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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

A peaceful state of mind
15 FEBRUARY 2025

‘Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.’
Colossians 3:15 NKJV

God wants you to have a peaceful state of mind. His word says: ‘Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]’ (v. 15 AMPC). No position or possession is worthwhile if you don’t have peace; money, status, popularity – it’s all meaningless if you lack peace. You simply cannot put a price on the value of peace.

Many of us spend our lives trying to climb the ladder of success, but every time we go up one more rung, we lose more of our peace and joy, not to mention time spent with our family. Our lives are consumed with the pressure and stress of trying to hold on to what we gained. But we are never truly successful unless we have peace. Some of us work several jobs to acquire what the world dangles in front of us, saying, ‘You must have this to be truly happy.’ We get those ‘things’, but we still don’t have any peace.

Romans 14:17 tells us, ‘The kingdom of God is not meat and drink’ – it is not things that money can buy or status can secure – but it is ‘righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost’ (KJV). God wants you to have your needs met abundantly and to be in a position to bless others. But don’t seek to have anything if you cannot have it peacefully.

Leviticus 6-7, Matthew 25:1-30

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Faith equals righteousness with God
16 February 2025

‘Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”’
Galatians 3:6 NKJV

We think of Abraham with a halo. Hardly. Not once, but twice he throws his wife under the bus. As they travelled through Egypt, Abram says to Sarai, ‘You’re a beautiful woman; I’m afraid the Egyptians will want to kill me so someone can have you for a wife, so let’s tell them you’re my sister’ (see Genesis 12:11-13). Pharaoh does take Sarai into his harem – giving Abram, her ‘brother’, a bunch of sheep, cattle, donkeys, servants, and camels. Rather than feeling guilty and coming clean, Abram simply says, ‘Thank you very much.’ And if you think that’s bad, when Abraham and Sarah are in the Negev later on, recorded in Genesis 20, he does the whole ‘she’s my sister’ routine a second time.

Why doesn’t God just give up on him? Because Abraham doesn’t give up on God! Abraham eventually reached the place in his walk with God where his CV reads: ‘Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform’ (Romans 4:18-21 NKJV).

Note the words ‘strengthened in faith’. God’s plan is not to discard you, but to develop your faith and use you to bring glory to His name.

Luke 3:1-19, Psalms 18-19

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

God can keep you together
17 February 2025

‘What God has joined together, let not man separate.’
Matthew 19:6 NKJV

This may come as a surprise to you, but the main purpose of marriage is not to produce children. Couples who cannot give birth are as married as couples who can. Jesus said, ‘A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’ (v. 5 NKJV). When God looks at a parent and child, He sees two. When God looks at a brother and sister, He sees two. But when God looks at a husband and wife, He sees one. ‘Joined together’ means ‘to be glued to’.

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck with the person you married? Well, you are! Marrying and becoming one flesh is not what two people do for each other, but what God does for them. Marriage is not a relationship joined together by culture, or the law, or sex, or even love. Marriage is what God joins together. And the good news is, when God joins you together, He can keep you together. (However, if you feel unsafe in your relationship, it is important to get help, and get away if you’re at risk.)

Today the most popular reason for issuing a divorce decree is ‘irreconcilable differences’. But Jesus went to the heart of the matter – which is the matter of the heart. ‘Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so’ (v. 8 NKJV). God can soften your hearts towards one another, and He can open your hearts towards one another. You say, ‘But I’ve tried everything, and nothing works.’ Try God! He can change the heart of your spouse and give you a new future together.

Leviticus 8-10, Matthew 25:31-46

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Everybody has a thorn (1)
18 February 2025

‘A thorn in the flesh was given to me.’
2 Corinthians 12:7 NKJV

Paul writes: ‘A thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me…For when I am weak, then I am strong’ (vv. 7-10 NKJV).

