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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Try to slow down (2)
03 JULY 2022

‘Whoever believes will not act hastily.’
Isaiah 28:16 NKJV

Every time you get in a hurry mode, you send a ‘state of emergency’ signal to your body. And it responds by releasing the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol that prepare you to deal with danger. The body cannot distinguish between physical danger, or the danger of losing your job, or any other form of stress and pressure. It only knows that action has to be taken and that it must energise you to deal with it.

Now, this is a good thing if you’re indeed physically threatened. But to live with your body constantly on high alert is like fighting a fifteen-round nonstop boxing match. Sooner or later, you pay the price in the form of heart disease, ulcers, forgetfulness, and a multitude of other conditions.

What’s the cure? A-B-C: Awareness, Belief, Change. Become aware of your continual high-gear mode and what part you play each time you hurry. Ask yourself, ‘How could I have prevented this?’ Believe that the Holy Spirit will give you victory if you ask Him and begin to change your behaviour. Change – consciously slow down. Talk slower, move slower.

‘Haste makes waste.’ Haste causes duplication of work, accidents, and other things that result in wasted time. Question: are you speed-reading today’s devotion? If so, this is the word for you today: try taking twice as long to read and meditate on what you’re reading, and ask God, ‘What are you saying to me? What changes do you want to bring about in my life? In what ways do you want me to improve?’ God is not in a hurry, so slow down and get in sync with Him.

Luke 12:32-59, Psalms 70-71

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Keep exercising your faith (1)
04 JULY 2022

‘If you have faith…’
Matthew 17:20 NKJV

Paul writes, ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for’ (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV). Observe the words ‘now faith’. Thank God for the faith of our fathers, but to move the mountain that stands in your way, you need ‘now faith’. Jesus said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move…and it will move”’ (Matthew 17:20 NKJV). Your grandmother’s faith may have moved her mountain, but it’s going to take your own faith to move ‘this mountain’. We all have mountains in our lives, and God is willing to move them. So what’s the problem? Doubt! Other people’s opinions! Failure to understand God’s Word!

Even though Jesus gave His disciples power to heal the sick, they were rendered helpless by a demon-possessed boy. ‘Why could we not cast the spirit out of him?’ they asked (see Matthew 17:19). Notice what Jesus told them:

1) Be willing to start small. A tiny ‘mustard seed’ can grow into something much bigger. So start where you are and believe God for ordinary, everyday things, and when He honours your faith, thank Him and build on it.

2) Watch what you say. ‘If you have faith…you will say to this mountain, “Move…and it will move.”’ Your words release the life-giving force of God’s Word. So line up what comes out of your mouth with what’s written in Scripture.

3) Be willing to do what’s needed. Some mountains need a little extra prayer, or in the case of this demon-possessed boy, the power that comes through fasting.

The bottom line is this: when you do what God’s Word says, you will see mountains moved in your life.

2 Chronicles 25-27, Acts 27:1-26

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Keep exercising your faith (2)
05 JULY 2022

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Revelation 2:29 NKJV

It’s not enough to simply listen to a sermon, you must try to hear what God is saying to you. You can hear something totally different from what the person sitting beside you in church hears. Why? Because God is personalising the message to you.

The Bible is called ‘the living Word’ (see Hebrews 4:12) because certain Scriptures suddenly come to life and take root within you. Sometimes you will hear what nobody else hears. You may even miss several of the sermon points and still come home with the answer you need.

Paul says, ‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God’ (Romans 10:17 KJV). When you can say, ‘I get it, it’s mine,’ the faith that comes by hearing is doing its special work within you. Before Israel went into battle, the prophets would consult God to be sure He was leading them. That’s because God honours faith only when it’s based on what He promised. So what you should fight for is what God has promised! Remember, you can’t say God failed you if He didn’t promise it to you in the first place. And you shouldn’t get upset when your own misguided desires make you reach for what He gave to somebody else.

The old-timers used to sing, ‘Every promise in the book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line,’ and that’s true inasmuch as God loves us all equally. But there are specific promises He wants to fulfil in your life because your calling is different from others. That’s why you must always seek God for clarity and confirmation.

