Understanding Your Temptations (1)

Sunday, 07 June 2015


'...don't let us yield to temptation...' Matthew 6:13 NLT


Many of us suffer unnecessarily because of our misconceptions about temptation. The first one is: expecting your temptations to cease—or at least de-crease. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land they had the same expectation. They were surprised that the Canaanites were still in the land. So they got discouraged, thinking they must have gone the wrong way. ‘Surely this couldn’t be the land of promise.’

God’s Word makes it clear that the Christian life, from start to finish, is warfare. Paul says we are called to ‘…wrestle…against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places’ (Ephesians 6:12 KJV), and your level of temptation increases as you draw closer to God. Notice: when Israel first left Egypt, God didn’t lead them through Philistine territory ‘though that was shorter. For God said, “…If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”’ (Exodus 13:17 NIV) God understood their fledgling faith and protected them from their enemies.

But later, when their faith had grown, He permitted them to face seven powerful nations. Just like the Promised Land, the promised life of victory requires you to deal with temptation and wrestle your way through to victory, believing that ‘…greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4 KJV) Indeed, their enemy’s attack proved that Israel was in the Promised Land. So experiencing temptations is proof you are truly abiding in Christ.


SoulFood: Gen 1:1-2:3, John 1:1-18


This is The Word For Today

Understanding Your Temptations (2)

Monday, 08 June 2015


'Blessed is the man who endures temptation...' James 1:12 NKJV


The second misconception is: temptation is sin. The devil wants you to blame yourself for the temptations you experience. Why? Because when you believe that you are the source of it, you feel condemned and discouraged. As you indulge in feelings of discouragement, you become an easy prey and Satan convinces you to go ahead and yield to the temptation. Ironically, you yield to sin through the fear of having already fallen. No, the temptation itself isn’t sin; the sin only occurs when you yield to it!

Many of us feel like we’re spiritually deficient, distant from God, even phonies because we think we initiated the temptation ourselves. Imagine a burglar in your house, and when you detect him he accuses you of being the burglar! Would you believe him? Of course not! Yet that’s Satan’s approach with us. After he tempts us, he accuses with thoughts like, ‘A real Christian would never have such thoughts!’ Knowing our own weakness, his accusations sound plausible and we believe him. Then we feel condemned, spiral into discouragement, and yield to the temptation.

Understand this: condemnation comes from Satan (1 Timothy 3:6). The Bible says, ‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ (Romans 8:1 NIV) When Satan sends temptation, the Holy Spirit goes to work in us, helping us to reject his suggestions and reminding us of Jesus’ availability to help us triumph. ‘Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.’ (Hebrews 2:18 NIV) So when you’re tempted, reject Satan’s condemnation and reach for Christ’s overcoming assistance.


SoulFood: Ezek 16:53-19:14, Matt 16:13-28, Ps 48, Prov 14:33-35


This is The Word For Today

Understanding Your Temptations (3)

Tuesday, 09 June 2015


'...count it all joy when you fall into various trials.' James 1:2 NKJV


Satan knows that when you recognise him as the source of your temptation, he loses his advantage. He knows that when you understand he initiated the temptation, you’ll recoil from it faster than if you think you yourself are the source of it. If Satan approached you and said, ‘I’ve come to make you sin and feel condemned,’ your vulnerability to his temptations would evaporate! He won’t tell you that—but if you remember it you’ll have the advantage over him.

As Paul puts it, ‘…we are not ignorant about Satan’s scheming.’ (2 Corinthians 2:11 GWT) Another misconception is that temptation is time lost and effort wasted. In long periods of temptation we feel like we’ve lost ground rather than gained it. No! Withstanding temptation is ‘[fighting] the good fight of faith…’ (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV), and that’s when God develops your character. ‘When all kinds of…temptations crowd into your lives…Realise that they come to…produce in you the quality of endurance…’ and when that happens, ‘…you will find you have become men [and women] of mature character…’ (James 1:2–4 PHPS).

Indeed, your compensation goes far beyond your present development to the reaping of eternal rewards. ‘…be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, so that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire.’ (1 Peter 1:6–7 AMP) Add to this God’s glorious guarantee: ‘Blessed is the man who endures temptation... he will receive the crown of life...’ (James 1:12 NKJV)


SoulFood: Ezek 20-21, Matt 17:1-13, Ps 132:1-10, Prov 15:1-4


This is The Word For Today

Commit to It!

Wednesday, 10 June 2015


'...O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant... [and] give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord...' 1 Samuel 1:11 NKJV


After arriving in the New World, the Spanish explorer, Cortez, took his crew off their ships, then set the ships on fire as the sailors watched in confusion and horror. By that one act, Cortez sealed their commitment to explore new territory and ensured they’d never give in or go back. Guess what? Having no alternative clears your perception, does away with procrastination, and helps you make up your mind. When you’re in a corner, you learn to reach deeper inside yourself, and in so doing you discover God–given strengths you never knew existed.

When you’re up against a deadline, it releases a creative flow within you. For example, nothing increases your commitment like the threat of failure or the risk of embarrassment. In The Tyranny of E–mail, John Freeman says, ‘Attention is one of the most valuable modern resources. If we waste it on frivolous communication, we will have nothing left when we really need it.’ Distractions drain your energy, blur your focus, and disrupt your momentum.

