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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

How to be blessed at work (3)
22 AUGUST 2022

‘In honour preferring one another.’
Romans 12:10 KJV

Here is another important key to being blessed on the job: thoughtfulness. That’s true whether you’re the company president or the night-shift caretaker. The nameplate on your office door may say that you deserve respect, but you have to earn it every day through your work ethic and your attitude. In the Old Testament, most people earned their living by farming and raising cattle, so Solomon offers this advice: ‘Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds’ (Proverbs 27:23 NASB).

Good leaders make it their business to know the needs, strengths, weaknesses, potential, and motivational levels of those who work with them. As a result, employee sick time is reduced, morale improved, and quality and production soar. Believe it or not, a pay increase isn’t always the only motivator. Sometimes your thoughtfulness, understanding, and interest in an employee is also a powerful motivator. Putting people down or taking them for granted just guarantees resentment. When you truly care about people, you try to bring out the best in them.

And if you’re an employee, God promises, ‘Whoever protects their master will be honoured’ (v. 18 NIVUK). If you keep criticising those above you, those around you will begin to distrust you. Why? Because they know that at some point you will do the same to them! As long as you resent your position as a follower, you will never become qualified to be a leader. The Bible says you’re supposed to speak well of those in authority over you (see Titus 3:1-2). And if you can’t, say nothing and look for another job: that’s how to be blessed on the job.

Proverbs 19-21, 1 Corinthians15:29-58

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

How to be blessed at work (4)
23 AUGUST 2022

‘Ill-gotten gains do not profit.’
Proverbs 10:2 NASB (1995 Edition)

In order to be blessed on the job, you must practise this: honesty. It’s unwise to steal, even if you’re never caught. ‘Ill-gotten gains do not profit.’ You may steal and get away with it, but you won’t benefit by it. ‘Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles’ (Proverbs 13:11 NASB 1995 Edition). You can’t do the wrong thing and finish up with the right result. Not only will you have trouble, you will bring trouble on those who love you and depend on you. ‘He who profits illicitly troubles his own house’ (Proverbs 15:27 NASB).

Think about it: you could lose your job, damage your reputation, be humiliated, face costs and legal consequences your whole family pays for, and end up in shame, all of which will negatively affect your children. Your spouse deserves an honest partner. Your children deserve an honest role model, confident that the path you walk is safe for them to follow.

Radio commentator Paul Harvey stated that 40 per cent of American workers admitted to stealing on the job, and 25 per cent of them felt justified in doing so. They rationalised it by saying: ‘Everybody’s doing it, why shouldn’t I…The boss can afford it, they won’t miss it…It’s only small stuff, it won’t make any difference…The company owes me, and I’m just taking what’s mine…I deserve it, I’ve worked hard and never been acknowledged.’

What does God have to say about this? ‘The wicked earns deceptive wages’ (Proverbs 11:18 NASB 1995 Edition). When you deceive your employer, the Bible says you are ‘wicked’. Of all people, employers and customers should be able to trust a follower of Christ to be honest, earn their wages, and provide quality service.

Proverbs 22-24, 1 Corinthians 16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Develop a joy workout (1)
24 AUGUST 2022

‘My heart leaps for joy.’
Psalm 28:7 NIV
Joy is like a muscle; the more you develop it, the stronger it becomes. Here are two exercises to help you develop inner joy:

1) Try to show more gratitude. ‘Give thanks in all circumstances’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV). Note, it doesn’t say be thankful for all circumstances, but in them. Hans Seyle, the father of modern stress studies, says gratitude produces more emotional energy than any other attitude. So look for more ways to express gratitude. Send an email or make a phone call to someone to tell them how much they have meant in your life. And remember to express gratitude to God. The psalmist says, ‘With my song I praise him’ (Psalm 28:7 NIV). If you’re not naturally a joyful person, start singing praises to God and watch your attitude change.

2) Look for ways to give. ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35 NIV). Someone has jokingly said, ‘When it comes to giving, many people will stop at nothing.’ What does the Bible reveal? ‘God loves a cheerful giver’ (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV). Why? Because you are most like God when you give, and He doesn’t give grudgingly. Your giving actually determines how much you receive from God! The Bible says when you give Him the first tenth of your income, He will ‘throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it’ (Malachi 3:10 NIV). You cannot outgive God. As the old farmer said, ‘I shovel it into God’s storehouse, and He shovels it into mine – but God has a bigger shovel.’

