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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Start your day with God
28 JANUARY 2023

‘My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD.’
Psalm 5:3 NKJV

Develop the habit of starting each day with God. When you do, you will have a source of strength to draw on all day long. Psychologists say it takes up to three weeks to become familiar with a new habit, and another three before it takes root. That means you need to get beyond the six-week barrier. So, do these:

1) Make a strong resolution. If you begin half-heartedly, you will never succeed. The Bible says, ‘Encourage one another daily’ (Hebrews 3:13 NIV). If it helps, become accountable to someone. Ask them to encourage you and remind you of the promise you made to God.

2) Never allow an exception. A habit is like a ball of twine: every time you drop it, some of the strands unwind. So don’t allow ‘just this once’ thinking to creep in. Every act of yielding weakens your will and causes you to lose ground.

3) Use every opportunity to practise your new habit. Whenever you get the slightest urge to read your Bible and pray, do it. Don’t wait; use that moment to reinforce it. It doesn’t hurt to overdo a new habit when you’re first starting.

4) Rely on the power of God. You’re in a spiritual battle, and you can only succeed with God’s help. Depend on Him to aid you in developing the habit for His glory. Write down the following words, sign your name at the bottom, and keep them before you constantly: ‘Lord, I commit myself to beginning each day with You no matter what the cost. And I’m depending on You to help me be consistent.’ That’s a prayer He is sure to answer.

Exodus 9-11, Matthew 15:21-39

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

What concerns you concerns God
29 JANUARY 2023

‘Give all your worries and cares to God.’
1 Peter 5:7 NLT

Doug Coldiron writes: ‘I’m a trucker, and my Jack Russell Terrier, Dee Dee, rides shotgun on my road trips. We were playing fetch outside Atlanta when something caught her eye and she shot into the woods. I paced the perimeter calling her name. I alerted other truckers and searched until it was pitch black. Nothing. Eventually the others left; some said, “I’ll pray for you.” I wasn’t so sure God was listening. I’d already been praying for hours.

'Next morning, I had to get on the road, and when I opened my laptop and pulled up my Facebook page, it was filled with postings: “We’re praying for you.” “Hang in there.” “Trust God.” I felt comforted; someone besides me was worried about my dog. If only I could get back to Atlanta soon! I thought about praying, “Lord, get me an assignment in Atlanta…NOW!” I knew that could take weeks, but when I clicked on my company website to check the destination for my next job…it was Atlanta! Could prayer be working?

'Next morning my cell phone woke me. It was Russ, the maintenance supervisor. “I saw your dog on my way to work.” I couldn’t believe my ears. I had to get to Atlanta! From the truck centre, Russ drove me to where he had seen Dee Dee. After searching for hours, I glanced over my shoulder…and there she sat on the doorstep of a house. She bolted over, and as I picked her up, I prayed, “Thank you, God.”’

The Bible says, ‘Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you’ (v. 7 NLT). Coldiron adds, ‘Who knows what goes on in a dog’s mind? One thing I know is we’re never alone. God always answers prayer.’

Luke 2:1-24, Psalms 13-15

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Telling it like it is
30 JANUARY 2023

‘Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ.’
Ephesians 4:15 NLT

Jon Walker says: ‘It’s hard to…confront…it’s easier to stay superficial…to demonise one another when we don’t agree…and to cut and run at the first sign of trouble…But the Bible says, “An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship” (Proverbs 24:26 NLT); it deepens relationships…and keeps our fellowship open and authentic, freeing us to speak the truth in love”…No more lies or pretence. Tell your brother the truth. Remember, “In Christ’s body we’re all connected…When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself”’ (Ephesians 4:25 MSG).

Author Annette Smith observes: ‘Touchy topics are difficult for even close friends. Yet relationships involve flawed people who make mistakes and get into messes. Friends need to be able to count on each other, not just for fun and affirmation, but for instruction and correction. Committing ourselves to a friendship means because we care on a deep, intimate level, we have the courage to speak up when a friend needs to hear tough words…True friendship comes with joy and responsibility…To avoid talking truthfully about a situation that’s hurtful, dangerous, or out of God’s will, is to dishonour the friendship and the friend. When we’ve been trusted with the blessing of friends, we must love them enough to be willing to experience hurt, rejection, even anger. In the end, truth heals. Before addressing a difficult situation, if there’s any self-righteousness or the tiniest desire to get even, we should keep silent. Honesty…when it comes to touchy subjects must be accompanied by pure, loving motives.’

The Bible says, ‘Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ.’ If your words aren’t bathed in love, they’ll hurt rather than heal.

