[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Lift the limitations on yourself

‘You shall expand to the right and to the left.'
Isaiah 54:3 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 13 MAR 2020

Today God may be saying to you what He said to His people Israel: ‘Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left’ (vv. 2-3 NKJV).

Most people automatically stay within lines, even if those lines have been arbitrarily drawn or are terribly out of date. Remember, most limitations we face are not imposed on us by others; we place them on ourselves.

Lack of creativity often falls into that category. If you want to become more creative, challenge your boundaries.

One inventor said, ‘All human development, no matter what form it takes, must be outside the rules; otherwise, we would never have anything new.’ When you want something you don’t have, you must be willing to do something you haven’t done yet.

You say, ‘But I don’t have his education,’ or ‘I don’t have her talent.’ You don’t need someone else’s talent or education.

When God made you, He deposited within you everything required to fulfil your destiny; you just need to unlock it and put it to work. ‘Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”…Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over…every living thing that moves on earth”’ (Genesis 1:26-28 NKJV).

Note the word ‘likeness’. There’s a part of you that’s like God. You have divine DNA. You’re capable of being creative, so lift the limitations on yourself.

Numbers 23-25, Mark 8:1-30

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Toxins in the workplace

‘Come out from among them and be separate.’
2 Corinthians 6:17 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 14 MAR 2020

Stop and think about the products we once considered not only to be harmless, but actually beneficial: asbestos, lead, mercury, etc. A generation later we are still treating sick workers who installed asbestos and breathed in its toxic fibres.

With that illustration in mind, beware of the toxins in your workplace and don’t get infected. The Bible says, ‘“Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”’

Now, God is not telling you to separate yourself from your co-workers. And He’s most certainly not telling you to adopt a spiritually superior attitude.

He’s telling you to watch out for toxic attitudes, toxic behaviours, and toxic values. What are the toxins in your workplace?

The obvious ones are complainers, gossipers, backbiters, and harassers. When these agents come your way, do whatever you can to distance yourself from them.

Just being associated with them can be dangerous to your emotional health and spiritual health. And beware of the toxin of workaholism, whether it is the expectation from your boss or self-induced.

Be willing to go the extra mile when it’s required, but maintain clear boundaries between your work life and your home life. Learn to separate business from pleasure.

If you don’t allow yourself time for physical rejuvenation and spiritual restoration, you’ll burn out. As a result, Satan will be able to trip you up.

The most effective antidote to toxins is good nutrition. And spiritually speaking, that calls for daily prayer, Bible reading, and fellowshipping with believers who strengthen and encourage you.

Numbers 26-28, Mark 8:31-38

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

What’s weighing you down?

‘Let us lay aside every weight…and let us run.’
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 15 MAR 2020

On a recent radio broadcast, Dennis Rainey talked about Double Eagle II, the first hot air balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The men piloting the magnificent craft caught an air corridor that carried them all the way across the Atlantic.

But when they were just off the coast of Ireland, they flew into heavy cloud cover and ice began to form on the balloon’s outer shell. They lost altitude, dropping from twenty thousand to ten thousand feet in a matter of hours.

They did everything they could to save the balloon. They threw out video cameras, food rations, and even a glider with which they had planned to land.

At about four thousand feet they transmitted their location and then threw the radio overboard. Finally, at three thousand feet they broke through into sunlight.

The ice came off in sheets, and the great balloon soared all the way into France. The Bible says that in order to run and win your life’s race, you must ‘lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares’.

And it’s a lot easier to identify the sin you need to drop than the weight you need to drop. Why?

Because often the weight is legitimate, and includes responsibilities, pressures, obligations, schedules, and entanglements. Today you need to stop and take an inventory of what you’re carrying.

You need to face each thing squarely and ask yourself, ‘Did God give me this to carry, did someone else give it to me, or did I decide on my own to pick it up?’ Whatever is weighing you down today – lay it aside!

Luke 5:1-16, Psalm 29-30

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

This is no small matter!

‘And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him.’
Isaiah 11:2 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 16 MAR 2020


Isaiah said of Jesus: ‘Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot – yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay.

He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word’ (vv. 1-4 NLT).

You say, ‘That’s nice, but how does it influence my life?’ More than you may think!

When Jesus Christ sits on the throne as Ruler of your life, the Spirit that rested on Him will rest upon you too! With that in mind, go back and reread the words in italics slowly and thoughtfully.

If you see evidence of them in your life, nurture them with prayer and water them with the Word of God. And if you don’t see any evidence, get down on your knees and pray, ‘Father, make me more like Jesus.’ Before you buy a car, the salesperson usually lets you test-drive a demo.

