[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Rebuild your marriage (4)
07 October 2024

‘He who finds a wife [or a husband] finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the LORD.’
Proverbs 18:22 NKJV

Perhaps you have heard the joke about the lady who told her friend, ‘I didn’t know what real happiness was until I married my husband, and now it’s too late.’ Seriously, that doesn’t have to be your story. Through God’s wisdom, love, and grace, you can rebuild your marriage. To do it, you will need to learn the art of openness and allow yourself to be vulnerable, transparent, and ready to trust again. The only path to truly connect with someone is to genuinely allow that person to fully know you – your worries, struggles, lack of confidence, hopes, and dreams. It is natural, especially after you have experienced hurt or rejection, to want to shield yourself and your heart from more pain. Doing this makes complete sense in other parts of your life, but in marriage, shutting down your soul to your spouse can result in further pain.

Like property increasing in value over time, your marriage builds equity over the years. Like methodical investments into a savings account, modest deposits add up. Your shared experiences, such as the day when your child drove off to [university], the company the two of you sacrificed and saved to start, the death of your parent after a lengthy battle with cancer, the birth of your children, or a surprise week-long trip to celebrate your birthday – it all counts. These experiences come together as a beautiful canvas of intimacy that portrays your lives together. They also bring God’s blessing. ‘He who finds a wife [or husband] finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the Lord.’

Jeremiah 3-5, 1 Thessalonians 5

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Your daily bread
08 OCTOBER 2024

‘Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger.”’
John 6:35 NKJV

After World War II, Europe was devastated with hungry, homeless children who had been orphaned by the battles. They were put in large camps where they were given food and care. Yet they didn’t sleep well at night; they were nervous, fearful, and fidgety. The caregivers were baffled until a psychologist taught them to offer each child a piece of bread every night, not to eat, but to hold in bed. The outcome was astonishing. The children slept through the night because they realised they wouldn’t go hungry the next day. Clutching the bread gave them a sense of protection (they were safe), importance (somebody cared about them), and happiness (there will be more bread tomorrow).

Those three things were what those children needed – and they are what you need too. And all three can be found in a relationship with Jesus. When He said, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger,’ He was saying, ‘I am to your soul what food is to your body.’ Bread is one thing most of us have in common. It doesn’t belong only to a particular region or nation. It’s available in all shapes and sizes. In the UK, it may be scones; in South America, tortillas; in New York, bagels; and in Ethiopia, injera. In a simple statement, Jesus reminds us that He is our nourishment, everywhere, every time. So, be sure to read your Bible every day; it’s your daily bread.

Jeremiah 6-8, 2 Thessalonians 1

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

UCB Word For Today
You can change

09 October 2024
‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’
Philippians 4:13 NKJV`

Self-help books sometimes claim you can change your life in five or ten simple steps. It takes a lot more than that to make substantial and lasting changes in your life.

First, change comes by drawing on a power greater than your own – God’s power. Paul writes: ‘I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (vv. 12-13 NKJV).

Second, change comes from steady and determined hard work and effort. ‘Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart’ (Galatians 6:9 NKJV).

The key is to understand that a bad day does not make you a failure; it doesn’t last, it’s just a bad day. After you have had one, and all of us have, you just start back on track the following day. Don’t give up. Life is a sequence of ups and downs, stops and starts. Tomorrow is a brand-new day. What’s necessary now is to revive your promise to make changes in your life and start from the place you left off. If you need to, seek God’s forgiveness, forgive yourself, and begin walking forward again. Make your goal your focus, not the fact that you slipped up. Don’t get caught up blaming others or yourself. Let it go and move on. Realise that the next time you come up against a difficult situation – and you will – in God’s strength, you will handle it better.

