Word For You: Recent Episodes
United Christian Broadcasters
Word For You is UCB’s alternative daily devotional aimed predominantly at young adults. It has daily readings based on the Bible, blended with thought-provoking articles on a variety of topics.
In Exodus, every plague that God sent to Egypt mocked one of their gods. For example, the Egyptians worshipped a goddess who had the head of a frog…and one of the plagues God sent was a lot of frogs! Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses and basically said, ‘All right, I give up.’ But when Moses asked him, ‘When do you want me to get rid of the frogs?’ Pharaoh’s response was ‘Tomorrow.’ Why didn't he say 'Now'? Why would he wait any longer to have the frogs removed? But we sometimes do the same. We put off changes that we know would be good for us, like swapping some healthier foods into our meals, taking a step back from an unhealthy relationship, starting a Bible reading plan, and so on. Maybe we’re unconcerned. Maybe we’re too tired to change. Maybe we’re scared because we don’t know what impact the changes will have, or what exactly is involved. Maybe we’re just too proud and stubborn. Whatever the reason, we procrastinate. NASA engineers know that most of the fuel used in a rocket launch is burned during the first few seconds of lift-off. It takes an enormous amount of energy and thrust to move the rocket off the launch pad. Once it’s moving and headed for orbit, it needs less fuel and is easier to control. It has conquered inertia. It’s one thing to know God can solve our problem and change our lives, but it's another to overcome our inertia and let Him begin to do it now. We keep saying, ‘One day…’ The truth is, Jesus has the power to make changes in us today. He'll give us the power to begin and the power to keep going. It’s never too late for Him to get to work in our lives.
What Now? Is there a change or improvement you’ve been meaning to make, but never managed to get round to it? Today, ask God to show you the first step you can take – and then take it. Even if it’s a very small step, be joyful that you’ve made a start!
Would you like to be a leader one day? Whether it’s part of our job, pastoring a church, mentoring someone younger or less experienced, or taking the lead in a group project, at some point we might feel God calling us to step up to leadership. Today, let’s think about some of the qualities that make a good leader so we can pray and build on them for the future. Moses is a biblical example of a good leader. 1) He understood the importance of planning. He spent forty days praying and fasting on a mountain, refusing to leave until he understood what God wanted him to do. Then he came back and shared it with the people so they could get a glimpse of the vision. 2) He was patient. The Israelites spent a lot of their time in the desert complaining and grumbling about their situation, the food, and Moses himself. But instead of getting angry with them, Moses was patient with them, and talked to God about their complaints. (He wasn’t perfect though – after they complained about a lack of water, in frustration he called them ‘rebels’ and disobeyed God’s command to speak to the rock (see Numbers 20:2-12) 3) He turned to God for wisdom. There are many times in the Old Testament that tell of Moses taking a concern or a problem to God and turning to Him when help was needed. And God shared His wisdom with Moses and gave him solutions. 4) He was humble. We know this from Numbers 12:3: ‘Moses was very humble – more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth’ (NLT). He knew his own strength alone wasn’t enough for the calling God had for him, so he leaned on God’s strength and stayed close to Him.
What Now? Do some research into some of the leaders in the Bible. What attributes and qualities did they have that you would also like to develop? Did any of them have characteristics that you know you need to avoid or work on overcoming?
On a cold day, have you ever tried breathing on your hands to restore warmth and life? That’s like what happens when you meditate on God’s Word, because ‘all Scripture is God-breathed’. Imagine you were at a party where people have been blowing up balloons. With the right equipment, it would be possible for a scientist to work out which balloon was yours because your DNA (the genetic code that makes you unique) is contained in your breath. If we apply that idea to reading the Bible, it gives us a better understanding of how vital it is to our spiritual lives. John tells us ‘the Word was God’ (John 1:1 NKJV), so whenever we take in God’s Word, we’re also taking in His attributes. That’s why the devil will try to keep us so busy that we don’t have time to read the Bible. The truth is, there are many things we struggle with that could be helped or removed completely from our lives if we developed a real hunger for God’s Word. Job said, ‘I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food’ (Job 23:12 NKJV). Jeremiah, who was so dejected that he became known as ‘the weeping prophet’, said, ‘Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart’ (Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV). Jesus experienced every test and trial; He even faced down the devil himself, declaring ‘The Scriptures say, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”’ (Matthew 4:4 NLT). Today, let’s get God’s Word into us – it’s His breath; it’s His DNA.
What Now? Choose a favourite chapter or a few verses of the Bible to read. After each sentence, stop for a moment to take a few breaths, and ask God to fill you with new understanding for what you’ve just read.
In Scripture, to be faithful means to be steady, stable, dependable, and consistent. Do these attributes describe you? They should, because faithfulness is very important to God. ‘A faithful person will be richly blessed’ (Proverbs 28:20 NIV). Jesus said, ‘Many are called, but few chosen’ (Matthew 20:16 NKJV). Why is that? Because talent might open the door and get us the job, but it's our character and faithfulness that will keep us there. When it comes to faithfulness, God will test us in two ways: 1) Our faithfulness in someone else’s vision. ‘If you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?’ (Luke 16:12 NLT). If we’re critical, caustic, complaining, competitive, or constantly comparing ourselves with others, we won't be fit and ready for what God has in mind for us. Faithfulness calls for serving with love and humility. 2) Our faithfulness in small things. ‘The master said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities… To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given…But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away”’ (Matthew 25:23, 29 NLT). God wants to know He can trust us, and we prove it by how well we serve others and by our faithfulness in small things. These are biblical principles that don’t just work in spiritual things, but in everyday life too! So today, take a few moments to prayerfully ask yourself the question, ‘Am I faithful?’ When you are, be ready for God to do some amazing things with you!
What Now? What’s the smallest, most menial task you need to do today? Try doing it with an attitude of excellence and faithfulness, as if God’s entrusted you with great riches and responsibility.
Paul wrote: ‘I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you’ (v.14-15 NIVUK). Paul's description paints a picture of a Christian aiming for a goal or a target. In Paul’s day, a target would have been hit by an arrow. If you've ever tried hitting a target with an arrow, you’ll know this: 1) Your aim must be unbroken by distractions. When you have the bullseye in your sight, something as insignificant as taking a breath at the wrong moment can make you miss the mark you’re aiming for. So Paul’s saying: ‘Forget what’s behind you and around you and stay focused on winning the prize.’ He isn't referring to your salvation. Jesus already purchased that and gives it to you freely by His grace. Paul’s talking about fulfilling your God-given destiny and getting the reward that waits beyond it. 2) Your arrow has to have the right amount of power behind it. Otherwise, it'll start to drop off before it even reaches the target. In life, your power comes from the Holy Spirit. Jesus said: ‘You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:8 NKJV). So today, aim for the target that God’s set out for you!
What Now? Get a cup and some small balls (or coins or scrunched-up paper). Take a few steps back from the cup and try throwing a ball into it – but each time you take a shot, pray about God’s plan for you, and that just as you’re focusing on the target, you’d be equally focused on Him. (Why not challenge your friends to a game and pray for each other!)
The Bible says, ‘Jacob, when he was dying…worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.’ Imagine that each time Jacob had an experience with God, he took a knife and cut a mark into his staff as a reminder of what happened, starting at the bottom and working right up to the top. One mark might symbolise the night he wrestled with God and his name was changed to Israel (see Genesis 32:28). Another might represent the night God showed him a vision of a ladder reaching up to heaven with angels on it. Jacob’s staff represented a lifetime of experiences with God. So it’s not surprising that as he was dying, he worshipped God while leaning on his staff. Now think about the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4. Her son suddenly became ill and died, so Elisha sent his servant Gehazi ahead with his staff to let the woman know he was coming. But when Gehazi placed the prophet’s staff on the dead boy, nothing happened. It was only when Elisha arrived that the child was restored (see 2 Kings 4:32-35). The truth is, you can’t lean on anyone’s 'staff' but your own. You can’t stand on anyone else’s experience with God but your own. When it’s time to face challenges, you can only lean on the faith you've developed during your personal journey with God. That’s why it’s so important for us to be faithful and consistent in our spiritual journeys. By leaning on his staff when he was dying, Jacob declared, ‘My God who preserved, protected, and prospered me up till now will take me the rest of the way.’ And when we lean on our faith in God, we can be certain He'll be with us for the whole journey.
What Now? Get a piece of wood or paper, and make a mark on it for every God experience you can remember having. Keep it and make a new mark each time you have a new experience with Him, as a reminder of your faith journey.
The enemy of passion is indifference. That's when we go through the motions, but our focus is broken by other things. It’s not that we've said no to God; it’s that we haven’t said a definite and passionate yes to Him. In the Old Testament, King Amaziah ‘did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.’ Passion doesn't disappear overnight. It happens when we neglect and take things for granted. We might think lack of passion doesn’t matter too much, but Jeremiah warns about ‘a curse on anyone who is lax (negligent, slack, slipshod) in doing the LORD’s work!’ (Jeremiah 48:10 NIV). The Bible tells us one source for a loss of passion: ‘This people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes’ (Acts 28:27 NIV). The word ‘calloused’ refers to hard, dead skin that slowly builds up on the soles of your feet until you can’t walk properly or without pain. Jesus told the first and last two churches in Revelation: 1) ‘I hold this against you: you have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first’ (Revelation 2:4-5 NIVUK). 2) ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth’ (Revelation 3:15-16 NIV). So with those verses in mind, let's resolve to be passionate about God's plans!
What Now? Which Bible verses encourage you to be passionate about God? Save them to help you whenever indifference tries to creep into your life.
David wrote, ‘I felt a fire burning inside, and the more I thought, the more it burned, until at last I said: “Please, LORD, show me my future”’ (v.3-4 CEV). Passion is like fire; unless you feed it and tend it, it'll die. Try asking yourself this question: on a scale of one to ten, how wholehearted are you about serving God? Before you answer, think about these Scriptures: ‘Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength’ (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV). ‘Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart’ (Psalm 119:2 NIV). ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5 NIV). ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’ (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV). ‘Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you’ (2 Timothy 1:6 NIV). ‘“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him’ (Luke 8:39 NIV). ‘Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church’ (1 Corinthians 14:12 NIV). ‘To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me’ (Colossians 1:29 NIV). ‘Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NIVUK). All these Scriptures can be reduced to one sentence: be passionate about what God has called you to do.
What Now? Do any of the verses in today's reading resonate with you? Write them out and learn them off by heart so you can use them as an immediate boost when your passion drops.
In 2 Kings 13 we read: ‘Elisha said: “Pick up the arrows and hit the ground with them.” Jehoash grabbed the arrows and hit the ground three times, then stopped. Elisha became angry at the king and exclaimed, “If you had struck it five or six times, you would completely wipe out the Syrians. Now you will defeat them only three times”’ (v.18-19 CEV). Elisha had given Jehoash, the king of Israel, a plan from God for not only defeating his enemy, but also eliminating him permanently as a future threat. But the plan depended on two important things. First, being fully obedient. Second, being passionate. Jehoash passed the first test but failed the second. He was obedient to what God, through Elisha, told him to do, but he didn’t go far enough, and he didn’t put his heart and soul into it. He settled for less than God had planned for him. Maybe he was tired or distracted. Maybe he didn’t listen carefully to the prophet’s instructions. Maybe he thought ‘token obedience’ would be as effective as wholehearted obedience. The Bible doesn’t tell us. But we do know that he forfeited God’s best because he wasn’t passionate enough. The lesson here is that it’s not enough to just say, ‘I’ve obeyed God.’ We must also obey Him wholeheartedly. If we don't, we might end up compromising our future and failing to experience the whole of what He has in mind for us. Paul explained it to Timothy with these words: ‘Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them.’ In other words, when God tells us to do something, we need to be passionate and enthusiastic about it.
What Now? Have a quick check-up on your passion for the task you're doing for God at the moment. If it's a bit low, ask Him to help you reignite your enthusiasm.
When food in your fridge has gone bad, you know the moment you open the door. And it's the same with our lives. Have you ever met someone for the first time and just felt there was something a bit 'off'? People can often sense when they come into contact with someone who's carrying sin that hasn't been dealt with. Jesus spoke some harsh words to Peter: ‘Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s’ (Matthew 16:23 NLT). Peter’s sin was pride. He openly contradicted Jesus (see Matthew 16:22). There are sins of the spirit and sins of the flesh. Peter’s sin was one of the spirit, whereas David’s was one of the flesh that showed itself in adultery and murder. Later David wrote, ‘Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me’ (Psalm 19:12-13 NKJV). God doesn’t want us to become so self-absorbed and introspective that we're constantly condemning ourselves, but He does want us to learn to be sensitive to sin and deal with it immediately. The Bible gives us three ways to stay clean in a spiritually polluted world. 1) Walking in the light (see 1 John 1:7). That means striving to be honest in everything we do. 2) Being accountable. We each need someone in our lives who's mature and trustworthy, gracious enough to put up with our faults, and honest enough to confront us if we're wandering off God’s path (see Ecclesiastes 4:9). 3) Dealing with your sin right away (see Psalm 32:3-5). When we become conscious of sin, it should lead to a confession of sin, which will result in cleansing of sin. Then we must get back up and go on with God!
What Now? Whenever you become conscious of a sin or a step away from God in your life, use that awareness as a signal to tell God about it and begin to deal with it, with His help.
Did you know there's a natural mindset and a spiritual mindset? If we want to live in a way that really honours and reflects God, we need to develop our spiritual mindset. The Bible says: ‘The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God…and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit…But we have the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:14, 16 NIV). As we tune our lives to the pitch of God’s Word and consciously submit ourselves to His will every day, He'll plant His thoughts in our minds. And that’s a massive advantage! For example, someone criticises you and your feelings get hurt. In that moment God speaks to you and says, ‘Yes, your feelings are hurt, but we can deal with that together. I love you, and the way I see you isn’t at risk. The person who criticised you might see a flaw, but you don't have to pretend to be perfect or try to please others. I'll help you use this experience as a chance to grow!' Even though there are elements of pain in these kinds of thoughts, with God's perspective they energise us rather than trapping us and bringing us down. They’re true, they give us something to stand firm on, and we realise that if we can keep our minds centred on them, the right feelings and actions are more likely to flow from them. We'll start to live out the promise, ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!’ (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). Instead of focusing on our critics, we should focus on God, on our spiritual growth, and on what we can learn from the experience.
What Now? Has someone criticised you recently? Take some time to ask God for His opinion on how you can turn the hurt into an opportunity for growth, and let His love surround you.
If a thief came to your house, you wouldn’t invite them in and let them have free rein to steal and destroy whatever they liked. You'd call the police and have them arrested. And that’s what we need to do when wrong thoughts come to our minds. We must stop them and take them captive before they take us captive. The best time to do that is the moment the first wrong thought tries to enter our minds, because when we allow a thought to have space, we empower it, and give it a chance to overcome us. The Bible says, ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7 NIV). On our own, we don’t have the power to resist Satan. But the moment we call on God and submit our will to Him, we’re more than a match for Satan, because we have God’s strength and power to rely on, not just our own. We get to decide who'll control our minds: ‘The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace’ (Romans 8:6 NIV). When a thought keeps turning over and over in your mind, ask yourself, ‘What direction is this thought leading me in? Is it towards something spiritually harmful, or towards “life and peace”’? If you realise you've failed to keep a wrong thought out, don't give up. Take an honest look back and ask yourself, ‘What was I thinking that led to it getting through? Was I around people who had a bad influence on me? Was I in the wrong place, or the wrong mindset? Have I been neglecting God at all recently?’ In the long run, monitoring your mind will really pay off.
What Now? What’s playing on your mind at the moment? Have a check-up to see if it’s leading you away from trusting God (in which case, ask Him to help you change your thought-direction), or if it’s taking you on a path towards ‘light and peace’.
God is the source of all our blessings, but sometimes He'll use other people as instruments to bless us. It's right for us to thank people when they've done something we appreciate, but we mustn’t forget that God's the centre and the source; if we do, we can begin to depend on people rather than Him. We might get upset with a tutor because we didn’t get the grade we think we deserved for an assignment, or get angry with a friend or family member because they refused to lend us some money or help us with something. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, it could be a sign that you're relying on people and not God. Let’s think about these Scriptures: ‘You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth’ (Deuteronomy 8:17-18 NIV). ‘When God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them…this is a gift of God’ (Ecclesiastes 5:19 NIV). ‘She doesn’t realise it was I who gave her everything she has’ (Hosea 2:8 NLT). All these verses remind us that God is the true source. We usually put effort into relationships that are rewarding, and that’s important information because when we recognise God as the source of all love and blessings, we'll commit to nurturing our relationship with Him. That’s why Jesus said, ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well’ (Matthew 6:33 NIV). When we pursue God, sow generously into His kingdom, and trust Him to meet our needs, our faith will grow and we'll notice His hand and blessings everywhere.
What Now? As you go about your day, try to say thank you to God for as many things as possible. That’ll mean thinking about lots of small things that you might not normally notice, but it’ll really help remind you that God’s the source of all good things!
When writing about the topic of making commitments and keeping them, the author of Ecclesiastes was very clear about the right way to handle them. In The Message, his words are paraphrased: ‘Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think…When you tell God you’ll do something, do it – now. God takes no pleasure in foolish drivel. Vow it, then do it. Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up. Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it”’ (Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4-6 MSG). That means we mustn’t be impulsive, we should listen as much as we speak, get as much information as we can, and then ask God for wisdom and guidance before making a commitment. People often say what they think others want to hear, but that can end up causing a lot of trouble. We must be very careful not to promise something we can’t actually deliver. And if we do make a mistake and over-promise, we need to be honest and admit our mistake as soon as possible, rather than trying to cover it up or make excuses. We might make a commitment based on our emotions, perhaps because we feel sorry for the person who’s asking, or because we want them to like us more. But true commitment doesn’t work like that. Emotions are constantly changing, but commitment has to be absolutely solid. It should be based on integrity. Real dedication shines through in times of trouble and adversity, and goes the distance when it’s based on godly values. So before we make a commitment, let’s take time to think it through and get God involved.
What Now? Whether you’re about to commit to something big, or a smaller thing like promising to wash the dishes, check in with God first and make sure it’s something you can honestly follow through with.
We’re called to introduce others to God, but we don’t always feel confident in talking theology or answering the difficult questions. Fortunately, there are plenty of other things we can do to show a friend or loved one who God really is. Here are some ideas: 1) Let them join you when you pray. This will help them to understand that prayer is how we build a lifelong friendship with God. It isn’t anything scary, formal, or complicated (although we can all struggle with prayer occasionally). It’s simply a conversation with a loving Father. God said, ‘When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them’ (Psalm 91:15 NLT). 2) Show them what God is like. We influence others’ concepts of God, and they understand Him through the interactions they have with us. So our behaviour should always reflect God, such as never being too busy to listen, giving encouragement, never belittling or being harsh, and showing love in everything we do. 3) Help them to see God at work. When people are encouraged to see God at work in the lives of others, they’ll begin to discern Him at work in their own lives too. They’ll begin to realise that He cares about them, and they can always turn to Him for support and guidance. 4) Don’t just tell them to go to church – take them. Church can be daunting for someone who’s never been before, or who might have had a bad experience of church in the past. Having a friend with them to act as guide, helper, and explainer can make all the difference in giving them a positive experience and seeing that church should be a warm and welcoming place of fellowship and connection.
What Now? Who could you introduce to God this week? Try to put at least one of the points in today’s reading into action, and help someone take the first step in getting to know Him.
Unselfishness does three things for us: 1) It improves the quality of our lives. It gives us more appreciation for life and a glimpse of its higher values. Seeing people in need and giving to meet those needs puts a lot of things into perspective. John Maxwell wrote: ‘There is no life as empty as the self-centred life. There is no life as centred as the self-empty life.’ If we want to improve our world, we should focus our attention on helping others. 2) It makes us part of something greater than ourselves. In the mid-1980s, the pharmaceutical organisation Merck & Company developed a medication to cure river blindness, a disease that infects and causes blindness in millions of people. Most of the people it affects live in developing countries. It was a good product, but the potential customers couldn’t afford it. But Merck produced the drug anyway, and decided to give it free to anyone who needed it. They gave away more than 250 million tablets. George W. Merck, the company’s president, said, ‘We try never to forget that medicine is for the people. It’s not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they have never failed to appear.’ The lesson in this for us is instead of striving to be great, we should try to be part of something greater than ourselves. 3) It creates a legacy. When we think unselfishly and invest in others, we have the opportunity to create a lasting difference that will go on for the whole of our lives and beyond. The Bible says, ‘Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.’ Let’s make that our goal.
What Now? For every person you meet today (even people you don’t really get on with), think ‘What could I do to make their day a bit better?’ Then put your ideas into action.
A leader wrote these words: ‘My dad was a busy man…to get him at work you had to go through a switchboard unless you knew his private number. He gave it to a few business partners, but all of his kids had it…We knew, no matter how busy he was, we could call anytime on his direct line. I’ve the same thing…my kids know my number…they can call me anytime for anything. And you know what? No voices sound sweeter to me than my kids’ voices. When one of them says, “Hi, Dad,” it doesn’t matter what I’m juggling…they’re an absolute priority…Now multiply that out exponentially – and listen to me. Nothing sounds sweeter to God than your voice saying, “Hello, Father.” There’s nothing going on in the cosmos that would keep Him from directing His full attention to your conversation or your request.’ That means when God is your Father, you can call Him anytime. He's never more than a prayer away. Jesus said: ‘Ask, and God will give to you…If your children ask for bread, which of you would give them a stone? Or if your children ask for a fish, would you give them a snake? Even though you are bad, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him!’ (Matthew 7:7, 9-11 NCV). We can talk to God without having to beg or resort to flattery because we're ‘confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And…he will give us what we ask for’ (1 John 5:14-15 NLT). So pray confidently, knowing that your loving heavenly Father hears and treasures every word.
What Now? Is there anything you’ve been reluctant to ask God for? Today, make the decision to pray confidently about it, knowing that God is listening. He might not give it to you, but you can be certain He hears you and will do what’s best for you.
Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matthew 19:19 NIVUK). But in order to love yourself, you must first be able to respect yourself. And self-respect is based on personal integrity. Author Ted Engstrom tells the story of a high school basketball team in his book called Integrity. The team had been having a great season, winning 21 games and losing only five. In the final, they had a dramatic victory, coming from behind to win the game. But later they realised that one of the players, who had played for just 45 seconds at the end of a single match, was actually ineligible to compete. The team was way ahead in that particular game, so the player couldn’t really have affected the outcome, but their coach, Cleveland Stroud, reported the mistake anyway and surrendered the trophy they’d won at the final. Stroud had this to say: ‘We didn’t know he was ineligible at the time; we didn’t know it until a few weeks ago. Some people have said we should have just kept quiet about it, that it was just forty-five seconds and the player wasn’t an impact player. But you’ve got to do what’s honest and right and what the rules say. I told my team that people forget the scores of basketball games; they don’t ever forget what you’re made of.’ Every word and action will either add to or take away from our character, so it’s important that we choose the honesty route. That’s what the Bible means when it says, ‘The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.’ So today, strive for honesty and integrity in everything you do.
What Now? At the start of today, ask God to guide your words and actions through the day, so that not only would you be worthy of the respect of others, you also would gain more self-respect. Make the choice for honesty and integrity in everything you do.
In The Message paraphrase we read, ‘For people who hate discipline and only get more stubborn, there’ll come a day when life tumbles in and they break, but by then it’ll be too late to help them”’ (Proverbs 29:1 MSG). King Solomon was said to be the wisest man who ever lived. He wrote these words, but sadly he didn’t live by them, so he ‘crashed and burned’. And if it could happen to Solomon, it could happen to any of us. So how can we guard against falling? We need to avoid favouring gifts and skills above character. There’s often a tendency to celebrate and reward someone’s gift and overlook their character; but both must be developed, not just the gifts and skills part. In Psalm 15, David gives us eight traits to look for in a leader worthy of respect: 1) They have integrity. 2) They don’t take part in gossip. 3) They don’t harm others. 4) They speak up against wrong. 5) They honour those who walk in the truth. 6) They keep their promise, even at personal cost. 7) They’re not greedy to profit at the expense of others. 8) They’re strong and stable. David concludes his psalm by saying those who do these things ‘will never be shaken’. Even if we’re not leaders, we should pay attention to this list, because every one of those traits is worth developing, whatever our role in life. And by working on these things, we’ll have some of the best protection from falling. We also need to stay close to God and learn to recognise His voice by talking and listening to Him every day and getting into His Word regularly. That way, we’ll have the best guidance system to help us avoid falls that could take us down.
What Now? Go through the list of traits in today’s reading. For each one, assess if you’re strong in that area, if you’re okay but want to do better, or if you’re lacking. Ask God to help you improve where you need to. Next week, go through the list again and see if there are any changes, even small ones, in the right direction.
We may never have an ‘official’ leadership role, but there are all kinds of opportunities to be role models for the people we interact with each day and the people who look up to us in some way, so it’s important that we try to show the qualities of a good leader. One of the best tests of good leadership is how we respond to somebody else’s success. Do you rejoice, or secretly resent them? King Saul sent David out to fight Goliath, but when David succeeded and the Israelites began to congratulate him, Saul couldn’t handle it. ‘From that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.’ David’s success made Saul feel insecure about himself. Insecurity can prevent us from being good role models and leaders. That’s because insecure leaders tend to do these things: 1) They don’t provide security for others. To be a good leader, we must try to give our followers confidence in themselves. We should encourage them and help them grow, and it’s difficult to do that if we’re feeling insecure about ourselves. 2) They take more than they give. Insecure leaders look for validation, acknowledgement, and love from the people who look up to them, rather than instilling those things in others. 3) They limit people. Insecure leaders see others as potential competitors who might threaten their position, so they might try to make others doubt their own abilities to reduce the threat. In order to be good leaders and role models, we need to be secure in who we are – and that comes from God. ‘The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God’ (1 John 3:1 NCV). And He says to us, ‘You did not choose me; I chose you’ (John 15:16 NCV).
What Now? Even if you’re not a leader, how could you show the traits of good leadership today? Could you rejoice with someone who’s achieved something recently? Give a word of encouragement? Try to see the potential in someone who’s overlooked by everyone else?
Paul wrote, ‘The person you obey is your master. You can follow sin, which brings spiritual death, or you can obey God, which makes you right with him.’ When it comes to sin, the Bible draws a line and tells us not to cross it. That’s because if we cross it once, we’ll find it much easier to cross again. Paul talked about ‘the person you obey’, but we could also replace ‘person’ with ‘temptation’, or say ‘the thing you obey is your master.’ Whether our particular temptation is something like alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling, or even something that seems less damaging, like spending a lot of time on social media or taking the car for short journey that we could have walked, we start out believing we’re in control of it, and end up realising it’s got us trapped. One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is, ‘I can stop whenever I want to.’ But often the damage has already started. Spiritually, we can lose our confidence before God. Personally, we can lose our sense of self-worth. Publicly, we can lose respect and influence with others. And if we’re not careful, even good things can hurt us. A strong work ethic can lead to neglecting family and friends. Vegging out in front of the TV can slow our spiritual growth. Even too much caution and thoughtfulness – which are good qualities – can prevent us from stepping out in faith and fulfilling our God-given potential. When God says no, He isn’t trying to make life difficult or boring; He’s protecting us. If something has the potential to trap you, don’t do it. But if you’re already feeling trapped by a temptation or habit, don’t lose hope. Turn to God and He’ll set you free.
What Now? Get together with a trusted friend, and play a game of snakes and ladders. Each time you land on a snake, tell God about a temptation or habit that you think might end up trapping you, and ask for His help to overcome it (do this silently if there’s something you don’t want to share). When you land on a ladder, thank Him for the uplifting hope and love that He offers.
There are so many times in life when we need to let go of something we care about. We might have to leave a job we love. We could have been working on a project and now need to hand it over for someone else to take to the next level. Maybe we’ve been a mentor or advisor, but the person has reached the point where they don’t need us anymore. We might be teaching someone, but our knowledge has reached its limit and now they need to move on and learn from someone with greater skill. God might even tell us to let something go without us understanding why. Letting go isn’t easy. It can make us feel unwanted or rejected, our pride can take a hit, or we might think we’re not good enough. Even if we’ve given up something we hate, it can leave a void in that makes us feel strangely empty. But there are things we can do to regain our joy and find reasons to celebrate. We can: 1) Rejoice that we played a part in the development and growth of the person or project. 2) Be proud that we’ve made a difference. 3) Pray for the person, the project, those who were working with us, and those who are going to take things even further. 4) Trust God to place the person or project in the right hands. 5) Look forward to the next thing God has in mind for us. It can be helpful to remember these words: ‘Do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it?’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NCV). When we let go of one thing, God already has the next thing lined up.
What Now? When you need to let go of something, make a commitment to pray for the situation, and give thanks for the opportunity you’ve had to be part it. Then ask God to give you a clear guide towards whatever He has lined up for you next.
Paul wrote, ‘Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.’ Why did Paul repeat himself? Because joy is the fuel we run on, and unless we maintain it, we can run out. That means we need to regularly check our ‘fuel gauge’ to make sure we’re not being drawn into negativity and doubt. Jesus is a joy giver, and when we stay connected to Him, we can experience His joy regardless of our circumstances. In John 15:11, He said, ‘I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy’ (NCV). When we really think about it, we have so many reasons for joy – God has forgiven our sins, He guides and protects us, He loves us more than we could imagine, we have a place in heaven…and so many more. In prison, Paul had so much joy that his jailers were won to Christ and a church sprang up in Caesar’s household (see Philippians 4:22). People are always more influenced by our attitude than our theology. When they see us rejoicing in hard times, they’ll start to wonder what our secret is and think, ‘Whatever that person has, I need it’; they’ll become more open and receptive to the truth. The happiness the world offers us is only a reaction to our circumstances, whereas the joy that comes from living for Jesus lifts us above our circumstances. So let’s focus on His joy, draw on His joy, and demonstrate His joy to the world today.
What Now? Whenever you feel drawn into negativity today, try to remember Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4. Focus your mind on something that brings you joy, and don’t let negativity take a hold.
At the graveside of His friend Lazarus, Jesus told his grieving sisters Mary and Martha two important things. First, He told them, ‘Your brother will rise and live again’ (John 11:23 NCV). And second, He said, ‘Everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?’ (v.26 MSG). Having an exemplary character, giving generously to charity, going to church, and so on, are all great things to do (and the right things to do), but it’s putting our trust in Christ that gives us the absolute assurance of resurrection and eternal life. Jesus conquered death and the grave for each one of us. There might be people reading these words who have recently lost loved ones and are fighting tears of sorrow right now. Jesus understands our grief like no one else can. He’s touched by the feelings of our weaknesses and struggles (see Hebrews 4:15). There might be people reading who are frightened of all the unknowns of death. If that’s how you’re feeling, try putting your trust in Jesus and in these words: ‘There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am’ (John 14:2-3 NCV). When we trust God, there’s no reason to fear what lies beyond death, because He’s already there, waiting to welcome us. Inexplicable, unending joy will be ours forever, thanks to Jesus, so we can exclaim with Paul, ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ (1 Corinthians 15:55 NLT).
What Now? Commit, or recommit, your life to God today. If you have a paper copy of Word For You, turn to the Four Points page near the back, read each of the Bible verses listed, and when you’re ready, pray the prayer of salvation at the end.
Have you ever seen a child learning to walk? Falling down is an important part of the process. Getting back up again is crucial to developing the child’s balance and muscles. Every horse rider will face a fall, usually when they least expect it, but they know it’s important to get back on the horse, readjust what they’re doing, and try again. It’s a learning experience. A boxer isn’t disqualified because they get knocked down; they’re disqualified because they don’t get back up. Even the most skilful boxers know they’ll go down at some point, so they learn the art of falling safely and getting up quickly. Children, riders, and boxers all learn this: it’s all about getting up again. The Bible tells us that falling happens to righteous people and unrighteous people. Believers aren’t immune from falling. It’s getting up again that sets them apart: ‘Even If good people fall seven times, they will get back up. But when trouble strikes the wicked, that’s the end of them’ (v.16 CEV). Unrighteous people stay down, but righteous people get up again. In Scripture, some of God’s greatest servants fell into personal failure. Abram lied to Pharaoh about his wife, Sarai (see Genesis 12:11-17). Jacob deceived his father and stole his brother’s birthright (see Genesis 27:17-29). In anger, Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock (see Numbers 20:7-12). But instead of being disqualified, they ‘were all commended for their faith’ (Hebrews 11:39 NIV), because they acknowledged their sins and received God’s forgiveness. In other words, they fell, but they got up again. And when we fall, we can get up again too. That’s the ‘faith’ part of our journey. Staying down is failure accepted – getting back up is faith activated.
What Now Ask God to help you see falls, failures and setbacks as opportunities as part of the whole learning process – a step on the journey rather than the end of it.
God created us to have unbroken fellowship with Him and with each other. That’s why Satan’s first scheme was to separate us from God, and from each other. Using things like pride, stubbornness, confusion, resentment, and selfishness, he drives wedges and promotes disunity. What starts out as a misunderstanding can end in angry stand-offs or toxic silences that last for hours, days, and sometimes years. We might think that it's nothing to do with anyone else because it doesn't affect them, but the truth is that the fallout from a major disagreement can’t be contained. A grudge against one person can begin to infect every relationship in our lives in some way, and it’s often because the disagreement becomes the focus of our lives and we’re determined to prove we’re right and the other person is wrong at every opportunity. It’s a serious problem that needs a divine solution. Paul wrote, ‘God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.’ Sin destroyed our relationship with God, but He took the initiative by giving Jesus ‘as a ransom [a price paid] for many’ (Mark 10:45 NIV) in order to reconcile us to Himself. Reconciling means bringing back together what belongs together. God doesn’t count ‘people’s sins against them’, but that doesn’t mean He trivialises or ignores our sin debt. He cancelled it at the cross and stopped holding it against us. And it didn’t end there. He made us ‘Christ’s representatives’ (2 Corinthians 5:20 MSG), calling us ‘to settle our relationships with each other’ (v.19 MSG). Sometimes that means practising humility, becoming the reconciler, taking the initiative, and ending the grudge. Are you ready to do that today?
What Now? Where can you see disunity in the situations around you? See if there’s anything you need to do to change the situation, or if you can be a reconciler to bring back peace and unity. Make sure to invite God into the situation as well.
We shouldn’t rush into an important or potentially lifelong relationship without taking time to really get to know the other person. None of us are perfect, and we’re dealing with other imperfect people, so if we want to build successful, strong relationships, we’ll need to try focusing on the other person’s strengths instead of their weaknesses. An important skill in relationship building is learning to forgive. Forgiveness can be harder when the offence is big. Small offences can usually be forgiven quickly. Big ones involve a healing process, but until we decide to forgive, the process can’t even start. Paul wrote: ‘Be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together’ (v.12-14 CEV). One author puts it this way: ‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you can‘t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.’ In other words, when it comes to facing facts we can’t change, we should pray for grace in learning to live with them. (However, if we’re in any kind of relationship where we’re being hurt, emotionally, physically or mentally, we should seriously consider getting out and getting help from someone we can trust.) Forgiving others and trusting God to deal with their faults is the right thing to do. We’re not designed to carry the physical and mental stress that comes with holding on to resentment. And on top of that, ‘You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out’ (Galatians 6:1 MSG). So let’s be willing to forgive.
What Now? What irritates you most about the people you love and are closest to? Ask God to give you grace to step back and let God work on their faults, patience when you feel irritated and frustrated by them, and wisdom to know where your own attitude towards them needs to change.
‘Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time…Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him’ (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NLT). Well-respected people such as Christian authors C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel, and Alister McGrath were atheists who ended up putting their trust in Christ after exploring and examining the evidence. If Jesus was who He claimed to be, God incarnate, taking upon Himself human form, dying for our sins and rising again, then they knew they had a life-changing decision to make: either accept Him or reject Him. And we must make that same decision. Peter told his listeners on the day of Pentecost: ‘You nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life’ (Acts 2:23-24 NLT). They said, ‘What should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God’ (Acts 2:37-38 NLT). That day three thousand souls were won to Christ and the church was launched. Jesus died for our sins and rose again to represent us as an advocate before God’s throne. If you haven’t already, make today the day to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, knowing that He’ll give you an abundant life now, and eternal life in heaven.
What Now? If you have a friend or know someone who’s struggling to accept Jesus as their Saviour, why not invite them to your church for Easter Sunday? Ask God to open their heart to Him, and be willing to answer any questions they might have. You don’t need to preach at them, just trust God to be working.
In a ‘sting’ operation, law enforcement agents set the criminal up in order to bring them down. That’s like what happened to Satan at the cross. For three days it seemed as though Satan had won. Then Jesus rose from the dead and turned his plans upside down: ‘He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross’ (Colossians 2:15 NLT). The thing Satan feared most, the birth of a church with the power to change the world through the gospel, had come true. ‘The rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord’ (1 Corinthians 2:8 NLT). Christ’s enemies even tried to stop the truth of the resurrection from getting out: ‘They decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say’ (Matthew 28:12-15 NLT). The resurrection is the ultimate proof that Jesus is Lord, and we can be sure of our salvation when we believe in the resurrection. ‘If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths that we believe, and so we are saved’ (Romans 10:9-10 NCV).
What Now? Get together with some friends, or set up a video call with them. Share a few stories about why you believe and things that you know God’s done for you, then say the words of Romans 10:10 (NCV) together as a declaration of your love and faith in God.
In the old hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross are the words, ‘See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?’ Jesus wore a crown of thorns so we could wear crowns of glory. In Scripture, thorns represent sin. In Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, He said, ‘The ground will be under a curse…[…it] will produce thorns’ (Genesis 3:17-18 CEV). Later He told Israel that unless they removed their enemies from the land, ‘they will be like…thorns in your sides’ (Numbers 33:55 NCV). Solomon warned: ‘Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road’ (Proverbs 22:5 NLT). And Jesus warned, ‘You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit. You need never confuse grapevines with thorn bushes’ (Matthew 7:16 TLB). Author Max Lucado wrote: ‘The crown of thorns Jesus wore represented all our sins. As we were caught in the brambles of envy, anger, shame, discouragement, guilt, bitterness, and unforgiveness, so Jesus, who knew no sin, became “an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10 NIV). Not once did Christ use His supernatural powers for personal comfort. With just a word He could have transformed the hard earth into a soft bed…hurled the spit of His accusers back into their faces…and paralysed the hand of the soldier who braided the thorns. But He didn’t. Instead, “He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross”’ (Colossians 2:14 NLT). And He did all of it with you in mind. Jesus gave His life for you.
What Now? Look up the hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Listen to it or read the words, then spend some time reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice for you, and thanking God for His unending love.
David was ‘on a roll’. He kept winning battle after battle. It seemed like everything he touched was successful. But success can go to your head, and David wasn’t exempt. He started wondering, ‘Just how strong are we?’ At that point, he conducted a census and discovered he had ‘one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword’ (1 Chronicles 21:5 NIV). That could tempt any of us to think, ‘With an army this size, and given our track record of success, who needs to pray for God’s help or ask Him for a plan?’ That was the point at which God stepped in and judged David, and seventy thousand Israelites died needlessly (see v.14 NIV). So here’s another aspect of responsibility and leadership that we need to be aware of: our mistakes have the potential to hurt others. We’re not just accountable to those who have authority over us; we also have responsibility to those who we have authority over. If our good decisions have the ability to bless and guide people, our bad decisions have the potential to harm them. ‘David said to God, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong…let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people”’ (v.17 NIV). God graciously answered David’s prayer, and judgment was lifted from Israel. We need God’s guidance for our own sake, the sake of the people around us, and to give us the grace to accept responsibility when we make a mistake or fail. We shouldn't try to hide our failures, blame others, or run from God. Instead we should acknowledge them, grow through them, and go on to become wiser.
What Now? Have you experienced failure recently (it could be anything, big or small)? Take a few minutes today to acknowledge the failure to God, and ask Him to help you discern how you can use that failure as a springboard for growth.
Fresh from a major victory over the Philistines, King David made a major mistake. Instead of trusting God for his next battle, he conducted a census to measure his military power and determine his chances of winning. And this mistake cost the lives of seventy thousand Israelites. This story teaches us three very important lessons about responsibility: 1) Leaders are Satan’s special targets. He knows that in order to easily get to others, he can go through their leader, so he’ll use every strategy he has to bring a leader down. ‘Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census.’ The census sounded like a good idea, but it wasn’t God’s idea – He saw it as an act of arrogance and unbelief. 2) Don’t be presumptuous. We mustn’t allow past victories to make us overconfident about our next battle or our skill level. There’ll never be a time when we don’t need God. The fact that God had just granted David a great victory should have made him more, not less, dependent on God. Paul wrote, ‘Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent’ (2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NIV). 3) Listen to wise counsel. Joab, one of David’s generals, warned him he was making a grave mistake. ‘The king’s word, however, overruled Joab’ (1 Chronicles 21:4 NIV). We may each have great gifts, but no single one of us has all the gifts. Where we have weaknesses, others may have strengths. ‘Victory is won through many advisors’ (Proverbs 11:14 NIVUK), so let’s listen to the people God has put in our lives to guide and protect us.
What Now? Ask God to make you strong in the face of challenges, humble in the face of successes, and always willing to listen to advice.
Generally speaking, we tend to overestimate our capabilities. We like to think we can do it all, and do it better than anyone else. But no matter how disciplined we are or how hard we try, without a ‘sane estimate of [our] capabilities’, we’re setting ourselves up for a fall if we overestimate ourselves. Author John Ortberg said: ‘Willpower is…finite…You don’t get separate stockpiles for different areas…That’s why a long list of New Year’s resolutions is almost certainly doomed…It takes a whole lot of willpower...For most of us…our wills get depleted…more quickly than our bodies.’ John Ortberg suggests these: 1) Schedule your most important tasks for when your willpower is strongest. For many people, that’s the morning, but it can vary. We should try to be aware of times when we’re more decisive, and less likely to be swayed by temptations (big or small), and try to do important tasks at those times. 2) Spend willpower wisely by not taking on too many tasks at once, even after you’ve prayed about them. God generally works through our will, so we need to be careful in how much we rely on our willpower. We don’t want to spend it all and have none left for God. 3) Set goals – but not too many. If we have too few, we tend to drift; but having too many means we worry more about them, accomplish less, and struggle emotionally and physically. 4) Remember that the one act of our will that replenishes willpower instead of depleting it is surrender to God. God meant for prayer, solitude, worship, and meditation to be done in a way that restores us.
What Now? Do you know what time of day your willpower’s at its strongest? As you go about your day, try to be aware of times when you’re more likely to be tempted. Once you have an idea, follow the advice in today’s reading and try to do your most important tasks then.
Have you ever said something you wish you could take back, held on to a grudge and been reluctant to forgive, or struggled to pass your worries over to God? The author Chuck Swindoll wrote: ‘All this stuff caves in on us…and we wonder how anybody could ever love us…especially God. When we start thinking like this, we need to turn our mind to the “one anothers” in the New Testament. Love one another, build up one another, live in peace with one another, confess your sins to one another, speak to one another, admonish one another, comfort one another, pray for one another. “Bear one another’s burdens.” Imagine two mountain hikers. One…has a…light pack…while the other poor soul…is…loaded down…It could be a long-standing grudge…[or] a broken relationship...That pack could be loaded with unpaid bills. The question is, Where can…[they] go to unload?’ We all need a safe place to unburden ourselves of our troubles. Just sitting in church with any number of other people isn’t going to do it. We can (and should) tell God about everything that’s weighing down our minds, but He’s also placed people around us to share our worries face-to-face, to help us make sense of the chaos of our problems, and to support us on our journey through them. There’s an old saying: ‘A problem shared is a problem halved.’ Other people may not necessarily take our burden from us, but there’s something powerful and liberating in sharing our worries. So who’s your safe place? Who are the trusted people in your life that will listen without judging or causing embarrassment? And could you be the trusted friend, the ‘safe place’ for someone else?
What Now? Make yourself available today for God to use you as the ‘safe place’ for someone who’s worried. If He prompts you to connect with someone, be ready to give them space to talk without rushing them, judging them, or making them feel embarrassed.
