THE WORD FOR TODAY


CLEARLY ESTABLISHED GOALS


Thursday, 10th October, 2019


'I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.' Philippians 3:14 NIV

In 1972, Life magazine published a story about the amazing adventures of John Goddard. When he was 15, his grandmother said, 'If only I had done that when I was young.' Determined not to make that statement at the end of his life, John wrote out 127 goals. He named ten rivers he wanted to explore and seventeen mountains he wanted to climb. He set goals of becoming an Eagle Scout, a world traveller and a pilot. Also on his list was riding a horse in the Rose Bowl parade, diving in a submarine, retracing the travels of Marco Polo, reading the Bible from cover to cover, and reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. He also planned to read the entire works of Shakespeare, Plato, Dickens, Socrates, Aristotle and several other classic authors. He desired to learn to play the flute and violin, marry, have children (he had five), pursue a career in medicine and serve as a missionary for his church. Sound impossible? At age 47, he had accomplished 103 of his 127 goals!

Now, your list of goals may not be as extensive as his, but if you don't have some goals for your life, you'll have little motivation to get up in the morning and little satisfaction when you put your head on your pillow each night. And unless you try something beyond what you've already mastered, you won't grow.

So set your goals in prayer, and with God's help work towards them each day.

Soulfood: 2 Sam 17:14-29 2 Sam 18 2 Sam 19:1-43 John 3:22-36 Ps 89:38-52 Pro 23:19-21


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HOW TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S PEACE


Friday, 11th October, 2019


'Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything...Then you will experience God's peace.' Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

God's peace is a wonderful thing. And some of the people around you today are in need of it. It comes when you commit your life to Christ and live by the principles laid out in Scripture. When you 'commit' something to the Lord, you transfer every part of it from you to him (see Psalm 37:5). Peter writes, 'Casting...the whole of your...concerns, once and for all, on him, for he cares for you' (1 Peter 5:7 AMP). What a privilege. Have you been availing yourself of it lately?

'How do I cast all my cares on him?' you ask. Through prayer! As soon as you become aware that you're starting to worry and lose your sense of peace, take it to God immediately and leave it with him. Don't give the devil time to work you over. The longer you wait, the greater his hold over you becomes.

'But I can't help thinking about it,' you say. 'What can I do?' These two things: (1) Give it to God and then start to focus on other things. It's a learned response, one you'll have to practise daily. Paul writes, 'Whatever is true...honourable and worthy of respect...whatever is lovely and brings peace...think continually on these things' (Philippians 4:8 AMP). In other words, redirect your thoughts! (2) Find out what God says in his Word about your situation. Then line your thoughts, words and actions up with it. When you do this, 'You will experience God's peace' (Philippians 4:7 NLT).

Soulfood: 2 Sam 20 2 Sam 21 2 Sam 22:1-30 John 4:1-12 Ps 100 Pro 23:22-28.




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THE WORD FOR TODAY


THE POWER OF YOUR TESTIMONY


Sunday, 13th October, 2019


'Go...tell them how much the Lord has done for you.' Mark 5:19 NIV

The most powerful testimony of all - is a life that can't be explained without including God! People may dispute your theology, but your testimony, that's something else! Six different times Paul stood before hostile audiences, and each time he gave his personal testimony. No arguing, no debating - just his story. Dr David Yonggi Cho built the world's largest church in South Korea (one million members). He was won to Christ by a lady he met only once. She shared her testimony, moved on, and Cho, a former Buddhist, never found her again.

Your testimony is an awesome thing, especially when it's backed by a consistent lifestyle. People who won't listen to others will listen to you, relate to you and respond to you if you'll share your story. And when you do, keep in mind four things: (1) Be interesting. Give them the short version and avoid clich?s. Jesus is exciting; He came to bring '[life] more abundantly' (John 10:10 NKJV). (2) Be specific. Talk about: (a) how it used to be; (b) how you met Jesus; (c) how it is now. (3) Be honest. Don't say, 'All your problems will disappear when you become a Christian.' The Christian life is a battlefield, not a playing field. Let people know you still have struggles but something important has changed - you're no longer alone: 'He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world' (1 John 4:4 NKJV). (4) Be warm. Don't try to arm-wrestle them into the Kingdom. Be gracious, sow the seed and leave the harvest to God.

Now, 'Go...tell them how much the Lord has done for you' (Mark 5:19 NIV).

Soulfood: Exo 34:29-35 Mark 9:2-27 2 Cor 3:7-18.



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YOUR JOY WILL RETURN


Monday, 14th October, 2019


Joy comes in the morning.' Psalm 30:5 NKJV

It's hard when you work all day then come home to an empty house and sleep with your arms wrapped around a pillow, wishing you had someone to hold. No matter how much you try to cover it up, nothing can hide that kind of loneliness. It's the pain of having so much to share and nobody to share it with. But God knows your plight, and he cares. It's why he made Eve for Adam, found Boaz for Ruth and Rebekah for Isaac. It's why his Word deals with real-life issues like sexual frustration, loneliness, failure and lack of self-worth.

