Podcasts by Category
- 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 - 1420 - Prophecy fulfilled
One of the most convincing proofs that the Bible is truly the Word of God lies in the number of prophecies fulfilled during the life of Christ. Daniel prophesied the coming of the one and only Jewish Messiah prior to the temple’s demise. The Old Testament prophets declared He would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2) to a virgin (see Isaiah 7:14), be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (see Zechariah 11:12-13), die by crucifixion (see Psalm 22), and be buried in a rich man’s tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). Jesus Himself predicted He would be crucified and rise bodily from the dead three days later. ‘The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken’ (John 2:18-22 NIV). Napoleon Bonaparte said: ‘I know men, and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.’
Sat, 23 Mar 2024 - 1419 - How to enrich and strengthen your relationships
You can enrich and strengthen any relationship by developing and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible speaks about beingfilledwith the Spirit (see Ephesians 5:18) andwalkingin the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16 AMPC). To be ‘filled’ with God’s Spirit means you’re a receptacle, whereas ‘walking’ in the Spirit means you’re a dispenser – a vessel God can fill and pour out into the lives of others. ‘What’s this “fruit” you’re talking about?’ you ask. The Bible describes it this way: ‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control’ (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV). Look carefully at these nine different character qualities. The first three – ‘love, joy, peace’ – areatmosphere-changing fruits.As you yield to the Holy Spirit, He will throw a wet blanket on the unkind words you may want to say. He will build a fire in your heart that will bring warmth to a cold atmosphere and love to a bitter, revengeful atmosphere. The next three fruits – ‘longsuffering, kindness, goodness’ – areattitude-changing fruits. Each of us has the potential to have a bad attitude. God sometimes lets us go through difficult situations to reveal what’s really inside us. When we see our own helplessness, weakness, and despair, it causes us to cry out, ‘God, I need you!’ The last three fruits – ‘faithfulness, gentleness, self-control’ – areattribute-changing fruits. Through the Holy Spirit, you have strength and ability that you can’t attribute to anyone but God. And you have peace that transcends human understanding (see Philippians 4:7).
Fri, 22 Mar 2024 - 1418 - God and work
The phrase ‘discover your strengths’ was made famous by researcher Marcus Buckingham in what’s referred to as the ‘Strengths Movement’. It calls us to stop focusing on our weaknesses and name and develop our strengths – which reflects God’s design. God didn’t say, ‘Moses, your craftsmanship skills are weak. Let’s have you stop leading this people for a while and try to become more like Bezalel’ (see Exodus 31:1-5). The Bible speaks of going ‘from strength to strength’. And a strength is an activity which, when you engage in it, makes you feel strong. Certain activities will thrill and challenge you; others will bore and drain you. Once you discover this, you’re not simply engaged in ‘career planning’, you’re acknowledging God’s handiwork and your own core strengths. It matters that you do this, because the single little patch of creation you’re responsible for stewarding is your own life. Dorothy Sayers said: ‘Work is not, primarily, a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do. It is, or it should be, the full expression of the worker’s faculties, the thing in which he finds spiritual, mental and bodily satisfaction, and the medium in which he offers himself to God.’ What if your job doesn’t fulfil your need for purpose or utilise your God-given gifts? Sometimes necessity requires that. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Whatever you do, do well’ (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NLT). In the meantime, pray for opportunity, prepare yourself, and volunteer in an area that utilises your strengths. Sometimes people who don’t enjoy the work they do are miserable, and they make everybody around them miserable too. But God expects better from you!
Thu, 21 Mar 2024 - 1417 - Set other things aside and serve
When it came to serving others, Jesus went first. He ‘rose from supper…laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself…poured water into a basin…began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipethemwith the towel with which He was girded…Petersaid to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”’ (vv. 4-6 NKJV). Try to imagine God incarnate with an apron on, kneeling to wash the feet of those who were unworthy. The Bible says, ‘Jesus…laid aside His garments.’ If you want to serve others, you must be willing to lay aside your image, your comfort, and your agenda. By laying aside His garments, Jesus demonstrated that God has no time for form or fashion. Real ministry isn’t image conscious; it’s done with complete disregard for distinction. But Peter didn’t get it! He was embarrassed to think Jesus would let Himself be seen in such a demeaning light. So, Jesus said: ‘You call Me Teacher and Lord…If I then,yourLord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you…If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them’ (vv. 13-15, 17 NKJV). There are certain things in your life that must be set aside in order to serve others and do the will of God. If you want to be blessed, don’t join those who delight in their own speeches and who trumpet their own accomplishments. Set aside everything you privately glory in and pick up the towel of servanthood. Don’t wait for someone else to do it. You go first!