Exodus 12-13, Matthew 16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Telling it like it is
30 JANUARY 2023

‘Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ.’
Ephesians 4:15 NLT

Jon Walker says: ‘It’s hard to…confront…it’s easier to stay superficial…to demonise one another when we don’t agree…and to cut and run at the first sign of trouble…But the Bible says, “An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship” (Proverbs 24:26 NLT); it deepens relationships…and keeps our fellowship open and authentic, freeing us to speak the truth in love”…No more lies or pretence. Tell your brother the truth. Remember, “In Christ’s body we’re all connected…When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself”’ (Ephesians 4:25 MSG).

Author Annette Smith observes: ‘Touchy topics are difficult for even close friends. Yet relationships involve flawed people who make mistakes and get into messes. Friends need to be able to count on each other, not just for fun and affirmation, but for instruction and correction. Committing ourselves to a friendship means because we care on a deep, intimate level, we have the courage to speak up when a friend needs to hear tough words…True friendship comes with joy and responsibility…To avoid talking truthfully about a situation that’s hurtful, dangerous, or out of God’s will, is to dishonour the friendship and the friend. When we’ve been trusted with the blessing of friends, we must love them enough to be willing to experience hurt, rejection, even anger. In the end, truth heals. Before addressing a difficult situation, if there’s any self-righteousness or the tiniest desire to get even, we should keep silent. Honesty…when it comes to touchy subjects must be accompanied by pure, loving motives.’

The Bible says, ‘Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ.’ If your words aren’t bathed in love, they’ll hurt rather than heal.

Exodus 12-13, Matthew 16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Scriptural coping skills
01 FEBRUARY 2023

‘Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks.’
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV

In order to succeed in life, you need good coping skills. The salesperson has a quota. The performer has rehearsals. The therapist counsels one depressed soul after another. The pilot has to sit in the cockpit for hours. The preacher is never free of sermon preparation. Then there is the parent with tiny children facing fourteen hours a day of making decisions, competing with strong wills, and trying to be everything to everybody.

How do you develop the coping skills required to live the abundant life Jesus promised? (See John 10:10.) Paul tells us, ‘Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks.’ Rejoice in the things that never change, can’t fail, and won’t let you down (like God’s promises!). And when you feel like you can’t cope, pray. Better yet, live with a prayerful heart! With every breath, say, ‘I trust you, Lord; I turn it over to you, for I know you have everything under control.’

And don’t forget to give thanks. Remember the old adage: ‘I grumbled because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.’ Instead of complaining, start counting your blessings. Do you remember what life was like before you met Jesus? Weren’t there days when you thought you wouldn’t make it? Now look where you are! On the other side of the Red Sea, looking back, the Israelites declared that the Lord was their strength, their song, and their salvation (see Exodus 15:2). And isn’t that what He has been to you, too? Come on, praise God!

Exodus 16-18, Matthew 18:1-20

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

You represent your Father
02 FEBRUARY 2023

‘His heart went out to him.’
Luke 15:20 PHPS

When the father saw his prodigal son, ‘his heart went out to him’. Jack Graham writes: ‘This isn’t a father who can’t wait to punish his sinful son…who has written him off as wasted and worthless. This is a loving, caring father who can’t wait to embrace and welcome him. He runs down the road to meet him…What you see…is a picture of the Father’s love for you…eager…excessive… approachable…abundant.’

Max Lucado adds: ‘The tale involves a wealthy father and a wilful son [who]…takes his inheritance [to] Las Vegas and…wastes [it] on slot machines and call girls…Broke [and] too proud to go home, he gets a job sweeping…stables at the racetrack. When he finds himself…[eating]…their oats, he realises enough is enough…Off he goes, rehearsing his repentance speech…But…“When he was…a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion” [v. 20 NKJV]…We expect crossed arms…a furrowed brow…a guarded handshake…a stern lecture…Instead [the father said], “Bring out the best robe…a ring…sandals…and…the fatted calf” [vv. 22-23 NKJV].’

The ring symbolised delegated authority. The one who wore it carried on business in the name of the one who gave it. Would you have given this prodigal the power of attorney over your matters? Entrusted him with your credit card? When you came to God, you were given authority to conduct business in His name. When you speak truth, you’re His ambassador (see 2 Corinthians 5:20). As you steward finances He gives, you’re His business manager. When you proclaim forgiveness, you’re His priest. He has given you the privilege to do for others what He does for you. Don’t withhold encouragement or affirmation! Speak words that strengthen others. Why? Because you represent your Father!

Exodus 19-20, Matthew 18:21-35

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Are You Growing Spiritually?
03 FEBRUARY 2023

‘Growing in every way more and more like Christ.’
Ephesians 4:15 NLT

Spiritual growth doesn’t happen automatically. You must desire to grow, decide to grow, discipline yourself, and delight in spiritual growth. ‘But my life is just too hard,’ you say. A lot of people have had it worse than you and grown into spiritual maturity, and a lot of folks have had it better and remained stuck in spiritual infancy. That’s because they doubted their ability to grow, drifted wherever the current took them, or delayed their growth, thinking, ‘I’ll get around to it when things change’. But it never happens.