Projects fail, companies collapse, and marriages are damaged because of the way distractions deplete our resources and destroy our relationships. Don’t get to the end of your life only to look back and discover you forfeited things which were truly significant, to make way for things that added nothing of value. Hannah made a vow to God that resulted in the birth of her son Samuel, who became one of Israel’s greatest Judges. Be a person who honours your commitments.


SoulFood: Ezek 22-23, Matt 17:14-27, Ps 132:11-18, Prov 15:5-7

This is The Word For Today

Get Your Spending Under Control
Thursday, 11 June 2015 01:07
'Owe nothing to anyone--except for your obligation to love one another...' Romans 13:8

If you think winning the lottery would solve all your problems, you couldn’t be more wrong! Almost half of those who become overnight millionaires end up bankrupt within a few years. Why? For a variety of reasons: bad business deals, extravagant living, crazy schemes, and fast–talking relatives. And here’s another one—a big one! Believing that they now have the Midas touch and that Lady Luck is on their side, they continue to gamble at an even higher level—and end up losing it all. Try to understand this: unless you spend less than you earn, no amount of income will ever be enough! So if you’re wise, when you get a salary in-crease or an unexpected windfall you won’t adopt a more extravagant lifestyle. You’ll reduce your debt before it becomes an albatross around your neck that drowns you. No amount of income will be sufficient if your spending is not brought under control. The only way to get ahead financially is to deny yourself some of the things you want and save for the future. If you don’t have the discipline to do that, you’ll always be in debt. Now, when the government gets into debt, they simply tax you. But when you get into debt— you’re on your own. That’s not how God wants you to live. True contentment doesn’t come from getting all you want, but by discovering the blessings you have been given and learning to enjoy them. This should be your goal: ‘Owe no one anything—except for your obligation to love one another.’
SoulFood: Ezek 24:1-27:24 , Matt 18:1-9 , Ps 143 , Prov 15:8-10

Today, Show That You Care

Friday, 12 June 2015


'This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.' John 15:12 NKJV

Take a deep breath, and hold it for a moment. Now exhale it. Where did it go? The air that you just exhaled will circle the globe in the next twelve months, during which time each of the molecules you exhaled will be breathed in by someone else only to be exhaled again. In this way we are all linked to each other, we are all connected by our breath to each other and to the One who first breathed life into us.

Just as we all share our chemistry with other members of the human family, so we are all interdependent. We’re affected positively or negatively by the actions of each other. During the self–centred days of what used to be called the ‘Me Generation’, it was common to hear people say, ‘As long as I’m not hurting anyone, it’s nobody’s business what I do.’ Unfortunately, everything we do affects other people, and there’s no such thing as a completely independent act.

The poet John Donne wrote, ‘No man is an island, entire of itself, every man is a piece of a continent, a piece of the main.’ With that in mind, read these two Scriptures:
(1) ‘A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; as I have loved you.’ (John 15:12 NKJV)
(2) ‘Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another…’ (Romans 13:8


This is The Word For Today

To Lead, You Must Keep Learning

Saturday, 13 June 2015


'...Make every effort to add to your faith...' 2 Peter 1:5 NIV


As a leader you should stand on this Scripture: ‘[God’s] divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life …He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature…For this… reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self–control; and to self–control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive.’ (2 Peter 1:3–8 NIV) Note the word ‘add’.

Whether you’re a leader at home, the workplace, or the church, you must keep learning and growing. When you continually invest in yourself, over time the inevitable result is growth. Although it’s true that some people are born with greater natural gifts than others, the ability to lead is really a collection of skills, nearly all of which can be learned and improved. But the process doesn’t happen overnight. Leadership is complicated. It has many different facets such as: respect, experience, emotional strength, people skills, discipline, vision, momentum, and timing—the list goes on and on. That’s why leaders require so much seasoning to be effective.

The truth is, in order to keep leading, you must keep learning and the learning process is ongoing, resulting from self–discipline and perseverance. Your goal must be to get a little better each day, to build on the previous day’s success, and to learn from its failure. Solomon put it this way: ‘A wise man will hear and increase learning.’ (Proverbs 1:5 NKJV)


SoulFood: Ezek 31-33, Matt 18:21-35, Ps 80:12-19, Prov 15:15-17


This is The Word For Today

You Can Break the Cycle (1)


Sunday, 14 June 2015


'...Who sinned, this man or his parents...?' John 9:2 NKJV


‘His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his par-ents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”’ (John 9:2–3 NKJV). When someone is trapped in a self–destructive habit, we sometimes say it’s genetic: ‘It runs in the family.’ Yet psychiatrists tell us 90% of those who abuse others were first abused themselves; they are simply ‘acting out’ what was done to them.

Some say if alcoholism and addiction run in your family, you’ve got an ‘addictive gene’, meaning you’re at much greater risk if you pick up a drink or a drug. But you’ll notice Jesus didn’t get into the whole ‘nurture vs nature’ debate. In essence, He said, ‘This is just an opportunity for God to demonstrate His love and grace by setting this man free.’ So your problem may be too big for you, but it’s not too big for God. It’s actually a platform for Him to demonstrate His grace in your life.

