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Word For You Today NZ

Word for You Today is a free daily devotional for Kiwi youth and young adults Our page is actively monitored between 9am - 5:30pm.

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09/06/2024

Your dream is still alive

‘The spirit of Jacob their father revived.’ Genesis 45:27 NKJV

Sometimes we go through times when the dream God’s given us seems impossible and dead. But here’s hope for those times: ‘And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. But…when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived’ (Genesis 45:26-27 NKJV). For years Jacob believed his son, the dreamer, was dead. But it was a lie. In his old age, wagons loaded with riches came to carry him back to see his son who was now the highest-ranking official of Egypt.

When Jacob first heard it, ‘he did not believe them’ (Genesis 45:26 NKJV). When we’ve lived in defeat and discouragement for years, it’s hard to imagine victory. But that’s no problem to God, because he’s patient. He’ll keep working with us. He’ll show his grace and goodness in such a way that we’ll start to trust him again.

Let’s not believe that our dream is dead and will never be fulfilled; nor that we are unqualified to fulfil it: God’s word confirms that the unexpected can happen: ‘Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams your young men will see visions’ (Joel 2:28 NIV).

So what now? God is the giver of dreams, and he doesn’t just give them, he resurrects them and empowers you to fulfil them. It’s not too late. Don’t give up hope. What God did for Jacob, he can do for you.

08/06/2024

Flourishing (3)

‘My death will produce…a plentiful harvest of new lives.’ John 12:25 TLB

God created us to flourish:

(1) Our relationships. In relationships of any kind, our languishing self may be undisciplined and careless with words, it reverts to sarcasm, gossip and flattery, it can isolate, dominate, attack, then back off. On the other hand, our flourishing self looks for ways to bless others, is quick to admit mistakes and freely forgives.

(2) Our experiences. God wants us to grow and be used in his plans to redeem his world: that’s why he changes our experiences. Our flourishing self has a desire to contribute, even if we’re not sure what that calling is yet.

Our inner longings to reach our potential, and embrace what we were created for, is a tiny echo of God’s own longing to begin his new creation. The rabbis described this as tikkun olam – to repair the world. If we focus only on ourselves, life is as small as a grain of wheat. But when we give our lives to God, the grain is planted in rich soil and grows into part of a much bigger project. Jesus said: ‘My death will produce many new wheat kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives. If you love your life down here – you will lose it. If you despise your life down here – you will exchange it for eternal glory’ (John 12:24-25 TLB).

So what now? When you give your relationships and experiences to God, he will create a flourishing life for you.

07/06/2024

Flourishing (2)

‘They will flourish in the courts of our God.’ Psalm 92:13 NIV

Inside all of us is a battle between our flourishing self – who we’re created to be – and our languishing self, that’s often discontent, is drawn to unhealthy habits, tends to drift in the direction of fear and limitation, takes a while to learn lessons, and thinks about itself most of the time. Flourishing (or thriving, blossoming, prospering) takes place in these places:

(1) In our spirit. We’re receiving ideas and energy from an outside source. We’re being empowered by God’s Spirit, literally being ‘God breathed’. God breathes into us, and we come alive and feel our purpose for living.

(2) In our mind. Our thoughts become marked by joy and peace. We have a desire to love and to learn. We’re literally being transformed by ‘the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2 NIV).

(3) In our time. We’ll wake each day with a sense of excitement. We’ll realise we’re never too young to flourish. Mozart was composing brilliant music when he was five. Paul told Timothy, ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young’ (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV). Grandma Moses was 69 when she took up painting, and artist Marc Chagall did some of his best work in his nineties.

It is very easy for human beings to languish. But when we choose to embrace what God created us to be, we will always flourish.

So what now? You’re never too young or old to live your life. So allow God’s Spirit to help you flourish for him.

06/06/2024

Flourishing (1)

'May your roots go down deep.' Ephesians 3:17 TLB

It’s helpful to look at the qualities of a palm tree when we need some inspiration.

