[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Pray for ‘wisdom from above’

‘The wisdom from above is…peace loving.’
James 3:17 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 12 June 2019

Some people seem to thrive on conflict. They are always picking on others, arguing, disagreeing, or trying to get something started.

They fight just for the sport of it, not because they passionately believe in a particular cause. They are quick to jump in and expend their energy fighting other people’s battles in which they have no stake.

These people seem confident but they make poor decisions, so others learn to ignore them and not take them seriously. They need to ‘always win’ in order to feel good about themselves.

When it comes to your relationships with others, you need ‘wisdom from above’. When you have it, you won’t need to put everyone else on the mat just to show how strong or smart you are.

True self-confidence, including confidence in your ability to make good decisions, comes from within. ‘The wisdom from above is first of all pure.

It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and…good deeds.

It shows no favouritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness’ (vv. 17-18 NLT).

When you operate according to these scriptural principles, you’ll know whether or not a battle is worthy of your attention. If you keep your eyes on the prize that God has set before you, you’ll realise that some things simply aren’t worth your time and attention.

As a result you’ll make better decisions about your life as well as your relationships.

1 Chronicles 7-9, Acts 15:22-41

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Have you been treated badly?

‘My…witnesses have always been treated like this.’
Luke 6:23 MSG

The UCB Word for Today - 13 June 2019

When you’ve been treated badly, always ask yourself, ‘What can I learn from this experience? How do I respond in a more Christlike manner?

Am I willing to acknowledge my mistakes? How can I grow wiser and handle similar experiences better in the future?’

When all is said and done, the answer to misunderstanding is forgiveness. Now, forgiveness doesn’t mean you necessarily agree with or want a close relationship with the person who mistreated you.

But it does mean that you let it go. When you bury the hatchet, don’t leave the handle sticking up!

In other words, don’t just forgive – choose to forget! Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ‘To be great is to be misunderstood.’

And here’s an even better statement: ‘To be greater is to forgive the one who has treated you badly.’ Paul refers to the Christian life as ‘the high calling of God’ (Philippians 3:14 KJV).

So take the high road! What does that road look like?

Jesus tells us: ‘Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is…the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable…be glad when that happens…all heaven applauds.

And know that you are in good company; my…witnesses have always been treated like this’ (vv. 22-23 MSG). By living this way, you also take back your power by refusing to let another person dictate your mood and your outlook, and you keep your joy.

1 Chronicles 10-12, Acts 16:1-21

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

True humility

‘[He] gives grace to the humble.’
1 Peter 5:5 NIV

The UCB Word for Today - 14 June 2019

There are two kinds of humility mentioned in Scripture:
1) False humility. Paul writes, ‘Do not let anyone who delights in false humility…disqualify you’ (Colossians 2:18 NIV 2011 Edition).

Whether it’s in your manner of dress, your speech, or your behaviour, anything that draws attention to you and away from Christ is displeasing to God.

2) True humility. Truly humble people don’t take offence easily or fight back; they turn the other cheek.

And yet their humility is not cowardice, for true humility requires courage. It makes you willing to take a lower place than you deserve, to keep quiet about your merits, and to bear slights, insults, and false accusations for the sake of a higher purpose.

True humility doesn’t make you think less of yourself, it just makes you think of yourself less. Peter addresses the subject in these words: ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour’ (1 Peter 5:5-6 NLT). The story’s told of a guy who entered a contest to see who was the most humble.

When he won, he was given a badge of merit – but then he wore it and was disqualified! Seriously, pride disqualifies you from enjoying the favour of God.

That’s why you need to remind yourself regularly: ‘Everything I am, I owe to God; everything I have, came from God. To Him be all the glory.’

1 Chronicles 13-15, Acts 16:22-40

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

With determination and God’s help you’ll win

‘It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.’
Psalm 18:32 NKJV

The UCB Word for Today - 15 June 2019

In her autobiography, singer Dolly Parton says: ‘My high school was small, so during graduation each of us got a chance to stand up and announce our plans for the future. “I’m going to junior college,” one boy would say.

