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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Stop and ask for directions
16 JANUARY 2024

‘The Spirit of truth…will lead you…and …tell you what is to come.’
John 16:13 NCV

Making decisions without seeking God’s guidance is like trying to fly without radar and a compass. You can do what makes sense based on your past knowledge and experience, but what ‘looks right’ can end up destroying what’s most important to you. The Bible says even the most profound human thinking is foolish to God (see 1 Corinthians 1:18-20). He alone knows the way, and He wants to go ahead of you.

It’s a mistake to assume that every opportunity that comes along is from God. Paul says, ‘Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light’ (2 Corinthians 11:14 NCV). And while his invitations are packaged to look like he has your best interests at heart, his way invariably leads to ruin (see John 8:44).

God’s Word was designed as ‘a lamp for [your] feet and a light for [your] path’ (Psalm 119:105 NCV) to guide you in the ways of righteousness. That’s why it can be fatal to pursue a path that seems right to you without first consulting Him. Jesus said, ‘When the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words, but…only what he hears, and he will tell you what is to come’ (John 16:13 NCV).

The truth is that most of us don’t naturally seek God. It’s only as His Spirit speaks to our hearts that we start desiring His will. Take time to seek the Holy Spirit’s direction. Trust Him. He understands the ramifications of your choices. He will show you ‘the big picture’ and help you stay on the right road.

Genesis 33-35, Matthew 10:1-16

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Read the signals with your children
17 JANUARY 2024

‘My children, listen as I teach you to respect the LORD.’
Psalm 34:11 CEV

Smithsonian magazine once featured a British master stonecutter named Simon Verity. He restored thirteenth-century cathedrals in Great Britain. As the authors watched him work, they noticed something fascinating. ‘Verity listens closely to hear the song of the stone under his careful blows. A solid strike, and all is well. A higher-pitched ping, and it could mean trouble. A chunk of rock could break off. He constantly adjusts the angle of the chisel and the force of the mallet to the pitch, pausing frequently to run his hand over the freshly carved surface.’

Verity understood the importance of his task. He knew one wrong move could be devastating, causing irreparable damage to his work of art. His success was rooted in his ability to read the signals his stones were sending.

If you’re a parent or someone who works with children, you need to hone your skills at listening to them, especially during times of discipline and guidance. It takes a great deal of patience and sensitivity to interpret a child’s responses. But if you listen carefully, they will tell you what they’re thinking and feeling. And God will help you to do it: ‘The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season’ (Isaiah 50:4 KJV).

Each changing season in a child’s development raises different questions, calling for different answers. To have the right answer, you must be tuned in to the question they’re asking at the time. Not only will you be imparting to them the wisdom they need at that time, you will be teaching them how to do it with their own children.

Genesis 36-38, Matthew 10:17-42

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Sensing and seeing God
18 JANUARY 2024

‘But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.’
1 Corinthians 2:10 NKJV

The Bible says, ‘“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit’ (vv. 9-10 NKJV). The Holy Spirit compensates for our sensory limits by enabling us to conceive things we cannot perceive with our five senses. Think of Him as a sixth sense. That sense must be cultivated, matured, and fine-tuned. And that can only happen when we spend time meditating in the Scriptures and fellowshipping with God in prayer. Until we are awakened by the Holy Spirit, we are unaware of our need for God, of the spiritual warfare that is being waged all around us, and of what God is doing all around us.

One night Jacob had a dream in which God appeared to him and said, ‘I am with you and will keep you wherever you go’ (Genesis 28:15 NKJV). When he awakened the next morning, Jacob said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it…This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!’ (Genesis 28:16-17 NKJV). Jacob went to sleep and woke up in the same place, but he woke up a different person. After his wake-up call, Jacob saw God every place he looked.

Today ask God for a spiritual epiphany. Pray, ‘Lord, show me what You want me to see, teach me what You want me to know, lead me step-by-step in the path of Your perfect will.’ That’s a prayer God will answer!

Genesis 39-40, Matthew 11

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Prayer gives us a God’s-eye view
19 JANUARY 2024

‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.’
Colossians 4:2 NIV

The word ‘watchful’ is a throwback to the Old Testament-era practice of sitting on a city wall and keeping watch. Watchmen were the first to see attacking armed forces or travelling merchants. They had the optimal vantage point. They saw what nobody else saw. They saw them sooner than others saw them.

That is exactly what happens when we pray. We see what nobody else sees, and we see them sooner than others see them. Why? Because prayer provides us with a God’s-eye view; it enhances our awareness and gives us a sixth sense that allows us to perceive spiritual realities.