(1) We can cut a palm tree but we can't kill it. The minerals and nutrients most trees need to survive are found just below the bark, so, when they’re cut, they die. But not the palm tree. Its life comes from within, so it flourishes, even under attack. This Scripture is so encouraging: 'We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored' (2 Corinthians 4:7 CEV). Even though the earthen vessel (us) on the outside can be damaged and wounded, God’s treasure inside is secure and beyond the enemy's reach!

(2) A palm tree will bend but not break. The stronger the wind, the further a palm tree bends - sometimes all the way to the ground. But when the storm ceases, it straightens up and is actually stronger in the place where it bent. This is a picture for us to keep in mind: we were made to bend, but not break, because God’s 'glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything' (Colossians 1:11 CEV).

(3) The palm tree’s depth is always greater than its height. The roots of palm tree's roots spread down and as far out as they can in search of water. God’s word says, 'May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvellous love' (Ephesians 3:17 TLB).

So what now? Work on your personal connection to God and, like a palm tree, you’ll flourish, deeply rooted, spiritually watered and standing strong!

05/06/2024

Stronger through failure

‘As he was speaking, the rooster crowed.’ Luke 22:60 NIV

The Bible says: ‘As [Peter] was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly’ (Luke 22:60-62 NIV). Before God trusts us with a great assignment, he may permit Satan to test us. That's because it reveals our weaknesses and helps us become stronger in those areas. God may allow us to fail in a smaller sphere to keep us from messing up in a larger one with more harmful circumstances. One of the wonders of the Christian life is that Jesus specialises in taking rubble and building something beautiful out of it.

Peter promised never to deny Jesus, but by the time the rooster crowed, he had already done it three times. Repeated failure! Many of us can relate to that! Maybe we said we wouldn’t lose our tempers, but we did. Cock-a-doodle-doo! We said we wouldn’t give in to temptation, but we did. Cock-a-doodle-doo!

After his worst night of failure, the sun came up for Peter. And it’ll come up for us too. By God’s grace we can start life fresh any day we choose to. Today we can repent of our sins and go on to do great things for the Lord. Peter ended up winning multitudes to Jesus and leading the church.

So what now? No matter how badly we think we’ve failed, God will forgive us, restore us and redirect our steps.

04/06/2024

God’s calling you (3)

‘I have prayed that your faith will be strong.’ Luke 22:32 CEV

One of the greatest things about God’s story is that he uses people to tell it and make it happen; human beings with faults and weaknesses. Look at the apostle Peter. His only gear was overdrive! He was always in the middle of everything, but he wasn’t always on top of things. Before he ended up leading the church, he denied being a disciple of Jesus. This may shock us, but there’s nothing about us that surprises God. He doesn’t call someone and say, ‘I hope you’re the right person.’

Jesus told Peter, ‘Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you…that your faith may not fail’ (Luke 22:31-32 NIV). Isn’t that amazing? Even when we don’t know how to pray for ourselves, Jesus does: ‘He always lives to make intercession for them’ (Hebrews 7:25 NKJV). Jesus told Peter, ‘When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers’ (Luke 22:32 NIV). The mess we’re in today has the potential to become a ministry when God gets involved. Not only can he turn our lives around, but also the lives of others.

Here’s one more thing: ‘sifting’ is a method of purifying, a way of straining out the debris and refining whatever’s left. This means there has to be something worth salvaging before sifting begins. So if we find that God’s letting the sifting happen to us, we mustn’t be discouraged – he can obviously see something that’s worth the effort of refining!

So what now? Today God’s calling you. Don’t waste another moment; give your life to him.

03/06/2024

God’s calling you (2)

‘I sanctified you; I ordained you.’ Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV

The word ‘sanctified’ means ‘to be set apart for exclusive use’. The word ‘ordained’ means ‘ordered according to a plan’. This is important to know: God doesn’t waste anything he created, and he doesn’t waste anything he can use. Before we were saved, both the good and bad experiences we had were equipping us for what he had in mind. This includes our family heritage and upbringing, where we were educated and have worked, what our talents and hobbies are, what our favourite things are, etc. We should get the picture!

