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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Commit to the relationship (4)
08 AUGUST 2023

‘Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
Amos 3:3 NKJV

Benjamin Franklin’s formula for a happy marriage was this: ‘Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.’ One of the reasons marriages end in divorce is because we see only what we want to see. And if we saw obvious faults that could destroy the relationship, we allowed our heart to overrule our head and thought, ‘He or she will change after I marry them.’ What you turn a blind eye to today, you forfeit the right to complain about tomorrow. So if you’re wise, you will do these two things before you make the decision to marry someone:

1) Discuss openly what you will and will not accept in your relationship. These things are called ‘deal breakers’. Things like abuse, infidelity, alcohol and drug abuse, anger and moodiness, and buying stuff you can’t afford. If you think breaking up with someone now is painful, wait until you’re married with children, and mortgages and families are involved! The Bible says, ‘Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?’

2) If there are no deal-breaking concerns, but you basically fear the unknown, use your faith in God to bridge the gap between your doubts and the peace you wish for. Don’t invent reasons not to commit. Stop nit-picking every flaw in the other person. The Bible says, ‘His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor…Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV). Pray together and give the ‘Wonderful, Counsellor’ a chance to guide you in your relationship choice. God instituted marriage; when you do it His way, you can enter the highest halls of human happiness.

Job 32-33, 1 Corinthians 7:20-40

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

The secret of self-control
09 AUGUST 2023

‘Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things).’
Colossians 3:2 AMPC

To have a disciplined life, you must have a disciplined mind. Jesus said Satan’s threefold purpose is to ‘steal, and to kill, and to destroy’ (John 10:10 KJV). And you forget it at your own peril! In your own strength, you’re no match for Satan, but God will give you strength to overcome His strategies and exercise self-control. And the Bible tells us how: ‘Set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.’

Note the words ‘set your minds and keep them set’. Many cars come with cruise control. When you reach the speed limit, you simply ‘set’ the car’s computer by pushing a lever or hitting a button and the car maintains that speed. It won’t go above it or drop beneath it. Similarly, when your mind is programmed with God’s Word, you ‘set’ your thoughts and desires on that which pleases God rather than that which satisfies the cravings of your lower nature.

Self-discipline is the price of freedom. When you’re controlled by your impulses, you’re not free, you’re a slave. Even legitimate things can enslave you. The saying goes, ‘Too much of a good thing quickly becomes a bad thing!’ Paul writes: ‘Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things)…I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power’ (1 Corinthians 6:12 AMPC). So, the secret of self-control is to program your mind with God’s Word.

Job 34-35, 1 Corinthians 8

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

‘Fix’ your mind and change your life
10 AUGUST 2023

‘Think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them.’
Philippians 4:8 AMPC

Paul writes: ‘Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honourable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]’ (v. 8 AMPC).

If you are serious about wanting a better life, you must change the way you think. The best way to stop thinking about something is simply to think about something else. When you don’t enjoy a certain TV programme, what do you do? Switch channels! Does the channel you don’t like no longer exist? No, it’s there anytime you choose to switch back to it. Likewise, when you find yourself stuck in a repeated thought pattern that’s detrimental to you – one that plays like a broken record in your mind – take action. Refuse to loan your mind to the devil for his scheme.

The only place a thought can live is in your mind. The only power a thought has over you is the power you give it. God says, ‘I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life’ (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV). God gives you the options, but He won’t exercise them for you. Choosing the right thought is like flipping a light switch; it dispels darkness and illuminates the room. Your most dominant thoughts will control your life, so make sure they line up with God’s Word. Today ‘fix’ your mind and change your life.

Job 36-37, 1 Corinthians 9

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Worship your way through it
11 AUGUST 2023

‘The lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.’
Genesis 22:5 NKJV

Imagine having to offer your child on an altar as a sacrifice to God. And God doesn’t tell you why! Here is what Abraham said to the two young men who accompanied him on the most difficult journey of his life: ‘Stay here…the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back [both of us!].’ Abraham’s commitment to God was unwavering: ‘I will worship my way through this and come back stronger!’

Worry and worship are total opposites. And we will be much happier when we learn to become worshippers instead of worriers. Worry causes an opening for the Enemy to torment us, but worship guides us into God’s presence where we unfailingly find peace, joy, and hope. We were created to worship God (see Revelation 4:11).