In their classic book Geeks and Geezers, business gurus Warren Bennis and Robert Thomas make an interesting observation about a common denominator among successful leaders in every field. Bennis and Thomas call them first-class noticers. ‘Being a first-class noticer allows you to recognise talent, identify opportunities, and avoid pitfalls. Leaders who succeed again and again are geniuses at grasping context. This is one of those characteristics, like taste, that is difficult to break down into its component parts. But the ability to weigh a welter of factors, some as subtle as how very different groups of people will interpret a gesture, is one of the hallmarks of a true leader.’

Prayer turns us into first-class noticers. It helps us to see what God wants us to notice. The more you pray, the more you notice. The less you pray, the less you notice. It’s as simple as that. Here is a Bible formula for success in any area of life: ‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.’

Genesis 41-42, Matthew 12:1-21

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Grace in marriage
20 JANUARY 2024

‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Who in the Bible would you say had the best marriage?

Adam and Eve started in Paradise, and it all went downhill from there. Abraham lied and said his wife, Sarah, was his sister, then impregnated her servant, Hagar. Isaac and Rebekah spent much of their marriage battling because he favoured Esau and she favoured Jacob. Jacob had children by two different wives, and the wives’ servants. All we know of Moses’ wife is they had an argument over circumcising their son and she called Moses a ‘bridegroom of blood’ (Exodus 4:26 NIV). David was a disaster as a husband, and Solomon was worse. When Job’s life got hard, his wife told him, ‘Curse God and die!’ (Job 2:9 NIV).

In fairy tales, life is a difficult adventure until you get married – then you live happily ever after. But nowhere in the Bible does a couple get married and then live happily ever after. Marriage doesn’t save anyone, only Jesus does. Yet how often in churches do couples sit in silent agony? They have an image of spiritual success to project, but they don’t enjoy intimacy. Or there is abuse going on. Or their young daughter is pregnant, and they have no idea what to do. Or one of them is a closet alcoholic. Or they’re facing bankruptcy.

Frequently people who need help the most receive it the least, because they would have to step down from their pedestal. But what if real people could be as truthful as the Bible about marriage? In Scripture, marriage is a place where we learn, receive God’s grace, and grow together in love.

Genesis 43-45, Matthew 12:22-50

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

What the Bible teaches about money
21 JANUARY 2024

‘Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.’
Psalm 62:10 NIV

Let’s settle it once and for all. If God can trust you with something small, He will trust you with more (see Luke 16:10, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11). But His blessings come with certain conditions, and here are four you need to honour.

1) Don’t try to claim credit. God told the Israelites, ‘You may say to yourself…“My hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord…for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…If you ever forget…you will surely be destroyed’ (Deuteronomy 8:17-19 NIV).

2) Don’t forget others. The Bible commands ‘those who are rich in this present world…to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds…generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves’ (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV).

3) Don’t become arrogant. Jeremiah admonishes us, ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong…of their strength or the rich…of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord’ (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV).

4) Don’t allow anything to take God’s place. ‘Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the Lord?”’ (Proverbs 30:8-9 NIV). Remember, you don’t own anything – you’re just an administrator of God’s estate and an executor of His will. It’s an awesome responsibility, so make sure you do a good job.

Luke 1:39-56, Psalms 7-9

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

A relationship problem? Take action!
22 JANUARY 2024

‘You formed me…I am marvellously made
Psalm 139:13-14 MSG

One author writes: ‘It took me half my life to discover the great power of choices and chances. Good relationships are God’s gift to you; what you do with them is your response to Him. Too often we drape our passivity, or lack of courage, or disregard for our relationships in the frayed tapestry of fate. We weave excuses and give alibis to our guilty hearts, which failed to alter circumstances. We then dismiss our responsibility like a cheap attempt at religious absolution, living in denial that things could have been better in our relationships had we taken action sooner. The worst part of it is that many foolishly charge God and hold Him liable for relationships they themselves could have changed.

'God’s grace gives us opportunities, each relationship being a gift to be unwrapped and enjoyed. We must seize each precious moment as an adventure. If we are aware of the potential of each relationship, our hearts will be penetrated by the urgency to make each encounter the very best. You had a chance not to marry her, or to make that call, or to be the first to apologise, or to embrace your heart’s desire. The choices are yours. So, you must say every day, “I’ll take my chances, activate my choices, go through my changes, and make my decisions.” And when the day is done, you will say to yourself, “It was my life and my relationships, and I am responsible for both.”’