Paul had such great faith that when he prayed, the sick were healed and the dead were raised. Yet, he prayed repeatedly that God would remove his ‘thorn in the flesh’, and God said no. Why? To keep him humble and make him totally dependent on God. We don’t know what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, but we know why he had it: ‘Lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations’ (v. 7 NKJV).

When God blesses you greatly, with it comes the risk of pride. And with God, that’s a disqualifier. If you have ever had a splinter in your finger, you know it throbs with pain and constantly irritates you. Can you live with it? Yes. Would you rather not? Yes. Note what Paul says: ‘A thorn in the flesh was given to me.’ Not only does he come to see his thorn as a grace developer, but a gift that does two things: 1) Humbles us and makes us more dependent on God. 2) Makes us more tolerant and gracious since everybody has a thorn.

Leviticus 11-12, Matthew 26:1-25

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Everybody has a thorn (2)
19 February 2025

‘Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.’
Ephesians 6:10 NLT

Paul tells us two things about his thorn:
First, that it was a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him. The word ‘buffet’ means ‘to render blow after blow’. It was not one battle, but a series of back-to-back attacks that didn’t let up. Satan knows your weakest areas, and he will repeatedly attack you in those areas. How can you defeat him? The Bible tells: ‘Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places’ (vv. 10-12 NLT).

Second, that the thorn was in his ‘flesh’. You are a regenerate spirit, living in an unregenerate body. That’s why the Bible commands us to crucify the flesh, starve the flesh, and refuse to give in to the impulses of the flesh. And in God’s strength you can do it: ‘By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires’ (2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT).

Leviticus 13, Matthew 26:26-46

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

UCB Word For Today
Practise being tender-hearted

20 February 2025
‘Be kind to one another, tender-hearted.’
Ephesians 4:32 NKJV

In his best-selling book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen Covey describes an experience he had on a subway in New York. A man and his children boarded the train, and the children were so loud and rambunctious, they disrupted the entire car. The man sat down beside Covey, seemingly oblivious to the situation. Covey finally said, ‘Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people. I wonder if you couldn’t control them a little more?’ The man looked startled. Then he said, ‘Oh, you’re right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don’t know what to think, and I guess they don’t know how to handle it either.’ Covey’s attitude instantly changed. Looking back on it later, he admitted that he learned a valuable lesson: seek to understand before seeking to be understood.

Sometimes the people who irritate and hurt us do so because they themselves are in pain. They’re dealing with issues we don’t know about. And when they lash out, it’s just the burst dam of personal frustration. And it calls for looking beyond their words and actions and trying to see their hearts. And that’s hard to do when you’re self-absorbed. The Bible addresses this: ‘Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you’ (vv. 31-32 NKJV). If you have been grumpy towards those you live with and work with, the word for today is – practise being tender-hearted.

Leviticus 14, Matthew 26:47-75

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

What’s keeping you from winning?
21 February 2025

‘Let us lay aside every weight…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.’
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

In ancient Greece, athletes practised with weights strapped to their bodies. But on the day of the race, they took them off in order to win. What’s keeping you from running and winning?

1) Comparing yourself to others? The only person you should compare yourself to – is you. Your objective is to become better today than you were yesterday. You do that by concentrating on what you can do today to improve and develop. If you do that often enough, and if you compare the way you were weeks, months, or years ago to how you are today, you should be considerably encouraged by your progress.

2) Limiting beliefs? Because of how they were raised, or certain mistakes they may have made in life, a lot of people don’t believe they can accomplish great things. But the greatest limitations people experience are typically the ones they inflict on themselves. For example, what if you want to learn a foreign language but don’t think you can do it? Once you have uncovered that faulty belief system, understand how not learning that language is restricting you. Then imagine what it will be like when you learn that language. How will it make you feel? What will it enable you to do? Then write an inspiring statement that upholds your ability to learn the language! Remember, it isn’t what you are that hinders you; it’s what you think you’re not.

Claim this promise: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). That means – by God’s help you can win.