Natural voids and thirsts exist within all of us, and how we fill them determines our ability to survive and find happiness. If you're struggling to face the challenges of life on your own, you need to know that you're not alone! 'The God of all comfort' is with you (2 Corinthians 1:3 NKJV). No one understands like Jesus. His family rejected him, his disciples abandoned him and the world crucified him. That's why the Bible says he's 'touched with the feeling of our infirmities' and was 'in all points tempted...as we are' (Hebrews 4:15 KJV). He knows when you feel like that nothing you do is ever good enough. He knows that as well as being a parent, you're a person. He knows, he understands and he invites you to come to him.

The season you're in right now won't last forever. A new one is coming, with new energy, new relationships, new experiences and new joy. Until then remember: 'Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning' (Psalm 30:5 NKJV). Your joy will return!

Soulfood: Lev 23:33-44 John 7:1-40 Zech 14:16-21 Heb 11:8-16.




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GROWTH EXPERIENCES


Tuesday, 15th October, 2019


'Speaking the truth in love, we will grow.' Ephesians 4:15 NIV

Before you confront someone over an issue, stop and examine your motives. Is your goal to help or humiliate them? Jesus was in the business of lifting and restoring people, and you should be in that business too. Ask yourself, would you approach things differently if you weren't so personally involved? Are you confronting this person to make yourself look better? Cutting someone else down in order to lift yourself up is the lowest form of ego gratification. Poet Kahlil Gibran said, 'To belittle, you have to be little.' Don't do it! It's a sign of insecurity.

Remember Nehemiah's response to those who tried to discourage him from rebuilding Jerusalem's walls? 'I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you' (Nehemiah 6:3 NKJV)? Don't allow your critics to break your stride. Don't give more credence to the sentiments of a critic than you would to the encouragement of a friend. Before you put somebody else's life under the microscope, stop and examine your own. Are you grappling with the same issue, or one just as bad? Have you succeeded where you're accusing somebody else of failing? In other words, have you earned the right to be heard? Paul writes, 'Speaking the truth in love we will grow...in every respect' (Ephesians 4:15 NIV).

Could it be that the situation you're dealing with right now is an opportunity to measure your own maturity and make it a spiritual growth experience?

Soulfood: 2 Pet 1-3 John 4:27-38 Ps 87 Pro 24:1-4.

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THANK GOD FOR YOUR JOB


Wednesday, 16th October, 2019


'Those who work hard will prosper.' Proverbs 13:4 NLT

Author and motivational speaker Charlie 'Tremendous' Jones tells the story of a man who dreamed he'd inherited a million dollars. In the dream he tried to take a shower, but the shower wouldn't work. He tried to shave, but his shaver wouldn't shave. He tried to make breakfast, but the coffee wouldn't perk and the toaster wouldn't toast. He went to get a newspaper, but the newspaper box was empty. He went to catch the bus to work, but the bus didn't come. Finally, after waiting an hour, he asked somebody, 'What's going on here?' They replied, 'Haven't you heard? Everybody has inherited a million dollars and nobody's working anymore.' Suddenly the man woke up, discovered that it was all a dream, and said, 'Thank God!' So he went and had a tremendous shower, a tremendous shave, a tremendous cup of coffee and a tremendous piece of toast while he was reading a tremendous newspaper. Finally he caught a tremendous bus to a tremendous job!

Thank God for the job he has given you, and put your very best into it. Your position and salary would most likely have been a dream-come-true for some of your ancestors. You may not be called to 'the ministry' per se, but if your job affords you the privilege of being a solution to somebody's problem and offers you the dignity of making a difference in life, be grateful. Imagine what your life would be like without it!

'Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper' (Proverbs 13:4 NLT).

Soulfood: Nahum 1-3 John 4:39-54 Ps 41 Pro 24:5-6.



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THE WORD FOR TODAY


YOU'RE TAKING IN GOD'S WORD WHEN YOU WORSHIP


Thursday, 17th October, 2019


'Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.' Ephesians 5:19 NKJV

The truths of God's Word have been passed down from generation to generation through preaching, teaching and publishing. But they have also been passed down through the hymns of worship we sing in church. When you sing them, you're proclaiming the truth of God's Word and simultaneously ingesting it. You grow spiritually through the Word you hear, the Word you study, the Word you speak, and yes, the Word you sing. Paul writes, 'Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord' (Ephesians 5:18-19 NKJV). Jesus didn't just preach the Word, he sang it too: 'And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives' (Matthew 26:30 NKJV).

Why does the Bible emphasise speaking God's Word? Because when you read God's Word aloud you ingest it in two ways - through the eye-gate and the ear-gate. The same thing happens when you sing God's Word. The readers of God's Word shouldn't look down on the singers of God's Word, and the singers shouldn't feel spiritually inferior to the readers. The important thing is to get into God's Word and get God's Word into you. Some of us do that best through a sermon, others through personal Bible study and others through songs that proclaim the life-changing truths of his Word.

So, when you worship, you're taking in God's Word.

Soulfood: Hab 1-3 John 5:1-15 Ps 15 Pro 24:7.



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THE WORD FOR TODAY


TRY TO LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY


Friday, 18th October, 2019


'Knowledge will fill you with joy.' Proverbs 2:10 NLT

One Friday morning an eager young Stanford University student stood before Louis Janin, a well-known mining engineer. He was seeking employment. Janin informed him, 'All I need right now is a stenographer.' The young man said eagerly, 'Fine, I'll take the job.' Then he added, 'But I can't come back until Tuesday.' Janin agreed, and the next Tuesday the young man reported for work as scheduled. Janin asked him, 'Why is it that you couldn't come back before Tuesday?' The young man replied, 'Because I had to rent a typewriter and learn how to use it.' The young typist was Herbert Hoover, whose can-do attitude eventually led him through the doors of the White House to become one of America's presidents.