Proverbs 25-26, 2 Corinthians 1

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Develop a joy workout (2)
25 AUGUST 2022

‘I told them many things…so they would be filled with my joy.’
John 17:13 NLT
Here are two more ways to increase the level of your joy:


1) Start serving others. As long as you live with a sense of entitlement believing that others should serve you, your joy gauge will be reading ‘empty’. Jesus said it’s in giving away your life to others that you find abundant life (see Mark 8:35). Paul reminds us: ‘Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do’ (Ephesians 6:7-8 NIV). The happiest people are typically too busy helping others to ask themselves, ‘Am I happy?’ Find a cause greater than self-interest, and pour your life into it. If you do, your legacy will be much greater than your life span.

2) Share your faith with someone. ‘There is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents’ (Luke 15:10 NLT). Your greatest joy in life will be the result of trusting in Christ as your Saviour. And your second-greatest joy will come from introducing others to Him. Imagine sharing your faith with someone. They may not respond at the time, but you have still sown the seed of God’s Word. Later, they commit their lives to Christ. Perhaps you didn’t know it. But imagine them meeting you in heaven and saying, ‘I want to thank you for taking the time. I’m here because you cared enough to tell me about Jesus.’ You say, ‘I’ve lost my joy.’ Question: when was the last time you shared your faith with someone or led them to Christ?

Proverbs 27-29, 2 Corinthians 2

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Selah: ‘Pause and calmly think about it’
26 AUGUST 2022

‘God will establish it for ever. Selah.’
Psalm 48:8 KJV

Seventy-one times in the book of Psalms we read the word ‘Selah’ at the end of a Scripture. What does it mean? To ‘pause and calmly think about it’.

You can’t rush into Bible revelation. You can’t skim the surface and discover the treasure hidden within it. That’s why David wrote, ‘With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee’ (Psalm 119:10-11 KJV).

When you hide God’s Word in your heart through meditation and memorisation, you’re able to stand on it when you have a particular need. Meditation involves taking time to reflect; to ‘pause and calmly think about it’. It’s a time-tested method God put in place for you. He wants you to learn to pray the Scriptures and meditate on them because these habits will help you to experience all He has for you.

The most important thing you can ask yourself when you face life’s challenges is, ‘What does God say about this in His Word?’ Why is asking that important? Read these two Scriptures, and you will find the answer: ‘Your word is settled in heaven’ (Psalm 119:89 NKJV). ‘The word of our God stands forever’ (Isaiah 40:8 NKJV). God’s Word is His will!

When God called Jeremiah to leadership, Jeremiah had reservations about his ability. So God said, ‘I have put My words in your mouth’ (Jeremiah 1:9 NKJV). Then He told Jeremiah, ‘I am ready to perform My word’ (v. 12 NKJV). The only thing you can count on for sure is that God will keep His Word. Selah!

Proverbs 30-31, 2 Corinthians 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Find a mentor. Become a mentor.
27 AUGUST 2022

‘The works that I do he will do also.’
John 14:12 NKJV

Jesus was the perfect mentor. He told His disciples, ‘He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also.’ If you want to reach the fullness of your God-given potential, ask God for the right mentors. You will always go further with a good mentor coaching and pushing you. Some mentors are given for a short season, others for a lifetime, so you must know the difference. How do you recognise a mentor? In eight ways. The credo of the true mentor is this:

1) I am willing to spend the time it takes to build a close relationship with the learner;

2) I commit myself to believing in the potential of the learner, to telling them the exciting future I see ahead for him or her; to visualising and verbalising the possibilities for their life;

3) I am willing to be vulnerable and transparent before the learner, I’m willing to share not only my strengths and successes, but also my weaknesses, failures, brokenness, and sins;

4) I am willing to be honest yet affirming in confronting the learner’s errors, faults, and areas of immaturity;

5) I am committed to standing by the learner through trials - even trials that are self-inflicted as a result of ignorance or error;

6) I am committed to helping the learner set goals for his or her spiritual life, career, or ministry, and to helping the learner dream his or her dream;

7) I am willing to objectively evaluate the learner’s progress toward his or her goal;

8) Above all, I am committed to faithfully living out everything I teach.

Ecclesiastes 1-3, 2 Corinthians 4

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Start your day right
28 AUGUST 2022

‘Abraham…stood before the Lord.’
Genesis 19:27 NKJV

Abraham was known as ‘the Friend of God’ (James 2:23 KJV). What an honour! But the secret of his greatness is easy to overlook: ‘Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord.’ He started his day with God. Do you?

The way you get up in the morning sets the tone for your day. So try this: first thing tomorrow, get alone with God for a few minutes and go over your plans for the day. As you’re going over them, you will have some concerns. Just hand them over to Him. Maybe you will notice a particular problem you’re worried about. Ask Him for wisdom. The Bible says He will give it to you gladly (see James 1:5). If He doesn’t give you an immediate answer, realise it’s because He wants you to trust Him. He has something in mind, something that you haven’t thought of yet.