Jeremiah 9-11, 2 Thessalonians 2

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Don’t be envious
10 OCTOBER 2024

‘You must not covet…anything…that belongs to your neighbour.’
Exodus 20:17 NLT

Envy, in essence, accuses God of being unfair, a respecter of persons, and unaware of what’s best for our lives. Therefore, we should engage in an all-out campaign against envy when it appears in our life. Here are six ways to do that:

1) Confess and repent of your impure intentions for wanting something other than for the glory of God. ‘But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth’ (James 3:14 NIVUK).

2) Count your blessings. Envy is rooted in dissatisfaction. Frequently we are so upset at the good fortune of others that we can’t see our own blessings and advantages. Somebody previously said, ‘Envy is the habit of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.’

3) Understand what envy is telling you about what needs to be changed in order for you to reach your destiny. Pray, ‘God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.’

4) If feasible, spend time with the person you envy and learn more about their secrets of success. In the process, you may realise they have a multitude of problems that will reduce your envy.

5) When anyone is mentioned with appreciation and admiration, instead of making a negative comment about them, try speaking words of praise.

6) Reject seeing another person’s success as your failure. Instead of thinking their blessings came at your expense, start believing that the God who blessed them wants to bless you too.

Jeremiah 12-14, 2 Thessalonians 3

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Leadership can be lonely
11 October 2024

‘No one stood with me…But the Lord stood with me.’
2 Timothy 4:16-17 NKJV

One of the things leaders know is that while many people will never step up to be the leader, there are plenty of people willing to criticise any steps towards leadership you might take and tell the whole world how they know better and why you did it wrong! While you will always accomplish more while working with others, you can’t always count on being supported or liked by everyone. No matter what you do, some people will be difficult and negative. So, you must stay focused on your God-given goals, be who you are, and trust God to do what you cannot do.

Real leaders make tough decisions, even when it means they end up less than popular. The road to true leadership can be lonely. But once you reach your goals, the rewards are enormous. Paul writes: ‘No one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear…And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom’ (vv. 16-18 NKJV).

When others forsake you, the Lord will stand with you. The Lord will strengthen you. The Lord will deliver you. The Lord will reward you. You are called to love others and work with them. And if you find that you’re inadvertently doing things that alienate, discourage, or drive wedges, ask God for wisdom and insight to rectify the situation. But know this: when you have no one left but God, you will discover that God is enough!

Jeremiah 15-17, 1 Timothy 1

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Find a mentor (1)
12 October 2024

‘Then He said to them, “Follow Me…”’
Matthew 4:19 NKJV

Most people who decide to grow personally find their first mentors in the pages of books. That is a great place to start. For that matter, it’s a great place to continue. And the wisdom that’s found in Scripture makes the Bible the best mentor’s manual ever written. If you are not reading it daily, you are robbing yourself of the greatest source of inspiration and illumination. And at some point, if you’re wise, you will also look for a role model to mentor you. No matter how gifted and experienced you are, you will go further with the right mentor than you will on your own.

Jesus, the greatest mentor of all, discipled a group of men who changed the world forever. ‘And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him’ (vv. 18-22 NKJV).

Note the words ‘follow Me, and I will make you…’ Just as the right mentor can make you, the wrong mentor can break you. So you need to pray about this. Then you must do something about it. Why? Because if you follow only yourself, you may find yourself going in circles and getting nowhere.

Jeremiah 18-19, 1 Timothy 2

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Find a mentor (2)
13 October 2024

‘Let me teach you.’
Matthew 11:29 NLT

Jesus said, ‘I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’ (Matthew 16:18 KJV). When He spoke those words, the religious leaders of His day were plotting His death, the society in which He lived was controlled by the might of Rome, and His followers were common people. Humanly speaking, what He promised was audacious, and the possibilities of it happening were zero. Nevertheless, it came to pass. Two thousand years later, He is the most quoted author in the world, and many of our values are based on the principles He taught. How did He do it? By mentoring others.

So when looking for a mentor, try to find someone who exemplifies the qualities and character Jesus displayed. ‘Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light”’ (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT).