Wed, 20 Mar 2024 - 1416 - Learning to listen to God (4)
God’s direction will often be followed by a season of preparation. And the length of that season is determined by the size of your assignment. So when God speaks to you, it’s not always wise to rush out and tell people. Who wouldn’t want to talk about the amazing experience Paul had with Christ on the Damascus road? And there would be a right time for Paul to do that – but not yet. So don’t move until God gives you the green light. Why? Two reasons: 1) You need time, maturing, and equipping so that the word you have received can take root within you, grow, and be fulfilled in the way God wants. 2) Sometimes God takes time to prepare the hearts of those He is sending you to. Paul writes: ‘Immediately after my calling – without consulting anyone around me and without going up to Jerusalem to confer with those who were apostles long before I was – I got away to Arabia….It wasthree yearsbefore I went up to Jerusalem to compare stories with Peter…Then I began my ministry’ (vv. 16-21 MSG). Paul knew people would find his calling unbelievable, and he had the wisdom to wait. He allowed God to go ahead of him and orchestrate the circumstances. And while he was waiting, he allowed the word he had received to grow and make changes in his life. Then, and only then, did he start doing what he was called to do. Paul didn’t try to convince anybody; he let God do that. And the end result? ‘Their response was to recognise and worship God because ofme!’ (v. 24 MSG).
Tue, 19 Mar 2024 - 1415 - Learning to listen to God (3)
When you pray diligently and believe you have heard from God, but then you start asking other people whattheythink, you’re honouring their opinions above God’s. That kind of mindset will prevent you from developing a relationship where you constantly hear from Him. You need to trust Him. If you have made bad decisions in the past, this can be difficult. But you must learn to listen to God without constantly needing reassurance from others. The Bible says: ‘The anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so]…you have no need that anyone should instruct you.…His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true…so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him’ (v. 27 AMPC). That doesn’t mean you don’t need teaching and instruction when it comes to understanding God’s Word; it means you have God’s Spirit living inside you and that He will guide and direct you personally. You might have to ask somebody for advice from time to time, but you needn’t constantly go to other people and ask them about decisions you’re making for your life. If you’re ever going to develop the ability to listen to God and be led by His Spirit, you must start making your own decisions – and trust the wisdom God has deposited in your heart. The devil wants you to think you’re not capable of hearing from God. Don’t believe him. The Holy Spirit who dwells inside you will give you confidence, comfort, and counsel for your life. So, learn to listen to Him.
Mon, 18 Mar 2024 - 1414 - Learning to listen to God (2)
People think they can’t hear from God, when in reality, there are things theyalreadyknowHe wants them to respond to, and so far they haven’t done it. The quicker you do whatever the Lord has already told you to do, the sooner He will reveal the next step to you. His promise is, ‘If you willingly obey me, the best…will be yours.’ Hearing from God is something you only develop with practice – especially if you’re a talker! That’s why He says, ‘Be still, and know that IamGod’ (Psalm 46:10 KJV). Our flesh is full of energy; we always want to bedoingsomething, and it can be difficult for us to be still. Don’t just talk to God when you need something; spend time listening. He will open up many issues if you will just be still before Him. You say, ‘I don’t think I have ever heard God talk to me.’ Maybe that’s because you haven’t learned to listen! When you ask God for something, tune your ‘receiver’. Even if He doesn’t respond at that very moment, rest assured He will in due time. You may be doing some ordinary task when He decides to speak to you. And if you have honoured Him by learning to listen as you fellowship with Him, He will speak to you at exactly the right time. Perhaps you have spent years going your own way. If so, don’t despair; it’s not too late to change direction. If you’re willing to obey God, He will guide you on the exciting journey of learning to hear from Him every day of your life.
