[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Don’t entertain wrong thoughts

‘Guard your heart…for it determines the course of your life.’
Proverbs 4:23 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 26 Feb 2019

When Satan sets out to destroy you, he starts by planting wrong thoughts in your mind. Jesus illustrated this when He said, ‘The laws of Moses said, “You shall not commit adultery.”

But I say: Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart’ (Matthew 5:27-28 TLB). Before you surrender to sin in reality, you entertain it as fantasy.

Evil thoughts aren’t really yours until you allow them to ‘move in and rearrange the furniture’. Left unchecked to ramble through your mind, a thought can attach itself to an incident in your past or a proclivity in your present and feed on it until it’s like a tumour growing inside you.

Paul warns, ‘Take captive every thought…make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV 2011 Edition). And Solomon writes, ‘Guard your heart…for it determines the course of your life.’

Don’t give wrong thoughts an inch or they will take a mile. Evict them before they weaken your commitment to Christ and leave you in the place of regret.

Generally speaking, when we clean a house we focus on what others can see and inspect. Imagine how much mental rubbish we collect because we think nobody sits in our heads examining our thoughts.

But God does! David said, ‘Lord…you know all about me’ (Psalm 139:1 CEV). Knowing that should lead you to pray: ‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord’ (Psalm 19:14 KJV).

Leviticus 23-24, Mark 1:1-22[/color]

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

You’re part of the family

‘In love he predestined us for adoption.’
Ephesians 1:4-5 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 27 Feb 2019

We all have a need to belong, to be part of a family. One pastor writes: ‘I know couples with hearts of love who yearn to focus it on some little one, but no little one arrives. When these couples find children to adopt, they don’t tell the children they’d better measure up to expectation if they want to stay in the family.

There’s no such thing as three strikes – then back to the agency. No, they accept them with open arms and joy-filled hearts because they love them.

They take them into their homes forever, give them the family name, and make them legal heirs.’ Long before we even knew we needed God, He ‘predestined us to adoption as sons [and daughters] by Jesus Christ’ (NKJV).

Earthly parents get divorced, go separate ways, and start new families. But not God; you never have to worry about your standing and relationship with Him.

Regardless of race, colour, creed, or background, when you repent and accept Christ as your Saviour, your adoption becomes binding and permanent. You’re part of His family.

And to prove it, ‘The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God’ (Romans 8:16 NKJV). Do you realise what that means?

You never again have to walk around feeling intimidated and fearful, or live under a cloud of condemnation, because you are a child of God and a ‘fellow [heir] with Christ’ (v. 17 NASB). The word ‘heir’ means you can claim every blessing and benefit Christ purchased for you at the cross.

Every single one without exception!

Leviticus 25, Mark 1:23-45

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Growing Through Discouragement

‘Lord, where do I put my hope?’
Psalms 39:7 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 28 Feb 2019

Here are four suggestions to help you survive and grow through upheavals such as an unexpected job loss, the death of a loved one, a failed marriage or a serious health issue:

1) Admit how you feel.

That doesn’t mean sitting around wallowing in negativity; it means trusting God enough to acknowledge how you really feel. Pretending things are fine when they’re not, makes it harder to get back up.

We all have down times. The Psalmist asked God to help him cope with despondency (Psalms 42-43). And at one point Paul was under so much pressure he ‘despaired even of life’ (2 Corinthians 1:8 NKJV).

2) Identify the source.

Discouragement often comes on the heels of a setback or disappointment. Did something you set your heart on fall apart?

Were your hopes unrealistic to start with? Did somebody let you down? Or is your dejection coming from a generalised feeling of burnout?

3) Talk with a trusted counsellor.

Solomon said, ‘The more wise counsel…the better your chances’ (Proverbs 11:14 MSG). Don’t let pride prevent you from opening up to those who will listen empathetically and respond wisely.

Talking to the right people can lessen your sense of isolation, and also pave the way for others who are hurting to do the same.

(4) Be open before God.

He, not fate or circumstances, gets to write the last chapter. Maybe He’s trying to teach you something or redirect your energies. David said, ‘Lord, where do I put my hope?

My only hope is in you.’ When your hope is in God, He replaces discouragement with confidence so that what you’re going through can become a path to spiritual growth.

Leviticus 26-27, Mark 2

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

You must have integrity

‘We are taking pains to do what is right.’
2 Corinthians 8:21 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 01 Mar 2019

There’s a cartoon depicting some pigs feeding while the farmer is busy filling their trough up to the brim. Overhead in bold letters a sign reads, ‘Premium Bacon Company’.

In the cartoon one pig says to the others, ‘Have you ever wondered why the farmer is so good to us?’ Question: Do people have to wonder about your motives?

