[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

‘Good success’

‘Then you will have good success.’
Joshua 1:8 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 22 June 2019

When Joshua became leader of Israel in place of Moses, God told him: ‘This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.

For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.’ There are two kinds of success: success that fulfils God’s will for your life; and success that is temporal, can leave you feeling empty, and dies when you die.

Boris Becker, the world championship tennis player, reportedly contemplated suicide because of the sheer emptiness he experienced in life. Even though he appeared to be successful, he knew his life wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be.

‘I had won Wimbledon twice before, once as the youngest player,’ he said. ‘I was rich. I had all the material possessions I needed: money, cars, women, everything…I know this is a cliché.

It is the old song of the movie and pop stars who commit suicide. They have everything and yet they are so unhappy…I had no inner peace.

I was a puppet on a string.’ Someone once said, ‘In whatever man does without God, he must fail miserably or succeed even more miserably.’

Do you know why that statement is true? Because without God all success ends in failure [it doesn’t satisfy].

Jesus’ definition of a fool was this: ‘Every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven’ (Luke 12:21 TLB). ‘Good success’ is putting God in first place, and allowing Him to put everything together for you.

2 Chronicles 4-6, Acts 20:17-38

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Ask, ‘Is there a better way?’

‘The LORD will command the blessing on…all to which you set your hand.’
Deuteronomy 28:8 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 23 June 2019

Almost anybody can spot the problem, discuss the problem, and complain about the problem. But a solution-oriented person looks for ways to solve the problem.

Murray Spangler was such a person. As a department store cleaner, he decided that the only way to overcome the boredom of his job, which consisted of sweeping floors, was to find a more innovative way to do it.

Plus, he had the added incentive of being allergic to the dust he was sweeping every day. Then a thought came to him: ‘Instead of sweeping up the dust, maybe there is a way to suck it up.’

Where do such creative thoughts come from? God, our Creator.

And since you are His offspring, He will share His ideas with you. Spangler’s questions led him to invent a crude but workable vacuum cleaner.

He then sought out an old friend in the leather business to finance the manufacturing of his invention. The man’s name was H.W. Hoover.

Not only did Hoover vacuum cleaners become very popular, but ‘hoovering’ became for at least one generation synonymous with sweeping floors. Built into every obstacle is an opportunity; every question, an answer; every problem, a solution.

So don’t be afraid to question methods, systems, and equipment and ask, ‘Is there a better way?’ The world has been enriched by people who dared to ask that question.

And you can be such a person, for God promises to bless ‘all to which you set your hand’.

Luke 11:29-54, Psalm 66-67

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Live a balanced life

‘Let your moderation be known unto all men.’
Philippians 4:5 KJV

The UCB Word for Today - 24 June 2019

To have a balanced life you must live by these two Scriptures:

1) ‘God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him’ (1 Peter 5:7 CEV).
2) ‘Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack’ (v. 8 CEV).

When you fail to do either of these two things, you’ve opened the door for Satan to attack you. Too much of anything, even a good thing, is a problem.

For example, work is good. But too much of it causes stress, which can result in sickness, resentment, depression, and the breakdown of your relationships.

Food is good. But too much of it can lead to serious health problems. It’s good to be organised.

But if you become a perfectionist you can drive yourself and everyone around you crazy. Any area of your life that gets out of balance will rob you of the joy God wants you to have.

Maintaining a life of balance is one of the biggest challenges you’ll face. ‘Let your moderation be known unto all men.’

If you’re a highly driven personality, note the word ‘moderation’. It means ‘Don’t go to extremes.’

Pastor, excel in your ministry but don’t neglect your family. Parent, don’t just make a living, enjoy the people you’re making it for.

It is fine to care about your appearance, but don’t be obsessed with your looks because they’re not the true measure of your worth as a person. Take a look at your life and ask, ‘In what areas am I out of balance?’

Then ask God to help you get back into balance.

2 Chronicles 7-9, Acts 21:1-17

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Success

25 JUNE 2019
‘Then you will be prosperous and successful.’
Joshua 1:8 NIV

God told Joshua: ‘This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and…have good success’ (v.8 NKJV). If we’re going to succeed in things that really matter, we must follow the instructions for life found in the Bible. So here are three biblical rules for success: Firstly, look it up. We need to make the study of God’s Word a constant part of our lives. Our Bibles shouldn’t be sat unopened in our houses. Secondly, let it in.

The word ‘meditate’ means ‘to ponder, ruminate, or examine attentively’. So we shouldn’t just read the Scriptures, we need to be trying to understand them. The psalmist prayed: ‘Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions’ (Psalm 119:18 NLT). And that’s what we need to be praying too.

God’s always willing to speak to us through His Word. Sometimes we can read a Bible verse for the hundredth time and suddenly see something we’ve never seen before. That’s because the Word is ‘alive and active’ (Hebrews 4:12 NIV) and can teach us, convict us, and change us. Thirdly, we need to live it out. ‘Be careful to do everything written in it.