‘Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP) God doesn’t consult your past in order to determine your future. Before you met Jesus, you were spiritually dead. That’s why He said, ‘…you must be born from above…’ (John 3:3 CEV) From that point forward, the past no longer has any power over you (except the power you give it). So you can break the cycle.


SoulFood: Josh 1, Ps 27:11-14, 2 Tim 2:1-13


This is The Word For Today

Alright guys I'm back !

You Can Break the Cycle (2)


Monday, 15 June 2015


'...He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.' John 9:6 NKJV



Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, points out that your DNA is in your saliva and that when Jesus spat, this blind man received a divine DNA transfer. The fact of the matter is that sin is in our DNA and that’s why Jesus goes back to the root of our problem! Understand this: God doesn’t merely treat your symptoms; He goes back to the source of your problem in order to set you free from it. To change the fruit, He changes the root. This man never had the ability to see; he was born blind and needed a creative miracle—and that’s exactly what he got. Physical miracle and spiritual miracle—a total transformation. Our God is awesome, isn’t He?

Do you know why Jesus came? ‘…To bind up the bro-kenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour…to comfort all who mourn…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of de-spair…’ (Isaiah 61:1–3 NIV) It doesn’t matter whether your parents contributed to your problem or you simply made bad choices in life, Jesus can set you free, make you whole, and give you a new life. Jesus didn’t blame this man or his parents. That’s because God has no desire for your condemna-tion; His desire is for your transformation.



SoulFood: Ezek 34-36, Matt 19:1-14, Ps 73:1-16, Prov 15:18-21


This is The Word For Today

You Can Break the Cycle (3)

Tuesday, 16 June 2015


'...One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.' John 9:25 NKJV



When Jesus restored this blind man’s sight, the Pharisees tried to engage him in a theological debate about who Jesus was and where His power came from, but he refused to argue with them. He simply said, ‘…One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see,’ and the same arguments still continue today. Some people say, ‘The day of miracles is past.’ The truth is that there is no day of miracles; there’s only a God of miracles Who says, ‘…I am the Lord, I do not change.’ (Malachi 3:6 NKJV) The Bible says, ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.’ (Hebrews 13:8 KJV) That means what He was, He still is. What He did, He still does. What He said, He still says.

Whatever your problem may be, you have two choices: live with it and try to adjust to it, or believe God to set you free from it. Certain things like alco-holism, addiction, and abuse may run in your family, but by the grace of God you can break the cycle! Please hear this: God’s power is greater than your habit! Not only can He set you free from the thing that holds you captive, He can deliver you from its lingering effects. His Word to you is: ‘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…’ (Isaiah 43:18–19 NIV) So turn to God today. Give Him a chance. You’ve tried other things, now try Him. He will not fail you!


SoulFood: Ezek 37:1-40:9, Matt 19:15-30, Ps 73:17-28, Prov 15:22-24


This is The Word For Today

You Can Break the Cycle (4)

Wednesday, 17 June 2015


'...he went and washed, and came back seeing.' John 9:7 NKJV


Sometimes Jesus healed sick people by speaking to them, other times He laid His hands on them. But this blind man’s healing was not the work of a moment; it was the result of a process. ‘…He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”…So he went and washed, and came back seeing.’ (John 9:7 NKJV) Question: How far away was the pool of Siloam? For a blind man, any journey is a long one. Picture this man with mud in his eyes, trying to navigate his way to the pool of Siloam. There’s an important lesson here. Even when God touches us, sometimes we’ve got to walk with our mess until we get to the place of healing, freedom and deliverance.

Here’s another thought. Whoever told this man about Jesus, and brought him to Jesus, had to keep walking with him until he got his sight back and could walk on his own. You can’t say to someone who’s struggling with a problem, ‘I told you about Jesus, and I even brought you to church but you’re still stumbling around in darkness bound by the same problems, so I give up.’ God never gives up on people, and we must not give up on them either. When someone continues to struggle with an old habit, some Christians say they mustn’t really be saved. Question: How often do you give in to resentment, pride, lust, greed, gossip, etc.? The list is endless, yet God doesn’t give up on you. Sometimes people have to ‘walk out’ their deliverance and healing until it fully comes to pass. That’s how long you need to love them, believe in them, pray for them, and keep working with them.



SoulFood: Ezek 40:10-42:20, Matt 20:1-16, Ps 139:1-6, Prov 15:25-27


This is The Word For Today

You Can Break the Cycle (5)


Thursday, 18 June 2015


'...Go to the pool...and wash...' John 9:11 NKJ



Jesus told this blind man to go to the pool of Siloam and wash the dirt from his eyes. So here’s the question: What do you need to remove from your life today in order to see what God wants you to see and do what He wants you to do? Whether it’s a destructive habit, a toxic relationship, or a bad atti-tude, you must get rid of it. James writes: ‘Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double–minded.’ (James 4:7–8 NKJV) God will do His part, but you must do yours. God will extend grace to you, but you must act on it. It’s said that the water which flowed into the pool of Siloam came from under the temple and was used to wash the utensils which were part of worship and sacrifice. In other words, this water didn’t come from a man–made source, but from the presence of God. Don’t miss the point here! Jesus said, ‘You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.’ (John 15:3 NKJV) Paul speaks of ‘…the washing of water by the word’ (Ephesians 5:26 KJV). David writes, ‘How can a young man [or an older one] cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word.’ (Psalm 119:9 NKJV) The secret of victorious Christian living is bathing your mind each day in the Scriptures. Picture yourself taking a bath in God’s Word and the dirt and grime coming off you. That’s what meditating on the Scriptures does for you.



