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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Living in a peaceful state of mind
‘You will keep in perfect peace…all whose thoughts are fixed on you!’

Isaiah 26:3
The UCB Word for Today - 2 May 2017

Who are you trusting to solve your problems, God or yourself? Before you answer, read this: ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you…whose thoughts are fixed on you!…for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them’ (vv. 3, 7 NLT).

What a great promise! If you want to maintain a peaceful state of mind, live by this principle: ‘Do your best, and trust God with the rest.’ Some of us grew up with the notion that it’s wrong to enjoy ourselves when we have problems.

We’ve been conditioned to think that if we can’t do anything else – at least we can worry and be miserable. Paul addresses this: ‘Do not [for a moment] be frightened…for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign…from God’ (Philippians 1:28 AMPC).

Satan doesn’t know what to do when he can’t get you upset; you’ve taken a powerful weapon out of his hands. By trusting God completely, you’re no longer at the mercy of circumstances, other people, or your own emotions and limitations.

Broadcaster Paul Harvey once quipped, ‘In times like these, it’s helpful to remember there have always been times like these!’ The question isn’t ‘Will trouble come?’, it’s ‘How will you handle it?’ The Bible says, ‘We which have believed do enter into rest’ (Hebrews 4:3 KJV). When things go wrong – don’t go wrong along with them. Follow God’s leading, stand on His Word, then rest in Him and trust Him to work on your behalf.

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

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Do your best to resolve the issue
‘Go and be reconciled…Settle matters quickly.’

Matthew 5:24-25
The UCB Word for Today - 3 May 2017

Are your talents not being recognised and received? Do you have a particular talent, yet God doesn’t seem to be blessing you with success?

This may be the key: ‘If you are offering your gift at the altar and…remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift…go and be reconciled to them;, then come and offer your gift.

Settle matters quickly’ (vv. 23-25 NIV 2011 Edition). Don’t be led by your wounded ego; be led by God’s Word.

You say, ‘The person I had the issue with is no longer around, yet I’m still troubled about it.’ Read these two Scriptures: 1) ‘Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results’ (James 5:16 NLT). 2) ‘If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’ (John 20:23 NKJV). Share your feelings with someone worthy of your trust.

Pray with them, openly confessing your wrongs and the guilt you feel. Prayer and the presence of an affirming friend can provide you with the peace of mind you seek.

After David murdered Uriah, his lover’s husband, his guilt was overwhelming and he sought God’s forgiveness. But Uriah wasn’t around to hear his confession; he’d been dead almost a year.

So David turned to Nathan the prophet and poured out his heart saying, ‘I have sinned.’ Nathan listened patiently and told him, ‘The LORD has taken away your sin’ (2 Samuel 12:13 NIV 2011 Edition). Follow David’s example – then put the issue behind you and move on.

1 Sam 27-29, John 14

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

You owe it to your child (1)
‘If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don’t love them.’

Proverbs 13:24
The UCB Word for Today - 4 May 2017

As a parent, there are three things you owe your child. The first is: affection.

The Bible says if you love your child you’ll discipline them. And you’ll do it in love, and not anger.

Don’t buy into the idea that good parents don’t discipline their children because they ‘love them too much’. The truth is, if you don’t discipline your child it’s not because you love them too much, it’s because you love yourself too much.

A Gallup poll revealed that more than 90 per cent of graduating high school seniors wished their parents and teachers had loved them enough to discipline them more and require more of them. Like water, we follow the path of least resistance.

It’s much easier to let things slide, avoid confrontation, stick your head in the sand, and hope things will get better, than it is to suffer the pain of disciplining a child you love.

Keep in mind, however, that the only person who ever got anywhere by letting something slide was a trombone player.

Seriously, the Bible says, ‘Whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights’ (Proverbs 3:12 NKJV). Let that sink in! The greatest and wisest father of all is God. He not only loves, He is love.

Yet we read here that our loving God is one who disciplines. Any parent who refuses to discipline their child is really saying they are a better parent than God.

Love always does what is best for the other person. And there are times when love demands discipline and training.

1 Sam 30-31, John 15

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

You owe it to your child (2)
‘Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.’

Proverbs 22:15
The UCB Word for Today - 5 May 2017

The second thing you owe your child is: direction. The Bible says, ‘Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.’ Now, it’s not talking about your child having fun, or even making mistakes; that’s a normal part of childhood learning.

The Bible is talking about ‘foolishness’. This word has several meanings, such as a lack of maturity, a lack of wisdom, or a tendency to rebel against rules.