Leviticus 15-16, Matthew 27:1-26

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Want what God wants
22 February 2025

‘The king said to me, “What is it you want?”’
Nehemiah 2:4 NIV

The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls began with two questions the king asked Nehemiah. The first question was ‘What is bothering you?’ (see v. 2). The second question was ‘What is it you want?’ (v. 4 NIV). Nehemiah replied, ‘Send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it’ (v. 5 NIV). Nehemiah knew exactly what he wanted, because a passion for it had been conceived in his spirit. He had been thinking and praying about it for quite a few months when the king asked him what he wanted.

A pastor writes: ‘Few things are as miraculous as the moment of human conception. A sperm penetrates an egg, and all the genetic data that determine who you will become – everything from facial features to personality traits – is encoded within that single cell. And it begins a nine-month process of gestation. The mother’s body starts producing hormones before she even knows she is pregnant. The baby’s heart starts beating on day twenty-two. At four weeks, that single cell has grown ten thousand times larger. At around day forty-two, neurons start multiplying at the astounding rate of approximately ten thousand per second. Everything from the optic nerve to the auditory cortex to the respiratory system is being formed in the womb.’

And a God-given vision is conceived the same way. It begins small and keeps growing within you until the time of delivery. That’s why the Bible says, ‘The vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come’ (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV). So, the word for today is – want what God wants.

Leviticus 17-18, Matthew 27:27-50

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Keep going, and you will succeed
23 February 2025

‘Let’s not get tired of doing what is good.’
Galatians 6:9 NLT

In life, you’re going to have all kinds of problems. So, what should you do? Persevere! No matter what’s going on in your life, the victory is in refusing to quit. Keep in mind that in the heat of your struggles, the Holy Spirit is often doing His greatest work within you. Paul writes, ‘We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character’ (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV).

God is not moved by circumstances, and you must not be either. He will lead you through anything if you will just hang in there and follow Him. This means being diligent in prayer, relentless in your resolve, unwavering in faith, and determined to stand firmly on God’s Word and His promises to you. Don’t be side-tracked by how slowly things seem to be going at the moment. When you’re in the ‘not much seems to be happening’ phase, that’s often when God is laying a strong foundation in order to build something significant in you and through you. The Lord’s work in you is preparation for the work He wants to do through you. When life seems hard, and progress seems too slow, ask God to help you remain steadfast. He will do it.

Here are two Scriptures you can stand on today: ‘Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up’ (Galatians 6:9 NLT). ‘So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless’ (1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT).

Luke 3:20-38, Psalms 20-22

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Live by obedience, not emotion
24 February 2025

‘The woman saw that the tree was good for food…pleasant to the eyes, and…desirable.’
Genesis 3:6 NKJV

Emotions have a tone that we call ‘feeling’. And the tone of feeling is very strong. Most of us realise how we feel. We make decisions driven by feeling. Relationships are established or damaged because of feeling. Seeing what felt good, enjoyable, and to be desired is what led Eve to disobedience. The Bible does not say she was hungry; otherwise, she would have eaten of every other tree in the garden of Eden. Emotional drama in the first woman, opened the door to emotional drama in all of us. So, it’s genetic. And emotions require satisfaction: anger, hurt, and love want to be satisfied. If we do not rule ourselves, we live in the drama of emotions gone bad.

To be a born-again Christian whose emotions have not been touched by God is an insufficient lifestyle. God must do a work in us called ‘transformation’ (see Romans 12:1-2). Emotions must be renewed so that hate turns into love, cursing to blessing, resentment to forgiveness, anger to peace, and heaviness to praise. Transformed by God’s Word and His Spirit, we’re released from the drama and chaos our emotions can produce. When we’re driven by our emotions, we want a ‘feel-good’ mentality. But Eve teaches us that the feel-good mentality is a terrible motivator and leads us into trouble. Our lives must be motivated by the Holy Spirit, and His motivation is not just to create good feelings; His aim is to produce obedience. Obedience will always surpass emotion, and obedience will always satisfy in ways that emotions will never be able to.

Leviticus 19-20, Matthew 27:51-66