SoulFood: Ezek 43-45, Matt 20:17-28, Ps 139:7-12, Prov 15:28-30



This is The Word For Today

Alwaystrue:
This is The Word For Today

God bless your heart ma'am.

What Are Your Children Watching?

Friday, 19 June 2015


'I will set nothing wicked before my eyes...' Psalm 101:3 NKJV


Today our children have more access to the internet than ever before. Over half of all children between the ages of nine and seventeen have internet cable or satellite television access in their bedrooms. The old image of the family gathered around a single TV set in the living room is almost non–existent. Instead, often children are off by themselves where they can choose anything they want to see. They don’t even have to be in their bed-room because now they can access it all on a hand–held device like a tablet or an iPhone! One prominent social researcher put it this way: ‘Almost everything children are seeing is essentially going into their minds in some sort of uncensored or unfiltered way.’

Under the ‘freedom of expression’ rule, the government and courts permit internet sites to peddle explicit sex, violence, nudity and profanity to your children and your grandchildren. Are you concerned? You should be! Why do sheep need a shepherd? For the same reason children need loving and observant parents—wolves! And your ignorance of technology is no defence! Because you weren’t exposed to these evils growing up doesn’t guarantee that your children won’t get hooked on them. Many parents don’t even take the time to know what their children are watching! Don’t be one of them. After his disastrous affair with Bathsheba and the heartache and havoc it brought to his family, David said, ‘…I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes…’ (Psalm 101:2–3 NKJV) Parents, what are your children watching?



SoulFood: Ezek 46-48, Matt 20:29-34, Ps 139:13-24, Prov 15:31-33


This is The Word For Today

How to Overcome Doubt


Saturday, 20 June 2015


'...If you have faith and do not doubt...' Matthew 21:21 NIV


Doubt is a doorway through which Satan enters your life. It causes the ‘fight of faith’ to become the ‘flight of faith’. When fear, confusion, discouragement and despair take up residence within you, they rob you of confidence, joy and peace. But isn’t doubting just human? Of course it is and it’s also Satan’s ploy! ‘…whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given…’ (1 John 5:10 NIV) Your doubts reveal a lack of confidence in what God says. So how can you stop doubting?

The same way you deal with other sin—by acknowledging you have a problem and doing something about it. Doubt cannot be conquered by reason or even resistance; it will only submit to complete relinquishment. Trying to overcome your doubts one by one is like an alcoholic trying to reduce his or her alcohol intake one drink at a time. It doesn’t work.

The solution is two–fold.
(1) It begins with a once–for–all decision. It calls for a total relinquishing of your right to doubt anything God promised. It’s saying, ‘From now on, I will not doubt God!’ It’s believing that when you surrender a thing to Him, He takes it and deals with it.

(2) By faith declare, ‘Lord, I absolutely trust Your every Word!’

Will doubt come knocking again at your door? Yes, but instead of letting it in, ‘...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.’ (Ephesians 6:16 NIV) Don’t fret, wrestle, or reason with your doubts. Instead, repeat your Scriptural declaration of faith, disregard your feelings, and trust God to do what He says.


SoulFood: 2 Cor 1-4, Matt 21:1-17, Ps 144:1-8, Prov 16:1-3


This is The Word For Today

The Huddle


Sunday, 21 June 2015


'I appeal to you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another...' 1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV



To lead your family effectively, you need to learn how to huddle regularly. The ‘huddle’ is where a team:

(1) sets its goals;
(2) discusses the division of responsibilities;
(3) tackles the issues that determine whether it wins or loses.

Parent, even though you call the plays from overhead, your family must be taught how to accomplish them on the field. That means working through things, talking through the disagreements, motivating and appreciating each member. Try to listen with an open heart. Don’t just hear what your children say, try to understand how they feel. Yes, you’re the boss, and yes, you can try to enforce your will if you want to. But sooner or later you’ll have trouble, for resentment grows when people feel left out.

Every member of your team has got to be part of the decision–making process. Involve them! Ask God to help you look beyond what you want to what’s best for all of you. And don’t fall under the spell of instant gratification. What looks good to you today could be taking you off the path to a better tomorrow. And don’t let ‘outsiders’ into your huddle. Tell them to stay in their own. Too often their opinions are based on hearsay, self–interest or jealousy. Respect the privacy of your team. Build loyalty. Huddle regularly in prayer. When you do that, everybody wins!


SoulFood: Esther 4:9-5:3, Heb 4:7-16



This is The Word For Today

Handling Your Failures (1)


Monday, 22 June 2015


'...the hearts of the people melted, and became like water.' Joshua 7:5 NKJV


Even the most seasoned believers experience failure and the big question at such times isn’t, ‘How could I have let that happen?’ but, ‘What’s the right way to deal with it?’ Indulging in self–condemning thoughts comes naturally to us, but it does no good. It just produces discouragement, and adds failure upon failure. As a result of Achan’s sin, Israel was defeated at Ai and fled before their enemies. Like us, in response to their defeat, ‘…the hearts of the people melted, and became like water.’ Their faith forsook them, and they ‘lost their courage.’ (Joshua 7:5 GNT) Even their leader Joshua ‘…fell facedown to the ground…’ (Joshua 7:6 NIV), despairing that things could only get worse!