By taking shortcuts - you risk short-changing your future. Your unwillingness to learn today will leave you unprepared for tomorrow's opportunities. No skill you learn will ever be lost. Gleaning knowledge and learning new skills builds confidence and sharpens your mind. Successful people have one thing in common: they never quit learning!

Furthermore, God calls prepared people, so prepare yourself. The Bible says: 'Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver...Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy' (Proverbs 2:2-10 NLT).

Soulfood: 1 Tim 1-3 John 5:16-30 Ps 5 Pro 24:8-9.



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'STRESS FRACTURES'


Saturday, 19th October, 2019


'He gives...strength to the weak.' Isaiah 40:29 TLB

Sports Illustrated magazine says, 'Stress fractures begin when the shocks and strains of playing game after game create tiny cracks in outer layers of bone. When those cracks become large enough to cause severe pain, they are known as "stress fractures".' If you've ever had a stress-fractured mind, you can relate. It eats at you by day and keeps you awake at night. And if you try to 'medicate' it with alcohol, or drugs, or an affair, or overeating or a hyperactive lifestyle, it gets worse.

What should you do? (1) Change your focus. 'Come to me...and I will give you rest...Let me teach you...and you will find rest for your souls' (Matthew 11:28-29 NLT). 'He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak...they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength' (Isaiah 40:29-31 TLB). Instead of struggling alone with the burden, share it with the burden-bearer and let him strengthen you. (2) Lighten up! 'A merry heart does good, like medicine' (Proverbs 17:22 NKJV). Don't make such a big deal out of everything! Lighten up and laugh more, especially at yourself! Do you even remember the last time you enjoyed a good laugh? Accept your imperfections. Let some stuff go. Stop trying to be Wonder Woman or Superman. Get away for some fun. Yes, you need fun too! Cancel some of your not-so-important meetings.

If you want things to change, you will have to change them. Today talk to God; he knows how to heal stress fractures.

Soulfood: 1 Tim 4-6 John 5:31-47 Ps 126 Pro 24:10.



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THE WORD FOR TODAY


HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS


Sunday, 20th October, 2019


'There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.' Proverbs 18:24 NIV

To fulfil God's plan for your life, you need relationships with the right people, those who stick by you come what may. Remember Jonathan, who loved David even at the cost of his own life? And Ruth, who loved her mother-in-law Naomi and gave her a reason to live again? God can introduce you to such people and help you build a relationship with them. Think about it: he wouldn't say, 'It is not good that man should be alone,' then ask you to live in isolation (Genesis 2:18 NKJV). Sometimes when you're by yourself, you're in the worst possible company!

But you may need to be healed within before you can build healthy relationships and make healthy choices. That means learning to differentiate between 'using' relationships and 'heart ties'. Blood ties don't wear as well as heart ties. Allow God to work on you and when you're ready, he will facilitate the necessary introductions. In the meantime, get to know him better because he's the source of true self-esteem. If your last relationship stripped you of self-worth and drained you spiritually, use this time to get back on your feet. You may never have this opportunity again! Begin to love like God loves. He sees our imperfections, handles our rejection and loves us regardless. Knowing that will help you not to discard a good person because they did a bad thing. Would you throw your car away because of a faulty part? If God forgave you the way you forgive others, could you stand (see Psalm 130:3)?

Ask him today to show you how to build healthy, fulfilling relationships. He will do it!

Soulfood: Exo 20:1-17 Matt 5:1-12.



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Christ Omega vision films present the second Episode titled *Listen*
Written By *Gabriel Clement*
It's a new creation, edifying, full of light, Revealing Jesus shortfilm.


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BLESSED FOR A PURPOSE


Monday, 21st October, 2019


'Afterwards they will come out with great possessions.' Genesis 15:14 NIV

When the children of Israel were leaving Egypt, God transferred the wealth from one nation of people to another. And He did it overnight. That's because His people were called to fulfil his purposes in the earth. After 400 years (ten generations) of making bricks, polishing brass and sweeping floors, God said in essence, 'It's payday! All that stuff you've been scrubbing and shining is going to be yours.'

Let's be clear, the Bible teaches that money isn't offensive to God; the misuse of it is! One pastor says: 'Money speaks. It says to land, "I can own you." It says to buildings, "I can build you." It says to vision, "I can fulfil you." It says to a missionary, "I can support you." It says to poverty, "I can feed you." And it says to opportunity, "I can accept you."' Why did Pharaoh pursue the Israelites? To get back the wealth of Egypt. Stop and think about that! The devil doesn't care who gets the money, as long as it doesn't go to God's people or fulfil His purposes. Satan dreads the thought of a generation of prosperous believers committed to reaching the world with the Gospel. And he will keep us enslaved to ignorance if he can.

'But I'm not a slave,' you say. How about slavery to debt, or hopelessness, or fear or old habits? God wants to set you free from anything that keeps you from fulfilling His will. Once you realise that, you'll start to pray in earnest and believe God for the resources to do it!

Soulfood: Zeph 1-3 John 6:1-24 Ps 85 Pro 24:11-14.