Then you will be prosperous and successful’ (Joshua 1:8 NIV). So not only do we need to be studying the Bible, meditating on it, and memorising it, we also need to be obeying it. No one can guarantee us success except God – and that guarantee is found in reading, meditating, and obeying His Word.



What Now?

Choose a book of the Bible you haven’t read for a long time. Make the commitment to work your way through it, one chapter each day.

2 Chronicles 10-12, Acts 21:18-40

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Valuable

26 JUNE 2019
‘So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.’
Matthew 10:31 NIV
What makes us valuable? Is it how many exams we pass? The degree we have? Our job? Our relationship status? The number of people who follow us on social media? Those things are often what the world measures worth by.



But in God’s kingdom it’s different. We’re valuable just because we exist. He created us, carefully and wonderfully, in His image. Psalm 139 says: ‘For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.


I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made’ (vv.13-14 NIV). Our value doesn’t come from the things we do or have, and it doesn’t come from what people think of us. Our value comes from God alone.


He knows everything about us. The Bible says: ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows’ (Matthew 10:29-31 NIV). Some days we can forget that we’re valuable.


We lose our identity and our purpose. But God’s created us with a plan in mind. He has chosen us because He thinks we’re worth being chosen.


He sees the potential and beauty in us. God sent His Son to die for us, because He wanted to save us. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16 NIV). That’s how much we’re worth to Him.

Even if we were the only person on earth, He still would have sent Jesus to save us. So let’s remember that we’re valuable to God, no matter what the world’s telling us.



What Now?

Every time you feel like you’re not valuable, remind yourself that Jesus died for you, because you’re worth so much to God.

2 Chronicles 13-14, Acts

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Gifted

27 JUNE 2019
‘Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves.’
Romans 12:3 NLT
The Bible tells us that God has given us all gifts. ‘We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us’ (Romans 12:6 NCV). Those gifts are for us to use for His glory, not our own.


Sometimes we end up boasting about what we can do and forget that it’s not about us; it’s about God and His kingdom. We want others to notice what we can do, rather than using the gifts to help others and fulfil God’s purpose for our lives. But we can also go to the other extreme.


Sometimes God calls us to something that is out of our comfort zone and we’re not sure that we can do it. This is exactly what happened with Moses. God told Moses, ‘I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring…the Israelites out of Egypt’ (Exodus 3:10 NIV).


But instead of thinking, ‘What an honour,’ Moses replied, ‘I am not a great man! How can I go to the king and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?’ (Exodus 3:11 NCV). He questioned his ability to do what God was asking of him. But God reassured him by saying, ‘I will be with you’ (v.12 NCV). Everything we do should be done in God’s strength.


He promises to equip us and be with us for everything He calls us to. If we’re in a situation where we have the opportunity to do something for God, let’s not think too highly of our own abilities and remember that everything is for God’s glory. And let’s also not discount ourselves from the call because we think we’re not the right person. If God’s truly calling us to it then He’ll be with us every step of the way.



What Now?

What’s God calling you to at the moment? If you feel ready to jump into it, ask God to help you remember you’re doing it for His glory. If you’re feeling afraid, ask God to remind you that He’s with you.


2 Chronicles 15-16, Acts 23:1-15

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Settle only for the best

‘Play skilfully on the harp.’
Psalm 33:3 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 28 June 2019

To ‘play skilfully’ means to do it well and strive for excellence when it comes to your God-given talents. One author puts it this way: ‘There’s a remarkable difference between 99 per cent and 100 per cent commitment.

At 100 per cent you see your problems all the way through to their solution. At 99 per cent you can still find a way to take the path of least resistance.

We live in a culture where excellence is the exception, but God’s Word says, “Be a…different person with a fresh newness in all you do” (Romans 12:2 TLB). You must be willing to pay the price, and here it is: “To win…you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best” (1 Corinthians 9:25 TLB).

People will gauge your character by the height of your ideals, the breadth of your compassion, the depth of your convictions, and the length of your persistence. Approach every task thinking how you can do it better.’

If you’re good at crunching numbers, excel as an accountant. If you’re a skilled communicator, be the best teacher you can be.

If you’re a visionary who can inspire others, be the best possible leader. A former president of Yale University points out that Hamlet could never have been written by a committee, or the Mona Lisa painted by a club, or the New Testament composed by a conference.

Creative ideas usually come from individuals. And the great thing about life is if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you often get it!

2 Chronicles 17-18, Acts 23:16-35

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

It’s contagious (1)

‘Bad company corrupts good character.’
1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 29 June 2019

Cold and flu viruses aren’t the only things that are contagious; attitudes are also: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Researchers call it ‘emotional contagion’, and it affects every aspect of life in the same way a rotten apple corrupts the whole barrel. A relationship expert says: ‘One negative employee can pollute an entire squad and create a toxic work environment.