“I’m getting married and moving to Maryville,” a girl would follow. When my turn came I said, “I’m going to Nashville to become a star.”

The entire place erupted in laughter. I was stunned.

Somehow, though, that laughter instilled in me an even greater determination to realise my dream. I might have crumbled under the weight of the hardships that were to come, had it not been for the response of the crowd that day.

Sometimes it’s funny the way we find inspiration.’ Every hero in Scripture, without exception, overcame obstacles and opposition.

David writes: ‘They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.

For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places.

For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me’ (vv. 18-19, 29-30, 32, 39 NKJV).

1 Chronicles 16-18, Acts 17:1-15

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

A father’s prayer

‘Manoah prayed…“tell us what to do for the son we are going to have.”’
Judges 13:8 CEV

The UCB Word for Today - 16 June 2019

The following prayer was written by General Douglas MacArthur, a hero of World War II, on behalf of his son whom he loved dearly. If you’re a parent you may want to use it as the basis for your own prayers for your children: ‘Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know You…Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the lessons of the past. And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humour, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously.

Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, “I have not lived in vain.”’

Luke 11:1-28, Psalm 63-65

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Be an ‘up’ person

‘He picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus.’
Ephesians 2:6 MSG

The UCB Word for Today - 17 June 2019

In order to become an ‘up’ person, you must do these three things:
1) Expand your concept of God.

How? By reading His Word and getting to know Him better.

Be like the little boy in Sunday school whose teacher asked what he was drawing. He replied, ‘God!’

The teacher said, ‘But nobody knows what God’s like.’ Confidently he replied, ‘They will when I’m finished!’

What is your God like? Loving or judgmental? Distant or available? Limited or powerful? Your concept of God will determine your confidence in Him, so spend time getting to know Him.

2) Recognise Satan’s limitations. The devil is the world’s oldest loser, a former employee of heaven who got fired because of arrogance and who is headed for destruction.

And the only power he has over you is the power you give him by remaining ‘ignorant of his devices’ (2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV). The Bible says, ‘Submit yourselves…to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7 KJV). You have power over Satan – use it.

3) See yourself as God sees you. He sees you not just as you are, but as you will be.

If you’ve been conditioned by past experiences to see yourself as worthless, starting now you can change your self-image by believing what God says about you in His Word. When you have His opinion, what else matters?

(read Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 43:1-3; Ephesians 2:6). As you work on these three things each day, you’ll become an ‘up’ person in a ‘down’ world.

1 Chronicles 19-21, Acts 17:16-34

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

How big is your God?

‘The battle is the LORD’s…he will give you into our hands.’
1 Samuel 17:47 KJV

The UCB Word for Today - 18 June 2019

How you handle life depends on how big you believe God is. If He’s too small:

1) You’ll live in constant anxiety thinking everything depends on you.
2) Your outlook will be dictated by your surroundings – or worse, your critics.
3) Without the acceptance of a loving God you’ll be a slave to people’s opinions.
4) You’ll constantly crave recognition because you don’t understand that ‘your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you’ (Matthew 6:4 NASB).

Author John Ortberg says that when we make the mistake of shrinking God, we ‘offer prayer without faith, work without passion, service without joy, and suffering without hope – which results in fear, retreat, loss of vision, and failure to persevere.’ When Goliath threatened the Israelites, ‘they were dismayed and greatly afraid’ (1 Samuel 17:11 NRSV).

They didn’t think their God was big enough for the job. But not David!

‘Let no one’s heart fail…your servant will…fight…this Philistine. The Lord…who saved me from…the lion and…bear, will [save us now]’ (1 Samuel 17:32, 37 NRSV).

You can face anything when you know what David knew – ‘the battle is the Lord’s’. And He’s never lost one yet!

So you don’t have to depend on your own resources. David may have felt small, but he knew his God was big enough for the job.

Do you know that? Eighteenth-century Anglican clergyman John Newton said, ‘If the Lord be with us we have no cause for fear.

His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer, His grace sufficient, [and] His promises unchangeable.’ It all depends on how big your God is!

