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UCB Word For Today

UCB Word For Today

UCB

With daily readings based on Scripture, articles, and things to pray about, the UCB Word For Today is designed to help you get into the habit of spending time with God every day.

1425 - Work on growing closer
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  • 1425 - Work on growing closer

    The more history you have with your spouse, the more joy and pain you have experienced. You’re closer at times than others as the circumstances of life rise and fall. Yet if you did due diligence at the onset of the relationship, were clear about what you desired in a partner, and honestly evaluated who that person is, what will keep your union going forward is remembering what brought the two of you together in the first place. What you initially enjoyed and esteemed about this person probably hasn’t changed. But for your relationship to continue to develop, you must work on growing closer. All relationships have growth areas that require pruning and fertilising. If you feel your relationship isn’t what it once was, it could be that it’s developing into something different. Or it could be that you need to renew your commitment to keeping it fresh and moving forward. It may be that you must work on creating the intimacy that’s missing or enjoying the love you once had. The fundamentals of your mate, if they were really there in the first place, aren’t likely to change. The basis of your relationship is what’s important. Focusing onthatmakes it much easier to go with the flow of the unavoidable ups and downs of daily living. So, do you need more time together? When you’re too busy to listen,reallylisten, your mate thinks you don’t care about them or you don’t value the relationship sufficiently. Think: what would you do if your car broke down? You would take the time and pay the price to fix it! 

    Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • 1424 - Your secret place

    Jesus said, ‘When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you’ (v. 6 NIV). The Christian life could be compared to the Old Testament tabernacle, which was divided into three compartments. There was an outer court to which everyone had access. And you too have an outer court; the place you go to work, shop, and play. It represents your outward appearance or public persona, the part of you everyone sees. The tabernacle also had an inner chamber called the Holy Place, where most people weren’t permitted to go. You also have a Holy Place where designated people like close friends or family can enter. You decide who comes in and who doesn’t, and no one can force their way. Certain people may have authority over you vocationally or financially, but that doesn’t automatically allow them entrance. When it comes to that inner chamber, you get to decide who comes and goes. The third compartment in the Old Testament tabernacle was the holy of holies, a very small, carefully guarded place, deep inside. It was accessed only by the chief priest, and there was room for only one person and God. You have one of those places inside you as well. We sometimes refer to it as ‘the secret place’ because only God is allowed in. And here is a truth you need to know: your level of peace, joy, contentment, guidance, and victory is regulated by the amount of time you spend with God in your secret place. Prioritise it, protect it, and spend time there each day. 

    Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • 1423 - Walking with God

    Did the people in Scripture who ‘walked with God’ ever stumble? They did. Did they get off track sometimes? Yes. But when their feet hit the floor every morning, their commitment was to walk with God throughout the day. They drew on His strength, endeavoured to do His will, and aimed towards the goal that He had set for them. Paul writes, ‘I…beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called’ (Ephesians 4:1 NKJV). That means you must know the direction God is leading you in and stay in step with Him. When He acts – you act. When He pauses – you pause. As a believer, your life shouldn’t be compartmentalised into what’s sacred and what’s secular. The Bible says, ‘In him we live, and move, and have our being’ (Acts 17:28 KJV). You can’t say, ‘Inthissituation, I’m operating under my own steam, but inthatsituation, I’m operating according to the Holy Spirit within me.’ The Holy Spirit doesn’t come and go from your life; He is always with you! Here is a Scripture you need to think about: ‘Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created’ (Revelation 4:11 KJV). What an awesome thought: you were created to bring pleasure to God! So, one of the most important questions you can ask yourself – and frequently – is, ‘Lord, are my ways pleasing to you right now?’ (see Proverbs 13:5-6). When they are, you will discover that the direction He takes you in is always the right direction; His timing is always the right timing, and the results you get are always the right results.

    Tue, 26 Mar 2024
  • 1422 - You’re growing in grace

    When Peter exercised enough faith to get out of the boat and walk on water, he sank and looked worse than any of the other disciples. When he tried to defend Jesus, he cut off a man’s ear. When he promised to be loyal, he fell flat on his face. When he tried to advise Jesus, he was the devil’s advocate (see Matthew 16:22-23). Eventually he became a leader in the church – but he got worse before he got better. And his behaviour didn’t surprise or discourage Jesus one bit. He will never stop helping a follower of His who is sincerely seeking to grow. He will always lead us forward in growth; but growth requires risk, and risk sometimes means failure. Jesus knows that, but He never gives up on a student just because he or she fails. For example, if you haven’t been confronting people when you should, once you start, the odds are that you will do it badly. If you have rarely encouraged people, your initial attempts may be clumsy. If you have never shared your faith, the first time you do, you may stumble all over yourself. Go ahead and stumble! Failure isn’t about falling down; it’s about refusing to try. One man told his pastor, ‘If I were God, I wouldn’t put up with someone like me.’ The pastor replied, ‘Then be glad you’re not God, and I’ll be twice as glad – for we would both be sunk.’ As long as you hunger for God, He will workwithyou andinyou. Growing in grace means growing spiritually through the stages of childhood, adolescence, and into maturity. So, don’t give up on yourself – God won’t!

    Mon, 25 Mar 2024
  • 1421 - Don’t shout about it

    Jesus said: ‘Take care! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, for then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give a gift to a beggar, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do – blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you…they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you do a kindness to someone, do it secretly – don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. And your Father who knows all secrets will reward you’ (vv. 1-4 TLB). Give generously and gladly but keep it to yourself. It’s nobody’s business but yours and God’s. And if you make it somebody’s business, you immediately have your reward and forfeit the opportunity to receive something even greater when you arrive in heaven. And youwillreceive it because, ‘God…will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people’ (Hebrews 6:10 NIV). Others may not notice your generosity, or quickly forget it, but God won’t, and He will reward you for it. The next time you’re sitting in church, realise there are faithful people all around you who have given and given again without ever letting it be known. You may even be one of them! Every Sunday you rub shoulders with some of the greatest givers of our day, and they do it ‘as to the Lord’ (Colossians 3:23 KJV) by keeping it to themselves and waiting for His promised reward. Others may never know – but God will never forget.

    Sun, 24 Mar 2024
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