). The word ‘approved’ means victory qualifies you for greater things. The word ‘endures’ means your character and tenacity are being tested.

You say, ‘How long will this trial last?’ Only God knows. Goliath defied the armies of Israel for forty days (see 1 Samuel 17:16). Satan hindered Daniel’s prayers for twenty-one days (see Daniel 10:13). Satan is relentless, so you must be too. When it comes to prayer, your persistence overcomes his resistance. ‘Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord…Patient endurance is what you need now…Then you will receive all that he has promised’ (Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT).

David didn’t get into trouble with Bathsheba until he left the battlefield (see 2 Samuel 11:1). So keep fighting, and God will come to your aid. He did it for Joshua. When Joshua needed extra time to defeat his enemies, God made the sun stand still and time stop (see Joshua 10:12). It seemed God was saying to him, ‘As long as the sun doesn’t go down, you won’t either, for the same power that’s holding it up is holding you up!’ When Jesus healed ten lepers, the Bible says, ‘As they went, they were cleansed’ (Luke 17:14 KJV). They were probably wondering, ‘When will it happen, and how will it happen?’ Faith doesn’t demand details and explanations; it just keeps moving forwards, believing God for the right result.

Isaiah 3-4, 2 Corinthians 12

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

How to be saved
07 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’
Acts 16:31 NKJV

Have you heard of the ‘Romans Road’ to salvation? It’s based on four simple steps found in the book of Romans.

Step one: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23 NKJV). We are all sinners to the core, desperately in need of a Saviour.

Step two: ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life’ (Romans 6:23 NKJV). The gospel means ‘good news’. And here it is: all of your sins from the cradle to the grave have been paid for by Jesus.

Step three: ‘While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8 NKJV). You can’t earn salvation by good works; God gives it to you freely. All you have to do is receive it by faith.

Step four: ‘If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For…”whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”’ (Romans 10:9-13 NKJV).

Does your life feel empty? Do you long for peace; to know your sins are forgiven and you have a home in heaven when you die? Today, place your trust in Jesus, and make Him Lord of your life. Just pray these words: ‘Lord, I surrender my life to you. Come into my heart. By faith I receive the gift of eternal life. Thank you for setting everything right between you and me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.’

Isaiah 5-6, 2 Corinthians 13

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Don’t lose your peace
08 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace.’
James 3:18 NKJV

Satan knows that God’s Word can only be received by a heart and mind that are at peace, so he will do everything he can to keep you upset. He loves it when you get into an argument just before church and spend the entire service feeling bad. That’s why you must do whatever it takes to keep your peace.

There is power in peace! If the devil can’t get you upset, he has no power over you. He only ‘gains’ control when you ‘lose it’. He keeps you upset in order to steal your peace, confuse you, and make you run in circles. Don’t let him do it! Next time you get worked up about some issue, stop and ask yourself, ‘What’s the Enemy trying to do here? If I give in to these emotions, what will the result be?’ When you’re stressed out, you lose your joy. And when you lose your joy, you lose your strength, because ‘the joy of the Lord is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV). So it’s essential that you exercise self-control and try to keep your peace.

James writes, ‘The wisdom that is from above is…peaceable’ (James 3:17 NKJV). In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases this Scripture: ‘Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterised by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings…You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other’ (vv. 17-18 MSG). Now getting along with others can be hard work, but it’s worth it to have peace.

Isaiah 7-8, Galatians 1

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Never lose your passion for God
09 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘Passion for your house has consumed me.’
Psalm 69:9 NLT

Question: are you passionate about God, or merely passive? Notice the steps that led to Peter’s denial of Jesus.

Step one: ‘Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers’ (Luke 22:31-32 NLT). Jesus warns Peter he is a target, but Peter doesn’t believe Him.

Step two: ‘They arrested [Jesus] and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance’ (v. 54 NLT). Peter was one of Christ’s closest disciples, but you’ll notice, now he is following Him ‘at a distance’.

Step three: ‘A servant girl…said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”’ (vv. 56-57 NLT).

Step four: ‘That moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly’ (vv. 61-62 NLT).

Here is how it works: first you assume you won’t fall, so you’re unprepared for Satan’s attack when it comes. Next you allow the problems and pressures of life to make you forget that your first commitment must always be to the Lord. Finally, you end up spiritually defeated. You say, ‘That will never happen to me.’ That’s what Peter said! The reason ‘Satan hath desired to have you’ (v. 31 KJV) is because he knows when you become passionate about doing God’s will, you will be unstoppable. So, never lose your passion for God.

Isaiah 9-10, Galatians 2

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Three things a leader shouldn’t do
10 SEPTEMBER 2022

‘If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.’
Romans 12:8 NLT

As a leader, here are three things you shouldn’t do:

1) You shouldn’t be afraid to try something new (see Isaiah 43:19). When you put someone into a new role, they will make mistakes; it’s inevitable, but it’s how they learn. While locking them into the same routine takes the wind out of their sails, being a leader means risking their failures and biting your lip as you let them toddle out into the unknown. Like a parent who prays harder when their teen takes the family car out for their first drive, you must accept that the challenges which frighten you are actually liberating to others.

2) You shouldn’t confuse individual loyalty with team building (see 1 Corinthians 3:9). It’s good to work closely with key individuals, but it’s also important to stay ‘connected to each other’ (Romans 12:5 GWT). You must make sure that everybody gets to be on the team, feels valued, and learns how to interact with one another.

3) You shouldn’t try to micromanage people (see 2 Corinthians 7:16 GWT). There is a difference between managing people and leading them. Managing people requires an eye for detail, whereas leading them involves vision sharing, goal setting, and motivating. And you must know the difference. When you micromanage rather than lead, morale plummets, because people need clear objectives and the freedom to figure out how to reach them. Don’t micromanage; it diminishes the sense of ownership those under you and around you need for good team dynamics and problem-solving. President Eisenhower once said, ‘Pull the string, and it will follow you wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere.’

Isaiah 11-13, Galatians 3