One negative leader can make work miserable for his or her team. An employee in a bad mood can turn off countless customers.

Complaining can act like a cancer and spread through the entire organisation, sabotaging the morale and performance of teams with great talent and potential. You’re not just a creation of your culture…you’re creating it every day through your thoughts, beliefs, and actions…you can be negatively or positively contagious.

You can be a germ and attack your organisation’s immune system, or act like a dose of vitamin C and strengthen it…your emotions impact the world around you.’ Paul says, ‘Put off your old self…be made new in the attitude of your minds’ (Ephesians 4:22-23 NIV 2011 Edition).

How? By asking God to make you ‘a different person’ (1 Samuel 10:6 NIV 2011 Edition), and changing your attitude from one of negative contagion to one that positively impacts the people you deal with every day.

At the same time, be selective about the company you keep. You know from experience the people who drag you down and drain your energy.

Pray for them, but minimise the time you spend in their company.

2 Chronicles 19-20, Acts 24

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

It’s contagious (2)

‘A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the…friends he chooses.’
Proverbs 27:19 TLB

The UCB Word for Today - 30 June 2019

The kind of person you are is reflected in the friends you pick. So if your life is unproductive and stagnant, look at the people you’ve surrounded yourself with.

Friendships, good and bad, indicate the direction you’re going. ‘Whoever walks with wise people will be wise, but whoever associates with fools will suffer’ (Proverbs 13:20 GWT).

Misery loves company, so steer clear of negative thinkers. It’s better to travel alone than spend your life listening to people who drag you down.

When you come into agreement with the right people, you ‘can accomplish more than twice as much’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9 TLB). Author John Mason writes: ‘The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve.

The right friends and associations bring out the original in you. You know the kind of people I’m talking about.

After you’ve been with them you find yourself less critical, full of faith, and with a vision for the future. The devil doesn’t [generally] use strangers to deter or stop you…your friends will either stretch your vision or choke your dream.

As you grow in God, your associations will change. Some friends won’t want you to go on; they’ll want you to stay where they are.

But as Edwin Louis Cole observed, “When you let someone else create your world for you…they always make it too small.” Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.

Respect those whom God has connected to you to help you. God cares for people through people…and wise is the person who fortifies their life with the right friendships.’

Luke 12:1-31, Psalm 68-69

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

A meeting in the air

‘Then the rest of us…will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master.’
1 Thessalonians 4:17 MSG

The UCB Word for Today - 01 July 2019

The Message paraphrases Christ’s return this way: ‘The Master Himself will give the command. Archangel thunder!

God’s trumpet blast! He’ll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise – they’ll go first.

Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master…then there will be one huge family reunion…So reassure one another with these words’ (vv. 16-18 MSG). The second coming of Christ will be inaugurated by the trumpet blast of the archangel.

Cemeteries and seas will give up their dead. ‘Christ…will appear a second time…to save those who are eagerly waiting for him’ (Hebrews 9:28 ESV).

The event will be witnessed by all humanity. ‘Every eye shall see him’ (Revelation 1:7 KJV).

From Adam to the baby born as the trumpet sounds, every one of us will witness the moment. But not everyone will welcome it.

‘Unready people all over the world…will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven’ (Matthew 24:30 MSG). You don’t go to heaven by chance, you go by choice.

And God will honour your choice. Those who acknowledge Christ as their Saviour will arise to celebrate the greatest family reunion of all time.

Are you going to heaven? If you’re not sure, don’t let this day end until you put your trust in Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour.

2 Chronicles 21-22, Acts 25

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

‘Breathe on me, breath of God’

‘Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds…and breathe upon these…and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.’
Ezekiel 37:9-10 KJV

The UCB Word for Today - 02 July 2019

In the Garden of Eden Adam was perfectly formed, but he had no life. He ‘had it all together’, but he wasn’t going anywhere until God’s Spirit breathed into him.

Then he started walking with God, taking initiative, and fulfilling his purpose in life. You say, ‘I need what God breathed into Adam that day.’

And you can have it! Think about Ezekiel’s Valley of Dry Bones.

They were dead and in disarray. If that describes your life right now, there’s good news.

When God breathed into those bones they came to life, stood up, and became a force to be reckoned with. Notice that the Spirit of God came from ‘the four winds, or the four corners of the earth.

That means there’s no place where His Spirit can’t reach you if you’re available to Him. Notice also that when the Spirit of God came into Ezekiel’s valley, broken things were mended and dead things brought back to life.

And God wants to do the same for you! Notice what else took place: a ‘shaking’ (v. 7).

That’s standard procedure with God. Before He uses you, He shakes up your comfort zone, your proven methods, and your set-in-concrete ideas.

Your past is no problem for Him, because His eyes are on your future. So come into His presence today and pray, ‘Breathe on me, Breath of God.

Fill me with life anew. That I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.’ When He does, you’ll never be the same.

2 Chronicles 23-24, Acts 26