Are we gifted with unique ideas? God can use that. Do we enjoy reading and research? God can use that. Are we quick to confront, excited to run right at the enemy? God can use that. Today we may feel like we’re in the wrong place, doing the wrong thing, with the wrong people. We may be wondering how to turn our life around. And truthfully, the answer may be that we can’t, but God can! He makes miracles out of mistakes.

So, let’s give him everything in our life, even the things we’re not proud of, and say, ‘Heavenly Father, here they are. I wish some things in my life were different, but they’re not. I wish I could change them, but I can’t.’ Then let’s allow God to work to use us uniquely and powerfully.

So what now? You, yes you, are ‘set apart for exclusive use’ by God and your life is ‘ordered according to a plan,’ God’s plan. So, live your life knowing you’re called by God.

02/06/2024

God’s calling you (1)

‘Paul…called to be an apostle.’ Romans 1:1 NKJV

God reached into Paul’s background, formed before he became a Christian, and found some very useful things there. And they weren’t all so-called ‘spiritual’ things. They were also academic and cultural. Even though Paul seemed unqualified because of his great hatred for Christians at one time, his background qualified him in a unique way. As a former Pharisee, he understood the Scriptures and the mindset of the people who would oppose him. And his old spiritual blindness gave him compassion for those who were lost. God used both the good and the bad experiences in Paul’s life.

When God looked for a man to be an early leader in his church, to write down the theology of his church, to debate religious leaders who argued against his church, to advance the cause of Jesus in academic and social arenas, to carry the message all the way from the lowest person on the street to the throne of Caesar, God found a man who already had the necessary qualifications – and that man was Paul.

That’s how God works. First God seeks us out, then he prepares us, then he positions us, then he empowers us to do what he knows we can do most effectively. And God’s calling is the only thing that’ll make us completely happy (although we don’t always know that in advance).

So what now? Is God calling you? Is he preparing you? Is he positioning you? Is he empowering you? Your highest level of joy and fulfilment will come when you let his will be yours and say yes to him.

01/06/2024

Position and condition

‘Christ’s blood has now given us God’s approval.’ Romans 5:9 GWT

The Bible says: ‘God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since by his blood he did all this for us as sinners, how much more will he do for us now that he has declared us not guilty?… Now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God – all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done’ (Romans 5:8-9, 11 CEV).

God loves and accepts us just as we are. And it gets better. He sees us as already righteous. ‘God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV). Notice the words ‘in him’. We can’t see the letter in a sealed envelope or read its contents because it’s ‘in’ the envelope. Jesus ‘envelops’ us in his love and righteousness.

It's good to know the difference between our position and our condition. When we put our trust in Jesus, we’re positioned before God as being ‘righteous’. But what about the condition part? We constantly fall short and make mistakes, so the job of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to bring our condition up to the level of our position in Jesus: ‘As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him’ (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB).

So what now? Rest in this truth: because of Jesus, you have a secure position with God and your condition is being redeemed, bit by bit.

31/05/2024

‘Do’ God’s word

‘God will bless you for doing it.’ James 1:25 NLT

Some people are so committed to and good at memorising Bible verses or quoting large chunks of Scripture off by heart? This is such a helpful skill to develop, and many believers wish they had it or resolve to do it. But before we get too carried away, we need to remember that God doesn’t bless us for just reading his word, or memorising it, or even being able to repeat it word for word in the original languages.

God promises to bless those who put his word into action. ‘Don’t just listen to God’s word…do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it’ (James 1:22-25 NLT).

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan proved that even he had learned the Scriptures off by heart, but Jesus defeated him by putting the Scriptures into practice (see Matthew 4:1-11). Knowledge of the Bible is so important, but knowledge can only take us so far. It’s when we apply God’s word that real change and real blessing come.

So what now? Resolve to be not just a ‘hearer’ but a ‘doer’ of God’s word. You will experience his love, power and goodness when you do both.