Sun, 17 Mar 2024 - 1413 - Learning to listen to God (1)
Jesus told His disciples, ‘I have much more to say to you, but right now it would be more than you could understand. The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth’ (vv. 12-13 CEV). Jesus spoke these words to men He had spent the previous three years with. Now, wouldn’t you think if Jesus was with us in person, day and night for three years, we would have learned all there is to know? Not so. In fact, Jesus tells us to stay tuned, because He always has something to say to us about every new situation we face. But there are certain things He will only reveal to you when He knows you’re ready to handle them. God wants to speak to you on a one-to-one basis, to lead you step by step into the good things He has in store for you. He cares about the tiniest details of your life. So, never hesitate to take what you consider small things to Him – after all, everything is small to God! He cares about the desires of your heart. He wants to reveal truth to you that will set you free from fear and worry. His plan to share an intimate relationship with you was in place long before you were born. He ‘marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him’ (Acts 17:26-27 NIV). Now think about it: if God planned your life in such minute detail before you were even born, isn’t it important for you to learn how to listen to Him?
Sat, 16 Mar 2024 - 1412 - Don’t give up!
Paul writes, ‘Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up’ (v. 9 NLT). Look at Job the patriarch: attending the funerals of his ten children, losing his health and wealth in a single day, and listening to a wife with a tongue sharp enough to cut through steel. Yet he didn’t give up. Learn from him! ‘You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the endintendedby the Lord’ (James 5:11 NKJV). Job stayed focused on the end goal and endured the immediate circumstances. Yes, there are times when giving up looks good, defeat seems inevitable, and retreat appears to be your only option. The question is, how will you handle those times? On the threshold of the promised land, God told Joshua, ‘Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your Godiswith you wherever you go’ (Joshua 1:9 NKJV). The Israeli statesman David Ben-Gurion observed: ‘Courage is a special kind of knowledge, the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared and how not to fear what ought not to be feared. From this knowledge comes an inner strength that inspires us to push on in the face of great difficulty. What can seem impossible is often possible with courage.’ And where does this courage come from? Knowing God is ‘with you wherever you go’. Why does the Bible record the failures of people like Peter and David? To let you know that when you fail – you can start again!
Fri, 15 Mar 2024 - 1411 - Take control of the small things
Can you imagine being uprooted from your home and taken prisoner to a hostile country? It happened to Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar conquered his homeland and carried him off to slavery in Babylon. He lost his house, his job, his freedom, his culture, his friends, and his status as a member of Israel’s nobility. He had to learn to speak a foreign language and live in a place where he didn’t want to be. If you had been Daniel, wouldn’t you have been tempted to focus on the things you couldn’t control, like blaming exile for your unhappiness and feeling sorry for yourself? Not Daniel! He took charge of his life in little areas. The Bible says, ‘Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the…king’s [food]’ (v. 8 NKJV). He decided to live by his convictions – even in small things. That’s important because small battles train you for big ones! If Daniel hadn’t taken control in small things, he wouldn’t have had the strength to say no to big things like worshipping idols or facing the lions’ den without fear or compromise. Maybe you can’t do anything right now about your house or your job or your relationship, but you can change your life by taking control of the little things. Perhaps, like Daniel, it will involve what you eat, what you watch on TV or the internet, what comes out of your mouth, or a refusal to let others dictate your attitude based on how they treat you. When you ‘purpose in your heart’ to honour God in small things, He blesses you and becomes involved in your life in ways you never thought possible.
Thu, 14 Mar 2024 - 1410 - Four principles for victorious living
Jesus said: ‘Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down…or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens – give a cheer, even! – for though they don’t like it,Ido!’ (Matthew 5:11-12 MSG). If you’re thin skinned, you will have a rough time in life because you will be an easy target for the devil. Paul endured desertion by his friends, ugly letters from the Corinthians, disappointment with the Galatians, mistreatment in Philippi, mocking in Athens, and finally imprisonment and beheading in Rome. The Bible gives us these four principles for victorious living: 1)Be on the alert.Why?Because you have an adversary who is out to get you (see 1 Peter 5:8). What’s he after? The God-given potential he knows lies within you. You’re a seed capable of producing a harvest of blessing. 2)Stand firm in the faith.Why? Because you can’t stand on your feelings, your circumstances, or the opinions of others. Those things change constantly, so you must stand firm on the Word of God. 3)Act like an adult.Why? Because being childish won’t cut it when the battle is raging. It’s time to grow up; if you’re still making the same mistakes twenty-five years later, you’re not learning enough. 4)Be strong.Why? Because weakness is an invitation to the Enemy. It always precedes surrender – and giving up is not an option for you. God told His people the promised land was theirs – but they would have to fight for it. And you will too!
