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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

ANGELS

‘…Some people have entertained angels without knowing it.’

Hebrews 13:2



 

When we talk about angels operating among us, the spiritually unenlightened think it’s just religious sentiment. That’s because they allow their intellect to neutralise their faith. Notice: 1) Angels have a long history among us. An angel shut the mouths of lions for Daniel. An angel went before Israel’s army guaranteeing their victory. An angel showed up in a storm to let Paul know that he’d survive a shipwreck. An angel opened prison doors for Peter, saving his life on the eve of his execution. 2) Angels protect us in times of danger. ‘For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways’ (Psalms 91:11 NIV). And when you consider some of your ‘ways,’ don’t you realise just how much you need protection? Your early cancer detection, or your narrow escape—those were more than just lucky breaks. Angels even watch over our children. Jesus said, ‘See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels… always see the face of my Father in heaven’ (Matthew 18:10 NIV). Now you know why kids survive things that make parents go weak at the knees. 3) Angels help us in times of need. ‘Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?’ (Hebrews 1:14 NIV). So, has God done away with His secret service? Are they sitting on their hands claiming Jobseekers Allowance somewhere in heaven? No, they’re still working hard. You may not be able to see them with your natural eyes, but the benefits they bring surround you every day.


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Numbers 16-18, Matthew 12:15-21, Psalm 107:33-43 , Proverbs 3:27-28

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PRAYER & ME

 An attitude of contentment changes the way we pray.  Instead of focusing all our energy in prayer on what we don’t have, we make space to remember what He has given; instead of focusing on what we need, we thank Him for meeting our needs, then focus on what others need.  Lord, I ask You to help me plant seeds of gratitude and compassion in my heart which will grow up into strong, deep contentment.

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

CONTENTMENT

‘…with these we shall be content.’

1Timothy 6:8




Contentment isn’t something you find at a particular destination, it’s something you practice every day on your way to it. And even if you miss the right path from time to time, you still enjoy the scenery along the detour. Paul said, ‘Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content’ (Philippians 4:11 NKJV). Paul learned not to let what he didn’t have, overshadow what he did. How do you find contentment? By doing these three things: 1) Seek it. Make it a daily choice. Come to the place where you believe that having more materially, won’t make you happier. Sometimes contentment calls for simplifying your life. Benjamin Franklin said, ‘Contentment makes poor men rich, and discontent makes rich men poor.’ 2) Say it. Cultivate the ability to say, ‘I have enough.’ Push back from life’s table and say, ‘I’ve had enough.’ Stand with the surprise bonus in your hand considering what you might buy, and say, ‘I have enough, Lord. How can I use this for You?’ 3) Settle it. ‘…If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them’ (Psalms 62:10 NAS). If all the grains of sand on all the beaches of the world represented eternity, you could say that one grain represents your lifespan. Now think: You are over here grinding your one grain day and night to get everything you can out of it, while ignoring all the beaches of eternity that God has in store for you. Not very clever, is it? To be content, focus on eternity. Let enough be enough. Let your lifestyle be biblically-based; make it eternally focused!

 

Exodus 20:12, Jeremiah 35:1-19, Proverbs 1:8 , John 19:25-26

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PRAYER & ME

 An attitude of contentment changes the way we pray.  Instead of focusing all our energy in prayer on what we don’t have, we make space to remember what He has given; instead of focusing on what we need, we thank Him for meeting our needs, then focus on what others need.  Lord, I ask You to help me plant seeds of gratitude and compassion in my heart which will grow up into strong, deep contentment.

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Jesus—IS GOD!

‘…What do you think about…Christ?...’

Matthew 22:42





One day Jesus took Peter, James and John up to the top of a mountain. We read: ‘…Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus…Peter…blurted out, ‘Master…Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’’ (Luke 9:30-33 NLT). Peter’s thinking was wrong. Three shrines would have made Moses and Elijah equal with Jesus. Nobody is equal with Jesus! He is wholly, solely, fully, thoroughly and altogether God. When God spoke from heaven that day, Moses the lawgiver, Elijah the prophet, Peter the preacher, James the apostle and John the revelator were all present. But God didn’t say, ‘Listen to them.’ No, He said, ‘…This is my beloved Son: hear him’ (Luke 9:35 KJV). Jesus knew exactly who He was. When His accusers shouted, ‘You claim you are the Son of God,’ …He replied, ‘Yes…’ (Luke 22:70 TLB). He actually said, ‘…He that hath seen me hath seen the Father…’ (John 14:9 KJV). Then He blew their minds by predicting both His death and His resurrection (John 10:18). Let’s be clear about this: You can discount Jesus as a fraud or worship Him as God, but don’t call Him just another historic figure. C. S. Lewis said, ‘A man who said the things that Jesus said wouldn’t be a great moral teacher. He’d either be a lunatic or the devil. You can spit at Him, kill Him, or fall at His feet and call Him Lord, but let’s not come up with patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher.’ So, what do you think about Christ? Is He the Lord of your life? He wants to be.