Jesus used an agricultural illustration His listeners would understand. To get the highest productivity out of an ox, the yoke around its neck had to be a comfortable fit. And a good mentor is someone who understands you and knows what is the right fit for your temperament and talents. A mentor is an extra pair of eyes and ears and that always has your best interests at heart. When you think about it, having the right mentor is one of the best investments you can make in your future.

Luke 19:28-48, Psalms 105-106

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Find a mentor (3)
14 October 2024

‘Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.’
1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV

Your mentor should not only demonstrate professional excellence and possess skills from which you can learn, but must also be someone who displays character qualities worth imitating. Bernie Madoff was one of the most admired and sought-after brokers on Wall Street. That is, until he ended up in prison for perpetrating a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that devastated the lives of individuals, companies, and even governments. Numerous actors, athletes, political leaders, and business executives today attempt to deny their position as role models when people are already following them and imitating their conduct. They would like people to distinguish between their personal behaviour and their professional life, but such separation cannot really be made.

As you search for role models and mentors, examine their personal lives as thoroughly as their public performance. Your values will be shaped by theirs, so don’t be casual or careless about whom you decide to follow. Paul writes, ‘Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.’ You must be sure that the person in whose footsteps you are following is following in the footsteps of Christ. Why is this so important? Because there will be an audit! Whatever you have spent your life building will be evaluated at the judgement seat of Christ, and you will be rewarded accordingly. ‘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 which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss’ (1 Corinthians 3:13-15 NKJV).

Jeremiah 20-21, 1 Timothy 3

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Find a mentor (4)
15 OCTOBER 2024

‘I have called you friends.’
John 15:15 NKJV

The mentors you choose must be available to you. Jesus told those He mentored, ‘No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you’ (v. 15 NKJV). You need time with your mentor, asking and learning from questions and answers.

Dr John Maxwell writes: ‘The greatest piece of advice I can give in the area of availability is that when you are looking for a mentor, don’t shoot too high too soon. If you are considering going into politics for the first time, you don’t need the advice of the president of the United States. If you are a high school student thinking about learning to play the cello, you don’t need to be mentored by Yo-Yo Ma. If you’re just starting your career, don’t expect to get extensive mentoring time from the CEO of your organisation. Why shouldn’t I? you may be thinking. First of all, if you’re just starting out, nearly all of your questions can be answered by someone two or three levels ahead of you (not ten). Their answers will be fresh because they will have recently dealt with the issues you’re dealing with. Second, CEOs need to be spending their time answering the questions of the people who are on the verge of learning at their level. I’m not saying you should never go to the top. I’m saying spend the majority of your time being mentored by people who are available, willing, and suited for the stage of your career.’

Jeremiah 22-23, 1 Timothy 4

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Be present in the moment
16 October 2024

‘This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’
Psalm 118:24 NKJV

One author writes: ‘One of the strategies I employ is to block enough time so that I’m not thinking of what I have to do next. I find it best to wait until I can invest more than a few minutes in being with someone so that the person is not frustrated with my divided attention and tight schedule.’

If you keep robbing your loved ones of time, there may come a day when they have no time for you. Ask yourself, ‘Is this person worth more to me than the plan, project, problem, or pressure I’m dealing with?’ Learn to enjoy the moment and focus on the person you’re with. Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to answer with more than a yes or no. Listen carefully and ask additional questions. This helps people feel you are engaging with them and caring about their replies. Yes, your thoughts may flit into the future for a few seconds, but instantly push them back into the present by rejecting those concerns. You can attend to them later. Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate. There is great pleasure in doing this after you get used to it.

The poet wrote, ‘I wished to live deliberately…and not, when I came to die, discover I had not lived.’ To make sure that doesn’t happen to you, heed Solomon’s words: ‘People should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labour, for these are gifts from God’ (Ecclesiastes 3:13 NLT). If you have to do with less in order to enjoy the people you love more, do it; you will never regret it!

Jeremiah 24-26, 1 Timothy 5