Have you been there? Do you recognise the pattern? Defeat, discouragement, despair, and more defeat. What was God’s response? ‘Get up! Why do you lie thus…? Israel has sinned… Get up, sanctify the people…’ (Joshua 7:10–13 NKJV) He’s a God of repentance—not wallowing in remorse; a God of getting up—not lying down in failure! Holiness is a path, not a place. When you’re off the path, God’s plan is simple—get back on it immediately. Confess your sin (1 John 1:9). By faith ac-cept God’s mercy and forgiveness. And refuse Satan’s condemnation (Romans 8:1). ‘…Forgetting those things which are behind…press toward the goal…’ (Philippians 3:13–14 NKJV) Like a child learning to walk, when you fall don’t lie down and give up. Minimise your down–time—get back up and walk again.

Remember this: the moment that brings the awareness of sin should also bring the confession of sin and the assurance of forgiveness!


SoulFood: 2 Cor 5-8, Matt 21:18-32, Ps 144:9-15, Prov 16:4-7


This is The Word For Today

Handling Your Failures (2)

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

'Return... I will heal your backslidings...' Jeremiah 3:22 NKJV



What’s the root of our failures? Failure doesn’t lie in the strength of the enemy, or our own weakness, or God’s reluctance to help us overcome. Israel was defeated by a small town after having conquered mighty Jericho. Their failure, like ours, was the result of unconfessed sin (Joshua 7). But once their sin was brought to light and dealt with, God spoke encouragement to them. ‘…Do not be afraid…Take all the people of war with you… I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.’ (Joshua 8:1 NKJV) Sin unacknowledged will keep you defeated, but sin confessed will bring you forgiveness and restoration that leads to victory.

Author Hannah Whitall Smith tells of moving into a new home. She noticed in the cellar a very clean–looking cider cask sealed at both ends. She de-bated whether to open it and see what was inside, but decided to leave it undisturbed. Each spring and autumn when the cleaning was being done, she’d remember the cask but put off opening it. Unaccountably, moths began to fill the house. She used every means she knew to get rid of them, without success. At last, remembering the cask, she opened it and thousands of moths poured out! The lesson here is simple: anything we cling to that’s contrary to God’s Word will cause us to fall before our enemies.

Always keep before you David’s prayer: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart…see if there be any wicked way in me…’ (Psalm 139:23–24 NKJV) Whatever God shows you, confess it immediately and by faith receive His forgiveness and cleansing. Then you’ll be able to stand victorious before your enemies.


SoulFood: 2 Cor 9:1-11:15, Matt 21:33-46, Ps 8, Prov 16:8-11


This is The Word For Today

On the Home Front

Wednesday, 24 June 2015


'...I will raise up a faithful priest who will serve me and do what I desire...' 1 Samuel 2:35 NLT


Being the high priest in Israel was a prestigious job, and Eli seemed suited to it. Yet he failed badly on the home front. ‘…His sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.’ (1 Samuel 8:3 NIV) As a result, God told Eli He ‘…would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed against God, and he failed to restrain them.’ (1 Samuel 3:13 NIV) As a parent and leader you need to answer this question: If God applied the same standard to you as He did to Eli, how well would you do? Eli ended up losing his credibility, his children, his career, and eventually his life. He missed the mark because he made some critical errors. Let’s look at them and see what we can learn:

(1) He had the wrong emphasis. He emphasised the Word of God to the people in his congregation, but not to his own children.

(2) He had the wrong expectations. He thought his children would ‘get it’ because they lived under his roof and worked in the church. But it doesn’t work that way.

(3) He set the wrong example. Eli failed to live at home what he taught at work. He had 20/20 vision when it came to his profession, but where his family was concerned he was blind to his own weakness. Leadership on the home front isn’t about power and control; it’s about ‘giving yourself’ to the people who should matter most (Ephesians 5:25). So, how are you doing on the home front?


SoulFood: 2 Cor 11:16-13:14, Matt 22:1-14, Ps 17, Prov 16:12-15


This is The Word For Today

Staying When You Feel Like Leaving (1)


Thursday, 25 June 2015



'...humans must not pull apart what God has put together.' Mark 10:9 CEB



Not every relationship can be saved. When physical, mental or emotional abuse threatens your child’s safety, or your own, you may be forced to leave. Failing to do so could lead to tragedy, but where a workable resolution can be found, a troubled relationship can become a source of shared joy and fulfilment.

Here are some keys to make staying worthwhile: Adopt God’s perspective on sin—yours and your spouse’s. One of the major problems is the way we classify sin—especially our spouse’s. You’re understandably overwrought and anxious because they’re incorrigible and selfish. They’re the wilful sinner—you’re the offended saint. They need a major overhaul, and you’re responsible to see they get it. Things like being critical, nagging and controlling seem like small things compared to a spouse who swears, drinks and visits porn sites.

