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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Decision-making is character building
17 September 2024

‘The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave…and go to the land that I will show you.”’
Genesis 12:1 NLT

One author pens: ‘Would you want the kind of kids you have to tell their whole lives, “Wear these clothes. Take these classes. Go to that school. Apply for this job. Marry that person. Purchase this house,” and you always have them do exactly what you tell them as long as they live? No…Why? Because your main goal is…that they become people of great character and judgment. The only way for them to do that is to make lots and lots of decisions. Of course, that means they’ll make a lot of wrong decisions. That becomes a primary way they learn. Very often God’s will for you will be “I want you to decide,” because decision-making is an indispensable part of character formation. God is primarily in the character-forming business, not the circumstance-shaping business.’

Abraham didn’t say, ‘Lord, exactly where are you taking me? How is the economy there? What are the job market and the housing market like? Do they have good medical facilities and schools?’ The Bible says, ‘By faith…Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going’ (Hebrews 11:8 NLT). Abraham decided to follow God, and trust God with everything else. And he came out on top!

God does not promise to give us details but to give us wisdom. ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally’ (James 1:5 KJV). Why does God do it this way? Because decision-making is character building.

Isaiah 28-29, Ephesians 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Making the right choice
18 September 2024

‘The LORD gives wisdom.’
Proverbs 2:6 NKJV

Maybe you’re facing graduation. More frequently than ever before, people are switching to different jobs and companies and changing their whole careers. In 2014, career specialist Andy Chan observed that young adults will face, on average, twenty-nine jobs over their lifetime. In 2013 Oxford researchers predicted that about half the jobs will be replaced with technology by 2033. So, how do you adjust to a constantly changing environment?

Perhaps you’re in a rut. Your life is safe but unrewarding. You want to do more or be more.

Perhaps you’re facing an empty nest. You abruptly find independence and time and options that have been unavailable to you for a few decades. What’s the best way to use them?

Possibly you’re retiring. What might God have next for you?

Maybe you have travelled abroad and seen a great need, or have investigated a problem and want to make a difference. What should you do next?

Perhaps you’re considering marriage. How can you tell if this person is the right one? What if you make a mistake?

Or maybe you have been agonising over a lost opportunity in your past. Will God give you another one?

In answering these questions, you must keep two things in mind. First and foremost, God is more interested in what you become than where you go or what you do for a living. His goal for your life is ‘to be conformed to the image of his Son’ (Romans 8:29 KJV). Second, you will save yourself time, trouble, and possible heartache by consulting God before making any decision. ‘For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV).

Isaiah 30-31, Ephesians 4

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

You have more to learn
19 September 2024

‘Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD.’
Hosea 6:3 KJV

Having a ‘statement of faith’ is a good thing because it lets people know your beliefs and values and where you stand on the issues. But it also carries with it a certain danger; you can end up believing you know all there is to know about the subject or at least all that is important to know. The Bible challenges us to keep learning and growing spiritually: ‘Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.’ The New King James Version says, ‘Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.’

In Scripture, the word ‘reveal’ is used thirty-eight times. Clearly, God wants us to get that there is more to know about Him than what we think we know. That’s why you must always keep your mind open. The day you stop ‘following’ God or ‘pursuing’ God is the day you stop learning more about God and growing spiritually. God has more to reveal to you!

Paul writes: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us’ (1 Corinthians 2:9-12 NLT).

So the word for today is – you have more to learn.

Isaiah 32-33, Ephesians 5:1-16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

How God answers our prayers
20 September 2024

‘He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him.’
Psalm 91:15 NKJV

If you are battling illness today, God says, ‘I am the Lord who heals you’ (Exodus 15:26 NKJV). If you are facing a problem that seems as big as a mountain, Jesus says: ‘Whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them’ (Mark 11:23-24 NKJV).

If you are in trouble today, God says, ‘I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him’ (Psalm 91:14-15 NKJV). Notice who this promise is made to – those who know ‘My name’. As a redeemed child of God, that’s you!

Here are four things that God has promised you. First, to answer your prayer. Second, to be with you in your troubles. Third, to deliver you. Fourth, to honour you. These are four stages of answered prayer. Whichever stage you are in today, be confident that God loves and cares for you (see 1 Peter 5:7). And His willingness to answer your prayer is not dependent upon your performance but upon Christ’s performance on your behalf. ‘To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved [Jesus]’ (Ephesians 1:6 NKJV). Because you are ‘accepted’ in Christ, you can be sure that God will answer your prayers.

Isaiah 34-36, Ephesians 5:17-33

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

When God says go
21 September 2024

‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.’
Genesis 12:1 NKJV

The two parts to God’s ‘go’ are going from and going to. Ur, Abram’s home, was considered the place to be. Setting out for ancient Mesopotamia, all the trading wealth from around the Mediterranean had to travel through Ur. It was a place of immense affluence, trade, education, and technology. One author writes, ‘The first written legal code that began civilisation was there in Ur.’ So, it would have been a hard place to leave – especially if you were going to Canaan. Canaan was unsophisticated, unrefined, and underdeveloped. No one who had enough money to live in Ur, the great centre of civilisation, would move to Canaan.

Here is the point: you must trust God with your future when the path He has called you to take doesn’t look like the obvious one. But if you’re willing to go, you will discover that God has blessings in mind you never dreamed of. He told Abram, ‘I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’ (vv. 2-3 NKJV). The reward God gives you will always be greater than any sacrifice He calls you to make.

Has God called you to go, but you want to stay? Is He telling you to stay, but you want to go? Here is the score: if you obey God, you will never regret it. And that’s a guarantee!