Wed, 13 Mar 2024 - 1409 - Put your heart into your part
You have probably heard that unless you’re the lead dog, the view seldom changes. The problem is, however, not everybody can be the leading man or woman. And it’s better to be a working actor than an out-of-work star; at least you get to be in the play! Besides, most great achievers, if they are honest, will tell you they couldn’t have done it alone; they needed the contributions of each member of the team. So if God has placed you in a supporting role today, accept it without complaining. Do your part to make the entire production stronger. Not only will you learn all about team spirit, and that’s important for when you do get to lead, you will also learn the Christlike virtue ofhumility. The Bible says you will ‘grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body…[who] holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly’ (vv. 15-16 CEV). So, put your heart into your part. Stop and think about how you’re living your life. Are you giving it everything you’ve got, or are you holding out, hoping somebody else will recognise your talent? It’s not about the greatness of the part you have been given, it’s about how much effort you put into doing it. If God has placed you in a supporting role rather than a starring one, it’s because He recognises that the team needs your particular strengths and talents. Ask Him to help you accept the role He has given you – whatever it is – and learn to fulfil it with gratitude and dignity. Contribute from wherever you are today.
Tue, 12 Mar 2024 - 1408 - Take it easy, Mum
An old, tired-looking dog wandered into a woman’s garden. She could tell from looking at him that he had a good home. He followed her inside, down the hall, and promptly fell asleep. Two hours later, he went to the door and she let him out. The next day he came back, resumed his position, and napped for a couple of hours. This went on for a week. Curious, the woman pinned this note to his collar: ‘Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.’ The next day, the dog showed up with a note that read: ‘He lives at home with ten children – apparently he needs some quiet time. Can I come with him tomorrow?’ If you’re a mother, you can probably relate! Carla Barnhill, author ofThe Myth of the Perfect Mother, writes: ‘I just can’t do it anymore. I can’t keep trying to be SuperMum. I wasn’t all that good at it to begin with. I’ve tried to be the perfect combination of devoted mum…loving wife…solid Christian…and have failed miserably…But even if I had been able to pull all of that off, I’m not convinced any of us should…we don’t have to be impressive…[or] follow some random rules about what motherhood should look like. Grace means we already matter to the One who matters most, our good, loving, and grace-filled God! So let’s drop our capes, put down our halos, retire our medals, and let ourselves be the sometimes flawed, sometimes awesome mums God made us to be.’ In other words: ‘Try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities.’
Sun, 10 Mar 2024 - 1407 - Turning two families into one
Due to the divorce rate today, both inside the church and outside, couples are falling in love and facing the challenge of blending two families into one. Here are some of those challenges: visiting rights, custodial care, court intervention, and ex-in-law involvement. Add to that a mountain of paperwork and legal specifications, and it’s like negotiating an international peace treaty.Youchose to marry your new spouse, but yourchildrendidn’t get that choice. So, it’s not enough to bring them all together under the same roof and say, ‘Play nice.’ Their world has been turned upside down, and you must allow them time to digest the situation and find their place in the new order of things. ‘Love will solve all our problems’ is a nice sentiment, but it’s not true. You say, ‘But the Bible says, “Love never fails”’ (1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV). Yes, and it also says, ‘Love suffers long and is kind’ (v. 4 NKJV). You’re going to need truckloads of patience and kindness to make this work. So: 1) Prepare yourself and your children for the changes that are about to take place. 2) Listen to your child’s fears without saying, ‘Don’t be silly, everything will be okay.’ For as long as they need to talk, that’s how long you need to listen. 3) Pray, pray, pray! Ask God to give youHisplan, so that this merger can be as painless and stress-free as possible. Your new mate may meetyourpersonal needs for love and security – but remember that your children have those same needs too.