From God’s perspective, sin is sin—yours and theirs! It’s all harmful to relationships. Stop ‘classifying’ sin and try to discover the relationship–transforming power of handling the situation the way Jesus taught. ‘How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.’ (Matthew 7:4–5 NIV) You’ll be amazed at how God will cause your spouse to acknowledge and deal with ‘their’ problem when you get honest and deal with ‘yours’!



SoulFood: Song 1-4, Matt 22:15-22, Ps 21, Prov 16:16-19


This is The Word For Today

Staying When You Feel Like Leaving (2)

Friday, 26 June 2015


'In order that Satan might not outwit us...' 2 Corinthians 2:11 NIV


Recognise who the real enemy of your marriage is. On those days when you think, ‘I can’t spend another moment in this relationship,’ it’s easy to lose perspective and focus on the wrong things. Marriage was God’s idea. He planned it as the foundation of His earthly Kingdom. That makes marriage one of Satan’s prime targets. It’s why he poisoned the perspective and confused the thinking of the first couple. He deceived Adam into believing that Eve was his problem, blaming the fiasco on her (Genesis 3:12). But both of them were deceived by ‘…the father of lies.’ (John 8:44 NLT) Satan knew he could undermine God’s plan by driving a wedge between the first couple, creating antagonism, blame and self–interest, and his methods haven’t changed. It’s why we ‘keep tabs’ on each other’s shortcomings, identifying our mate as the problem and refusing to show grace.

Paul helps us understand how to overcome Satan’s strategy. ‘…I have forgiven in the sight of Christ…in order that Satan might not outwit us…we are not unaware of his schemes.’ (2 Corinthians 2:10–11 NIV) Then he counsels us further by saying that ‘…love… keeps no record of wrongs…’ (1 Corinthians 13:4–5 NIV) That doesn’t mean love lives in denial, but that it chooses to practise self–denial! So rather than keeping score of your spouse’s worst qualities, choose to look for their best ones and show your appreciation. Nothing melts resentment and hardness like expressing appreciation for each other.



SoulFood: Song 5-8, Matt 22:23-33, Ps 59:1-8, Prov 16:20-22


This is The Word For Today

Staying When You Feel Like Leaving (3)

Saturday, 27 June 2015 01:09


'Pray then like this...Your will be done...' Matthew 6:9-10 ESV


Here are another two helpful keys to resolving marriage conflict:

(1) Let God direct your prayers. Prayer can be closed–ended or open–ended. When we think that our perspective is the only accurate one, we pray closed–ended prayers calling on God to solve the problem our way, believing it’s the only correct way. However, closed–ended praying produces two problems. First, it locks us into rigid thinking and blinds us to other perspectives. Secondly, it keeps us from seeing God’s perspective, the one that can heal and restore the relationship. Open–ended praying asks God to solve the problem His way. ‘Pray then like this…Your will be done…’ Ask God to reveal His will to you both, wait until He does, then pray accordingly. The Bible says: ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us…we know that we have what we asked of Him.’ (1 John 5:14–15 NIV

(2) Remove the conditions from your love. Does this sound difficult? Love is a biblical command, not an arbitrary emotion. God’s not asking you to feel warm and fuzzy; He’s asking you to act in a loving way. Wouldn’t that be hypocritical? No, it’s rising above resentment, hurt, and fear, and practising real faith. It means asking yourself: ‘If I were loving unconditionally right now, what would I be doing? How would I be responding to my spouse?’ Then do it. The Bible says, ‘Love never fails…’ (1 Corinthians 13:8 NIV) You can lovingly act your way into a new way of feeling for both you and your spouse.



SoulFood: 1 Sam 1-3, Matt 22:34-46, Ps 59:9-17, Prov 16:23-26


This is The Word For Today

Staying When You Feel Like Leaving (4)


Sunday, 28 June 2015


'Leave your troubles with the Lord...' Psalm 55:22 GNT




Give your marriage to God. The last word on the matter must be God’s Word! Seeking professional help is a good thing, but until you’ve transferred ownership of your marriage into God’s hands, you haven’t exercised your best option. You say, ‘What does handing my marriage over to God mean in practical terms?’ It means two things:

(1) You stop calling the shots—that’s God’s job and you must get out of His way so that He can do His work unhindered. Your self–interest and need to control must bow to His will. As long as you insist on ‘being right’ and ‘straightening out’ your spouse, you will remain part of the problem. On the other hand, when you give the problem to God, He—not you—has a problem to work on!

(2) You learn how to ‘walk by faith, not by sight.’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) When things feel out of control, you will want to resume ownership of the problem. Don’t do it, or the result will be more of what doesn’t work. Renew your decision to allow God to have control and work in both of your hearts. ‘Walk by faith’, not by feelings. The psalmist puts it this way: ‘Leave your troubles with the Lord, and He will defend you…’ (Psalm 55:22 GNT) When you trust God to handle it, three things happen: (a) you experience peace; (b) your spouse’s resistance is likely to diminish because you’re no longer stirring the pot; (c) God goes to work: ‘…He who began a good work in you [both] will bring it to completion…’ (Philippians 1:6 ESV)



SoulFood: Exod 34:29-35, Mk 9:2-27, 2 Cor 3:7-18




This is The Word For Today

Failure and Success

Monday, 29 June 2015


'...The God of Heaven will give us success...' Nehemiah 2:20 NIV


To turn your failures into successes you need to do two things:

(1) Realise that God wants you to succeed because you’re His child. When you think about it, what good and loving parent wouldn’t? In the face of overwhelming obstacles and enemy threats, Nehemiah announced, ‘…The God of Heaven will give us success…’ and God did!

