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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

How to pray when you are sick
07 DECEMBER 2023

‘Is anyone among you sick?’
James 5:14 NIV

The Bible says, ‘Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up’ (vv.14-15 NIV). So, let’s be in no doubt; when we’re sick, we are told to call for the church elders to anoint us with oil and pray over us, believing that we will be healed.

In times of sickness, we’re also told to pray for one another. Jesus said, ‘These signs will follow those who believe: In My name…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover’ (Mark 16:17-18 NKJV). If you are sick today, pray:

‘Lord, even though the doctor’s report is negative, You have the last word concerning my life. Your Word says, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book” (Psalm 139:16 NLT). Help me to action any lifestyle changes that will make a difference to my quality of life. Raise me up as testimony to your healing power. You are the changeless miracle-working God yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). I take authority over every defective part of my body and command each one to be made whole in the name of Jesus. I decree that I will not die before my appointed time but will live to report what You have done (see Psalm 118:17). By faith I stand on Your Word and declare, “By Your stripes I am healed”’ (see Isaiah 53:5).

Joel 1-3, Revelation 2

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Humble yourself
08 DECEMBER 2023

‘Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Luke 18:14 NLT

Jesus said: ‘Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people – cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.” But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted’ (vv. 10-14 NLT).

You can appear to be the most devout person in church yet have a heart filled with pride. And the worst part is that you don’t know it. For example, when you take all the credit for things God enabled you to accomplish and acquire, that’s pride. When you compare yourself with others, that’s pride. When you think you can do the will of God without the power of God, that’s pride. When you exclude people who don’t fit into your peer group or social circle, that’s pride. And it will cost you, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble” (James 4:6 NIVUK). So if you want to walk in His favour today, then humble yourself before Him.

Amos 1-3, Revelation 3

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Contrary winds (1)
09 DECEMBER 2023

‘The winds were contrary.’
Acts 27:4 KJV

When you set out to do anything for God, the Enemy will make sure you encounter ‘contrary winds’. In fact, if you’re not sailing against the wind, chances are you’re headed in the wrong direction! The Bible says Jesus was ‘tempted of the devil’ (Matthew 4:1 KJV). Satan never let up, including the night before Jesus was crucified when ‘Satan entered into Judas…one of the twelve’ (Luke 22:3 NLT).

Reimar Schultze says, ‘Wherever you go today, Satan will…try to get you at some street corner, at the office, or in the field. He will make you fall if you leave home without your spiritual armour on; if you leave your belt of truth…in the closet, your breastplate of righteousness…by the door, your gospel shoes under your bed, or if you leave your shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit and the helmet of salvation behind you…If you say at daybreak, “I will pray whenever I get a chance today,” you just gave away your victory. Before long the wrong words will come out of your mouth, you will look at forbidden fruits and display an improper attitude. The most foolish thing [you] can do is to leave home unarmed and spiritually naked. A fool says, “I have no time to pray,” but later…he finds all kinds of time to attempt to repair the damage prayerlessness…produced….Following Jesus is not a walk in the park…Every good thing in the kingdom…from Adam on has come to us through men and women who stuck it out when the going got tough. The biblical history of the church ends with [these victorious words]… “and so we came to Rome”’ (Acts 28:14 NLT).

Amos 4-6, Revelation 4

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Contrary winds (2)
10 DECEMBER 2023

‘The voyage will be with…much loss.’
Acts 27:10 RSV

Paul told everyone on board the ship bound for Rome, ‘The voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but…our lives’ (v. 10 RSV).

One author writes: ‘Paul didn’t talk about a little skirmish…a little loss…This voyage would be beset with disasters, with much loss, even to their lives…To Paul this journey meant eventual martyrdom. However, Paul would not die until his mission was completed, until he would strike a fatal blow at the heart of the Roman Empire, its political genius, military supremacy…pride and pomp. When Paul walked into Rome with the Gospel, hell shook and all heaven rejoiced. We are all beneficiaries because that little battle-scarred man with a chain around his ankle started to convert many in Rome [and gave] us the books of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon while he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ…[These phrases] from Acts 27 bring this journey more to life: The winds were contrary…we sailed slowly…passing with difficulty…sailing was now dangerous…tempestuous winds arose…we secured the skiff with difficulty…we used cables to undergird the ship…exceedingly tempest tossed…we threw the ship’s tackle overboard…neither sun nor stars appeared for many days…all hope that we would get saved was given up…the stern was broken up.’

