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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Live in the light (1)
17 AUGUST 2024

‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’
John 8:12 NKJV

A pastor writes: ‘Have you ever heard the term achluophobia? It is the fear of darkness…Being in complete darkness is unnerving. It induces a sense of helplessness. And yet physical darkness is nothing compared to emotional, relational, and spiritual darkness.’

Today you may feel like you’re in a dark place with no way out: ‘My girlfriend left me for another man.’ Or, ‘I’m probably heading towards divorce. My husband has been cheating on me.’ Or, ‘I’m depressed and cry for no reason. When will these feelings go away?’ Or, ‘I’m wrestling with a terrible illness, and I’m basically housebound. I am in a dark place and need help.’ If that’s your story, there is help, and there is hope.

Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’ If you’re willing to turn to Him today, you will discover that He can illuminate your path and show you the way out of the darkness you’re in. When you turn on the light, darkness has to leave. And Jesus is the light that removes our spiritual and emotional darkness.

Notice that Jesus didn’t say He is a light, or one among many, but instead the light. He didn’t say He is light just for some, but the light of the world. Regardless of whether you live in London, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Toronto, or Timbuktu, Jesus is your answer. If you’re living in darkness, He is inviting you to come to Him and step into the light.

Proverbs 10-12, 1 Corinthians 14:1-19

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Live in the light (2)
18 AUGUST 2024

‘Believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.’
John 12:36 NKJV

The pastor continues: ‘Light is one of the things we often take for granted…We could not live without it. Plants are necessary for the existence of mankind. The entire human species and all animal life are dependent on plants for survival. Plants provide all the essential amino acids and most of the vitamins necessary for health through a light process known as photosynthesis. Plants also produce the oxygen we need to breathe. And plants must have light to grow.

'What is true in the physical world is true in the spiritual world. Physical life is impossible without physical light, and spiritual life is impossible without spiritual light…How do you dispel the darkness?…Would you sit down on a couch and feel sorry for yourself? Would you take a broom and try to sweep the darkness away? Would you try to shovel or vacuum the darkness out? There is only one solution to such a quandary; turn on the light.’

That’s what you do when you commit your life to Christ. That’s what you do when you obey His teachings and follow His instructions. That’s what you do when you spend time alone with Him in prayer. That’s what you do when you turn to Him during the dark times in your life. That’s when you discover His promise to be true: ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’ (John 8:12 NKJV). And not only that, you begin to reflect that light to others: ‘Believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.’

Luke 15:11-32, Psalms 84-86

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

When choosing a mentor (1)
20 AUGUST 2024

‘Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still.’
Proverbs 9:9 NIV

The further you go in the pursuit of your potential, the more ground you will have to break. This is where you can benefit from the experience of others. As the Chinese proverb says, ‘To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.’ In picking a mentor, look for two things:

1) Someone who possesses wisdom. The understanding, experience, and wisdom of mentors help us to solve problems we would have a hard time handling on our own. Wise people often use just a few words to help us learn and develop. They open our eyes to worlds we might not otherwise see. They help us navigate difficult situations. They enable us to see opportunities we would otherwise miss. They make us wiser than our years and experience.

2) Someone who provides friendship and support. Jesus told those He mentored, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). The first question most followers want to know of a mentor is, ‘Do you care for me?’ The reason for this question is obvious. Who wants to be guided by a person who isn’t interested in them? Selfish people will assist you only insofar as it advances their own agenda. Good mentors provide friendship and support, unselfishly working to help you reach your potential. Knowledge without support is sterile. Advice without friendship feels cold. Candour without care is harsh. But when you are being helped by a person who cares for you, it is emotionally fulfilling. Development comes from both the head and the heart. And only caring people are glad to share both with you.

Proverbs 16-18, 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

When choosing a mentor (2)
21 AUGUST 2024

‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.’
Proverbs 4:7 NKJV

A pastor shares this: ‘The process of growing with the help of a mentor usually follows this pattern: it begins with awareness. You realise that you need help and that following yourself is not a viable option for effective personal growth. When a person comes to such a realisation, one of two things can happen. The first is that the person’s pride swells up, and he cannot bring himself to ask another person for advice…The other reaction to awareness is to humble yourself and say, “I need your help.” That decision not only leads to greater knowledge, but it also often develops maturity in you.

'It also reinforces that people need one another – not just when they’re young and starting out, but their entire lives…The mentors you take advice from help to shape you. If you spend your time with people who subtract from you, who belittle you or undervalue you, then every step forward that you attempt to take will be difficult. But if you find wise leaders, good role models, and positive friends, you will find that they speed you on your journey.

'No matter who you are, what you have accomplished, how low or how high your life has taken you, you can benefit from having a mentor. If you’ve never had one, you have no idea how much it can improve your life. If you have had mentors, then you already know – and you should start passing it on by becoming a mentor to others. Because you know that it’s hard to improve when you have no one but yourself to follow.’

So, ‘get wisdom’, and share it with those who need it.

Proverbs 19-21, 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Be aware of Satan’s schemes
22 AUGUST 2024

‘In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.’
2 Corinthians 2:11 NIV

Walking in spiritual victory calls for understanding Satan’s ‘schemes’. Here are some points at which you’re particularly vulnerable: when you feel up, when you feel down, when you’re alone, when you’re exhausted, and when you have experienced loss. There is no such thing as fair play with the devil. If you give him an inch, he will take a mile. If you give him an entry point into your life, he will use it against you. Notice the two occasions on which Satan attacked Jesus.

First, at His birth. Herod put out an order to kill every Jewish boy under the age of two. That’s why as a new believer, you must develop the daily habits of prayer, Bible reading, and fellowshipping with those who can strengthen you in your walk with God.