When Mary Southerland came down with a raging fever, her doctor suspected viral meningitis. In the course of examining her, he checked the colour of her tongue. Mary was puzzled. Why did that matter? The doctor told her that the tongue can actually tell us a lot about our health. And a similar idea applies to our spiritual health. The Bible tells us, ‘The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart. Good people have good things in their hearts, and so they say good things. But evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things’ (v.34-35 NCV). Our heart, our attitude, our outlook, and our temperament are all reflected by our tongue through the words we speak and the way we say them. Mary Southerland wrote: ‘The tongue is a spiritual thermometer that reflects the condition of the heart…Words are power tools that can build…encourage…destroy and cause confusion. We have all been hurt and even defeated by words spoken in anger or words rising out of a wounded heart…If my words are boastful, my heart is insecure. If my words are filthy, my heart is impure and if my words are critical, my heart is filled with pride and anger…Solomon said, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11 KJV)…The right word, spoken at the right time and in the right way can bring order in the midst of confusion and light on a very dark path. “Good people know the right thing to say” (Proverbs 10:32 NCV). God gives us spiritual “radar” so we can assess a situation and speak the right word for that circumstance. We just need to check the “radar screen” before we speak.’
What Now? At the end of the day, think back over any words you’ve spoken or written to others. Do your words reflect God and a heart that’s full of good things? Or are there any that, looking back, you’re not proud of? Ask God to help you make any necessary adjustments to your words in future.
When we’ve been hurt, it’s natural that we’d try to put up barriers to protect ourselves. But we need to be careful that our protective shell doesn’t turn into a ‘heart of stone’ that’s resistant, unmoved, and doesn’t even let God in. Author Kristen Armstrong writes: ‘The only thing more painful, and with…more serious ramifications than a broken heart, is a frozen one.…Paul warns us [about] allowing our hearts to harden. “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV). A soft heart is not weak or naive. To the contrary, wisdom, experience, and faith make for a strong heart, weathered by compassion and seasoned with mercy. A hardened heart is not protected, it’s merely encased in injury.’ A hardened heart makes us immune to God’s promptings. We lose compassion for the needs He’s trying to show us. We miss opportunities to make a difference in the lives of those around us because our hardened hearts won’t allow us to be moved by feelings of sympathy. We can’t empathise with those who are hurting. God softens our hearts with love. He might allow us to go through a season of testing, and while we may see it as nothing but a struggle, He sees it as an opportunity to break through the heart of stone and replace it with one that’s pliant, tender, and ready to respond to Him. Kristen continues: ‘[God] wants to give you a heart of flesh. With His love you can emerge from a painful season of loss with a heart that is yielding, porous, and ready to receive the gifts He has…for you.’
What Now? Draw an outline of a heart. On the outside of it, write short notes about any experiences that you feel have hardened your heart. Inside the heart, write Bible verses that speak peace, love, and restoration into each of those situations.
Like the rest of us, Jesus sometimes got tired (see John 4:6). But He was never stressed out by the job He had to do. He was led, but never driven. He knew what needed to be done and the amount of time needed to do it, and He picked a team to help accomplish it. Three of them – Peter, James, and John – were in His inner circle. It wasn’t that He showed favouritism; He just recognised the particular gifts of the people He worked with and what He needed from each of them to get the job done. An important step towards accomplishing something big is knowing the kinds of people we’ll need around us. In other words, we need to know who should be on our team. Jesus spent three-and-a-half years training His disciples before delegating responsibility to them. Was He afraid they would make mistakes, outshine Him, or make Him look bad? No; He told them, ‘He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father’ (John 14:12 NKJV). Jesus was a team player who got things done through others. But even when we break a task down, strategically plan it, and recruit brilliant people, we need one more component to succeed: teamwork! Teamwork is the glue that brings people together – and keeps them together. There are more than a billion Christians in the world today. And it all started two thousand years ago with one man who had a vision, a man who recruited and trained a team to fulfil that vision. Let’s approach our work according to His work philosophy and see the difference it can make.
What Now? Think about any teams that you’re in – obvious ones like a sports team or the people you work with, plus other groups that you might not have thought of as ‘team’, like your family or a Bible study group. Pray that each team would grow stronger and closer, and be a place of real support and love.
Over the next couple of days, let’s take a look at Jesus’ work philosophy – His attitude, values, and beliefs – on how to get things done. The principles He lived by call for these: 1) Being clear about our assignments. Jesus said, ‘I must finish the work that he gave me to do.’ He understood that being focused really helps us maximise our skills and recognise opportunities. If we’re talented, energetic, and active, but we’re still not seeing definite results, it’s worth considering if we’re lacking focus. When Nehemiah was rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, his enemies said, ‘Come, let us meet together’ (Nehemiah 6:2 NKJV). That’s when Nehemiah sent back this message: ‘I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down’ (v.3 NKJV). 2) Prioritising tasks in the order of their importance. When we don’t do what has to be done according to its importance, jobs start to arrange themselves according to their urgency. And when that happens, we can miss some great opportunities. The Bible says Jesus ‘needed to go through Samaria’ (John 4:4 NKJV). To the disciples, this probably looked like a diversion because it wasn’t the shortest route to where they wanted to go. But there was a woman in Samaria Jesus wanted to redeem; a vessel through which He reached the entire city with the gospel. Jesus was clear about His priorities, and we need to be too. 3) Creating a definite timetable. In other words, set deadlines and stick with them. Jesus knew He had only three-and-a-half years to get the job done, so He made every day count. One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is, ‘I’ll get to it later.’ Instead, let’s allow Jesus’ work philosophy to become our master plan.
What Now? Let’s try to get into good habits of prioritising and setting timetables. Start small by thinking about what you want to achieve today (make sure to ask God what He wants you to achieve, too). Be specific about what tasks you’re going to do, then create a timetable for the day ahead to help keep yourself on track.
If we want to be good demonstrators of God’s love, good motivators, and good role models, we first need to be secure in our identity. Paul told Timothy, ‘God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.’ We must be certain that God called us, equipped us, and guaranteed our ultimate success in fulfilling His plan. It’s important that we keep all this in mind when people stop liking us, when things don’t go the way we expect, when our morale dips, and when others reject us. If we feel insecure, fear will eventually get the better of us and prevent us from reaching our full potential. We need to try and see the reality now, while keeping hold of our God-given vision of what can be. We shouldn’t settle for keeping things the way they are, because God constantly wants us to break new ground for Him. Being dissatisfied with the way things are doesn’t mean having a bad attitude or complaining; it has to do with a willingness to be different and step out of what’s ‘normal’. A person who won’t risk change is someone who fails to grow. Many people are more comfortable dealing with old troubles than doing what it takes to find new solutions; risk seems dangerous to them. We might draw our security from the fact that we’re used to the old ways of doing things; but real security comes from following and trusting God’s plans, because He knows what the end result will be. The best attitude for life is one that comes from being secure in who we are in God’s eyes and knowing what He’s called us to do.
What Now? Thank God that real security is found in Him, not in our imperfect world or in other people and what they think of you.
Jesus said, ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ It takes courage to face a painful reality. It’s easier to bail out of a troubled situation than to stay and work your way through to a better place. It’s easier to give in to despair and self-pity than to treat a setback as a learning opportunity and start again. It takes guts to stand up for your convictions when you’re under fire. But somebody once said, ‘Unless you stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.’ The truth is, whenever you’re willing to stand for something or try something new, somebody will take a shot at you. The English word courage is related to the French word cœur, meaning ‘heart’. Hence the phrase ‘don’t lose heart’. It’s easy to be brave when we’re feeling strong, but it’s much harder when we're feeling weak and inadequate. But that’s exactly the time when we need courage the most. General Omar Bradley said, ‘Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.’ The courage he's talking about isn’t a hollow, ‘fake it till you make it’ mindset. Courage means saying, ‘If God promised it, I believe it’ and choosing to move forwards despite the obstacles. If you need an injection of courage today, read and think about these verses: 1) ‘Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded’ (2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV). 2) ‘Energise the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, “Courage! Take heart! GOD is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs. He’s on his way! He’ll save you!”’ (Isaiah 35:3-4 MSG).
What Now? Make yourself a list of Bible verses that help restore your courage and remind you that you can trust God completely. Whenever you’re feeling weak and need a bravery boost, go back to your list and lean on God and His Word for your strength.
God knew the battles Joshua would have to fight in order to conquer the promised land, so He told Joshua three times: ‘Be strong and of good courage.’ Whenever we move forwards, at some point we'll come up against obstacles that block our path. It can be so disheartening to feel we've been making good progress, only to be stopped in our tracks. But rather than seeing obstacles as enemies (even if that's how they feel), let's try to think of them as resources that we can use to our advantage. Every obstacle we face reveals our strengths and weaknesses. They also shape us and make us wiser and more confident when we overcome them. The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: ‘Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.’ Whenever we leave our comfort zones and step out in faith to follow God, we'll be tested. But we'll also discover opportunities to reach heights we thought were beyond us and go further than others who had more talent but settled for the easier option. In The Message paraphrase, Paul tells us: ‘Every detail works to your advantage…So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace’ (2 Corinthians 4:15-17 MSG). Let's not give up when we face obstacles and problems, and instead tackle them with courage and God's help.
What Now? What obstacles have you faced in the past week? Have a think about what you’ve learned from dealing with them, or if they’ve actually helped you in some way that you didn’t realise at the time.
One of the most important jobs in a garden is getting rid of weeds; if they're left, they get out of control, choke the other plants, and quickly take over. Gardeners know to beware of weeds and remove them as soon as they appear. There's a spiritual parallel here: unless we're firm, decisive, and uncompromising with sin, it'll take over our whole life. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words like this: ‘Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life – no longer captive to sin’s demands! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God.…That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time – remember, you’ve been raised from the dead! – into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God’ (v.6-14 MSG). So today, let's say no to sin and weed it out of our lives.
What Now? If you have access to a garden, go and do some weeding for half an hour (or offer to help a friend or neighbour with their garden). Each time you pull up a weed, tell God about something that’s held you back from Him or that’s replaced Him in part of your life. Ask Him to help you discard anything that separates you from Him.
Panic and anxiety are often our first reactions to conflict and problems. In those initial moments, choosing peace seems impossible. Our subconscious whispers, ‘If you really care, you will worry.’ But an experienced counsellor writes: ‘Don’t panic! No matter what the situation or circumstance, we usually have…a moment to breathe deeply and…let peace flow through our body and mind…Panic, not the task, is the enemy.’ Anxiety just empowers and enlarges the problem. Our best resource for problem-solving is always peace. Fear and anxiety block solutions; answers flow more easily and naturally from a peaceful state of mind. And God’s peace is always available to us. It’s one of the fruits of the Spirit. Paul wrote, ‘When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce…in us…peace’ (among other things). Jesus said, ‘Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]’ (John 14:27 AMP). That means we can choose peace over inner conflict. In the same verse, Jesus also said, ‘Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you’ (v.27 AMP). But just because Jesus left us His peace doesn’t mean it’ll automatically function in us. We first need to accept that peace. When we lose our peace, it’s harder to hear from God. Paul said, ‘Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:15 AMP). So instead of getting anxious and panicky when we face challenges today, let’s try to choose the peace God promises.
What Now? Anytime you feel panic or worry trying to take control today, instead of dwelling on the feelings, try to think of them as just a reminder to talk to God about whatever has brought on those feelings.
Living by faith is something we learn to do by practising it every day. Before we become Christians, we only have our own intelligence and abilities to rely on. But those things will only take us so far, and no further. But when we welcome God into our lives, we can trust Him for the wisdom, guidance, resources, and ability we need to fulfil His will for our lives. The Bible tells us, ‘It was by faith that Noah heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see. He obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family.’ (Hebrews 11:7 NCV). When Noah built the ark, he must have trusted what God had told him, because when he started there was no sign of rain. Living by faith doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t mean our problems will just disappear. Sometimes faith changes our circumstances. But at other times it changes our perspective by giving us the courage and strength to hold on and keep hoping when we’re expecting bad news, can’t see a way out, or don’t know the next step to take. Faith gives us the stamina to keep going, confident that God will work things out on our behalf. Paul tells us, ‘Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’ (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). Living by faith means 1) obeying God and believing He will never let you down, 2) following in the footsteps of ordinary people who did extraordinary things for God, and 3) using your faith because you know it’s the only currency heaven recognises. When the Bible says, ‘Those who are right with me will live by faith,’ it doesn’t mean little, sporadic bursts of faith; it means making faith a lifestyle.
What Now? Each morning, say a prayer inviting God into your life. Commit everything you do to Him, and do your best to involve Him in every task and decision.
Jesus spoke to people who had given up on religion. People who were burnt out from trying (and failing) to stick to a long list of rules and regulations. Here's what He said to them: ‘If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light’ (v.28-30 CEV). A ‘yoke’ was a type of harness that went around the necks of two oxen so they could work together to pull a heavy plough. In each team of oxen, one was the leader and the other would follow. Accepting Jesus' yoke means He'll take the lead, but we have to stay in sync with Him to find real peace. He promises His yoke won’t choke us; it won’t be overwhelming or confining, and we won’t be irritated or harmed by it. In fact, if we want to be truly free, we have to let ourselves be yoked to Jesus by submitting our will to His. It sounds strange to say that'll bring freedom, but when we allow Him to guide us, we're freed from wondering if we're doing the right thing, worrying what other people think of us, and doubting our ability for the task He's chosen. It doesn’t work to accept Christ’s yoke for a while and then start pulling the other way when things don’t go the way we want. When we do that, the load gets heavier and we start to feel worn out. Peace and rest come when we relax and let Christ lead. Relax or resist – which will you choose?
What Now? Do you tend to relax into God’s guidance and go with Him, or resist and pull against Him? If you know you sometimes try to do our own thing, ask Him to help you trust more and let Him set the pace and lead the way.
Sometimes when we become aware of a flaw in our character, we'll try to make ourselves feel better and justify it by blaming our circumstances. We might say things like 'If I'd had a different tutor, I would have worked harder,' or 'If I had more money, I could afford the thing I want, and then I wouldn't feel so jealous or resentful of other people.' But even though our circumstances might be out of our control, our character isn’t. Integrity isn't determined by our situation. It's a choice, and every time we make the decision to act with integrity, we take a step forward in our spiritual growth. Here's something to try: Think about times when you've faced temptations and difficulties. Write them down, and next to each one, write how you dealt with it: escaped, excused, gave in, avoided, persevered, or overcame. How did you handle the things that were caused by circumstances out of your control? Do you notice any problem areas or anything you could improve on? One way we can improve is ‘By adding…self-control’ to our spiritual weapons. Our lives are like icebergs – 15 per cent is visible; that’s our reputation, what others see of our attitude. The rest, our character, is hidden below the surface. Character is what we think but don’t necessarily share. It’s based on what we do when nobody’s looking, how we handle life’s little aggravations, how we handle failure and success. Character is based on self-control, and self-control is about making the right choices. We don’t have to work out what they are by ourselves: ‘God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him’ (Philippians 2:13 CEV).
What Now? What temptations or challenges are you facing today? Think about the options you have in dealing with them (escaping, making excuses, giving in, avoidance, perseverance, and overcoming), and ask God to help you choose the right one.
After listing some of the worst sins imaginable, Paul told the Corinthians, ‘And that is what some of you were. But you were…justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God’ (v.11 NIV). Before we judge and condemn someone else, let's remember what God has lifted us out of, and how much restoration has taken place in our own lives. In Scripture, the word restore has two shades of meaning. One is to remove a tumour. A tumour can kill, and it needs to be removed. Paul wrote, ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently…in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:1-2 NIVUK). Sharing someone’s shame and humiliation can be a burden, but ‘we should do it…[giving] special attention to those who are in the family of believers’ (Galatians 6:10 NCV). We've all been quick to condemn others at times, but if we find being judgmental is turning into a habit, we should ask ourselves this question: if people don’t find grace among those who preach it, where will they find it? We need to show God’s grace in action by extending that same grace to others. The other meaning of restore is to reset a broken bone. Scripture tells us, ‘Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected to each other’ (Romans 12:5 GWT). Our spiritual family is important because it will last forever. By lifting a broken and stumbling family member, we help heal their pain and enable them to become a vital, functioning part of Christ’s body again. So today, be a restorer.
What Now? Do you know someone who needs restoration in some way? Today, spend some time praying with them, and ask God to uplift them and bring them a sense of His peace and love.
Sometimes when we fall we can get up by ourselves; other times we need someone to help us. And sadly, not all Christians are willing to help. Sometimes they feel that by extending grace to someone, they're accepting their sin. But Paul knocked that argument down when he wrote, ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Why should we be restorers? 1) Because God tells us to. ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1 NIV). It’s pride that causes us to point an accusing finger instead of extending a helping hand to those who fall. It makes us think we’re better than someone else, and incapable of falling like they did. But we can't be certain how we'd react if we were faced with the same circumstances. Paul wrote, ‘We are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naïve and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else’ (1 Corinthians 10:12 MSG). 2) Because Jesus is our example. Jesus had no time for the Pharisees who hid their sins behind a religious mask. But He didn't condemn those who were caught in sin and overtaken by temptation and failure. The minute they reached for Him, He willingly restored them. People will be watching us to see if the grace we talk about having is the same grace we extend to others. Let’s set the best example we can and show grace and compassion as Jesus did.
What Now? Is there someone who other people tend to ignore or look down at? Make the decision to show grace to them today, treating them with love and compassion just as Jesus does for us.
Today is Mothering Sunday. A day for us to tell our mothers how much we appreciate everything they do, as well as being an opportunity to say thank you to anyone who loves and cares for us like a mother does. The Bible tells us numerous times to honour our parents, listen to them, and treat them with respect. But instead of thinking about those verses, let’s take a look at a time when Jesus honoured His mother, Mary. In John 19, as Jesus was dying on the cross, He saw Mary and the disciple John standing below, watching. 'He said to her, "Dear woman, here is your son." And he said to this disciple, "Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home’ (v.26-27 NLT). Jesus was being crucified; He was in unimaginable pain. But in the midst of His ordeal, His thoughts were for His mother, and to ensure she would have someone who would love, care and provide for her. Nailed to a cross and dying, Jesus did the simple but deeply loving act of asking Mary and John to become mother and son to each other. And that's something for us to think about today as we celebrate and honour mothers. Maybe for whatever reason you can't give your mum a gift or see her in person. It doesn’t matter why. Just do something simple and powerful, from a loving heart: take a few minutes to pray for her and to thank God for her. And even if things haven't been easy between you, remember that God’s at work in the situation. You just need to pray and allow Him to do the rest. Let's make today a day when we really show what God's love means by honouring and praying for our mothers and those who care for us.
What Now? What could you do to honour your mum (or the mother figure in your life) today? Even if it’s just a little note saying thank you, do it. And remember to pray for her too. If your mum isn’t with you anymore, thank God for her life.
In the book of Revelation, John wrote: ‘I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true”’ (v.2-5 NIV). As redeemed children of God, we’re assured of having an eternal home in heaven and the promise of being citizens of ‘the new Jerusalem’. John continues, ‘The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city’ (v.15 NIV). The city is a square of about fourteen hundred miles (see v.16 NIV). As a rough idea of its size, imagine a square stretching from London all the way across Europe to Russia’s western border, down to the Egyptian and Libyan coasts, then back up to London. It’s approximately twenty-one times the size of the UK, or ten times the size of France. And that’s just the ground floor! It’s as tall as it is wide; six hundred thousand storeys high. That means there's more than enough room for billions of people. We may not know all the details of what heaven's like, but we can be sure that if we believe in Him, God has a place there for us.
What Now? Have a look at a map to give you an idea of the size of the Holy City as it’s described in Revelation. Thank God that He always has room for you, and He has a place for you in heaven.
The story of David and Bathsheba sounds like the plot of a film or the script of a TV soap – lust, adultery, premarital pregnancy, murder, and cover-up. And it looked like David would get away with it – except for one important detail: ‘The thing that David had done displeased the LORD’ (2 Samuel 11:27 NKJV). In the Bible, God calls David ‘a man after his own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14 NLT), but the same Bible says, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out’ (Numbers 32:23 KJV). So God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David, ‘I made you king…So why have you treated the word of God with brazen contempt?’ (2 Samuel 12:7, 9 MSG). Then God passed sentence: ‘Because you despised me…I am going to bring calamity on you…before all Israel’ (2 Samuel 12:10-12 NIV). From that day on, tragedy and turmoil plagued David’s family. The Bible says, ‘those who can’t be trusted are on the road to ruin’ (Proverbs 13:15 GNB). Sometimes God takes away our peace so that we'll acknowledge our sin. It took a whole catalogue of disappointments, difficulties, mistakes, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit before David’s heart softened and he admitted, ‘I have sinned against the LORD’ (2 Samuel 12:13 NIV). And when he prayed those words, God treated David’s sin the same way He treats ours: ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9 KJV). As long as we carry on excusing, defending, and rationalising our sins, we can't move past them or begin to grow in our relationship with God. But as soon as we confess our sins to Him, in His grace He'll forgive us.
What Now? Do you need to confess something to God? Whether it’s big or small, if it’s on your mind and weighing you down, tell Him about it today.
Ever felt yourself being prompted to do a certain thing, such as helping someone, giving something, or changing something, but instead you allowed your head to overrule the voice in your spirit? That inner voice is our spiritual intuition, the part of us that 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). We need to learn to trust that ‘anointing’ because it will tell us what we need to do, when we need to act, what direction we need to take, and what changes we need to make. Often we don’t act on our spiritual intuition because we feel like we need to think it through, to analyse whether it’s really the right thing to do. Thinking about it is definitely wise, as is checking whether it lines up with what the Bible says. But the trouble comes when we procrastinate and never act on it, until we become paralysed and afraid to do anything. We have to learn to recognise and trust our spiritual intuition. It’s our connection to the greatest source of wisdom in the universe – God’s wisdom. Our spiritual intuition can be summed up by these words in the Bible: ‘For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose’ (Philippians 2:13 NIVUK). So the next time our spiritual intuition tells us something and it lines up with Scripture, let’s do our best to act on it.
What Now? What has your spiritual intuition been prompting you about recently? Write down any thoughts you have, and see what the Bible says about it too. If it all checks out, go ahead and take action.
Paul wrote, ‘God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete’ (v.6 CEV). Jesus regularly took time out of His busy schedule to pray. In fact, He sometimes prayed all night. And He tells us why: ‘The Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing’ (John 5:19-20 NLT). Under the weight of our sins, He cried from the cross, ‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46 NIV). And His words teach us three important things: 1) We can be following God’s plan and still feel overwhelmed and alone at times. 2) When God doesn’t answer, we should stand on the promises He gave us in His Word. 3) The pain we’re feeling will eventually give way to the joy that awaits us on the other side of it. So stick with God’s plan; as long as we do that, there’s nothing the enemy can do to destroy us. The Bible says, ‘No weapon turned against you will succeed…These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD’ (Isaiah 54:17 NLT). When you feel like you’ve reached your limit, do what Jesus did and pray, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (Luke 23:46 NIV). In other words, turn it all over to God. Trust Him to do what you can’t do and to bring you through in victory.
What Now? Following God’s plan isn’t always easy, so set a regular time each week to pray for resilience, perseverance and strength as you make your way through His plan for your life.
God said, ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end’ (Revelation 22:13 CEV). God determines the end result He wants, then starts at the beginning and works towards it. He ‘always does what he plans’. Joseph discovered that even when your family turns against you, God’s plan is still in effect. Looking back, he said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV). But don’t confuse ‘good’ with ‘comfortable’. When God corrects or redirects you, it doesn’t always feel good. But it is good! David said, ‘When you corrected me, it did me good because it taught me to study your laws’ (Psalm 119:71 CEV). If you’re not sure of God’s plan, seek Him until He shows it to you. Other things may seem more urgent, but nothing is more important. And if you already know God’s plan, be assured that no human action can cancel it. The psalmist wrote, ‘The LORD will vindicate me; your love, LORD, endures forever’ (Psalm 138:8 NIV). God has already made ‘the way of escape’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) for every situation that Satan can come up with to push us off course. Paul reassures us: ‘God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (v.13 NKJV). It’s in the times of testing that we discover ‘God is faithful’. He’ll stretch us, but never beyond our breaking point. His plan is for us to come out of the experience stronger and ready for what’s next in His plan.
What Now? Do you know someone who’s going through a testing time right now? Ask God for a word of encouragement that you could pass on to them and help them stay strong.
Whatever has happened in our past, it doesn’t automatically determine our future. Here are some things to remember to help us keep moving forwards: 1) Focus on what’s ahead. We can use what we’ve learned from our past experiences, good and bad, to help us as we move forwards. But if we keep looking back at the past, we’ll miss all the amazing things that God’s putting in our future. Our past isn’t where we’re heading; we need to stay focused on what’s ahead. 2) Stop looking for easy answers. Life is hard, and being a Christian certainly doesn’t promise us a trouble-free life. In fact, when we’re following God’s plan, the devil might try even harder to stop us. But what we are promised is a God who is bigger than any problem we’ll ever have to face, and who will not leave us to face things alone. 3) Stay on your path – not everybody will go with you. We shouldn’t let anyone hold us back from following the plans that God has for us. Following God’s path might mean leaving friends behind, but even though that’s hard, we can be sure that God’s plans are the best, and He has amazing things lined up for us if we choose to trust Him and follow His guidance. 4) Believe in yourself – God does! People might try to criticise us and put us down, but God knows our potential, and if we’re willing to trust Him and work hard, He’ll help us fulfil it. He gave each of us a specific purpose, and He doesn’t make mistakes. If He’s called us, He’ll give us everything we need to achieve that calling.
What Now? Find a picture of a path. Print it out or keep it on your phone. When you feel you’re focusing too much on the past, look at the picture and remind yourself of God’s path into the future.
The more someone has hurt us, the harder it is to forgive them. But we must choose forgiveness, because whatever we refuse to forgive and let go of, we carry with us like a weight. Sometimes we may even need to forgive ourselves for something we’ve done. Whatever our particular hurt, the solution isn’t to feed it by feeling sorry for ourselves, or deny it by pretending it never happened. We have to face the hurt, then forgive and let it go, or we’ll continue to hurt. Someone once said that choosing not to forgive somebody is like eating poison and expecting the other person to die. In order to move forward, we have to let go and be at peace with the past. Paul put many Christians to death before he met Christ. He could easily have allowed that memory to destroy him and rob him of his destiny. But he refused to let it. Instead he wrote: ‘Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NIVUK). Paul hadn’t forgotten his past, but knowing that God had forgiven him, he wasn’t going to let his past hold him back. Mark 11:25 says: ‘If you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins’ (NIV). Starting today, choose forgiveness.
What Now? Write a list of all the people you still need to forgive. Take some time to bring each person before God and choose to forgive them. When you’ve let go of the hurt, cross them off the list.
‘Ten men who had a skin disease…called to him, “Jesus! Master! Have mercy on us!” When Jesus saw the men, he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As the ten men were going, they were healed. When one of them saw that he was healed, he went back to Jesus, praising God in a loud voice… Jesus said, “Weren’t ten men healed? Where are the other nine?...Then Jesus said to him, “Stand up and go on your way. You were healed because you believed”’ (v.12-19 NCV). This story teaches us these three things: 1) Sometimes the answer comes quickly; other times it comes slowly, step-by-step. The Bible says, ‘As the ten men were going, they were healed.’ We don’t know which step will bring the answer, so we must keep walking in faith. Mosaic law said that before someone with leprosy could be welcomed back into society, the priest had to pronounce them ‘clean’. But Jesus saw the change in these men before it even took place; that’s because He has the power to make it happen. 2) We mustn’t give up because others reject us. The men were social outcasts, and they expected Jesus to treat them like everyone else did. But when you draw close to God, He’ll draw close to you (see James 4:8). Are you struggling with an issue that has caused others to shun you or cast you aside? Jesus won’t do that. He said, ‘Whoever comes to me I will never drive away’ (John 6:37 NIV). 3) Always remember to thank and praise God. Only one of the ten men passed the gratitude test. When we realise how much God appreciates our thanks, we’ll never let a day go by without praising and worshipping Him.
What Now? Set an hourly reminder on your phone to thank God for something He’s done for you recently. Try to thank Him for something different each time.
When it comes to everyday life, we have a choice: we can walk according to the unchanging principles of God’s Word; or we can be ruled by our constantly changing feelings. When we live by God’s Word, we have stability. When we live by our feelings, it’s like riding a roller coaster; one day we’re up, the next day we’re down. God wants to bring us into emotional maturity, but we have to cooperate with Him. That calls for a daily act of will; choosing to do things His way rather than our own. And once it becomes a habit, we’ll discover that life is more enjoyable when we do it God’s way. We should try not to let every emotion dictate the direction of our day or decide our responses. ‘Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life’ (v.23 CEV). It can often be our thinking that influences our feelings. That’s why Paul wrote, ‘Capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NCV). In other words, if a thought doesn’t line up with God’s Word, we mustn’t give it a voice or let it influence us. ‘We walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV). As Christians, we won’t always feel God’s presence. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to two of His disciples on the Emmaus road, but they didn’t recognise Him because they were preoccupied with the way they were feeling. So how did He lift them out of their negative emotions? He ‘began to explain everything that had been written about himself in the Scriptures’ (Luke 24:27 NCV). So today, let’s resolve to be led only by God and His Word.
What Now? If you experience any strong feelings today, whether anger, worry, fear, joy, or something else, ask God if they’re emotions that need to be brought under control, or whether they’re nudges from Him to take action in some way.
Paul wrote, ‘God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice…Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him’ (v.1-2 CEV). What Paul’s saying is this: 1) Resist the pressures of a world system that tries to pull you in the wrong direction. 2) Renew your mind every day through prayer and reading God’s Word. 3) Recognise His will for you and live accordingly. But Paul doesn’t stop there. He continues: ‘Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good. Love each other as brothers and sisters and honour others more than you do yourself. Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord. Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying. Take care of…needy people…Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you…When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone’ (v.9-18 CEV). God’s sovereignty doesn’t release us from personal responsibility. It doesn’t mean we should lose interest in the news or in making informed decisions. God still expects us to strive for excellence and show concern for a hurting world. Acknowledging God’s sovereignty sets us free from trying to do everything ourselves in our own power, and instead enables us to enjoy walking with Him.
What Now? Read or listen to today’s news stories. Pray for each one and ask God in His sovereignty to step in and bring wisdom to those involved. And ask if there’s anything you can do that could improve the situation, even in a small way.
Do you ever find yourself saying, ‘If only I hadn’t said, or done…’? You’re not alone; everyone has regrets. But God wants us to learn from them, not live in them. ‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’ Jesus wore the crown of thorns so we could wear crowns of righteousness, and be in right standing with God. ‘Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us’ (Romans 5:1 NLT). Being ‘made right in God’s sight’ gives us the right to stand before Him and claim His best. Peter the fisherman experienced a bad night at work. So Jesus, the Restorer, said to him: ‘“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink’ (Luke 5:4-7 NKJV). Just one word from Jesus, and we can go from the edge of despair to a place of abundance, hope and joy. Jesus actually gave Peter back more than he lost. So today, believe that God can do much more than you expected, because He’s a God of restoration.
What Now? Have you been working on something that hasn’t gone as planned or been as successful as you thought? Ask God to get involved, and then trust Him to bring something good out of it. Remember to thank Him too!
One day the Amalekites swept down on King David’s home town, burning it to the ground and taking its families captive. In this scene of devastation, David and his men ‘lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep’ (1 Samuel 30:4 NKJV). Now, God will let us grieve our losses because that’s healthy, but He won’t allow us to stay there too long. So God said to David, ‘Go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!’ (v.8). David and his people got back everything they had lost because our God is not only a God of restoration but a God of abundance. We might feel guilty because we’ve wasted opportunities, but the God who created those opportunities can give you new ones. ‘Though I sent my great army against you – those swarming locusts…I will pay you back for those years of trouble. Then you will have plenty to eat and be full. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has done miracles for you. My people will never again be shamed’ (Joel 2:25-26 NCV). When God blesses us, it won’t come in a tiny amount or from a rationed supply. He gives us ‘plenty’, and we’ll see that his love for us is limitless, and his power and grace are endless. He loves to give and to bless us. Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed in Eden, God’s desire and plan has been to restore to us all that we have lost. So come to Him today and let the restoration begin.
What Now? If you know you’ve disobeyed God at some point and haven’t confessed, make today the day you tell Him about it. He won’t reject you. He already knows everything about you and is ready to restore and bless you as He sees best.
Whatever life has taken from us, God can restore it. He might not give us exactly what we want, but He will give us what’s best. And even if we’ve been disobedient and come under His corrective hand, if we repent, He’ll reinstate us to a place of blessing. We might think that because we’ve wasted time and opportunities, and generally made such a mess of things, we’ve fallen beyond God’s reach. But however badly we think we’ve messed up, there’s always hope. God never forgets us and we never get so far away that we can’t get back to Him if we want to. The Bible says, ‘the LORD’s power is enough to save you. He can hear you when you ask him for help’ (Isaiah 59:1 NCV). After wasting all that he’d inherited from his father, the Prodigal Son returned home, penniless and embarrassed. All he wanted was food and a job in the servants’ quarters. But the moment he said, ‘Forgive me,’ his father called for the best robe, the fattest cow, the newest shoes, and a ring, restoring him to his rightful place as a member of the family. Even under the Old Testament law, God said, ‘If a man steals an ox or a sheep…he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep’ (Exodus 22:1 NKJV). The one who lost something gained even more back. And God will do just as much, and more, for those who have been saved through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross! So we can go to Him today with confidence, knowing He’s a God of restoration.
What Now? Are there any areas of your life where you’re not as close to God as you should be? Say to yourself, ‘I’m never too far away from God to turn back to Him’, then take time today to talk to Him about those areas and be ready to see His restorative power at work.
Let’s talk about how to become a worshipper. First of all, there’s no one-size-fits-all. The Bible doesn’t say we must worship God in a certain way. That’s because worship is such a powerful outpouring of our hearts towards the Lord that it can’t be limited to words or defined by a song, a shout, or silence. Jesus said, ‘True worshippers are being led by the Spirit…These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him’ (v.23 CEV). Second, God created us to worship Him. Perhaps you’ve never thought of this: God created us to do the one thing He can’t do for Himself – worship! John the Apostle wrote, ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, because you made all things. Everything existed and was made, because you wanted it’ (Revelation 4:11 NCV). Nothing brings more pleasure to God’s heart than the love and adoration of His children. Third, worship can be expressed by anybody, anywhere, anytime. The Samaritan woman in Scripture grew up believing that true worship must be carried out at a sacred mountain called Gerizim, whereas the Jews believed it should be practised in the temple at Jerusalem. But Jesus said it wasn’t to be confined to church or a particular day of the week. The psalmist put it like this: ‘Servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the LORD’s name is to be praised’ (Psalm 113:1-3 NKJV). So wherever we are, in whatever way we choose, let’s be worshippers.
What Now? Try worshipping God in an ‘unconventional’ place today. Why not invite some friends along to join you, and remind yourselves that God always accepts our praise, no matter how and where we do it.
One day, Jesus was eating at the home of a Pharisee when a prostitute came in. ‘The woman kissed his feet and poured…perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If [Jesus] really were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him!”’ (v.38-39 CEV). But Simon the Pharisee got it wrong. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t know, it’s that He could see beyond her sin. That day, He forgave her and sent her on her way redeemed, restored, and redirected. This story confirms what we already know; Jesus came to save sinners. No one is beyond the reach of His grace. Let’s keep in mind these two things: 1) Never forget what God saved you from. Jesus told Simon the Pharisee: ‘Anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love’ (v.47 CEV). David remembered his past sins when he wrote: ‘He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD’ (Psalm 40:2-3 NKJV). 2) Remember that Jesus isn’t looking at your past but at your future. The crowd saw this woman as an ugly weed to be cast aside, but Jesus saw her as a beautiful flower with so much potential. So if you need forgiveness today, come to Jesus. And if you have been forgiven, pour out your heart to Him in praise.
What Now? Plant a few seeds in a pot and care for them. As they grow, think about the potential each seed carries and the change it goes through to become a beautiful flower. Thank God for His grace in seeing all the beautiful potential in you, too.
While he was on holiday in England, the preacher and evangelist D.L. Moody visited a church in London that was spiritually dead. The pastor recognised him and asked him to preach at the morning service. Reluctantly, Moody agreed. Afterwards, he told a friend the congregation was so unresponsive he could barely finish his sermon. Later, he remembered he had promised to preach there again that night. He wished he had never interrupted his holiday plans, and spent the afternoon dreading what was ahead. But behind the scenes, something was happening that Moody knew nothing about. After the morning service, an elderly lady met her invalid sister for lunch and told her about Moody’s upcoming visit. Her sister’s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, ‘I’ve been praying God would send Moody to England! Put away the lunch. We’ll spend the afternoon fasting and praying for tonight’s service.’ When Moody stepped up to the pulpit that night, an ‘electric’ sense of God’s presence filled the place. He preached like a man on fire, and when he gave an invitation for people to follow Christ, five hundred of them responded. At first he thought they’d misunderstood, so he told them sit down while he re-explained the gospel call and what it meant. But when he gave the invitation a second time, the same five hundred people came forward to receive Christ. That single Sunday kicked off one of the greatest revivals ever to sweep England. And it was because two elderly ladies realised their church desperately needed the fire of God’s Spirit. They didn’t think, ‘There’s nothing we can do’. They believed God’s promise, ‘When a believing person prays, great things happen.’ There’s so much power in prayer, and our prayers can help ignite the fire of God and make great things happen.
What Now? Do you know someone who’s feeling despondent about something? Share some of the Bible verses about the power of prayer with them, and then offer to pray with them about anything that’s on their mind.
Have you ever been to a concert where they used the latest audio-visual equipment? Chances are, you were blown away by the multidimensional sights and sounds, and afterwards, left talking about the amazing skills of the performers. If the performance went along with no problems, you probably didn’t think about the sound and lighting techs. Usually we only notice them when the equipment fails. They’re the invisible element; the people who do their job by making the star look and sound great. The real accolades and honours go to those in the spotlight. That’s the order of things in the kingdom of man. But the kingdom of God operates on the idea that ‘the last shall be first, and the first last’ (Matthew 20:16 KJV). Jesus said when we fast, pray, and give without looking for recognition, ‘your Father who sees [your actions] in secret will reward you openly’. On a big ship, only the captain and a handful of officers are visible on the bridge. But the crew below deck influence the ship’s progress for most of the journey. And in God’s church, it’s the ‘engine-room crew’ who faithfully carry out a lot of the work: caretaking staff, nursery workers, bus drivers, car park attendants, nursing home visitors, prison outreach workers, and prayer warriors. The high-profile people tend to get most of the credit, but God recognises and appreciates the faithful workers behind the scenes, and says to them, ‘Well done, my good servant’ (Luke 19:17 NIV). And God’s approval is the best reward of all. So whenever we feel our work isn’t noticed or appreciated, let’s remember that God misses none of it.
What Now? Do you have a favourite restaurant or takeaway? Have you been to a concert or a show recently? Send a card or email thanking all the staff who you don’t see but who are working hard in the background to give you a great experience.
It would make no sense for an electric company to generate power and then hoard it, refusing to share it out. Their customers would be in the dark, and the company would close down very quickly! A similar idea applies to our money. ‘God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others…You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous’ (v.7-8, 11 CEV). Some people refuse to give because they’re greedy, but in most instances, that’s not so. The truth is, we’re concerned that if we don’t look out for our own interests, they might not get looked out for at all. But in God’s kingdom, that kind of thinking doesn’t make sense. It’s like farmers refusing to plant their next harvest because they’re afraid to let go of their seeds. The Bible says, ‘Honour the LORD by giving him your money and the first part of all your crops’ (Proverbs 3:9 CEV). It’s not because He needs it; it’s because He wants us to sow into His kingdom so that 1) His work and His will can be done on the earth, and 2) we’ll have a harvest when we need it. Jesus said, ‘More than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well’ (Matthew 6:33 CEV). When we honour God with what we have, we’ll see Him do so much with what we have to offer, and He’ll honour our trust in Him.
What Now? What could you offer to God today? Whether it’s time, money, or a skill you possess, make the decision to give it willingly to Him, and be prepared to see Him do something amazing with it!
The engine in a car is its power source, and it’s activated when you put the car in gear. Only then do you have the momentum you need to get where you need to go. One of the dangers in seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit is that we can reduce it down to an ‘experience’, rather than ‘putting it in gear’ to achieve great things for God. In the New Testament, when someone was filled with the Holy Spirit, things happened! People turned to Christ. Healings took place. Lives were turned around. They didn’t just celebrate in church. Celebration was everywhere. In Scripture, the first picture we have of God is of Him in His creative role. He creates us in His image, breathes life into us, then tells us, ‘Go out and become productive’ (see Genesis 1:28). If we’re praying for someone to come along, give us all the answers, and change our circumstances, it won’t happen. We’re not helpless onlookers. What God has placed inside us will change what’s outside us – but we have to put it to work. What’s within us is greater than all the difficulties we’ve been through, the situations we’re in now, or the obstacles that lie ahead in our paths. When everything around us is saying no and something within us is saying yes, that’s God ’working in you to make you willing and able to obey him’. The ‘willing’ is our part; the ‘able’ is His part. When we get those two things working in sync, we’ll see amazing change in our lives.
What Now? Each time you get into a car, say a quick prayer asking God to help you ‘get in gear’ by saying yes to Him whenever He prompts you to do something.
Helping people brings great fulfilment. When we spend our day serving others, we can draw joy from the fact that we’re demonstrating God’s love. And even if we’ve so far spent a lot of our lives being selfish and forgetting others, it’s not too late to have a change of heart. Even Charles Dickens’ Scrooge discovered you can turn your life around and make a difference for others. That’s what Alfred Nobel did. He was shocked when he saw his obituary in a newspaper. His brother had died, but the editor mistakenly named Alfred and printed an uncomplimentary statement about his life because the explosives his company produced and profited from had killed many people. That wake-up call prompted Nobel to vow that he would spend the rest of his life promoting peace and acknowledging contributions to humanity. That’s how Nobel Prizes came into being! When we get outside of ourselves and make a contribution to others, we really begin to live. Unselfishness is its own reward; it’s not dependent on the response of others. This is the principle that guided the apostle Paul: ‘I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me’ (v.15 NLT). Of all the qualities we can wish for and pursue, unselfishness seems to make the biggest difference towards cultivating other virtues. It goes against human nature, so being unselfish and servant-hearted can be a struggle at first. But if we can learn to think unselfishly and become givers, it becomes easier to develop other virtues, such as gratitude, love, respect, patience, and discipline.
What Now? Who do you know that’s always willing to give, help and serve others? Ask God to bless them today, and then see if there’s anything you could do to help them.
In prison Samson prayed: ‘LORD, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time…Then Samson put his hands on the two centre pillars that held up the temple. Pushing against them with both hands…the temple crashed down…So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime’ (v.28-30 NLT). Samson ended up in this prison because of Delilah. The Bible says, ‘She pressured him day after day’ (v.16 AMP). Satan is persistent, and he waits to catch us in unguarded moments. That’s why there are certain doors in life we should never open. If we give in to a temptation for one single day, we can end up struggling with it for a lifetime. There’s a poster that says: ‘Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.’ The good news is, Samson remembered God! And it’s a wonderful day when we remember God and reach again for Him. Samson ‘killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime’ (v.30 NLT). His greatest victory was recorded in the final chapter of his life. In fact, he’s named among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. Regardless of where we are today, whether we’re feeling like a failure, or broken and burnt out, we must turn to God. He’ll help us turn things around. It’s never too late for God to make a difference.
What Now? Tell God about how you’re feeling today. Thank Him if you’re having a good day, and if not, ask Him to help you stand strong against anything that could lead you away from Him and to fill you with confidence in Him.
The Bible says, ‘Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip’ (v.30-31 NIV). Without God’s protective hand on our lives, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Even if we think God can’t use us, or we think we’ve done all we can, God hasn’t finished with us. Even when other people doubt our abilities to carry out what God’s called us to do (and even when we doubt ourselves), God doesn’t cast us aside. He always has more for us and can use us. After God finished wrestling with him, Jacob said, ‘My life was spared.’ There was so much more to come, more that Jacob could accomplish for God. The Bible says that God ‘creates new things out of nothing’ (Romans 4:17 NLT). He wants to set things in place in our lives that weren’t there before. Good things! But notice something very important: ‘Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak’ (Genesis 32:24 NIV). When God needs to deal with us on important issues, He does it one-to-one, not as part of a crowd. In fact, being in a crowd can prevent us hearing His voice. Being alone with God can feel nerve-wracking because our egos and the protective facades we’ve built up get stripped away. We might want to stay with the crowd at first, but they can’t calm the restlessness we feel when our spirits respond to God’s call. We needn’t be afraid of God’s calling us to be alone with Him. It’s just the start of His next chapter for our lives.
What Now? We all have times when we feel stuck in a rut. If that’s how you’re feeling, try to spend some time with God today, away from all distractions, to really listen and focus on what He wants you to know about His plans.