Mon, 11 Mar 2024 - 1406 - The seven-day challenge
Some cancers, like skin cancer, are more obvious and you can remove them. Then there is the kind that grows undetected and it destroys your body. Complaining is like that; it impacts your health and sabotages your success. Paul says, ‘Do everything without grumbling or arguing.’ Dr Ann Shorb writes: ‘If you find yourself…feeling negative and down…listen to what’s being said around you. Is there a lot of grumbling and complaining? Are the people you spend time with constantly expressing discouraging thoughts and feelings?…Maybeyouare the one…griping and complaining…Many times we become our own worst enemy by developing angry or bitter attitudes…Your thoughts and attitudes are your choice. Where you put your mind is up to you!…Follow what the apostle Paul wrote about putting off the negative and putting on the positive (see Colossians 3: 1-15 and Ephesians 4:20-32)…Acknowledge that there are problems…but don’t dwell on them…Do what you can to remedy the situation. Remember…you can never change another person, only yourself and your attitudes…Find the positives…Focus on these and be thankful that God promises to be with you…through the hard times…Use Bible verses and inspirational sayings to re-focus when your thinking starts to go [downhill]…By changing your thinking you change your outlook, and by changing your outlook you change your life.’ To one person the world looks desolate; to another the same world looks rich and interesting. What youseedepends mainly on what youlookfor. Make up your mind not to complain for a day. Then challenge yourself not to complain for a week. You will be amazed at how much better you feel.
Sat, 09 Mar 2024 - 1405 - Live the living Word
Bible expositor Eugene Peterson, author ofThe Message,says: ‘The words printed on the pages of my Bible give witness to the living and active revelation of the God of creation and salvation, the God of love who became the Word made flesh in Jesus, and I had better not forget it. If in my Bible reading I lose touch with this livingness, if I fail to listen to this living Jesus, submit to His sovereignty and respond to His love, I become arrogant in my knowing and impersonal in my behaviour. An enormous amount of damage is done in the name of Christian living by bad Bible reading.Caveat lector,“let the reader beware.”’ It’s not enough to read God’s Word daily, you must practise its principles consistently. The psalmist writes: ‘Oh, how I love Your law! Itismy meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies…I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimoniesaremy meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste,sweeterthan honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ (Psalm 119:97-105 NKJV). The Bible becomes a living word, when you decide to live according to its principles and precepts each day.
Fri, 08 Mar 2024 - 1404 - Do the Word
A pastor writes: ‘The Latin word for “listen” is where we get our wordaudit.When you audit a class, you take in lots of information, but you don’t do anything with it. You don’t do the homework, or if you do, you don’t turn it in to get it graded. You don’t take the tests. And you don’t get any credit either. The same is true in our spiritual lives. You don’t get credit for auditing Scripture. You’ve got to put it into practice. Every word of Scripture must be translated via obedience. In the Western world, we make a distinction between knowing and doing. But there was no such distinction in ancient Jewish thought. Knowing was doing and doing was knowing. If you didn’t do it, you didn’t really know it. Knowledge isn’t enough. Truth must be translated with your life.’ James writes: ‘Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it – not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it – they will be blessed in what they do’ (vv. 22-25 NIV). God doesn’t bless you because of what you know but because of what you do about what you know. So each time you come across a verse that tells you to do something, put it into practice that day.
Thu, 07 Mar 2024 - 1403 - Pull down those strongholds!
When the Bible speaks of a stronghold, it’s referring to an area in your life that’s controlled by wrong thinking. And that stronghold will attract people who think the same way and feed off it. But there is good news. Not only will God reveal to you the strongholds in your life, He will show you the experiences that caused them. Some of us worry obsessively about money because we grew up in hard times. As a result, we’re inclined to depend more on ourselves than on God. When it comes to money, we hide it, hoard it, or withhold it. And because we’re afraid to sow it, we miss the very harvest that would solve our problem. ‘So, how can I deal with my stronghold?’ you ask. Attack it with the Word of God. You don’t have to accept whatever comes into your mind; you have a choice! If a thought lines up with the Word of God, accept it – if it doesn’t, reject it. When Satan comes against you, don’t just sit there and say, ‘I wish he would leave me alone. I don’t feel like fighting today.’ If you do, he will ‘devour’ you! (See 1 Peter 5:8.) Paul describes your Bible as ‘the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God’ (Ephesians 6:17 AMPC). Did you get that? The Holy Spirit within you will wield the sword of Scripture for you – provided you have doneyourjob, which is to get the Word of God inside you. Do you want to pull down the strongholds in your life? Reprogram your mind with the truths of God’s Word.