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GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU


Tuesday, 22nd October, 2019


'Don't worry...your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.' Matthew 6:31-32 NLT

If God lives within you, shouldn't it be obvious? How can you say you trust him and then worry obsessively about your health, your kids, your job and your finances? Concern is one thing, but worry is an affront to the God who has never let you down. Paul writes, 'Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace' (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). Pray or worry - those are your options.

Why did Jesus say, 'Take no thought for tomorrow' (see Matthew 6:34)? Because when you take thought, you try to take control. And when that happens, peace goes out the window! Worry is like a snowball; it starts small, and as you keep rolling it forward it becomes big enough to bury you. All that's necessary to keep a stationary train from moving forward are two six-inch blocks of wood; but once it builds up a head of steam, it will crash through a six-foot-thick wall. So, stop the worry train before it leaves the station!

God says, 'My grace is sufficient for you' (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). God will give you only what you need for today; that way you have to keep trusting him for tomorrow. The Bible tells us Jesus is the Good Shepherd who 'calls his own sheep by name and...walks ahead of them' (John 10:3-4 NLT). How wonderful! He's already gone ahead of you to arrange everything. Knowing that should help you face tomorrow, confident that God will take care of you.

Soulfood: Ezra 1-2 John 6:25-34 Ps 98 Pro 24:15-18.



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YOU WIN SPIRITUAL BATTLES WHEN YOU WORSHIP


Wednesday, 23rd October, 2019


'He appointed those who should sing to the Lord.' 2 Chronicles 20:21 NKJV

Worship is a powerful weapon, one that can turn the battle in your favour.

When King Jehoshaphat faced the combined might of three different armies, he knew he was no match for them. So he turned to God, saying, 'We have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon you' (2 Chronicles 20:12 NKJV). Here's how God answered him: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's' (2 Chronicles 20:15 NKJV). Then God gave him an amazing strategy for victory. He told him to put a choir in front of his army and go into battle singing the praises of God. Can you imagine trying to explain that at the Nigerian Defence Headquarters? They'd most probably have a good laugh at your expense. But Jehoshaphat did it: 'He appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army' (2 Chronicles 20:21 NKJV). And if that blows your mind, read this: 'When they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated' (2 Chronicles 20:22 NKJV). Instead of attacking Judah, the three armies attacked one another. Israel never fired a shot, never took a casualty, and it took them three days to gather the spoils.

So when you're in a battle you can't win, begin to praise God and the forces of Heaven will come to your aid. Make praising God your daily habit and see yourself swim in victory.

Soulfood: Ezra 3-5, John 6:35-51, Ps 127, Pro 24:19-22.



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THE WORD FOR TODAY


UNDERSTANDING OUR FATHER 1


Thursday, 24th October, 2019


'They did not understand...of the Father.' John 8:27 NKJV

Religious people in Jesus' day found the concept of God's fatherhood hard to grasp. Lord, king and judge they understood - not Father. Their Old Testament scriptures barely spoke half a dozen times of God as Father, whereas the New Testament mentions it hundreds of times. Jesus himself said, 'No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him' (Matthew 11:27 NIV). The truth is, until Jesus revealed the Father, God remained a mystery to them. And many of us still don't comprehend his fatherhood and the rich blessings we have in him.

Father, God's all-inclusive name, incorporates everything you'll ever need and discloses exactly how he feels about you. He exemplifies every trait of the best father imaginable. Whatever a loving father would do for his needy child, your heavenly Father will do for you - and then some. Once we recognise God as our Father, our fears dissolve as we start to realise that all our needs will be met. Jesus said, 'It gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom' (Luke 12:32 NLT).

It makes God happy to give you the resources of his Kingdom. Why? Because he loves you as much as he loves Jesus! In John 17:23, Jesus prayed you'd know with confidence that your heavenly Father loves you 'in the same way [he has] loved me' (NIV). So treat God as your Father, and start acting like his child and enjoying the benefits of family membership (see Ephesians 2:19).

Soulfood: Ezra 6-8, John 6:52-71, Ps 114, Pro 24:23-25.



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THE WORD FOR TODAY


UNDERSTANDING OUR FATHER 2


Friday, 25th October, 2019


'He is like a father to us, tender and sympathetic.' Psalm 103:13 TLB

To see God as your loving Father may not come easily if you carry the scars of an unhappy childhood. Unmet needs in your childhood - affection, security, comfort, nurture, material requirements - can make it hard to believe that God will provide for your needs now.

So what to do? Recognise that your internalised father-image is flawed and in no way fits your heavenly Father. Even the best father is a blurred carbon copy of your heavenly Father. God wants you to see Him as a caring, sensitive, generous, dependable Father. That's why Jesus taught us to call Him 'Our Father', not just 'Almighty God and Lord'. It's also why He called God 'your Father' and not just 'my Father'. Like a good father, God has anticipated your every need and provided for it (see Matthew 6:25-34). Just as good parents understand the individual characteristics of their children, your heavenly Father knows your unique needs, thoughts, and feelings. 'The Lord is kind to all who worship Him, because He knows we are made of dust' (Psalm 103:13-14 CEV). His care for you is tailor-made to fit your specific requirements and limitations.

And just as a good earthly father accepts and fulfils his responsibility to provide for his children, your heavenly Father holds Himself responsible for meeting your needs, and He wants you to act accordingly by trusting Him. In other words, your role is to act like the child of a trustworthy, generous, permanently loving Father.