The Bible says, ‘Peace of mind means a healthy body but jealousy will rot your bones.’ If we allow jealousy to hold a place in our lives, it’ll eventually take over and consume us. It eats away at us and steals our joy. It invades our thoughts until we only see the things somebody else has that we want, leading to resentment and conflict. It stops us celebrating with others and sharing in their happiness when they achieve something. So we need to recognise jealousy as soon as it appears. Here’s a quick checklist to help: 1) Do you find it hard to compliment others on their achievements? 2) Do you ever feel a sliver of happiness because something bad has happened to someone else? 3) When you hear something complimentary about another person, do you feel the need to say, ‘Yes, but…’ and then point out something negative about them? 4) Do you keep comparing yourself to other people? 5) Do you pay a lot of attention to what other people are doing, buying, wearing, and who they mix with? 6) Do you trust the people you love, or are you always checking up on them? So how do we conquer jealousy? First, we need to acknowledge there’s a problem. Second, we need to tell God how we’re feeling and ask for His help. And third, we should pray for the person who is the target of our jealousy. It’ll feel awkward at first, but as we keep doing it, God will change our hearts and replace jealousy with love. When we’re secure in who we are before God, we don’t have to be jealous of anybody.
What Now? If you thought ‘Yes’ or ‘Sometimes’ to any of the points in the checklist in today’s reading, make sure you begin to deal with those feelings today by telling God about them. And if any feelings of jealousy are directed at a particular person, make a commitment to pray for that person every day.
When Elijah was at his lowest point, God told him these three important things: 1) Spend more time with God. ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD’ (1 Kings 19:11 NKJV). That was where God spoke to him in ‘a still small voice’ (v.12 NKJV). The word ‘still’ teaches us that instead of always working for God, we need to spend time with Him. If we don’t, we’ll run on empty and end up getting nowhere. When David was feeling overwhelmed, he wrote: ‘Many are saying about me, “God won’t rescue him.” But, LORD, you are my shield, my wonderful God who gives me courage. I will pray to the LORD and he will answer me’ (Psalm 3:2-4 NCV). 2) Don’t try to do everything yourself. That’s a fast track to becoming overwhelmed. Just because God’s given us a task to do, it doesn’t necessarily mean we have to work alone at it. Sometimes it means working as part of a team and getting it done through them. Elijah wasn’t alone. God told him, ‘I have seven thousand people left in Israel who have never bowed down before Baal’ (1 Kings 19:18 NCV). God will bring people to help us when we need them. 3) Realise your assignment isn’t over. God showed Elijah there were still kings to anoint, battles to win, and a successor to prepare (see v.16). When we’re at breaking point, He doesn’t get angry with us. In fact, His Word says, ‘He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the dimly burning flame. He will encourage the fainthearted, those tempted to despair’ (Isaiah 42:3 TLB). We can always draw on His strength.
What Now? Create an action plan to help you when you feel you’re approaching your breaking point. Make sure you include spending time with God, asking for His wisdom on the situation, and drawing on His strength, plus any Bible verses that encourage and remind you of His love and support.
Right after his greatest victory, Elijah became so depressed that he reach his breaking point and asked God to take his life (see 1 Kings 19:4). He had just called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, when he went from exhilaration to exhaustion. And it happened very quickly. We forget that even when we’re successful and love what we do, it can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Exhaustion made Elijah lose perspective. He had just defeated 850 false prophets (see 1 Kings 18:19), and now he was running from one woman: Jezebel. We can often find that exhaustion takes the place of faith. It can distort our thinking and make us forget God’s power and promises. Mental fatigue combined with physical exhaustion is a draining combination that can bring hopelessness and create the illusion that we have no options. Fear made Elijah isolate himself. Leaving his servant in Beersheba, he went into the wilderness and told God, ‘I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too’ (1 Kings 19:10 NIV). When we’ve reached our breaking point, it isn’t the time to isolate ourselves. It’s a time when we need to reach out for God and the people who love us and can help us get back up. Even Paul needed help. After writing, ‘When we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. We found trouble all around us. We had fighting on the outside and fear on the inside,’ he added, ‘But God, who comforts those who are troubled, comforted us when Titus came’ (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 NCV). When we’re approaching our breaking point, let’s try and remember to reach out to our encouragers, and most importantly, to God.
What Now? Thank God for the people in your life who are your encouragers, who help you regain your perspective and resilience when you’re exhausted by the situation you’re in.
Conflict can bring out the best or the worst in us. But conflict itself isn’t the problem – it’s how we handle it that can make the difference. Abram’s priority was the family; Lot’s was ‘getting rich’. Abram’s concern was harmony; Lot’s was self-preservation. Abram was driven by his faith; Lot by his greed. But watch how the story turned out. 1) What should have happened? Lot should have had more respect for Abram, the leader and head of the household. There are times when we need to point out that a leader is wrong; just because they’re in authority doesn’t make them automatically right. But we also need to discern when we should respect a leader’s experience and guidance, even if it isn’t exactly what we want. 2) What could have happened? Abram could have ‘pulled rank’ and enforced his will, but he didn’t. He could have been concerned about winning, but wasn’t. He could have called in his debts with Lot, but refused to. 3) What did happen? First, Abram elevated relationship above personal advantage. Second, he gave up what was due to him to keep peace in the family. Third, he ‘turned the other cheek’ and deferred to Lot. The stronger made allowance for the weaker. The mature showed mercy toward the immature. Did it make Abram the weaker man and Lot the stronger? Did Abram lose and Lot win? No, because God had last word, and kept His promise: ‘Look…northward and southward and eastward and westward…all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever’ (Genesis 13:14-15 NASB). Doing things God’s way is the best road to peace.
What Now? If you’re involved in a disagreement with someone who holds a position of authority, ask God to help you discern if this is an occasion for respecting their leadership, even if you don’t agree with them, or if He’s telling you to stand firm and refuse to back down.
We can learn a lot from the conflict between Abram and Lot, especially when it comes to conflict within our families and with those who are close to us. Lot had lived peacefully in his uncle Abram’s home, and Abram had taken him along on the journey of faith, when suddenly friction arose. Their growing herds of cattle were getting too big to share the same pastures, so Abram suggested they split the land between them, and offered Lot first choice. He chose the best land, leaving the rest to his uncle. Lot moved to rich, sinful Sodom, but Abram built an altar to the Lord. So: 1) Consider the facts. Abram was God’s appointed leader and Israel’s primary patriarch. God had promised him a homeland, blessing and protection, and that he would be the father of a great nation. And above all these, God promised that in him, ‘All the families of the earth will be blessed!’ (Genesis 12:3 NASB). Abram was the senior member of the family, and he had shown love and generosity to his nephew, valuing their relationship over his personal interests. Abram deserved consideration and respect from his nephew. But Lot never gave it to him. 2) Consider the point. Abram could have become angry with Lot, but he didn’t. He chose not to ‘pull rank’, or ‘insist on his rights’, or ‘show who’s boss’. He proved that we can trust God to bring justice for us. Abram chose grace over law, humility over pride, self-denial over ‘rights,’ mercy over justice, love over lust, and character over popular opinion. Even when we’ve been wronged, we can still choose the path of grace, and let God deal with the rest.
What Now? Ask God to help you choose the path of grace, humility and mercy whenever you’re involved in a conflict or argument with someone.
The life of John Wesley is a great example of the scriptural principle ‘making the most of your time’. During his lifetime, he wrote, edited and published a huge amount of work. Among other things, he produced a four-volume commentary on the entire Bible, a five-volume work on natural philosophy, a four-volume work on church history, and a dictionary of the English language. He also wrote histories of England and Rome; books about the languages of Hebrew, Latin, Greek, French, and English; three works on medicine; six volumes of church music; and seven volumes of sermons; and he edited a library of fifty volumes known as the ‘Christian Library’. Even for a very productive person, that sounds like a full-time effort. But he still made time for God and ministry. He averaged three sermons a day for fifty-four years and preached over 44,000 times in his life. His work meant that he travelled more than 200,000 miles – that's about 5,000 miles a year. Wesley packed so much into each day! Today, travelling is much faster and easier, we have instant communication, plus countless other things designed to make everyday tasks quicker and more convenient. Surely we can spare a few minutes for God! When we feel Him urging us to spend time with Him or to do something for His kingdom, let's remember John Wesley's example and willingly give our time to God. ‘Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity’ (v.15-16 NIV).
What Now? Try incorporating Bible study or prayer time into some of your daily activities – for example, you could read a chapter of the Bible during a bus journey, pray for a friend while you’re waiting for a YouTube ad to play through, or sing worship songs while doing the washing up.
The Bible tells us: ‘Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well…But the herdsmen of Gerar quarrelled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.”…Then they dug another well, and they quarrelled over that one also.…And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land”’ (Genesis 26:19-22 NKJV). It's a great example of forgiveness in action. During a drought, Isaac dug wells and his enemies moved in and claimed them. It wasn’t fair, but instead of retaliating, he moved on and dug new wells, and God blessed him greatly. When we refuse to forgive those who've hurt us, we're left feeling incomplete and empty. But when we choose forgiveness, God fills the emptiness we feel. As long as we share this planet with other imperfect human beings, we won't avoid being hurt. There's no way to avoid it. When the hurt goes deep, it can be really hard to forgive. That doesn't mean we should go around pretending that nothing's wrong and denying how we really feel. The first step towards healing is acknowledging our feelings. And Jesus gives us the second step: ‘Pray for those who mistreat you’ (Luke 6:28 NIV). When we do that, something unexpected happens. Our hearts soften and we start to see the other person through God’s eyes instead of through the (often misleading) lens of our own raw emotions. But what if we don’t actually want to forgive them? Then here's step three. We need to acknowledge our unwillingness to forgive and ask God to make us willing. Pray, ‘Restore me, and I will return.’
What Now? If you’re struggling to forgive someone, try taking the steps in today’s reading: tell God how you’re really feeling, pray for the person you haven’t forgiven, and ask God to help you take the next steps on the path to forgiving them.
Long after we think we’ve forgiven someone, we can still be harbouring hard feelings. Some signs that we still have work to do are these: 1) We keep thinking about the people who’ve hurt us and become resentful. 2) We avoid them. 3) We rehearse the incident mentally, replaying it in our minds, then bring it up in conversation. 4) We take every opportunity to remind the people who’ve hurt us of what they did. What we’re actually doing is trying to justify our unforgiving attitude. There are two things God won’t share. 1) The praise that’s due to Him. ‘I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise’ (Isaiah 42:8 NLT). 2) The right to ‘settle the score’. Paul wrote: ‘Never take revenge…the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good’ (Romans 12:19-21 NLT). So forgive, hand the situation over to God, and trust Him to work it out. When ‘people insulted Christ…he did not insult them in return…He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him’ (1 Peter 2:23 NCV). Resentment chains us, and we end up as a hostage to unforgiveness. Dwelling on something that someone did to us, or how someone took credit for our work, or what someone has said about us, makes us – not them – miserable. We walk around angry, and they probably aren’t thinking about it. Let’s resolve not to allow anyone to have that kind of control over us. Instead, forgive, leave the situation with God, and move on.
What Now? If you’re holding on to any feelings of resentment or hurt, make the decision to hand them over to God today.
Before God called the prophet Isaiah to a position of leadership in the nation, He adjusted his vision. That’s because uncorrected vision can lead to skewed perspective, poor judgment, and wasted effort. Israel’s constant rebellion was putting them at risk and making them vulnerable. They needed a leader with clear vision. So, the first thing God did was give Isaiah a vision of His glory and power. Without it, he couldn’t have done the job. Without this life-changing encounter with God, he would never have been strong enough to complete his mission. And the same applies to us. Whatever God calls us to do will require more than just a job description and a few basic skills. We’ll also need a vision of His glory and limitless power to reassure us that He’s more than ready for the challenges we’ll face along the way (see Ephesians 3:20). The second thing God did was adjust Isaiah’s vision of himself. When our God-concept is adjusted, we’re ready for a self-concept adjustment. It has to happen in that order. If we start with step two, we’ll give up before we begin. Isaiah cried, ‘I am not pure, and I live among people who are not pure’ (Isaiah 6:5 NCV). Isaiah realised he was no better than the people he had been called to reach. Until we see ourselves realistically, honestly, and humbly, our God-given mission won’t succeed (see Romans 12:3). The third thing God did was respond to Isaiah’s humility. An angel touched his lips with God’s purifying fire and said, ‘Your sin is taken away’ (Isaiah 6:7 NCV). God doesn’t call perfect people. He calls humble, honest, forgiven people, and crowns their efforts with success, regardless of the challenges they face.
What Now? Thank God for always being there to reassure us of His limitless power so we can complete the task He’s assigned us in His strength and not our own.
If you’re going through a difficult time right now, let Paul’s words encourage you. ‘We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralised; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorised, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken’ (v.8-9 MSG). Paul was talking to followers of Christ who were having a rough time. Here’s what he told them: ‘For all [these] things are for your sake…Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day. For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory’ (v.15-17 AMP). When we’re under pressure, our faith has an opportunity to grow. God knows exactly how much pressure to apply in order to help us grow. Sometimes He’ll let us get to 1) a place where we’re out of answers and our resources seem to be depleted, 2) a place where we’re tired of Satan stealing what we know God has promised, and 3) a place where we’re no longer willing to let other people’s opinions control us. (Remember, with God there are no hopeless situations, just people who are feeling hopeless about them.) It’s when there’s nothing more we can do that we start trusting God to do the impossible. As Paul says in verse 17, compared to the eternity and our everlasting reward in heaven, our trouble is fleeting. The challenges we’re experiencing now might actually be blessings in disguise – an opportunity to experience God’s unfolding grace and power at work.
What Now? Share the Bible verses in today’s reading with someone you know who’s going through a challenging time at the moment. Pray that God would draw close to them and help their faith in Him increase.
The philosopher Seneca the Younger said, ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’ As we read in the Bible about people that God used to accomplish great things, we’ll discover that a lot of their time was spent preparing for what seems like a relatively brief assignment. The ego in each of us craves two things – limelight and lastingness! But with God only one thing matters: doing His will. When we can say like Paul, ‘I have finished the race,’ we’ll know we’ve lived successfully. Whether we’re called to business, art, education, politics, medicine, or ministry, this principle is constant: opportunity comes to those who are prepared. God uses people who are willing to put in the preparation and take time to learn and grow. That means every experience we have in life has potential value. But it’s not enough to just get prepared and ready; we must stay ready. Solomon wrote, ‘Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life’ (Proverbs 4:13 NIV). To put it in a practical context, knowledge in most fields doubles about every five years. That means unless we’re prepared to keep growing and learning, we’ll end up with outdated skills that don’t match the challenges of the world we’re living in. Think of the technology we had just a few years ago compared to what we have now. It’s constantly changing, and that means we have to constantly adapt and be open to new experiences and ways of doing things; otherwise, we’ll get left behind and struggle to pick up where we left off. So let’s look out for new opportunities and be prepared for God to tell us to move.
What Now? At the end of each day for the next week, write a few notes about anything you’ve learned from the things you’ve experienced during the day. At the end of the week, thank God for the list of things you’ve learned!
When we’ve experienced rejection, it can show itself in a need to isolate and withdraw or in a drive to constantly ‘prove ourselves’ (or to prove others wrong). The Bible says Enoch ‘was a man who truly pleased God’, and he did it ‘by faith’ (v.5 NCV). God sees us differently from the way our parents or peers do. Other people’s acceptance is often based on our performance, whereas God’s acceptance is based on our position. Paul wrote, ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). God sees us wrapped in the righteousness of Christ; and that means we’re always acceptable to and accepted by Him. That doesn’t mean we don’t need to work hard; it means working for the right reasons. Instead of striving for God’s approval, we serve Him out of gratitude. Once we know that our identity and worth aren’t tied to the value of our possessions, the homes we live in, how much we’ll earn, or the people we mix with, it changes our motivation. Instead of being concerned about the neighbourhood we live in, we become concerned about our neighbours. Instead of focusing on how much money we make, our focus becomes how much we can do to help God’s kingdom. Instead of worrying whether we’ll ever have a fantastic job, our goal is to do every task, big or small, with excellence and integrity. In other words, we’re doing it for the right reasons.
What Now? If you know someone who’s experienced a rejection recently, send them a message or have a chat to let them know that you care about them, and also that God loves them and will never reject them.
The word ‘servant’ can have negative implications, but that’s not the intention in this Scripture. Knowing how pressures and people distract us from our God-given purpose, Paul used the strongest possible language, doulos, to remind us that we’re supposed to be absolutely committed to the will of our loving God. Jesus loved people so much that one day He would die to redeem them, but that didn’t stop Him from saying no when He needed to. Pleasing and appeasing people to win their approval is never a good idea because it puts someone other than God in the driver’s seat of our lives. Instead of letting Himself be side-tracked, Jesus: 1) refused to let other people’s idea of what was important keep Him from His mission; 2) recognised that doing God’s will was more important than trying to meet everybody else’s expectations; and 3) made prayer and uninterrupted time with His Father a top priority. It wasn’t always easy for Him, and it won’t be easy for us either. Early in His ministry when word spread about His miracles, a ‘whole town gathered at the door and Jesus healed many’ (Mark 1:33-34 NIV). The next morning, ‘while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. That is why I have come”’ (v.35-38 NIV). Jesus was a servant to God’s will, and we must be too.
What Now? We might struggle with the idea of being God’s ‘servants’ at first. So today, write a list of reasons you love God. Let your desire to be part of His plan grow naturally from your love for Him. He doesn’t force us to serve Him. It’s our choice out of love.
Because they disobeyed God, the Jews spent seventy years as slaves in Babylon. They lost their joy, their freedom, and their identity; all the things that make life worth living. But that wasn’t the end of their story. God hadn’t finished with them. He told them this: ‘After Babylonia has been the strongest nation for seventy years, I will be kind and bring you back to Jerusalem, just as I have promised. I will bless you with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not of suffering. You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you and accept your worship’ (v.10-15 CEV). Maybe you’ve veered off course somewhere in your journey with God. We all have at some time. But when we read biblical accounts of the people God blessed and used, we’ll discover that failing isn’t unusual. Often, it’s part of the learning curve. The fact is, there’s nothing in our past or present that God can’t use. When we come into this world, none of us knows exactly what we’re supposed to do with our lives. And that’s okay. Just start where you are right now. When God puts your life back on track, He starts by giving you a sense of hope, because only God-given hope will sustain you through the rough times. If you’re wondering whether you’ll ever get to where you’re supposed to be in life, go back and reread what God promised His people: ‘a future filled with hope’ (v.11 CEV). And the God who gave Israel another chance will give you one, too, when you turn to Him.
What Now? If you’ve wandered away from God, take time to ask Him to help you get back on track. Pray: ‘Father, I’m sorry I haven’t followed Your plan. I know I’m not where I should be, but I want to come back to You. Help me make my next step one that’s in Your direction.’
The key to Bible study is to do it daily, systematically, and prayerfully. The psalmist prayed, ‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.’ This involves three things: 1) God will show you the truth about Himself. You‘ll discover His nature, His opinions, and what He values. And you’ll discover that your heavenly Father is the best possible parent – full of love, compassion and care for every single one of His children. 2) God will show you the truth about others. You’ll begin to understand and appreciate their places in your life. You’ll also learn to recognise and anticipate their needs and the role God wants you to play in helping them. That’s because when God blesses us, we should do our best to pass that blessing on to others in some way. 3) God will show you the truth about yourself. You’ll start to grasp and appreciate how important you are to Him. Be prepared for Him to point out your problems and weaknesses. But that’s not all He’ll do. He’ll also show you the possibilities He sees in you and the plans He has for you (see Jeremiah 29:11). So, set aside time each day to study your Bible. And spend part of it simply reading, without trying to dig into complex theological concepts. Read and absorb what God has to say, and let His Spirit speak to your heart. There’s so much to learn from His Word. Let’s make it a mission to gain every insight we can from it and get to know God and His wisdom more deeply than we’ve ever done before.
What Now? Choose a chapter of the Bible that you haven’t read for a while or one that you tend to avoid. Before starting to read, pray that God would give you new insights about Himself and His kingdom through the passage you’re about to read.
If you’ve been a member of a church for any length of time, you’ll probably have seen that jealousy, trouble, selfishness, conflict, and bitterness can all show up in the family of God, just like they do everywhere else. Paul and Barnabas were a brilliant ministry team, but they allowed their differences over John Mark to separate them to the point where they could no longer work together. Later Paul changed his mind, but there was no going back. He appealed ‘to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News’ (Philippians 4:2-3 NLT). Conflict can get in the way of our prayers, take our focus off lost souls, and make us ineffective in our ministry. We need to learn to respect each other’s talents, perspectives, and positions instead of envying them or belittling them. In other words, we should learn to disagree without being disagreeable. The Bible says: ‘Where jealousy and selfishness are, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living.’ (James 3:16-18 NCV). When conflict arises in your church, make it your mission to sow seeds of peace.
What Now? Are there any disagreements going on in your church at the moment? What could you do to help those involved resolve their conflict and find an outcome that restores peace and harmony?
King Solomon wrote: ‘Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding’ (v.6-9 NLT). We usually embellish the truth because we want these two things from our audience: their attention and their approval. But eventually, it backfires. Over time, people discover our willingness to stretch the truth, and we end up losing credibility. And once we lose that, it takes a long time to get it back – if we ever do. Using a lot of sweeping, generalising statements like ‘Everybody does it,’ or ‘They never…’ or ‘They always…’ can cause people to doubt our sincerity and trustworthiness. There’s nothing wrong with saying something with enthusiasm, but we mustn’t let it slip into exaggeration. We should stick to the facts and resist the temptation to bend the truth in order to be the centre of attention. Joseph’s brothers resented the favour of God that was on his life, so they threw him into a pit, dipped his coat in blood, then took it back home and showed it to their ageing father. They didn’t say a word. They simply let the old man conclude that his son had been devoured by a wild beast. And what’s more, they allowed him to live with that cruel lie for years. In Revelation 22:15, people ‘who love lies and tell lies’ are lumped together with ‘the evil people, those who do evil magic, who sin sexually, who murder, [and] who worship idols’ (NCV). That’s a good incentive for always being truthful! Today make your prayer the words of Psalm 120:2: ‘Rescue me, O LORD, from liars and from all deceitful people’ (NLT).
What Now? As you go through the day, try to be aware of times when you’re tempted to exaggerate or generalise (pay particular attention to phrases that start with ‘everybody’, ‘nobody’, ‘we always’, ‘people never’, and so on). Try to modify what you’re saying to avoid exaggeration.
If you didn’t tell them, would the people around you realise that you’re a follower of Christ just from what they see of your actions and attitude? If you’re not sure, have an honest think about how you’d answer these questions: 1) What’s your attitude like towards people in authority, such as your parents, a tutor, a boss, or team leader? Do you resent their status or respect their authority? 2) How do you treat people who are younger, not as skilled, or less experienced than you? Are you critical towards them, or do you try to encourage them? 3) How’s your timekeeping? Do you do your best to meet deadlines and arrive on time, or do you find punctuality isn’t really a priority? 4) Do you try to do everything with a spirit of excellence, or do you tend to have a ‘that’s good enough’ attitude? The way we deal with all of these things can tell us a lot about how we’re demonstrating Christ in our everyday lives. Of course, there’s much more to it than just those things, but they are all things that people around us will take notice of, whether we’re at home, university, work or church. Jesus said: ‘You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?…You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill…I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God’ (Matthew 5:13-16 MSG).
What Now? Which of the four points in today’s reading is your weakest? Today, ask God to help you come up with some strategies and practical steps you can take to improve in that area.
The relationship between Jonathan and David in the Bible was so strong that they would make sacrifices and give things up for one another, they were completely loyal, they were willing to compromise, and they were even prepared to lay down their lives for each other if necessary. But even though theirs was such a strong and true friendship, the Bible tells us that, ‘Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.’ We can be sure in our own minds that we care about someone, but they can only know that we love and care for them when we show them and when we tell them. The people we love can’t read our minds, so we need to demonstrate how we feel about them through our actions and words. When a close friend leaves for another city, the parting is usually accompanied with hugs, giving gifts, and words telling how much the friend is loved and will be missed. People sitting at the bedside of a dying family member often find the most important words for that moment are those of love. But there’s no reason for us to wait until a separation happens to show and tell how much we care about someone. We can make opportunities every day. Send a quick text. Make a phone call. Buy flowers. Bake a cake. Help clean the car. There are so many ways to say, ‘I love you.’ We shouldn’t neglect the people in our lives who really matter to us, and we shouldn’t waste an opportunity to reaffirm our love and let them know that they have our support.
What Now? Don’t let the day end without saying ‘I love you’ and doing something that shows how much you care about a loved one in your life.
Healthy confrontation calls for putting the other person’s wellbeing above our own interests. Here are three things that can help us confront others in the right way: 1) Be sure. There must be a good reason to confront. And confrontation should be a rare event, not an everyday one. We shouldn’t get pleasure out of the experience. If we do, we seriously need to examine our own motives. Before confronting someone, we must answer these questions truthfully: Am I feeling superior? Am I redirecting my anger towards this person over a completely different issue? Am I putting this person down in order to feel good about myself? 2) Be specific. No matter how tactful and gracious our words might be, if we’re vague about the reason for the confrontation, we’ll never get anywhere in helping the other person to improve. We need to be sure of the reason for the confrontation, and then make it clear to the other person. 3) Be sensitive. Every situation is different, so a season of prayer should always happen before any face-to-face encounter. Otherwise, we’re setting ourselves up for problems, and the other person will sense uncertainty and uneasiness in our words. Don’t run that risk. If we haven’t taken the time to pray and get God involved, we absolutely mustn’t jump into the situation on our own. Without God’s input, we’ll leave a trail of confusion, resentment, and wounded souls. Another important bit of advice is to make sure our words and tone of voice are adapted to the person we’re talking to. So in short, if you need to confront someone, pay close attention to timing, choose your words carefully, and most importantly, pray for guidance.
What Now? If you feel God’s prompting you to confront someone, make sure you take time to pray and ask Him for confirmation. If He says yes, pray that you’d handle the situation with tact, care and grace.
We don’t enjoy confrontation, but it’s impossible to grow without it. Healthy confrontation calls for ‘speaking the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15 NIV) to the people we value. Just as God confronts each of us in the areas where we need to grow, He expects us to do the same for others. It isn’t easy. But here’s some advice and guidance to help when we’re faced with confronting someone: 1) Talk to the person, not about them. Healthy confrontation should be direct and, whenever possible, done in private. It calls for thoughtful words that we deliver firmly but graciously. When people are hurting, we need to treat them with love and care. 2) Don’t exaggerate. Instead of generalising, we should give specific examples. When Nathan the prophet confronted King David about his sin with Bathsheba, he was specific. We also need to keep our own emotions in check. That might call for waiting until any anger we feel has faded (which might take a lot of prayer on our part!). 3) Don’t guilt-trip them; help them. We should leave the person we’ve confronted with a clear direction on how to improve. Leaving them confused, hurt, and criticised isn’t fair, isn’t constructive, and can lead to more intense issues and unwanted complications. The best approach is to calmly identify the problem and suggest ways it can be resolved. Our goal isn’t to expose somebody but to show them a better way. 4) Don’t be critical; be compassionate. If we’re over-critical, we’ll find ourselves condemning rather than confronting. In all honesty, every one of us is travelling on a bumpy road with lots of potential for mishaps, so we should approach others with love and concern.
What Now? Is God is prompting you to give a word of correction to someone? Before speaking to them, write down what they’ve done wrong, and a solution or suggestion of how to improve. Stick to the facts and be clear about what you need to say before taking action.
Jesus was a problem solver. People were spiritually hungry so He said, ‘I am the bread of life’ (John 6:35). They were sick so He ‘went about doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil.’ They needed guidance, so He said, ‘Come, follow me’ (Mark 1:17 NIV). They were mentally and physically exhausted, so He promised, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28 NLT). He discerned what someone needed, knew what He could do to meet that need, and provided it for them. He looked for solutions. Everything God makes can meet a need and solve a problem. And He made each one of us. We’re not here by accident. God told Jeremiah, ‘Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations’ (Jeremiah 1:5 NCV). God created each of us to fulfil a unique purpose. Jeremiah’s was to be ‘a prophet to the nations’. What are you called and gifted to do? That’s where you’ll find your highest level of joy! If you’re not sure what your calling is yet, try starting here: What could you offer to help others and meet some of their needs? Think of your contribution to others as an assignment from God. And in the meantime, keep listening, talking and praying to God about your calling. At the right time, He’ll reveal it to you and show you the steps you need to take.
What Now? Consider the question in today’s reading. What could you do today to help meet a need of someone you know? Try to do it before the day ends!
At Oscar time, Hollywood gives awards to the best actor, producer, director, editor, costume designer, and so on. But a big part of their success is down to the people we don’t see. Without the supporting cast and all the work done behind the scenes by the technical and artistic crews, there would be no place for the big stars and the best movies. The Oscars remind us that the brightest stars can only shine because of the supporting stars whose lights are hidden. Scripture tells us that God also has a supporting cast; people who are happy to work behind the scenes. They’re the ones who go about serving quietly, gladly, and faithfully, doing thousands of little things that make a huge difference. The Bible’s filled with behind-the-scenes people, like the unnamed ‘man carrying a pitcher of water’ who led Peter and John to the upper room for Jesus’ meeting with His disciples on the evening before His crucifixion. Or people like ‘James the less’ (Mark 15:40 KJV), a relatively unknown disciple who’s often overlooked by people, but never by God. So whatever you do, even if you think it’s small and insignificant, here’s a promise from the Bible: ‘God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love for him by caring for other believers’ (Hebrews 6:10 NLT). God appreciates everything we do in His name. Jesus said, ‘I am coming soon! I will bring my reward with me and I will repay each one of you for what you have done’ (Revelation 22:12 NCV). People may not appreciate the little things we do, but nothing is too small to escape God’s notice.
What ow? Put on your favourite film. When it gets to the end credits, don’t turn them off – read each name listed and pray for every person credited. Pray that they would come to know God (if they don’t already), that their relationship with Him would grow, and thank Him for every skill He’s blessed each person with.
The more we discover about God’s creation, the more we realise what an amazing designer He is and how intricate His designs really are. Here’s just one example: Andrew Newberg is a neuroscientist who specialises in studying the relationship between spiritual phenomena, religion, and the human brain. His research has led to the discovery that there are areas in our brains that can be shown to respond to prayer, reading and meditating on sacred texts, group worship, hymn singing, and empathy for other people. The brain’s frontal lobe is used in focusing attention, rational thinking, and decision-making. It responds to prayer and meditation by helping to reduce stress levels, enhance our memory, and increase our capacity for compassion. Newberg’s research suggests that praying for even just a few minutes a day could help to slow the natural decline in our brains as we get older; on top of that, prayer and reading Scripture also appear to deactivate areas in the brain associated with anger, guilt, anxiety, depression, fear, resentment, and pessimism. The Bible tells us that God designed us to have a relationship with Him and that we need to ‘pray without ceasing’, and Newberg’s research seems to back that up. So let’s allow the word of Christ to dwell in us richly (see Colossians 3:16 KJV), and join with the psalmist in praising our ingenious and loving Father: ‘Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous’ (Psalm 139:14 NLT). He wants to have a relationship with us so much that He hard-wired us for that exact purpose. That’s how much He loves us.
What Now? If you don’t already, set aside some time every day for Bible reading, prayer, and worship. If you can’t manage to do all three together, try taking several shorter times throughout the day and focus on a different thing each time.
Tests and challenges, disagreeable people, and frustrating circumstances are potentially upsetting, but they’re not going to go away anytime soon. However, the good news is that we don't have to carry these problems with us. The truth is, it’s not what happens to us that determines our mood; it’s what happens in us! The way we respond is a choice. We can imagine that life would immediately change for the better if we could change people and circumstances. What we forget is that even then, there would be new people and new circumstances to deal with that hadn't occurred to us. We can't control the world on the outside, but we do have some control over the world on the inside. Proverbs tells us, ‘A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls’; in other words, a city that’s open to attack. The only way to be certain of feeling secure is to forget about controlling people and things, and to focus on maintaining our own protective walls of self-control. People and circumstances can make us feel inadequate and vulnerable, but the Bible tells us that ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ (1 Peter 5:5 NRSV). In fact, recognising our own inadequacies is the first step on the journey to wholeness. The second step is accepting that only God can empower us with self-control (see Philippians 2:13). Step three lies in understanding that self-control doesn’t come from our own determination; it’s a product of the Holy Spirit – a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). When we submit to the Spirit who lives within us, He'll strengthen our walls of self-control and empower us to stand strong against the enemies of temptation, anger, and frustration.
What Now? When something frustrates or annoys you, hold on to the fact that even though you can’t always change the circumstances, you do have a choice in how you respond to them. Ask God to help you react in a way that’s pleasing to Him.
When we're feeling anxious about the future, we should take a moment to stop and remind ourselves that two of God’s names are ‘Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last’ (Revelation 22:13 KJV). Wherever we’re going, God's already there! Jesus said, ‘The sheep hear his voice…he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice’ (John 10:3-4 NKJV). Sheep get to know the Shepherd’s voice by spending time with Him. 'He goes before them’, which means that God can and will direct us. Every time we reach a breaking point, we have a choice: either give up, or trust God’s guidance and persevere. Long-distance runners use the expression ‘hitting the wall’ to describe the point where they feel they can’t take another step. When they’re exhausted and feel like giving up, they know if they push through the pain, they'll get their second wind, which will carry them over the finish line. There are times we need to just push on through the challenges to reach victory in our lives. It isn't an easy thing to do, but we can be sure Jesus is with us every step of the way, encouraging us and cheering us on. If we've picked up burdens that aren't ours to carry, let's put them down and leave them for God. If the burdens we do need to carry feel too heavy, let's give them to God. ‘He has never let you down, never looked the other way when you were being kicked around. He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening’ (Psalm 22:24 MSG). The more we trust God, the less room there'll be for stress.
What Now? Are you carrying any stresses or burdens that you don’t need to? Today, have a talk with God about the things that are weighing you down, and hand them over to Him one by one.
When we’re stressed, the surge of negative emotions we feel can be overwhelming. It's easy to make wrong decisions, submit to wrong impulses, move in the wrong direction, and explode at people when we feel like that. If stress and anxiety are overwhelming us, it's important that we take care of ourselves by asking a doctor or counsellor for help. But alongside that, the psalmist teaches one of the best ways to help us get those stressful feelings under control: ‘Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you.’ We need to unburden our souls to God. It’s no coincidence that a lot of the psalms start with David crying out to God for help and end with him rejoicing because he vented his frustrations to the right person – God! Life isn't only about what happens to us; it's also about how we respond. We'll never be totally free from angst, but we can find comfort by following this advice from Paul: ‘All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times…but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort – we get a full measure of that, too’ (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 MSG). Pastor Rick Warren put it this way: ‘The more you pray, the less you’ll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry.’
What Now? Use Rick Warren’s quote as inspiration for your own action plan: whenever you think to yourself, ‘I’m panicky and worried,’ say out loud, ‘I’m going to pray and worship God’ – and then do it!
In the parable of the sower, Jesus said the seed fell into four different places. Today we're looking at one of those places: ‘The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are…people who hear the message. But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything’ (v.18-19 CEV). What are some of the things that can keep God’s Word 'choked out' of our lives? 1) Thinking that we can't trust God and worrying that He won’t take care of us. 2) Thinking we'd be happier if we were richer, had a better phone, the latest trainers, a better car, and so on. But it doesn’t work that way. The more ‘things’ we have, the more we have to protect, look after, and worry about. And often we find that once we have what we thought would make us happy, we move the goalposts and say, 'If only I had a bit more money/the phone that’s just been released/a newer car...etc.' Worrying about material things can ‘choke’ the life out of us. Real peace and true happiness come from trusting God for what we need, and knowing that if something is right for us, He'll provide it; and if it’s not, He has a better plan. The closer we get to God, the more we realise we can trust Him. Jesus said, ‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (Matthew 6:33 NLT). Let's make prayer and Bible reading a priority so we can draw closer to God and see our worries shrink before Him.
What Now? Look up some Bible verses that speak to you about trusting God. Take some time to meditate on them and to fill your mind with words of trust rather than words of worry.
Every day we’re bombarded by the ‘ideal’ way to look. Whether it’s on social media, adverts, celebrity news, and so on, there are so many things and places that can reinforce the idea that our value comes from the way we look. There’s nothing wrong with us trying to look our best and taking care of ourselves if we’re doing it from the perspective of appreciating God’s creation. The problem comes when our appearance turns into a source of pride and makes us take our focus away from God. There’s so much more to us than our clothes, hairstyle, and body shape. It’s a mistake to focus on the outside and not appreciate and cultivate the unseen qualities God’s given us. When God made you, He didn’t just decorate the outside; He gave you ‘inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in’ (1 Peter 3:4 MSG). Paul reminds us, ‘What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever’ (2 Corinthians 4:18 NCV). It’s a gentle reminder that our looks aren’t lasting, but our inner qualities are. Paul was described like this: ‘in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing’ (2 Corinthians 10:10 NIV). But while his physical appearance wasn’t notable, what he will be remembered for are these words: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, a crown is being held for me – a crown for being right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give the crown on that day – not only to me but to all those who have waited with love for him to come again’ (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NCV). So today, let’s focus on our inner, not our outer, qualities.
What Now? Each time you do something to enhance your appearance, like brushing your hair or putting on jewellery, pray that your inner qualities would shine even more brightly and reflect aspects of God’s character to those around you.
The more we learn to trust God, the more we’ll learn to be patient. David said, ‘Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire’ (v.3-4 CEV). We might be striving and struggling to achieve something now, but if we just trusted in God’s timing, it would come easily to us when the moment was right. Sometimes we’re not ready for the things we want, so God withholds them until we’re properly equipped (as long as they’re part of His plan for us). For example, we might want a better job, but God makes us wait until we’ve developed the skills and knowledge we need, and are ready for the extra responsibility, before giving us the opportunity. In the Amplified Bible, we read, ‘Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]’ (Colossians 3:12 AMP). God teaches us how to wait, and how to have a good attitude while we’re waiting. The Message paraphrases James’ words: ‘Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed’ (James 1:4 MSG). The more we realise that God keeps His promises, the more we’ll be willing to trust His timing, however long it takes. God sometimes allows certain things to happen to teach us how to 1) maintain our faith when times get tough, 2) show grace under pressure by controlling our responses, and 3) develop new skills and better ways of thinking. We may think we know what we want and where we should be, but God really does know. So let’s ‘be patient and trust the LORD.’
What Now? Ask yourself these two questions: What am I waiting for at the moment? and What is God teaching me and developing within me while I’m waiting? If you’re finding the second question difficult to answer, ask God to help you see he work He’s doing within you.
Even when other people don’t see your potential, Jesus does. He told Simon Peter and Andrew, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ Where everyone else just saw ordinary fishermen, Jesus saw the capacity to change the world. There are two sides to following Him: you believe in Jesus, and He believes in you. But we can have doubts. When Nathaniel was invited to meet Jesus, he was doubtful: ‘Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the man that Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about him. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathaniel said to Philip, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip answered, “Come and see”’ (John 1:45-46 NCV). Even after witnessing Jesus’ miracles for three years, His disciples still had doubts and moments of uncertainty. Several times He said to them, ‘You of little faith.’ He knew they were anxious about what would happen when He left them and went back to heaven, so He said, ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever’ (John 14:16 NCV). The Greek word for helper (or comforter) is parakletos, which means ‘one who comes alongside to help you’. And the helper God sent was the Holy Spirit. There’ll never be a day when we don’t need God’s help, and there’ll never be a day when it isn’t available to us. The truth is, even when we doubt, don’t believe, or find it difficult to trust, Jesus never gives up on us. He loves us at all times and wants to help us. Today, know that Jesus believes in you!
What Now? At any moment of the day when you’re feeling unsure or lacking confidence, say to yourself, ‘Jesus believes in me.’
Rejection can come from all kinds of sources, and most of us will experience it at some point. We might have a university or job application rejected. An idea we’ve had or a piece of work we’ve done might be rejected. We might experience rejection in a relationship. When we’re struggling and hurting with the pain of rejection, it can often show itself in things like these: 1) Perfectionism. But this doesn’t fulfil us, because we’re not perfect – only God is – so we’ll never reach the impossibly high standards we’ve set for ourselves. 2) People pleasing. But other people’s needs and expectations vary so much, which makes it impossible for us to keep everyone happy. 3) Becoming defensive. Rejection can feel very much like a personal attack (even if it’s not meant to be), so we try to protect ourselves by attacking back. But harsh words spoken with an angry temper just escalate the problem. 4) Isolation. We want to protect ourselves, so we might try to distance ourselves from others to avoid being criticised and rejected again. But that can lead to loneliness and bitterness, as well as missing out on some of the great connections God’s planned for us. Rejection is never an easy thing to take. But there’s one thing we can be sure of: God will never reject us. He values every one of us. We’re unique, wonderfully made by Him. ‘Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are.’ When we accept how much He loves and values us, other people’s opinions won’t matter nearly as much to us.
What Now? Memorise a couple of Bible verses that talk about how much God values you, then you can call them to mind whenever you face any type of rejection.
When we’re involved in God’s calling, there’s a balance we need to maintain between the times we experience alone with Him, and actually going out and doing what He’s tasked us with. The power we need to succeed in our God-given assignments comes from the time we spend with God, not with people. But we can’t fulfil our assignments if we don’t take action. First, Jesus called His disciples to Him; then, He sent them out from Him. One day He took three of His disciples to the top of the Mount of Transfiguration. ‘His face shone like the sun…there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus’ (Matthew 17:2-3 NIV). Peter was elated by the experience: ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters’ (v.4 NIV). Peter wanted to stay, but God spoke from heaven and said, ‘This is My beloved Son…Listen to Him!’ (Matthew 17:5 AMP). Afterwards, Jesus took His disciples back down the mountain and they began to minister to people in need. It’s good to have occasional ‘mountaintop experiences’ with God, but we can’t stay there. There’s lots of work to be done at the foot of the mountain, and we’ve been called to do it. There must be a balance between taking in and giving out. One day a year, the high priest entered the holiest of holies and had the privilege of seeing God’s glory. It was such an honour! But the rest of the year was spent outside, ministering to the people. It’s important to spend time alone with God, drawing on His strength and being refreshed. But there comes a time when He says to us, ‘Go out and do the work I’ve given you.’ So let’s be open to both experiences!
What Now? Think about the past week, and whether you spent more time alone with God, or working on the task He’s given you. This week, make a conscious effort to focus on the other thing – if you spent a lot of time working, try to spend time being refreshed by Him, and vice versa.
We’ve probably all heard people say, ‘God told me,’ and then it turned out not to happen. The problem is that the more times people get it wrong, the more we become doubting and cynical. God speaks through people, and our fear of someone getting it wrong, or even being deliberately misleading, can mean we miss out on some very vital, and very real, input from God. One night, God appeared to Jacob in a dream, saying: ‘“I am with you and will protect you everywhere you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, but I did not know it.” He was afraid and said, “This place frightens me! It is surely the house of God and the gate of heaven”’ (v.15-17 NCV). If we want to hear from God, we must 1) desire it above everything else, 2) slow down, give God space to speak, and take time to understand what He’s saying to us, and 3) believe that God will actually speak to us. If we don’t believe, we’ll be reliant on our own thinking and judgment, and open to the influence of others who share our opinions. Seven times in chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation, God said, ‘Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches’ (NLT). So how can we be certain that what we’re hearing is actually from God? The answer is that it will always agree with His Word, and our spirits will say, ‘Amen!’ when we hear it.
What Now? Make some space in your day to devote to God and concentrate on what He wants to say to you today. Remove all distractions and invite Him to speak to you.
Paul wrote, ‘From this time on we do not think of anyone as the world does. In the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks, but we no longer think of him in that way. If anyone belongs to Christ, there is a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!’ (v.16-17 NCV). Here’s something important that we need to keep in mind: When we’re trying to help believers who are struggling or battling with addiction or a physical problem, we should speak life to their regenerated spirit. We need to speak to the part of them that’s capable of rising up in faith and responding to God’s Word: ‘Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ’ (Romans 10:17 NIV). Faith comes by hearing what God thinks, says, and can do. Until God has been heard, the last word hasn’t been spoken. God instructed Ezekiel to stand in a valley full of dead bones and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life’ (Ezekiel 37:5 NIV). And it happened! Ezekiel said, ‘As I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together’ (v.7 NIV). Faith doesn’t deny reality or ignore what’s happening, but it does refuse to be intimidated, limited, or ruled by the circumstances we can see. ‘Spirit can be known only by spirit’ (1 Corinthians 2:14 MSG), so when someone is a redeemed child of God, we shouldn’t speak to their human mind. Instead, we should let God guide us in speaking His words of life and hope to their spirit.