30/05/2024

Prepare in advance

‘Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not…’ Daniel 1:8 NKJV

When we’ve given our lives to Jesus, we are ‘a new creation’ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), but we still need to ‘discover what it really means to be saved’ (Philippians 2:12 CEV). ‘Old nature’ thoughts, habits and temptations will harass us, but with Jesus by our side, we are victorious.

Here are two strategies to help us win:

(1) With prayer. Jesus told his disciples, ‘Stay awake, and pray that you won’t be tempted. You want to do what’s right, but you’re weak’ (Matthew 26:41 GWT). It’s tiring to keep praying for forgiveness when we’ve given in to temptation – so let’s pray to overcome temptation before it comes. And let’s ask a trusted friend to stand with us in prayer. The Bible says, ‘Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9 NKJV).

(2) By making up our mind. ‘But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself’ (Daniel 1:8 NKJV). We need to decide in advance of temptation what we’ll do. When we decide that, God empowers us by his Spirit. Daniel’s strength and willpower came from God. He prayed three times every day (see Daniel 6:10). It’s so helpful to have a strategy and escape plan up front. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, he ‘fled and ran outside’ (Genesis 39:12 NKJV). Both Joseph and Daniel had prayed and made up their mind what they’d do before temptation their way.

So what now? Jesus wants you to be victorious in every area of your live. Ask him to help you prepare in advance to win.

29/05/2024

Refuse to live in fear (4)

‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ Romans 8:31 NKJV

In order to fight fear, we need to believe that God is with us. If we keep focused on this, we’ll have much more confidence obeying him, and our fears will become smaller and smaller, until we see them as insignificant compared to God’s power. When David volunteered to fight Goliath, King Saul said to him, ‘You don't have a chance against him… You're only a boy, and he's been a soldier all his life’ (1 Samuel 17:33 CEV). David replied, ‘The Lord…will keep me safe from…this Philistine’ (1 Samuel 17:37 CEV). We’re not in the battle alone; our heavenly Father is with us. We don’t always know what God will do, but we can know he’ll do what needs to be done at the right time.

When we think about the future and all its unknowns, it’s easy to feel afraid. There are two ways to approach it; we can be pessimistic and fearful, or we can say, ‘The battle is God’s, and he’s never lost a battle!’ Even if we haven’t any idea what to do in a tense situation, God does. We just need to put one foot in front of the other, taking one step at a time, confident that he’s our guide.

We don’t have to see God or feel him in order to believe that he’s with us. Faith is a matter of our heart rather than of our natural senses.

So what now? God is with you and loves you too much to leave you to deal with fear by yourself! So believe him and refuse to live in fear.

28/05/2024

Refuse to live in fear (3)

‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ 1 John 4:18 NKJV

When God says, ‘Fear not,’ he's saying: ‘You’ll have to deal with fear sometimes, but I'm with you and you can conquer it. You don't need to be frozen by it.’ The Bible tells us: ‘Perfect love casts out fear’ (1 John 4:18 NKJV).

Sometimes we mistakenly think if we love God perfectly enough, we won’t be afraid. But the only perfect love is God’s love for us, and it’s unconditional. Knowing that he always loves us, walks with us, defends us, supports us and has promised never to leave us is what casts out our fear. And it does one more thing: it strengthens our faith. When we know that God is always for us, we can rise above our fears. When fear knocks on the door and finds us full of faith, it can't enter.

The Bible says, ‘We walk by faith’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV), and we learnt to walk by getting up one more time than we fell down, one small step at a time, until we finally mastered it! If we set our minds on speaking fear-defying words of faith, the Holy Spirit will help and strengthen us. As one minister put it, ‘Courage is not the absence of fear, it is progress in its presence.’ So, let’s keep progressing.

So what now? What is one of your fears? Thank God that he is helping you deal with it. Then find out what God says in the Bible to help you fill your mind with faith. This may mean creating a new habit, but keep going. Refuse to live in fear!