Numbers 19-21, Matthew 12:22-37, Psalm 111 , Proverbs 3:29-30

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PEOPLE OF LONGING

 Pray that we would be filled with a compulsion to run to the presence of God.  We can’t do this from a position of condemnation or by someone else making us feel guilty, but pray today that each of us would personally become thirsty and hungry for the presence of God, that we would run to His presence because that is where we find Him.  Pray for yourself today, for a renewed spiritual thirst.

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

LIVING FEARLESSLY (1)

‘…You are my servant; I have chosen you…’

Isaiah 41:9




Have you ever wondered how animal trainers used to control a five-tonne elephant and keep it from running away? They did it by controlling the animal’s thinking. When a baby elephant was being trained, a rope was put around its leg and then tied to a wooden post secured in the ground. The elephant, which was not yet very strong, pulled at the rope but was unable to break it or to pull up the post. Eventually it gave up. From that point forward when the elephant’s leg was secured it believed it couldn’t get away—even though it was fully capable of escaping, and had been for a long time. It remembered its struggle. That’s one reason it’s said, ‘Elephants never forget.’ And we are like that too. Our thinking limits us, just as an elephant’s does. Usually it’s because of fear. The truth is fear can steal your dreams. You may be afraid of failure. You may be afraid of rejection. You may not want to make a fool of yourself. You may be afraid of trying because you believe you can’t succeed. If you give in to these thoughts and believe that you can’t achieve your dream, you’ll be right—and therefore unable to achieve your dream. Often what we fear has no connection to reality. But here’s the good news: Fear can be overcome. The first step to overcoming it is to believe God when He says about you: ‘…You are my servant; I have chosen you…do not fear, for I am with you…I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand’ (vv. 9-10 NIV).

 

Numbers 22-24, Matthew 12:38-50, Psalm 108 , Proverbs 3:31-32

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PEOPLE OF ENGAGEMENT

 As we watch the news, read the papers and surf the web, we very soon become aware of a world that needs God.  Yet somewhere in this bombardment of information we can suffer with ‘compassion fatigue’ – becoming immune to the suffering of this world.  In protecting ourselves from so much brokenness, our hearts become hard.  Pray that the Lord would once again soften our hearts to the brokenness of humanity that surrounds us.

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

LIVING FEARLESSLY (2)

‘…‘Do not fear, for I am with you…’’

Isaiah 41:10





The words ‘fear not’ appear in the Bible all the way from Genesis to Revelation. Why is that? Because God understands that fear is not only our biggest enemy but our constant companion, and He wants to help us overcome it. One author writes: ‘Think of your comfort zone as a prison you live in—a largely self-created prison. It consists of a collection of “can’ts, musts, must-nots,” and other unfounded beliefs formed from all the negative thoughts and decisions you have accumulated and reinforced during your lifetime. Every fear is like a bar in that prison.’ But the good news is, because fears are feelings, the faulty ones can be removed by faith in God, and you can become free from them. Does this mean you can live totally free from fear? No, writer Michael Ignatieff says: ‘Living fearlessly is not the same thing as never being afraid. It’s good to be afraid occasionally. Fear is a great teacher. What’s not good is living in fear, allowing fear to dictate your choices, allowing fear to define who you are. Living fearlessly means standing up to fear, taking its measure, refusing to let it shape and define your life. Living fearlessly means taking risks, taking gambles, not playing it safe. It means refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer when you are sure that the answer should have been ‘yes.’ It means refusing to settle for less than what you’re due, what is yours by right, what is yours by the sweat of your labour and your effort.’ And let’s add—what God has promised and planned for you.

Numbers 25-26, Matthew 13:1-9, Psalm 120 , Prov 3:33-35

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PEOPLE OF ENGAGEMENT

 As we watch the news, read the papers and surf the web, we very soon become aware of a world that needs God.  Yet somewhere in this bombardment of information we can suffer with ‘compassion fatigue’ – becoming immune to the suffering of this world.  In protecting ourselves from so much brokenness, our hearts become hard.  Pray that the Lord would once again soften our hearts to the brokenness of humanity that surrounds us.