2 Chronicles 28-29, Acts 27:27-44

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Is God saying, ‘Wait’?
06 JULY 2022

‘No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.’
Psalm 84:11 NKJV

Often the toughest times in life are those moments when all we know about God doesn’t seem to help or get us the results we want. That’s when we learn about His silence. Whenever God doesn’t say a word, He’s teaching, even in stillness. He’s allowing us to grow by encouraging us to think, study and arrive at conclusions while He stands by like the loving parent He is.

Faith comes by hearing, but patience comes by silence. Patience is what God gives you when bad things remain unchanged. It’s His sedative for the troubled heart. It’s the balm He rubs into your aching muscles when it feels like you’re being stretched to breaking point. These are the times when the pain lasts so long that only God can release the patience required – the sheer grace to get you through it.

There are great benefits to waiting. For example, if you learn to wait and observe, you’ll make better choices. The thing you think you can’t live without today, you may be glad to live without tomorrow. ‘No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.’ So when God says, ‘Wait,’ trust Him. Either it’s not what you need at this time, or He has something better in mind for you. You say, ‘But what am I going to do in the meantime?’ The Bible says, ‘Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart’ (Psalm 27:14 NKJV). Stop fussing, stop pushing, allow God to work and you’ll come out of this stronger and with a better result.

2 Chronicles 30-31, Acts 28

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Control your tongue
07 JULY 2022

‘My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.’
Proverbs 23:16 NIV

Never underestimate the power of a spoken word. Only one man in American history ever resigned from the presidency: Richard Nixon. Have you ever considered what brought Mr Nixon down? Traditional thinking says it was the tapes of his private conversations. But it wasn’t the tapes, it was his tongue. It wasn’t the tapes but what he said on the tapes that determined his demise.

The words tongue, mouth, lips, and words are mentioned in the book of Proverbs almost 150 times; roughly five times in each of the thirty-one chapters. The fact that so much importance is placed on our words tells us we had better take care of what comes out of our mouths. Stop and consider this: in a period of fifty years, the average person says enough words to create twelve thousand volumes of three hundred pages each. If that’s the average, think about the libraries you’re filling and the legacy you’re leaving behind. And sadly, some of the words you speak will never be forgotten!

The poet wrote, ‘If your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care: To whom you speak, of whom you speak, and how, and when, and where.’ Solomon wanted his children to grow up with a heart of wisdom, so he said, ‘My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right’ (vv. 15-16 NIV). So today, control your tongue.

2 Chronicles 32-33, Romans 1

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

An apology that works
08 JULY 2022

‘If you have sinned…tell each other what you have done. Then…pray for one another and be healed.’
James 5:16 CEV

A genuine apology can help heal and restore a strained or broken relationship. But as Dr Gary Chapman tells us, it doesn’t end there. Observe these:

1) Saying ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t enough! It’s a good and necessary start, but it’s not a good finish. For example, ‘I’m sorry you took it that way’ isn’t an apology; it’s a covert attack! You need to specifically confess what you’re remorseful about. ‘I’m so sorry that what I said insulted you’ acknowledges what you did and affirms the wounded person.

2) Take full responsibility for your behaviour. Without that, there is no healing or reconciliation. ‘I was wrong to speak to you like that’ is honest, humble, concrete, and responsible. It helps the injured party see your apology as genuine. Genuineness diminishes anger and encourages others to trust and accept your words.

3) Offer to make amends where possible. Ask, ‘Is there anything I can do to make things better?’ Putting yourself on the line to do everything you can do makes your apology heartfelt and sincere. James puts it like this: ‘Tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed.’

4) Ask for forgiveness – don’t take it for granted. ‘Will you please forgive me for what I did?’ You need to say it and the other person needs to hear it before healing and restoration can start. When you ask for forgiveness and it’s been granted, you have ‘signed on the dotted line’ together. You’re recording your mutual commitment to move beyond the hurt and work towards a healthier relationship.

2 Chronicles 34-36, Romans 2

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

God will help you to succeed
09 JULY 2022

‘All…were astonished at the catch of fish.’
Luke 5:9 NIVUK

‘[Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch…Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they…left everything and followed him’ (vv. 4-11 NIVUK).