When nothing else works, worship does because it places our entire focus on Him. God is good even while our circumstances aren’t. So, stop worrying; give your concerns to God, and live in His grace. Grace isn’t just divine favour; it’s power and divine enablement! Don’t squander another day of your life worrying. Determine what your role is and what it isn’t. Don’t attempt to take on God’s responsibility. When you do what you can do, God steps in and does what you can’t do. Present yourself and your worries to God, worship Him, and start enjoying the abundant life He provides for you. The moment you recognise you are worrying, disrupt your wrong thought patterns by saying, ‘I will not worry. I will worship you, Lord. You are good, and I completely trust You.’

Job 38-40, 1 Corinthians 10:1-17

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Handling temptation (1)
12 AUGUST 2023

‘When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out.’
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

Jesus said, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers’ (Luke 10:30 NIV). Jerusalem represented the place of God’s favour, whereas Jericho was cursed by Joshua when God levelled its walls (see Joshua 6:26). The road connecting the two cities was teeming with robbers, so was this man’s intention to travel part of the way, then get off? The Bible doesn’t say, but one thing we do know is God goes to great lengths to keep us from going down the road to temptation and getting hurt. And even with all His safeguards in place, we still manage to get into trouble.

First, you stop listening to the promptings of His Spirit.

Second, you’re unwilling to pray about certain desires with a submitted heart.

Third, you’re not interested in talking to a trusted friend who will hold you accountable.

Fourth, you don’t want to know what the Bible says about the matter. You have unilaterally decided to quench the Spirit so you can indulge your fleshly impulses.

Remember, there is always free food on the end of a fishhook, but while temptation promises freedom, it ends up costing you. David’s affair wrecked his family. Real freedom isn’t about having the liberty to gratify your every appetite; it’s about refusing to become a slave to unhealthy desires. The battle against temptation is noble, but if all you do is struggle to repress your desires, eventually they will wear you down. You need to maintain a clear mental image of the kind of person God wants you to be and cooperate with His Spirit to become that person.

Job 41-42, 1 Corinthians 10:18-33

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Handling temptation (2)
13 AUGUST 2023

‘The joy of the LORD is your strength.’
Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

Ever notice when you’re hungry, everything on the menu looks good? Similarly, when your soul is dissatisfied, sin looks tempting. That’s why you must always be spiritually self-aware and monitor your level of soul satisfaction. On the dashboard of your car are lights that tell you how hot the engine is running or when you’re about to run out of oil. They’re sometimes referred to as ‘idiot lights’, because only an idiot would ignore them. The main light on the dashboard of your heart is your ‘soul-satisfaction’ light. That’s why in the Bible there are so many Scriptures that call us to joy:

‘The joy of the Lord is your strength.’ ‘You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand’ (Psalm 16:11 NIV). ‘With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation’ (Isaiah 12:3 NIV). ‘Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete’ (John 16:24 NIV).

So, why do otherwise intelligent people keep getting snared? Because when we’re dissatisfied with our lives, we’re vulnerable to temptation. And the deeper our level of discontent, the more susceptible we are. We were made for soul satisfaction; we can’t live without it. And if we don’t find it in our relationship with God, we will look for it in all the wrong places. Paul says, ‘The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 14:17 NIV). Note the words ‘joy in the Holy Spirit’. The secret to joy lies in Spirit-directed living – it always has, and it always will.

Luke 15:1-10, Psalms 84-86

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Handling temptation (3)
14 AUGUST 2023

‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Matthew 6:13 NIV

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Understand this: Satan is always trying to lead you into temptation, whereas the Holy Spirit who lives within you is always trying to deliver you from temptation. It is informative that while the devil is named the tempter, he is also named the accuser. ‘For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down’ (Revelation 12:10 NIV).

There is no such thing as fair play with the devil. As soon as he gets you to give in to temptation, he will switch hats and try to convince you that because you have yielded to it, you’re beyond God’s grace and redemption. But Satan is a liar, and there is no truth in him. It’s only when you deny your sin and reject God’s mercy that you’re beyond redemption. The Bible says: ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:8-9 NIV).