27/05/2024

Refuse to live in fear (2)

‘The Lord is on my side; I am not afraid.’ Psalm 118:6 GWT

God created us to have lives filled with growth, adventure and momentum. But this involves taking bold steps of faith, and we can’t do that if we’re satisfied living in our comfort zones. Even when we feel afraid of stepping out, we should acknowledge the fear and do it anyway! Feeling fear is part of being alive. We'll experience fear when we try something for the first time, or when we're experiencing change, or when the obstacles we face seem too big, or when we feel like we're not up to the challenge. None of this means we're cowardly, failures or worth less than braver people. It just means we're human.

Feeling fear is just the temptation to flee from what we should confront. Feeling fear is not the same as being afraid, because being afraid means that fearful feelings have been able to take control of us. But we don’t have to put up with that.

We can feel anger but choose not to act on it, and instead respond with forgiveness and love. In the same way, we can feel fear and not let it make our decisions for us. ‘He himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me”’ (Hebrews 13:5-6 NKJV)? Notice those two phrases: ‘He…has said’ and ‘we may boldly say’. We have permission to stand on God’s word and live boldly.

So what now? Today, stand on God’s word and declare, ‘I refuse to live in fear.’

26/05/2024

Refuse to live in fear (1)

‘Fear involves torment.’ 1 John 4:18 NKJV

Advice columnist Ann Landers gets about ten thousand letters every month. When asked to name the most common problem in her readers’ lives, she said, ‘Fear! People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself.’ If we allow it to, fear can and will control us. ‘Fear involves torment’ (1 John 4:18 NKJV). When fear rules our lives, we can’t enjoy God’s blessings or live a full life as he intends.

Dr Caroline Leaf says that fear triggers ‘more than 1,400 known physical and chemical responses and activates more than thirty different hormones and neurotransmitters.’ Fear is at the root of all our stress. When fear causes a stress reaction in us, it actually ‘marinates’ our body in chemicals that can be harmful in large amounts, threatening our physical and mental wellbeing. The fear of not being accepted can make us develop a fake personality, stifling our true selves and hiding who God made us to be. The fear of failure can prevent us from trying new things or stepping out of our comfort zones. The fear of the future can prevent us from discovering and experiencing moments of joy today.

Most importantly, fear doesn’t come from God. ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind’ (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).

So what now? If you feel fearful, reject that spirit. Draw on God’s power, focus on his unconditional love for you and let his comforting arms surround you.

25/05/2024

Start saying, ‘I can’

‘Many are they who say of me, “There is no help.”’ Psalm 3:2 NKJV

Maybe we’ve constantly heard the words ‘You can’t’. Many people like to tell others what they can’t do. Even people we wouldn’t automatically consider to be against us – teachers, coaches, parents, family members, friends and leaders of church groups or social events can, at some point, fail to realise the power of their negative words. Many of us grew up thinking, ‘I can’t,’ when that wasn’t true at all.

Words that speak of failure come from the enemy, not God, so let’s make the choice right now to reject the power of ‘you can’t’. In contrast to the enemy, God’s Spirit encourages us and will do everything to urge us forwards. When Joshua was facing the challenges of the promised land, God told him three times, ‘Be…of good courage’ (Joshua 1:9 NKJV). Let’s remember: if we feel ‘dis-couraged’, it’s from the devil; and when we feel ‘en-couraged’, it’s from God.

No matter how often we’ve heard someone say, ‘You can’t,’ let’s stand on God’s word and say, ‘Yes, I can!’ Miracles come in ‘cans’ – our belief that we can do everything we need to do through Jesus who is our strength (see Philippians 4:13). God believes in us, and now is the time for us to believe in ourselves. This is a new day! Let’s put the past and all its discouraging remarks behind us.

So what now? Decide to agree with God and say to yourself, ‘I can!’ Today let the power of God’s word overcome the power of every negative word ever spoken to you or about you.

24/05/2024

Depend on God’s grace

‘My grace is sufficient for you.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

The key to being able to do what God’s tasked us with is realising that we can’t do it in our own strength. We can only do it through God’s empowering grace. God said to Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for you’ (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV), and the word ‘grace’ includes ‘all of God you will ever need for whatever you face in life’. That’s an amazing promise!