What Now? Offer to pray for someone who’s battling with a problem at the moment. Ask God to guide you in the right words of encouragement to speak over them.
Even when an injury has healed, it can leave a scar that causes lingering pain and discomfort. And it’s the same in life. Some of the people around us are wearing masks of success and happiness, but inside, they’re carrying wounds that they don’t feel able to talk about. And often the most painful and lasting wounds can be from the words someone has spoken. That’s why we always need to take care in how we’re speaking and what we’re saying. Our words have the power to wound or heal. They can inspire and encourage someone, or they can reinforce their feelings of failure and worthlessness and hurt them even more. The Bible says, ‘Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body’ (Proverbs 16:24 ESV). We should regularly ask God to guide our words, to help us speak with gentleness, to prompt us when it’s the right time to talk to someone, and to check us when we need to stay quiet. Job, who suffered more loss than most of us will ever experience, said, ‘I would encourage you, and my words would bring you relief. (Job 16:5 NCV). If we want to help someone who’s hurting, giving them our opinion on their circumstances won’t do much for them. What we should do is give them the only opinion that matters – God’s opinion! This is what He says: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you’ (Jeremiah 31:3 AMP). When we know someone is feeling the pain of old wounds and old words, let’s encourage them with God’s love, and be guided by Him to speak only words of healing over them.
What Now? Share a Bible verse about God’s love with someone who’s been hurt by harsh or insensitive words, and reassure them that He values them and wants to bring healing.
It’s easy for us to develop ‘spiritual forgetfulness’. We can forget what we used to be like before we let Jesus into our lives. And that attitude can affect the people we interact with each day. We might fall into the trap of being judgmental of others who don’t live by the same standards that we now have. We might begin to point out their sins and mistakes in a way that hurts them rather than treating them with kindness. We might try to force our faith on them, forgetting the journey that we took to believing and trusting God. So how can we share our faith with others, while keeping a high level of integrity and sensitivity? Here are some ideas: 1) Ask sincere questions and listen with a caring spirit. 2) When its’s appropriate, offer to pray for people – and then do it. 3) Pray at the start of each day and ask God to help you see all the opportunities for sharing His love. 4) Don’t play down how important your faith is to you. When it fits naturally into a conversation, talk about church, prayer, and the Bible. Let others see for themselves the joy you have in Christ. 5) Demonstrate God’s love for all people by organising a collection for a foodbank or a fundraiser for a local charity. 6) Strive for excellence. Be someone who can always be relied on to do a solid job. 7) Invite your non-Christian friends to events with your Christian friends. 8) When you’re not sure about when to speak, check in with God and ‘when the time comes…the Holy Spirit will make his witness in and through you’ (Mark 13:11 MSG). 9) Above all, remember how far you’ve come and maintain a humble attitude!
What Now? Have another read through the nine points in today’s reading. See how many you can incorporate into your day.
If we want to win people to Christ, we won’t be able to do it with a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude. Sadly, this is how people see a lot of Christians; their hearts are in the right place, but their ability to reach out to non-Christians with compassion and sensitivity doesn’t do God any favours. If we want people to respond to the gospel, a good place to start is to follow Paul’s example. He ‘voluntarily [became] a servant to…all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious…moralists…immoralists, the defeated, the demoralised – whoever’ (1 Corinthians 9:19-21 MSG). That doesn’t mean Paul didn’t take sin seriously. He adds: ‘I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ – but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become…every sort of servant…in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life…I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!’ (v.22-23 MSG). Paul could relate to unbelievers without endorsing their lifestyle because he remembered what he was like himself before God transformed him on the Damascus road. It’s the kind of humility that only comes from looking back and remembering ‘the stone quarry from which you were dug’ (Isaiah 51:1 NCV). Being the recipient of God’s grace enabled Paul to have this attitude: ‘Here’s a word you can take to heart…Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof – Public Sinner Number One – of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy’ (1 Timothy 1:15-18 MSG). Today, let’s remember what we were like before God stepped in, and look thankfully at how far we’ve come.
What Now? Have a think back over the journey you’ve taken so far with God. Thank Him for the difference He’s made in your life, and for all the amazing things He still has in store.
We won’t find success in our similarity to others, but in our differences. Instead of comparing ourselves to somebody else and competing with them or pushing ourselves to be just like them, we should try to discover our God-given differences, the things that make us unique. That’s where we’ll really excel. Paul wrote, ‘God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly’ (Romans 12:6-8 NLT). God doesn’t tell us we have to be brilliant at everything, but He does want us to run with the particular set of skills He’s given us and discover where they’ll take us. When God blesses us with a dream, it’ll be fulfilled because we performed with excellence day after day. And we can’t be consistently and reliably excellent if we’re working outside our God-given strengths. It’ll take every bit of skill we have to achieve the dreams He’s given us, and following our talents will give us the best chance to be consistently good at what we do. God hasn’t made us to be copies. Each one of us is an original, with a completely unique makeup of strengths. We might already know what some of them are, and there might be others that we haven’t discovered yet. So let’s keep building on the strengths we have, and enjoy the journey of discovery with God!
What Now? Get together with a friend, and then each write a list of the strengths you can discern in the other person. Swap lists and have a chat about anything that surprises you or any strengths your friend can see that you weren’t aware of.
Sometimes we need to let a relationship go. Letting go of someone doesn’t mean we’ve stopped loving them; it just means the relationship isn’t the right one for us. How should we handle it? 1) A gradual separation is sometimes the best way forward. There are relationships we need to get out of for our own good, but that doesn’t always mean we have to be suddenly and completely cut off from the other person. (However, if you’re in a relationship that makes you feel at risk or in danger, it’s best to seek help and often to get out of it as quickly as possible. Don’t put yourself at risk.) Dissolving a relationship is stressful, so we need to try and end it graciously. A good place to start might be to agree on a phone call or an email a couple of times a week. 2) Don’t keep going back. We might try to be kind and keep going back, doubting and re-evaluating our decision to end the relationship in its current form. Often people will come back to entice us by suggesting we were wrong the first time round. That’s why we must resolve any doubts before we make the decision. If we find ourselves in a pattern of going back to old, unhealthy relationships, it might be that we’re trying to fill an emptiness in our heart that only God can fill. When Jesus met the woman at the well, she had been through five failed marriages and was living with man number six. He told her: ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. The water I give will become a spring of water gushing up inside that person, giving eternal life’ (John 4:13-14 NCV).
What Now? Ending a relationship can be painful and difficult, so if you know there’s a friendship you need to let go, chat with God first and let His wisdom guide the way you handle it.
Not everyone who starts out with us is capable of going where God wants to take us. Sometimes they don’t have the emotional capacity needed. Other times their vision is different from ours. So how can we know when it’s time to exit a friendship or another type of relationship? One way to check is whether it makes us feel drained. If it does, we may need to take a step back from it. This calls for setting clear boundaries. Draining ourselves emotionally and physically to make someone else feel needed might sound noble and self-sacrificing, but it’s not what God’s called us to do. He doesn’t want us to end up spent and burnt out, because when we get to that point, we don’t have enough energy left to reach our own God-given goal in life. If we feel a relationship isn’t going too well, we should pause, take a look, and also take it to God. Sometimes certain aspects of a relationship need to be ended, while other areas can be kept. We might have friendships that work in one area but not in another. Seeing a relationship in sections and closing the door on the sections that God says are not for us to deal with can help save an important relationship. We might have shared interests that need to be kept going, while other things need to be removed before we’re completely burnt out by them. For example, we might have a great relationship with someone in classes or at work, but things fall down when we’re involved in each other’s personal life. It’s possible to remove a section and still have a lot left to enjoy. It takes work, communication, and prayer, but it’s often worth it.
What Now? Is there a relationship in your life that tend to leave you feeling drained? If the answer’s yes, spend some time telling God about it, and ask for His guidance on what boundaries you may need to set.
Having the right relationships can help us to soar in life, but the wrong relationships can hold us back. Here are three guidelines to help us discern which relationships are good and which are not: 1) When a relationship isn’t working, we need to acknowledge it. There are times when we have to cut our losses and accept the fact that sometimes our efforts aren’t enough and we can’t help everyone. Releasing someone doesn’t mean they’ll never improve; it just means that God is more qualified to help them than we are. 2) There’s a difference between helping someone and carrying them. This is especially true if we’re dealing with someone who always turns to us for help and tries to make us feel guilty if we’re ‘not there’ for them. Our constant help and availability might actually be preventing them from growing. Sometimes we need to step back and let them learn to walk on their own. 3) We mustn’t allow fear of criticism to stop us doing what’s right. Not everyone will be pleased with us all the time. There are always going to be people who disagree with us or who don’t like what we say. The truth can hurt, but it’s still the truth. There are times when we have to be honest and accept the consequences and disapproval. (It’s important that we check with God if it’s the right time to say something, and ask for wisdom in how to say it with gentleness and sensitivity.) The only way to avoid criticism is to say what people want to hear, which often mean we’re not honest. If someone pressures us to always agree with them, it might be a good idea to ask God if it’s a relationship we should step back from.
What Now? Are there any relationships that you’ve been having doubts about? Ask God to help you discern if you need to persist, or if it’s time to back off from it.
In Genesis 19, we read about the destruction of the sinful towns Sodom and Gomorrah. God decided to completely flatten the towns for their wickedness, but He allowed Lot and his family to escape, with the instruction, ‘“Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!”…But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt’ (Genesis 19:17, 26 NLT). Instead of looking ahead to the place of safety, she looked back to her old life. God says, ‘Those who are right with me will live by faith. But if thy turn back with fear, I will not be pleased with them.’ In Hebrews 11 we find a list of ordinary people who refused to turn back, even when times were bad. ‘If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them’ (Hebrews 11:15-16 NLT). Satan will use every trick in the book to get us off track in our walk with God. As we go further with God, Satan will try to discourage us by whispering that we’re not good enough. He’ll remind us of all our faults and failures, and try to persuade us that our old life was better. But we mustn’t listen to him. Instead, we should be more determined than ever to stay focused on God, and refuse to look back to anything He’s told us to leave behind. He has something much better ahead.
What Now? Pray that you’ll stay focused on God and life with Him. Ask Him to help you withstand any temptations to go back to your old life and the things He’s told us to leave behind.
When a person loses his or her temper, one of the expressions used to describe their reaction is ‘flying off the handle’. The phrase refers to the head of a hammer coming loose from the handle as you try to use it. And several not-so-good things happen as a result. 1) The hammer becomes useless. Our message may be an important one, but the way we deliver it can make the difference in whether or not it gets the results we want. In other words, when people don’t take us seriously, we don’t get the outcome we hoped for. 2) The hammer head does damage. By flying out of control, it’s likely to damage anything in its path. Words spoken in anger cause wounds, and sometimes those wounds can last a lifetime. James’ words are paraphrased: ‘Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger’ (James 1:19-20 MSG). 3) Repairing both the hammer and the damage might take a long time. In some cases, the damage is so severe that it just can’t be done. Here are some Scriptures to keep in mind before we vent. ‘A quick-tempered person does foolish things.’ ‘Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil’ (Psalm 37:8 NIV). ‘A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offence’ (Proverbs 19:11 NIVUK). ‘Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools’ (Ecclesiastes 7:9 NIV). So today, and every day, let's try to avoid hurting others unnecessarily and keep our tempers under control.
What Now? Ask God to help you keep your temper under control in every circumstance you face today.
Cyprian was a wealthy nobleman who lived during the third century. He enjoyed galloping about Carthage in his gold and bejewelled chariot. He wore fancy clothes studded with diamonds and precious stones and lived a debauched life. Cyprian wrote a letter to one of the Christian theologians of his time, saying he couldn’t possibly imagine how he could change his life – the life he had lived for so long. The long-standing habits, tastes, and desires that he had developed, the sins he clung on to – how could he possibly give those things up? How could he ever become like the Christians he saw? To him it seemed to be a totally impossible thing. But in the divine power and grace of God, the things that seem totally impossible can happen, and so Cyprian was transformed. God reached down and took out Cyprian's stony heart and placed within him a heart of flesh – a heart that was tuned to loving God and singing His praises. Things that had at one time seemed completely impossible, mysterious, and difficult to understand had all become plain and clear. Cyprian was so totally transformed, he even went on to become one of the great Christian leaders of the early church. We might not understand how such a change is even possible – how our old natures, habits and sins can be completely turned around. But the good news is we don’t have to understand. We just have to trust in Christ and be born again. All kinds of people – rich and poor, unknown and famous, those with university degrees and those with little formal education – have experienced the regenerating power of God and enjoyed a new life in Christ. And each of us can experience it too.
What Now? Pray for anyone you know who isn’t a Christian. Ask God to soften their heart and step into their life. Even if they think change is impossible for them, be persistent in your prayers for them.
When someone corrects us, we should try to be teachable and not unreachable. ‘Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]’ (James 1:19 AMP). If we can do the first two things, the third one naturally falls into place. If we're quick to listen and slow to answer back, we're going to be slow to lose our temper. ‘The one who accepts correction will be honoured.’ So let's use our ears more than our mouths, and be willing to accept correction. The wisest people have a ‘teach me’ attitude and are willing to learn from others. We can learn from anyone, if we just know the right questions to ask. It's important that we never stop asking questions, because the moment we refuse to learn, we can't grow any further. We might feel threatened by someone who has more experience than us and can teach us something. We might get defensive when someone makes a suggestion to us. We might resent someone for giving us advice, or refuse to listen to someone who's younger than us. It's often very humbling to admit our own mistakes or inexperience. We might feel that we're somehow lowering ourselves and losing respect if we have to learn something from another person. But knowledge is an amazing gift, and when someone offers to share their knowledge with us, let's jump at the chance. The Bible says, ‘Humbly accept the word planted in you’ (James 1:21 NIV). The word ‘humble’ here means ‘gentle’. When we approach God’s Word, we should try to approach it with a gentle, or humble, attitude that says, ‘Lord, I’m willing to be taught.’
What Now? Before you begin to read your Bible today, pray that God would open your heart and mind to whatever He wants to teach you, and take you on a fresh journey of discovery through His Word.
When someone disagrees with us, we should try to be tender without surrendering. We’ll never be able to please everyone. We’ll always meet people who like to argue and disagree. Some people might contradict everything we say. How should we respond to them? One of the tests of spiritual maturity is how we handle those who disagree with us. Some people have a need to demolish anyone who disagrees with them. If we challenge them or offer a comparison, complaint, or criticism, they respond with a personal attack on us. Then what do we do? There are three alternatives: 1) We can retreat in fear. Many people choose this route because they haven’t developed the ability to be confident in responding with gentleness. If we’re ‘peace at any price’ types, there'll be hidden costs somewhere along the line in our most important relationships. 2) We can react in anger. Anger is often a sign that we feel insecure and threatened by someone’s disapproval. It’s a warning light that tells us we’re about to lose something, and it's often our self-esteem. When we become angry, we can also become sarcastic and attack the other person’s self-worth. 3) We can respond in gentleness. ‘A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.’ This is the kind of response that requires a fine balance between maintaining our right to an opinion, while equally respecting another person’s right to their opinion. It requires being tender without surrendering our convictions. Sometimes we must stand by our convictions. Sometimes it’ll call for us to ask questions and gain a better understanding of why the other person has that opinion, which might take a bit of effort on our part. But it’s always worthwhile if it helps us respond to them with gentleness.
What Now? If someone disagrees with you today and you feel yourself becoming angry or defensive, try instead to ask the other person questions about their opinion. Aim to understand rather than attack.
When someone upsets or disappoints us, God expects us to be gracious towards them instead of judgmental. The Bible says, ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1 NIV). We might be tempted to become judgmental or to have a ‘holier than thou’ attitude. That’s the wrong response. ‘Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling.’ Instead of criticising their faults, we’re supposed to help strengthen their faith. The moment we begin to judge someone else, we set ourselves up for Satan’s attack in our own areas of weakness. What’s your reaction to people when they make a mistake or mess up their lives? We might say things like, ‘I told you so,’ or ‘I could see it coming,’ or ‘It serves you right,’ or ‘How could you be such a fool?’ Jesus didn’t do that! His reaction to the woman caught committing adultery was full of compassion and sensitivity. He defended her publicly, then restored her privately. He was gracious, not judgmental. And we should work very hard at not being judgmental, because that’s the way Christ treats us. ‘Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God’ (Romans 15:7 NIV). When we stop and think about it, God puts up with a lot from us. And if He puts up with our inconsistencies and weaknesses, we can surely learn to put up with other people’s failings. Whenever we’re tempted to judge another person, we should pause and remember how much God has forgiven us for. The more we recognise God’s grace to us, the more gracious we’ll be to others.
What Now? As you go about your day, try to be aware of moments when you’re tempted to be judgmental. As soon as you realise, say a quick prayer asking God to help you swap a judgmental attitude for one that’s full of compassion and sensitivity.
The Greek word used for gentleness means ‘strength under control’. It paints a picture of a wild horse that has been tamed through love and kindness. It doesn’t mean being weak and wimpy. The only two people in the Bible who were called gentle – Moses and Jesus – were both strong. Gentleness is restraining our reactions. It’s choosing our response to people rather than just reacting to them. For the next few days, let’s look at what it means to be gentle. First, when someone serves us, we should be thoughtful and not demanding. Paul wrote, ‘Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing’ (Philippians 2:4 TLB). The way we treat the servers in a coffee shop, receptionists, customer service assistants, bank clerks, police officers, and others who serve us can say a lot about us. Some people might be rude and difficult with them, or treat them as if they’re just machines without feelings, never thinking that the people serving them may have had a tough day, but only thinking of themselves and their needs. In order to develop gentleness, we should start by trying to understand the people who serve us. One of the places we can forget to show gentleness is at home. We might be the gentlest and most thoughtful people in the world to others, but become insensitive or unthinking towards those we live with. But the Bible says we must ‘show a gentle attitude toward everyone.’ No exceptions. Not just when we’re having a good day, or when we feel like it. We must be understanding, not demanding, towards the people we live with as well as the people who serve us. So today, let’s practise being gentle with everyone we meet.
What Now? Take a photo of something that makes you think of gentleness. Add the words of Philippians 4:5 to it, then make it the lock screen or background on your phone – a regular reminder to always show gentleness to everyone!
Having integrity includes how we use our words. If we wouldn’t say something if a parent, friend, or Jesus Himself was standing next to us, then we probably shouldn’t be saying it at all. God’s always with us and He knows every word we’ve ever said. He even knows the words we don’t say – the ones we only think. Jesus declared: ‘What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs’ (Luke 12:3 NIV). He knows everything about us, and we’ve undoubtedly said or thought at least a few words that we regret, and that we’d hate to have brought into the light where everyone would know about them. Psalm 139 says, ‘before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely’ (v.4 NIV). The word ‘completely’ suggests that He doesn’t only know the words we’re about to speak, but the real meaning behind them, the motive with which we’re saying them, and their sincerity. The thought of God knowing everything about us can seem very daunting. It can feel like He’s keeping a list of all our mistakes and there’s nothing we can do about it. But that’s not the case at all. God shows us where we’re going wrong so we can change it. And He knows we’re never going to be perfect, because we’re human. Instead of being disappointed in us when our words don’t match up to His standards, He’s there to inspire us to do it differently next time around, encouraging us to say and think godly words. ‘The lips of the godly speak helpful words’. Let’s aspire to that.
What Now? In every conversation you have and everything you write today, imagine Jesus physically standing next to you. Notice if it changes the words you decide to use.
A legacy is something that’s passed on from one person to another, and it can be good or bad. That’s why we should consider what we’re passing on. We might have used harsh words that stemmed from what was happening in our lives at the time; but now we’re able to see things more clearly, and feel ashamed of the hurtful words we said. James wrote, ‘Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires’ (James 1:19-20 NLT). Our words can do lasting damage, so we should care about what we’re saying. Paul wrote, ‘See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many’ (Hebrews 12:15 NIV). Maybe we’ve planted seeds that caused a root of bitterness to grow in someone’s heart. If possible, we should make amends by seeking forgiveness and trying to set the record straight with those we’ve left hurt over a situation that we feel differently about now. It’s humbling, but we need to do it because we won’t feel right with God until we’re right with those He loves. Jesus said, ‘If you are offering your gift at the altar and…remember…your brother…has something against you…go and be reconciled…then come and offer your gift’ (Matthew 5:23-24 NIV). Dr Dale Turner wrote: ‘It is the highest form of self-respect to admit our errors and mistakes and make amends for them…A mistake is only an error in judgment, but to adhere to it when it is discovered shows weakness of character.’ When we’ve made a mistake, let’s do the right thing by making amends when we can.
What Now? Is there someone you need to apologise to, or a mistake that you need to put right? Today, if you can, take steps to reconcile and repair any damage. Thank God for the opportunity to make amends.
In 1 Peter 3, we read this: ‘Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have, but answer in a gentle way and with respect’ (v.15-16 NCV). We can sometimes underestimate the importance of our own personal testimonies, but the reality is that they’re so valuable in sharing evidence of God. Our first-hand experience of God’s goodness could be the thing that someone connects with and encourages them to find out more about God. We don’t have to embellish our testimony or try to make it seem more exciting. All we need to do is truthfully lay out the facts and the experiences we had, then trust God for the rest. We might think our story isn’t very dramatic and won’t have much of an impact; but God’s in everything, the big things and the small things of life. Our honesty in telling our story just as it happened, and even revealing our own doubts and explaining that there are some parts we don’t understand, can be just as powerful to our listener and open the door to a real, worthwhile conversation about God. And we can even encourage ourselves with stories of what God’s done for us. When we look back and remember all the times He’s been good to us, the times He’s walked beside us, and the times He’s guided and sheltered us, we can grow our confidence and trust in Him when we’re beginning to have our own doubts. People might argue that the Bible isn’t inspired by God, or that Jesus didn’t perform miracles, and so on. But nobody can argue with the evidence of a life transformed because of our faith in Him.
What Now? Do you know someone who’s struggling with doubts about God? Try having a chat with them about why you trust God, and share a time when you saw His hand at work in your life.
Do you ever have doubts about God, or wonder whether He exists at all? Even strong believers can have moments of doubt, and many of us will experience it too, if we haven’t already. We might feel ashamed of our areas of unbelief, or try to hide them from God, thinking that He’ll be angry with us. But when someone is honestly and sincerely questioning, He’ll patiently answer and soothe those doubts. We can see this in the story of the disciple Thomas, who doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead. (You’ll find the story in John 20:19-29.) So when we’re doubting, what can we do? Here are some ideas: 1) Talk to God. The most important thing we can do is be honest about our doubts and tell God about them. This can be difficult if we’re struggling to believe He exists, but He’ll hear us and answer. Thomas didn’t actually express his doubts directly to Jesus, but Jesus still knew about them and showed up to help him at the right moment. 2) Look for signs of God’s work. ‘Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can see clearly his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature’ (Romans 1:20 NLT). The delicate balance and complexity of nature and the world we live in shouts of God’s power and hand at work. 3) Listen to what others have to say. Hearing or reading about someone else’s experiences of God at work in their lives can give us confidence that He’s real and that He loves us. We might not be in the same situation, but every story we hear of Him coming through for other people adds to the evidence for God and encourages us to trust in Him.
What Now? Write about any situations or moments you’ve experienced when you’ve had a glimpse of God’s goodness and power. Keep what you’ve written to encourage yourself when you’re having doubts about God, and maybe even to encourage others you know who are also struggling.
Take a moment to think about the complexity of the human body, every feature, every organ, every system working together. Could something like that really bring itself into being from nothing? Given enough time, could complex systems like those in our bodies be built by chance through a series of random, unguided changes? The Bible is clear on how everything was made: ‘Every house is built by someone, but the builder of everything is God himself’ (v.4 NCV). And that means God built each one of us, too. Dr Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project, and also a believer, described exploring nature as ‘a way of getting a glimpse of God’s mind,’ and said, ‘All truth is God’s truth, and therefore God can hardly be threatened by scientific discoveries.’ Albert Einstein, one of the world’s greatest scientists, said, ‘The deeper one penetrates into nature’s secrets, the greater becomes one’s respect for God.’ And Sir Isaac Newton said, ‘The most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.’ The more closely we look at our world (and beyond it), the more we realise how complicated it all is. Science often seems to be opposed to God, but we can try to see scientific discoveries as ways of revealing how marvellous a designer and builder God really is. It’s amazing to think that we’re not only intricately made, but also uniquely created with our own personalities, skills, looks, likes and dislikes. Let’s celebrate the fact that we’re individuals, made by God for a unique purpose, and let’s praise Him for the diversity and variety He’s created.
What Now? Scroll through your list of followers on one of your social media accounts. Thank God for each person on that list (if you know them well enough, thank Him for a particular skill or aspect of their personality that you love about them), and praise Him for the uniqueness and diversity He’s created.
There’s a joke about some scientists who are arguing with God: ‘We can do transplants, clone cells, save lives, and thousands of other miraculous things. We don’t need You anymore.’ God listens patiently, then says, ‘How about this: if you can make a human, the same way I made Adam, then I’ll leave you alone.’ The scientists agree and start scooping up handfuls of dirt. But God stops them: ‘No, no. Get your own dirt.’ That’s only a joke, but a few years ago, scientists actually managed to make a very simple living cell. They copied bacteria from a goat intestine, looked at each of its genes, and turned them off one at a time. If the cell died, they determined that gene was essential to life. Eventually, they stripped it down to just 473 genes. But here’s where it gets interesting. They know the cell is alive, but they don’t know how. Nearly one third of the genes have no known purpose, but without them, the cell dies. And just like in the joke, the scientists had to start with something God had already created. There are so many things we don’t know the answers to. God may reveal the answers to us at some point, and there may also be some things He’ll keep to Himself. We might think a single cell is quite a simple thing, but when we look at it closely, it’s so much more complex than we realise. And it’s the same with all of creation. The beauty and complexity of it is beyond anything we could invent for ourselves. The Bible says, ‘He never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness’ (v.17 NLT). We can see God’s hand everywhere, and we’re so blessed to be able to have a personal relationship with Him.
What Now? Write down some of the questions you want to ask God. Share them with Him and ask Him to reveal the answers, if it’s the right time and if it’s His will for you to know.
When a lawyer asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, He replied that the lawyer must love God, others, and himself (see v.37-39 NLT). Notice that He said, ‘You must love’ (emphasis added). This tells us a lot about the true nature and behaviour of love. If love can be commanded, then it can’t be only emotional, or a matter of feelings. Genuine love is much more than feelings; it’s a matter of will. That’s why Jesus could command us to express it. It’s a commandment followed by a commitment. Although feelings are important, real love functions regardless of how we feel. In his book The Fred Factor, Mark Sanborn wrote: ‘I learned a long time ago that liking people and loving them are different. Liking someone is an emotional response. Unlike love, “like” is a feeling. The tough part is that we can’t control our emotions. We can control how we choose to express those emotions but not the feelings themselves. A healthy person can choose to be angry and still choose to act lovingly…A feeling is a reaction. Maybe that’s one reason Jesus didn’t say, “Like your enemies.” He knew that liking or not liking someone was not always in our immediate control…I have learned that love is, among other things, an action. I can love someone I don’t necessarily like. I can do something or act towards that person in a certain way because I know it is the right thing to do even if I don’t feel warm and fuzzy doing it.’ And here’s the interesting thing: when we act with love towards another person, our emotions begin to line up with our actions. Why not try it!
What Now? Is there someone you dislike who you have to interact with regularly? Next time you’re with them, see if you can do something caring for them, such as making them a cup of tea or offering to help them with a task they need to do.
When it comes to our words, here are three rules: 1) Don’t speak too quickly. ‘We all make many mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too’ (v.2 NCV). We can never know all the sensitivities a person has, so we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to direct our speech in a way that doesn’t tap into their pain or other negative experiences. Everyone has a different sensitivity level, depending on their past experiences, so we should try to give others the benefit of the doubt when they say something that could be misinterpreted. It may be that they had no intention to hurt, and didn’t realise the effect of their words. (But if they’re being deliberately offensive or hurtful, this needs to be dealt with.) 2) Don’t respond too quickly. ‘To answer before listening – that is folly and shame’ (Proverbs 18:13 NIV). Before we speak, we should listen carefully and make sure we understand what’s really being said. And if we don’t, we should say so. A need to ‘look good’ can cause us to lose respect if we’re afraid of admitting we don’t know or don’t understand something. 3) Don’t commit too quickly. Solomon wrote, ‘Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God’ (Ecclesiastes 5:2 NKJV). Then he went on to explain how we shouldn’t try to drop out of a commitment by saying we made a mistake. When we break a promise, we hurt people and forfeit their trust. So let’s pause before we speak, and if necessary, take time to pray. We can’t take back our words, so let’s take care in what we say.
What Now? Find some Bible verses that give advice on how to use our words wisely. As you read, be open to what God’s teaching you through them. Is He prompting you about anything in particular?
We must allow the pruning process to happen. ‘He prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops.’ Pruning involves cutting off dead branches and cutting back living branches, and both processes are needed to shape the tree and encourage growth. Professional gardeners say that most people are too hesitant when it comes to pruning. But God isn’t. He not only cuts off the parts that are sinful and superficial, He cuts back some parts that are alive and successful; a job that’s going well, a satisfying relationship, or a plan that seems to be working out. God doesn’t just cut off the ‘bad’, but also the ‘good’, in order to give us the ‘best’. It’s not pleasant, but it’s absolutely essential for spiritual growth. God wants us to bear ‘much fruit’ (John 15:8) in our lives, so we're going to be pruned! We might be experiencing pruning right now, and it might not all be ‘dead wood’ that’s being removed. God cuts off things we view as productive so that more fruit can be produced in our lives, which can be really confusing. We believe we’re being faithful, so we're puzzled, and even frustrated, by His pruning. We might cry out: ‘Why are you doing this, God? I've invited You into my work, but it’s not going well. I've prayed about my health, but I'm still feeling unwell. I’ve been giving faithfully and I’ve tried to be generous, but now I'm struggling. What’s going on? What are You doing?' ‘No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it’ (Hebrews 12:11 NIV). If things seem tough at the moment, it just might be that we’re being pruned for greater fruitfulness.
What Now? Thank God for His wisdom in knowing what to keep and what to cut away. Ask Him to help you be open to His pruning process in your life.
We must eliminate the weeds. In His parable of the sower, Jesus said the seed fell into four different kinds of soil. ‘The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature’ (v.14 NIV). There are three varieties of ‘weeds’ that can prevent us from growing into spiritual maturity. 1) Worry. We can become so preoccupied with everyday cares that we take our eyes off Jesus. 2) Riches. Making money and buying things can dominate our lives so much that we don’t have time for God. 3) Pleasure. Constantly pursuing the 'fun stuff' can choke out our spiritual growth. It's okay to have a good time, but we also need to protect our priorities and have good times with God too. When we can make time for things like shopping, going to the cinema, playing football, watching TV, or scrolling through social media, but we never seem to have time to read the Bible and pray, our priorities are out of balance. We might say, ‘I just don’t have time for God right now. I’m too busy. I don’t have time at the moment to commit to Him.’ If that's the case, we need to do some weeding in our lives. Lots of things in life are not necessarily wrong; they're just not necessary. We might need to cut back a little on some things to remove the weeds. Fruit trees have to be tended to and protected, but dandelions take no effort; they grow by themselves when we neglect our garden. If the ‘weeds’ in our lives are stopping us bearing ‘fruit’, it’s time to have a rethink about our priorities and take action.
What Now? Which of the three ‘weeds’ in today’s reading most needs to be cut back in your life? Ask a trusted friend, your pastor, or youth leader for their suggestions of how to reduce its influence. Don’t forget to ask God for His wisdom and ideas too!
Paul wrote these words: ‘Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ’ (v.6-10 NLT). If you ever visit an Arizona desert, you’ll find that it’s full of different kinds of vegetation. The contrasts are fascinating. The dried-up, brittle tumbleweed blows everywhere, because it has no roots, but the saguaro cactus can bear fruit even in 130-degree weather, because its roots go out fifty to sixty feet in all directions. We must have deep spiritual roots if we're going to make it through the ‘dry spells’ of life. Most people can put up with a day or two of drought, but what about extended seasons of stress, grief, lack, illness, and adversity? Whatever our lives are rooted to is what we'll draw our strength from. The psalmist wrote this: ‘They delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind’ (Psalm 1:2-4 NLT). Today pray, ‘Lord, root me deep in you.’
What Now? Go back to the drawing you made yesterday. Read each verse that you wrote down, and ask God that His words of love would refresh, feed, and strengthen you for the year ahead.
We must cultivate deep spiritual roots. ‘Blessed are those who trust in the LORD…They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit’ (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT). This Scripture gives us one reason why we need deep spiritual roots: to make it through the rough times – times of heat and drought. Solomon said, ‘No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted’ (Proverbs 12:3 NIV). It’s when seasons of adversity hit our lives that we discover what we're ‘rooted’ to: God’s strength or just our own. When the Bible talks about ‘heat’, it's talking about the pressures of life. When it talks about ‘drought’, it’s talking about seasons of crisis and lack. We need ‘Roots that reach deep into the water,’ because ‘They never stop producing fruit.’ Because of their roots, the giant redwoods of Northern California can withstand the big forest fires. The roots of large trees can spread up to five times the width of the tree’s leafy canopy. That’s why they’re stable in the storms and droughts. Paul wrote this: ‘I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong…you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God’ (Ephesians 3:16-17, 19 NLT).
What Now? Draw a quick sketch of a tree with lots of deep, long roots. On each root, write a Bible verse that reminds you of God’s strength and love.
When Jesus said, ‘I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last,’ He was saying, ‘Spend your life aiming for things and doing things that have lasting significance and eternal value!’ What does He mean by ‘fruit’? ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). Those nine qualities describe the only life that’s truly worth living. Fortunately, we’re not left to produce this kind of fruit through our own efforts. And in fact, we never will be able to do it alone. Jesus said this: ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful…No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:1-2, 4-5 NIV). Jesus is speaking to every believer, ‘every branch in me’ (v.2 NIV). God, who is 'the gardener’ (v.1 NIV), has a goal for each of us: to be ‘even more fruitful’ (v.2 NIV). And the secret of fruitfulness is staying in constant contact with Jesus and developing a close relationship with Him. ‘If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit’ (v.5 NIV). So, if we want to be more fruitful, let's draw closer to Him and look forward to the amazing ways He'll use us.
What Now? Pray that your relationship with God will continue to grow stronger and stronger, and that you’ll be especially fruitful for Him in the year ahead.
In 1643, the Houses of Parliament ended the existing system of government in the Church of England, and an assembly of people was called to Westminster Abbey to rebuild the English church. One of the first questions asked in the documents that came out of that assembly was ‘What is the chief end of man?’ In other words, ‘What’s our purpose?’ And the answer: ‘To glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.’ It's such a simple and, at the same time, such a powerful question and answer. It's as true today as it was centuries ago. And it's something we should set as the blueprint for our lives this coming year. Glorify God. Obey God. Enjoy God. When we know our lives are glorifying God, we enjoy His presence, but when we know they aren’t, we tend to avoid Him. And that’s bad, because without God’s presence in our life, our chance of living successfully in the things that really matter and in God's eyes isn’t good. As we look back on last year, there might be things we regret because we know that God wasn't glorified in them. But God’s giving us a new year, a new opportunity to make changes and do things differently. We might find it helpful to make New Year’s resolutions to help us stay focused on our goals, but we need to base every one of them on this verse from the Bible: ‘Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.’ If we make that our foundation and stick to it, we'll stay on the right path, and we'll have the peace and joy of knowing our lives are pleasing to God.
What Now? Create your own worship playlist of songs that remind you to glorify God in everything you do and inspire you to praise Him. Make praise and worship the soundtrack to your year!
God spoke through the prophet Joel, saying, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants – men and women alike’ (v.28-29 NLT). God has a vision for each of us to fulfil. And sometimes our vision won’t make sense because we don’t feel qualified. In the musical Man of La Mancha, there’s a scene where Don Quixote and his servant stand gazing at a dilapidated inn. When Don Quixote describes his vision of turrets and magnificent gates, his servant tries hard to see the same picture, but all he can see are ruins. And when he describes what he sees, Don Quixote says, ‘Stop! I will not allow your facts to interfere with my vision!’ When God gives us a vision, there’ll always be people who are ready to try and convince us that it can’t be done, or that we can’t do it, which can confirm the our deepest fears about our abilities. But if we ignore our critics and rise above our fears, God will enable us to fulfil the vision He’s given. It’s important to keep in mind that although a vision may come in an instant, it can take a lifetime to fulfil. Habakkuk wrote, ‘It is not yet time for the message to come true, but that time is coming soon; the message will come true. It may seem like a long time, but be patient and wait for it, because it will surely come’ (Habakkuk 2:3 NCV). God keeps His promises, so if He’s given you a vision for your life, believe in it, ‘because it will surely come.’
What Now? Are there any critics holding you back from doing what God’s tasked you with? Pray that His voice would be the loudest in your life, and His opinion would be your only influence in the year ahead.
When we don’t feel good about ourselves, we might use things like work, food, relationships, and money to build a wall and keep people from getting too close. Another hiding tactic we might use is to keep the focus off ourselves and direct it on to other people by asking things like, ‘How come she passed the exam and I didn’t?’ Or, ‘Why did he get that job and not me?’ – the implication being that the other person didn’t deserve their achievement and that we’re looking for things to criticise about them so we feel better about ourselves. But even worse than pretending with people is pretending with God. When God asked Adam, ‘Where are you?’ He already knew the answer. But He asked anyway, because He wanted Adam to acknowledge where he was and what he had become. Eric Hoffer said, ‘We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.’ Until we face the truth about ourselves, we’ll find it hard to talk to God. We’ll feel lonely and alienated, and we’ll struggle to let people get close to us in case they see who we ‘really are’. But God already knows everything about us – every emotion, every word and every thought – and He doesn’t reject us. So let’s make this our prayer today: ‘Father, I know You love me. Nothing can change that or steal its joy except my own doubts and my refusal to believe it. You loved me before I was born, You created me according to Your plan, You redeemed me and gave me a special purpose in the world, and You’re working day by day to make me into a person who pleases You’ (see Philippians 2:13). The good news is…we don’t have to hide from God.
What Now? Pray the prayer in today’s reading slowly, thinking about the truth of each line. Then if you can, share it with someone who you think needs a bit of encouragement today.
Hebrew baby boys went through the rite of circumcision. It signified that they were in a covenant relationship with God in which He promised to protect, guide, and bless them. And in the New Testament, Paul ‘spiritualises’ this rite. ‘True circumcision…is a change of heart produced by [God’s] Spirit’ (Romans 2:29 NLT). That change of heart calls for cutting off anything that encourages and produces in us wrong impulses and actions. Jesus said, ‘Those whose hearts are pure…will see God’ (Matthew 5:8 NLT). When our hearts are pure, we’ll be able to see God where others can’t and hear Him when others don’t. The word pure could be translated ‘without contamination’. It’s the difference between a clear stream and a polluted one. It means our self-centred thinking is abandoned and our earthly nature is crucified. The difference between forgiveness and cleansing is like the difference between cutting off a weed at the ground and pulling it up by its roots. Forgiveness deals with the ‘result’ of sin – that’s easy to identify. But cleansing deals with the ‘cause’ of sin – that’s not so easy to identify because it deals with our natural traits and character flaws. Forgiveness comes by confession, but cleansing comes by walking in the light: ‘If we walk in the light, as he is in the light…the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin’ (1 John 1:7 NIV). Do you keep asking God to forgive the same sins over and over? That’s because you need to experience true cleansing. Your heart needs to be changed. And that’s a job for the Holy Spirit.
What Now? Whenever you clean anything today (like the dishes, your teeth, the ice off your car, etc.) ask God to clean you on the inside too, and remove any self-centred traits or ungodly motives and desires from your heart and mind.
Paul said, ‘Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.’ If we’re serious about spiritual growth, we need to look for opportunities to say no to our wants in small areas. Then one day we’ll be able to say no when it really counts. Daniel started by saying no to eating the king’s food, and later was able to say no to bowing to the king’s idols. We need to focus in on the undisciplined areas of our lives; the ones we keep excusing, rationalising, and putting off dealing with. Paul measured his actions by this standard: ‘Is it beneficial? Does it have the potential to control me?’ (see 1 Corinthians 6:12). We have a ‘right’ to eat a tub of ice cream every night. It’s permissible – but it’s not ‘beneficial’, especially if we want to try to eat more healthily. We have a ‘right’ to spend our money as we please, but bad management of our money and buying things we can’t really afford leads to problems. We have a ‘right’ to look at whatever we want on TV or the internet, but exposure to wrong influences will inevitably weaken our characters, steal our self-respect, and trap us. Our character is the sum total of the choices we make each day. Every single decision matters and influences our character in some way, so let’s try to make good choices. If you want to start replacing bad habits with good ones, you should ask God for help and guidance – but the only person who can make it happen is you.
What Now? Get into the habit of making good choices. Before doing something, try developing a routine of quickly asking: Is it beneficial? Does it have the power to control me? Would God approve?
God says in His Word: ‘I – yes, I alone – will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. Let us review the situation together, and you can present your case to prove your innocence’ (v.25-26 NLT). Today, if you’re condemning yourself because you think your sins are too big to deserve God’s grace, go back and reread those Scriptures carefully. God said He would forgive our sins for His own sake. What we need to do is ‘present [our] case to prove [our] innocence.’ Why do we have such a hard time accepting God’s forgiveness? Here are some possible answers: 1) Because in some cases we feel like we’re reaping what we have sown. 2) Because we have condemned someone else for doing the very thing we ourselves did. 3) Because we think God likes to keep us twisting in the wind for a while so we will think twice before committing the same sin again. 4) Because growing up, when we disobeyed our parents, they took away certain privileges until we had proven ourselves. 5) Because we think we have to be ‘worthy’ of God’s mercy. But when we refuse to forgive ourselves, we’re implying that our mistakes are beyond the scope of God’s grace. And that’s a bigger sin – pride! And here‘s another thought. When we always have ‘issues’ with other people, it may be that we’re looking for someone to offend us, so we can point to how bad the other person is and feel better about ourselves. When we adopt a humble attitude and work on forgiving ourselves because we know God has forgiven us, it’ll be much easier to forgive other people’s mistakes.
What Now? If there’s anything, big or small, that you haven’t forgiven yourself for, know that God has already forgiven you. With that in mind, tell Him that you’re struggling to forgive yourself, and ask Him to give you a fresh awareness of His amazing love for you.
The word holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, which means ‘holy day’. But today, overindulgence and overspending have become associated with Christmas, making some Christians hesitant to celebrate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘Often it is from those newly associated with our fellowship who have allowed themselves – perhaps for the first time – to enter into the wonder and fullness of Christmas joy and celebration…Christmas is more than merely “merry”. Christmas is mighty. Celebration – unfettered enjoyment, love…laughter…gifts and giving, trees and tinsel,…carols and bells…all of it – has an inherent potential for mightiness. The qualifying factor is the presence of the Holy Spirit. When He is present, the accoutrements of Christmas…can bless, strengthen, heal, [and] restore…When He is absent, carols ring hollow. Greetings, wishes and smiles lie on the surface, like glitter glued on a flat card. Lights and decorations…can leave the heart more desolate than ever. But where the Holy Spirit is there is power…to change entrenched habits…transform cold hearts…grudges and expectations…lift lives out of the shadow…This Christmas, let Him come upon you. Welcome the…Holy Spirit…to move upon your life, and then make your own move…into the season’s best opportunities to bask in the wonder of it all…Reach out to those around: encourage, bless, bake, give, visit, invite, share, and lift hearts wherever you can. By…New Year…you’ll find Christmas to…have been marvellously, and even miraculously, mighty.’ However we choose to celebrate Christmas, let’s invite the Holy Spirit to be a part of it, and watch expectantly for God to move in mighty ways.
What Now? In the days between Christmas and New Year, try each day to reach out to a friend or neighbour who’s struggling this Christmas. You could call them for a chat, invite them round for coffee, bake them a cake, offer to pray with them… share your suggestions in the comments!