Soulfood: Ezra 9-10, John 7:1-13, Ps 104:1-18, Pro 24:26-27.



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YOU CAN BEGIN AGAIN


Saturday, 26th October, 2019


'The Lord is my portion...therefore I hope in him.' Lamentations 3:24 NKJV

When you haven't accomplished what you'd hoped for, regret can become a major pastime. The computer programmer wishes he'd become an accountant, the accountant wishes he'd become a doctor, etc. Maybe you planned to leave a legacy, but to date all you've left is a trail of unfilled aspirations. It's not too late; you can begin again! You just have to be prepared to pursue your dream and pay the price. 'To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best' (1 Corinthians 9:25 TLB).

Don't listen to the critics and complainers who've settled for less. Your goal shouldn't just be to live long, but to make a difference in your world and glorify God. Solo transatlantic pilot Charles Lindbergh said, 'I feel I lived on a higher plain than the sceptics on the ground...Who valued life more highly, the aviators who spent it on the art they loved, or these misers who doled it out like pennies through their antlike days?...If I could fly for ten years before I was killed in a crash, it would be a worthwhile trade for an ordinary lifetime.' Look at Winston Churchill: instead of retiring after World War II, he went on to win the Nobel Prize in literature. When Heinrich Schliemann retired from business to look for Homer's legendary city of Troy - he found it. Like Bible characters Moses and Paul, they started again.

Here's a Scripture you can stand on: 'Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion...therefore I hope in him' (Lamentations 3:22-24 NKJV)! That means you can begin again.

Soulfood: 1 John 1:1 - 3:10, John 7:14-24, Ps 104:19-26, Pro 24:28.




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THE WORD FOR TODAY


HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS


Monday, 28th October, 2019


'The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he chooses.' Daniel 4:25 NKJV

As a Bible believer, here are three words that should not be in your vocabulary: luck, coincidence and fate. Replace them instead with the word providence, which means 'to see in advance and to provide for'. The Westminster Confession of Faith, written in the seventeenth century, states: 'God the great creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose and govern all creatures, actions and things from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence.' That means God is in charge, not us!

But what about our human will? Can't we act independently? Theologian Dr R.C. Sproul wrote, 'God's sovereign providence stands over and above our actions. He works out his will through the actions of human wills, without violating the freedom of those human wills.' Look at Joseph. His brothers tried to destroy him, but instead their efforts put him on the throne of Egypt and fulfilled God's will. Later he said, 'You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result' (Genesis 50:20 NAS). Judas' most heinous act helped bring about the best thing that ever happened, Christ's atonement for our sins on the cross.

Are you sometimes confused because of the things going on around you? One reason is because we only utilise about 10 per cent of our mental potential. Plus, Paul points out that now we only 'know in part' (see 1 Corinthians 13:9). When we get to Heaven God may explain it all - or not. Until then, trust him. And rejoice, he's got the whole world in his hands - including you!

Soulfood: 1 John 3:11-24, 1 John 4, 1 John 5:1-21, John 7:25-44, Ps 104:27-35, Pro 24:29.



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THE WORD FOR TODAY


MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD


Tuesday, 29th October, 2019


'In his law he meditates day and night.' Psalm 1:2 NKJV

When you go beyond simply reading your Bible and take the time to meditate on its truths, you begin to think like God. And when that happens your life changes for the better. Peter was so dependent on the words of Jesus that he said, 'To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life' (John 6:68 NKJV). And Job said, 'I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread' (Job 23:12 NIV).

Question: How often do you set aside time to meditate on the Scriptures? As you meditate on God's Word you develop a mindset that enables you to rise above your fears. 'My word...will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it' (Isaiah 55:11 NIV). Did you get that? God's Word will accomplish God's purposes in your life! That's why Satan will battle you over finding time to read your Bible. The truth is, you don't find time, you make it! The prophet Isaiah said, 'Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will' (Isaiah 50:4 NLT).

In a world that's often devoid of commitment, God promises: 'I won't give up on you. I'll keep working on you until you're clear in your perceptions, strong in your faith, and balanced in your spiritual walk. As you meditate on my precepts, you'll start to move in a new direction. And when that happens, your life will begin to prosper.' So beginning today - meditate on God's Word.

Soulfood: 1 Chr 1-2, John 7:45-53, Ps 9, Pro 24:30-34.




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HOW TO MOVE YOUR MOUNTAIN


Saturday, 2nd November, 2019


'Whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed"...will have whatever he says.' Mark 11:23 NKJV

Jesus said: 'Whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea," and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them' (Mark 11:23-24 NKJV).

Now, Jesus didn't relocate any physical mountains during his ministry, so what was he talking about here? The problems we face in life! And notice something important: He talks only once about our need for 'faith' - and three times about our need to 'speak' His Word. Why? Because if you don't have enough faith to move your mouth and speak God's Word, you won't have enough faith to move your mountain! The Bible says, 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God' (Romans 10:17 NKJV). Something wonderful happens when you verbalise God's Word. Your ears hear it, your mind is renewed, your focus is changed, and the thing God responds to - faith - rises up within you. And when you hold that position of faith, refuse to budge and keep speaking God's Word, the mountain in your life starts to shift.