Wed, 06 Mar 2024 - 1402 - Are you tired of living in defeat?
God’s Word is like a prescription from your doctor. You don’t have to understand how the medication works – you just have to faithfully keep taking it. Something amazing happens when you feed regularly on God’s Word. Temptation begins to lose power, and overcoming strength begins to replace it. Each time a Scripture opens up and becomes real to you, your desire for God’s Word increases. But that means reading your Bible even when you don’t feel like it, or think you don’t have time to do it, or you don’t seem to be getting much out of it. The Bible says: ‘As the rain and snow come down from heaven and stay upon the ground to water the earth, and cause the grain to grow and to produce seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry, so also is my Word…italwaysproduces fruit. It shall accomplish all I want it to’ (Isaiah 55:10-11 TLB). You don’t have to have certain sensations to know that God’s Word is working in you. Indeed, Bible reading will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from Bible reading. After his affair with Bathsheba, David wrote, ‘I have thought much about your words and stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin’ (Psalm 119:11 TLB). Jesus said, ‘Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.’ Are you tired of living in defeat? Then bathe your mind each day in God’s Word. Let it flow over you until every vestige of sin and carnality is washed away.
Tue, 05 Mar 2024 - 1401 - Don’t doubt your salvation
You would be surprised how many people harbour doubts about their salvation. So, let’s open God’s Word and settle the issue once and for all: ‘God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life…I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you mayknowthat you have eternal life’ (vv. 11-13 NIV). Are you trusting Christ to save you instead of depending on your own good works? Then you’re saved! Jesus said, ‘He who believes in Mehaseverlasting life’ (John 6:47 NKJV). Doubts always arise when you go by your feelings instead of your Bible. Your feelings are like the weather; they constantly change. The devil will also try to tell you salvation is fine for other people, but it won’t work for you. The Bible says Satan is ‘a liar’ (John 8:44). Paul writes, ‘I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return’ (2 Timothy 1:12 NLT). The old-timers used to testify, ‘I thank God for Hissavingandkeepingpower.’ You’re not keeping your salvation; your Saviour is keeping you! So when your faith feels shaky, stop and pray: “Lord Jesus, I have placed my trust in You. Your Word says that I can know I have eternal life. It’s not a matter of feeling good enough or worthy, but of believing that You are worthy. So, I put my trust in You, choose to believe Your Word, and reject my doubts.’
Mon, 04 Mar 2024 - 1400 - What you will do in heaven
Perhaps the reason many of us are not as excited about heaven as we should be is because of what we have been told; that we will stand around playing harps, singing songs, and worshipping God forever. Think about it. When the singing and prayers in the average Sunday-morning service last longer than fifteen minutes, many get bored. So when we hear we will be doing this non-stop, twenty-four hours a day, forever in heaven, you understand why we can’t comprehend it or celebrate it. But there is more than one way of worshipping God. Astronomers approximate the existence of hundreds of billions of galaxies, more than ten galaxies for each person alive today! So, you won’t run out of things to do in heaven, and it certainly won’t be boring. It has taken thousands of years for billions of humans to explore a single tiny planet, and we have barely scratched the surface. Exploring the marvels of the new heavens and the new earth will keep us intrigued forever. And our love for God will grow infinitely bigger as a result. So, we will never cease to worship Him. Jesus told the woman at the well that God is looking for those who ‘worship…in the Spirit and in truth’ (John 4:23 NIV). If you worship out of ignorance, worship is empty. God doesn’t just want you to worship Him; He wants you to know who you are worshipping and why you are worshipping Him. Worship is twofold: ‘in the Spirit and in truth’. So, learning the truth about God will keep you busy, excited, satisfied, and fulfilled for all eternity.