Sometimes we think we have to do it all. We forget that the power of Jesus works through us, so we end up discouraged and defeated before we even begin. ‘We are co-workers in God’s service’ (1 Corinthians 3:9 NIV). We can’t do God’s part, and he won’t do our part. He wants us to follow his leading, but he insists that we depend on him every step of the way. Sometimes we have to go through really tough times before we realise we need God to help us. Sometimes we make the mistake of assuming our gifts and talents are all we need to succeed. But, it’s God’s grace operating through our gifts that gives us real success.

Grace is like electricity; in order for it to flow and function effectively, we must stay plugged in to the power source. Jesus said: ‘No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me…apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:4-5 NIV).

So what now? Depend more on God’s grace for your life’s purpose and tasks. You will never regret it.

23/05/2024

Through Jesus, you can do it

‘Christ gives me the strength to face anything.’ Philippians 4:13 CEV

Paul wrote: ‘I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power’ (Philippians 4:13 TLB). Paul believed he could handle whatever life threw at him. Do we believe that too? What are the things that trigger our fears and cause us to say, ‘I could never handle that’? Failing an exam? Facing an unexpected illness? Suddenly losing a loved one? Having to care for an elderly relative or a young child? Being in debt? Having to cut back on the things we enjoy in life? Losing a job?

Most people have some sort of situation that truly seems impossible to them, something they aren’t sure they could handle. The truth is, even though some situations might be extremely undesirable or challenging for us, God says we can do whatever we need to do in life. He doesn’t say everything will be easy; he doesn’t promise that we’ll enjoy every little thing we do; but with his help, it is possible to find joy in the middle of doing them. How? Through the power of the one ‘who gives me the strength and power’ (Philippians 4:13 TLB).

When we need money, we make a withdrawal from our bank account. When our car is empty, we make a withdrawal from the petrol pump. So when life gets overwhelming, let’s pray and make a withdrawal on God’s strength, and on his grace, love, power and guidance.

So what now? Are you facing a tough situation? Don’t be discouraged; through Jesus, you can get through it.

22/05/2024

Mercy and forgiveness

‘The Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.’ Colossians 3:13 NLT

When Jesus washed the dirt from his disciples’ feet, he showed he was willing to forgive their sins before they even committed them. That’s love at its highest level. Of all the people in that upper room during the Last Supper, only one was worthy of having his feet washed; yet he was the one doing the washing! The amazing thing about Jesus’ example is that it’s completely the opposite to what we’d expect – the person doing most of the bridge-building (or feet-washing in this case) is the one who is right.

Jesus is completely innocent and guilt free, but he’s willing to take a massive step towards us so that we only need to take a small step to meet him. We all make mistakes, and we also tend to believe that we’re in the right, so we need to be full of grace and mercy towards each other.

The people in Jesus’ circle had no doubt of his love, and the people in our circles should have no doubt about ours either. Paul wrote, ‘Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ’ (Ephesians 4:32 NCV). Because he has a forgiving heart, we can have a forgiving heart. When Jesus truly lives within us, we have no better alternative. There’s incredible power in the words, ‘I forgive you; I love you; let’s move on’.

So what now? ‘I forgive you; I love you; let’s move on’. Is there anyone who needs to hear those words from you today?

21/05/2024

Accept others

‘Accept each other in the same way that Christ accepted you.’ Romans 15:7 GWT

Sometimes people don’t make it easy to accept them. They can be bad tempered, selfish, critical, irritating, dismissive, aggressive and arrogant. Sometimes we want to tell them what we think of them; to give them what they deserve – anything but acceptance. Which makes Paul’s instruction to ‘accept one another’ inconvenient. If Paul had stopped there, we might try dodging the instruction by saying he obviously meant good, reasonable, acceptable people. But he goes on, ‘just as Christ accepted you’. Were we always good, reasonable and acceptable? No, none of us is. But he still accepted us – flaws and all – and he still does! Roman Christians had difficulty accepting their less ‘spiritual’ brothers and sisters in Christ, and Paul corrected them: ‘Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling…for God has accepted them’ (Romans 14:1-3 NIV).