As long as you keep saying what you think and feel in your natural mind, the mountain will keep standing like an immovable object. But when you stand on God's promise and declare, 'I may not know how or when, but I know you're coming down in the name of Jesus,' your mountain will move!
Soulfood: 1 Chr 6, 1 Chr 7:1-19, John 8:21-30, Ps 86, Pro 25:8-12.



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HOW TO SET YOUR GOALS 6


Tuesday, 17th December, 2019


'Write down the revelation and make it plain.' Habakkuk 2:2 NIV

Put your goals in writing. God told the prophet Habakkuk, 'Write down the revelation and make it plain...so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time...Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay' (Habakkuk 2:2-3 NIV). Note the word 'delay', because it's not one we particularly like. God can give you a vision overnight, but usually it won't be fulfilled overnight. You'll face disappointments, discouragements and delays.

Because your vision always costs more than you estimated, and takes longer than you planned, it can become 'blurred' by your circumstances and emotions. That's why it's so important to write it down and keep it in front of you! Why did God tell Abraham that his children would be as numerous as the stars in Heaven? Because stars are something you can physically look at and count. 'Where there is no vision, the people perish [languish and waste away]' (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). The word 'perish' suggests something that's slowly decaying, and that's what happens when you don't keep your God-given vision in front of you.

If you've dreamed of losing weight, post a picture that inspires you on your refrigerator. If you dream of one day owning your own home, stick a picture of it on your message board. And if your goal is to give a certain amount to God's work, write a cheque for that amount and place it where you'll see it every day. With a clear-cut written goal, you'll always know where you are and remember what God has called you to do.
Soulfood: Zech 5-8, John 20:19-31, Ps 67, Pro 30:29-33.




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CHALLENGES FOR THE CHURCH OF TODAY


Wednesday, 18th December, 2019


'God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety.' Ephesians 3:10 NLT

Here are three of the challenges the church faces today:

(1) We can't experience a new move of God if we insist on clinging to an old one. 'God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety' (Ephesians 3:10 NLT). The word revival doesn't simply mean awakening something that's asleep. It also means resurrecting that which is dead or dying, and causing it to come to life again. (2) We fear excess, so we embrace mediocrity and call it balance. People aren't drawn to us because of our similarities, but because of the things that make us unique. When it comes to our faith and our testimony, we mustn't downplay, soft-pedal or sidestep the very things God has given us that make us distinctive. If we do, people will be disappointed and go elsewhere. The disciples didn't blend in with the crowd; their message and the demonstration of its power made them stand out. (3) We need to make room in the church for risk-takers and faith-walkers. In the first miracle Jesus worked, changing water into wine, Mary told the servants, 'Whatever he says to you, do it' (John 2:5 NKJV). Our need to be liked and to be popular can lead to a religious spirit that cripples risk-taking and faith-walking. Jesus promised: 'You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me' (Acts 1:8 NKJV).

So when God tells us to 'do church' differently, let's not be afraid to step out and obey him.
Soulfood: Zech 9-11, John 21:1-14, Ps 12, Pro 31:1-5.





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GREAT DOORS/GREAT CHALLENGES


Thursday, 19th December, 2019


'A great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.' 1 Corinthians 16:9 NIV

Nothing becomes truly great until it overcomes something that looks insurmountable. Paul writes, 'I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me' (1 Corinthians 16:8-9 NIV). Great doors of opportunity always come with great challenges, and each challenge calls for greater faith and tenacity. Think about it: if outstanding success came easily, everyone would have it. And if everyone had it, it wouldn't be outstanding success.

How does a caterpillar become a butterfly? By overcoming the cocoon. And the cocoon is so essential to the process that the caterpillar actually creates it. Wouldn't it be easier just to stay in the warmth and comfort of the cocoon? On days when the caterpillar struggles to get out of it, he probably thinks so! But deep down, he knows the price of freedom. Flight and discovery require struggle, development and breakthrough. There is no other way! Why did Jesus send his disciples into a life-threatening storm? To teach them to trust him in all of life's situations. Soon he'd be leaving them, and he was using every experience to prepare them for their future.

So what are you struggling to overcome right now? Instead of complaining and asking God to take it away, see it for what it is - preparation. Remember, your level of preparation indicates the level of blessing that awaits you on the other side of it. So if God is opening doors of opportunity for you, be prepared for challenges, because you can't have one without the other.

Soulfood: Zech 12-14, John 21:15-25, Ps 47, Pro 31:6-9.




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DISTRIBUTORS OF GOD'S BLESSING


Friday, 20th December, 2019


'I will...make your name great, and you will be a blessing.' Genesis 12:2 NIV

God promised to bless Abraham and make his name 'great' for one reason - so he would be a blessing to others. Jesus taught his disciples to be distributors of blessing and first responders to those in need. That's why he often involved them in the miracle process; he was training them. In feeding the five thousand, the miracle of multiplication took place after the bread and fish left the disciples' hands. Jesus was the source, they were the distributors (see Matthew 14:13-21).

And God is calling you to be a distributor too. Sometimes we don't recognise our blessing because it's in seed form, so we conclude we don't have what it takes. Not so. Jesus said: 'This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come' (Mark 4:26-29 NIV). Note the words: 'The seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.' Instead of saying, 'How could God possibly use me?' become aware and alert to people's needs.

You have something God can use, and when he blesses it, you'll be amazed at your potential. The miracle of the loaves and fishes began when someone said, 'These people need to be fed.' That's when the disciples discovered Jesus could use what they had, even though it seemed inadequate.