Some people are delivered from temptation instantly; others battle it for a long time before finding deliverance and victory. It’s never a matter of God’s unwillingness to extend grace to us but of our inability to receive it. So whether you come the easy way or the hard way, as long as your desire is to come to God, ‘He will also provide a way out’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV).

Proverbs 1-2, 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

When you lose a loved one
15 AUGUST 2023

‘I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies.’
1 Thessalonians 4:13 TLB

Do you remember the first time death forced you to say the final goodbye to a loved one? At the funeral you heard words like departed, passed on, gone ahead. These were unfamiliar terms. You wondered, ‘Departed to where? Passed on to what? Gone ahead for how long?’ When someone dies after a full life, you can accept that. But what if they die as a result of violence? Or after a long battle with illness? Now your dreams are buried as they lower the coffin into the ground.

Paul writes: ‘I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens, you will not be full of sorrow, as those are who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and then came back to life again, we can also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him all the Christians who have died’ (vv.13-14 TLB).

Those words turn our hopeless sorrow into hope-filled sorrow. How? By assuring us that we will see our loved ones again. Isn’t that what we desire to believe? We long to know our loved ones are safe in death. We yearn for the reassurance that the soul goes instantly to be with God. But do we dare to believe it? According to the Scriptures, yes! At death a Christian immediately enters the presence of God and delights in conscious fellowship with the Father and with others who have gone before. These words on a believer’s gravestone say it all: ‘The parting is for a moment, but the meeting will be for eternity.’

Proverbs 3-5, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Work on your character
16 AUGUST 2023

‘The righteous man walks in his integrity.’
Proverbs 20:7 NKJV

When the Bible speaks of integrity, it means having a good character. And good character sets boundaries. It may not always determine what you will do, but it always determines what you won’t do. Character lets you realise how much you’re willing to pay to get what you want. When someone in a relationship has no character, they’re dangerous. The writer of Proverbs says, ‘The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.’ Character doesn’t have to be in the spotlight, excessively running the show. And it doesn’t resort to intimidation or shaming to get its own way. The person who thinks he or she can get what they want by lying, cheating, or manipulating is sadly mistaken.

Understand this: no matter where you go, the real you will eventually show up! And if you don’t work on your character, you won’t be able to build healthy relationships. Genuine relationships require integrity; someone who shows consistent character in all circumstances; someone who plays by the rules and can be relied upon; someone who offers credit where credit is due; someone who lives by faith; someone who trusts God to enable them to accomplish all that he or she was created and called to do.

The Bible tells us the wicked may prosper for a season, but they will not endure. And ultimately, they will most certainly not triumph (see Proverbs 11:21). The psalmist says, ‘The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them’ (Proverbs 11:3 NKJV). So, the word for today is – work on your character.

Proverbs 6-7, 1 Corinthians 12

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Stay excited about your relationship
17 AUGUST 2023

‘Always be enraptured with her [or his] love.’
Proverbs 5:19 NKJV

If you’re married, think back to when you first met your husband or wife and fell in love. You thought about them day and night. You couldn’t wait to be together; you hung on every word they spoke. The relationship was stimulating and exciting because you engaged each other’s minds, excited each other’s emotions, and ignited each other’s imagination on a wide range of life’s topics. But numerous marriages don’t survive because they die of boredom. One partner gets involved in an affair, or the other becomes addicted to porn or some other deviant behaviour because they’re bored in the relationship. That’s not an excuse for wrongdoing, but boredom functions like low-grade poison; it takes an unavoidable toll on each of you.

The secret to a good marriage lies in finding ways to keep improving yourself, then bringing that to the table of your relationship. Learn something new about your spouse’s work, and care about the details of their day. Have a shared dream you’re working towards and talk about it. When you’re engaged in another person’s life, you fortify their desire to share more about their day and themselves.

And here is something else to keep in mind: it’s important for you to have a life outside of the person you’re interested in. Partners who want to grow together realise they must encourage each other to nurture friendships, hobbies, and interests independently. Exciting people excite each other! They understand how to develop their own lives without disregarding the shared life they have together. That’s what the Bible means when it says, ‘Always be enraptured with her [or his] love.’

Proverbs 8-9, 1 Corinthians 13