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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Be strong in the Lord
13 JULY 2022

‘Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.’
Ephesians 6:10 NIV

The Bible says, ‘God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out’ (vv. 10-18 MSG).

The way to make a comeback is to get back up and move forward. Winning consists of getting up one more time than you were knocked down. Booker T. Washington said, ‘Success is not measured by the heights one attains, but by the obstacles one overcomes in its attainment.’ The God you serve is bigger than the obstacles you face. The strength He provides is greater than the forces arrayed against you. So be strong in the Lord!

Ezra 9-10, Romans 6

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Making wise decisions
14 JULY 2022

‘Whoso harkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell…without fear or dread.’
Proverbs 1:33 AMPC

Think about the major decisions we make over our lifetime: choosing a mate, deciding where to live, and what career to pursue. Looking back, can you say you have consistently made the wisest choices?

As Jennifer Winquist writes, ‘We make choices based on what feels best, what’s easiest…fastest…makes our kids happy…shuts up the boss…stops our problem for the moment…We buy wants instead of saving for necessities. We marry Mr Right-Now instead of waiting for Mr Right. We get a job instead of an education. We eat a bag of [crisps] instead of a bag of carrots…We don’t plan to fail, but unless we plan to win by making wise choices, we can end up getting the short end of the stick…Wise choices aren’t usually quick fixes, selfish, or short-term; they involve planning, hard work, sacrifice, and resilience. But the rewards are huge.’

James says, ’If any of you lack wisdom…ask…God…and it shall be given’ (James 1:5 KJV). The world spends billions of pounds seeking wisdom, but as God’s children, we have the wisdom of the Creator of the universe at our disposal. Furthermore, when you develop the patience and maturity to make the wise choice instead of the easy one, you never have to live in ‘fear or dread’ of the outcome.

John Mason says growing in wisdom means fearing God, pleasing Him, hearing from Him, looking to Him, choosing His way, staying humble before Him, taking His advice, receiving His correction, maintaining a prayer connection with Him, and knowing His Son personally (see Psalm 111:10; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Proverbs 2:6; 3:13; 8:10-11; 11:2; 13:10; 29:15; Ephesians 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30). So…how are you doing with that so far?

Nehemiah 1-3, Romans 7

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Responding like Jesus
15 JULY 2022

‘He did not retaliate.’
1 Peter 2:23 NIV

When someone disappoints or upsets you, what do you do? Pull out your big guns and react? Do you say, ‘You make me so mad!’? When you say that, you’re admitting someone else is controlling your emotions. You’re acknowledging you have given that person the power to determine your feelings and reactions. No one can take control from you – you give it away the moment you start reacting!

The Bible says, ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’ (Romans 12:21 NIV). To retaliate is to react. But to forgive is to act. It’s saying, ‘I choose the way I respond.’ Do other people control your emotional state? Do you let them raise your happiness level or plunge you into worry, fear, or anger? ‘Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city’ (Proverbs 16:32 NLT).

The person who can control their moods and reactions is stronger than a walled city. But a person who cannot control their own spirit is defenceless, like a city with no walls around it. That person has no defence; they are at the mercy of whatever anyone wants to do to them. Strength is found in gentleness, and gentleness has the ability to handle hurt without retaliating; it can absorb the blow without needing to strike back. Jesus called it ‘turning the other cheek’ (see Matthew 5:39). You say, ‘That’s not easy to do.’ No, it’s not; sometimes it’s almost impossible. You say, ‘To respond that way is not natural.’ You’re right, it is supernatural; it is the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). You need God’s power to live this way.

Nehemiah 4-6, Romans 8:1-21

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Are you producing for God?
16 JULY 2022

‘I chose you…[to] bear fruit – fruit that will last.’
John 15:16 NIV

Ever wonder how some people are able to accomplish so much? What makes them so productive? Fast-forward to the end of your own life. What will it take for you to be able to say, ‘I led a productive life. I accomplished what I set out to do’? What do you consider to be a productive life? More importantly, do you know God’s definition of a productive life?

Let’s consider what it means to be a fruitful Christian. The word ‘fruit’ occurs sixty-six times in the New Testament. Three different kinds of fruit are referred to: the kind we eat – figs and grapes; biological fruit – infants; and spiritual fruit – Christ-like character. The Bible defines this spiritual fruit as nine things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23 NLT). Now you know the kind of fruit that God wants produced in your life. That’s how He defines a productive life.