Isaiah 37-38, Ephesians 6

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Led in a roundabout way
22 September 2024

‘God led the people around by the desert road.’
Exodus 13:18 NIV

The Bible says, ‘When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road’ (vv. 17-18 NIV). There is a lesson here for you. God knows where you are on your spiritual journey, and He is directing you accordingly, even when it seems like a roundabout way. ‘The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives’ (Psalm 37:23 NLT).

The shortest route from Egypt to the promised land was through enemy territory, and God knew His people were not ready for battle. ‘God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road.’ Getting God’s people out of Egypt proved to be the easy part; getting Egypt out of God’s people proved to be the hard part. After forty generations of depending on Pharaoh, they needed to know God, learn His ways, and trust Him. So, He arranged their journey accordingly.

Are you having a wilderness experience at the moment? Be encouraged. The fulfilment of what God promised you may be taking longer than you thought, but it’s not time wasted. And God is not punishing you; He is training you for your destiny. What should you do? 1) Spend time with Him in prayer and His Word. 2) Lean less on yourself and more on God. 3) Draw on His grace and follow His guidance.

Luke 18:1-17, Psalms 97-99

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Knowing who you are ‘in Christ’
23 SEPTEMBER 2024

‘I pray that the faith you share will make you understand every blessing we have in Christ.’
Philemon 1:6 ERV

If you’re struggling with self-worth, the answer is knowing what you have and who you are ‘in Christ’. Paul writes, ‘I pray that…you understand every blessing we have in Christ.’ Here are some practical steps you can take to increase your sense of confidence and self-worth:

1) Don’t speak negatively about yourself. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses and flaws, start acknowledging and verbalising every good thing you ‘have in Christ’. Peter writes: ‘By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him…he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature’ (2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT).

2) Avoid comparing yourself to others. One day Peter pointed to John and asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ (John 21:21 NIV). Jesus corrected him by saying, ‘What is that to you? You must follow me’ (v. 22 NIV). Instead of comparing yourself with others, work on being conformed to the character qualities of Christ.

3) Let God determine your worth. As His redeemed child, God sees you clothed in the righteousness of Christ; therefore, you are always loved and accepted by Him (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).

4) Keep your flaws in perspective. It’s okay to see where you need to improve, but make sure you appreciate your progress.

5) Discover the true source of confidence. If you place your confidence in God, you can’t help but have a healthy attitude. So, do your best and leave the results to Him.

Isaiah 39-40, Philippians 1

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Share your wisdom
24 September 2024

‘Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.’
Proverbs 3:13 NIV

The wise old adage goes, ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.’ Sometimes what people need more than your money is your wisdom. By taking the time to share with them the insights and wisdom you have learned through your life’s experiences, you’re investing in their future. What a gift! But that means you must never stop learning.

Sometimes we stop learning because we become complacent. We believe we have grown enough, or we want only to make the most of what we already have in terms of skill and knowledge. That’s when we start to plateau and then decline. We lose our innovative spirit. We begin to think about being efficient instead of breaking new ground. We cut costs instead of investing in growth. Our vision becomes very limited. And instead of playing to win, we start playing not to lose.

We all love doing what we’re good at, but being good at something requires us to keep our skills sharp. Less skill leads to less enthusiasm and eventually to discontent. If we reach this stage, we start looking behind us because that’s where our best days are. We think about the good old days, the glory days. At that point, we’re only a few short steps from obsolescence. Nobody wants to learn from a has-been. If you want to give until you have given all you have, you must keep growing until you can grow no more. ‘Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.’

Isaiah 41-42, Philippians 2

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Nothing about you surprises God
25 September 2024

‘He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world.’
Ephesians 1:4 AMPC

Nothing about you surprises God. He knew what He was getting when He chose you. He ‘actually picked us out for Himself as His own’. You didn’t just randomly show up one day. And God hasn’t decided to merely tolerate you. He is not rolling His eyes when you have a problem. Instead, He will always remind you how far you have come, how well you are doing, how precious you are in His sight, and how much He loves you.

God already knew your weaknesses, every flaw you would have, and every time you would fail, yet He still said, ‘I want you.’ Ephesians 1:5 says that God ‘adopted’ you as His own. He is your father, and you are His family. Yes, He will discipline you when you need it, but He will never discard you. And with Him on your side, things are bound to work out all right in the end.

‘All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son’ (vv. 3-6 NLT).

Isaiah 43-44, Philippians 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Invest in your marriage
26 SEPTEMBER 2024

‘Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your…life.’
Ecclesiastes 9:9 NKJV

It’s amazing how many of us are willing to invest time and effort into our education, career, and financial future, but not our marriage. (If you’re not married, perhaps you could remember married couples you know in your prayers today.)

One of the leading causes of divorce is boredom. One minister explains: ‘Partners lose their focus, stray into affairs, get addicted to porn, or exhibit other destructive behaviour…The secret to a strong marriage is to continue to find ways to improve yourself and to share. It can be as simple as reading a book or article and sharing something interesting about what you read, or taking a course and using what you learned at home…It can be learning about your partner’s career field and taking an interest in what they do all day, showing you are engaged with who they are…

'Partners who want to keep growing as a couple also need to have lives of their own away from the marriage as well. Pursuing hobbies, interests, and appropriate friendships outside the marriage makes each partner more interesting and stimulating when they come back home. How wonderful to sit together at the dinner table and share exciting things you each discovered during the day. There is a balancing act in developing your own life without ignoring the life you have together. The person you marry will be around for a very long time if you do things right. Long after physical attraction and the intensity of sexual chemistry have faded, and the kids are grown and living on their own, you and your partner will want strong connections so you can continue to grow and enjoy life together.’

So, invest in your marriage.

Isaiah 45-46, Philippians 4