They shouldn’t! The apostle Paul defines integrity like this: ‘In honour preferring one another’ (Romans 12:10 KJV).

Integrity always seeks the good of others. It believes that if something isn’t good for both sides, it’s not good for either side.

Solomon warns, ‘Exploit the poor or glad-hand the rich – whichever, you’ll end up the poorer for it’ (Proverbs 22:16 MSG). If you want to test the depth of your integrity, consider these questions:

How transparent are you with others? How well do you treat people from whom you have nothing to gain?

Do you assume different personas depending on who you’re with? Do you put others ahead of your own personal agenda?

Do you love people and use things, or love things and use people? Do you make difficult decisions even when it costs you personally?

When you have something to say about somebody, do you talk to them or talk about them? Are you accountable to anybody other than yourself?

These are important questions, so take time to consider them prayerfully. And remember, you may succeed momentarily because of what you know or do, but you’ll only succeed permanently because of what you are.

Numbers 1-2, Mark 3:1-19

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Show some ‘class’

‘Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone – and even by the truth itself.’
3 John 12 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 02 Mar 2019

When people speak well of you, it means you have acceptance. But when the truth speaks well of you, it means you have class!

Demetrius had it. Do you? Paul told Timothy, ‘Set an example…in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity…give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress’ (1 Timothy 4:12-15 NIV 2011 Edition).

We decided to reprint these timeless words on ‘class’ by columnist Ann Landers: ‘Class is just confidence dressed in humility. It keeps its word, its temper, and its friends.

It has a steady eye, a steady nerve, a steady tongue, and steady habits. It’s silent when it has nothing to say, thoughtful when it judges, and is always first to make amends when it’s wrong.

Class doesn’t run scared. It’s surefooted, committed, and handles whatever comes along.

Class has a sense of humour. It knows that a good laugh is often the best lubricant for oiling the machinery of human relations.

Class never makes excuses. It takes its lumps, learns from its mistakes, and becomes wiser. Class knows that courtesy and good manners are nothing more than a series of small sacrifices.

It bespeaks an aristocracy that is not dependent on ancestors or money. A blue-blood can be totally without it, while the son of a Welsh coal miner may ooze it out of every pore.

Class can walk with kings, yet still keep its virtue; talk with crowds, yet still maintain the common touch. Everyone is comfortable with a person who has class – because they are comfortable with themselves.’

Today, show some ‘class’!

Numbers 3-4, Mark 3:20-35

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Celebrate your progress!

‘Be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude].’
Romans 12:2 AMPC

The UCB Word for Today - 03 Mar 2019

Lasting change doesn’t come through human effort, frustration, self-hatred, guilt, or beating yourself up over your failures. It comes from having your mind renewed daily by the Word of God.

If you’re a consistent Bible reader, you’ll grow spiritually. As you agree with God and believe what He says in His Word, you gradually begin to change.

It just happens. You start to think differently, talk differently, and act differently.

But you must be patient because it’s a process that develops in stages. And you must learn to enjoy life while you’re going through the transformation process.

Many of us look like we’re walking a tightrope rather than a pathway of peace. No, enjoy where you are on your way to where you’re going!

Don’t waste all your ‘now time’ trying to rush into the future. Jesus said that tomorrow will have challenges of its own (see Matthew 6:34).

Perhaps you’re thinking, ‘If only I didn’t have this problem, I’d be happy.’ What are you wrestling with?

An out-of-control appetite? Resentment? Fearfulness?

Maybe you’re saying, ‘If I could get this habit under control I’d be fine.’ Just like Israel conquered the Promised Land one city at a time, you conquer your weaknesses one day at a time.

Paul said, ‘So that I might finish my course with joy’ (Acts 20:24 KJV). Paul wanted to be all that God called him to be – but he wanted to enjoy the process.

So instead of getting discouraged about how far you still have to go, learn to celebrate your progress along the way.

Luke 4:1-30, Psalm 23-25

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Act on your spiritual intuition

‘Your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”’
Isaiah 30:21 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 04 Mar 2019

How many times has something inside urged you to do a certain thing, but instead you allowed the voice in your head to overrule the voice in your spirit? That inner voice is your spiritual intuition, the part of you God speaks to.

The Bible says, ‘Your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”’ John the apostle put it this way: ‘You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things’ (1 John 2:20 NKJV).

Learn to trust that ‘anointing’ because it will tell you:
a) what you need to do;
b) when you need to act;
c) what direction to take;
d) what changes you need to make.

What a gift – yet we seldom use it! Somebody said, ‘Too much analysis leads to paralysis.’

We’re afraid we couldn’t possibly know something without thinking it through, or because it seems too obvious. We think, ‘That can’t be right.