The destination is within reach – but not without ‘much loss’. Thank God that’s not the end of the story. The centurion, ‘wishing to save Paul…commanded those who could swim to throw themselves overboard…and make for the shore…the rest on…pieces of the vessel…escaped safely to land’. (Acts 27:43-44 AMPC). When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will make it in spite of the storm. Guaranteed!

Luke 23:1-25, Psalms 130-134

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Contrary winds (3)
11 DECEMBER 2023

‘Stormy wind, fulfilling His word.’
Psalm 148:8 NASB

The winds were contrary when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they were contrary on their way to the promised land, and they were contrary when they got there. There is no such thing as a storm-free voyage: ‘Through…hardships and tribulations we…enter the kingdom’ (Acts 14:22 AMPC). When you have to fight to stay afloat day after day, it’s easy to get discouraged. Paul said, ‘When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days…all hope…we would be saved was…given up’ (Acts 27:20 NKJV).

Maybe you’re weary and discouraged because of what you’re battling. You’re ready to call it quits – and humanly speaking, nobody would blame you. But before you give up, ask yourself this: what if God is the One engineering this storm to get you where you need to go? What if He is the One who ‘spoke and raised a stormy wind’ (Psalm 107:25 NASB), so you would have to keep your eyes on Him? What if He is the One who ‘hurled a great wind on the sea’ (Jonah 1:4 NASB), to see if you would keep the faith when you can’t see the far shore?

A psalmist tells us God uses ‘fire…hail, snow…clouds [and] stormy wind’ to fulfil His word. In Exodus 10, He ‘directed an east wind on the land all…day…and…night; and…it…brought the locusts…[He] shifted the wind to a very strong west wind, which picked up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea’ (vv. 13, 19 NASB). One author adds, ‘When the Lord fought for Israel…stormy winds brought about their deliverance…And one day, by God’s great mercy, we too shall stand upon the sea of glass and see how stormy winds brought about our deliverance.’

Amos 7-9, Revelation 5

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Set healthy boundaries
12 DECEMBER 2023

‘Our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No”.’
2 Corinthians 1:18 NLT

Paul writes, ‘Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver’ (vv.17-18 NLT). Paul had learned to set boundaries on his relationships, and you must do the same. A wise man said, ‘Never complain about what you permit.’ Unless you set boundaries, you have no right to complain about people who take advantage of you and waste your time.

‘Jesus…does not waver between “Yes” and “No”…he always does what he says’ (v. 19 NLT). And as His follower, you must learn when it’s appropriate to say yes and when it’s appropriate to say no. When people back you into a corner, confront them promptly, privately, and personally. And if they won’t listen, take someone with you. And if they won’t listen to both of you, take it to the church leadership (see Matthew 18:15-17). Be clear about what you will and won’t tolerate. In the words of the country song, ‘You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.’ Get comfortable voicing your wishes and preferences without fear of rejection and alienation.

Make this your prayer today: ‘Lord, let me serve and give to others from a pure heart rather than a need for love and acceptance. On the authority of Your Word, I command the spirit of fear that has prevented me from setting healthy boundaries to leave now. I place my trust in You. I will not fear what people can do to me (see Psalm 56:11). In Jesus’ name. Amen.’

Obadiah, Revelation 6

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Meditate on the Scriptures
13 DECEMBER 2023

‘I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.’
Psalm 119:15 NKJV

If you want to grow spiritually, you need a consistent diet of Scripture. In fact, you will never outgrow your diet of Scripture. There is no substitute. There is no supplement. The poet T.S. Eliot said, ‘Everything we eat has some…effect upon us. It affects us during the process of assimilation and digestion; and I believe that exactly the same is true of anything we read.’ We are what we read.

But let’s take that a step further. Reading without meditating is like eating without digesting. If you want to absorb the nutrients, you can’t just read it; you have to chew on it. Meditation is the way we metabolise Scripture. That’s how it gets into our spirit and our soul. The French writer Jacques Réda had a particular habit. He would walk the streets of Paris with the purpose of seeing one new thing every day. It was how he renewed his love for the city. We renew our love for God in a similar way. Our love grows as we see new dimensions of His personality, and His personality is predominantly revealed in the pages of the Bible. What if we approached God’s Word the way Jacques Réda walked the streets of Paris?

