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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

28 APRIL 2023

‘These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you.’
John 15:11 KJV

Why did Jesus say, ‘These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full’? Because if you let it, stress will drain you of joy and consign you to a life of depression, dullness, and discontent. Let’s face it – most of us are way too serious! We make a big deal out of everything. Being five minutes late, getting stuck in traffic, somebody giving us a wrong look, waiting in line, overcooking a meal, gaining a pound, discovering a wrinkle, making an honest mistake…you name it; we lose all perspective. The real problem is we have unrealistic expectations.

That’s not how God wants you to live! If you want to experience the joy Jesus promised, do these two things: 1) Concede that your uptightness is largely because of the way you have decided life should be. 2) Acknowledge that your expectations are causing you much of your frustration. When you keep expecting things to always be a certain way and they’re not, you will always be upset.

Here is an idea: try approaching life today without all those expectations. For example, don’t expect everybody to be friendly – then when some are, you will be delighted. Don’t expect your day to be hassle-free; when trouble comes, look up and say, ‘Thank you, Lord, for another chance to grow.’ Go ahead, try it and see how much better things are. Rather than swimming against the tide, learn to flow with it. Pretty soon, you will find you’re enjoying life more! And not just that: other people will enjoy being around you more.

1 Samuel 15-16, John 11:30-57

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Start memorising Scriptures
29 APRIL 2023

‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.’
Colossians 3:16 KJV

Before written languages were developed, memory was the only way to learn. In our day, memorising has got a bad name as ‘rote learning’. But memorising never makes your mind a duller place – just the opposite! When we have stored wonderful words in our memory, we will have a much richer inner life than someone who doesn’t.

Eva Hermann spent two years in a Nazi prison camp. She wrote how a young cellmate happened to recite the prayer of St Teresa: ‘Let naught trouble thee; let naught frighten thee; all things pass. God alone changeth not. Patience can do all things. Whoever has God, has everything. God alone sufficeth.’ When Eva saw how much this helped the girl, she began to repeat the prayer at the end of every day. Eva later wrote of how her time in prison was transformed by the words she had memorised. This illustrates that the words we carry in our minds are available to transform any given moment.

So when there is a verse of Scripture that speaks to you, stop and write it on a card. Put it on a mirror in your bathroom, or on your smartphone or calendar, or in your car. If you’re an auditory learner, listen to the Scripture being read on CDs or on an iPod. If you’re a visual learner, light a candle and read these words: ‘God is light; in him there is no darkness at all’ (1 John 1:5 NIV). When God’s Word is rehearsed, remembered, and repeated often, it’s like a stream of joy, peace, and strength that flows and carries your soul along with it.

1 Samuel 17-18, John 12:1-26

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Christ is coming again!
30 APRIL 2023

‘The day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.’
2 Peter 3:10 NLT[

Don’t let ‘date-setters’ make you cynical about Christ’s soon return. When the founder of a major church denomination predicted in print the date of Christ’s second coming, his successors faced the embarrassment of having to publicly acknowledge that they were wrong. Do you remember the alarmists of Y2K? Declaring to a scientific certainty that the year 2000 would bring the end of the world and the return of Christ, they caused people to leave their jobs, sell their homes, stock up on food, and head for the hills.

And because of such embarrassments, many preachers today have silenced or toned down the truth of Christ’s second coming. Yes, when some people hear the message, they roll their eyes and say, ‘Not again!’ But doubt about Christ’s return is one of the signs that guarantees it will happen.

The Bible says: ‘In the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth…They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”…The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief…the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment…so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight’ (vv. 3-4, 9-10, 14 NLT).

Luke 8:19-39, Psalms 46-48

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Experiencing God’s presence and pleasure
01 MAY 2023



‘In Your presence is fullness of joy.’
Psalm 16:11 NKJV

If you were miserable before you met Jesus, it’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that the only place His presence can be enjoyed is in church. No, you can enjoy His presence everywhere. At home, at work, at school, in business, and even in times of suffering and adversity.

Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite monk in a French monastery, wrote the best-selling book, The Practice of the Presence of God. He resented his daily routine in the kitchen. Then God showed him that everything he did each day could be done for God and with God. That truth transformed his life.

You can cultivate your mind to be more productive, and you can also cultivate your spirit to be more sensitive to God. You can reach the place where you sense His presence and His pleasure in all that you do. Believing God is present with you won’t help you much if you think He is always upset with you. But when you see yourself as accepted in Christ, you realise that He is not only present with you at all times but pleased with you (see Ephesians 1:6). That will radically change your thinking about God.

There are dozens of things pertaining to everyday life, and you can enjoy them all if you just make the decision to do it – getting dressed, going to work, organising things, running errands, grocery shopping, etc. After all, these are the things life is made up of. Joy comes not merely from being entertained, but from a decision to be grateful for each moment you are given as a rare and valuable gift from God.

1 Samuel 19-21, John 12:27-50

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Don’t wait; enjoy your life now
02 MAY 2023

‘There is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life.’
Ecclesiastes 3:22 NLT

Solomon writes: ‘I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why we are here! No one can bring us back from death to enjoy life after we die.’ Begin now to think about what you can do to find more joy in every experience. The present moment is all you’re guaranteed, so don’t wait until later – until you get married, retire, go on holiday, or until your children finish university – to enjoy your life.

No one knows what will happen next in their lives or in the world. You’re alive now, so maximise it, embrace it, and celebrate it. Nobody was busier than Jesus, yet He knew how to celebrate! His first miracle was performed at a wedding reception. His schedule was hectic, yet He interrupted it to enjoy time with children. The needs He faced were endless, yet He took time off to rest.

These words are from an anonymous writer: ‘If I had my life to live over, I would take more chances…[and] more trips. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones…I have been one of those people who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would go places and do things and travel lighter than I have.’ Don’t wait; enjoy your life now.

1 Samuel 22-24, John 13:1-20

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Money matters in marriage
03 MAY 2023

‘He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house.’
Proverbs 15:27 NKJV

Today one of the biggest sources of conflict in marriage is money. That is because a husband and wife often have opposite ideas about how it ought to be used. Stop and consider the words ‘delayed gratification’. When one spouse is willing to delay purchasing something until their financial house is in order, but the other one isn’t, the battle lines begin to form.

Another disagreement that can arise is deciding when, and for what, credit should be obtained. This is treacherous territory. Nothing irritates a disciplined, thrifty person more than living with someone who wastes their income and their future earnings on things that aren’t truly needed.

Another potential minefield in marriage for many of us is deciding when and how much to give to our children. Because we love them so much, we want life to be easier and better for them growing up than it was for us. But it takes a steady hand to hold a full cup. The Bible clearly teaches the virtues of hard work, living frugally, saving, building, and producing by the sweat of our brows. And if our children don’t learn these virtues the right way – while they’re living in our home – there is a good chance they will learn them the hard way – while building their own home.

So here is some good advice: stay out of debt as much as possible and be extremely cautious with credit cards. Their misuse can weaken your family’s stability and future. Indeed, credit cards should be labelled, ‘Danger! Handle with care!’ Jesus put it this way: ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own’ (Luke 12:15 NLT).

1 Samuel 25-26, John 13:21-38

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Use your God-given creativity
04 MAY 2023

‘He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work.’
Exodus 35:35 NKJV

The Bible says God ‘filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver – those who do every work and those who design artistic works’ (v. 35 NKJV). When God calls you to do something, He has already placed within you the ability to accomplish it.

Satan hopes you never discover that. He wants you to remain trapped in the status quo, believing that the way things are is how they will always be. Not so! When you change your thinking, your life begins to change. ‘As he thinketh in his heart, so is he’ (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). As long as you are content to remain as you are, you will never begin to think creatively. But when you decide you want your life to change for the better, you become teachable and open yourself to becoming creative. Like anything else in life, creativity begins with one idea. Then those ideas multiply! And each creative idea you have increases your ability to become a creative thinker.