Growth always begins with a decision. ‘Follow me and be my disciple…So Matthew got up and followed him’ (Matthew 9:9 NLT). Matthew didn’t understand all the implications of his decision; he simply decided to follow Jesus. That’s all you need to get started: a decision. Nothing shapes your life like the decisions you make. If you want to know what you’ll be twenty or thirty years from now, examine the commitments and priorities that rule your life. It’s at the point of commitment that most of us miss God’s best. Because we are afraid to commit to anything, we make half-hearted commitments to too many things and end up frustrated because we chose the wrong things. And when we commit to the wrong things we end up living with regrets.

Every choice has consequences, so choose wisely. Christlikeness is the result of making Christ-like choices, then depending on Him to help you fulfil those choices. And He will: ‘God accurately reproduces His character in you’ (Ephesians 4:24 MSG).

Exodus 21-22, Matthew 19

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

God is your provider
04 FEBRUARY 2023

‘You prepare a table before me.’
Psalm 23:5 NKJV

Next time you sit down at your table to eat a delicious meal, stop and think about all the people it took to make it possible. A farmer grew it or raised it; a food processing company prepared and packaged it; a transport company shipped it; a supermarket sold it; then someone paid the price to buy it, cook it, and set it before you to eat.

There are many links in this chain, but the first link is God. He made the soil, the seeds, and the livestock. Without Him, you would go hungry. That’s why each time you come to your dining table, it’s proper to ‘say grace’, or offer thanks to Him. When someone sets food for your enjoyment and nourishment in front of you, common courtesy alone should require that you respond by saying, ‘Thank you.’

Here is a memo from heaven: ‘Everything you have came from me. Signed: God.’ (See James 1:17.) Perhaps you’re thinking, ‘But I worked hard for what I have.’ Then you’re to be commended for your work ethic and your effort. But that’s not the end of the story; here is the rest of it: ‘Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share’ (1 Timothy 6:17-18 NKJV). When God says be ‘ready to give, willing to share,’ He is simply saying, ‘Just as I have been the provider of all your blessings, now go out and share those blessings with others.’

Exodus 23-24, Matthew 20:1-16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Faithfulness (1)
05 FEBRUARY 2023

‘Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?’
Proverbs 20:6 NIV

A new employee once asked a co-worker, ‘How long have you been working for the company?’ He replied, ‘Ever since the boss threatened to fire me!’ Seriously, employers scramble to find workers who are faithful and dependable. Citizens long for politicians who will faithfully carry out all of their campaign promises. In the marriage ceremony, newlyweds are asked to be faithful to the vows they make to each other. The truth is, without faithfulness, your influence will be restricted – or wiped out. Without faithfulness, the sum total of all your other wonderful talents is diluted. Faithfulness turns the mundane into the miraculous and transforms ordinary individuals into dependable achievers.

Wise King Solomon asked this soul-searching question: ‘Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?’ The world wants people who are faithful. There are more than 300 geysers in Yellowstone National Park (approximately half the known geysers in the world). But one stands above the others. It’s not the largest, and its waters don’t reach the greatest height, but it’s by far the most popular. And its popularity is due solely to one thing – its dependability. People stand in long lines under the hot sun to see it, because according to a precise schedule, it shoots a stream of boiling water more than 120 feet into the air. You can nearly set your watch by it. That’s why it’s called Old Faithful. People are attracted to our faithfulness. God is glorified by our faithfulness. So in all you do this day, practise faithfulness.

Luke 2:25-52, Psalms 16-17

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Faithfulness (2)
06 FEBRUARY 2023

‘It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.’
1 Corinthians 4:2 NIV

Faithfulness requires making 100 per cent of your effort 100 per cent of the time. American magazine Insight once published an article by Gary Sheer called ‘Strive for Perfection…or Else!’ It contained some alarming facts! The article said if 99.9 per cent was good enough, 103,260 income tax returns would be processed incorrectly that year…22,000 cheques would be deducted from the wrong bank accounts within that next sixty minutes…12 babies would be given to the wrong parents each day…2 plane landings daily at O’Hare International Airport would be unsafe…18,322 pieces of mail would be mishandled within that next hour…291 pacemaker operations would be performed incorrectly that year…880,000 credit cards in circulation would turn out to have incorrect cardholder information on their magnetic strips…20,000 incorrect medicine prescriptions would be written within that next twelve months…and 107 incorrect medical procedures would be performed by the end of that day.

Those are pretty sobering statistics – especially if you are one of the people whose life is affected! Here is the bottom line: only your best should be good enough in any situation. Anything less than that will never be good enough because it reflects your failure to be totally faithful and completely dependable. That’s why the Bible says, ‘It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.’ With God, faithfulness isn’t merely a concept or a suggestion; it’s a requirement of all who serve Him – and that includes you!

Exodus 25-26, Matthew 20:17-34