Jesus said, ‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples’ (John 15:8 NIV). The proof that you are a disciple of Jesus is that you bear spiritual fruit. Perhaps you’re a good ‘fruit inspector’ when it comes to examining the lives of others. But what kind of fruit is growing in your own life? Are you growing more carnal or more Christ-like? To know how fruitful you are, examine what’s growing in your life. If you like what you see, keep doing what you’re doing. If you don’t, get down on your knees and pray, ‘Father, help me to bring forth fruit that glorifies you.’

Nehemiah 7-9, Romans 8:22-39

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Are you producing for God?
16 JULY 2022

‘I chose you…[to] bear fruit – fruit that will last.’
John 15:16 NIV

Ever wonder how some people are able to accomplish so much? What makes them so productive? Fast-forward to the end of your own life. What will it take for you to be able to say, ‘I led a productive life. I accomplished what I set out to do’? What do you consider to be a productive life? More importantly, do you know God’s definition of a productive life?

Let’s consider what it means to be a fruitful Christian. The word ‘fruit’ occurs sixty-six times in the New Testament. Three different kinds of fruit are referred to: the kind we eat – figs and grapes; biological fruit – infants; and spiritual fruit – Christ-like character. The Bible defines this spiritual fruit as nine things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23 NLT). Now you know the kind of fruit that God wants produced in your life. That’s how He defines a productive life.

Jesus said, ‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples’ (John 15:8 NIV). The proof that you are a disciple of Jesus is that you bear spiritual fruit. Perhaps you’re a good ‘fruit inspector’ when it comes to examining the lives of others. But what kind of fruit is growing in your own life? Are you growing more carnal or more Christ-like? To know how fruitful you are, examine what’s growing in your life. If you like what you see, keep doing what you’re doing. If you don’t, get down on your knees and pray, ‘Father, help me to bring forth fruit that glorifies you.’

Nehemiah 7-9, Romans 8:22-39

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

You need friends who encourage you
18 JULY 2022

‘A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.’
Proverbs 17:17 NIV

If you’re wise, you’ll surround yourself with people who support you emotionally and spiritually, and you can share your dreams and ideas with them. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were members of The Inklings, an informal literary discussion group associated with Oxford University. It comprised teachers, writers and friends who met regularly at a well-known Oxford pub to discuss passages from their favourite books as well as their own writings.

In 1936, they decided the world needed more novels that had faith and morality as their central theme. Lewis and Tolkien decided to write science fiction after realising the inferior quality of similar stories being published at the time. They literally tossed a coin to decide who would write a book on space travel versus time travel. Tolkien got the time travel nod, but his early efforts with such a story never really worked out. Later, however, he would achieve great success with The Lord of the Rings. Lewis wrote his famous series of novels called The Space Trilogy, and from that momentum he eventually penned The Chronicles of Narnia.

Now, you may not reach that level of success, but you’ll go further with the encouragement of true friends than you will without it. So ask yourself what’s involved in cultivating the kinds of friendships that’ll help you fulfil your God-given potential. It may mean coming out of your shell and reaching out to others. Could you encounter hurt and rejection? Sure! But you’ll succeed only if you’re willing to take that chance.



Nehemiah 10-11, Romans 9:1-15

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Getting older, and better
19 JULY 2022

‘For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.’
Isaiah 65:22 NIV

In 1968 a scientist discovered a six-hundred-year-old necklace in a Native American grave. It was made up of seeds which had been strung together. He planted one of those seeds, and guess what happened: it sprouted and grew. Although the seed had been dormant for six hundred years, it still had the potential for life.

Maybe you have been a Christian for years and have been spiritually dormant for most of that time, but now you would like to be productive. You desire to be fruitful. The good news is, it’s not too late! You can begin right now. ‘The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock”’ (Psalm 92:12-15 NIV).

Did you know that a palm tree produces its greatest harvest of fruit in its final years? That can be your destiny too. ‘For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.’ That Scripture means bunions, bifocals, and baldness notwithstanding, your last season of life can be your greatest season of life. It may take you longer to do what you do, but fuelled with the wisdom of God’s Word and the years you have walked with Him, you can still make a mark for God in this world.