The word ‘celebrate’ means to rejoice, delight in, honour, and appreciate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘There is so much done in the name of Christmas that is neither pleasing nor honouring to Christ. Even so, I find myself doing battle…with…religious superstitions which argue against almost every observation of Christmas…against giving…against decorations, trees, or just plain fun, as though such participation defiled something holy. Such harsh debunking is nothing more than “holy humbug”. A Christmas tree…is a specific statement…By means of this tree we are saying: We believe in celebration. We serve the God who “gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV) and who through history assigned…sacred appointments of feasting and rejoicing…“great gladness” (1 Chronicles 29:22 KJV)…Although no one can make a “biblical case” for Christmas trees, we gather around ours with joy. We see in its living branches a symbol of everlasting life given us because of Jesus’ death on the tree – whose naked crossbars Xed out death and ushered in forgiveness…and eternal hope. The lights…gleam a testimony of His Light-of-the-world glory. The ornaments reflect the decorative splendour with which His kindnesses adorn our lives. The star beams hope, with a heavenward ray, reminding us that from there He shall come again to receive us.’ Whether we’re celebrating by gathering around a tree, attending parties, tucking in to a feast, or however we choose to do Christmas, let’s not forget to celebrate the One who said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me…will have the light of life’ (John 8:12 NIV).
What Now? However you’re celebrating Christmas this year, make sure you take time to thank God for the gift of Jesus, and praise Him for welcoming us to celebrate with Him.
filled with dread instead of delight. Author Jon Walker writes this: ‘There’s a darker side to Christmas we rarely acknowledge. We create this fantasy that seldom matches reality, even in the best of homes…many Christmas memories are full of tension, not tinsel…yet another reminder that the one we love is far away or perhaps never coming back…more people hurt at Christmas than we initially imagine.’ We may dread strained family gatherings, parties where we have to put on a happy face in spite of how we’re feeling, or reminders of painful past Christmases. Even if we enjoy this time of year, we might find the preparations stressful. Relatively trivial things like wondering if we’ve chosen the right present for someone or mentally calculating if we have enough wrapping paper can take tiny bites out of the joy of Christmas. But whatever is stealing our joy, let’s reclaim it back. Jon Walker continues with these words of encouragement: ‘For those tired of the hollow hope…of Christmas, the good news is, God is with us. Jesus came to earth to “bring…good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Regardless of your situation, Christmas is the best gift you’ll ever get, because: 1) it’s the costliest you’ll ever receive because it cost Jesus His life; 2) it’s the only gift that lasts forever; 3) it’s one you can enjoy for the rest of your life.’ We can get so weighed down by all the things we’ve made Christmas about – the food, the parties, the decorations, and so on – that we sometimes lose sight of what it’s really about. This year, let’s try to focus on the true meaning – the gift of Jesus.
What Now? How do you feel about Christmas? If you dread it and find it too stressful, share your feelings with God. Read about Jesus’ birth in the Bible, asking Him to help you rediscover your joy. And if you love Christmas, why not offer a sincere and gentle word of encouragement or some practical help to someone who’s struggling.
Paul wrote these words to Timothy: ‘People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows’ (1 Timothy 6:9-10 NLT). This is often misquoted as ‘money is the root of all evil,’ but what the Bible actually says is quite different. If money was inherently evil, God wouldn’t have blessed Solomon with it (take a look at 1 Kings 3:13). There’s nothing wrong with having money. The real problem starts when we let a love for money become more powerful than our love for God. Then money can control us, and our desire for more can lead us to acquire it in the wrong way. ‘He who profits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house, but he who hates bribes [and does not receive nor pay them] will live’ (Proverbs 15:27 AMP). We might think one small lapse won’t matter because nobody will be hurt by it. But the impact of dishonesty can be wide ranging, and we probably won’t realise the total effect that it can have in the long run. When it comes to having a healthy relationship with money, we should pay attention to our desire for more. If we find that money is our main driving force, the only thing that motivates us, we need to check in with God to make sure we’re not letting it replace Him in our lives, and that we’re not allowing it to lead us towards a path of dishonesty. When we’re honest with Him and listen to His wisdom, He’ll help us get back on track.
What Now? Have an honest assessment of your love for money compares to your love for God. If you find that money holds a higher place, have a chat with God about how you’re feeling, and ask Him to help you realign your priorities and motivations.
Moses spoke these words to the Israelites: ‘You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today’ (v.17-18 NIV). As we saw in yesterday’s reading, the right way to earn money is through hard work and honest work, not through cheating or ungodly methods. But Moses’ words remind us that we must always remember the ultimate source of our money – God. We need to give Him the gratitude and glory for blessing us with the skills that enable us to do a good job, and for guiding us in the right way to go. There’s a great feeling of satisfaction that comes from a job well done, and it isn’t necessarily wrong to feel proud about what we’ve done. Paul encouraged Timothy by saying, ‘Be a worker who is not ashamed’ (2 Timothy 2:15 NCV). If we stop caring, we won’t be inclined to put the effort into doing a good job. But what we need to watch out for is the type of pride that makes us shine the spotlight only on ourselves while forgetting God’s involvement. So if we realise that we’ve been neglecting God’s part in our work, what can we do? A good starting point is to try and keep in mind the words of Colossians 3:23: ‘In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people’ (NCV). When we realise that God’s the source for everything we have, we’ll want to praise Him more and more for His blessings.
What Now? If you have to face a task you don’t like doing, start it by being honest with God and pray, ‘Father, I really don’t like this job, but I thank You for blessing me with the ability to do it. Help me to turn it into an act of praise for Your glory.’
There are about five hundred Bible verses on prayer, and more than two thousand on handling money and possessions. It’s an important issue. Money-related problems can often be the cause of family tension and mistrust. And there’s a reason for this: money and stress often go hand in hand. God isn’t necessarily opposed to us having money, but there are right and wrong ways to earn it. The Bible teaches that money should come through hard work. ‘All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty’ (Proverbs 14:23 NIV). ‘Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but he who gathers gradually by [honest] labour will increase [his riches]’ (Proverbs 13:11 AMP). God expects those who ‘labour’ to give a good day’s work, just as He expects those in management to pay a good day’s wage. The workforce enables the management to make a profit, while the management enables the workforce to make a salary. An honestly made profit and a well-earned salary are pleasing to God. But our money must also be made through honest work. ‘A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty’ (Proverbs 22:16 NLT). Eugene Peterson puts the issue this way: ‘Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things GOD hates’ (Proverbs 20:10 MSG). ‘The LORD’s blessing brings wealth, and no sorrow comes with it.’ When we earn money dishonestly or in a way that God doesn’t approve of, eventually we’ll face the consequences. But if the way we earn money honours God, we’re doing it right.
What Now? When it comes to earning money, ask God to fill your heart with a desire to earn it in a way He approves of, even if that means taking a longer, harder, or seemingly less profitable route.
In the 1940s, Switzerland manufactured 80 per cent of the world’s watches. Then in the 1960s, when an inventor presented his idea for a new type of watch to the leaders of a Swiss company, they rejected it. All the other Swiss companies he approached did the same. They lived by the philosophy, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’ But the inventor believed in his design, and took it to a company in Japan. The name of the company was Seiko, the design of the watch was digital, and guess what? Sales of digital watches soon outstripped the traditional analogue ones. One discernment-driven decision can change the course of our entire life. And our discernment can also end up blessing others. Here are two things we need to know about God-given discernment: 1) It’s shaped by Scripture. ‘Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby and knows nothing about right teaching. But solid food is for those who are grown up. They are mature enough to know the difference between good and evil’ (v.13-14 NCV). Spending time in God’s Word, reading it, studying it, reflecting on it, and asking questions about it will help us develop our level of discernment. 2) It’s sharpened by use. The more we use it, the more competent we become. We’ll sometimes make mistakes when it comes to exercising discernment, but just like a muscle, the more we flex and stretch it, the stronger it grows. And here’s one last thought about discernment: the Bible refers to ‘discerning of spirits’, or attitudes and motivations (see 1 Corinthians 12:10). What a great advantage to have! Let’s pray for the gift of discernment and use it at every opportunity.
What Now? Every time you see a clock or a watch today, pray, ‘Father, help me to exercise my spirit of discernment.’
‘The LORD appeared to [Solomon] in a dream during the night. God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you”’ (v.5 NCV). Solomon said, ‘I ask that you give me a heart that understands, so I can rule the people in the right way and will know the difference between right and wrong’ (v.9 NCV). Next, we read, ‘The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked this (v.10 NCV). But God hadn’t finished talking to Solomon: ‘I will also give you what you did not ask for: riches and honour. During your life no other king will be as great as you’ (v.13 NCV). Discernment made Solomon one of the greatest kings who ever reigned. You’ve probably heard the saying ‘Go with your gut feeling.’ But discernment is much more than that. It doesn’t rely only on intuition, intellect, or experience. The writer of Proverbs 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). There are two kinds of discernment: natural discernment and spiritual discernment. The first can fail us; the second never will. When natural discernment can’t take us any further, spiritual discernment enables us to keep going with faith and confidence. How do we recognise the difference? James tells us, ‘The wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest’ (James 3:17 NCV). That’s what we’re aiming for, and that’s what God will give us when we ask Him for discernment.
What Now? Read some Bible verses that talk about discernment, and ask God what He wants you to learn from them.
William Orton, the president of Western Union, rejected an offer to buy the patents for the first telephone. The University of Southern California’s film school rejected an application (possibly several times) from Steven Spielberg. The technology company HP was offered the design of the first Apple computer, but chose not to take it up. What did all of these people and organisations have in common? They showed a lack of discernment and missed some great opportunities as a result. When it comes to seeing life’s opportunities and solving life’s problems, we need discernment. It enables us to see what others don’t, fill in the missing pieces, and get to the heart of the matter. If we can see the root cause of a problem, we have a much better chance of solving it. That means when we stay in the area of our core gifts, our discernment will be stronger. So if we want to tap into our discernment potential, we should try to work from the areas of our strengths and giftings. But there’s something else we can do: pray for discernment. It’s one of the nine ‘gifts of the Spirit’ promised to us in Scripture (see 1 Corinthians 12:7-10). Some of Israel’s greatest victories were won when David was king. And when we take a look at some of those who were part of his army, we read, ‘There were two hundred leaders from Issachar. They knew what Israel should do, and they knew the right time to do it.’ Discernment enables us to see doors of opportunity where others can only see brick walls. It will show us what we should do. So let’s ask God for the gift of discernment.
What Now? Each day for the next week (and longer if you can), start your morning by praying, ‘Lord, help me to face everything that happens today with discernment. Help me to perceive opportunities, discover solutions to problems, and apply your wisdom in every situation.’
While David and his men were off fighting, the Amalekites destroyed their homes and took their families captive. First, David’s army wept. Second, they looked to David for guidance. Third, David looked to God, saying, ‘“Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the LORD told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!”’ There are four important points we need to remember: 1) Satan will attack our loved ones to get to us. It might be big stuff like a parent losing their job or a brother or sister becoming ill; or it could be little stuff like low-grade family tension and lack of consideration for each other. We need to stay alert and discern Satan’s attacks so we can defend ourselves against them. 2) Love people but lean only on God. The people David fought side by side with were the same ones who turned against him. That’s why our strength, strategies, and solutions must come from God, not others. 3) Talk to God. ‘David found strength in the LORD his God’ (v.6 NLT). If we talk about our situation, we can become discouraged. But if we talk to God, the One who can change our situation, we’ll be encouraged. The Bible says, ‘As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life, but dishonest words crush the spirit’ (Proverbs 15:4 NCV). God’s words will strengthen and uplift us. 4) We can get back what we’ve lost. God told David, ‘Go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you.’ And what God did for David and his men that day, He’ll do for each one of us if we seek Him.
What Now? Do you know anyone who’s lost something, such as a job, or missed a great opportunity? Make time to have a chat with them – speak words of encouragement over them, and remind them of God’s love and restorative power.
Are you unsure how to begin finding answers to problems? Let’s take a look at some biblical wisdom about problem solving. First, listen to the Holy Spirit within you. He’ll constantly remind us of God’s plan and show us how to carry it out. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will ‘teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you’ (v.26 NLT). Has God instructed you to do something? If you haven’t done it yet, trust Him and take that step. Second, spend time with God every day: ‘One thing have I asked of the LORD…that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life…He will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble’ (Psalm 27:4-5 ESV). A shelter is a place of safety and protection. Even if things around us seem to be going horribly wrong, God’s sheltering presence is an oasis of peace. And if we spend time with Him in prayer and praise every day, we won’t have to run far to find Him when problems appear. Alone time with God helps restore our perspective and see problems from God’s point of view. Third, never be too proud to seek advice and assistance. The Bible says those of us who are strong should bear the burdens of the weak (see Romans 15:1). There are times when we need to lift others, and times when we need to be lifted. The paralysed man in Luke 5 couldn’t get himself to Jesus, so his friends got him there. David turned to the men of Issachar because they ‘had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do’ (1 Chronicles 12:32 NKJV). When God provides help, let’s reach for it.
What Now? Are you wrestling with a problem? Today, try taking it to God and asking for His perspective on it and for wisdom in finding an answer. Remember to listen to what He says, and to act on His advice.
When people around us make the wrong decisions, God can turn the situation around so things work in our favour and in accordance with His plan. So when things go wrong, instead of trying to find someone to blame, let’s turn our attention to looking for God’s hand at work. Joseph’s brothers made a wrong decision by resenting him. Potiphar’s wife made a wrong decision by falsely accusing him. And the butler made a wrong decision by turning his back on him. But God arranged every step Joseph took, all the way to him becoming the pharaoh’s highest official. After years apart, Joseph stood face-to-face with the brothers who had treated him so badly, and said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV). Joseph discovered three things through his experience, which we can also take on board: 1) When God wants you in a palace, nobody can keep you in a prison. 2) Your future isn’t in the hands of others; it’s in the hands of God. 3) Your God-given assignment in life doesn’t require the cooperation or approval of everyone, but it does need the cooperation of one person – you. God’s purposes will eventually overcome human plans. No one can stop God using us, blessing us, and giving us success – except ourselves. So let’s keep our hearts and our attitudes right. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words, ‘Long before we first heard of Christ…he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone’ (Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG). So let’s look for the hand of God in everything – even when things look impossible or unfixable to us, He’ll make it work.
What Now? Take some time to thank God that other people’s mistakes, opinions and intentions can’t derail His plan for you.
Our highest priority should always be our relationship with God and fulfilling His will for our lives. We shouldn’t ever let that priority slip. There’s a serious illustration of this in a parable told by a prophet in the Old Testament. A soldier was given custody of an important prisoner. He was told, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he gets away, you will either die or pay a fine of seventy-five pounds of silver!’ (1 Kings 20:39 NLT). In spite of the warning, he allowed his prisoner to escape. How did it happen? Through carelessness and busyness. ‘“While I was busy doing something else, the prisoner disappeared!.” “Well, it’s your own fault,” the king replied. “You have brought the judgment on yourself”’ (v.40 NLT). Keeping our spiritual priorities in place is our own responsibility and no one else’s. If we don’t do it, we’ll end up paying a high price. Beginning our day with prayer is a great way to start putting God first – but there’s more to it than just that. We also need to take time to listen to Him and get His direction and wisdom before we rush into the day. We need to keep in mind all the Scriptures that tell us to ‘wait on God’. He’s working in our lives right now. We might not be fully aware of it, but without His input, we’ll never be equipped to handle what God has in mind for us. The Bible says, ‘Jesus often withdrew…and prayed’ (Luke 5:16 NIV). Spending time with God is the price we must pay for hearing from Him and doing His will. There are no shortcuts in building our relationship with God.
What Now? Have a think about how you spent your time yesterday. Were there any times when you pushed God aside for some reason? Start today by resolving to keep Him as your top priority.
Many people have no one who loves them enough to tell them the truth. That’s because it’s easier to say nothing when others are messing up. But it’s not the loving thing to do. The Bible says, ‘Giving an honest answer is a sign of true friendship’ (Proverbs 24:26 CEV). Usually we know what needs to be said, but fear keeps us from saying it. However, if you knew the brakes on a car weren’t functioning properly, would you allow a loved one to drive it? In a similar vein, Paul wrote, ‘If someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again’ (Galatians 6:1 NCV). More often than not, when an issue arises that might cause tension, it’s glossed over to preserve the peace. We don’t want to ruffle any feathers, so it never gets resolved. Here’s how Paul addresses this: ‘No more pretence. Tell…the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected…When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself’ (Ephesians 4:25 MSG). But let’s be clear – honesty doesn’t give us permission to be rude or hurtful and say whatever we want. Thoughtless words can wound people. ‘Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honour an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters’ (1 Timothy 5:1-2 MSG). In short, we should be thoughtful and gracious in the way we speak and the words we use. When a difficult issue comes up, caring means getting involved in an honest and loving way.
What Now? Ask a trusted friend to be a care-partner – agree to pray regularly for each other and to honestly and gently point out when you see each other making a mistake or about to take a step that could lead them away from God’s path.
When we find ourselves in a crisis, having the right attitude makes the difference between despair and determination. Here are some steps to take: 1) Look for ways to use the experience for something positive. Resilient people use their experience to help others. ‘[God] comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them’ (2 Corinthians 1:4 NCV). 2) Check your priorities. ‘Teach us to use wisely all the time we have’ (Psalm 90:12 CEV). How would you like to spend your time differently now? Who would you most like to spend it with? How can you use your strengths in the service of what is important to you? What kind of person would you want to be? 3) Believe you can overcome. A crucial aspect of resilience is faith that God will bring us through the crisis. Even if we have the practical skills to deal with it, we still need to lean on God’s strength to keep us going. 4) Step out of your comfort zone. ‘Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.’ Learning something new, like a foreign language or a sport, or trying a new hobby, can help build our confidence. Embracing the unfamiliar strengthens our capacity to handle new situations. The more we ask of ourselves, the more resilient we’ll become. 5) Clear the weeds that are choking your optimism. When we start thinking pessimistic or cynical thoughts, we need to step back and reframe our perspective. And the best way to do that is to consult God. Talking to Him about the problem helps us gain insights into His perspective and discover the steps we need to take towards the solution.
What Now? Think about a crisis or challenge you’ve faced. Ask God to help you see what you’ve learned because of that experience, and then try to think of ways you could use that knowledge to help someone else in a similar situation.
How we handle a crisis can make a difference whether we end up feeling overwhelmed or come out stronger. Here are some ideas to help us: 1) Acknowledge your feelings. David said, ‘When my spirit was overwhelmed…You knew my path.’ God already knows how we feel, which gives us freedom to talk to Him about it and begin the process of healing and recovery. 2) Confide in someone. That doesn’t mean we should pour our hearts out to everybody and anybody; it means opening up to those who love and care about us. The Bible says, ‘A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity’ (Proverbs 17:17 AMPC). Support from people who really care and want the best for us is so valuable. 3) Start a journal. Writing about a problem is a way of letting it out. It can help us reorder our thoughts and process the situation. And it gives us a record to look back on and gain a better understanding of where God was at work in the situation. 4) Avoid blame-shifting: When something goes wrong, we might say things like, ‘It’s the other person’s fault,’ or ‘My teammate didn’t play their part properly,’ or ‘I was never given a chance.’ There are times when it’s important to point out that someone’s made a mistake, but if we’re blame-shifting to make ourselves look better, we need to check ourselves and take responsibility for our part. 5) Forgive yourself. We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect, so when we make a mistake, we should acknowledge it, ask God for forgiveness, then forgive ourselves and move on. God’s Word says when He forgives, He doesn’t ‘keep a list of your sins’ (Isaiah 43:25 MSG). Neither should we.
You might not have heard of Heman and Jeduthun. They’re some of the Bible’s more inconspicuous characters. In the wonderful worship choirs of King David, they were appointed to give thanks. Heman and Jeduthun were under the king’s authority (see 1 Chronicles 25:6). It was literally their job. And it’s our job too! We’re under the authority of the King of Kings who commands us to ‘be thankful’, ‘offer to God thanksgiving’, ‘come before His presence with thanksgiving’, ‘enter into His gates with thanksgiving’, and ‘in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (Colossians 3:15; Psalms 50:14; 95:2; 100:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV). Eugene Peterson writes, ‘The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise’ (Philippians 3:3 MSG). Nothing is more thrilling than being moved so much that we spring into spontaneous worship. And it doesn’t matter what our style of worship is – whether we lift up our hands, cry out, laugh, sing, dance, whatever – if we do it in a spirit of praise, thanksgiving, and gratefulness, God will absolutely love it. Praise and thanksgiving can also bring peace to a troubled heart and tranquillity to an anxious mind. The Creator of our souls is a master psychologist. He knows that thanksgiving is not only appropriate, but therapeutic. It’s hard to be thankful and at the same time be grumpy, critical, or bad tempered. Let’s choose to overflow with thanksgiving. ‘Shout to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with joy; come before him with singing…Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving and into his courtyards with songs of praise…The LORD is good. His love is forever, and his loyalty goes on and on’ (Psalm 100:1-5 NCV).
What Now? Most of us don’t praise God enough, so today, set reminders on your phone to praise God at least once an hour throughout the day.
There are so many things we use that need a password. It’s what enables us to sign in, participate, download, and get the information we need. And in a similar way, The Message paraphrases the psalmist’s words, ‘Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise.’ In other words, ‘Those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence’ (v.15 NIV). Praise isn’t just a reaction to coming into God’s presence; it does much more. It opens the door for God to enter our lives and go to work on our behalf. Praise brings God’s presence along with His direct intervention. The name Judah means ‘praise the Lord’, and when the twelve tribes of Israel travelled, Judah led the way (see Judges 20:18). On one occasion when Judah’s enemies were grouped against them, Jehoshaphat, their king, sent a choir to the front line ahead of the army to sing the praises of God. It sounded like a strange strategy, but it brought a supernatural victory. The Bible says, ‘As soon as they began singing, the LORD confused the enemy camp…Then they turned against each other’ (2 Chronicles 20:22-23 CEV). Praise is an expression of faith; an affirmation that we believe God is in control of the situation. The Bible talks about ‘the sacrifice of praise’ (Hebrews 13:15 NKJV). That means we must praise God even when we don’t feel like it. When it doesn’t come naturally, we must choose to do it anyway. Nehemiah said, ‘The joy of the LORD is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV). Praise can heal our emotions and lift the weight of negativity. Try it – use your password of praise!
What Now? Is there a worship song that always reminds you of God’s presence? Make that song your ‘password of praise’, and play it before you pray or read the Bible to help you focus on Him.
When God gives us a vision, it doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone else will support it or believe in it. And if God gives us a big vision, we might not either. We might think it’s too big, or that there’s no way we’re qualified or capable of fulfilling it. But when we say yes to God and trust Him to guide us, nothing will stop us from achieving what God’s laid out for us to do. Here are three things to bear in mind: 1) Vision starts within. When you look inside yourself, what do you see? You can’t borrow someone else’s vision; you must look within and draw on your God-given gifts and desires. What do you feel passionate about? What do you think constantly about? What are you always praying about? What would you be willing to give up everything else to achieve? Your most persistent desire will help point you to your purpose. 2) Vision draws on your history. Moses grew up in the comfort of Pharaoh’s palace hearing the cries of Hebrew slaves. That experience prepared him to lead the exodus. Vision isn’t some mystical quality that appears from nowhere; it’s interwoven with your past and the history of the people around you. If your vision is born of God, it won’t just benefit you, it’ll benefit others too. 3) Vision attracts resources. One of the sure signs of vision is that it acts like a magnet, attracting, challenging, and uniting people. It draws the resources needed to complete it. The more challenging the vision is, the harder the participants will fight to achieve it. So ask God to give you a vision for your life, and watch how it all comes together.
What Now? If you’re still waiting for God to reveal His vision for your life, ask Him if you could be a supporter of someone else’s vision while you wait to discover yours.
Maybe you think that because you haven’t been to Bible college or studied theology, God would never give you a vision. But that’s completely untrue. The Bible says this: ‘In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vison, “Ananias!.” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”…Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptised, and after taking some food, he regained his strength’ (Acts 9:10-12, 17-19 NIVUK). Ananias was the right man, in the right place, at the right time, with the right attitude, and God used him to lead the apostle Paul to Christ. But what’s interesting is this: after that account, Ananias is never mentioned again in Scripture. He was an ordinary person who was willing to say yes to God, and this attitude meant that he played a key role in God’s plan. That single act of listening to God in that moment had an impact that was bigger than he could have imagined. And if God gave Ananias a vision and used him greatly, He can do the same for you. Keep listening and keep trusting.
What Now? Today, try to be extra conscious of any moments where God prompts you to do something, especially if it’s a small, easy thing that might seem insignificant.
Paul believed he was doing God’s will by imprisoning and killing Christians. And when he discovered his true calling, it was in a dramatic way. ‘As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do”’ (vv. 3-6 NKJV). On that day Paul’s ministry began, and it was a ministry that would change the world. As Paul’s life neared its end, he could say, ‘I obeyed that vision from heaven’ (Acts 26:19 NLT). Our vision must not spring from a need to impress others or be like them. We’re called to do God’s will, not our own, and not someone else’s. ‘It is better to trust the LORD than to trust people’ (Psalm 118:8 NCV). We must let our vision come from God’s divine guidance, not from the thoughts or influence of other people, so we can pray with confidence, ‘Lord, You gave me this vision, and I’m trusting You to provide what I need.’ The apostle John wrote, ‘This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us’ (1 John 5:14 NKJV).
What Now? If you have a vision for your life, or if you’ve had guidance on the direction to take, spend some time today asking God for confirmation so you can be sure it’s really come from Him.
When God wants to change the current circumstances, He often starts by giving someone a vision. That’s what broke a centuries-old barrier and allowed the Gentiles (anyone who wasn’t Jewish) to hear the gospel preached for the first time. Sadly, it’s possible to be a Christian and be prejudiced. We can be believers, but still be biased against people we don’t really know or understand because we’ve avoided them and made unfair judgments about them. Jesus told His disciples, ‘This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come’ (Matthew 24:14 NIV). Peter was present when Jesus said this, but either he wasn’t listening, or he didn’t like what he heard. In those days, Jews and Gentiles were bitter enemies. The divide between them was vast. Jews would often shun the Gentiles and call them offensive names. But God told Peter to go to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, and preach the gospel, a person Peter would have considered to be ‘unclean’. Prejudice is the product of a closed mind. It’s a type of pride that must be humbled. So how did God change Peter’s heart? It needed not one, but two different visions! God gave Cornelius a vision in which He told him to invite a Jewish preacher named Peter into his home to preach the gospel. And at the same time, He gave Peter a vision in which He told him, ‘If I accept someone, don’t you dare reject them!’ The truth is, when God wants to change things, He starts the process by giving someone a vision – and that person could be you!
What Now? Today, pray that you would be open to any vision, big or small, that God gives you. Ask Him to fill you with confidence in Him so you can take whatever steps are necessary, at the right time, to fulfil it.
We don’t get to decide God’s purpose; instead, we discover it. He has a unique plan for each one of us, and to find out what it is, we need to stay close to Him through prayer and Bible study. We may feel overwhelmed with problems, unsure, and unworthy of God’s plan, but He sees our potential. David’s family didn’t think he would amount to much. But where they saw a shepherd boy, God saw a king. Looking back, David wrote: ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me…I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!’ (Psalm 139:16-18 NLT). You’re unique – and so is God’s plan for you. It’s encouraging to read stories and listen to great achievers and think, ‘If they can do it, so can I!’ But their purpose isn’t yours; the secret is to learn from others without trying to replicate them. It’s not enough to have a good idea; it must be the will of God. He had this to say about the prophets in Jerusalem: ‘They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.’ We don’t get to decide what our vision will be; we discover it by asking God for direction. And His Word says He’ll tell us which way to go: ‘If you go the wrong way – to the right or to the left – you will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the right way. You should go this way”’ (Isaiah 30:21 NCV).
What Now? Has God given you a vision for your life yet? If not, spend a bit of time today asking for His guidance in what He wants you to do. And if He has, take time to thank Him for seeing the potential in every single person.
How much of your heart have you handed over to God? Are you wholeheartedly seeking Him, or has He lost His place as priority in your life? God wants us to be devoted to Him. That means God should be more to us than any other person or thing. It means we surrender to Him and His plans for our lives. It means we let Him lead us rather than trying to do life our own way. David was someone who was devoted to God. He still made mistakes, like we all do, but his heart was in the right place. In fact when talking about David, the Bible says: ‘The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14 NIV). David was a man after God’s heart. He wanted to seek God and be close to Him. He wanted to be devoted to serving Him. David actually prayed: ‘Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name’ (Psalm 86:11 NIV). Is your heart undivided? There are many things that can try and steal parts of our heart away. We might focus on things like our relationships, work, family, and hobbies. They can all try to distract us from God. It’s not bad to have these things in our lives, but God still needs to be our priority. We should love God above everything else. In the New Testament, we’re told: ‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful’ (Colossians 4:2 NIV). We should be longing and desiring to spend time with God in prayer. It’s a great way to deepen our relationship with Him. We shouldn’t be praying only when we need something, but because we want His company and long to spend time talking and listening to Him.
What Now? Draw a large heart shape on a piece of paper, then inside it, write all the things that you love about God. Pray that your love for Him will grow stronger each day.
Before the battle with the Midianites, God said to Gideon, ‘If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterwards, you will be encouraged to attack the camp’ (v.10-11 NIVUK). God wanted Gideon to hear what the Midianites were saying, and to encourage him. When they arrived, a soldier was telling a friend about his dream: ‘“A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon…God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshipped’ (v.13-15 NIVUK). Listening those who oppose us isn’t usually something we consider doing, but sometimes it can lead to encouragement. Think of it this way: if they’re talking about you, you must be making a difference – otherwise, they wouldn’t even notice you! For every battle, problem, and opposition we face, God has a strategy for victory. And a God-given vision will always be greater than the person who is called to fulfil it, so we need His help. The Bible says, ‘If the LORD doesn’t build the house, the builders are working for nothing’ (Psalm 127:1 NCV). God knows how much you can handle, the materials you need, and how it will all fit together in your life. So if He’s speaking to you and, like Gideon, you’re afraid to act, stand on this verse: ‘God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory’ (Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV).
What Now? Are you feeling scared of stepping into the task God’s given you? Ask Him to bless you with a definite sign of encouragement. Then keep your eyes and ears open so you don’t miss it!
In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul encourages us to be thankful and joyful whatever situation we find ourselves in: ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’ (v.16-18 NIV). That doesn’t mean we have to like our circumstances, or that we have to be thankful for them. But even when things are going well, when it’s easier to live out Paul’s words, we can feel discontented and dissatisfied with life. So today, let’s try to unpick some of the reasons we might feel this way. 1) We’re looking for happiness in the wrong places. God said: ‘My people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me – the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!’ (Jeremiah 2:13 NLT). There’s an emptiness within us that only God can fill, and He will, if we invite Him in. 2) Neglecting to serve others. How we treat others can be a reflection of how we feel about ourselves. Refusing to forgive others might stem from a refusal to forgive ourselves, or we might be more inclined to be kind to others when we treat ourselves kindly. 3) Comparing ourselves with others. When we resent someone else’s achievements or level of blessing, our own joy drains away. The Message paraphrases Romans 12: ‘We are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around…So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvellously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves…or trying to be something we aren’t’ (v.4-6 MSG).
What Now? Do any of the three points in today’s reading resonate with you? Re-read the point (or points) that you would like to work on, and then pray about any thoughts or promptings that it’s brought up for you.
God might not respond in the exact way and at the exact time we want Him to, but His timing is always perfect. ‘The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right’ (Psalm 84:11 NLT). It’s difficult to watch God blessing others while we’re forced to wait. The Bible tells us, ‘Until the time came to fulfil his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character.’ God’s plan was for Joseph to live in a palace, but for years he lived in a prison, charged with crimes he never committed. But it was there that he met a butler who had the ear of Pharaoh, and through this connection, Joseph was promoted to the number-two spot in Egypt. When we walk with God, our opportunities are regulated by His plan, not by someone else’s actions. And preparation always comes before promotion. When Elijah called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, everybody admired and applauded him. But then he spent years living through a famine, and the only friend he had was an impoverished widow. Together they had to trust God for every meal. That’s when Elijah learned important lessons about humility, divine guidance, and trusting God in times of need; things that don’t necessarily make sense to our human minds at first. When God is going to build something great, He takes time to lay a strong foundation. ‘Jesus grew…in favour with God and man’ (Luke 2:52 NIVUK). If you’re in a season of waiting at the moment, embrace it, because God’s doing important work within you. Allow yourself time to grow and let Him build a firm foundation under you that will sustain and strengthen you in the years ahead.
What Now? Try to turn times of waiting into times of praise and joy. Whenever you’re waiting for a bus, in a checkout queue, waiting for the microwave to finish cooking, and so on, spend the time praying and praising God.
Next, we may need to change our mindset. If we can see what needs to be done, but we’re reluctant to take the initiative ourselves, it’s important that we try and discover what’s holding us back – otherwise, we won’t be able to move forward. Maybe we’re scared by risk, discouraged by past failures, or worried about what others will think of us. ‘Being afraid of people can get you into trouble, but if you trust in the LORD, you will be safe.’ We shouldn’t let our fears rule our lives; instead, we should hand them over to God and trust Him to see us through. We also shouldn’t wait for opportunities to come to us. Opportunity doesn’t very often just land on our plates. We have to go and look for it. It’s a good idea for us to spend time assessing our skills, talents, and resources. Doing this will give us a more accurate picture of our potential. Maybe you think that there’s nothing particularly unique about you, or that you don’t really have any special skills. But nothing could be further from the truth: ‘We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us’ (Romans 12:6 NCV). Finally, take the next step. It’s one thing to notice an opportunity; it’s another to act on it. We should choose the best opportunity we see, pray about it, do the best with it that we can, and keep going until we’ve done everything possible to make it happen. And when we’ve done our best – trust God to do the rest. ‘Trust [confidently] in the LORD forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], for the LORD GOD is an everlasting Rock’ (Isaiah 26:4 AMP).
What Now? IS there something you need to start but you just can’t manage to take that first step? Today, have an honest talk with God about anything that’s holding you back, and ask for His wisdom and guidance on moving forwards.
Next, we need to take action. Initiators don’t wait for others to motivate them. They know it’s their responsibility to move themselves forward beyond their comfort zone, and they make it a habit. The Bible says, ‘Trust in the LORD and do good. Live in the land and feed on truth’ (Psalm 37:3 NCV). If we stay where we are, waiting for someone else to move us out of our comfort zone, we won’t experience the amazing things that can happen when we step out in faith and trust God. We then need to learn from our failures and keep moving forward. The good news for initiators is they make things happen. The bad news is they make lots of mistakes along the way. The greater our potential, the greater our chance for failure. It’s not about ‘if’ we make a mistake, but ‘when’. Nobody likes to fail, but we’ve only really failed if we refuse to get up again and learn from our mistakes. Take a minute to think about and answer these questions: Are you constantly on the lookout for opportunity, or do you wait for it to come to you? Are you willing to pray and take a step of faith, or do you endlessly analyse everything? When was the last time you initiated something substantial in your life? If these questions reveal that you haven’t moved yourself forward out of your comfort zone lately, you might have to rekindle your initiative. The Bible says, ‘You who respect the LORD should trust him; he is your helper and your protection’ (Psalm 115:11 NCV). That means God will help us to succeed. And when we fail, He’ll support, protect and redirect us.
What Now? What’s God prompting you to do that you’re unsure about? Today, make the decision to take a step of faith and start that task. Don’t wait for someone else to initiate it – trust that God will help you every step of the way.
When God gives us an unconditional promise, all we need to do is wait for it to happen. But when He makes a conditional promise, we have a part to play in order to see it fulfilled. Sometimes that calls for taking the initiative. For Israel, it meant being willing to face opposition and drive the occupying nations from the promised land so it could be theirs. ‘Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in front of the people, “Be strong and brave, because you will lead these people into the land the LORD promised to give their ancestors, and help them take it as their own. The LORD himself will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forget you. Don’t be afraid and don’t worry”’ (v.7-8 NCV). God encouraged Joshua to take the initiative, promising that He would go ahead of Joshua and act on his behalf if Joshua would carry out the task and trust Him. And He’s saying the same thing to us today. Here is what it means to take the initiative: 1) Knowing what you want. We can’t be indecisive and be effective at the same time. We need to be clear about what we want and what God wants us to do, otherwise we’ll come to a standstill and never move from where we are. 2) Being willing to take risks. When God gives us a job to do, He’s promised to go before us and arrange the circumstances in our favour. Taking the initiative can be scary. Faith in God doesn’t eliminate fear – it overcomes it. So be brave and take the initiative.
What Now? Are you unsure about what decision to make about something? Set aside some time today to talk to God about it and ask for His wisdom. Be ready to do what He says, knowing that He’s going before us.
Before David became the king of Israel, he spent years looking after a flock of sheep in the wilderness. It wasn’t the most impressive start, especially for a future king. But it was where he built his relationship with God and sharpened his skills as a strategist and warrior. God will let us practise in a place where our weaknesses can be worked on, our gifts and skills can be developed, and where the mistakes we make as we’re learning won’t affect too many other people. When a pilot is taking off, they stay in constant communication with air traffic control. They’ll be told, ‘You’re cleared for five thousand feet.’ Then they’ll be told to hold and wait for further instructions. Then, ‘You’re cleared for ten thousand feet,’ ‘You’re cleared for twenty thousand feet,’ and so on, until they’ve reached the height they need to continue their journey safely. There are two points for us to take note of here. First, the pilot never loses touch with air traffic control, and listens to their guidance. Second, they can’t just go up to maximum height straight away; the controller sees the bigger picture and clears them in stages to ensure there are no other aircraft or hazards in the way. And we need to do the same when it comes to following God’s plan. He sees the whole journey and knows that if we rise too quickly, there are dangers. When we trust Him, we’ll get to our destination safely. God’s plan can’t be rushed. Maybe you’re in a ‘wilderness’ at the moment, but it won’t last forever. ‘Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.’
What Now? Find a live flight tracker online. As you watch the planes moving across the map, thank God that He sees the whole route in your journey with Him and knows all the potential hazards and obstacles. Whenever you see or hear a plane flying, use it as a reminder to check in with Him that you’re on the right track.
God told Moses, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will announce my name, the LORD, so you can hear it’ (v.19 NCV). But because (as verse 20 tells us) nobody could look into God’s face directly and live, He said, ‘There is a place near me where you may stand.’ Moses had to be in the right place before he could receive the promised blessing of seeing God. God loves to bless us, but He won’t reward sin and disobedience. If He’s told us that He wants us in a certain place, doing a certain task, we should be guided by His will. The Prodigal Son chose to leave his father’s house, a place where he had everything he needed. There are three reasons why he made that choice: 1) He wanted his father’s blessing, but not his authority. Jesus said, ‘Why do you call me, “Lord”…and do not do what I say?’ (Luke 6:46 NIV). 2) He took his father’s blessings for granted. God warned the Israelites: ‘Be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you…out of…slavery’ (Deuteronomy 6:12 NIV). 3) He didn’t know the risks waiting for him. As a result of leaving his father’s house at the wrong time, he lost everything he had. The path that takes us away from God might begin with pleasure, but it always ends with pain. But ‘those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty’ (Psalm 91:1 NCV). We need to get in the right place ¬– by God’s side. It doesn’t mean we’ll automatically receive the blessings we want or when we expect, but let’s keep in mind what a privilege and a blessing it is to be able to walk closely with our amazing God.
What Now? Have a check in with God to make sure you’re on the path He wants you to follow. If you’ve wandered away from it, ask Him to show you what you need to adjust in your life to get back on track.
When God gives you a promise or a vision for your life, it’s like a seed; it needs time to germinate and grow before it can even begin to bear fruit. It doesn’t happen instantly; there’s a lot of preparation that needs to take place beforehand. First the seed is put in the ground. Then the seed sends out a tiny root. Then a tiny seed leaf or two pushes through the surface. As the seedling gets stronger, it gets its first true leaves and grows taller. And eventually, as the plant gets bigger and more robust, it begins to produce buds, then flowers, and then fruit. If any part of the process is rushed or forced, the plant will be weaker and less fruitful than it should be. And that’s like us. We might think we’re ready to take on the vision God’s given us, but God knows when we’re really ready, so we need to be patient and listen to Him. Even though David had already been anointed king, he had to wait seven years until God removed Saul from the throne. But those years weren’t wasted; he learned some valuable lessons during them. Here’s one: ‘Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep travelling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honour you with every blessing’ (v.34 TLB). We mustn’t try to get ahead of God. If you’re feeling impatient with God at the moment, and eager to jump into the vision He’s given you, He might be saying to you: ‘It is not yet time for the message to come true, but that time is coming soon; the message will come true. It may seem like a long time, but be patient and wait for it, because it will come; it will not be delayed’ (Habakkuk 2:3 NCV).
What Now? Find a time-lapse video of fruit growing. As you watch each part of the process happening at just the right time to develop a strong plant, thank God for His perfect timing in preparing you for the vision He has for you.
‘Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!’…’An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. ‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds’”’ (vv. 24-30 NLT). There are two important lessons for us here. 1) We must get to know God’s Word so well that any mistakes (accidental or deliberate), however convincing they are, can’t mislead us. Paul warned the leaders of the church at Ephesus: ‘Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!’ (Acts 20:30-31 NIV). 2) We must stay spiritually awake and alert. The seeds that were sown that night didn’t produce a harvest of weeds until later, and by that time they couldn’t be uprooted. We might think that one little slip-up doesn’t make much difference. One degree off course seems harmless – but if we stay on that trajectory long enough, we’ll end up far from where God wants us to be. So we need to deal with every mistake and failing, no matter how tiny. The Bible gives us this advice: ‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer’ (Acts 2:42 NIV). Let’s choose to do that too.
What Now? If you don’t already, try following a Bible reading plan – there’s the Bible in a Year plan at the end of each Word For You reading, or have a look online for one that works for you.
In the Old Testament, when King Joash repaired the temple, we’re told: ‘The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold or silver for the temple of the LORD; it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty’ (2 Kings 12:13-15 NIV). The nation of Israel prospered because the people in charge acted with integrity and honesty. They were trusted, and didn’t do anything to damage that trust. But sadly, leaders aren’t always trusted. In 2019, a survey showed that trust in the British government has been declining for decades, and had reached its lowest level in more than 40 years. People can often think that those in leadership are only trying to get rich and hold on to their power. The problem with this line of thought is that the good leaders are tarnished along with the bad. We need good leaders in all areas of life, and while we should hold our leaders to account, we shouldn’t forget to also encourage good leadership. So how can we do this? 1) Pray for people in authority. Prayer brings God’s influence into any situation. Whether we’re praying for a tutor, our church leader, a politician, or anyone else in a leadership role, God can step in and bring His wisdom and guidance. 2) Support godly leadership. We should take an interest our leaders’ decisions, and praise those actions which show God’s influence at work. We might think we can’t do much, but when we involve God, change can happen.
What Now? Pray for leaders. Pray for any you know personally (such as your pastor or team leader), and also for those you may not know personally but who have an effect on your life, such as your local council members or your MP. Ask God to help them place goodness at the heart of every decision they make.
Sometimes we hear people say, ‘Be good. And if you can’t be good, be careful!’ It’s meant as a joke, but when we unpick the statement, it’s far from funny. It implies at least two things: If we choose to do bad things, we should choose less risky activities; or, if we decide not to be good, we should make sure we’re clever enough not to get caught doing the wrong things. Either way, it makes bad things seem acceptable under certain conditions. But in God’s eyes, choosing the bad thing is never okay. Goodness isn’t a matter of personal preference or our own interpretation. We need to allow God to define our standard for goodness. If we’ve strayed away from His standard and done things wrong, it’s never too late to go back to Him. He won’t turn us away and He won’t love us any less. We should make this our prayer: ‘You have done many good things for me, LORD, just as you promised. I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge. I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees’ (Psalm 119:65-68 NLT). Our old natures will constantly try to drag us back to our old ways of doing things, so we have to be just as persistent about focusing on God and the new natures He’s given us. As The Message puts it: ‘everything…connected with that old way of life has to go…Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life – a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you’ (Ephesians 4:22-24 MSG).
What Now? Were there any moments yesterday where you wandered away from God’s standard of goodness? Today, tell Him about them, and ask Him to help you always keep His standard of goodness in your thoughts.
