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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Become a no-limits person!
09 JULY 2023

‘All things are possible to him who believes.’
Mark 9:23 NKJV

No-limits people refuse to accept things as they are because they see them as they can be. Instead of saying, ‘It can’t be done,’ they rise up in faith and say, ‘All things are possible to him who believes.’ No-limits people have faults and failures like everybody else. The difference is, they walk by faith to the cliff’s edge knowing that one of two things will happen when they get there. Either God will put solid rock under their feet, or He will teach them to fly. In other words, they plug into God’s unlimited power supply.

The author of the book of Hebrews describes no-limits people like this: ‘Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle’ (Hebrews 11:33-34 NIV). Notice, these people started out weak, but they became strong. How? ‘Through faith.’ They possessed the kind of faith that disregards the odds, the obstacles, and the opposition, and declares, ‘I am what God says I am, I have what God says I have, and I can do what God says I can.’

The story is told of an old foreman who worked hard on the job and expected the same from his workers. One day one of them said, ‘Don’t you know Rome wasn’t built in a day?’ Smiling, he replied, ‘Aye, but I wasn’t the foreman on that job.’ Today ask God to help you rise above your fears and make you a no-limits person.

Luke 12:32-59, Psalms 72-73

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Jesus is your lawyer!
10 JULY 2023

‘We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’
1 John 2:1 NASB

On those days when you wonder how God could love you, read these words: ‘If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’ When your thoughts sink to gutter level and your actions are anything but Christlike, remind yourself: ‘He lives forever to intercede with God on [our] behalf’ (Hebrews 7:25 NLT).

It works like this: when God’s law declares you guilty, Jesus steps in and says, ‘Father, I have this person covered; they are trusting in my shed blood, and My righteousness has been transferred to them.’ Try to picture this: in the Old Testament tabernacle, the blood of a lamb was poured on top of the mercy seat, and the ark of the covenant that contained the broken law – the record of our guilt – was placed underneath it. So, the only way God could see the broken law – was through the blood. And it’s the same today! If you’re wondering why God continues to love, accept, and bless you, it’s because Jesus is your lawyer! Notice:

1) He is fully qualified to represent you. ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’ (Matthew 3:17 KJV).

2) He has never lost a case. ‘He is…able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him’ (Hebrews 7:25 NKJV).

3) He offers His services freely. ‘Without money and without price’ (Isaiah 55:1 KJV).

The Bible says, ‘Let us…approach God’s throne of grace with confidence…that we may receive mercy and…grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). Jesus is your lawyer, so you can come to God with confidence today.

Ezra 1-2, Romans 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Be on your guard
11 JULY 2023

‘Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith.’
1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV

Sometimes you experience more problems after you become a Christian than you did before. ‘Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering’ (Hebrews 10:32 NLT). Consider the life of Christ. ‘After his baptism…the heavens…opened…And a voice…said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy”’ (Matthew 3:16-17 NLT). Then we read: ‘Jesus was led…into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 NLT). First the call, then the conflict. And that’s still how it works!

When Paul was called into ministry, he was given ‘a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted’ (2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV). So when you say yes to God, prepare for attack. Satan attacks what he fears, and he fears God’s plan for your life. When a player starts scoring, the other team targets him because they know he is capable of winning. Getting the idea? Before Jesus launched His ministry, Satan offered Him the kingdoms of the world, and he will make you the same offer.

So, the only safe place to be is in the centre of God’s will. When Noah was building the ark, he could withstand a hundred years of scorn, but when the job was done, he ended up drunk and disgraced. Paul writes, ‘These things…were written down to warn us…If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall’ (1 Corinthians 10:11, 12 NLT). So, the word for today is – be on your guard!

Ezra 3-5, Romans 4

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Dealing with loneliness (1)
12 JULY 2023

‘I…am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.’
Psalm 102:7 NKJV

Wolfgang Dircks, a divorced, disabled loner, was found deceased in his apartment in Bonn, Germany, in December 1998 – five years after he died. He was forty-three and died watching television. Neighbours didn’t notice his absence. His landlord came by after the bank account from which his rent was paid dried up. A TV schedule was still sitting on the lap of Dircks’s skeleton and was open to the page of 5 December 1993 – the apparent date of his death. The television had long since stopped in the on position, but the lights on his 1993 Christmas tree were still glowing.