Poet Maya Angelou observed: ‘You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. Sadly, too often creativity is smothered rather than nurtured. There has to be a climate in which new ways of thinking, perceiving, and questioning are encouraged.’ If you cultivate creative thinking, there is no telling what kind of ideas you will come up with or how far you will go in life. Are you ready to start? Ask your Creator for a creative idea, then step out in faith and act on it.

1 Samuel 27-29, John 14

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

A prayer of forgiveness
05 MAY 2023

‘Forgiving one another, just as God…has forgiven you.’
Ephesians 4:32 NLT

The Bible says: ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you’ (vv. 31-32 NLT). Are you struggling to forgive someone? Here is a prayer:

‘Lord, I praise You for forgiving me and washing my sins away. Reveal anything I need to confess to You today so that I can bring it before You and be cleansed and set free, especially any place in my heart where I have not forgiven someone. I know how subtly resentment and bitterness can build up and hinder my prayers. I recognise that my lack of forgiveness towards others can keep me from experiencing Your forgiveness (see Mark 11:25).

'To say that I need Your help to forgive others the way You have always been forgiving towards me is a huge understatement. You forgave the unforgivable on the cross. I acknowledge that I am incapable of forgiving on my own. Remind me that I cannot make my forgiveness conditional upon whether people deserve it or not, and that the focus of my heart must remain on becoming more like You.

'Give me grace to forgive, and not hold forgiveness back until the other person says or does what I think they should. Take away anything of anger, bitterness, or resentment in my heart. Pour out Your Spirit upon me and cleanse me of all that’s not of You. Enable me to walk in the forgiveness You have given me and to extend it to others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’

1 Samuel 30-31, John 15

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When God sends you an angel (1)
06 MAY 2023

‘Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?’
Hebrews 1:14 NIV

God can come to you in varied forms. When Jesus appeared to His disciples and stilled the storm, they thought He was a ghost. So, your intellect can undermine your faith. The Bible says angels are ‘ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation’. Have you ever seen an angel? They aren’t always dressed in white with dramatically arched wings. Sometimes they’re so ordinary that they’re overlooked. ‘Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it’ (Hebrews 13:2 NIV).

Perhaps you think God doesn’t send angels because He has given us His Holy Spirit to help, protect, and guide us. Not so. Remember, God sent an angel to deliver Peter from prison on the eve of his execution. On his way to Rome, Paul was on board a ship that was destined to be destroyed by a ferocious storm. But God sent an angel to assure him he would survive it. So, Paul announced to the crew and passengers: ‘Take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul”…Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me’ (Acts 27:22-25 NKJV).

You may not be able to see angels, but you can be certain that they see you; indeed, they never take their eyes off you! (See Matthew 18:10.)

2 Samuel 1-2, John 16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

When God sends you an angel (2)
07 MAY 2023

‘He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.’
Psalm 91:11 NLT

In what situation might God send an angel to help you?

1) When those you love and trust have disappointed you. Imagine how Hagar felt. In a joint decision with his wife, Sarah, Abraham got Hagar pregnant in order to try and fulfil God’s promise. Then when Isaac was born a year later, he sent her away without child support. Weeping and believing they would both die, Hagar left baby Ishmael under a tree and walked away. But God sent an angel to tell her that her son was a child of destiny from whom would come a great people (see Genesis 21:18).

2) When you’re facing embarrassment and can’t defend yourself. Mary planned to get married first, then have a baby. But God had a different plan. Not only was she facing public humiliation, but according to the law, she should be put to death. But God sent an angel to vindicate her and tell her that she was in the centre of His will (see Luke 1:34-38).

3) When you’re grieving the death of someone you love and fearing for your future. Mary Magdalene loved Jesus more than life itself, so when He died and was buried, she was distraught and heartbroken. That’s when God sent an angel to announce: ‘He is not here: for he is risen’ (Matthew 28:6 KJV).

The Bible says, ‘Some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it’ (Hebrews 13:2 NIV). If you allow it to, a cynical world will make you doubt that God actually loves you so much He would send an angel to help you. But it’s true.

Luke 8:40-56, Psalms 49-50