What does it mean to be good? We might think it stems from feeling happy about ourselves and our lives. Some people might say that it can come from having ‘a good life’, the implication being that if we have enough money, a nice house, a good job, and are able to live comfortably, we’re more inclined to try to be a good person. Some might think that the way we feel makes a difference, so things like nice clothes, good food, a long soak in a hot bath – anything thank makes us feel and look good – can influence our level of goodness. But goodness isn’t about feeling good, looking good, or having goods. We can’t judge goodness based on our own opinions because everyone would have a different idea of what’s good and what’s bad. We need a guide, something to measure it by. And we have one in God. He is our standard for goodness. ‘The LORD is good and right; he points sinners to the right way.’ The Bible tells us that only God is good. The Amplified Bible puts it like this: ‘No one is [essentially] good [by nature] except God alone’ (Mark 10:18). That means goodness doesn’t come from what we do, what we have, or how we’re feeling. True goodness only comes from God. That means we need to stay close to Him every moment of the day, to allow Him to fill our lives and influence our thoughts, words, and actions. We need to constantly test what we’re doing against His standard for goodness to make sure they line up. We’ll never be as good as God, but with His help, we can do better each day and get ever closer to His standard for goodness.
What Now? Have a think about the sort of things you think make someone a good person. Now see if your opinion of goodness lines up with God’s. Ask Him to help you always use Him as your standard of goodness.
We make assumptions based on appearances all the time. It’s a plot point of countless films, books and TV shows: the demanding, expensively dressed hotel guest, who everyone thinks is a hotel inspector, turns out to be a scammer looking to cheat people; the unassuming worker wearing old jeans and a T-shirt, who everyone looks down on, turns out to be the company’s owner. Outward appearances can be misleading, so Jesus encourages us to ‘look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly’ (John 7:24 NLT). James wrote: ‘How can you claim to have faith in…Christ if you favour some people over others…give special attention…to the rich…but…say to the poor…“Stand…there, or…sit on the floor”…Doesn’t this discrimination show…your judgments are guided by evil motives?…If you favour some people over others, you are committing a sin’ (James 2:1, 3-4, 9 NLT). When Samuel went to the house of Jesse to anoint Israel’s next king, he was impressed by Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son. Eliab must have looked the part of a king because Samuel was sure this was who God had in mind too. But God said, ‘Don’t look at how handsome Eliab is or how tall he is, because I have not chosen him. God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the LORD looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7 NCV). The person God had actually chosen was Jesse’s youngest son, David, who they hadn’t even bothered to call in from tending sheep. So, let’s look beyond what we see, and try to get a glimpse of the person God sees.
What Now? Think about the last new person you met. Looking back, are you aware of any judgments or assumptions you made based on their appearance? The next time you meet someone, say a quick prayer asking God to help you see them as He does.
In the Bible, we read this account about Jacob: ‘A man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break…He touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”…Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face”….The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping’ (Genesis 32:24-28, 30-31 NLT). Jacob was a farmer. He would have been on his feet all day, so a problem with his hip was one of the last things he wanted. It was something he leaned on every day, and now he was weak in an area that he’d always prided himself on being strong. So he had to depend on God like never before. We can find ourselves in a similar place as Jacob. We might have experienced a painful failure that we can’t hide, so people notice it. God loves to use flawed people because when they become successful in what He’s tasked them with, they humbly give Him the glory rather than becoming arrogant like someone who thinks their success is totally down to their own actions. They’re a little warmer, a little more willing to reach out and embrace others. They understand that without God they wouldn’t have made it. If we limp spiritually, we have to depend on God more – and that’s always a good thing to do.
What Now? Have you had any successes, big or small, recently? Spend a bit of time thanking God for equipping you to achieve them.
In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul wrote: ‘I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear’ (Philippines 1:12-14 NLT). Later on, he wrote, ‘Always be full of joy’ (Philippians 4:4 NLT). It doesn’t sound like the sort of thing you’d write while in prison, but that’s exactly where Paul was. He couldn’t control his environment, but he chose an attitude that enabled him to overcome it. He chose to draw His peace from God and have faith. It can be difficult for us to lift our thoughts out of our immediate circumstances and fix them on God, but it can help if we remember that whatever’s happening around us, He’s always with us. Paul reassures us with these words: ‘I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:38-39 NCV). Nothing has the power to stop God loving us, and even if the situation we’re in is anything but joyful, our faith in Him can bring a sense of inner peace that can’t be shaken. The last words recorded in the Bible are these: ‘The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen’ (Revelation 22:21 NKJV). Whatever happens, trust God – He’ll give us the grace to handle it.
What Now? If you’re going through difficult circumstances, play your favourite worship song or read a chapter of the Bible that you love. Try to take your mind away from your physical place for a few minutes and instead focus on your place in God’s heart.
Several times in the Bible, we read about people praying and fasting. In 2 Samuel 12, David prayed and fasted when his son was ill. When the Jewish people were threatened with annihilation, Esther fasted before visiting the king (see Esther 4:16). Anna the prophetess ‘never left the Temple; day and night she worshipped God, fasting and praying’ (Luke 2:37 GNB). The Bible doesn’t command us to fast. It’s not compulsory, and God certainly isn’t going to reject us or our prayers if we choose not to do it. But the discipline of fasting in a godly way encourages us to say no to our physical needs so that we can focus on our spiritual ones. It’s about putting other things aside for a while so we can keep our minds fixed on God. When we think of fasting, we generally think about going without food. But that isn’t appropriate for everyone to do, and God understands that. So there are other ways we can fast. In Daniel 10 we read: ‘I did not eat any fancy food or meat, or drink any wine, or use any perfumed oil for three weeks’ (v.3 NCV). We might choose to cut out certain foods we enjoy for a few days, or to eat as normal but drink only water. (However, we must always use wisdom when changing our diet in some way. We mustn’t put our health at risk.) We could even give up social media for a while, or if we love reading, we could refuse to read any book other than the Bible. Fasting is a way of showing our devotion to God, and saying that even though there are many things we love, none of them compare to Him. He’s always first in our lives.
What Now? Could you give something up today (such as watching TV or playing games on your phone) and spend the time with God instead? Or could you swap something, such as your usual music for a worship playlist for the day?
Insecurity destroys our self-esteem by making us feel unqualified and undeserving. It can make us feel afraid to let anyone know we’re less than perfect, so we resist being taught and take offence at honest criticism. The advice and constructive criticism that we need in order to grow become the last things we’re willing to accept. And if we don’t allow growth to take place, we’ll find it difficult to face increasing challenges and we won’t be empowered to seize opportunities that come our way. Deep down, we may feel incompetent, unaccepted, disapproved of, and rejected. If our sense of well-being and confidence comes from any source (and that includes ourselves) other than God, it’s very likely that we’ll always struggle with insecurity. That’s why Paul wrote: ‘God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.’ Another translation puts it this way: ‘God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work’ (NIV). As long as we’re trusting in ourselves or in others, we’ll struggle with uncertainty and self-doubt. But the moment we start trusting in God and what He can do in us, with us, through us, and for us, we begin to feel differently about ourselves. As we spend more time with Him and learn to see ourselves through His eyes, His approval and love will fill our hearts, and we’ll be able to confidently say, ‘Lord, everything I need to succeed in life I have in you!’
What Now? Make an honest assessment of where you draw your confidence from. If God is low down on your list of sources, ask Him to help you trust Him and His opinion more and more each day until He’s at the top of your list.
Ever heard of imposter syndrome? It’s something we can experience when we don’t see ourselves as capable and worthy of where we are, and we think we’re less competent than others believe us to be. The truth is, these feelings of insecurity can stop us in our tracks. When we feel like we’re not qualified for the task we’ve been given, our self-doubt can even make us act in ways that prevent us from completing it successfully, or even at all. One of the biggest problems with insecurity is that it’s incredibly difficult to acknowledge, so we don’t bring it into the open and can’t work towards overcoming it. We can be afraid of admitting we’re feeling vulnerable because we think that it’ll weaken us in other people’s eyes, give them ammunition to criticise us, and give others an unfair advantage over us. Insecurity can make it difficult for us to trust others, so we keep them at a distance and miss out on the counsel and support of people who could help us. Insecurity will whisper to us, ‘If people really knew you, they wouldn’t love you, respect you, invite you, trust you, or spend their time and effort on you.’ So we keep hiding it. But God has provided us with an answer to our insecurities. Paul wrote, ‘Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.’ The first step towards overcoming insecurity is to start drawing our self-worth from God and learning to see ourselves through His eyes. And we can only do that by spending time with Him in prayer and reading His Word each day.
What Now? While looking in a mirror, read some of the Bible truths about God’s love for us. Speak God’s Words of security over yourself.
In any type of relationship, love needs unselfishness and commitment on our part. Real love is self-sacrificing and it means taking the focus off ourselves and centring it on others. And it doesn’t come easily or naturally to any of us. The truth is that we’re all self-centred. In our own natural selves, we’re reluctant to give up things like our time, money, possessions, or skills in order to meet the needs of other people – unless we’re highly motivated or we’re well rewarded for it. That’s why the Bible teaches us that one of the secrets of having a close relationship with someone else is to first have a close relationship with God. John the apostle wrote, ‘Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love’ (v.7-8 NIV). And God will download that kind of love into our hearts if we ask Him for it. Here’s how He does it: ‘God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us’ (Romans 5:5 NIV). This kind of love grows as we mature it. It develops as we feed it. It expands as we persist in it. The more we show love by putting others’ needs before our own and treating them with the kindness and generosity that God has shown to us, the more our capacity for love will increase. ‘Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them’ (1 John 4:16 NIV). This type of love isn’t dependent on external circumstances or what we can gain from a relationship. This is the type of love that lasts.
What Now? Is there something that you want to do for yourself today? If you can, try delaying it or setting it aside for an hour or so, and spend that time with a loved one, or spend it doing something for them, instead.
In the Book of Revelation, God emphasised different things to each of the seven churches, because they each had a different assignment and faced different challenges. It’s important to read good books and articles and listen to good mentors and teachers, but however solid their advice is, you mustn’t assume that what God has told them is also a personal message for you. There are times when you need to hear from Him for yourself. It’s fine to take advice from other people, but before making a move, always get confirmation from God first. When someone shares a word or a message from Him, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s applicable to everyone who hears it. He may be saying to one person, ‘Go ahead and take the next step now,’ but to the next person, He’s saying, ‘Wait, not yet.’ That’s why it’s vital to use discernment, testing what you’ve heard and checking with God. His blessing on what you’re doing depends on you being where He wants you to be, and doing what He wants you to do, and you must get the plan for your life directly from Him. Paul wrote, ‘We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us’ (2 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). You might like the sound of someone else’s task better than your own, but taking on someone else’s purpose is never going to be as effective or successful for you, and you’ll never reach the full potential that God can see in you. If you find you’re in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, don’t let pride or embarrassment keep you there. Pray, ‘What do you want your servant to do?’ Then, do it!
What Now? Next time you listen to a talk from a preacher or read an article from a Bible teacher, ask God to help you discern if there are any parts that you must take as a personal message from Him and need to act on.
One of Satan’s favourite schemes is encouraging us to use legitimate things and valid feelings in ways that are wrong. Here’s an example: During the wilderness temptation, he tried to take advantage of Jesus’ hunger by saying, ‘Turn these stones into loaves of bread’ (Matthew 4:3 MSG). But Jesus knew God’s Word and replied with a quote from Deuteronomy: ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”’ (v.4 NIV). If Jesus had given in to His human impulse of hunger, He would have gone along with Satan’s scheme and missed the blessing that was just about to arrive from His heavenly Father. But He trusted the Word of God and stayed strong, in spite of His very real feeling. Just as Satan tried to tempt Jesus, he also tries to use his schemes on us. For example, we all need money, so Satan will whisper to us that we can’t afford to donate to charity or church even when we have enough. We’ve all been created with a need for companions, so Satan will play on any fears of loneliness that we have, and encourage us to pick relationships that are wrong for us. We want success, so Satan will hint that we’re not good enough, and nudge us to cheat or lie to get ahead. So what’s the answer? Paul says, ‘Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes’ (Ephesians 6:11 NIVUK). There is only one way to unmask Satan and defeat his schemes, and that’s through a close walk with God, daily Bible study, and a consistent prayer life. That’s how we can guard our minds, our mouths, and our morals.
What Now? Read about ‘the full armour of God’ in Ephesians 6:10-17. As you read each verse, pray that your confidence and trust in God will grow. Ask Him for protection from every one of the devil’s schemes.
Depression can be very lonely. We can be good at hiding our true feelings, so nobody realises that we’re struggling. And unlike a broken leg in plaster or a sprained wrist that’s been strapped up, depression doesn’t always have obvious physical signs, so some people might not be as sympathetic as they ought to be. But God knows everything about us and He opens His arms to us. When others have been unkind (perhaps without realising), or we feel unloved, let’s try to turn our minds to remembering how much God loves and values us. We don’t want to appear weak, so we might think things like, ‘If somebody criticises me, it means I’m worthless,’ or ‘I can’t admit an area of weakness; I must be perfect or else I’m a failure.’ But let’s take another look at Elijah’s story. His feelings of depression weren’t fleeting. We’re told that after he ate and rested, he ‘travelled for forty days and forty nights’ (1 Kings 19:8 NIVUK), then God spoke to him. The Bible doesn’t say when Elijah was completely recovered, but it’s clear it wasn’t a quick fix; it was a long process. And all through that time, God never criticised, treated him unfairly or unkindly, or got frustrated with him. Instead, He accepted Elijah just as he was, and still had great plans for him. In God’s eyes, Elijah’s value never changed. He didn’t see Elijah as worthless; He saw someone who needed encouragement and time for restoration. God’s love for Elijah never wavered. His words in Jeremiah 31:3 – ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’ (NIV) – were just as relevant to Elijah as they were to the Israelites who heard them. And they’re just as relevant to us today.
What Now? Make a list of your favourite Bible verses that speak of God’s love for us. When you’re feeling hurt or unloved, read the verses out loud to yourself, asking God to draw near you and give you a deeper understanding of the truth of each word.
God told Elijah to go to the Desert of Damascus and anoint a new king and also a new prophet to take his place (see v.15-17). In other words, He gave Elijah a new assignment. When we’re going through a time of depression, it’s likely there’ll come a point when we need to let God give us a new direction. He’ll help us take our focus away from the pain of past hurts and problems, and refocus on something new. He might show us ways that we can use our experiences to help others who are going through something similar. Scripture says, ‘Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others’ (Philippians 2:4 NCV). We might think we’ve failed so badly that God can’t use us, or that He shares the disappointment that we feel about ourselves. But God is gentle and understanding, and He won’t reject us. Nothing in the account of Elijah suggests that God was disappointed with him. In fact, it reassures us even more about God’s love, because He was willing to walk with Elijah through depression. He didn’t once turn His back on Elijah while he was struggling with his feelings. In the New Testament, Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, but He called him anyway, because He knew Peter would learn and grow through the experience and go on to even greater things. God hasn’t finished with us. If we make a mistake, He’ll pick us up and help us start again. One mistake – or hundreds – doesn’t make us useless, and God has just the right assignment waiting for us at the appropriate time. So let’s be open to what He’s saying to us, and allow Him to use us for His kingdom.
What Now? Do you know anyone who is experiencing feelings of depression? Today, try to have a chat with them and sensitively reassure them of God’s love and that you care for them too.
The third thing God did to support Elijah in his depression was to tell him, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by’ (v.11 NIV). Next, we read: ‘Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he…went out and stood at the mouth of the cave’ (vv. 11-13 NIV). That day God put on an impressive show with the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. But He wasn’t speaking to Elijah through any of those big things. What really got Elijah’s attention was the still, small voice – the gentle whisper. God usually speaks to us in stillness and quietness – not through some big dramatic demonstration of fire or power. He whispered, ‘Elijah, I’m still right here beside you.’ If we’re feeling depressed, it can be helpful to seek a fresh reminder of God’s presence. If you’re wondering where to start, try this: Grab a Bible and go to a serene, quiet place. Sit down, read God’s Word, and spend time alone with Him. Just let Him love you and speak to you. Let Him meet your needs and let yourself feel His presence. Fellowship with God is so powerful and calming. That’s what He means when He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10 NIV).
What Now? Follow the advice in today’s reading: find a calm, quiet place, read one or two of your favourite parts of the Bible, and then simply enjoy being in God’s company and letting His love surround you.
After being restored through proper food and rest, Elijah travelled for forty days. Then he went into a cave and spent the night. In the morning, God asked him, ‘Why are you here?’ Elijah answered: ‘I’ve always done my best to obey you. But your people have broken their solemn promise to you. They have torn down your altars and killed all your prophets, except me. And now they are even trying to kill me!’ (v.10 CEV). When we’re experiencing depression, it’s important to tell God about our frustrations. Elijah poured out all his feelings, and God allowed him to let off steam. He wasn’t shocked by Elijah’s complaints. Sometimes it’s helpful to share our feelings with a trusted friend. It’s cathartic, a cleaning out, a venting of all the things that have been pushed down inside and that are contributing to feelings of depression. And Elijah had plenty of stuff pushed down inside. Here are some of the emotions he experienced: He was afraid (see v.3 CEV). Then he felt resentment, followed by low self-esteem and guilt. ‘I’ve had enough…I’m no better off than my ancestors’ (v.4 CEV). He was angry because he had worked hard for nothing (see v.10). He was lonely to the point of despair: ‘Now they are even trying to kill me!’ (v.10 CEV). He was worried. He was feeling so many things all at the same time, so God let him spill it all out. He invited Elijah to be honest and tell Him what was on his mind, and Elijah poured it all out to Him. When we’re feeling depressed, let’s accept God’s invitation to be honest with Him and take it all to Him in prayer.
What Now? Be completely honest with God about how you’re feeling today. If you’re happy, thank Him for the joy you feel. If you’re anxious, let Him know what’s playing on your mind. If you’re angry, tell Him what you’re experiencing. Make sure to thank Him for being constantly loving Father and friend, no matter what your current mood.
If you’re experiencing depression, it’s important to seek the support of a doctor or counsellor. But God also has some wisdom for us when we’re feeling depressed. Over the next few days, let’s take a look at how God helped Elijah when he was experiencing depression (you can read about this in 1 Kings 19), and what we can learn from this. First, we need to take care of our physical needs. Elijah was exhausted, so he stretched out under a tree and fell asleep. ‘All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again’ (v.5-6 NIV). Then the angel came to him a second time and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you’ (v.7 NIV). So he ate and drank and was strengthened by the food. God didn’t get cross with Elijah, scold him for running away, demand an explanation, imply his present condition was caused by a lack of faith, or put the blame on Elijah in any way. He simply met Elijah’s most pressing needs by giving him food and allowing him to rest. Depression goes beyond just feeling sad – it can impact our mental and physical health too. And when we’re physically and mentally drained, we’re vulnerable. We might not feel like taking care of ourselves properly. In those times, let’s try to remember that God’s starting point was to restore Elijah physically and help him regain his strength. And if we’re supporting someone who’s experiencing depression, let’s follow God’s example by refusing to criticise or get frustrated, and instead start by looking at how we can meet their immediate needs.
What Now? If you know someone who is going through a difficult time, see what you can do to meet their immediate needs. And if you’re struggling at the moment, remember to be kind to yourself, just as God wants to be kind to you.
In Gethsemane, Jesus ‘came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, “Can’t any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won’t be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak”’ (Matthew 26:40-41 CEV). Jesus was just hours from the cross, and He asked His disciples to pray for Him. He must have been so disappointed when He found them all fast asleep. We can be shocked that on such an important night, the disciples couldn’t spend just one hour praying for Jesus. It’s easy for us to be judgmental and to think things like ‘I wouldn’t have fallen asleep. If Jesus had asked me to pray for Him, nothing would have stopped me.’ But we’ve all been victims of tiredness at some point. Maybe the disciples didn’t get enough rest the night before, or they were worn out from a day of hard work. They might have thought that Jesus would simply perform another miracle and find a way out of the task that lay ahead, so their prayers didn’t really matter. But sadly, the disciples not only missed a great opportunity to encourage and strengthen Jesus in His hour of need, they also missed an opportunity to strengthen themselves in preparation for the terrible hours ahead. There are so many distractions that can sneak in and steal our quiet times with God, and the things we choose to do over spending time with Him don’t even need to be bad things, but if they’re taking priority over God, we need to reassess our priorities! We don’t know what each day holds, but through prayer and spending time in God’s Word, we can prepare our hearts for whatever life throws at us. What Now?
Think about your day yesterday. Was there anything that took priority over prayer? If you’re aware of something that tends to steal your prayer times, ask God to help you shift it lower down your priority list.
Even though the Israelites were God’s people, they ‘wandered in the desert lands. They found no city in which to live. They were hungry and thirsty, and they were discouraged’ (Psalm 107:4-5 NCV). If you’re feeling like that today, maybe your soul needs a ‘home’ – a place where it’s at peace, secure, and nurtured; a place where you can put down your worries, weariness, and frustrations, and simply bask in God’s presence. David said, ‘My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God’ (Psalm 84:2 NIV). The good news is that Jesus wants to be your home. The Message paraphrases His words: ‘Live in me. Make your home in me’ (John 15:4 MSG). We sometimes treat Him more like an emergency shelter that’s only used in times of trouble, but what we really need to do is make Him our permanent dwelling place. So how can we do that? The first thing we need to do is commit to spending time with Him each day. This may not come naturally to us at first, so it’ll take a conscious decision and effort on our part. But as we get to know Him better and our relationship with Him grows, those moments when it’s just us and God will become very precious and our desire to be with Him will get stronger. We also need to study the Bible and allow God’s Word to influence and guide us. As we learn to trust what He says, we’ll seek His opinion more and more, and discover that He’s our place of peace, safety and rest (take a look at Isaiah 32:18).
What Now?
If you don’t already, set a time each day that’s devoted to God. Even if you can only manage 5 or 10 minutes to begin with, take that first step to spending time alone with Him every day.
Next time you walk in the woods or go past a park, have a think about what’s taking place underground. As the roots of the trees connect with each other, they form a support system. One has access to water, another to nutrients, and another to sunlight. No single tree has everything, but when they work together they can grow, thrive, and withstand storms. This is a good illustration of how we should share and cooperate with others. ‘Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love’ (Ephesians 4:15-16 CEV). But this can be difficult, especially when we’re inclined to be independent. We want to fly solo, but sooner or later we’ll crash. It’s at that point we realise our need for these three things: 1) Encouragement. Even Paul needed cheering on: ‘Everyone in Asia has turned against me, especially Phygelus and Hermogenes. I pray that the Lord will be kind to the family of Onesiphorus. He often cheered me up and wasn’t ashamed of me when I was put in jail. Then after he arrived in Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me’ (2 Timothy 1:15-17 CEV). 2) Sympathy. ‘Be sympathetic’ (Colossians 3:12 GWT). We all need to be understood and have our feelings validated. But sometimes we’re in such a hurry to ‘fix’ people, we don’t have time to sympathise with them. 3) Grace. ‘Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others’ (Colossians 3:13 NLT). God’s grace to us should be our motivation for showing grace to others. We’ll never be asked to extend more grace to someone than God has already extended to us.
What Now? Do you know anyone who’s struggling with something that’s going on in their life and could use some support? Today, try to make some time to offer them the three things mentioned in the reading: Encouragement, sympathy, and grace.
A ‘servant’ focuses on doing their master’s will. And a ‘witness’ testifies to what they have seen and personally experienced. And we’re called to be both. Let’s take a look at each one individually. 1) We’re God’s servants. That means we need to be tuned in to what He wants us to do, when He wants us to do it, and the way He wants it done. Doing His will should be the most important item on our to-do lists for each day. 2) We’re God’s witnesses. The value of a witness depends on how close they were to an event when it happened, and what they observed. John wrote, ‘We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands...Now we testify’ (1 John 1:1-2 NLT). When we spend time with Jesus each day, we become closer to Him and allow His influence to fill our lives – and then other people can be positively influenced by our lives. The Bible says, ‘the wise person teaches others how to live’ (Proverbs 11:30 NCV). When it comes to sharing our faith with others, we must do it with wisdom, tact, and grace. Chances are, many people we meet have had at least one bad experience with Christians and church, so we need God’s wisdom in being sensitive to their needs. One way we can do this is by letting them know Jesus can heal broken hearts, and that the church as He intended is a hospital for souls, where people can come for care, love and support. Our assignment as His servants is to draw people to Jesus, and as His witnesses, we can fulfil this assignment by sharing our own testimonies of what God has done for us.
What Now? Do you know someone who’s hurting at the moment? Try sharing a story of something that God has done in your life, to encourage them that He can do the same for them. You don’t need to preach, just simply state the facts as you experienced them.
Someone once said, ‘I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much!’ Is that how you’re feeling today? When it feels like there’s too much to do or the things we’re facing are too big to handle, let’s try to focus on these words of peace and let our minds rest in them: ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit’ (Romans 15:13 NIV). We won’t find true and lasting peace from anything external. The peace that stays with us through troubles and challenges only comes when we let God fill us with His Holy Spirit. He can satisfy our spiritual hunger and give us a sense of calm and serenity even when we’re surrounded by stresses and strains. If you feel overwhelmed at the moment, and in need of God’s peace, here’s a prayer of encouragement: ‘Father, You said there’s no weapon that’ll succeed when used against me (see Isaiah 54:17). I can’t stop the enemy’s weapons being used, but I know You’ll stop them winning against me. You said that if I ask for anything in line with Your will, You’ll grant my request (see 1 John 5:14-15). You said that when I walk in obedience, I’ll be blessed when I come in, when I go out, when I lie down, and when I get up (see Deuteronomy 28:6; Psalms 1:2; 3:5). You told me to give all my worries and troubles to You and You’ll take care of me (see 1 Peter 5:7). So here they are. Today I’m trusting in Your promises. You said it, so I believe it’s true. Amen.’
What Now? Find some more Bible verses about the protection and peace God brings. Try writing your own personal prayer with them, based on the one in today’s reading.
Goliath’s ancestors were Israel’s long-standing enemies. And when Joshua entered the Promised Land, he annihilated them all, except the inhabitants of Gath where Goliath hailed from. It's important to remember that, because it shows that if we don't completely destroy the issues we're facing, they'll rise to fight again. David put ‘five…stones from a stream…into his shepherd’s bag’ (v.40 NLT) because he didn’t know how many he’d need to finish the job. And there are certain ‘stones’ we need to take with us to conquer the giants in our lives. 1) Be relentless. It might take more than a day, a month, or even a year to see results. But with God’s help we’ll win if we persevere. 2) Get God involved. David declared, ‘There is a God in Israel’ (v.46 NLT). He made sure to bring God right into the centre of the situation, and God came through for Him. 3) Keep praying and believing God for victory. ‘Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare’ (Ephesians 6:18 MSG). Replaying and going over our hurts again and again won’t heal them, and ignoring our problems won’t solve them. But prayer will. 4) Remember earlier victories. David announced, ‘GOD, who delivered me from the…lion and…bear, will deliver me from this Philistine’ (1 Samuel 17:37 MSG). When we’re afraid of the future, we should try to call to mind God’s past faithfulness to us: ‘Remember the wonders he…performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given’ (1 Chronicles 16:12 NLT). With God’s help, we can conquer any giants that life throws at us.
When David went out to fight Goliath he said, ‘You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD…and he will give you to us!’ (1 Samuel 17:45, 47 NLT). Nobody in King Saul’s army seemed to have included God in the equation, but David didn't talk about anything else. He saw what they didn’t see, and he refused to be intimidated by what they did see. He believed that the God he served was bigger than the giant he faced. We need to see God as bigger than our problems, too. When we're in a situation where there doesn't seem to be any way out, instead of dwelling on our own weaknesses and wishing things were different, we should stand on God’s Word and start talking about His power. We won’t win if we fight only in our own strength, so we shouldn't even try it. David said, ‘This is the LORD’s battle’ (v.47 NLT). And God has never lost a battle. That means we can confront our giants in the name and strength of God and declare: ‘Giant of fear, you aren’t coming near me. Giant of worry, you won’t conquer me. Giant of insecurity, of addiction, of doubt, God's taking you down.’ The Bible says, ‘When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard [flag of victory] against him’ (Isaiah 59:19 NKJV). There are three things Satan can’t withstand: God’s Word, Christ’s blood, and the name of Jesus. When we use those things, we'll bring him down every time – just like David toppled Goliath.
In the classic book Little Women, Mrs March tells this story to her daughters: ‘Once upon a time there were four girls who had enough to eat and drink and wear, a good many comforts and pleasures, kind friends and parents, yet they were not contented. These girls made many excellent resolutions; but they were constantly saying, “If we only had this,” or “If we could only do that.” So they asked an old woman what spell they could use to make them happy and she said, “When you feel discontented, think over your blessings and be grateful.” They decided to try her advice, and soon were surprised to see how well off they were. One discovered that money couldn’t keep shame and sorrow out of rich people’s houses; another found she was a great deal happier with her youth, health and good spirits than a certain fretful, feeble old lady who couldn’t enjoy her comforts; a third that, disagreeable as it was to help get dinner, it was harder still to have to go begging for it. So they agreed to stop complaining and enjoy the blessings they already possessed.’ God is a loving Father, but that doesn’t mean He’ll give us everything we want (or everything we think we need). He doesn’t indulge our every whim, cultivate a sense of entitlement within us, or teach us that the world owes us anything. Being His child doesn’t mean we won’t need to work for things, or that we’ll avoid discipline and sacrifice. Instead, He lets us experience the satisfaction of a job well done, and encourages us to find joy in what we do and appreciate every blessing that comes our way. ‘What can I give the LORD for all the good things he has given to me?’ The answer is: gratitude.
Someone once said, ‘When Columbus set out, he didn’t know where he was going. When he arrived, he didn’t know where he was. And when he returned home, he didn’t know where he’d been.’ We all need help to know what direction to go; whether or not to apply for a certain job, commit to a relationship, make a large purchase, and so on. The good news is that God will direct us, and when we make a wrong turn, He'll redirect us. Here are three ways in which He does it: 1) Through wise counsel. Others have been in a similar situation we find ourselves in; ‘Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith’ (Hebrews 13:7 NRSV). When we have a problem or an important decision to make, we should talk to others who have experience in that area and ask for help. It's also helpful to find someone we trust to mentor us regularly. Solomon said, ‘The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice’ (Proverbs 12:15 NIV). 2) Through prayer and listening for His voice. Jesus said, ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me’ (John 10:27 NIV). And Isaiah wrote, ‘Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.”’ That’s the kind of assurance we need. So, ‘Instead of worrying, pray’ (Philippians 4:6 MSG). 3) Through Scripture. Paul said, ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom’ (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). One author wrote: ‘The Bible is to God what a surgical glove is to a surgeon. He reaches through it to touch deep within you.’ But that means we must read it, personalise it, and act on it.
incent van Gogh's path to becoming an artist can teach us so much. At first, his passion for ministry led him to the Belgian coalfields where he preached to miners, fed the hungry, and earned a place in the people’s hearts. His church was filled to capacity with those eager to learn about Jesus. But his superiors weren’t happy because Vincent wore cast-offs, lived in a shack, and gave his salary to the people. ‘You look worse than the people you teach,’ they said. ‘Wouldn’t Jesus have done the same?’ Vincent asked. His bosses disagreed, and he was dismissed from the ministry. He was hurt and angry. His only desire had been to build a church that glorified God, so why hadn’t God let it happen? Then one day he watched an old miner struggling under a load of coal. Moved by the sight, he began to sketch the bowed figure. And although he didn’t realise it at the time, he’d discovered his real calling. The young preacher who was rejected by his denomination eventually became an artist the world will long remember, inspiring many people through his work. David said: ‘It was my desire to build a Temple…but God said to me…”Your son Solomon will build my Temple”’ (1 Chronicles 28:2-3, 6 NLT). When God gives us a red light, we should be sensitive to it and pay attention. And when He overrules our plans to implement His own, we should say, ‘Your will be done.' F.B. Meyer wrote: ‘Are you in difficulty about your way? Go to God…get direction from the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal…Wait there silent and expectant, though all around you insist on immediate decision or action – and the will of God will be made clear.’
When God gives us a green light, we must go. And when He gives us a red light, we must stop. ‘Paul and his friends went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit would not let them preach in Asia. After they arrived in Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not let them. So they went on through Mysia until they came to Troas. During the night, Paul had a vision of someone from Macedonia who was standing there and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” After Paul had seen the vision, we began looking for a way to go to Macedonia…sure that God had called us to preach the good news there’ (v.6-10 CEV). After a series of green lights, God gave Paul a red light. Why? 1) Because the timing wasn’t right. Apollos had to go there first and lay the groundwork. 2) Because God needed Paul and Barnabas elsewhere. 3) Because God wanted them to be more seasoned before embarking on such a major mission. Notice the words, ‘They tried to go…but the Spirit of Jesus would not let them.’ It's so reassuring to know that God loves us so much that He'll save us from our own misguided plans. The Canadian preacher A.B. Simpson said: ‘Often there’s nothing as godly as inactivity on our part, or nothing as harmful as restless working, for God has promised to work His sovereign will.’ Today, God might be saying to you, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted’ (Psalm 46:10 NKJV). Please pay attention to Him!
When your computer starts freezing up, you know it’s time to turn it off and reboot. When a warning light flashes on the dashboard of your car, you wouldn’t dream of ignoring it. When the clock starts to lose time, you know what time it is – it’s time to change the batteries! But the serious point here is that all of these things have warning signs that alert us to a problem and prompt us to do something about it. And it’s the same with stress – stress overload doesn’t appear overnight; there have probably been warning signs for several days, weeks, or even longer. The problem is that we can ignore them, push them aside because we think we’re too busy to deal with them right then, or not recognise them for what they really are. But God doesn’t want us to live in a place of stress. Jesus said, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (John 14:27 NIV). If we’re feeling overwhelmed with stress, it’s important that we get help from someone we trust, a doctor, or another medical professional who can support us. But God gives us some strategies as well. When we notice the warning signs of stress, or feel it building up inside us, we can: 1) Pray about it. ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’ (Philippians 4:6 NIV). 2) Hand it over to God. ‘Cast you cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken’ (Psalm 55:22 NIV).
Here are three more important lessons from the seven sons of Sceva: 1) Those around you aren’t necessarily with you. Just because somebody hangs out with you, admires you, and tries to emulate you, doesn’t mean they’re with you. These men followed Paul, studying his every move and trying to do what he did. But they had the wrong motives. They were never ‘with’ him at all. Are you concerned about losing certain people and are always trying to keep them happy, because you’re not sure if you can manage without them? John wrote, ‘They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us’ (1 John 2:19 NIV). When God removes a person who doesn’t belong in your life, trust Him; He knows what’s best. 2) Greater numbers don’t always mean greater effectiveness. These seven men together couldn’t do what one Spirit-empowered apostle did. And remember, their father was a chief priest, so they knew how to ‘do church’. They fulfilled the Scripture: ‘Having a form of godliness, but denying its power.’ 3) Success isn’t as easy as it looks. Sceva’s sons showed up towards the end of Paul’s career. They weren’t there in the beginning when he was humbled on the Damascus Road, or trained for three-and-a-half years in the Arabian Desert. They were looking for shortcuts. Just because someone writes a book about success doesn’t mean we can achieve overnight what took years of experience on the part of the author. It’s not that God can’t give us instant success; it’s that we need time, training, and in some cases, a major overhaul to prepare us for it.
There are two very important things we can learn from the seven sons of Sceva: 1) Satan knows who you are (and who you aren’t). The demons in this man spoke to the sons of Sceva, saying, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ (Acts 19:15 NKJV). We need to ask ourselves if we have the kind of relationship with God that causes Satan to know our names, and acknowledge that we're a force to be reckoned with. When God asked Satan, ‘Have you noticed my servant, Job?’ he replied, ‘Yes, and every time I come up against him I hit a force field I can’t penetrate’ (Job 1:8-12, paraphrased). If we can only focus on our own inadequacy, think we’re not up to the job, or that we’re not good enough, we need to take note of this fact: it’s not you the enemy’s afraid of – it’s God’s Spirit within you. 2) When ‘the evil day’ comes, you discover if you have what it takes. Paul said, ‘Put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground’ (Ephesians 6:13 NIVUK). The demons in the man recognised the weaknesses in the seven sons of Sceva and stripped them of their pretence. We can only survive if our faith is genuine, because one day we'll have to walk with God when we can't understand or explain where He’s taking us. Our own strategies and talents won’t get us through. We'll have to stand on His Word when it doesn’t look like it’s working for us. That’s when we discover it’s ‘“not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD’ (Zechariah 4:6 NIV).
What Now? Read the verses about the armour of God in Ephesians 6:10-18 as part of your regular morning routine to help you prepare for the day ahead.
The Bible says: ‘Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and…they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known…and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified’ (v.11-17 NKJV). This story should act as a warning to those who think, ‘If they can do something, I can do it!’ It's not always true. Unless God calls and equips us to do it, the chances are that we'll get it wrong and get ourselves in a mess. God doesn’t empower us to do our own thing; He empowers us to do His thing. The truth is, we can only use the name of Jesus effectively: a) When we acknowledge Him as our Saviour and Lord. b) When we have an intimate relationship with Him. c) When we stand on His Word and practise its principles in our everyday lives. When we do that, every time we use the name of Jesus, we're protected and supported by the authority that’s in His name.
Do you remember doing dot-to-dot puzzles when you were little? The page starts with a collection of random-looking dots, but as you work through the puzzle, the picture gradually takes shape and makes sense. God’s kingdom can sometimes seem like a dot-to-dot puzzle to us. We each have a unique part to play in it, but we can’t always see or understand where we fit in. But as God comes along and joins the dots, more and more of His plan is revealed, and we begin to see the goal He’s working towards, and get a better idea of why He’s doing things the way He is. The difference is that when we start a dot-to-dot, we can’t make out the picture. But when God starts joining the dots, He goes into it knowing exactly what the finished picture is going to be, and moves us just where He needs us in order to make it happen. He says: ‘Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish’ (v.9-10 NLT). From our perspective, we might not know why God’s steering us to connect with a certain person or prompting us to go a certain way. But we do need to trust Him, because only He knows all the details of how we fit in to His bigger picture. He sets the goal, then determines the route required to reach it. Each dot that He joins is a kingdom connection. So let’s try to be sensitive to His leading, and take joy in the fact that we have a unique part in His beautiful kingdom picture.
What Now? Find a dot-to-dot puzzle online (or print one, if you prefer). As you work through the puzzle, stop at each dot and say a short prayer about God’s plan for your life, His guidance and wisdom, and your part in His kingdom.
As we’re growing up, we can often begin to resent our parents’ wisdom. We want to do things our own way. We think we know better than they do. And sometimes we do. But a lot of the time, our parents, or youth leaders, or tutors, do know best. They can speak into our lives from experience. And if we’ve got parents who are praying for wisdom in how to bring us up, we’ll definitely be able to learn a few things from them. One of the things parents often want for their children is wisdom. They want us to make the right choices in life, they want us to choose good things. When Solomon was writing to his son, he said: ‘If your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed.’ So how can we make sure we have a wise heart? We can test the wisdom we receive from others by seeing if it matches with God’s Word, and we can ask God directly for His wisdom too. God’s wisdom is far greater and far more extensive than any human wisdom. The Bible says: ‘For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:6 NIV). God’s wisdom is different from human wisdom. We’re told: ‘The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere’ (James 3:17 NIV). And when we have God’s wisdom, we’re different too. We’re more assured in our steps forward, we have peace in our decisions, so let’s ask for His wisdom today.
What Now? Do you feel like your heart is full of God’s wisdom? If not, ask Him to impart some wisdom to you today, and then use that wisdom in any decisions you need to make.
Do you ever feel like you’re unappreciated, or that others take you for granted? That you just want to hear someone say ‘Thank you’? Two simple words, but they mean such a lot. The truth is that although other people might fail to thank us, our heavenly Father appreciates everything that we do and everything that we are. We’re fulfilling His purpose every day, and as soon as we accept that, we’ll find joy and meaning in whatever we’re doing. Other people are the receivers of our good work and deeds, but God is the reason for them. We mustn’t let someone else’s response to our actions (or lack of response) decide our levels of joy. They may not notice what we’ve done, but God does. He closely observes every day and every detail of our lives. ‘God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.’ Paul wrote, ‘Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him’ (Colossians 3:17 NIV). Do it for Him – that’s all there is to it. There’s no need to over-complicate it. Today why not pray this prayer: ‘Lord, all that I do, I do for You. I know that You appreciate me, and You’ve blessed me in so many ways, so I will choose to praise and honour You throughout this day with my thoughts, my words and my deeds. In Jesus’ name, amen.’
God blesses us with skilled doctors who know how to diagnose illnesses and prescribe medication that bring health and healing. But what about when it’s our souls that need healing? In those times, we should to turn to God to nourish us and bring the restoration we need. The psalmist wrote: ‘As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live…Those who love your instructions have great peace’ (vv. 143-144, 165 NLT). When there’s a chemical imbalance in our bodies, it might need to be treated with medication, an altered diet, or a lifestyle change. But when our souls are starved to the point of breaking, they need to be treated with God’s Word. We’re not talking about skimming through a few verses and rushing off into the day. Butterflies cover a lot of ground, but only bees gather honey. Sometimes we have to stay with a particular Scripture until we extract the ‘honey’; to live with and meditate on it till it takes root and starts to grow within us (see Psalm 119:48). It takes time to change ingrained character traits. God may work on one area of our lives for several weeks, or even months. He won’t give up on us. New habits and ways of thinking need time to be established. We must recognise this and allow God to reveal and reinforce new truths. Just because we’ve read a certain scriptural truth doesn’t mean it will produce instant change. It must be applied every day, and that takes time and meditation.
Lack of nourishment can have a big effect on health. It can cause people to lose their ability to think clearly. It can affect their vision. It saps their strength, and they stop being productive. It’s the same with our spiritual life. Jesus said, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4 NIV). So knowing that, how come we don’t spend time reading the Bible? We know it’s essential to our spiritual, mental and emotional health, but we fail to do it, or do it inconsistently. Why? 1) Because we’re not motivated. We haven’t experienced the joy that comes from personally discovering great truths from God’s Word. We grow complacent and settle for having our spiritual food handed to us by other people. But when we get serious about studying the Bible for ourselves, we'll never again be satisfied with second-hand knowledge. 2) Because we don’t know how. We hear a great sermon and think, ‘Why didn’t I see that?’ Often it's because most church leaders spend hours studying the Scriptures, and we don’t. The more we get into God's Word, the more we can make new connections and understand what He's saying through Scripture. 3) Because we get lazy. Bible study requires self-discipline. It takes time, effort, concentration and persistence. Most great truths don’t lie on the surface; we have to dig for them. In the Old Testament, when Israel ‘sought God eagerly…he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side.’ And God will do that for us too.
When our appetite changes, it can be an indication that something isn't quite right. We need food to survive, so if we lose our appetite, we need to pay attention and seek help. And the same principle applies to our spiritual health. One of the characteristics of the great men and women in Scripture is that they hungered for God in prayer and disciplined themselves to study and understand His Word. What made evangelist George Müller so successful? During his lifetime he read through the Bible some two hundred times – and more than half of those were on his knees, praying over Scripture while studying it. When we know God that well, we’ll pray specifically and get specific answers. The truth is that we were all born with a God-shaped blank inside us, and nobody but God can fill it. Greater success won’t. More money won’t. Another relationship won’t. Living in a palace and being a king won’t. That’s why King David wrote: ‘LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word…Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law…My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times…Your statutes are my delight; they are my counsellors’ (Psalm 119:12-24 NIVUK). The Word of God is ‘soul food’, so if we’ve been neglecting our souls, we need to rethink our priorities and start feeding them again.
When Samuel was a boy and was working in the temple, he didn’t recognise God’s voice when He spoke to him. But later, as a prophet, God spoke to an entire nation through him. Learning to recognise God’s voice isn’t a skill that we develop overnight, because He speaks to us at different times, in different ways, and in different settings. Recognising God’s voice: 1) Calls for spiritual maturity. Jesus said, ‘The sheep follow him, for they know his voice’ (John 10:4 NKJV). Notice that He said His sheep know His voice, not His lambs. Lambs follow adult sheep until their senses are trained and they've learned what to listen for. That means there’s grace for young people, immature people, and those who are His new followers. If our spiritual ears aren’t developed yet, God will work with us until they are. 2) Means not being limited by your previous experiences. When God spoke to Moses, a mountain shook, whereas He spoke to Elijah in a still, small voice. Don’t limit God, and don’t try to figure Him out. He can speak to us through the Bible, through pastors and those who teach His Word, through a song, through a painful situation, and through our thoughts and desires when we’re submitted to Him. The key is to stay close to God and keep focused and listening. 3) Means being obedient: David said, ‘I take joy in doing your will’ (Psalm 40:8 NLT). When it comes to recognising God’s voice, our response shouldn't be 'When I get around to it,' ‘If I can fit it in,' or ‘I’ll think about it.’ ‘If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures’ (Job 36:11 NKJV).