Here are seven life-changing truths you need to learn: 1) Jesus will come to where you work and help you; 2) When what you are doing is not working, He will show you a better way; 3) Even though it may not make sense at the moment, do what He tells you; 4) The success He has in mind for you is greater than anything you can envision for yourself; 5) Your existing systems may not be able to handle what He has in mind, so be willing to change how you do things; 6) When you experience His goodness, you’ll fall at His feet and acknowledge Him as your Lord; 7) When you realise what He has in mind for you, you’ll leave everything and follow Him.

Ezra 1-2, Romans 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

A key to answered prayer
10 JULY 2022

‘What I’m interested in seeing you do is:…’
Isaiah 58:7 MSG

Max Lucado writes: ‘Ours is the wealthiest generation of Christians ever. We are bright, educated, and experienced. We can travel around the world in twenty-four hours or send a message in a millisecond. We have the most sophisticated research and medicines at the tips of our fingers. We have ample resources. A mere 2 per cent of the world’s grain harvest would be enough, if shared, to erase the problems of hunger and malnutrition around the world. There is enough food on the planet to offer every person twenty-five hundred calories of sustenance a day. We have enough food to feed the hungry…When your grandchildren discover you lived during a day in which 1.75 billion people were poor and 1 billion were hungry, how will they judge your response?’

More importantly, what will God say? When the Israelites complained that God wouldn’t answer their prayer, He told them: ‘What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once…Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, “Here I am.”…If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, your lives will begin to glow in the darkness…I will always show you where to go. I’ll give you a full life’ (vv. 7-11 MSG). So instead of focusing on your own needs, focus on the needs of others. That’s a key to answered prayer.

Luke 13:1-21, Psalms 72-73

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

The sin of omission
11 JULY 2022

‘To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.’
James 4:17 NKJV

We tend to focus on sins of commission – the wrong we do. But what about sins of omission – the good we fail to do? In Christ’s parables, when someone was condemned, it was often over a sin of omission. A man was put out of a wedding because he had no wedding garment (see Matthew 22:12). Five virgins were excluded from the wedding party because they’d no oil in their lamps (see Matthew 25:3-11). A servant who buried his talent in the ground instead of using it, forfeited it (see Matthew 25:25-28). A rich man who failed to care for his neighbour was condemned for it (see Luke 16:19-24). A barren fig tree that failed to produce fruit was cursed and died (see Mark 11:20-24).

You say, ‘But I’m interested in a deeper spiritual life.’ Well, the deepest spiritual life is one spent doing good to others! And it’s the basis on which you’ll be judged and rewarded. ‘Then the King will…say… “I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.” Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?” And He will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me”’ (Matthew 25:41-45 NLT).

So when you’ve a chance to do good – do it!

Ezra 3-5, Romans 4

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Keep your conscience clear
12 JULY 2022

‘I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.’
Acts 24:16 NLT

It’s been said that our conscience was given to us after the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden. In other words, our desire to know the difference between good and evil was granted through the mechanism God placed within us known as a conscience. So we must not ignore its promptings, silence its voice, or allow it to become calloused, because it’s a built-in warning system that protects us from danger and harm. That means you shouldn’t be troubled when your conscience bothers you; you should be troubled when it doesn’t.

Here are ten principles for keeping your conscience clear: 1) Always pay attention to the inner nudging that makes you stop and question your decisions. 2) Think of your conscience as a God-given filter that helps keep your heart pure. 3) Examine your motives in all ‘giving’ situations. 4) If you think you may have hurt someone’s feelings, ask for forgiveness. 5) Invite God to examine your heart and reveal changes that need to be made in your attitudes and actions. 6) To the best of your ability, don’t knowingly involve yourself in compromising situations. 7) Consider others first, and honour them with your words and actions. 8) Remember that your conscience is your moral compass. 9) Establish ethical guidelines in all your business dealings. 10) When a thought leaves you feeling unsettled, take time to pray and talk about it with someone you trust.

The word for today is – always maintain a clear conscience before God.

Ezra 6-8, Romans 5