1 Chronicles 22-24, Acts 18

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Learn to be content

‘Godliness with contentment is great gain.’
1 Timothy 6:6 KJV

The UCB Word for Today - 19 June 2019

When you talk about contentment, some people think you’re against progress. No.

Paul is saying contentment never comes from externals! Every twelve minutes, radio and television advertisers try to convince us that contentment isn’t possible without their particular brand of product.

Don’t go for it! The desire for more can be insatiable.

As long as you believe more is better, you’ll never be satisfied. Why?

Because you’ll never live long enough to have it all! Just think; when you get something or achieve something, do you even take the time to enjoy it, or do you gallop off to the next thing without stopping?

To avoid getting old too soon and wise too late, read this Scripture:

1) ‘We brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it’ (v. 7 NLT). When you die and people ask, ‘How much did they leave?’ the answer will be ‘everything’ (including a legacy of good or bad).

2) ‘Some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith’ (v. 10 NLT). If your pursuit of material things is leaving no time for God, re-examine your priorities and start changing them while you still can.

Stop thinking, ‘If only I had a bigger house, a more understanding spouse, a particular job, a radical makeover, a higher IQ, or the acceptance of a particular person, I’d be happy.’ It doesn’t work that way.

The Bible says, ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it’ (Psalm 118:24 KJV).

1 Chronicles 25-27, Acts 19:1-22

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

How Satan tempts us

‘He will show you how to escape from your temptations.’
1 Corinthians 10:13 CEV

The UCB Word for Today - 20 June 2019

Satan tried to get Jesus to succumb to three different kinds of temptation, and he’ll try the same with you:

1) Satisfaction without God. Knowing Christ was hungry, Satan told Him to turn stones into bread.

But Jesus said no because He knew God’s plan was to feed and strengthen Him supernaturally; He refused to settle for less – and you must too.

2) Success without God. Satan then took Jesus to the top of the temple and told Him to jump off, saying God would send angels to protect Him.

But God’s plan for Jesus was the cross, the resurrection, and the multitudes who would come to believe in Him. Satan tried to get Jesus to settle for less, and he’ll try the same with you. Don’t take the bait!

3) Significance without God. Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world if only He’d bow down and worship him. What an offer!

Significance without God! But the fact is, the kingdoms of this world weren’t Satan’s to offer!

So he lied to Jesus – and he will lie to you too. The way to lasting satisfaction is the way of the cross, which means sacrificing yourself.

Jesus rebuked Satan with a reminder from Scripture that God alone is worthy to be glorified. Understand this: Satan will take every legitimate desire you have and try to get you to fulfil it in an illegitimate way. But you can overcome him.

How? By staying close to God and living in His Word, ‘He will show you how to escape from your temptations.’

1 Chronicles 28-29, Acts 19:23-41

[Gracemohau]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Check your attitude

‘You must have the same attitude that…Jesus had.’
Philippians 2:5 NLT

The UCB Word for Today - 20 June 2019

A flying instructor will tell you that periodically your plane needs to be ‘trimmed’ or ‘balanced in flight’. After flying through storms, it gets knocked out of alignment and needs to be adjusted.

And the same thing happens on your spiritual journey. The storms of life can ‘knock you out of alignment’.

Unexpected ‘weather conditions’ like sickness, depression, unemployment, divorce, disappointment, and death can force you to change direction and strategy. That’s why your attitude needs to be regularly checked and adjusted.

So what are you dealing with that calls for an attitude check? Paul writes, ‘You must have the same attitude…Jesus had.’ Is such a lifestyle possible?

Yes, but you must make it a priority and pursue it each day. Joshua wanted to turn an army of complainers into an army that could conquer the Promised Land.

So God gave him this formula for success: ‘Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night…be sure to obey everything written in it.

Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do’ (Joshua 1:8 NLT). Try the ‘three-by-five technique’.

Each week identify a Scripture that relates to an area in which you want to grow, write it down on a three-by-five index card, and memorise it. In one year you’ll have fifty-two Scriptures you can recall and stand on.

Think how that will impact your life! Not only will wrong attitudes become right attitudes, but your life will begin to move in the right direction.

2 Chronicles 1-3, Acts 20:1-16