Straightening people out isn’t our job; accepting them is. God calls us to accept messed-up, unspiritual, irritating, obnoxious and misled people. We don’t have to approve of, like or agree with them, but accepting them isn’t optional. There’s no elite, privileged, insider class.

We ‘re all on level ground because of two realities: our sin and the cross! Jews and Gentiles despised each other, even after salvation. Each wanted the other to change and become like them. But Paul smashed down their arguments: ‘[Jesus] brought them back to God in one body by his cross, on which he killed the hostility’ (Ephesians 2:16 GWT).

So what now? Who do you need to accept today? Your job is to accept them – and allow God to adjust them.

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Repentance is a blessing (1) ‘God’s kindness…is trying to lead you to him.’ Romans 2:4 GWT When we find ourselves on a wrong road in life, repentance allows us to make a U-turn and head back in the right direction. Repenting doesn’t increase God’s desire to be with us; it increases our capacity to be with him. Sometimes we think we need to repent because God’s angry with us and wants to see us grovel, or we repent to punish ourselves so God will be less severe with us. But that’s not repentance, it’s low self-esteem! Low self-esteem causes us to believe we have so little worth that our response doesn’t matter. When David murdered Uriah after sleeping with his wife, he went a year without repenting. It was a miserable way to live. In his remorseful prayer, he said, ‘My sin is always before me’ (Psalm 51:3 NIV). Then he cried, ‘Create in me a pure heart, O God…Restore to me the joy of your salvation’ (Psalm 51:10-12 NIV). So God forgave him and wiped his slate clean and David went on to become Israel’s greatest king. With repentance, we must understand that because we’re worth so much to God, our response is important. Paul said, ‘It is God’s kindness that is trying to lead you to him’ (Romans 2:4 GWT). Repentance is our way back to our loving heavenly Father; it isn’t for God’s benefit – it’s for ours! So what now? Is there anything that you need to repent of? No matter how long you’ve held on to it, God wants you to tell him about it and stop carrying it any further. Repentance is a blessing!

Sep 10

Let God do the fixing ‘The job is too much for one person.’ Exodus 18:18 CEV Moses was becoming overwhelmed because he personally handled every problem, dispute and crisis that arose among the Israelites. Perhaps he thought he had to do so, since he was their leader. But his father-in-law advised him: ‘That isn't the best way to do it. You and the people who come to you will soon be worn out. The job is too much for one person; you can't do it alone… appoint some competent leaders…These judges can handle the ordinary cases and bring the more difficult ones to you. Having them to share the load will make your work easier. This is the way God wants it done. You won't be under nearly as much stress’ (Exodus 18:17-23 NIV). What great advice! We are all called to look after people in one way or another. But we need to take care that we don’t become ‘fixers’, feeling personally responsible for sorting things out for them and fixing their situations. This is not wise and it can be exhausting! The Bible does say that we need to bear one other’s burdens (see Galatians 6:2), but we must be careful we aren’t overcommitting, or putting ourselves in God’s shoes! When we’re faced with helping someone, let’s first commit the situation to God. Let’s ask him to show us how involved he’d like us to be. God is the ultimate ‘fixer’. So what now? Are you inclined to be a ‘fixer’? Chat to God about the people you’re helping: ask him for wisdom to discern how much to help, if at all. Allow God to organise the fixing.

Aug 30

Only God changes people! ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick.’ Proverbs 13:12 NKJV We may think it takes the right person in someone's life to bring change within them. There may even be times when we think we're the right person. The truth is that only God working in someone’s life can change them, and the choice to change must come from within the person themselves. King Solomon said, ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick’ (Proverbs 13:12 NIV). Another Bible version says, ‘Not getting what you want can break your heart’ (CEV). When we try to change someone and it doesn't work, we can lose hope and feel hopeless. When we keep longing for and envisioning that someone will change but it doesn’t materialise, the disappointment can be overwhelming. God gives each of us free will; he doesn’t force us to change. Change must come from within each of us as we accept the grace that God extends to us each day. ‘The Lord opened [Lydia’s] heart to heed the things spoken by Paul’ (Acts 16:14 NKJV). Sound relationship decisions are not based on hope. And often Christians spiritualise every issue – in the name of ‘faith’, they downplay their instincts and ignore their senses. That’s not having faith in God! Faith in God should be just that – faith in God. We must not place our faith in fallible men and women, because they will fail us. Here’s a better option: pray for them and let God change them! So what now? Pray for anyone you know who needs to open their heart to God. Ask him to bring about any lasting change that needs to take place.