If you love your child, you’ll teach him or her that life is built on rules – if you obey them you succeed, and if you don’t you suffer.

For example, when your child is caught speeding, the police won’t let them get away with it.

And when they fail to pay their mortgage, the bank won’t let them keep living in the house. The Bible says these are the misconceptions you must ‘drive’ out of the heart of your child.

Just as a car that’s out of alignment tends to drift and needs correction, your child is born ‘out of line’ and needs to be corrected by you.

Solomon says, ‘A child left to himself brings shame to his mother’ (Proverbs 29:15 NKJV). Why’s that? Because a child left to himself is left in the condition in which they were born.

And he or she was born in a condition called ‘foolishness’. Therefore, children must be taught to respect authority and to obey rules; they must learn that for every action there’s always an equal and opposite reaction. You owe it to your child to explain that to them.


2 Sam 1-2, John 16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


You owe it to your child (3)
‘Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul.’

Proverbs 29:17
The UCB Word for Today - 6 May 2017

The third thing you owe your child is: correction. Many parents make the mistake of always telling a child when he or she is wrong, rather than also taking the time to tell them how to get right, and stay right. Biblical correction involves both.

The number one extra-biblical Beatitude for all parents is: ‘Blessed are the balanced.’ When you police a child but never play with them, you’re out of balance.

Note carefully what Solomon wrote: ‘Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.’ The word correct means to chastise, to reprove, or to force back to the right way.

Always remember that discipline is like a two-edged sword; it’s not only to correct children when they’re wrong, but to direct them to a way that’s right.

And you’ll get better results from positive reinforcement than you will from negative reinforcement. Understand this: it’s not your job to make your child happy; it’s your job to nurture them into maturity.

When you do that, their happiness is guaranteed! So you may as well quit trying to win a popularity contest with your child.

They may always love you, but there are times when they definitely won’t like you! Don’t be discouraged. ‘This too shall pass.’ Just keep administering the right mixture of nurture and discipline, and eventually they’ll grow to like you again.

More importantly, when they grow up, get married, and have children, they’ll have a role model and a plan for success.

2 Sam 3-5, John 17

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Comfortable in uncomfortable places
‘He comforts us in all our troubles.’
2 Corinthians 1:4
The UCB Word for Today - 7 May 2017

God can make you comfortable in some of life’s most uncomfortable places.

He can bring you through situations you think you won’t survive, or feel like you’ll be stuck in forever.
He can give you peace when you’re under pressure.

Before your life is over, you’ll experience loss. Indeed, losing some things will actually help you to appreciate the things you have. It’s the taste of failure that makes success so sweet.

You’ll live not knowing what tomorrow holds, but knowing that God has all your tomorrows planned out.

Your future isn’t in the hands of your boss, your banker, your spouse, or anybody else. Nor is it in your own hands to control.

All your tomorrows are in God’s hands. And just because you don’t understand the path you’re on, doesn’t mean He isn’t leading you.

He promises: ‘I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight.

These things I will do for them, and not forsake them’ (Isaiah 42:16 NKJV). So get to know God, because you’ll need Him.

And He will be there when everybody else has failed you. He will be there for you in the dark places. The psalmist writes, ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning’ (Psalm 30:5 NKJV).

However long the night, morning will come – and with it His joy. Looking back, you’ll realise that His grace has protected you, provided for you, calmed you, comforted you, and brought you through.

Times and seasons change, but not the Lord. He’s ‘the same yesterday, today, and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV).

Luke 8:26-56, Ps 46-48

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Change your thinking, change your life
‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’

Romans 12:2
The UCB Word for Today - 8 May 2017

Sometimes we try to excuse our negativity by saying, ‘It was just a thought, it didn’t mean anything.’ But it does!

A wrong thought left to roam around in your mind can take root and grow into what the Bible calls a ‘stronghold’ (see 2 Corinthians 10:4).

And when a thought becomes that strong, it begins to control your outlook, your attitude, and your actions.

That’s why the Bible says, ‘Be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude]’ (Romans 12:2 AMPC). Remember, where the mind goes, the man follows! We all face challenges and difficulties in life.

You might allow yourself to think thoughts such as ‘I just can’t take any more,’ or ‘If one more thing happens I’m going to go over the edge!’ or ‘If things don’t change soon – I’m giving up!’ That kind of thinking prepares you to be defeated before you even encounter a problem.

There is nothing strong, powerful, enabling, or victorious in thinking you will ‘go over the edge’ or in deciding to quit.