Soulfood: Mal 1-4, Matt 1:1-6a, Ps 128, Pro 31:10-13.




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THE LAW OF LOCATION


Saturday, 21st December, 2019


'God... put him in the Garden of Eden to work it.' Genesis 2:15 NIV

God created the Garden of Eden, placed Adam in it, and told him to 'work it'. God said, 'Be fruitful and multiply' (Genesis 1:22 NKJV). In other words, 'Be successful.' But notice, there's a definite sequence. First: God prepares a place for you. Second: he puts you in it. Third: he tells you to 'work it'. Fourth: he says, 'I want you to succeed.' This is called 'the law of location'. You only flourish in the place where you belong, doing what God has called and equipped you to do. And you'll have to work at it, so don't expect it to be quick and easy.

The law of location is evident throughout the Scriptures. After his life-changing encounter with God, we read, 'Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared"' (Genesis 32:30 NIV). That's when God changed his name from Jacob, which means 'deceiver', to Israel, which means 'a prince with God'. God spoke to the prophet Elijah in the middle of a famine and said, 'Go at once to Zarephath...I have directed a widow there to supply you with food' (1 Kings 17:9 NIV). Eden was the place of fruitfulness. Peniel was the place of radical change. Zarephath was the place of divine supply.

Question: are you in the place God wants you to be? If you're not sure, talk to him today. 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go' (Isaiah 48:17 NKJV).

Soulfood: 1 Cor 1-3, Matt 1:6b-11, Ps 113, Pro 31:14-17.




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TRUST GOD'S TIMING 1


Wednesday, 25th December, 2019


'When the right time came, God sent his Son.' Galatians 4:4 NLT

God doesn't consult us to make sure his plans line up with our timetable. God sets the schedule; sometimes we have to run to keep up, and other times we have to slow down in order to get in step with him. Mary planned to marry Joseph, then have a child, but God had a different plan. The child had to be without inherited sin, so he needed a perfect father; therefore, the Holy Spirit was called on to do the job. Humanly speaking, the timing couldn't have been worse. Mary became pregnant before she got married, and Joseph wasn't the father. Besides being ostracised, the law said she could be stoned to death. How did she respond? Amazingly: 'Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word"' (Luke 1:38 NKJV).

God has a set plan, and he is always working towards it. The trouble is, we are only working with limited information, so we become impatient and upset when he doesn't answer our prayers when we think he should, or in the way we think he should. It's said that George M?ller, evangelist and founder of the Ashley Down Orphanage in Bristol, England, once waited on the dock for a special chair to be delivered; he had a bad back and needed the chair for his ocean voyage. When departure time came and it still hadn't arrived, his friends offered to buy him one. But M?ller said, 'Either God will provide or he will give me the grace to do without.' Then, just like a Hollywood ending, the chair arrived right on time!

Trust God - he knows what he's doing!

Merry Christmas!

Soulfood: Isa 9:1-7, Matt 1:18-25, Micah 5:2-5a.



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TRUST GOD'S TIMING 2


Thursday, 26th December, 2019


'What I have said, that I will bring about.' Isaiah 46:11 NIV

God has a plan for your life that requires certain things to happen at a particular time. And since he sees the big picture and you're working with limited information, you must trust him - even when you don't see how it will all come together. God can take the loss of a relationship or a job and make it work for your good. The trouble is, while he's doing all this, you can feel uncomfortable and downright miserable.

Seven hundred and eighty-two years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Micah said that he would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2). But Mary and Joseph were living in Nazareth. So how did God solve the problem? The Roman emperor Augustus decreed that a census should be taken: 'All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He travelled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son' (Luke 2:3-7 NLT).

Are you worried about the future? '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' (Psalm 37:34 TLB). Relax: the God who arranged for his Son to be born into the right family, at the right time, in the right place, is looking out for you today.


Compliments of the season!

Soulfood: 1 Cor 10-11, Matt 2:1-12, Ps 139:1-12, Pro 31:25-27.




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DEVELOPING PATIENCE


Friday, 27th December, 2019


'Problems and trials... help us learn to be patient.' Romans 5:3 TLB

Isn't it interesting how, as we get older, we tend to become more patient, even though we have less time left? Why is that? Perspective! Our problems haven't changed that much, but our perspective has. Things that once upset us don't anymore, because we've lived long enough to know 'His grace is sufficient' (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). Once you realise that it's no big deal - and most things aren't - you can say, 'Been there, done that!' Instead of fretting and complaining, which doesn't work and steals our joy, we've learned to sing these words from the hymn: 'Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.'

Like Joseph, you can look back to times in life you thought you'd never get through, and stuff you thought you'd never survive, and say, 'You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good' (Genesis 50:20 NKJV). Yes, perspective produces patience: 'We can rejoice...when we run into problems and trials, for we know...they are good for us - they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character...and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Then when that happens, we are able to hold our heads high no matter what happens and know that all is well, for we know how dearly God loves us, and we feel this warm love everywhere within us because God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love' (Romans 5:3-5 TLB).

So let God develop your patience.

Soulfood: 1 Cor 12-14, Matt 2:13-23, Ps 139:13-24, Pro 31:28-29.