Jesus said, ‘For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required.’ Do you have a relationship problem? Take action!

Genesis 46-48, Matthew 13:1-30

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Bracing your children for the turbulent years
23 JANUARY 2024

‘You formed me…I am marvellously made!’
Psalm 139:13-14 MSG

In order for your child to thrive and have self-worth, they must understand four things:

1) How God feels about them. The psalmist says, ‘His love never quits’ (Psalm 136:1 MSG). Knowing this is foundational to your child’s spiritual development and to their relationship with God.

2) How you feel about them. So, let them know that though you correct them, you will never reject them.

3) How they feel about themselves. The most painful aspect of growing up is related to the assault on self-esteem that’s almost universal in today’s teen society. Young people typically feel like fools and failures before they have even had a chance to get started in life. So, tell them they are a ‘work in progress’ with incredible potential. ‘You formed me in my mother’s womb…Body and soul, I am marvellously made!’ (Psalm 139:13-14 MSG). Help them to discover their God-given gifts and develop them – electronics, art, music, or even raising rabbits for fun and profit. Anything! It’s not so much what you teach your child; the key is that they are learning something with which to compensate when the whole world seems to be saying, ‘Who are you, and what is your significance?’ The teenager who has no answer to these questions is left unprotected at a very vulnerable time in life. So, developing and honing skills with which to compensate may be one of the most valuable contributions you as a parent can make.

4) How their peers feel about them. If they approve, that’s good. But if they don’t, and you have got the first three things right, your child will still thrive.

Genesis 49-50, Matthew 13:31-58

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Listen more carefully
24 JANUARY 2024

‘Hear Me, everyone, and understand.’
Mark 7:14 NKJV

Jesus said, ‘Hear Me, everyone, and understand.’ He spoke life-changing words, but He understood that preoccupied minds don’t always listen too well. Are you a good listener?

1) If you’re a leader, do you listen to your followers? The kind of leaders people want to follow do more than conduct business when they interact with you; they take the time to get a feel for who you are as a person. Philip Stanhope, the Earl of Chesterfield, believed, ‘Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request.’ If you’re accustomed to listening only to the facts and not the person who expresses them, change your focus – really listen.

2) If you’re in business, do you listen to your customers? A Cherokee saying states, ‘Listen to the whispers and you won’t have to hear the screams.’ Never get so caught up in your own ideas and products that you don’t hear your customers’ concerns, complaints, and suggestions. In his book, Business @ the Speed of Thought, former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates said, ‘Unhappy customers are always a concern. They’re also your greatest opportunity.’ That’s why you should make it a priority to keep in contact with the people you’re serving.

3) If you’re committed to growth, are you listening to your mentors? You will never become so advanced or experienced that you can afford to be without mentors. If you don’t have some, go out and find them. If you can’t get some, begin by reading the right books, starting with your Bible. If you’re not following in the footsteps of someone wiser, there is a good chance you’re not on the right path.

Exodus 1-3, Matthew 14:1-21

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Be disciplined
25 JANUARY 2024

‘Do not neglect the gift that is in you.’
1 Timothy 4:14 NKJV

The only way to keep improving is to keep practising. Nancy Dornan says, ‘The longest distance between two points is a shortcut.’ That’s really true. If you desire to grow in a particular area, figure out what it will really take, including the price, then determine to pay it. David didn’t suddenly discover his talent as a harpist when he arrived at King Saul’s palace. He developed it through years of practice on lonely hillsides while tending his father’s sheep. Paul instructed Timothy: ‘Till I come, give attention to reading…Do not neglect the gift that is in you…Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all’ (vv. 13-15 NKJV).

When you’re through growing – you’re through. Progress, success, and growth don’t happen by osmosis, they demand discipline. There is no easy way to become a disciplined person. The reason last year’s winner was this year’s runner-up is because one was willing to go the extra mile when it came to practice and discipline, and the other wasn’t. Anyone who does what he or she must do only when they’re in the mood or when it’s convenient will get left behind.

Improvement comes through discipline. A disciplined person doesn’t make excuses or accept excuses; they eliminate excuses. As French classical writer François de La Rochefoucauld said, ‘Almost all our faults are more pardonable than the methods we think up to hide them.’ If you have several reasons why you can’t be disciplined, realise they’re just a bunch of excuses – all of which need to be challenged if you want to succeed in what God has called you to do.

Exodus 4-6, Matthew 14:22-36