Chances are if you like it, you will buy the car. We are each called to be a ‘demo’ for Jesus.

This is no small matter! Why?

Because in the final analysis, your words, attitudes, actions, and reactions either drive people away from Christ or attract them to Him.

Numbers 29-31, Mark 9:1-29

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

You need a sabbatical

‘As his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day.’
Luke 4:16 KJV

The UCB Word for Today - 17 MAR 2020

When someone takes a sabbatical, it’s because they need time to rest and recharge their batteries. God took a sabbatical: ‘On the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day’ (Genesis 2:2 KJV).

Now, the Bible says that God ‘neither slumbers nor sleeps’ (see Psalm 121:4). So if He took a day off in the week, you need one too!

Not long ago most families went to church on Sunday morning, came home and ate lunch together, and spent the afternoon resting and enjoying one another. Now we huff and puff seven days a week, hurtling down the road towards burnout or even an early demise.

Scientists say that our bodies are genetically wired to require one day out of every seven for physical, emotional, and spiritual restoration in order to perform at our highest potential. When Truett Cathy opened his first restaurant in 1946, The Dwarf House, he established the tradition of closing on Sundays.

Back then that was an accepted practice, but now it’s extremely unusual, especially for a restaurant chain with hundreds of outlets in malls. But Cathy, a committed Christian, never wavered.

And rather than costing him, it paid huge dividends. He built one of the most popular and profitable food chains in the USA – Chick-fil-A.

God knows that the fastest way to burn out is to try and burn the candle at both ends. That’s why the Bible says, ‘The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.

In it you shall do no work’ (Exodus 20:10 NKJV). Every week you need a one-day sabbatical, so take it!

Numbers 32-34, Mark 9:30-50

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Know when to say nothing

‘The…Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue.’
Isaiah 50:4 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 18 MAR 2020

Isaiah writes: ‘The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.’

Let’s face it; if you told a person everything you thought, you would hurt them or they would leave you. There are private parts of you.

Maturity means you don’t have to say everything you think. Indeed, much of what you think hasn’t been thoroughly thought through!

That’s why you need to pray and ask God for ‘a well-instructed tongue’. Read these three Scriptures carefully: ‘Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin’ (Proverbs 13:3 NIV 2011 Edition).

‘Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity’ (Proverbs 21:23 NIV 2011 Edition). ‘Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless’ (James 1:26 NIV 2011 Edition).

There are two occasions in particular when your tongue can get you into trouble:

1) When you’re angry. Emotional outbursts usually result in harmful comments you don’t mean and will regret later.

2) When you’re tired. Exhaustion lowers your guard, and at such times thoughtless comments can slip out.

Always wait until your judgment is clear and you can think things out before you speak. Paul said, ‘Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone’ (Colossians 4:6 NIV 2011 Edition).

What does salt do? It flavours, preserves, cleanses, and heals. And that’s how your words should be.

Numbers 35-36, Mark 10:1-31

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Ask why before how

‘‘They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord.’
Jeremiah 23:16 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 19 MAR 2020

Eugene G. Grace, president of Bethlehem Steel Corporation from 1916 to 1945 said: ‘Thousands of engineers can design bridges, calculate strains and stresses, and draw up specifications for machines. But a great engineer is the man who can tell you whether the bridge or the machine should be built at all, where it should be built, and when.’

Asking why before how forces you to think about your core motivations and the source of your vision. There is much talk these days about ‘purpose’.

And that’s a good thing, because a life of purpose is more rewarding than a life of popularity or power. But your purpose must come from God.

‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; they speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord.”’

When God is the source of your vision, He will resource it. That’s why the most important question you can ask is not, ‘What’s the best way to do this?’ but, ‘Why am I doing it at all?’

Ultimately God will make the final ruling on what you have given your life for. ‘Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

If anyone’s work…endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss’ (1 Corinthians 3:13-15 NKJV).

Poet C.T. Studd wrote: ‘Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.’

Deuteronomy 1-3, Mark 10:32-52

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

‘Perfect peace’

‘Whose thoughts are fixed on you!’
Isaiah 26:3 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 20 MAR 2020

The secret to ‘perfect peace’ lies in this Scripture: ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!’ It’s not your circumstances, but how you think about them that robs you of peace.

Focusing on your circumstances just causes more anxiety, because circumstances constantly change and often spin out of your control. However, God never changes, and nothing ever spins out of His control.

Peace and worry are mutually exclusive. Worry throttles your confidence, chokes your perspective, and suffocates your spirit.