Second, on the threshold of His ministry. For forty days, Jesus did battle with Satan in the wilderness. Why did the struggle last so long? It was over His future. ‘Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him…Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region’ (Luke 4:13-14 NKJV).

Attack is a sign of respect; it means Satan has discerned your potential. And the level of his attack is an indication of the level of blessing God has in store for you on the other side of it. So instead of being discouraged about the battle, see it as a sign from God that your best days are ahead of you.

Proverbs 22-24, 1 Corinthians 16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

UCB Word For Today
Could the Lord call on you?

23 AUGUST 2024
‘The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.’
Acts 9:10 NIV

Why did God use Ananias to lead Saul of Tarsus to Christ? Because he was the right man, in the right place, at the right time, with the right message, and the right attitude. ‘In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying…” Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul”’ (vv. 10-11, 17 NIV).

So here is the question: if God needed you to do something for Him, would you be ready? Would you be willing? This was not an easy assignment because Saul was notorious for imprisoning Christians and putting them to death. But when God told Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles’ (v. 15 NIV), he trusted God and went. Note the words ‘placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul.”’ Ananias had every right to fear Saul and even resent him. Yet he called him ‘brother’.

Ananias acknowledged an old foe as now being part of God’s redeemed family. And you must learn to do that too. When God calls someone His child, you must love them, accept them, and treat them as your brother or sister in Christ. So, let’s go back to the question: if God needed you to do something for Him today, would you be ready? You can be. And you need to be.

Proverbs 25-26, 2 Corinthians 1

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

It’s a new day for you
24 AUGUST 2024

‘Behold, I will do a new thing.’
Isaiah 43:19 NKJV

Don’t allow the pain of your past to blur your vision and steal the blessing God has in store for you in the future. God says, ‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing’ (vv. 18-19 NKJV). If you have been wounded by old relationships, God has new ones waiting for you. ‘The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons”’ (1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV).

Grieving your losses is healthy. But when you get stuck in the past, it’s always at the expense of the future. There comes a time when you must stop talking about what cannot be changed. Plus, if you keep treating your friends to a history lesson, you will lose them, because your words are creating a climate that’s uncomfortable for them to be in. God’s solution to pain is purpose. God’s solution to old wounds is a commitment to walk in love.

C.M. Parkes said, ‘Grief is…the price we pay for love.’ Those we love most can hurt us most. ‘Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him…“seventy times seven”’ (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV). To recover your peace and joy, you must forgive and keep on forgiving until the past loses its hold on you. When that happens, it’s a new day for you!

Proverbs 27-29, 2 Corinthians 2

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

What have you promised God?
25 AUGUST 2024

‘And you will pay your vows.’
Job 22:27 NKJV

When God makes a promise to us, we have every right to expect Him to keep it. And when we make God a promise, He has every right to expect us to keep it. ‘You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways’ (vv. 27-28 NKJV).

This Scripture could be your doorway to blessing and a key to the breakthrough you have been praying for. Go back and revisit the promises you have made to God. Why? Because He wants you to feel confident towards Him. ‘Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence towards God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight’ (1 John 3:21-22 NKJV). No more excuses. Accept responsibility for what you are and what you can become.

Dare to pray: ‘Disturb me, Lord, when my dreams come true, only because I dreamed too small. Disturb me when I arrive safely, only because I sailed too close to the shore. Disturb me when the things I have gained cause me to lose my thirst for more of you. Disturb me when I have acquired success, only to lose my desire for excellence. Disturb me when I give up too soon and settle too far short of the goals you have set for my life’ (Author Unknown).

In order to go forwards, you may have to go back and make things right between you and the Lord. If so, do it!

Luke 16:1-15, Psalms 87-88

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Jesus wants to spend time with you!
26 AUGUST 2024

‘Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.’
Luke 10:40 NIV

Mary and Martha were similar in that they both loved Jesus. But the difference showed up when He visited their home. ‘Martha opened her home to him…Mary…sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better”’ (vv. 38-42 NIV).

Jesus didn’t say that what Martha was doing was not good. He said that what Mary was doing was better. What was Mary doing? Sitting at His feet, listening to His words, loving and adoring Him. There is a lesson here, particularly for those involved in church work and ministry. Don’t get so involved in the work of the Lord that you fail to get involved with the Lord of the work. E.M. Bounds said, ‘To be much alone with God is the secret of knowing Him and of influence with Him.’

Question: if you are not being influenced by God, who or what is influencing you? People? Pressures? Circumstances? If Jesus had come for dinner, He may well have commended Martha and told Mary to get busy in the kitchen. But His priority, before going to the cross, was to spend time with those He loved. Here is a thought that will change your attitude towards prayer: Jesus wants to spend time with you!

Proverbs 30-31, 2 Corinthians 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

You are protected by God
27 AUGUST 2024

‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.’
Psalm 91:1 NKJV

During World War II, Britain built air-raid shelters. Often there were several on the same street. A pastor tells of standing in one when bombs were falling all around. Turning to a man beside him, he asked, ‘How come this shelter is always crowded, and the others are empty?’ He replied, ‘Pastor, we all know that you’re a man of God. And if He is going to save anybody, He will probably save you. That’s why we are in this shelter.’

Reflecting on it later, the pastor said, ‘Many of those people didn’t attend church, and the name of Jesus was a swear word in their vocabulary. They wanted His protection, but not His lordship.’ Refuse to live that way! Commit your life to God and enjoy His protective care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year, for your entire life.

‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you…He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge…You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you’ (Psalm 91:1-7 NKJV).

Ecclesiastes 1-3, 2 Corinthians 4