So many of us start our day anxious, hurried, fearful, or rushed. But you don’t have to. You’re going to start your day anyway; why not start it with God? You’re going to have a first thought anyhow, so why not let it belong to God before whom all our anxieties flee? When you’re having a bad day, pause and ask yourself, ‘Did I start this day with God, or did I forget to include Him?’

Here are two Scriptures you need to consider: ‘In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly’ (Psalm 5:3 NIV). ‘Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days’ (Psalm 90:14 NIV).

Luke 16:16-31, Psalms 89-90

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Has your love for God grown cold?
29 AUGUST 2022

‘You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!’
Revelation 2:4 NLT

One of Paul’s letters was to the church at Ephesus. They were spiritual, doctrinally sound, and exemplary in their love for Christ. Then Jesus says to that same church years later, ‘You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first’ (vv. 4-5 NLT).

Has your love for God grown cold? Then you must go back to where you first met Him and seek Him again like you did before you had heard so much and seen so much; before the pressures of life had worn you down. ‘But I’m busy doing the Lord’s work,’ you say. Beware; busyness and barrenness go hand in hand! Three times Jesus asked Peter, ‘Do you love Me?’ Finally, Peter said, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know [the extent to which] I love You’ (John 21:17 NKJV).

Oswald Chambers said, ‘Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him.’ ’When Peter decided to go fishing that night, he may have been making a decision to get away from everything and go back to where he first met the Lord. That’s a good move if you also seek the Lord there! When you get discouraged, you will either go back to the One who can save, keep, and satisfy, or you will go back to whatever was going on in your life before you met Him. That’s not a good move! Why? Because the Bible says Peter fished all night and caught nothing.

Ecclesiastes 4-6, 2 Corinthians 5

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

You can’t change people
30 AUGUST 2022

‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick.’
Proverbs 13:12 NKJV

You say, ‘Surely a man or woman can change when they meet the right partner?’ No. Only God can change people – and you are not God! Plus, when you ‘need to be needed’, it can cause you to make disastrous relationship choices in life. Perhaps you have heard stories of people who have experienced massive change through their marriage. But the truth is, the power to change must come from within the person themselves, not from you.

When you try to change your spouse, it doesn’t work, and eventually your ‘hope’ for change makes you ‘sick’. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases Solomon’s words: ‘Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick.’ ’When you keep longing for and envisioning something that never materialises, you get heartsick. Then you start making excuses for what’s not working in the relationship, even as it becomes obvious to those around you. Sound relationship decisions are not based on hope.

And add to this the fact that people of faith often try to spiritualise every issue. In the name of ‘faith’, they downplay their instincts and ignore their senses. That’s not having faith in God! Faith in God should be just that – faith in God. We must not place our faith in fallible men and women, because they will fail us. God gives each of us a will, but He doesn’t force us to change. Change must come from within each of us as we accept the grace that God extends to us each day. ‘The Lord opened [Lydia’s] heart to heed the things spoken by Paul’ (Acts 16:14 NKJV). Here is a better option: pray for them, and let God change them!

Ecclesiastes 7-9, 2 Corinthians 6

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Build your life on God’s Word
31 AUGUST 2022

‘The LORD has not chosen any of these.’
1 Samuel 16:10 NLT[l

David had seven brothers. When it came time to pick a king to replace Saul, Samuel thought any one of them would make a better king than David. But God rejected all seven. Why? Because:

1) They had the looks but not the spiritual core. God explained to Samuel, ‘People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’ (v. 7 NLT). David’s spiritual core was formed by years spent with God. His heart’s cry was, ‘As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God’ (Psalm 42:1 NKJV).

2) They had no personal experiences with God to fall back on. The lion and the bear were big, and Goliath was bigger yet. But David wasn’t intimidated. ‘The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine’ (1 Samuel 17:37 NKJV). There are no insignificant battles. The little ones equip you for the big ones that shape your destiny, so stand on your ‘God experiences’. How you respond in a crisis is determined by the experiences you have had with God.

3) They were easily influenced by others. David’s brothers allowed the fears of those around them to erode their faith. Fear is contagious; if you listen to it long enough, you will get infected. No, you shouldn’t be isolated from the world, but you must be insulated against its negative influences. Listening to Goliath frightened David’s brothers, but it didn’t frighten David. So who are you listening to today? Get God’s opinion and build your life upon it; allow His Word to settle every issue.

Ecclesiastes 10-12, 2 Corinthians 7