When God created us, He said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him’ (Genesis 2:18 NKJV). You were created to be in relationship. You don’t have to accept loneliness as your destiny. Instead:

1) Find a need and meet it. Often loneliness is not the absence of people, but purpose. Show a true interest in the difficulties of others. Resist making your own issues and worries the aim of every conversation. ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others’ (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV).

2) Be generous to others with your time, talents, and treasure. Not everyone will accept what you offer, but someone will. Pray for guidance and keep reaching out. God says, ‘To me, you are very dear, and I love you…’ (Isaiah 43:4 CEV).

Ezra 6-8, Romans 5

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Dealing with loneliness (2)
13 JULY 2023

‘Everyone abandoned me.’
2 Timothy 4:16 NLT
What’s the proper way to deal with loneliness?

1) Learn to be alone without feeling lonely. Jesus often left the crowd to be alone with His Father in prayer. Why? Because He knew that solitude is essential to spiritual growth. And He came back from those times personally enriched and better equipped to deal with the challenges of life. The Bible says, ‘Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day’ (Genesis 32:24 NKJV). Out of that time alone with God came a man with a new name, a new nature, a new walk, and a new future. Plus, when people realise that you can enjoy your favourite dish or movie or other activity alone, they are attracted by your strength, independence, and confidence.

2) Reject the idea that you cannot live without a certain person in your life. God is the only person you must have, and He has promised to always stay with you (see Hebrews 13:5). We might fall into deep loneliness after the death of a loved one because we haven’t cultivated many interests outside the relationship. But it’s never too late to get started. And God will help you. Paul wrote: ‘The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear’ (2 Timothy 4:16-17 NLT). God will help you to grieve your loss, leave your loss, and go on to what He has for you next.

Ezra 9-10, Romans 6

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Are you joy-deprived?
14 JULY 2023

‘I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully.’
John 10:10 CEV

Your lungs need oxygen to thrive, your body needs food to thrive, and your soul needs joy to thrive. How can you tell when someone is joy-deprived? By how they look and what they say.

One Bible teacher says: ‘When I began to understand John 10:10…I realised the enemy had deceived me into thinking that enjoying things was not important…I had come to believe – falsely, of course – that if I was having fun, something was wrong…I must not be working hard enough! I never saw my father enjoy life and it seemed to aggravate him when others did, so I just grew up thinking something must be wrong with it. I can remember being told to be quiet when I laughed out loud…The seventeenth-century…[writer] Madame Guyon said that the highest call for every child of God is to enjoy God. I remember what a heavy load lifted off of me the first time I read that…I was working so hard trying to please God that the thought of simply enjoying Him had not occurred to me at all. I had never heard of such a thing!…I had been a committed church member for over twenty years before I learned that God wanted me to enjoy Him and the life He had given me.’

Can you relate? If so, it’s time to make some changes in your life. Take a break without feeling guilty; you will be much more productive when you’re rested and refreshed. Recreation is not ‘unspiritual’; it’s essential to staying in balance. We live in a driven, stressed-out society, but you can change; you can be joyful if you choose to.

Nehemiah 1-3, Romans 7

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

‘Should I, or shouldn’t I?’
15 JULY 2023

‘We can say with confidence and a clear conscience.’
2 Corinthians 1:12 NLT

In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes: ‘Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and…continually reminds me of what that standard demands…If I’m in the habit of always holding God’s standard in front of me, conscience will always direct me to God’s perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is will I obey?…God always instructs us down to the last detail…He does not speak with a voice like thunder – His voice is so gentle it’s easy for us to ignore. And the only thing that keeps our conscience sensitive to Him is the habit of being open to God on the inside. When you begin to debate, stop immediately. Don’t ask, “Why can’t I do this?” You’re on the wrong track. There is no debating possible once your conscience speaks. Whatever it is – drop it and see that you keep your inner vision clear.’

Paul writes: ‘We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially towards you’ (v. 12 NLT).

But what if the Bible doesn’t offer a specific answer to your question and you’re wondering, ‘Should I, or shouldn’t I?’ Here is your gold standard: ‘If our consciences are clear, we can come to the Lord with perfect assurance and trust, and get whatever we ask for’ (1 John 3:21-22 TLB). Can you think of a more important reason for maintaining a clear conscience?