Sun, 03 Mar 2024 - 1399 - Is your business struggling?
When your business is failing, you can lose your sense of security, your peace of mind, and your ability to sleep. It even affects your family. If that’s where you are today, read these words: ‘God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.’ Clear your mind for a moment and think about this: everything you have belongs to God, including your business, right? He is the owner, and you’re the manager. So when trouble comes, you have the right (and the responsibility) to go to Him for help and expect Him to turn things around for you. When nobody else was catching fish, Jesus told the disciples where to find a boatload of them. The Bible says that there is nothing too hard for God (see Jeremiah 32:27), and that includes the problem you’re facing and the situation you are in right now. The writer of Proverbs says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take’ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT). And He can guide you through the advice of a friend who is succeeding where you’re failing: ‘Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success’ (Proverbs 15:22 NLT). Sometimes this calls for changing your policies, products, or personnel – and that takes courage and commitment. But if you have built your business on a foundation of integrity, fairness, quality products, and good service, you have the right to go to God in times of trouble, ask for His help, and expect to receive it.
Sat, 02 Mar 2024 - 1398 - Respond with love
Some of the negative people in your life lack intimate relationships. So, they keep others at arm’s length, rarely share their feelings, and are uncomfortable with those who do. They find it easier to condemn than to accept. Their hard-and-fast views make them inflexible. Often these people can’t handle freedom. They need rules that limit their choices, and they only feel secure within their own boundaries. Understanding that will help you deal with them the right way, which is to ‘take the high road’. Peter gives us the rules of that road. (Interestingly, this is now the older, mellower, more spiritual Peter, not the one who whipped out his sword and chopped off the ear of the high priest’s servant.) ‘Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathise with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil”’ (vv. 8-12 NLT). So, the word for today is – don’t retaliate, respond with love.
Fri, 01 Mar 2024 - 1397 - Let God remould you
What would you like to change about yourself? How would you change it? To ask it another way, what would your spouse or your best friend like you to change? Maybe that would be more enlightening. How would you end the sentence, ‘It’s just like me to…’? Always be late? Not stay on a diet? Say the wrong thing? Burst out in anger? Be sad? Jeremiah puts it this way: ‘Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil’ (Jeremiah 13:23 NLT). You say, ‘I guess it’s hopeless.’ No, this is where God’s life-changing power comes into operation: ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV). Once we commit our lives to Christ, we’re not the same any longer; a new life has begun. That’s why the Bible calls it being ‘born again’. We immediately have a new nature, plus the indwelling Holy Spirit. A set of ‘spiritual batteries’ is included to supply the power! That makes all the difference. Just as your first birth was the beginning of your life, so the new birth is the beginning of this new life. And it’s followed by a lifelong process depicted in Romans 12:2: ‘Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity’ (PHPS).
Thu, 29 Feb 2024 - 1323 - Winning the battle over apathy
‘Stir up the gift of God which is in you.’ 2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV
Paul told Timothy, ‘Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.’ That Scripture means, even though you’re gifted, you can become apathetic if you don’t keep doing the right things. ‘Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away’ (Hebrews 2:1 NKJV). The word ‘drift’ is not only slow and subtle, it’s deadly. Let’s look at two of the things that can rob you of your passion, enthusiasm, motivation, and focus. 1)Lack of goals.‘Without a vision the people perish’ (see Proverbs 29:18). What used to enthuse you? What destroyed your interest in it? Is it a desire you could revive? Put it down in writing. Ignore the potential cost or reasons it might not work. Just indulge your mind in the luxury of feeling optimistic and excited about something, even a small thing. 2)Wrong goals.Are you pursuing a goal you feel was imposed upon you by someone else? Or like Jonah before he was swallowed by the whale, possibly you’re rowing against the tide of God’s will for your life. Check with Him and see if this is so. Did God really lead you to pamper yourself in that extravagant item that’s now requiring you to work two jobs? Or maybe the time has come to an end for a goal that was part of God’s plan for a specific season of your life. Moving on is sometimes difficult, but oh, the joy and peace of knowing that you are in the centre of God’s perfect will!
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