(2) Realise that failure is a teaching tool. The greater the failure, the greater the opportunity to learn from it.

But first you must acknowledge the teaching potential in your mistakes and commit to learning, growing and changing as a result. Thomas Edison said, ‘I’m not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.’ At 21 years old he set up his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, and became a full–time inventor. At any given time, he and his team were working on as many as 40 different projects and they applied for more than 400 patents a year. Edison’s feverish work schedule and productivity caused the local citizens to dub him ‘The Wizard of Menlo Park’. But he wasn’t always successful. The fact is, he struggled with many of his inventions but, despite embarrassing failure after embarrassing failure, he refused to give up. Often ridiculed for his perseverance, he engaged in some 10,000 experiments before finally inventing the incandescent light bulb in 1879. Concerning his chequered work history, he said, ‘I haven’t failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that don’t work.’ Stop labelling your failures as negative. There are very few real failures in life—only options. Some options work, others don’t. The truth is, with God on your side you’ll win if you persist!



SoulFood: 1 Sam 4-7, Matt 23:1-12, Ps 64, Prov 16:27-30


This is The Word For Today

The Outcome Is Up To You


Tuesday, 30 June 2015


'...Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould...' Romans 12:2 PHPS


You determine the outcomes in your life, because God has given no one but you power over your options. When things aren’t working out for us, we often look elsewhere for the reason. Like Eve, we can say, ‘The devil made me do it.’ No, Jesus said, ‘…I give unto you power…over all the power of the enemy…’ (Luke 10:19 KJV) Like Adam, we say, ‘Eve made me do it.’ But the psalmist says, ‘…I trust God, so I am not afraid. What can human beings do to me?’ (Psalm 56:4 NCV) Sometimes we believe circumstances beyond our control are responsible, but with God ‘…all things [including people and circumstances] work together for [our] good…’ (Romans 8:28 NKJV)—not for our defeat!

Your mistaken beliefs victimise you and predispose you to a lifestyle of trying to change people and circumstances. That’s like attempting to unscramble an egg. You become a blame–fixer instead of a problem–solver. Accept the truth that no matter what Satan, others or circumstances do, God gives you the right to the last word in your life. ‘…greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4 KJV) The outcome is not determined by what goes on around you, but by what goes on within you. ‘…as he thinks in his heart, so is he…’ (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV) The devil can only determine the outcome with your permission and co–operation—and you don’t have to give them! So believe in God’s ability to bring you triumphantly through this difficulty.



SoulFood: 1 Sam 8-10, Matt 23:13-22, Ps 95, Prov 16:31-33


This is The Word For Today

Your Blind Spot (1)


Wednesday, 01 July 2015


'...Cleanse me from these hidden faults.' Psalm 19:12 NLT



There are parts of yourself you’ll never see without God’s help. In one sense, you know yourself better than anyone else does. You alone have access to your inner thoughts, feelings and judgments. In another sense, you know yourself worse than anyone else does. Why? Because we rationalise, justify, minimise, forget, and embellish—and we don’t even know we’re doing it. We all fall for the self–serving bias. We claim too much credit and accept too little blame. We pay attention to experts who agree with our opinions, while ignoring or discounting all evidence to the contrary. Our memories are not simply faulty, they’re faulty in favour of our ego.

The book Egonomics cites a survey in which 83 per cent of people were confident in their ability to make good decisions, but only 27 per cent were confident in the ability of the people they worked closely with to make good decisions. We’re stunned when someone sees past our defences into our souls. It’s not that they’re geniuses, it’s just that we’re sitting in our own blind spot and without the work of the Holy Spirit within us, much of the time we can’t even see our sin. The psalmist wrote: ‘How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep Your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.’ (Psalm 19:12–14 NLT) That’s a prayer you should pray—every day.



SoulFood: 1 Sam 11-13, Matt 23:23-39, Ps 98, Prov 17:1-3


This is The Word For Today.

Thanks alwaystrue for the word..it been a while

Your Blind Spot (2)

Thursday, 02 July 2015


'...Who can discern their own errors...?' Psalm 19:12 NIV


Sometimes trying to see the truth about yourself is like trying to see inside your own eyeballs. ‘…Who can discern their own errors…?’ the psalmist asked. Fortunately, you’re not left on your own. The Spirit is already at work in you. Your job is simply to listen and respond. Guilt isn’t your enemy, sin is. God’s Spirit will often bring a sense of conviction, and, when it does, the proper response isn’t to try and suppress the guilt but to deal with the issue. When you don’t, those issues can build up like cholesterol in your arteries. At a moment of great crisis, Samson arose to exert his strength, ‘…but he did not know that the Lord had left him.’ (Judges 16:20 NIV) He’d become callous and lost his sensitivity to God.