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PAUL'S THORN AND YOURS 1


Saturday, 28th December, 2019


'I was given a thorn in my flesh.' 2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT

Bible scholars disagree as to what Paul's 'thorn' was. Some think it may have been poor eyesight, others a speech impediment, and others a physical challenge. Why doesn't the Bible tell us? Well, if his problem was poor eyesight, then we would say, 'That doesn't help me because I have 20/20 vision.' If it was a speech impediment, those with the gift of communication wouldn't find comfort in his words. If it was a physical challenge, those with good health would think they're exempt. The reason the Bible doesn't tell us may be this: no matter what your particular struggle or affliction is, the same God who gave Paul victory over his thorn will give you victory too.

Who's a person in your life you might describe as 'a thorn in your side'? What's the 'thorny' situation at work you face day after day? You can have a 'thorny' relationship with someone that requires extra grace, love, and prayer. That's why Peter writes, 'Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord... Jesus' (2 Peter 3:18 NKJV).

Each of our thorns is different because God customises them to our need. Why? So that we will 'grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord...Jesus'. God is more interested in our character than he is in our comfort, so sometimes when we pray for lighter burdens, he gives us stronger backs. The songwriter said: 'He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, he giveth more strength when the labours increase; To added affliction he addeth his mercy, To multiplied trials, his multiplied peace.'

Soulfood: 1 Cor 15, Matt 3:1-6, Ps 116, Pro 31:30.





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PAUL'S THORN AND YOURS 2


Sunday, 29th December, 2019


'To keep me from becoming proud.' 2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT

The Bible doesn't tell us what Paul's thorn in the flesh was, but Paul tells us why God permitted it: 'To keep me from becoming proud' (2 Corinthians 12:7 NLT). Increased achievement and success can lead to increased pride and independence from God. Have you noticed that when life is going great, staying close to God is sometimes difficult? We tend to think God is so good to us because we are so good to him. We must always guard against this.

God can use anything for your good and his glory. In his wisdom and patience, he permits something we think is intended to hurt us, but he turns it around and uses it to help us. Here is what he does: he balances blessings with burdens. The psalmist said, 'Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits' (Psalm 68:19 NKJV). If God filled your hands only with blessings, eventually you would fall over on your face. And if he continually loaded your back with burdens, you would fall on your hindquarters. So he apportions blessings and burdens so that we can stay in balance. It's easy to get out of balance. We become so absorbed with the joys of Heaven that we neglect our calling to be salt and light here on earth. We get so involved in the work of the Lord that we fail to spend time with the Lord of the work. We get so involved in church that we rob our families of the love and attention they need.

So God brings us back into balance by permitting the thorn in our life.

Soulfood: Heb 11:1-6, Matt 21:18-22, Matt 8:5-13, Mark 6:1-6.



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THIS YEAR GET OUT OF YOUR RUT


Tuesday, 31st December, 2019


'You have skirted this mountain long enough.' Deuteronomy 2:3 NKJV

A biologist experimented with what he called 'processional caterpillars'. He lined up caterpillars on the rim of a pot that held a plant so that the lead caterpillar was head-to-tail with the last caterpillar, with no break in the parade. The tiny creatures walked around the rim of the pot for a full week before they died of exhaustion and starvation. Not once did any of them break out of line and venture over to the plant to eat. Food was only inches away, but their follow-the-crowd instinct was stronger than the drive to eat and survive.

The same thing happened to an entire generation of Israelites. They walked in circles in the wilderness for 40 years, even though they were only kilometres away from the Promised Land.

If you're in a rut today, ask yourself these three questions: (1) Is this rut of my own making? We choose a rut because it's comfortable and requires no risk. And getting out of it requires courage and a willingness to make tough choices you follow through on. (2) Who am I following? We adopt certain patterns because someone has taught them to us directly, or by example. Instead of mindlessly following the crowd, seek God's will for your life and commit yourself to doing it. (3) Where am I going? The Bible says, 'Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained' (Proverbs 29:18 NAS). If you want to get out of the rut you're in today, ask God to give you a vision for your life - he will! And when he does, pour yourself into it.

Soulfood: 1 Thes 4:1-5, 2 Cor 5:14-21, Ps 77:11-20, Pro 9:10-12.




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THIS YEAR DO WHAT GOD SAYS


Friday, 3rd January, 2020


'If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.' Isaiah 1:19 NKJV

In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria became tired of his responsibilities as king, the pressures of international politics and the mundane worldliness of court life. He made an application to Prior Richard at a local monastery to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in prayer and meditation. Prior Richard responded, 'Your Majesty, do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That it will be hard, since you have been a king?' Henry said, 'I understand. The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you.' Prior Richard said, 'Then I will tell you what to do. Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you.' After Henry died, this statement was written in his honour: 'The king learned to rule by being obedient.'

Today, and every day, you have these decisions to make: (1) Live by your own impulses, or live according to the instructions God has given you in His Word. (2) Go according to your own best thinking, or submit yourself to the rule and the leading of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you. When you think about it, the answer is clear! Obeying God leads to peace, progress, protection and promotion. His Word says, 'If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land' (Isaiah 1:19 NKJV). Note the words 'willing and obedient'. Obedience is an act of your will, not a reflex of your emotions.

So this year - do what God says, for He has 'good' things in mind for you.

Soulfood: 1 Cor 5-8, Matt 4:1-11, Ps 90:7-12, Pro 1:5-7.





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