Nehemiah 4-6, Romans 8:1-21

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Follow God and take your children with you
16 JULY 2023

‘Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom.’
Genesis 13:12 NLT

Jesus said: ‘If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea’ (Matthew 18:6 NIV). Implicit in those words is a sobering challenge to every parent (and every person who is a role model for children): your moral authority doesn’t come from your knowledge but from your lifestyle and integrity. As your children grow up, they’re less apt to listen to what you say and more inclined to imitate what you do. So where are your footsteps leading?

Remember Abraham and Lot? They shared the same family, the same faith, and had the same opportunities in life. But when it came to raising children, Abraham grew roses and Lot grew weeds. What made the difference? Abraham followed God while Lot followed his own selfish interests. ‘Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom.’ Before it was over, Lot lost his moral authority with his family. So here is the question: as a parent (or a role model), where are you pitching your tent?

King David also lost his moral authority with his family. Even though God forgave his affair with Bathsheba and permitted him to remain on the throne, his sin took a terrible toll. His son Amnon raped his sister Tamar. His other son Absalom stole the throne, and his son Solomon’s wives ultimately led him into idolatry. Nathan the prophet told him, ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you’ (2 Samuel 12:11 NIV). You only get one chance to do it right, so follow God and take your children with you.

Luke 13:1-21, Psalms 74-76

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Shut yourself in with God
17 JULY 2023

‘I long for you, O God.’
Psalm 42:1 NLT

Are you having difficulty understanding God’s ways? We all struggle with that. Even though we can look back and see how His hand of blessing and guidance has been upon us, at times we still feel afraid and alone. Jesus Himself cried, ‘My God…why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46 KJV). Those words could be interpreted, ‘I may not understand what’s happening right now, but I know you’re still my God.’ What assurance!

Have you ever watched a child reach for a parent’s hand and say, ‘Slow down; you’re walking too fast’? The child is afraid of getting lost or left behind. Is that how you feel today? Like you can’t keep up? That life is moving way too fast? The Bible says, ‘As the deer longs for streams of water…I long for you, O God’ (Psalm 42:1 NLT). You don’t ‘long’ for something unless you value it and need it. Only raw need will cause you to turn away from every other visible means of support and pursue God, because you know that without Him, you won’t make it. The truth is, if you didn’t need Him so desperately, you could easily become satisfied with lesser things. Three things happen when you pursue God with all your heart.

1) You enter the realm where ‘all things are possible’ (Mark 10:27 KJV).

2) You grow more Christlike, because you become like the company you keep (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).

3) You learn that certain levels of blessing are only reached when you diligently seek God (see Hebrews 11:6).

Are you weary of human answers? Do you need more than just good advice? Shut yourself in with God today and let Him speak to you.

Nehemiah 7-9, Romans 8:22-39

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

You’re ‘called…by his marvellous grace’
18 JULY 2023

‘God…called me by his marvellous grace.’
Galatians 1:15 NLT

In Scripture you will notice that God usually called busy people. Moses the shepherd was busy tending his flock. Gideon the farmer was busy harvesting his crop. Peter and John the fishermen were busy mending their nets. But there was something inside each of them that responded to God’s call. With God, availability matters more than ability. Imagine for a moment a farm worker named Saul out looking for his father’s lost mules, and returning home anointed to be Israel’s first king (see 1 Samuel 9-10). There is no telling what God will do with you! So, be faithful and nurture the dream He put in your heart, and when the time is right, He will set everything in place.

The psalmist said, ‘Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart’ (Psalm 37:4 NIV). Don’t be impatient. If God put the desire into your heart, He will provide everything needed to bring it to pass. Jesus said, ‘Human effort accomplishes nothing…the…words I have spoken to you are spirit and life’ (John 6:63 NLT). So, water your vision with God’s Word, and spend time with Him in prayer. And if anyone tries to come between you and what God has called you to do, tell them, ‘Sorry, I have to go. I’m already spoken for. My destiny is too important to miss.’

Don’t waste another day struggling with God’s call on your life; just surrender to Him! He didn’t call you because of your great track record, great intellect, or great gift. The Bible says, ‘Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound’ (Romans 5:20 KJV). You’re ‘called…by his marvellous grace’.

Nehemiah 10-11, Romans 9:1-15