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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.

1415 - Learning to listen to God (3)
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  • 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
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