Our bodies have an amazing capacity to warn us about what ails them, if we learn to read the signs. Chest pains may indicate heart trouble and there are more subtle clues. Many of us will have seen the TV ads or read about detecting when someone is having a stroke: (FAST) Face, Arms, Speech, Time. God will enable you to find the truth about your soul if you’re open and willing. Left to yourself, you will usually rationalise or defend yourself. You’ll ‘…call evil good and good evil…’ (Isaiah 5:20 NIV) At the other extreme, you can become a neurotic over–analyser. Madame Guyon warned against ‘depending on the diligence of your own scrutiny rather than on God for the knowledge and discovery of our sin.’ What’s the answer? Allow your thoughts and responses to be guided by the Holy Spirit.



SoulFood: 1 Sam 14-15, Matt 24:1-14, Ps 102:1-11, Prov 17:4-6


This is The Word For Today

Your Blind Spot (3)

Friday, 03 July 2015


'...Put off the old man...' Colossians 3:9 NKJV


The Bible speaks about ‘putting off’ certain sins. Then it speaks about ‘putting on’ certain Christ–like characteristics. Using this metaphor of clothing, let’s think about the acronym RAGS:

(1) Resentment. How’s your irritability level these days? Are you more, or less, easily irritated? How about bitter-ness and unforgiveness? When someone hurts you, do you attack or withdraw? Is your handling of resentment getting better, worse, or in neutral?

(2) Anxiety. On a scale of one to ten, what’s your discouragement level these days? Do you have more or fewer fears about money, your health, your job, or what other people think of you? Do you allow those fears to keep you from doing what God wants? Do you find your concerns motivate you to pray more frequently?

(3) Greed. Greed is just mis–managed desire. So is your self–control going up, down, or is it in neutral? Are you living with more openness and less hiddenness than you used to—living more of your life in the light? Do you find that what you desire and enjoy is increasingly in line with what God wants for you?

(4) Superiority. Are you becoming less preoccupied with self? Do you find yourself thinking more about other people and God, as well as the work He has for you to do? How often in conversation do you remark on the positive characteristics of others instead of their negative qualities? Do you come across as hard, jaded and cynical? Are you spending more or less time serving others? Today, ask God to help you look into your own heart and give you the grace to deal with what you find there.



SoulFood: 1 Sam 16-17, Matt 24:15-25, Ps 102:12-17, Prov 17:7-10


This is The Word For Today

Your Blind Spot (4)

Saturday, 04 July 2015


'May...the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You...' Psalm 19:14 NLT


Jesus said when the Holy Spirit came He would convict us of sin, but conviction is not the same as ‘getting caught’. When we get caught doing wrong we feel pain, but it’s not necessarily conviction over sin. Often it’s just embarrassment over how others are thinking about us. If we thought no one would ever know, we wouldn’t be in pain. And conviction isn’t the same thing as fear of punishment. Conviction is when you get a glimpse of what you’re capable of: ‘How did I become the kind of person who can lie, cheat on a test, have an affair, claim credit for what I didn’t do, act in a cowardly way instead of courageously, or use people for my own ends?’ These aren’t questions you’d normally ask yourself.

The Bible says, ‘This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light…’ (John 3:19 NIV) When God is at work in your life, the pain isn’t about other people knowing, or even about the consequences. That’s all external. The pain of conviction is internal—it’s over who you are. Unless your car windscreen is clean, you run the risk of ending up in a ditch and you can’t clean it yourself while you’re driving—that’s why you have windscreen wipers. Similarly, the Holy Spirit’s job is to reveal sin, let you repent of it, and cleanse you so that you can go where God wants to take you in life. Each day you need to pray, ‘Lord, send as much light as I can stand. Clean off my windscreen so I can see more clearly. Cleanse me.’



SoulFood: 1 Sam 18:1-20:29, Matt 24:26-35, Ps 102:18-28, Prov 17:11-14


This is The Word For Today

Focus on Service, Not Promotion

Sunday, 05 July 2015


'...Don't try to seem important in the court of a ruler...' Proverbs 25:6 CEV


Aspiring to leadership is commendable. Paul said, ‘…If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honourable position.’ (1 Timothy 3:1 NLT) But there’s a difference between stepping forward to take on the responsibility of leadership, and stepping forward to project yourself into the limelight. Harry Truman said, ‘If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.’ The question isn’t whether you enjoy being the focus of attention, but whether you can take the heat that goes along with it. For every person who acknowledges your skills and appreciates your accomplishments, there’ll be ten who make demands on your time, talent and treasure.

Consider Barnabas. When the Gospel was first preached to the Gentiles, church leaders in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to check it out. ‘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. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and…faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.’ (Acts 11:23–24 NKJV) Barnabas had three sterling qualities:

(1) He’d nothing to prove. He never sought the limelight. When he mentored Paul, he happily let the emerging apostle rise above him, supporting him every step of the way.

(2) He’d nothing to lose. He didn’t seek to guard his reputation or fear losing his popular-ity. He wanted to serve, not be served.

(3) He’d nothing to hide. He didn’t try to maintain a façade or image. He remained authentic, vulnerable and transparent and, best of all, he rejoiced in the success of others.



SoulFood: Exodus 20:1-17, Matt 5:1-12



This is The Word For Today