Here is the secret of spiritual growth: you can’t merely read the Bible, you have to meditate on it. Reading provides breadth to our understanding, but meditation provides depth. If all we do is read Scripture, our understanding of God and our experience with Him is one-dimensional. The Bible is a kaleidoscope. Each time you turn it, another beautiful pattern of truth is revealed.

Jonah 1-4, Revelation 7

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Don’t be afraid of failing
14 DECEMBER 2023

‘I will be with you.’
Joshua 1:5 NKJV

Because we are keenly aware of our limitations, we tend to limit our pursuits to our comfort zone. And that can lead to a life of mediocrity and unfulfilled dreams. Your efforts don’t rest solely on your shoulders, but on God’s. Yes, you have a part to play. But when you have done your best, you must trust God to do the rest. On the threshold of the promised land, God said to Joshua, ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage’ (vv. 5-6). Your ability is limited, but God’s ability is unlimited. You may experience failure on your way to success, but God’s guarantee is, ‘I will not fail thee.’

The fear of failure is often based on the erroneous belief that success rests solely on our abilities. And because we’re aware of our inadequacies, we stay in our comfort zone instead of tackling the giants in the promised land. This can lead to a life of frustration over ‘what could have been’. When you know that what you want lines up with God’s will, be bold and know that you will eventually succeed. ‘Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him’ (1 John 5:14-15 NKJV). When your confidence is ‘in Him’, your success is assured. When you know that what you want is what God wants, you can move forward in strength.

Micah 1-3, Revelation 8

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

When you feel angry (1)
15 DECEMBER 2023

‘Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.’
James 1:19 NLT
The Bible gives us three keys to handling our anger the right way. Let’s look at each one and see what we can learn:

1) ‘Be quick to listen.’ Don’t react, and don’t rush to judgment. Slow down and try to get the facts, then prayerfully and carefully consider how God wants you to respond.

2) ‘Slow to speak.’ If you’re unsure, or you don’t know, just say so. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, ‘It’s better to say nothing and appear to be a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it.’ Your need to be in control, or to look like you have all the answers, can come back to bite you. What you don’t say, you won’t have to explain or apologise for later.

3) ‘Slow to get angry.’ Note, the Bible doesn’t say that you should never get angry. It says you should get angry about the right things, in the right way, at the right time. Solomon says, ‘Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool’ (Ecclesiastes 7:9 NLT). That’s why it’s so important to deal with your hurts. An unhealed wound causes pain which often manifests itself in anger. The trouble is, we carry our anger around with us and vent it on others. As a result, they distance themselves from us, or distrust us, or deny us the intimacy and closeness we desire with them.

The Bible says, ‘The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression’ (Proverbs 19:11 NKJV). Christlike character grows through exercising patience, love, and restraint.

Micah 4-5, Revelation 9

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When you feel angry (2)
16 DECEMBER 2023

‘Cease from anger…it only causes harm.’
Psalm 37:8 NKJV

Your anger may or may not hurt the person towards whom it’s directed, but it can definitely hurt you. Prolonged anger releases toxic chemicals into your body that elevate your blood pressure, create cholesterol, and increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. Every minute given to anger is a minute taken away from joy. And it can hurt you personally and professionally. Everybody gets upset from time to time. But when you walk around with your anger barely concealed, people avoid you. Plus, you’re giving whoever angers you power over your attitude and your responses. That’s too much power to give anybody! God wants you to live in peace. Here is how to let go of your anger:

1) Recognise the main hurt and emotion at the root of your anger. (Pride?)

2) Become mindful of how your anger is exhibiting itself (such as surliness or profanity).

3) Restrain anger’s effect on your body by inhaling deeply and exhaling, adding an affirmation such as ‘Thank You, Father’ or ‘I receive Your peace now.’ Watch your tone of voice in all your communications, not just with someone who has angered you. Request rather than order. You will feel more in control, and people will be more inclined to cooperate with you.

4) Decide to forgive. You will know you have forgiven when you no longer desire to see your offender penalised. Don’t mistake this with the reality that you still feel hurt. Feelings follow behaviour. If you continue to reopen the wound by constantly talking about it, it will never heal. Just keep walking in love, and your emotions will fall into line with your decision.

Micah 6-7, Revelation 10