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

LIVING FEARLESSLY (3)

‘…I will uphold you with my…right hand.’

Isaiah 41:10




When you know that what you’re doing is in sync with God’s will, you can be confident He will provide what you need and fight for you. God told His people, ‘When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you’ (Deuteronomy 20:1 NIV). Then God added something else: ‘…Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too’ (Deuteronomy 20:8 NIV). God knows that when you allow fear to rule your heart, it’s fatal, not only for you, but to those around you. Playwright David Mamet wrote: ‘On June 5th, 1944, thousands of American paratroopers jumped into Normandy. Four men refused to jump. Can anyone imagine the rest of these men’s lives? What prodigies of self-excuse, rationale, or repression they must have had to employ. Their lives, in effect, ended the day they refused to leave that plane…We all die in the end, but there’s no reason to die in the middle.’ You don’t overcome fear overnight. But gradually, day by day, you can get it by the scruff of the neck and bring it under control. ‘…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits’ (Daniel 11:32 NKJV). The word ‘know’ means ‘to be in relationship with, or to be intimate with.’ Want to overcome your fears? Spend time in God’s Word. Prioritise your prayer life. Get to know God better.

 

Numbers 30:1 - 32:24, Matthew 13:24-35, Psalm 125 , Proverbs 4:3-4

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NEIGHBOUR FRIDAY

 As marriage week begins, take time to pray for those on your street who are married.  Pray particularly for those who are finding that the stresses and anxieties of everyday life are corroding the quality of their relationship with one another.  Pray that they will be able to find time and space together.  Is there anything you can do to make life easier for a married couple in your street this weekend?

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

DEALING WITH TEMPTATION

‘…When you are tempted, he will…provide a way out…’

1 Corinthians 10:13



 

Temptation brings with it feelings of guilt. As a result we get discouraged and think, ‘If I were a better Christian I wouldn’t have such thoughts. I’ve prayed, over and over. Why doesn’t God just take it away?’ Temptation never goes away! Prayer doesn’t remove it, prayer just drives you closer to God and He gives you power over it. ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7 NIV). The Bible says, ‘The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand…he will show you a way out so…you can endure’ (1Corinthians 10:13 NLT). When you’re tempted you never have to wonder what the right thing to do is. God makes His will clear in Scripture and He’s given us His Spirit to convict, guide, and empower us. Plus, we can ‘…approach the throne of grace with confidence…and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). Richard Blackaby writes: ‘It’s a mistake not to take temptation seriously. Many who’ve succumbed, thought they were strong enough to resist…When wickedness surrounds you, never assume you’re immune…remove [yourself] from temptation’s way…“Put away the evil from among you” (Deuteronomy 22:21 NKJV). Keep any form of temptation out of your home, your relationships and your mind by maintaining your love relationship with God and recognising you’re powerless to resist in your own strength. When Joseph was tempted to commit adultery he fled (Genesis 39:12). Darkness and light can’t co-exist. Run from the darkness to the light.’’

Numbers 30:1 - 32:24, Matthew 13:24-35, Psalm 125 , Proverbs 4:3-4

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NEIGHBOUR FRIDAY

 As marriage week begins, take time to pray for those on your street who are married.  Pray particularly for those who are finding that the stresses and anxieties of everyday life are corroding the quality of their relationship with one another.  Pray that they will be able to find time and space together.  Is there anything you can do to make life easier for a married couple in your street this weekend?

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

MAKE YOUR CHILDREN PROUD OF YOU

‘…Parents are the pride of their children.’

Proverbs 17:6




Your child is already in the process of becoming the kind of person he or she is eventually going to be. So to bring them up right and to make them proud of you, live by these six principles: 1) Assure them of your love. They need to know your love is given, and it will never be withdrawn because of their appearance, achievements, or actions. Let them know they are loved for who they are, and that their worth in your eyes is never in question. 2) Build strong character and godly values. ‘Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it’ (Proverbs 22:6 NLT). 3) Establish clear boundaries. And be consistent in maintaining them. Do children like rules? No. But your first goal is not to make your child happy, it’s to teach them responsibility, and happiness will follow. 4) Help them to discover their potential. That means listening, observing, and once their talents are identified, helping to develop them. ‘We have different gifts, according to the grace given us…’ (Romans 12:6 NIV). 5) Don’t try to duplicate yourself through them. God gave each of your children their own unique makeup and personality. So don’t try to make them something that God and the rest of us don’t need one more of. 6) Encourage them to pursue their life’s vision. ‘…Your young men [and women] shall see visions’ (Joel 2:28 KJV). Don’t pour cold water on the fire of their enthusiasm, fan it. Get out of the critic’s seat and become their greatest supporter. If you do, you will make them proud of you.