It robs you of the peace that comes from knowing the God who can handle anything, and through whom all things are possible. The reason we worry so much is because we engage in exactly the opposite behaviour to that which brings peace.

Worry is like a ‘no-confidence’ vote in God. You may not intend it that way, but every time you give in to worry, in essence, you’re saying: ‘I don’t believe God can or will handle this for me.

I’m not sure I can trust Him in this matter, so I’ll just have to carry this burden and take care of the problem myself.’ God is either the object of your trust or just a part-time helper you call on when you can’t handle things on your own.

It’s reminiscent of the elephant and the mouse that walked over a bridge. When they got to the other side, the mouse said, ‘Man, we really shook that bridge!’

When you begin to see God as playing the major role and you the minor one, you’ll begin to find the peace which has eluded you for so long.

Deuteronomy 4-6, Mark 11:1-19

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The power is in God’s Word

‘All Scripture is God-breathed…so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 21 MAR 2020

As you read this devotional, always remember that the power doesn’t lie in the writer’s thoughts or comments, but in the written Word of God. Paul tells us, ‘All Scripture is God-breathed.’

It’s impregnated with divine seeds of life, and those seeds will spring to life within you, producing the fruit of the Spirit, and ‘delivering on’ the promises of God. View this devotional as a gateway rather than a goal.

See it as the little book that whets your appetite for the Big Book! When you read each day’s devotion, have your Bible beside you and turn to the Scriptures that are referenced.

As you deposit the Word of God within you every day, wonderful things will begin to happen in your life. The psalmist writes: ‘Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do’ (Psalm 1:1-3 NLT). Note the words ‘they prosper in all they do’.

As you renew your mind with Scripture, your faith will grow, your outlook will be altered, and every area of your life will start to change for the better. ‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’

Deuteronomy 7-9, Mark 11:20-33

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Your children are watching you

‘Be kind and compassionate…forgiving each other…as in Christ God forgave you.’
Ephesians 4:32 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 22 MAR 2020

Here’s a story every parent needs to read and remember. ‘One day my husband and I got into an argument and ended up yelling at each other.

I retreated to the porch and sat with my head in my hands, crying. Our two-year-old overheard the argument.

“I love you, Mom,” she said, as she sat beside me and put her arms around me. “I love you, too,” I said.

She rested her head on my shoulder, hugging me hard. “I wish you could love my daddy too,” she said.

Talk about ripping your heart out! “But I do love your daddy.

We just had a disagreement.” At that, my daughter smiled, got up, and walked away.

“Where are you going?” I asked her. She replied, “I’m going to tell Daddy you love him!”’

If you expose your children to your anger, make sure that they’re around when you extend grace and forgiveness to each other. Teach them how to deal with the issue, without attacking the person.

Let them know that a difference of opinion can lead to a decision that makes things better for everyone. And that you can be wrong on an issue and still be respected and loved.

Often that means teaching them what you yourself were never taught. If that’s the case, learn from the mistakes your parents made and pass that knowledge on to your children.

Forgive when you’re hurt, and don’t take your resentments to bed (see Ephesians 4:26). Jesus said you must forgive ‘so that your Father in heaven may forgive you’ (Mark 11:25 NIV 2011 Edition).

Remember, parent, your children are watching you!

Luke 5:17-39, Psalm 31-32

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Made righteous – by faith (1)

‘He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’
2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

The UCB Word for Today - 23 MAR 2020

Here’s an amazing and life-changing truth. The God who made His sinless Son to ‘be sin’ takes unrighteous people like us and makes them ‘righteous’.

How does it happen? By works? No, by faith! ‘People are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners’ (Romans 4:5 NLT).

This righteousness isn’t about behaving the right way – it’s about believing the right way. You can’t become righteous in God’s eyes through human effort or keeping the law.

You become righteous only through faith in Christ, and trusting in His finished work on the cross. You say, ‘But I feel so guilty when I sin.’

And you should; it’s a good deterrent! But Christ took away all your sins; therefore He took away all your guilt.

So what are you feeling? Inner conflict! Your regenerated spirit lives in your unregenerated body, and it reacts the same way your natural body reacts to something harmful.

Sin feels foreign to the new you, and when you indulge in it, the pleasure is brief and the aftermath is bad. In essence, your spiritual boundaries have been violated, and your regenerated spirit is telling you that you can’t indulge in sin anymore.

That’s not who you are! The old you could have indulged in sin and enjoyed it, but the new you can’t, because you are ‘a new creation in Christ’ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). So rejoice!

Today God sees you as ‘righteous’, therefore you can approach Him at any time with complete confidence (see Ephesians 3:12).

Deuteronomy 10-12, Mark 12:1-27