Those are losing attitudes, not winning attitudes. Instead you should think, ‘If the attack is this great, then the blessing that lies beyond it is greater.’ Or, ‘If Satan is attacking me this hard, God must have something good in store for me!’

Become a person who is spiritually, emotionally, and mentally prepared for any challenge that crosses your path, and don’t allow yourself to be easily discouraged or defeated. And you do that by ‘the renewing of your mind’ with God’s Word.

2 Sam 6-8, John 18:1-18

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Humble yourself

‘I…lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me.’

Daniel 4:34
The UCB Word for Today - 9 May 2017

God always responds in love to a humble heart, and He always rejects a proud one. One moment King Nebuchadnezzar was boasting about having built the world’s most advanced civilisation. The next moment he’d lost his mind and was crawling on all fours, eating grass like an animal. But when he repented, God restored him to his throne. He said: ‘I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me… Now I…praise…the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down’ (vv. 34, 37 NKJV). To fall is bad enough; but to fall and not cry out for help, or refuse to repent of your sin, is worse than the fall itself. Maybe you’re ashamed to let anyone know you’ve fallen. Is your public image so important that you’re willing to continue on in your pitiful state? Are you so deceived that you refuse to acknowledge you need God? Stop being so proud! Isn’t that what caused you to fall in the first place? Pride is dangerous because it forces you to languish needlessly in a helpless state for days – sometimes years. The truth is, if you’d asked for help sooner you could have gotten up and gone on with your life. But the good news is – it’s not too late to repent and acknowledge your need of God. When Nebuchadnezzar did that, his reason and understanding returned, and he was restored to his kingdom. And the same can happen for you.
2 Sam 9-11, John 18:19-40

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY
Put away the measuring stick!

‘If you, LORD, kept a record of sins…who could stand?’

Psalm 130:3
The UCB Word for Today - 10 May 2017

We live in a results-oriented society where we’re rewarded for our performance in school, in sports, and on the job. But God doesn’t think like that. His thoughts and ways are far above ours (see Isaiah 55:8-9). He’s not impressed by ‘empty rituals…He wants you to listen to him!’ (1 Samuel 15:22 MSG). Feelings and emotions are powerful, but they’re seldom objective. And when you base your worth as a Christian on your performance as a flawed human being, the enemy has a field day. Satan is called ‘the accuser of our brethren’ (Revelation 12:10 KJV); he wants you to run a checklist of your failures and mistakes. That way he can torment you by reminding you of all the times you lose your temper, criticise, fail to speak up for what’s right, or let a misconception go unchecked to make yourself look better. David said if the ‘LORD, kept a record of sin…who could stand?’ Even the most disciplined believer has areas where he or she struggles and fails. It’s why we need God’s grace and forgiveness 24/7. ‘He knows how weak we are’ (Psalm 103:14 NLT), and He’s never surprised when, despite our best intentions, we fall short. Reimar Schultze says: ‘God doesn’t measure us by our performance, but by our love for Jesus. Indeed, in the Kingdom of God our love for Jesus is our performance. Everything else is secondary. Desire to be with Him, to abide in Him, to keep in fellowship with Him, to please Him, is what our Master longs for.’ So put away your measuring stick and be glad God’s not grading you based on your performance, but on Christ’s performance.
2 Sam 12-13, John 19:1-22

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


The truth about marriage (1)
‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’

John 8:32
The UCB Word for Today - 11 May 2017

The idea of ‘the perfect marriage’ misleads and disillusions us, preparing us to walk away when fantasy clashes with reality.

And it always does! Only when you accept the truth about frail, faltering, frustrating people – and you yourself are one – can you find lasting happiness in marriage. So for the next few days let’s look at some of the most common misconceptions about marriage.

The love bug: We think if we’re in the right place, at the right time, with the right person, love will ‘bite’ us and we’ll embark on a lifetime of bliss.

The trouble is, when we are worn out from taking care of kids, jobs, and mortgages, the love bug flies off.

In the daily grind of dishes, nappies, and drudgery, something has to give. So romance vacates centre stage and reality takes over.

And because we confuse romance with true love, we mistakenly think love has moved out and we need to follow it.

The truth is, love doesn’t die because romance bows to reality. If two people who fall in love are willing to stand together in love through the challenges of life, romance can blossom again stronger and more resilient than ever. Romance may bring us together, but unselfish love keeps us together.

The Bible says: ‘Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have…Isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others…always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end’ (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 MSG).

2 Sam 14-15, John 19:23-42