Paul had one of the greatest ministries the world has ever known, but he said of himself, ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them’ (1 Timothy 1:15 GNT). When people told Paul how great he was, he stayed humble by remembering what he used to be. If we believe God has called us, our response should be to bow down in humility before Him. When the Angel of the Lord told an ageing Zacharias he would father a son named John the Baptist, Zacharias hit the floor and didn’t move, to the point where people wondered if he was dead. Ezekiel had a book in the Bible named after him, but when God called him, he collapsed on the floor and God had to tell him to get up, saying, ‘Stand up, son of man…I want to speak to you’ (Ezekiel 2:1 NLT). When John the Revelator saw Jesus standing in the midst of the seven churches, he wrote, ‘When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man’ (Revelation 1:17 NCV). Paul wrote, ‘Walk…with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering’ (Ephesians 4:1-2 NKJV). Think about the phrase ‘walking with God’. There’s no higher calling than that, and the higher our calling, the lower we must become in our own estimation. Humility doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself; it means thinking of yourself less. Jesus summed it up like this: ‘Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ So today, practise humility.
When it comes to being an exhorter, notice these two things: 1) Exhortation is a neglected gift. A ministry of encouragement is so needed in the church today. It’s so easy to find discouragement and so difficult to find encouragement, even in the church. Wherever we go, whatever we're involved in, there are people who are always ready to tell us why something won’t work and point out how something went wrong. They seem to talk louder and longer than the encouragers. Which leads to the next point: 2) Exhortation is a needed gift. No matter how well things may be going, or how well someone looks on the outside, every one of us can use some encouragement. In fact, encouragement is so important that the whole church should be involved in it. ‘Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near’ (Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT). Church is a place where people should be picked up, not knocked down. We should take every opportunity to encourage people, even when they don’t need it, instead of waiting until they do. If we wait too long, our encouragement may be too late. Don’t wait until something good happens to speak an encouraging word; make it a regular habit. If we're unsure what to say and how to say it, we can ask God for wisdom, and He'll provide it. ‘The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary’ (Isaiah 50:4 NIV).
An exhorter has the ability to do three things: 1) Confirm. ‘When they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God”’ (v.21-22 NKJV). An exhorter is a pillar of strength in difficult times. They know how to motivate the tough to get going, when the going gets tough. They throw a life jacket of faith to a believer who's drowning in a sea of doubt. 2) Console. ‘So when they came out of jail, they went to Lydia’s house where they saw some of the believers and encouraged them’ (Acts 16:40 NCV). Here the gift of exhortation is demonstrated in its finest form. Paul and Silas had been falsely accused, beaten with rods and thrown into a dungeon with their hands and feet locked in stocks. When word of it reached the church, the believers were really depressed. Remarkably, after they were supernaturally released from prison, instead of looking for consolation and comfort, Paul and Silas went to church and offered it to others. 3) Confront. ‘I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord…these women who laboured with me in the gospel’ (Philippians 4:2-3 NKJV). These two prominent women in the church couldn’t get along with one another, so Paul took on the role of a peacemaker and confronted them. He was friendly, he was fair, but he was firm. And we must be the same.
The Greek word for ‘encourage’ or ‘exhort’ is parakalew. It comes from two words, one meaning ‘alongside of’ and the other meaning ‘to call’. This is the root of the Greek word paraclete, which is the name Jesus gave the Holy Spirit. The real ministry of the Holy Spirit is to exhort and encourage us in our walk with God. So we are never more like the Holy Spirit, and never more in tune with His ministry, than when we're exhorting and encouraging others. An exhorter can turn a loser into a winner, a shirker into a worker, and a pessimist into an optimist. They inspire others with renewed courage, spirit, and hope. They have a ministry of affirmation and appreciation. It’s important to remember the difference between appreciation and affirmation. We appreciate what a person does, but we affirm who a person is. Appreciation comes and goes because it’s usually related to someone’s achievements, but affirmation goes right to the heart of a person because it's directed at that person’s individual worth. An exhorter has the ability to make you feel good about yourself. They uplift, inspire, motivate, and make you feel better just by being around you. The Bible says that Barnabas was an exhorter. ‘Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord’ (Acts 11:22-23 NKJV). So today, be an exhorter.
What Now? Try to say or do something to encourage everyone that you interact with today.
It’s estimated that the average person speaks about nine million words a year, and more than half are, ‘I, me, my, mine.’ But following Christ means dying to self, and self-centredness doesn’t give up without a fight. ‘Everything connected with getting our own way…is killed off for good.’ Self-interest is a daily battle, because we tend to try and cling to our own interests with a grip of steel. Jesus told His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to become great among you must serve the rest of you like a servant (Matthew 20:26 NCV). A servant had to carry out the instructions given to them, putting aside their own wants and needs and looking only to the wants and needs of the people they were serving. And we’ve been called to give up our own interests in order to serve others. If He has to, God will leave us with ‘a reminder’ of what it took to get through to us in our particular areas of stubbornness and self-centredness. For example, after his encounter with God, Jacob walked with a limp, but it was a constant reminder of his total dependence on God. The Message paraphrases the apostle Paul’s words: ‘So I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations’ (2 Corinthians 12:7 MSG). Maybe there's a habit you need to battle, a problem that keeps recurring, a person in your life who you find difficult to get along with, or even a physical condition that slows you down. God doesn't always take things away from us straight away, because He wants us to learn that we need to depend on Him and that we can trust Him to help us in our areas of weakness.
It’s one thing to know about God, but it’s a completely different thing to know Him closely and personally. Take a minute to examine your spiritual life. Has your walk with God slowed to a crawl? Do you feel like you’re running on empty? We can only have a full fuel tank by paying attention to our fuel gauge and making regular visits to the fuel pump. A full tank doesn’t just happen; it needs constant vigilance, commitment and action to keep the level up. Our earthly natures will try to work against us every day, and challenging circumstances will come along that discourage us. Even those close to us might misunderstand our spiritual priorities. If it was easy, anyone could do it. The prize goes to those who can say like Paul: ‘I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him’ (v.10-11 MSG). Paul didn’t just pray for intimacy with God; he pursued it with all his heart. Nothing was more important to him. Have an honest think about how committed you are to becoming closer to God. Do you sing praise and worship songs but your heart and mind aren't really in it? Have you become critical around others to the point where God's love doesn't shine through as well as it could? Have doubts and bad habits stolen some of your confidence in God? (See 1 John 3:21-22.) If any of these things sound familiar, it's important to do something about it. Starting today, resolve to become even closer with God, and refuse to let anything get in the way of your relationship with Him.
Money is one of the things that can cause problems. If handled well, it’s useful for us in living our lives and helping others. But when we get into debt, rely on retail therapy to feel better, feel like our value depends on our salary, or just simply love money rather than God, we can end up living in an ungodly way. God never says that we shouldn’t have money, and that we shouldn’t spend it, but the Bible does give us some guidelines to help us be godly stewards of our finances. Saving money is a great, and necessary, way to prepare for the future, and to make sure we have enough for days to come. But we shouldn’t save to the point of never relying on God to provide for us, and at the expense of being generous givers. Matthew 6 says: ‘Don’t store treasures for yourselves here on earth where moths and rust will destroy them and thieves can break in and steal them. But store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them’ (v.19-20 NCV). We can’t take all our money with us when we die, so let’s make sure that we’re sensible and godly in the way we’re saving. We also shouldn’t be spending our money all on ourselves. Throughout the Bible, we’re called to live selflessly. We need to be generous and sacrificial in our giving. When we see people in need, and we have the means to help, let’s help them out. Let’s give what we can to our churches to help them reach more people. And most importantly, let’s remember that we can’t serve both God and money. Which will you choose to serve?
What Now? If you’re struggling with your finances, particularly debt, why not take a look at Christians Against Poverty’s website (capuk.org).
Stubborn habits can take on a life of their own; that’s why they keep growing. They have a mind that thinks for us, a voice that speaks to us, and a power that keeps conquering us. When we have bad habits that are controlling us, we should pray and declare God’s Word over them to break their hold on us. God said, ‘I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled (Jeremiah 1:12 NIV). Here's a prayer for breaking stubborn habits: ‘Lord, Your Word says that if I call on You, You’ll answer me, that You’ll be with me in trouble, You’ll honour and deliver me (see Psalm 91:15). You promised that through the power of Your Spirit, I can be free from this vicious cycle of temptation, sin and failure (see Romans 8:2). You said if I fully committed my life to You, I’d have the strength to resist the devil, and that he would flee from me (see James 4:7). Your Word says You’ve given me the power to pull down my old strongholds and take control of every ungodly thought, imagination, and impulse (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). You promised that by reading and meditating on Your Word each day, I’d be able to share in Your divine nature and overcome the tendencies of my earthly nature (see 2 Peter 1:4). You promised to strengthen me in my mind, my emotions and my will; You promised that my self-worth would be based solely on Your love for me; You promised that You’d do exceedingly abundantly above all I could ask or think, because You’re at work in me (see Ephesians 3:14-21). Today, I claim victory over this habit, in Jesus’ name, amen.’ Today, declare the words: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’
We're used to being constantly connected, and feel like we always need to be contactable and available. It can seem difficult to go 'off-grid' for a while to make space for God. But it’s vitally important for us to spend time alone with Him so we can hear Him clearly. Jesus, our role model, ‘often withdrew…and prayed’ (Luke 5:16 NIV). He ‘went up on a mountainside by himself to pray’ (Matthew 14:23 NIV). How did Jacob the deceiver become ‘Israel, a prince with God’? (see Genesis 32:28). The Bible says he ‘was left alone, and a man (the Angel of the Lord) wrestled with him till daybreak’ (Genesis 32:24 NIV). The greatest spiritual victories come from the battles God calls us to fight when we’re alone with Him. He outlines and clarifies His plans for us when there’s nobody else around. That’s because He wants us to be more influenced by Him than by others. When God is preparing us for a special assignment, we'll need to spend time away from others so we can focus on Him and be clear about what He’s telling us. In Exodus God said, ‘Moses alone is to approach…the people may not come up with him.’ After Elijah spent the night alone in a cave, God told him, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain…for the LORD is about to pass by’ (1 Kings 19:11 NIV). Daniel ‘was left alone, gazing at this great vision’ (Daniel 10:8 NIV). Jeremiah wrote, ‘I sat alone because your hand was on me’ (Jeremiah 15:17 NIV). There's a difference between loneliness and solitude. When God asks us to spend time alone with Him, we should get all we can from the experience, and move to the next level.
God rarely sends us into situations where our comfort level is high. Instead He promises to be with us in spite of our fear. It’s God’s presence, not comfortable circumstances, that strengthens our faith and brings out the best in us. God told Abraham to leave a wealthy, well-known family, and go to a land he didn’t know. He explained that Abraham would give birth to a new nation that would bless the world. Abraham went, and a nation was born. God told Moses to confront Pharaoh, the most powerful man on earth, and that God Himself would use Moses to deliver His people. Moses confronted, and God delivered. God told Joshua that if he’d be strong and courageous when everybody wanted to return to slavery, God would go with them and give them the land. Joshua was strong and courageous, and God Himself went with them and gave them the land. Over and over we see this pattern repeated in Scripture. David faced the giant Goliath, Elijah faced the prophets of Baal, Daniel faced a den of lions – and always there was God in the midst of their fear. And He’s still there for us today – there are so many testimonies from ordinary people who tell how God was right there with them when they were facing their most fearful moments. Here are Jesus’ words for when we’re feeling afraid and don’t know where to turn: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’
What Now? Thank God for His peace. If you feel you need it today, ask Him to bless you with a strong awareness of His love and peace.
Sometimes we can feel like we’ve made too many mistakes, we’re too broken, or our lives are too much of a mess for God to invite us back to Him. But the truth is, we’re never beyond the reach of God’s grace. With Him, our future can be so much greater than our past. In the story of the Prodigal Son, Jesus said: ‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.’ He could have waited until his son arrived at the door, and expected an apology before he thought about whether he would allow his son back again. But instead he watched for his son, hoping he would return. He ran to meet him and put his arms around him. He gave him a robe, a ring, and a pair of shoes. Each of those objects was significant because they all gave him back his identity and authority in the household. He came home thinking that he would be a servant, but the father calls him ‘son’ again. Back then, when someone rebelled against their father’s authority and left home, ‘a ceremony of shame,’ was held which meant they could never return. But this father threw a big party to welcome his son home. Despite what he had done, he was fully accepted back home. And God’s waiting and longing for us to come home too. He’s watching the road, ready to run and embrace us with His love as soon as He catches sight of us. He’s ready to fully restore our identity as His child, with all the blessings and rights that entails. And He’s anticipating a celebration when we return. So will you come home today?
What Now? If you’re feeling distant from God, or feel like you’ve walked away from Him, take some time to read Luke 15:11-32. Then ask God to help you take the first step back towards home.
We each give for different reasons. 1) Some people give out of guilt. They give to God’s work because they would feel bad if they didn’t. 2) Some people give out of greed. They give only to get. They stand on Scriptures such as: ‘Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’ (Luke 6:38 NIV). The problem with this kind of thinking is that it’s ‘me-centred’, rather than ‘us-centred’. 3) Some people give to get glory. Jesus said, ‘Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them, If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven’ (Matthew 6:1 NIVUK). God is not just interested in what we give, but in why we give. He looks beyond the amount we give, and examines the motive behind it. If we give to God out of greed, guilt, or glory, we're giving from the wrong motives and reasons. Jesus said: ‘When you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly’ (vv. 3-4 NKJV). 4) Some people give out of gratitude. These are the people who ask, ‘What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me?’ (Psalm 116:12 NIV), and they give out of gratitude. That’s the kind of giver we should try to be.
The Bible says: ‘We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us…Whoever has the gift of giving to others should give freely’ (v.6-8 NCV). Every believer receives grace for giving, but some of us have the gift of giving. Some people also have a gift of making money. They know how to make wise investments and recognise a good deal. When they need to buy something, they seem to be able to hit on a special offer for the thing they want. They know how to get the best return on their investments. And if we find we’re one of these people, it's important for us to realise that our ability to gather wealth is actually a gift from God. In Deuteronomy 8 we read: ‘You might say to yourself, “I am rich because of my own power and strength,” but remember the LORD your God! It is he who gives you the power to become rich’ (v.17-18 NCV). If we find we have plenty, we mustn't let it lead us into pride. Success and wealth don’t come through our own skills and abilities. They come from God, and He expects us to bless others with the resources He's entrusted to us. God told Abraham, ‘I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing’ (Genesis 12:2 NKJV). That means when God taps us on the shoulder and instructs us to be generous with what we have, we shouldn't argue with Him. All of our resources and money actually belong to God, so we shouldn't be afraid of being generous when He prompts us.
Paul wrote, ‘You are rich in everything – in faith, in speaking, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help, and in the love you learned from us. In the same way, be strong also in the grace of giving.’ God hasn't called us to be reservoirs that store up all His blessings for ourselves, but rivers that carry His blessing to others. Many people have learned how to get, but not how to give. If we get into a posture of being 'getting' Christians without being 'giving' Christians as well, our faith lives will wither and die. There are two seas that are fed by the Jordan River. One sea is fresh and brimming with life. There are fish living in it, splashes of green adorn its banks, and trees spread their branches over it, stretching out their thirsty roots to sip of its nourishing waters. But the other sea has no life at all. No fish can live in it. No one can drink from it because the water is foul and putrid. But both are fed by the Jordan River. What’s the difference? The Sea of Galilee receives water from the Jordan, but it also gives. For every drop that flows into it, another drop flows out. But the other sea hoards its water. Every drop it gets, it keeps. The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. The other sea gets and keeps, and it’s called the Dead Sea. When we hoard and keep our blessings to ourselves, we die spiritually. But when we give generously and keep our blessings moving on to bless others, we come to life spiritually.
The Bible says: ‘In the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God’ (2 Timothy 3:1-4 NLT). This entire passage is a good definition of selfishness and what can come from it when we let a selfish attitude guide our lives. And if we’re being honest with ourselves, there are probably things in there that we’ve done on occasion. Being completely unselfish is difficult, but that doesn’t excuse us from trying to reach it. Here are some steps to help: 1) ‘Continue following the teachings you learned’ (v.14 NCV). We should try to keep focused on God by spending time with Him every day and regularly reading His Word. As we grow our relationship with Him, we’ll be more sensitive to His guidance, and more aware of His gentle correction if we stray towards selfishness. 2) When we have enough to meet our own needs, we should be willing to say yes to God when He asks us to meet someone else’s need. Paul wrote: ‘I am not trying to do what is good for me but what is good for most people so they can be saved.’ Our generosity can point people towards God’s love, as well as blessing them in that moment. 3) Find a mentor. They can help us identify when we’re slipping towards selfishness and support us in getting back on God’s path.
What Now? Pray today about any selfishness that’s crept into your attitude. Ask God to help you eliminate any unkind and ungenerous thoughts or actions from your life.
Here are four ways in which we can express kindness and generosity towards others. 1) Giving our time. Giving a few hours of our time to someone, especially if we’re usually busy, can mean the world to a person who’s hurting. 2) Giving our skills. There are so many organisations and charities that can use our skills in their efforts to help others. We can also use them to help a friend or someone in our community. Are you good at cooking? Why not prepare a meal or bake a cake for someone who’s lonely. Can you handle a paintbrush? You could offer to paint a garden fence for someone who’s experiencing health problems at the moment. There are countless ways we can use our skills to bless others. 3) Giving our treasure. The Bible says: ‘Being kind to the poor is like lending to the LORD; he will reward you for what you have done.’ That doesn’t mean we should give because we’ll get something in return, but when we’re giving with the right motives, we shouldn’t be afraid of being generous, because God will honour our compassion. 4) Giving our temperament. Everyone we meet is struggling with something and fighting battles they usually don’t talk about. So a smile and a word of encouragement can be like a lifeline that helps keep them afloat that day. We need to decide, ‘I will not let this day end until I have said or done something to help, bless, and encourage another person.’ Today pray: ‘Father, thank You for every resource and advantage You’ve given me. Help me to always remember that these blessings are from You, and that they should be shared with others for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.’
What Now? Make a list of all the different ways you could use your skills to make life a little bit better for others. Even if you think something is too easy or too small, it could be a huge blessing to someone. Try and put one or two of the things on your list into action each week, if you can.
The Bible says: ‘If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion – how can God’s love be in that person?’ It’s a hard-hitting reminder for all of us, and we’ve probably all fallen short somewhere in our thinking of the needs of others and helping to meet those needs. Selflessness doesn’t mean that God is asking us to help others to the point where we neglect and sacrifice our own health and mental wellbeing. This can end up leading to resentment. He also doesn’t expect us to meet every single need that comes our way. But He is challenging the ‘what’s in it for me?’ attitude that we can fall into. Selfishness is a stronghold that must be broken down in order to experience true peace and joy, the sort that gives life meaning. James wrote: ‘My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them? A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food. If you say to that person “God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,” but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing. In the same way, faith by itself – that does nothing – is dead.’ (James 2:14-17 NCV). God loves us so much, but it’s a love that we should also be willing to pour out onto others by being sensitive to their needs and meeting them where we can.
What Now? As you go through the day, try to be more aware of people who are in need of help in some way. Try and meet some of those needs, if you can.
Paul wouldn’t give an inch about the truth of God’s Word, but he refused to be drawn in to a fight about customs, traditions, and people’s preferences. For example, some of the Corinthian Christians thought because certain meats were offered in worship to idols it was sinful to eat them. Paul didn’t handle it by standing up and declaring, ‘I’m not going to allow you to impose your unscriptural convictions on me.’ Instead, he wrote: ‘Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do. But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble’ (1 Corinthians 8:7-9 NLT). Then he said, ‘I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some’ (1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT). God didn’t call us to win theological arguments; He called us to win people to Christ. So be gracious to people who don’t think like you, dress like you, or care about some of the things you care about. Be gracious to those whose worship style and fine points of theology are different from yours. ‘Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace’ (Ephesians 4:2-3 NLT).
What Now? Next time you’re in a conversation with someone you don’t really see eye to eye with, try to discover if you have any shared interests or values. Use those as some common ground to have a more positive interaction.
David prayed: ‘Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!…See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me! Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge. May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you’ (v.16-21 NLT). We all have areas where we’re weaker and more vulnerable, where our integrity is most likely to be tested, and where we’re more at risk of giving in to temptation. Here are four ways that we can protect ourselves in our most vulnerable areas: 1) By staying close to God. When we’re lonely, distancing from God doesn’t make sense. It can increases our exposure to things that could be harmful to our physical, emotional and spiritual selves, as we look to other things to find comfort. Instead, we should turn to God. 2) By coming out of hiding. If we try getting to know others and letting them get to know and care for us, we become more willing to be transparent and open, and less likely to hide away our struggles. 3) By taking the focus off ourselves. Victory comes by reaching out to those in need; by giving our time to help them, praying for them, loving and serving them. 4) By forgiving those who’ve hurt us. Isolating ourselves when we’ve been hurt just leads to bitterness. We should turn it over to God, let Him deal with the offender, and ask Him to help us forgive.
What Now? Read Psalm 25:21 again. Each time you pray this week, try ending your prayer time with those words.
Plants need strong, healthy root systems to thrive. Those with weak or damaged roots can still grow, but they won’t be able to reach their full potential or withstand stresses as effectively. The good news is that the plants can be treated and the roots encouraged to grow stronger. Some plants suffer from root rot. Once the problem has been identified, the roots need to be washed clean, the bad parts cut away, and the plant is repotted in fresh soil. And sometimes we need to do the same. Flawed roots produce flawed fruit, like feelings of inferiority, worthlessness, anger, inability to trust, and fear of intimacy. If our root system contains things like rejection, past mistakes, and painful experiences, we need to bring them out into the open and treat them. And we can do that with God’s help. ‘He will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong’ (vv. 16-17 NLT). The assurance of God’s love can bring healing to our emotions. We no longer have to draw our security and self-worth from how others treat us or from our background. But it’s a process. Strong roots require three things: 1) Time to grow. Becoming confident in our identity as God’s child is like breaking in new shoes. We have to walk in them until they become comfortable. 2) Protection from things that can be harmful. We need to surround ourselves with people who build us up instead of tearing us down; people ‘who share the same precious faith’ (see 2 Peter 1:1). 3) Spiritual nourishment. We need to pray and feed ourselves regularly from God’s Word (see Job 23:12).
What Now? Do a bit of gardening (if you haven’t got access to a garden, ask a friend or neighbour if there’s any gardening you could do for them). As you’re working, ask God to help you be rooted firmly in His love.
When it comes to knowing what our purpose is, we have two options. 1) Guesswork. If we only rely on our own knowledge and feelings to find our purpose, we’re likely to get it wrong somewhere. We’d probably end up choosing the purpose we think we’d like, rather than the purpose that’s actually right for us. We can’t see the whole picture, so we need: 2) Revelation. In the Bible, we read: ‘To be a high priest is an honour, but no one chooses himself for the work. He must be called by God as Aaron was.’ We can apply a similar thought to our own calling – it’s not our choice, but God’s. And we can actually draw comfort from this, because it means that when God has called us to do a certain thing, we can be confident that He’ll provide the resources, wisdom, connections and strategy we need to fulfil it. We can also find guidance in His Word. In the Bible, we can discover insights into why we exist, how life works, how best to live our lives, what to avoid, and what to expect in the future. There are a lot of self-help books out there, and while many of them contain good advice, none of them are God’s personal message to His children. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words: ‘God’s wisdom…goes deep into the interior of his purposes…It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest – what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us’ (1 Corinthians 2:7 MSG). Each one of us has been created to fulfil a certain unique purpose in life. And to discover it, we need to turn to God and His Word, not the world’s wisdom.
What Now? If you’re not sure what your calling is, ask God for confirmation and guidance. If He’s already revealed your calling to you, ask Him for wisdom about the next step you need to take for it.
The Bible says, ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.’ Dealing with fear begins with understanding that fear is a ‘spirit’, and it doesn’t come from God. Each time we realise that, we’re less likely to give in to it. So, what has God given us in place of fear? Three things: 1) Power. We’re not simply talking about self-help techniques and stress management. This is something much deeper. It’s a settled and unshakeable conviction that goes down to the core of our being, that all things that concern us are in the hands of a loving God who has only the best in mind for us. He works for our good, and we can rest secure and confident in His power. 2) Love. The Bible says, ‘Perfect love casts out fear’ (1 John 4:18 NKJV). It’s only when we realise that we’re loved unconditionally by God, who never changes His mind about us, that we learn to love and accept ourselves, and then be able to love and accept others. Imagine the effect that would have on any fears of people, fear of rejection, and fear of criticism that we have. This kind of love is more than a ‘feel-good’ emotion; it’s a life-changing force. 3) A mind focused on Christ. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words: ‘We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 MSG). Let’s take hold of those three things that God has given us, and use them to break down our fears.
What Now? Do you know anyone who’s struggling with fear at the moment? Try and have a gentle chat with them about the ‘weapons’ God has given us to deal with fear.
The Bible says: ‘There is no fear in love…perfect love casts out fear.’ When we’re frightened, a loving, comforting presence can push that fear away. Nobody is immune to fear, and every one of us needs a secure base that we can run to. And we have one in God. When we’re afraid, our body activates its sympathetic nervous system and triggers a fight-or-flight response. Our heart races, our breathing becomes faster and shallower and our muscles tense up. In those times, we need to run to our non-anxious presence: God our comforter, protector and parent. And as we are held, reassured and loved by Him, the parasympathetic system takes over. Our heart rate slows, our breathing becomes deep and even, our muscles relax and blood flows back to our brain. In essence, a voice inside us says, ‘It’s okay to carry on.’ ‘Perfect love casts out fear’ in the spiritual realm as well as the physical realm. In Psalm 91 we read: ‘I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”…He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart’ (v.2-4 NIV). His strength is great enough to withstand and protect us from any attack of the enemy, but He’s gentle with us. He’s our place of safety and security, and we can run to Him any time. With a God who is tender enough to love and comfort us, but also strong enough to be our rock and our fortress, we can face what life throws at us and grow stronger as a result.
What Now? Find a picture of a strong tower, and then over it write any words or phrases from Psalm 91 that you find especially comforting. Keep your picture as a reminder of God’s love and protection in times of fear.
During Israel’s twenty-fifth year in captivity, Ezekiel received from God the name Jehovah-Shammah: the Lord is there. He described their future home, Jerusalem, saying, ‘The name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.’ It applies not only to the Lord of the old covenant, but equally to Jesus, the Lord of the new covenant whose name, ‘Immanuel’, means ‘God is with us’ (Matthew 1:23 NLT). It means that at all times, in all places, under all circumstances, for all of us, He’s available and present. David discovered: ‘I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me’ (Psalm 139:7-10 NLT). The name Jehovah-Shammah means that God’s presence is all we need. He brings peace, comfort, healing and confidence. With Him by our side, fear, loneliness and helplessness disappear. In Israel’s worst moments, God’s response was always the same: ‘I am with you.’ Those words guaranteed their needs would be met abundantly. And today God’s saying to us, ‘I’m with you, and neither death, life, angels, spirit-powers, present or future fears, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation will separate you from my love’ (see Romans 8:38-39). That promise is for all of us, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, so let’s take hold of it today.
What Now? Thank God for being your Jehovah-Shammah, who is always there for you and is all you need.
The name Jehovah-Tsidkenu: the Lord my righteousness, was given by God to Jeremiah, announcing the coming of Jesus. ‘I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line…And this will be his name: “The LORD Is Our Righteousness”’ (v.5-6 NLT). Before Jesus came, our righteousness was dependent on our own efforts. ‘We will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the LORD our God has given us’ (Deuteronomy 6:25 NLT). But when we failed the righteousness test, the ‘Lord our righteousness’ became our solution. Here’s how: ‘Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NCV). In Jesus we’ve been made righteous before God. If we’re trying to do what’s right just so we can feel right before God, or to generate a supply of good deeds to draw from when we need a bit of credit, we’re doing it for the wrong reasons. We’re supposed to draw what we need from the righteousness deposited into our account by Christ. If we need humility, purity, patience, kindness or love, we shouldn’t look within ourselves. We should draw them by faith from the supply stored up for us in Jesus. Guilty hearts can draw forgiveness, anxious spirits can draw peace, weary souls can draw strength, and confused minds can draw guidance from our inexhaustible supply in Jehovah-Tsidkenu. Just as we receive salvation by faith, we can draw righteousness and everything else we need through faith in what God has done for us and stored up for us in Jesus – the Lord our righteousness!
What Now? Give thanks for Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness, and for the gift of salvation.
Gideon discovered the name Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord my peace when God assigned him the job of leading Israel against the Midianites – a position Gideon thought was way beyond his abilities. ‘How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family’ (v.15 NIV). The Lord responded, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites…Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die’ (v.16, 23 NIV). A frightened Gideon believed God before the battle was even fought and the victory secured. Through the eyes of faith, he envisioned peace already secured, and built an altar to Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord my peace. We assume that we can only have inner peace when our outer circumstances are good. Let’s learn, like Gideon, that our inner peace doesn’t depend on changing our external circumstances. It depends on believing that Jehovah-Shalom is with us, which will bring us through the battles we face with inner peace. Jesus said: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace [which is inner, and faith-based] I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives [which is based on external circumstances]. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (John 14:27 NIV). Today, let’s think about these words: ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace…take heart! I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 NIV). Our job is to ‘take heart’ because Jehovah-Shalom is with us, and to trust Christ the ‘overcomer’ to handle the circumstances for us
What Now? Thank God for being your Jehovah-Shalom, who blesses you with an inner peace that can’t be shaken by external circumstances.
Let’s look again at Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. It isn’t easy to hand our battles over and let God fight for us. We feel like we’re backing out or being irresponsible. We feel like we should be doing something. But just because God fights for us doesn’t mean we’re not involved. The hardest part about the order – ‘stand still and watch the deliverance of the Lord’ – is we mistake standing still for doing nothing, or for not doing our duty. Fear says, ‘Just do something!’ Faith says, ‘Stand in faith. Let God do it!’ That’s about as far from doing nothing as you can get. It’s faith at its highest. So if we don’t do the fighting, why do we need spiritual armour? Paul said, ‘Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes’ (Ephesians 6:11 NIVUK). Notice that we wear God’s armour – not our own. We’re told to stand – not fight. ‘The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh’ (2 Corinthians 10:4 NASB). Standing still and trusting God to fight can be very difficult. We want to do things our way, in our time. We like to have control, and handing control over to God can be uncomfortable. But human methods get in God’s way. Natural abilities are useless against spiritual forces. Our solutions and strategies aren’t often the best ones, the ones God chooses. We only have a limited view of the circumstances; He sees the complete picture. So instead of trusting in our own human effort, we must trust only in Jehovah-Nissi.
What Now? Ask God to help you hand your battles over to Him, and to have faith that He’ll sort everything out.
When Israel was threatened by the armies of Amalek, God gave them a glorious victory. Moses realised that God was fighting the battle for them, so he built an altar to Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. Fighting our own battles was never God’s idea. The Bible says, ‘The LORD is a warrior (Exodus 15:3 NCV). ‘You only need to remain calm; the LORD will fight for you’ (Exodus 14:14 NCV). ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’ As human beings we get exhausted and discouraged because we keep trying to fight in our own strength. We go through fruitless cycles of repentance, resolution, struggle, defeat, discouragement, and repenting all over again. The only spiritual conflict that’s ever successfully won is the one God fights for us. He doesn’t expect us to win the battle, but to let Him win it on our behalf. We need to ‘fight the good fight of faith’ (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV). Our battle isn’t one of exhausting effort, it’s the battle of believing and trusting in God. When Jacob wrestled with an angel, his victory came in surrendering to God. He didn’t win by wrestling, he won by acknowledging he was too weak to carry on wrestling and needed God. When we’re at that point – when we’re worn out by struggles and battles in life – we need to let go and trust Jehovah-Nissi to fight for us, because ‘the battle is not yours, but God’s’! Then we can declare with Paul, ‘When I am weak, then am I strong’ (2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV).
What Now? Thank God for being your Jehovah-Nissi, who fights for you. Ask Him to help you realise that you can’t do things in your own strength, and to help you trust Him to fight on your behalf.
The Israelites called God Jehovah, a name they thought of as inexpressible and inexplicable. The name means the ‘self-existing one’; the ‘I am’. He existed before all things, He is the creator of all things. He was perceived as an awesome but seemingly impersonal, unknowable being. But God wanted us to know Him in a personal way, so in Scripture He added five revealing titles to the name Jehovah, five word-portraits to help us understand and relate to Him. The Israelites usually discovered the truth of these word-portraits during times of crisis and distress. And they can encourage us too. The first one we’re going to look at is Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord will see, the Lord will provide. Abraham was about to sacrifice his son when God provided a lamb as an offering in Isaac’s place. And in response Abraham called God Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who sees and provides. But it doesn’t just apply to Abraham. Jesus said, ‘Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things’ (Matthew 6:32 NKJV). Like a caring, responsive parent, God sees His children’s needs before they do, and provides the solution. We don’t have to beg, bargain and plead to get what we need. That might make us wonder why we don’t always get what we ask for. It’s because God knows what we really need, and He’ll provide it at exactly the right time. Often the things we think we need turn out to be things we want. God knows the difference. Remember Jehovah-Jireh sees our needs, and because He sees them He will provide for them!
What Now? Thank God for being your Jehovah-Jireh, who knows and sees your needs and makes sure they’re met in His perfect timing.
Paul wrote: ‘Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ…Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires…[or] let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God’ (v.11-13 NLT). There are so many things that can tempt us away from what’s really good for us. They’re often very appealing, but only temporarily satisfying. Author and Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll wrote: ‘Life on earth is really nothing more than a string of moments…And I don’t want my testimony for Jesus Christ to be shattered by a single moment of indulging my flesh. I don’t want one moment of rage or pride or lust to cast a shadow over a lifetime of walking with my Lord. Frankly, I fear that possibility. And do you know what? I want to fear that possibility. When I stop fearing it – I’m in grave danger.’ So how do we deal with our temptations? The only way is to make God’s Word our code of conduct and refuse to compromise. We should make Jesus our role model when it comes to resisting temptation. He said, ‘If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want’ (Matthew 16:24 NCV). It’s hard to deny ourselves things we want, but if we practise resisting the small temptations that we face every day, we’ll be much better prepared when a big temptation comes along.
What Now? Is there a small temptation that you tend to face regularly (such as choosing between fruit or chocolate as a snack, or spending a few spare minutes with God or on social media)? Try making a conscious effort to choose the better option, so you can reach a point where the choice feels natural.
The psalmist said, ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”’ Our churches should be places that we’re happy to go to, where we feel at home, and where we’re welcomed by other believers. The Message paraphrases Paul’s words: ‘God is building a home. He’s using us all – irrespective of how we got here – in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day – a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home’ (Ephesians 2:19-22 MSG). There are times when we need to be alone with God in prayer, and there are times we’ll find the answers we’re looking for when we’re with other Christians. When we meet for worship, teaching, encouragement and service, God shows up in a powerful way. We grow spiritually as we experience His presence, hear His Word, and spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Every time we gather with other members of Christ’s body, it’s an opportunity to share how God’s working in our lives and our experiences of His goodness. It’s hard to celebrate alone; when we achieve something or have good news, it’s fun to share the joy we feel. Jesus is so excited about His victory at the cross that He calls us together to celebrate what He accomplished for us. And celebration is a group project.
What Now? Pray for your church and for every person who is part of it.
When someone we care about walks out of our life, a parent leaves, or a relationship ends, it hurts deeply. Even Paul wasn’t exempt from the pain of loss. Here are some of his last words: ‘Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me…Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me…Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm…The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me…But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength…he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom’ (vv. 9-18 NLT). The fact is, we can survive without others but we can‘t survive without God. That’s why He sometimes strips away things that make us dependent on people. He sends certain individuals into our lives to help build our faith and develop our character, and when they’re gone, to leave us with the assurance that He is still in control. When we lose someone we care about, for any reason, God can use it to: 1) develop our reliance on Him; 2) test our resilience; 3) help us discover His power. When Moses died and Joshua was left in charge, God told him, ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you’ (Joshua 1:5 NKJV). That’s something Joshua couldn’t have learned while Moses was still in the picture. We can’t always be looking to someone else for answers. At some point, we’ll need to turn to God and let Him speak wisdom and peace into whatever is troubling us.
What Now? Look up some Bible verses that remind you that God will never leave you. Try memorising one or two that speak peace and calmness into your soul, and hold on to them during times of loss or loneliness.
In order to keep focused and keep reaching towards your God-given goals, there are three obstacles you need to be aware of and overcome: 1) Weariness. Racehorses run at approximately the same speed; there often isn’t a lot of difference between the first and the last runner. Sometimes the difference between them winning and losing a race comes down to their ‘heart’ to win. So, take a look into your heart today and check if you’re truly committed to reaching your goal. ‘Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise’ (Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV). 2) Fear. When it comes to commitment, there are basically four kinds of people. a) Those who have no goals and who don’t commit to anything. b) Those who don’t know if they can reach their goals so they’re afraid to commit to them. c) Those who start towards a goal but give up when things begin to get tough. d) Those who set goals, commit to them and are willing to pay the price to reach them. Which of the four do you think you are? Fear and faith will always be present; our success in reaching our goal depends on whether we allow our faith to overcome our fear. 3) Complacency. Don’t settle for yesterday’s success. Don’t settle for ‘good enough’ or ‘that’ll do’. Take regular times of rest to refresh yourself, renew your mind and strength, and refocus on your goal. Be like Paul: ‘I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT).
What Now? Do any of the obstacles in today’s reading sound or feel familiar to you? Ask God to help you look beyond that obstacle and refocus on the goal He’s given you.
Love is both a noun and a verb. It’s not only what we think or feel; it’s also what we do. When Mother Teresa arrived in Calcutta in 1948, one of the first things she did was pick up five abandoned children and bring them to her ‘school’. Before the year ended she had forty-one students learning about hygiene in her classroom, which was in a public park. Soon her work became known as ‘The Missionaries of Charity’, and they turned their attention to the care of the dying. A beggar found dying on a rubbish heap was picked up and brought to her. Hunger and suffering had reduced him almost to a skeleton. Mother Teresa took him home and put him to bed. As she tried to clean him up and make him comfortable, he briefly woke up, and in his semi-conscious state he asked her, ‘Why do you do it?’ Mother Teresa responded with two words: ‘For love.’ It’s easy for us to see people as irritants and inconveniences who are standing in our way. But it can be hard for us to set aside our self-centred feelings and love them, especially if that means giving up our time or doing something we find difficult or unpleasant in order to help them. The Bible says, ‘Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become God’s child and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love’ (v.7-8 NCV). Let’s do our best to show love in all our words, thought and actions.
What Now? Think of someone who tends to irritate you. Ask God to help you think of them with love, and try today to say something to them and do something for them that shows you care about them.
During a driving test, the examiner makes a note of every fault the driver makes to determine if they should pass or fail. We might worry that God works in a similar way, keeping a record of everything we do wrong, and telling us we’ve failed if we clock up too many. But that’s not how His kingdom operates. Before the Passover meal, all the disciples forgot to wash Jesus’ feet. Fault. And after Jesus explained how the bread and wine symbolised His upcoming crucifixion, they started arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom. Another fault. Jesus also knew that within hours they’d fall asleep when they were supposed to be keeping watch in the Garden of Gethsemane. Another fault. And He knew Peter would deny Him. Another fault. So did Jesus give them a fail grade? No, because He doesn’t grade people. And we don’t have to either. Instead of judging people based on every mistake they’ve ever made, we should try to start loving them where they are, and support them in their journey to where they need to be. Rather than condemning the disciples, Jesus complimented, rewarded, and encouraged them. Nourished by their love, He said, ‘You have stayed with me through my struggles. Just as my Father has given me a kingdom, I also give you a kingdom so you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom’ (Luke 22:28-30 NCV). In His eyes they were all great. He didn’t grade them on their performance, but on their love that motivated them to set everything else aside and stick with Him through the bad times as well as the good.
What Now? If you have times when you feel your relationship with Jesus is based on performance rather than love, take some time to talk to Him about how you feel, and ask Him to give you a real sense of His unconditional love for you.
The Bible says we should ‘warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.’ But often, we’d rather stay quiet and avoid confrontation than speak difficult truth into the lives of others. One Bible teacher wrote: ‘A church isn’t a group of individuals who happen to meet in the same place every week; it’s a spiritual body…a loving family. It’s far easier to comfort and encourage than to warn or exhort, but both are necessary. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak the truth in love so that the whole body may “grow up in all things”. If we don’t take the time to exhort, encourage, warn, comfort, uphold and be patient…we [all] suffer in the end. Your body doesn’t function properly when one part is hurting or performing poorly. And the church suffers when one of its members is unruly, fainthearted, weak, or falls into bad doctrine. Letting a body part fester, or not supporting a part that’s hurt, can lead to irrecoverable damage.’ As our loving Father, God loves us too much to let us get away with bad behaviour. And we should try to share this attitude. We should love and care enough about others to correct and guide them if we can see them taking the wrong path or doing something that could be harmful in the long run. But that doesn’t give us a free rein to be critical and judgmental. Paul wrote, ‘If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path’ (Galatians 6:1 NLT). We should speak only the truth, and our goal should be to speak it in love and compassion.
What Now? Do you know someone who needs a gentle correction? Ask God for guidance in how to approach the problem, and when you’ve heard from Him, have a chat with the person and help steer them back to God’s path.
When life seems unfair, when people who have hurt us seem to get away with it, or when we’ve been wronged and those responsible don’t face any consequences, in despair we might begin to cry out, ‘Where are you, God?’ We want justice immediately. We struggle, we question, and we doubt. The psalmist wrote: ‘LORD, why are you so far away? Why do you hide when there is trouble?’ (Psalm 10:1 NCV). Then later, David, who’d been forgiven and restored after committing adultery and murder, writes: ‘The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly…The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love towards those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are’ (Psalm 103:6-14 NLT). Just as God shows grace and mercy to us when we hurt others or do something wrong, He offers that same grace and mercy to those who have hurt us. The Bible tells us, ‘God will judge everything, even what is done in secret, the good and the evil’ (Ecclesiastes 12:14 NCV). We need to trust God to judge as He sees best, and allow His love and restoring power to soothe our disappointments, break down our bitterness, and heal our wounds.
What Now? Has someone hurt or wronged you, and you feel you haven’t seen justice? Today, talk to God about the situation and try to pray for the person who hurt you.
There are some social clubs and groups that will only allow you to join if you have a certain level of wealth, a certain background, a certain job, etc. But God’s kingdom doesn’t work this way. Let’s take a look at Jacob and his son Joseph. Jacob had a reputation for cheating and making some bad choices. He cheated his brother Esau out of the inheritance, and then ran away when Esau promised to kill him for his deception. He went to stay with his uncle Laban, and wanted to marry Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel. But on the wedding day, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying his older daughter, Leah. But that didn’t faze Jacob. He just married both of them. He went on to cause tension and trouble among his children by favouring Joseph so much that Joseph’s brothers became jealous of the obvious favouritism and sold Joseph as a slave to get rid of him. But Joseph’s life is described in one verse: ‘The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man.’ Successful in spite of family dysfunction, betrayal, slander, and thirteen years of false imprisonment. Even Jacob, with all his faults, was blessed and used by God. With God on our side, we can overcome our faults. God doesn’t let our family history or our flaws define us. It doesn’t matter what our job is or how much money we have. We’re His children and He welcomes us to be part of His kingdom. That’s why the most important thing we can do is to build, maintain, and prioritise our relationship with God.
What Now? Read the full stories of Jacob and Joseph in Genesis. Make a note of anything their lives teach you about how God will bless us and welcome us even if we’ve made mistakes or have things in our past that we might be ashamed of.
John Mason observed, ‘The miraculous realm of God always has to do with multiplication…Suppose a kernel of corn produces one stalk with two ears, and each ear has 200 kernels. From those 400 kernels come 400 stalks with 160,000 kernels…all from a single kernel. Some blessings are material, some spiritual. We don’t always know what we need most, but God does, and a generous spirit opens the floodgates of heaven.’ The Bible says: ‘God is the One who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food. He will give you all the seed you need and make it grow so there will be a great harvest from your goodness.’ When God prompts us to be generous with what we have, we’re equipped to give confidently, because all our resources ultimately belong to God anyway. Even if we think what we can give isn’t much compared to what others can spare, God will multiply it and broaden its impact. And it works the same way with sharing the gospel. We might think we’re less worthy because we’re not amazing preachers who’ve brought many people to Christ. But a simple word we’ve said to someone might be just the thing that prompts them to turn to God, and they might go on to be a church leader or missionary who can help many people. We often don’t know how widely our influence has spread, but God can take a single word from us on a journey to help thousands. We should never think we have nothing to give, because God can do so much with a little, if we’re willing to trust Him and share it.