Nehemiah 12-13, Romans 9:16-33

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

When you’re tested
20 JULY 2022

‘Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.’
Genesis 22:10 NKJV

We are not all tested in the same ways, but we’ll be tested on the same issues. Consider Abraham. After waiting for twenty years, God gave him a son destined to ‘father…many nations’ (Genesis 17:5 KJV). Then God told him to sacrifice that boy on a remote wilderness altar. It didn’t make sense because it contradicted God’s promise, yet Abraham obeyed.

Now, it’s unlikely you’ll be called to face the same challenges as Abraham, but, rest assured, you’ll be tested on the same issues. For example, you’ll be tested on your level of commitment. When the going gets tough, will you stay committed to God and obey His Word, or will you look for a way out? When it doesn’t make sense, isn’t fair, and you don’t deserve it, will you trust God and remain faithful to Him?

You’ll be tested on the issue of who is in control of your life. When you can see the hand of the Enemy at work or identify the person responsible for your predicament, pressure, or pain, will you remember that ‘all things work together for good’ and God is still running the show? (see Romans 8:28.)

Another area where you’ll be tested is on the issue of your faith. When it looked like God was reneging on his promise, yet ‘by faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac’ (Hebrews 11:17 NKJV). How could a loving father do such a thing? Because he never doubted that God could raise Isaac up, ‘even from the dead’ (v. 19 NKJV).

So when you’re tested, ‘hold fast the profession of [your] faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)’ (Hebrews 10:23 KJV).

Esther 1-2, Romans 10

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Science recognises the power of prayer (1)
21 JULY 2022


‘Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your…requests to God.’
Philippians 4:6 CEV

God’s Word clearly tells us to ‘pray about everything’. Today, science is beginning to recognise the value and the power of prayer. Researchers investigating the role of faith in health are discovering evidence that’s hard to refute. For example, a 2014 study conducted by The Mind Health Report confirmed that people who engage in private prayer, intercessory prayer, and church activities are healthier and live longer. Here are some additional benefits:

1) Florida State University researchers found that praying for somebody increases your readiness to forgive them. When a group of men and women prayed for the well-being of a close friend every day for four weeks, they were more willing to forgive not only the friend but people in general. Forgiveness is associated with better overall health and satisfaction with life.

2) University of Miami researchers discovered that prayer and religious practices improve your ability to pursue and achieve long-term goals. Prayer affects regions in your brain that improve self-control, and people who view their goals as sacred are more determined to attain them.

3) A research study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison concluded that victims of abusive relationships recovered a positive self-image and reduced their emotional pain when their lives included prayer.

4) Columbia University researchers found that people who value religion and regularly attend church are 90 per cent less likely to suffer from depression than their non-religious peers.

That’s pretty strong evidence in favour of prayer, wouldn’t you say?

Esther 3-5, Romans 11:1-18

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Science recognises the power of prayer (2)
22 JULY 2022

‘The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.’
James 5:16 NLT
Seven more thoughts to consider:

1) When it comes to praying and getting involved in church, a University of Michigan study found that it reduced the emotional toll of financial stress.

2) A respected gerontologist reported that following heart surgery, private prayer can improve your overall state of well-being and make you feel less anxious.

3) A National Survey of Children’s Health confirms that kids who get involved in church have higher educational expectations and do better in maths and reading. And kids who went to church as little as once a month are less likely to repeat a year in school.

4) Psychiatric Services journal cites several studies showing how positive religious beliefs play an important role in recovery from alcohol and/or drug abuse, and greatly reduce the rate of recidivism.

5) When researchers at Yale School of Medicine studied 2,000 people over sixty-five, they found that the ones who attended church were less likely to lose their mental faculties in future years.

6) Anger puts your stress reaction into overdrive, and raises your blood pressure. Ohio State University studies confirm that praying for the person you’re angry with can calm your anger and foster positive emotions like compassion, which improves your overall health.

7) And Sociological Quarterly reports that teens who find meaning and importance in their faith have better relationships with their parents, which leads to a more satisfying experience for the whole family.

Esther 6-8, Romans 11:19-36