I couldn’t possibly do that.’ We argue for our limitations, and as a result they become our limitations!

Learn to recognise and trust your spiritual intuition. It’s your connection to the greatest source of wisdom in the universe – God’s wisdom.

And don’t be surprised when what you hear in your spirit sounds like what you’ve thought many times but paid no attention to. The Bible says, ‘It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose’ (Philippians 2:13 NIV 1984 Edition).

So next time your spiritual intuition tells you something and it lines up with Scripture, don’t be afraid to act on it!

Numbers 5-6, Mark 4:1-20

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The God factor on your job

‘We are labourers together with God.’
1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV

The UCB Word for Today - 05 Mar 2019

The biggest plus factor you can have on your job is the God factor. Paul writes, ‘We are labourers together with God.’

Consider these three powerful words: ‘together with God’. A surgeon in a large city hospital had a habit of insisting on a few minutes alone before he performed an operation.

He had an outstanding reputation, and one of the young doctors who worked with him wondered if there might be a correlation between this habit of spending time alone and the man’s success. He asked the surgeon about it and he answered, ‘Yes.

Before each operation I ask the Great Physician to guide my hands in their work. There have been times when I didn’t know what to do next in a surgery, and then came the power to go on – power I knew came from God.

I would not think of performing an operation without asking His help.’ The surgeon’s words quickly spread through the hospital, then across the country.

One day a father brought his daughter to the hospital, insisting that the only doctor he would allow to touch her was ‘the one who worked with God’. The Bible says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).

Note, it doesn’t say don’t ‘use’ your understanding – it says don’t ‘lean’ on it. Instead, lean on God.

‘Acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.’ If you want success on the job, this is a proven formula for achieving it.

Numbers 7-8, Mark 4:21-41

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

What we’ll do in heaven

‘To depart and be with Christ…is better by far.’
Philippians 1:23 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 06 Mar 2019

Imagine boarding a plane for your dream holiday when suddenly the pilot announces, ‘Welcome aboard. After take-off we’ll serve you a wonderful meal and do all we can to make your flight enjoyable.

However, I need to tell you – we have no destination. That’s right; we’re just going to keep flying until we run out of fuel and drop into the ocean.’

No matter how wonderful the journey is, what’s the point if there’s no destination? God’s Word says, ‘If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world’ (1 Corinthians 15:19 NLT).

Thank God there’s more! It’s called heaven.

And it’s ‘better by far’ than anything we’ve experienced in this life. If you’re wondering what we’ll do when we get there, the Bible says we’ll serve the Lord (see Revelation 22:3).

You won’t be issued a halo, a long woolly robe, and a harp, and be assigned to sit on a cloud and strum for all eternity. No, we’ll each serve the Lord in different capacities.

Think of it: no midlife crisis, no downsizing, and no burnout. On earth we fail, we get tired, we get frustrated, and our motives are mixed.

But not there! Can you imagine serving the One you love most, doing the thing you enjoy most, and doing it in a body that’s forever energised?

That’s heaven! And the ultimate bliss will be seeing Jesus face to face.

‘I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness’ (Psalm 17:15 KJV).

Numbers 9-10, Mark 5:1-20

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Do you have this joy?

‘This is the fresh, new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us.’
Hebrews 10:20 TLB

The UCB Word for Today - 07 Mar 2019

In the Old Testament there were more religious laws than anybody could possibly keep: over six hundred. And every time you failed, you had to offer an animal sacrifice as atonement.

This resulted in people trying and failing; feeling guilty and trying harder; failing again and making more sacrifices. It was a never-ending cycle.

Then Jesus came and opened up ‘the fresh, new, life-giving way…for us’ to have a relationship with God. His way included forgiveness for sin, and the replacement of sacrifices with faith in Him.

For many it was just too good to be true, so they kept working and trying to impress God with their goodness. Are you doing that?

One Christian author writes: ‘I lived that way for years. It meant having to do everything perfectly; otherwise I was in trouble with God.

Since this was an impossible standard to keep, it stole all my peace and joy. While I was trying to walk in love, I wasn’t a very loving person.

I couldn’t give others what I didn’t know how to receive myself! I wasn’t receiving God’s mercy for my failures; therefore I couldn’t offer it to anybody else.

I tried to follow all the rules, many that weren’t even scriptural – just things to feel guilty about. But thank God I don’t have to live that way anymore.

Now I’m not working to be saved, I’m working because I am saved! My salvation isn’t based on what I do, but solely on what Jesus has done for me.’

When you understand this truth, your relationship with God is no longer a job – it’s a joy.

Numbers 11-12, Mark 5:21-43