What Now? Take some time to thank God that what we think of as small, He can use to do amazing things. Ask Him to help you have the confidence to be generous with the gifts, skills, and resources you have, even if you feel they’re not worthy enough – remember that He can increase what you offer Him.
Pessimism affects us spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Negativity can have an effect on our physical, mental and emotional health, and can also affect our ability to cope with physical pain. The words we speak don’t just affect others, they affect us too – sometimes they affect us even more. ‘Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father’ (Colossians 3:17 NLT). That includes the words we say to and about ourselves. Words are powerful. When we repeatedly tell ourselves something, whether it’s something positive or negative, we eventually begin to believe it, which means we have the God-given ability to change our perception of our own abilities from limited to limitless. But let’s be clear about what that does and doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean we can suddenly develop a skill, and do it brilliantly, just because we decide to and want to. It’s still going to take time, effort and practice to grow. But it does mean we can do whatever God has told us to do in His Word. Whatever He calls us to do, He’ll enable us to do. And that’ll happen when we line up our thoughts and words with what’s written in His Word. Romans 8:6 says, ‘If people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death, But if their thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace’ (NCV). God wants what’s best for us, and His Spirit will speak words of encouragement, hope and love into our lives. Let’s take those words, claim them, treasure them, and live by them.
What Now? Write down any negative or pessimistic thoughts you think about yourself. Next to each one, write a Bible verse or something God’s said to you personally that reminds you of what He thinks of you.
Speaking positivity to ourselves and about ourselves is a scriptural idea. Paul wrote, ‘Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.’ Here are three ways we can do that: 1) Avoid comparison. Each of us has a different skill set. Each of us is unique. The way you do things might be different from the way other people do them, but that doesn’t make your way wrong. Comparison is unfair, and it creates negativity. There’ll nearly always be somebody who’s better at a specific skill than you are. But that doesn’t mean you should give up working at it, or that God thinks less of you – because He doesn’t. 2) Coast on hope. The Bible says, ‘Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping – believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”’ (Romans 4:18 NLT). And the psalmist wrote, ‘I should put my hope in God and keep praising him’ (Psalm 42:5 NCV). When the situation as we see it looks impossible and we can’t find a way out, we should allow ourselves to coast along on the hope we have in God and trust He’ll come through. It can miraculously transform our ‘I can’t’ into ‘God can’. 3) Act positively. 1 Thessalonians 5 encourages us to ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’ (v.16-18 NIV). Whatever’s happening in our lives, let’s make the decision to find something to thank God for and allow our minds to dwell on His goodness.
What Now? Do you find that you struggle with doing any of the points in today’s reading? Find some Bible verses that speak into the areas you find most difficult, and focus your prayer time around them.
Let’s start by acknowledging that sometimes life is hard. And at different times it’s harder for some of us than others. That’s why the Bible is realistic about it, and says there’s ‘a time to cry and a time to laugh’ (Ecclesiastes 3:4 NLT). But what if we only seem able to ‘cry’ about life? How can we reduce the strain of thinking and speaking negative words about ourselves? Here are three ways: 1) Cut and paste. We need to train ourselves to recognise negative inner talk the minute it starts and delete it immediately. If it helps, we can even make a ‘time out’ signal with our hands as a physical reminder to halt the negative words. But we shouldn’t stop there. We then need to replace those negative thoughts with scriptural words. ‘Those who are careful about what they say keep themselves out of trouble’ (Proverbs 21:23 NCV). 2) Change the tone. Sometimes the words we use can exaggerate a problem and make it seem beyond our capabilities. We need to try and recognise when we’re doing this and replace those intimidating words with something that’s more accurate. We might replace ‘impossible’ with ‘challenging’, or we could choose to say ‘let’s tackle it one step at a time’ rather than ‘it’ll take forever’. 3) Speak like a best friend. We should speak to ourselves like we would speak to our very best friend, with love, care and kindness. The Bible says, ‘David encouraged himself in the LORD his God’ (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV). There’s power in God’s Word, so, whatever He says about us, we should trust His opinion and start saying the same things about ourselves.
What Now? Choose a Bible verse that reminds you of how much God loves you, and memorise it. Whenever you’re beginning to speak or think negatively about yourself, recite that verse instead.
Even when we can’t choose or control our circumstances, we can still decide how we’ll respond to them. Paul was in prison when he wrote, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’ (Philippians 4:4 NKJV). The Bible says: ‘What you say can mean life or death. Those who speak with care will be rewarded’ (Proverbs 18:21 NCV). Our words have power, and we can speak positive words of light or negative words of darkness. The trouble is we don’t always recognise when we’re speaking negative words over ourselves, because being pessimistic can become a habit. We unconsciously develop a distorted and untrue view of ourselves when we constantly think and say things like, ‘I’m not good enough,’ or ‘This is too hard; why should I even try?’ We settle for defeat when with a few minor attitude adjustments, we could open the door to amazing possibilities. The worst part of negative self-talk is that we don’t just limit ourselves; we limit God (take a look at Psalm 78:41). As His redeemed children, within each of us is the power to think better, talk better, and do better. Paul said, ‘With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time’ (Ephesians 3:20-21 NCV). If you’re inclined to be pessimistic and speak negatively about yourself, today, make a decision to declare instead: ‘Whatever God says about me, I will say too!’ Here’s a great verse to help you get started: ‘I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.’
What Now? Every time you say to yourself, ‘I can’t do this,’ or ‘I’m not good enough,’ try to replace those words with the words of Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength’ (NLT).
Paul and Barnabas had travelled and ministered together, encouraged one other, endured persecution side-by-side, and brought many people to Christ. But even the best of relationships can go wrong, and theirs was no exception. ‘Tempers flared, and they ended up going their separate ways.’ Paul and Barnabas never intended to hurt each other. They were both good men, and God’s Kingdom was their top priority. God chose Paul to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, and the Bible calls Barnabas ‘a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith’ (Acts 11:24 NIV). Both agreed on the major issue, which was re-visiting the churches where they’d ministered earlier. They just differed on how to go about it. Barnabas wanted to take John. Paul didn’t; he wanted to take Silas. It often happens that we agree on what needs to be done but have different ideas of how to accomplish it. Author and speaker Natasha Robinson says it’s important for us to: 1) Recognise when God brings a relationship to a close and not to try to turn ‘seasonal’ people into life-long friendships. When He sends certain people into our lives, He doesn’t intend them to become permanent partners. But because we love them and get attached, it’s hard to let go, even when it’s time. 2) When we have to part company because of a difference of opinion, we should refuse to let anger take hold. It’s easy to let our emotions take control and become bitter, but instead we should ‘speak the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15 NLT) and refuse to belittle the other person out of spite. Even if they speak out against us, God knows, and He’ll handle it.
What Now? Have you had to break up with a friend or part company with someone because of a disagreement? Today, try to set any bitterness aside and spend a bit of time praying for that person.
Author Betty Mahalik wrote that we’re surrounded by messages that scream, ‘My life would be perfect if only I’d a different job…house…car…bank account (you fill in the blank). Or if I could be like some celebrity whose life appears well ordered and perfect. Well this week I stopped playing “my life would be perfect if,” and started playing “my perfect life”. What’s the difference? Three things: 1) Being in the present; 2) An attitude of gratitude; 3) Taking action with what’s available now…When we’re caught up in the “my life would be perfect if” trap, we lose touch with the present and can no longer practise gratitude. Think about it: it’s difficult to be grateful for what you don’t have…and what you don’t have is always somewhere in “future-ville”. Look around you…do you have a roof over your head and food to eat? A few good friends or close relationships? Then appreciate them…You’re probably sitting there thinking “Yes, but I want more money, a better relationship, more time to travel, to be thinner, happier, or whatever”…stop focusing on what you lack and start focusing on what you’ve already got.’ The Bible says, ‘Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.’ If we refuse to settle for anything less than perfection, we’ll keep ending up with nothing. We’ll never have a perfect life on this earth, but that’s okay, because Christ has clothed us in His righteousness and made us ‘complete in him’ (Colossians 2:10 KJV).
What Now? Make a list of all the things, big and small, that you’re thankful for. See how long you can make your list (why not let us know in the comments)!
A pastor tells of being in a church for twelve years. He had a custom during Sunday morning service of calling the children forward just before his sermon so that they could go to a ‘children’s church’ especially for them. The children would march past the pulpit and he would make it a point to smile at each of them. In return he received smiles. ‘It was one of the high points of the service for me,’ he recalled. But one day he apparently missed smiling at a child. A four-year-old girl ran out of the line and threw herself into the arms of her mother, sobbing as if her heart was broken. After the service he went to find out what happened. The mother explained to him that her child had said, ‘I smiled at God, but he didn’t smile back at me!’ The pastor reflected, ‘To that child I stood for God. I had failed with my smile, and the world went dark.’ Just like the pastor, we have the opportunity to reflect God to everyone we meet. And our encouragement could be something as simple as a smile. Job experienced more troubles in a year than most of us will experience in a lifetime. But though he was down, he lifted others. Though he was in despair, he encouraged others. How did he do it? ‘They longed for me to speak as people long for rain…When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them’ (vv. 23-24 NLT). We might think there’s little value in a smile, but to someone who’s experienced only unkindness and thoughtlessness that day, a kind and encouraging smile could be very precious to them.
What Now? Think about the more mundane interactions you have with people, like ordering a coffee, paying for petrol, speaking to the dentist’s receptionist, etc. This week, whenever you have any of those interactions, try greeting the other person with a kind smile.
The Message paraphrases David’s words: ‘I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honoured as a guest in the palace of sin’ (Psalm 84:10 MSG). Along those lines Joni Eareckson Tada wrote: ‘Elsie runs a Christian home for young girls who’ve left lives of prostitution and drug dealing on the streets of Hollywood. She walks the streets, shares the gospel, and leads these girls to Christ. If these new converts truly desire to change their lives and commit to new responsibilities, they’ve a place in Elsie’s home. Pam is one such convert…A Christian with a sweet spirit, she bears scars from knife fights and heroin needles…I sensed her joy and deep appreciation when she explained her role…“I scrub the toilets and bathrooms…That’s my job and I love it!” This young woman was so grateful to have structure in her life, safety in her surroundings, and an honest-to-goodness job of service in Christ’s kingdom…that a day of ministry in Elsie’s home was far better than a thousand days lived in the sordid pursuit of self-destructive pleasures…Her humble spirit towards her job…her delight in cleaning toilets sprang from a keen awareness of her role in the body of Christ. Few believers have a background like Pam’s, but every day each of us rolls our sleeves up to accomplish menial, basic tasks – changing oil [in the car], changing ink cartridges in printers, or changing [nappies].’ There are so many everyday tasks that we find boring, but when we ‘serve the LORD with gladness’ (Psalm 100:2 KJV), we’ll be able to find joy in them because we remember who we’re working for.
What Now? Do you have any housework or cleaning to do today? Put on your favourite worship playlist and try turning the work into a praise session!
J.C. Penney was a rich businessman who founded a famous chain of department stores across America. But despite his wealth and success, he suffered setbacks, bereavement, financial ruin, and deep depression. At his lowest point he cried out to God. He said: ‘When I was brought to humility and the knowledge of my dependence on God…it was like a light illuminating my being. I cannot otherwise describe it, than to say it changed me as a man.’ When things fall apart in our lives, and we don’t know what to do or whether we’ll be able to recover, God is only a prayer away. It’s amazing to think that the creator of the universe is so close to us. Even if we’ve neglected our relationship with Him and tried to rely on our own strength and wisdom, He joyfully welcomes us back to Him when we realise that we need Him in our lives. ‘The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth’ (Psalm 145:18 NIV). When we’re in the depths of trouble, we can sometimes think that God’s abandoned us. But the opposite is true. ‘The LORD is close to the broken-hearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed’ (Psalm 34:18 NCV). In times of brokenness and despair, we can draw strength and comfort from His presence. ‘He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”’ (Psalm 91:1-2 ESV). The psalmist wrote: ‘In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.’ God will do the same for us.
What Now? Do you know anyone who needs to know that God is near to them? If you can, share some of the Bible verses from today’s reading with them, and ask if you can pray for them.
Two things about prayer are truly amazing: 1) God listens when we pray. 'You can pray for anything, and if you believe that you have received it, it will be yours’ (Mark 11:24 NLT). He hears every prayer, and when we pray in alignment with His will, He’ll move to meet our requests. 2) We don’t pray enough. We have the greatest privilege imaginable – access to the control centre of the Universe – but we rarely use it. And our lack of prayer surprises God. Through the prophet Ezekiel He lamented: ‘I sought for a man among them who would...stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one' (Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV). When Abraham learned that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed, he didn't rush to warn the cities. Instead he chose to ‘[remain] standing before the LORD' (Genesis 18:22 NIV). When God said Israel deserved a nationwide death penalty for the golden calf, Moses interceded and saved them. One paraphrase of Exodus 32:11 says, 'Moses tried to calm his GOD down' (MSG). An obscure priest called Phinehas begged God not to send the plague, and it was checked (see Psalm 106:30). Prayer is so important and valuable because when we work, we work, but when we pray, God works. Scripture attaches breathtaking power to prayer. The Message paraphrases Matthew 18:19 like this: ‘When two of you get together on anything…and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action' (MSG). Does any other activity promise such results? Did God call us to preach without ceasing? Or have meetings without ceasing? No, but He did call us to 'pray without ceasing'.
What Now? Most of us don’t pray as often as we should, so today, try doubling the amount of time you usually spend praying.
God told His people: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV). If we’re asking God for a vision, or to enlarge the one He’s already given us, we need to make room mentally. ‘Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left’ (Isaiah 54:2-3 NIV). Somebody once said that dreams always come a size too big so we can grow to fit them. We shouldn’t settle for second best in our work, our relationships, or our walk with God. Mark Twain said: ‘Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the wind. Explore. Dream. Discover.’ Whatever we feel is holding us back – whether it’s our background, education, skills, self-esteem, confidence, or something else – God can enable us to rise above it and put an end to our old ways of thinking and feeling we’re defeated before we’ve even started. In biblical times, animal skins were made into wine containers. At first they were flexible and easy to work with, but over time they grew rigid and lost their ability to expand. That’s why Jesus said, ‘No one pours new wine into old wineskins. [It] would…burst the old skins…New wine must be put into new wineskins’ (Matthew 9:17 CEV). God won’t infuse an inflexible mind with fresh ideas, but He will change our lives when we line up our thinking with His.
What Now? Write down a dream that God’s given you. Now write anything that’s holding you back from making a start on or continuing with that dream. Ask Him to give you a fresh mindset and help you align your thoughts with His.
The Bible says: ‘In the church at Antioch…they were all worshipping the Lord and fasting for a certain time. During this time the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do a special work for which I have chosen them.” So after they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out’ (Acts 13:1-3 NCV). Notice three things: 1) Barnabas and Saul were worshipping when God called them. And the Holy Spirit still speaks to us when we gather to pray, worship, and hear God’s Word. One reason we don’t have clear direction for our lives is because we aren’t in a place where God can speak to us objectively through His Word, and subjectively through His Spirit. 2) Their calling was confirmed by God-focused leaders. Those who laid hands on Paul and Barnabas and confirmed their calling were leaders who took time to pray, fast, and seek God’s will. People like that are a gift. They won’t necessarily tell us what we want to hear, but they’ll tell us what we need to hear. They’ll counsel, correct, and comfort us when we need it, and confirm God’s will for us. 3) God doesn’t make us go searching for His will for our lives. God called Paul and Barnabas by name when the time was right for Him to reveal their calling. He knows our names, where we live, and the circumstances we’re in. Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress (to hide it from the Midianites) and Peter was out fishing when God called them. Our lack of experience doesn’t limit God. That’s because He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. So wait for God, and when the time is right, He will call you.
What Now? Are you uncertain of your calling or whether you’ve heard from God about it? Chat to your pastor or youth leader about it, and get their wisdom on it.
Excellence needs two things: extra time and extra effort. It calls for going ‘above and beyond’ what others require of us. We should think of it as a matter of character and integrity. Now we’re not talking about striving for perfection. Perfectionism sets impossible standards and often seeks approval and applause. Our goal should be to perform every task as if God Himself had asked us to do it and will be evaluating and rewarding our work. He knows and sees every activity. ‘In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord, which he promised to his people. You are serving the Lord Christ’ (Colossians 3:23-24 NCV). That means doing the best possible job, even when no one’s around to see the effort we’re putting in. We should also try to avoid being around people with poor work habits, or who belittle our efforts to be excellent. Even if we don’t realise it, we’re influenced by the people we spend time with, and that means we can pick up their bad habits and attitudes without really being conscious of it at the time. Here’s a prayer to help us keep focused on excellence: ‘Father, help me to approach everything I do with a spirit of excellence. Help me to live with a constant awareness of Your evaluating and loving eye, so that I’m inspired to do everything as if You had asked me to do it. Thank You that You don’t require perfection from me, but simply ask me to do the best I possibly can. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.’
What Now? Pray the prayer in today’s reading, or if you’re feeling creative, try writing your own personal prayer to help you focus on excellence and doing your best in everything you do.
The Bible says, ‘Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people’ (Proverbs 22:29 NLT). This proved true for Daniel. Even though he lived in captivity, he refused to settle for mediocrity. This brought him to the attention of the king of Babylon, who said, ‘I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.’ Eventually, he was promoted to the role of a supervisor over the governors in Babylon, where he ‘showed that he could do the work better than the other supervisors and governors, so the king planned to put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom’ (Daniel 6:3 NCV). Ultimately, Daniel knew he served God, not man, and that meant he would try his best in everything he did. Although Colossians hadn’t been written at that time, Daniel really demonstrates this verse in action: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters’ (3:23 NIV). Aristotle said, ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.’ And when we constantly strive for excellence, we’ll often find that, little by little, our skills will grow and sharpen. Striving for excellence doesn’t necessarily mean we have to be the best at something, it just means that we try to do our best. When we think of excellence in that way, it can take a lot of the pressure off because, even if we don’t always get rewards or praise from others, it’s rewarding to know that we’ve done our best and that God is pleased with our efforts. And when we’ve done our best, we can trust God to do the rest.
What Now? Have a check on your attitude to things like your work or studies, your relationships with others, tasks you do around the house or at church, etc. Do you always try your best, or do you sometimes settle for ‘okay’? Have a chat with God about striving for excellence with His help.
How do you approach Bible reading? Your attitude and the way you approach it are very important. If we want to get the most out of God’s Word, there are two things we must do each time we read the Bible: 1) Approach it with integrity. When there are parts of the Bible we don’t understand or struggle to believe, we should be honest about our doubts and uncertainty. God isn’t upset or angry with us when we tell Him what we’re finding difficult, because we can’t begin to resolve our doubts until we’re willing to bring them into the open and talk about them. When Thomas questioned the resurrection, Jesus helped him come to a place of belief. And He’ll do the same for us. It’s a mistake to try to force ourselves to believe something or to avoid reading part of the Bible so our faith isn’t challenged. Jesus said, ‘When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth…He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you’ (John 16:13-14 NIV). 2) Read it with expectancy. When we read the Bible with expectant hearts, the Author shows up. As we read His words, we’ll begin to sense His presence and realise He is speaking to each of us personally. Jesus said, ‘The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life’ (John 6:63 NIV). When we come to the Scriptures with a hunger and an expectancy, we never go away disappointed.
What Now? Is there a part of the Bible that you really don’t understand or that you don’t believe? Talk to God about your struggles, and ask Him to help you learn the truth contained in His Word.
The Bible says: ‘Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace’ (Romans 8:5-6 NIV). In other words, the Holy Spirit is the presence of God working in our lives. We can either let external influences and circumstances have control over our minds, or we can allow the Holy Spirit to have control. So what would a life with a Spirit-controlled mind look like? Imagine not being so fearful anymore. Imagine facing an angry person with inner poise and resolve. Imagine hearing bad news and coming up with constructive ways to solve the problem rather than spiralling through the worst-case scenarios. Imagine facing rejection and obstacles without giving in to discouragement. Imagine acknowledging the mistakes you’ve made and moving confidently into the future. And imagine doing all this with God as your partner. Imagine people around you coming to you when they’re upset or discouraged because your peace of mind is contagious. That’s part of what God’s called each one of us to do every day. When we bump into people who are stressed and transmitting that stress to others, we’re supposed to be spreaders of peace. Jesus carried peace with Him wherever He went. When the disciples were terrified by the storm, He said to the waves, ‘Peace, be still!’ (Mark 4:39 NKJV), and it happened. Peace doesn’t come from finding a sea with no storms; it comes from knowing Jesus is on the boat, because with Him on board, no storm can take us under.
What Now? Do you know someone who needs peace at the moment? Offer to pray for them, and if you can, do something practical to help them with their situation.
Paul defines humility in these words: ‘Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves’ (Romans 12:3 NLT). The Bible says, ‘God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life’ (Genesis 2:7 NIV). God’s intention for us was to live in Paradise and enjoy His presence every day. But we disobeyed Him and decided to live by our own rules instead of His. And the result was that God said, ‘For dust you are, and to dust you will return’ (Genesis 3:19 NIV). It’s a very humbling thought – there’s little value in our earthly bodies, and no matter what we achieve, what we have, and what we own, they’ll finish up how they started. But humility doesn’t mean we have no value at all. We know that God values us, because He paid such a high price for our salvation. ‘Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NCV). Humility also doesn’t mean that we just let people walk all over us, or that we need to be weak, without our own convictions and opinions. True humility means acknowledging God as the source of everything we have, and everything we need, and always remembering to give Him credit and thanks for both. ‘Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him. Praise the Lord forever!’ (Romans 11:36 CEV). Paul wrote: ‘May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Galatians 6:14 NIV). Let’s try to keep that attitude too, and give God the glory for everything.
What Now? What are the things you’re most proud of? Today, spend a few minutes thanking God for being the source of those things and for blessing you with them.
The ship Paul was sailing on to Rome was wrecked by a powerful storm called a ‘northeaster’. Here are some valuable lessons we can learn from his experience. 1) God can make a bad situation work for our good. Because of this shipwreck, Paul ended up on Malta, and shared the gospel with people who hadn’t heard it before. Plus, when he and his followers left the island, ‘people supplied [them] with everything [they] would need for the trip’ (Acts 28:10 NLT). Sometimes a problem can provide a platform for God to work in ways that’ll amaze us. Our future isn’t in the hands of people, and it never will be. It’s in God’s hands, and what He owns He protects and provides for. 2) We’ll have to sail through storms to reach the destination God’s set for us. Paul said, ‘All hope that we would be saved was finally given up’ (Acts 27:20 NKJV). There’ll be days when we wonder how we’re going to make it, but with God’s grace we will (see Psalm 37:34). 3) Storms reveal how well we know the Lord. Paul said, ‘Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul”’ (Acts 27:23-24 NIV). In difficult times we discover how strong our connection to God is. 4) He can bring success from what looks like failure. Notice two particular things in this story: a) We might have to throw some things overboard to reach our destination (see v.18). b) Despite our best efforts, occasionally we’ll run aground (see v.26). That’s when we must remember what God has promised, believe it, and trust Him.
What Now? Use the four points in today’s reading to make your own prayer to help you remember that God’s with you in the storms of life.
When we talk to God before making decisions, it keeps us out of all sorts of trouble. Joshua learned this the hard way. He had just conquered Jericho, the biggest city in the Promised Land. The Israelites were elated and full of their victory, and didn’t feel like they needed to consult God about their next move. But over-confidence can be dangerous. The Gibeonites, one of the enemy nations in the Promised Land, realised they couldn’t win against God’s people, so they sent negotiators in to make peace with them. And it worked. Joshua assumed they were telling the truth and signed a treaty. But the Gibeonites were lying. It proved to be one of the biggest mistakes of Joshua’s life. From that day on the Gibeonites were a constant thorn in Israel’s side, and Joshua must have regretted that he ‘didn’t ask GOD about it’. An old hymn contains a very important truth about this: ‘O what peace we often forfeit; O what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.’ There’s a fine line between God-given assurance and self-sufficiency, and when we cross that line it can cost us dearly. If you tend to move too quickly, rely on your own strength and skill, or forget to involve God, read these words carefully and prayerfully: ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success. Don’t depend on your own wisdom. Respect the LORD and refuse to do wrong’ (Proverbs 3:5-7 NCV).
What Now? Read Proverbs 3:5-7, then use it to guide your prayers. Whenever you need to make a decision today, try to make a conscious effort to involve God.
Being Christians doesn’t mean we’ll be free from troubles and battles, but God will help us get through them when they come. Paul described it this way: ‘In everything and in every way we show that we truly are God’s servants. We have always been patient, though we have had a lot of trouble, suffering, and hard times. We have been beaten, put in jail, and hurt in riots. We have worked hard and have gone without sleep or food. But we have kept ourselves pure and have been understanding, patient, and kind. The Holy Spirit has been with us, and our love has been real. We have spoken the truth, and God’s power has worked in us. In all our struggles we have said and done only what is right. Whether we were honoured or dishonoured or praised or cursed, we always told the truth about ourselves. But some people said we did not. We are unknown to others, but well known to you. We seem to be dying, and yet we are still alive. We have been punished, but never killed, and we are always happy, even in times of suffering. Although we are poor, we have made many people rich. And though we own nothing, everything is ours’ (2 Corinthians 4-10 CEV). When our faith is tested, it attracts God’s power and brings His grace into the situation. He’ll fight for us on our battlefields, take us through our storms, and turn our seasons of trouble into seasons of growth. The Bible says, ‘Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered’ (Hebrews 5:8 NLT). He knows what it’s like to face challenges, so He’ll be there to strengthen and guide us when we face our own.
What Now? If you’re going through a challenging time, as well as praying for God to help you through it, thank Him that every battle you face is an opportunity to grow your faith and see Him at work.
Success comes in all different shapes and sizes. Everyone probably has a slightly different idea of what success looks like. But a very basic definition is achieving our aims (whatever they may be). We often tend to think of success in terms of having a good job, being rich, and having influence. Today, let’s consider what God thinks about that type of success. 1) We can be successful and spiritual at the same time. We might think that humility only really comes when we don’t have much and we have to rely on God to provide for us. But if we believe that ‘everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory’ (Romans 11:36 NLT), we’ll realise that everything we have really belongs to God, not to us, and we can be thankful for whatever He’s blessed us with, whether it’s a lot or a little. The Bible tells us that ‘As long as [Uzziah] sought guidance from the LORD, God gave him success.’ The king’s success came from being humble enough to ask God for help and not just rely on his own strength and wisdom. 2) We shouldn’t be afraid of success. As soon as someone achieves or gains something, there are often people around who are jealous of their success, and ready to criticise and tear them down. Having success and influence comes with a lot of responsibility, and we might not feel qualified or even want that pressure. But Paul wrote, ‘We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going’ (2 Corinthians 4:9 TLB). If God’s granted us success, we can be certain we’re right where He wants us to be, and we can (and should) turn to Him for guidance, support, and encouragement.
What Now? Write a list of all the successes, big or small, that you’ve experienced in the past week. Go through your list and thank God for each thing, one by one.
‘Many people gathered together…Jesus was teaching them God’s message. Four people came, carrying a paralysed man. Since they could not get to Jesus because of the crowd, they dug a hole in the roof right above where he was speaking…they lowered the mat with the paralysed man on it. When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralysed man…“stand up, take your mat, and go home”’ (Mark 2:2-5, 11 NCV). If you know someone who needs a miracle today: 1) Use your faith. Even though you’re praying for someone who might have very little or even no faith of their own, God will honour your faith on their behalf. ‘When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralysed man…“stand up.”’ 2) Refuse to give up. The four friends did exactly that. The crowd was a problem – so they went around it. The roof was a problem – so they broke through it. They refused to get discouraged or give up. They needed to get their friend to Jesus and nothing was going to stand in their way. If the things you’ve tried so far haven’t worked, ask God and He’ll show you another way. 3) Look for faith partners. It took four people to get the man to Jesus. Sometimes we can’t do it alone. Find someone who’ll agree with you in prayer. Jesus said, ‘I promise…when any two of you on earth agree about something you are praying for, my Father in heaven will do it for you’ (Matthew 18:19 CEV). So keep praying and believing that God will provide a miracle.
What Now? Connect with a few trusted friends and set a regular time each week to pray together for anyone you know who needs a miracle. Be persistent and refuse to give up.
As we move through different seasons of life and experience change, our areas of vulnerability will also change. We’ll always be tempted in some way, but the good news is that we can have victory over temptation. Jesus showed us how to do it when He faced the tempter in the wilderness. By standing on God’s Word, He resisted temptation and emerged victorious. Here are some Scriptures we can stand on when we’re tempted. 1) ‘The Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials’ (2 Peter 2:9 NLT). 2) ‘This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and…find grace to help us when we need it most’ (Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT). 3) ‘Put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm’ (Ephesians 6:13 NLT). 5) ‘The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet…the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you’ (Romans 16:20 NLT). 6) ‘I give unto you power…over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you’ (Luke 10:19 KJV). 7) ‘The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).
What Now? There are seven Scriptures in today’s reading – one for each day of the week. Every morning, choose a different one to reflect on and then use it to guide your own prayers for protection from and victory over temptation.
In the Old Testament God marked His priests by putting blood on their right ear, their right thumb, and the big toe of their right foot. It was a sign that they were called to honour God in their hearing, their actions, and their daily walk. And it’s something we need to remember too. We can’t just do our own thing, because we’re called to walk according to God’s Word. When we don’t, God calls us to repent. And if we don’t repent, He’ll discipline us. ‘Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves’ (Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV). Let’s take a closer look at two important phrases in that Scripture: 1) ‘Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline.’ We need to take God’s discipline seriously. If we have the attitude of ‘Nobody’s going to tell me what to do,’ we miss out on His wisdom and guidance, and prevent Him from using us effectively. ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble’ (James 4:6 NIVUK). 2) ‘Do not lose heart when he rebukes you.’ Instead of seeing God’s correction as rejection, we should see it as proof that we’re His children, that He wants the best for us and from us, and that His plan for us begins when we humble ourselves and do what He says. King Ahab ‘sinned against the LORD more than any of his predecessors’ (1 Kings 16:30 GNT), but when he humbled himself and was truly sorry for what he’d done, God was merciful with him. Humbling ourselves before God will turn things around in our lives when nothing else will work.
What Now? If you’ve struggled to accept God’s correction, spend a bit of time asking Him to help you be humble before Him and allow His will to be your life’s guide.
In any kind of relationship we’re in, there’s always the potential for conflict, especially if it’s one where we’re close and spend a lot of time together. There’s a saying, ‘familiarity breeds contempt,’ and it can often be true. Little habits that we probably wouldn’t notice in someone else begin to irritate us. Differences of opinion can blow up out of proportion. We can become more critical and lose respect for each other. So how should we handle conflicts with those closest to us? 1) Attack the problem instead of each other. 2) Stay calm and avoid raising your voice. 3) Choose the best time to talk about the issue. It doesn’t help if you’re both feeling hungry, tired, or emotional. 4) Respect the other person’s opinion. People see things differently. It can be helpful to repeat what the other person has said but in your own words, to make sure you’ve understood what they’re meaning. 5) Don’t go into it thinking that you have to ‘win’. There’ll be times when you’ll have to compromise. 6) Choose your words carefully. They should come from a heart of love, not from a desire to hurt the other person. The Bible has this wisdom to share: ‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up’ (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). ‘Encourage one another’ (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV). ‘Forgiving one another’ (Ephesians 4:32 NLT). ‘Pray for each other’ (James 5:16 NIV). ‘Spur one another on towards love and good deeds’ (Hebrews 10:24 NIVUK). ‘Carry each other’s burdens’ (Galatians 6:2 NIV). In short, ‘Give each other more honour than you want for yourselves’ (Romans 12:10 NCV).
What Now? Are you feeling tension in any of the relationships you’re part of? Today, ask God to show you if there’s anything in your attitude that needs adjusting in order to help smooth out the tension. Pray that you would handle any disagreements from a place love and kindness.
There are two kinds of criticism: 1) Unfair criticism. There’ll always be people who seem to enjoy criticising us; people who try to build themselves up by tearing others down. It might be because they’re jealous of our achievements and want to lessen our joy, or they might think that the only way they can feel good about themselves is by making others feel bad. We should try to avoid their influence on us, but we should also pray for them. 2) Constructive criticism. Solomon said, ‘Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear’ (Proverbs 25:12 NIV). Constructive criticism is very valuable to us if we want to find ways to improve ourselves and what we’re doing. But we’re naturally reluctant to hear or discover anything that’s critical or unflattering about ourselves, and this reluctance is a major obstacle we need to overcome if we want to reach our highest potential. We’ll often try to avoid criticism by becoming defensive or trying to hide our flaws from other people, but when we do that, we close the door to a vital source of self-knowledge and lose the joy of growing. Every one of us can improve what we’re doing or the way we’re doing it. In fact, if we’re still celebrating what we did last year, we’re probably not making enough progress this year. If we want to achieve something tomorrow, we must be teachable today. Or as Solomon put it: ‘Whoever learns from correction is wise’ (Proverbs 15:5 NLT).
What Now? Next time someone criticises you, try to assess if it’s unfair or constructive. If it’s unfair, ask God to help change the heart of the person and work on the root cause of their unfairness. If it’s constructive, ask God how you can best put it into practice. make steps to improve.
When things go wrong, when our favourite plans fall apart, when we lose something, or when our world feels like it’s crashing down around us, the best thing we can possibly do is look to Christ. The Message paraphrases Hebrews 12 like this: ‘Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it…he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything…When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again…That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!’ (v.2-3 MSG). When we’ve experienced a disappointment, He can bring us healing, restoration, show us the right path and help us look towards the future He’s laid out for us. When we keep holding on to past setbacks and disappointments, we can’t take possession of our new future with Him at the centre. We need to learn from our experience, and then move forwards. ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV). God can bring something good out of every bad situation: ‘We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him’ (Romans 8:28 NCV). Just as a lighthouse guides a ship safely into the harbour, or runway lights guide a plane to a safe landing, Jesus is the light in our lives that can guide us to the best possible future. So whatever we go though, in all circumstances let’s fix our eyes on Him and keep looking ahead.
What Now? Whenever you turn a light on today, say a quick prayer asking God to you keep Him as the light and the focus of your life.
Sometimes God uses failure to get our attention and draw us closer to Him. In John 21 the disciples ‘went out in the boat, but…caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”’ (John 21:3-7 NLT). We learn three things about Jesus in these verses: 1) He can do what we can’t. As long as we think we can handle things on our own, He’ll let us try. As long as what worked in the past is still working, we won’t reach for His help. It’s only when we run out of our own answers that we discover the truth of Zechariah 4:6: ‘“You will not succeed by your own strength or…power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD’ (NCV). 2) He can do more than we can. He told the disciples, ‘Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!’ It didn’t sound right, but by obeying Him they entered a level of blessing and abundance they never dreamed possible. 3) He wants a relationship with us. After eating breakfast with the disciples, Jesus told Peter, ‘Take care of my sheep’ (see John 21:17). Now fishermen don’t take care of sheep – shepherds do! So what just happened? Jesus introduced Peter to his true calling – and He’ll do the same for us.
What Now? Think of a time when you experienced failure. What did your experience teach you about yourself and about God? Thank Him that our failures bring more opportunities for us to see His power at work.
Solomon said, ‘Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.’ And Paul wrote: ‘Take captive every thought…make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). We all have different things that can tempt us away from God. When we’re aware of these things drawing us down the wrong path, we need to make a conscious effort to turn away from them, before they can infect our thoughts and our hearts. We can learn a lot about the process of temptation from David’s story in 2 Samuel 11:2-4. First, he saw Bathsheba. Sometimes we can’t help seeing something that could tempt us, but when we do, we should try to walk away immediately and stop it getting any further into our thoughts. Second, he asked who she was. When we’re faced with temptation, we shouldn’t allow it to take a firmer grip on us by dwelling on it or finding out more about the thing that’s tempting us. Third, he sent for Bathsheba. Temptation is strongest when we make the choice to bring it within our reach; we can’t rely on our willpower to carry us through safely, because it often isn’t powerful enough. Throughout the story, David had opportunities to break the process of temptation, but his choices and actions led to it getting more and more of a hold on him. That’s why we need to carefully guard our hearts and keep focused on God and His path – that way, we can turn our backs on temptation as soon as it comes our way.
What Now? This morning, before you go about your day, turn the words of Proverbs 4:23 into a prayer to help you refuse temptation and focus on God.
Albert Schweitzer once said, ‘I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.’ Are people generally drawn to you and want to spend time with you? If not, it might be because of one of these things: a) Pride. Nobody wants to be around someone who thinks they’re better than everyone else. b) Insecurity. If we’re uncomfortable with who we are, others will be too. c) Moodiness. When people never know what to expect from us and feel like they’ve got to tread carefully around us, they stop expecting anything at all and avoid us. d) Perfectionism. Others respect the desire for excellence but dread unrealistic expectations. e) Cynicism. People don’t want to be rained on by someone who sees a cloud around every silver lining. So, how do we build people up? 1) Change our focus. If we’re self-centred, we can’t strengthen and encourage others. Pay attention to your interactions with people during the next few days. As you talk to them, notice how much of your conversation is about you. If it tends to be most of the conversation, determine to tip the balance in favour of focusing on others. 2) Try to make a good first impression. The next time you meet someone, learn their name, focus on their interests, listen to them without interrupting, and be encouraging. The Message paraphrase says, ‘Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”’
What Now? Have a look at the points in today’s reading about why people are less drawn to us. Are there any that you have a tendency to do? Spend some time today asking God to help you work on improving in that area.
The apostle Paul writes, ‘Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them’ (Ephesians 4:29 NLT). Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: ‘Say only what helps, each word a gift.’ Think of the people you most enjoy spending time with. How would you describe them? You probably aren’t thinking of words like grumpy, bitter, or negative. In general, the people who we prefer to be around and who leave us feeling uplifted and enthusiastic are not the complainers, but celebrators who are passionate about life. As we go about our day, everyone we meet will be left either: 1) better off; 2) worse off; or 3) unaffected. The way to build others up is to see them as opportunities instead of obstacles or obligations. One leadership expert writes: ‘One of the best things you can do for people – which also attracts them to you – is to expect the best of them. I call it putting a “10” on everyone’s head. It helps others think more highly of themselves, and at the same time it also helps you.’ Benjamin Disraeli, one of Britain’s prime ministers, put it this way: ‘The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.’ And we can do that by appreciating, encouraging, and helping others to reach their potential. Hope is one of the greatest of all possessions. Let’s take every opportunity to share the gift of hope with others, build them up, and help them discover their true value and potential in God’s eyes.
What Now? Try to go about your day with the words of The Message at the front of your thoughts: ‘Say only what helps, each word a gift’ (Ephesians 4:29 MSG). How many ‘word-gifts’ can you give out today?
‘Jesus said to his disciples: “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out…But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back…with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”…“Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”’ (vv. 35-41 NLT). Following Jesus doesn’t mean we‘ll avoid life’s storms, so we need to: 1) Remind ourselves that Jesus is with us. If Jesus can calm the storm, He can prevent it. But He allows us to go through storms to prove that there’s no problem He can’t solve. We might be powerless in the situation, but He’s not. By going through the storm, we’ll come to know and trust Him in a way we never have before. His goal is to bring us out stronger on the other side. 2) Trust what He’s said. When Jesus says, ‘Let’s cross to the other side,’ we won’t encounter a wave big enough to drag us under. The truth is, we can’t stand in the storms of life based on someone else’s faith. We must trust Jesus and be completely assured in our own hearts and minds. So when storms come our way, let’s stand in the strength of Jesus.
What Now? Find a photo of a storm, and then write a Bible verse on it that reminds you to trust God and lean on His strength. Save your photo to remind you that Jesus is with you through every storm you’ll face.
hear God saying: ‘You shall not go out with haste…for the LORD will go before you, and…be your rear guard.’ What an awesome promise! God goes before us to prepare the way and comes behind us to correct our mistakes and redirect our steps. When we’re about to make a wrong turn, His Word says, ‘We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps’ (Proverbs 16:9 NLT). If we trust God and allow His will to rule us, He’ll reroute us if we head off in the wrong direction. When we think we don’t have what it takes to finish a task, His promise is: ‘The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring…you will be known as a rebuilder…and a restorer’ (Isaiah 58:11-12 NLT). When we’ve run out of answers and don’t know what to do, He reassures us: ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you’ (Psalm 32:8 NLT). When the load we’re carrying is too much to bear, we’ll hear His voice saying: ‘Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall’ (Psalm 55:22 NLT). In order to hear His voice, we have to put Him first, sacrifice things that aren’t from Him, and tune out other voices. It can be difficult, but we must do these things, because nothing is more important and peace-bringing than knowing God’s guiding every step we take.
What Now? Is there anything in your life that’s getting in the way of God’s voice? Today, make a decision to discard it and allow God to speak into everything you do.
We don’t have to look very far to find things to complain about. God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Paradise where they had everything they needed to be happy. But they chose to focus on the one tree they couldn’t have. God miraculously divided the Red Sea, guided the Israelites through the wilderness and provided food from heaven each day so they’d never go hungry. And they appreciated it…for a while: ‘They…sang his praise. But they soon forgot what he had done’ (Psalm 106:12-13 NIV). That’s why Paul wrote, ‘Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise…Then the God of peace will be with you’ (Philippians 4:8-9 NLT). When life is good, having a positive outlook feels quite straightforward. But when things aren’t going so well for us, we have to make a conscious choice to focus on faith over fear, hope over despair, or solutions over problems. It’s not easy, but we can do it by keeping our eyes lifted towards God. When Paul and Silas were in prison, they could have given in to discouragement and hopelessness. But they didn’t even complain about their situation – instead they chose to focus on God by ‘praying and singing hymns’ (Acts 16:25 NIV). Even if our problems aren’t solved in the way we’d like, when we focus on God and all that’s good, He’ll lift us above our circumstances and give us peace in the midst of them.
What Now? Whenever you feel like complaining today, try to stop yourself and switch your focus to something good that you can see – it might be a photo, the view from your window, a shelf full of books – anything that brings a spark of joy.
We don’t have to tell others about our sins, but we do have to tell God. When we keep silent and try to hide them, they can eat away at us and steal our peace. David said, ‘When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat’ (Psalm 32:3-4 NLT). Confession can do four things for us: 1) It lets us experience God’s forgiveness. He already knows about our sins, but we can’t experience His forgiveness if we make excuses or try to shift the blame onto someone else. ‘If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins.’ It’s up to us to make the first move. 2) It restores our emotional and physical energy. Hiding or denying our sins is very draining, but confession and true repentance lift the weight of guilt off our shoulders. David said, ‘My strength has failed because of my guilt’ (Psalm 31:10 NASB). But he also went on to write: ‘Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt…And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone’ (Psalm 32:5 NLT). 3) It lets us move on. Receiving God’s forgiveness wipes the slate clean and lets us make a fresh new start. 4) It helps us grow. We can learn a lot from our mistakes. When we confess them to God and accept His forgiveness, we can begin to make them work for us instead of against us by seeing them as learning opportunities rather than failures.
What Now? Do you have any unconfessed sins? Today, make the first step to moving on from them by making some time to tell God about them and receiving His forgiveness.
Communicating with your family Families should be sources of love and comfort, but the reality is that they can also be sources of tension and misunderstanding. One of the important things we can do to address this is to try and improve how we communicate. Here are four questions we should ask ourselves: 1) How well do I communicate with the people I love? We might have unknowingly started using a communication style that doesn’t work well. For example, we might retaliate, use intimidating language, or ridicule others. But if we communicate from a place of love, we’ll encourage and build up our family members. 2) What are my communication killers? We should consider what external things prevent us having meaningful conversations with our family. Things like spending lots of time on social media and watching TV are just a couple of examples. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy these things, but we should check if we’re using them to excess. 3) Do I encourage everyone to be honest? And taking this a step further, when people do say what they’re really thinking, do we then criticise, retaliate, or turn moody? Differences of opinion can be healthy. The Bible says, ‘Iron sharpens iron’ (Proverbs 27:17 ESV). When they’re handled respectfully, different opinions can make things better for everyone. 4) Do I think creatively? It might seem strange to suggest an ice-breaker, but doing something like arranging a board game night, a fun quiz night, or a family book club could help to get everyone talking and spending time together.
What Now? Have a think about something fun and creative you could organise to bring your family together, if you can. Take a look at some of the suggestions in today’s reading for ideas, or try and come up with your own thing!