 

Numbers 32:25 - 33:56, Matthew 13:36-46, Psalm 134 , Proverbs 4:5-13

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PRAYING FOR UCB

 UCB Youth and children’s ministry is launching the ‘Pray21’ mentoring and discipleship scheme for young people this quarter.  We pray that it will be well received by young people and will help them to find Christian mentors and role models.  Pray that adults will hear God’s call and be willing to become mentors for the young people involved in this programme, and pray that the fruits of these relationships will grow on for years.

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

BELIEVE GOD FOR YOUR HEALING

‘…I am the Lord, who heals you.’

Exodus 15:26



In the Bible, one of the names God chooses to be called by is ‘Jehovah Rapha,’ which means ‘I am the Lord who heals.’ Now, if God calls Himself the healer, then you have the right to believe what He says and expect that, given an opportunity, He will perform His role competently. After all, His credibility depends on living up to His name. The Psalmist said, ‘…Your promises are backed by all the honour of your name’ (Psalms 138:2 NLT). Has God changed? No; He says, ‘…I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I never change’ (Malachi 3:6 CEV). And Jesus, who is God, is ‘…the same yesterday and today and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). What He was, He still is. What He did, He still does. So, when you or a loved one is sick, do these two things: 1) Pray, in faith believing. A ‘good faith’ deal requires that both parties trust each other’s word. Their trust is a rational decision of their will, not their emotions. Faith is your will deciding that God will keep the promise He has made to you. It’s refusing to be ambivalent by saying, ‘If only I felt more positive.’ No business could survive such ambiguity. Jesus spelled it out clearly: ‘…All things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you’ (Mark 11:24 NAS). 2) Look for faith-partners who will pray with you. ‘…Pray for each other so that you may be healed…’ (James 5:16 NLT). ‘…If two of you agree…concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you’ (Matthew 18:19 NLT).

Exodus 20:13, Genesis 4:8-16, Proverbs 18:21 , Matthew 5:21-22

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PRAYER & ME

 The journey of praying for healing, whether for yourself or someone else, can be a long one, and long journeys require companions.  Lord, I pray today that You will show me who You have put in my life to accompany me on this journey of praying for healing.  Help me find the right people to encourage me when I get discouraged, and to help carry the load when it becomes difficult to pray.

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

CONFRONT THEM—IN LOVE!

‘…Speaking the truth in love…’

Ephesians 4:15




Sometimes love requires confronting people. But it must be done in the right way, and only over the right issues. If you spend your life correcting people you’ll finish up with no credibility, and no friends. At what point should you confront somebody? Only when you’ve answered these questions: a) Is it important? If it involves a destructive habit, an abusive behaviour, a major doctrinal error, or a situation that could hurt them, it’s important—get involved. b) Is it chronic? If you observe the same thing happening over and over, it doesn’t have to be big to get your love in gear. c) Have you earned the right to speak? If a casual acquaintance does something unwise, it’s probably none of your business. But if someone close to you does it, it’s both appropriate and loving to say, ‘That will hurt you.’ Paul points out four things about love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV): 1) ‘Love is not rude.’ It doesn’t use the aggressive, heavy-handed approach. 2) ‘Love is not self-seeking.’ It forgets about the need to be accepted, and makes sure that what the other person hears is filtered only by kindness. It refuses to walk away having spoken half the truth. 3) ‘Love is not easily angered.’ When you confront someone in love, don’t be upset if you get an angry response such as, ‘Who are you to tell me?’ The right medicine doesn’t taste good, but it heals. 4) ‘Love keeps no record of wrongs.’ When you have been hurt, it’s critical that you deal with it and put it behind you. Only then can you confront someone for their own good.

 

Numbers 34-36, Matthew 13:47-58, Psalm 138 , Proverbs 4:14-17

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DESERT OF ADDICTION

 Pray for those caught in the trap of addiction today, feeling that they are held captive by something stronger than themselves.  Pray that new hope will dawn like light in the darkness, and that they will begin to believe that there is a way out.  Pray for the many organisations across the UK which exist to help people overcome addiction, that their activities will be infused with God’s rescuing power, so that people truly get set free.