Aug 21

Blessings in work (2) ‘Hard work will reward you.’ Proverbs 13:4 CEV Here's another key to succeeding in our work in God’s eyes: hard work. ‘Hard work will reward you with more than enough’ (Proverbs 13:4 CEV). It’s easy to be lazy, cut corners and put a minimum amount of care and effort into a task. A lazy person always finds faults or excuses with their leaders, systems or co-workers. They want all the benefits but they’re not willing to work for them. This doesn't please God and doesn’t help build a reputation to be proud of. The Bible says, ‘diligent hands bring wealth’ (Proverbs 10:4 NIV). Diligence means being self-disciplined, motivated, alert, dependable and following through on something when we start it. And it's priceless because it can be hard to find (see Proverbs 12:27 NKJV). The Bible teaches that a boss is responsible for paying their workers a fair day’s wage, and the worker is responsible for giving them a fair day’s work. Hard work, fairness and integrity are the way forward in God’s eyes. (This doesn’t however mean we work till we're burnt out. God wants us to have a healthy balance of work and rest.) God’s word tells us that ‘the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied’ (Proverbs 13:4 NIV). They get it all; the satisfaction of a job well done, a sense of self-worth, a reputation for integrity, the trust of others and, best of all, God saying, 'Well done!' So what now? Could your self-discipline, motivation and diligence use some work? Today, ask God to help you grow and develop a work ethic that he’s proud of.

Move past disappointment (2) ‘Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him.’ 1 Samuel 3:19 NKJV Second in our series about different types of disappointment is: disappointment in leaders. As the high priest in Israel, Eli is someone we’d assume could be trusted. Samuel’s mother entrusted her son to him, confident that Eli would mentor him for God’s service. But Eli had a serious character flaw. He was a weak parent, not checking his own sons’ very bad behaviour. Nobody would have blamed young Samuel for stumbling when the man he looked up to failed so badly. But that didn't happen. Instead, Samuel kept his eyes on God: ‘Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him’ (1 Samuel 3:19 NKJV). And he became one of Israel’s greatest prophets. Third, disappointment in our family. When God gave Joseph a vision of future success, his brothers ultimately responded with resentment and sold him into slavery. Joseph spent years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. In these tough family circumstances, Joseph could easily have become bitter, going over the wrongs done to him. But he allowed God to restore him, forgive his family and bring him justice. The best way to handle disappointment in leaders and family is to keep our eyes fixed on God: ‘When I was really hurting, I prayed to the Lord. He answered my prayer, and took my worries away. The Lord is on my side, and I am not afraid of what others can do to me’ (Psalm 118:5-6 CEV). So what now? Allow God to work in your disappointment with leaders or family. He has the best solutions.

Commanded to love (1) ‘A new commandment… that you love one another.’ John 13:34 NKJV The word ‘love’ is very misunderstood, misused and overused, and its meaning is often diluted. Do we really love chocolate or our car as much as we love our family or God? Here are a couple of misconceptions about love: (1) Love is a feeling. True love does create feelings – but it's more than a feeling. (2) Love is uncontrollable. We say, ‘I fell in love’ or ‘I can’t help it if I’m in love,’ or the opposite, ‘I can’t help it; I just don’t love him/her anymore.’ We can use 'love' as a 'one-size-fits-all' verb, but real love is anything but. At its core, love is two things. First, love is a matter of choice. ‘Above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection’ (Colossians 3:14 NKJV). Notice these words, ‘put on’. Just as we choose what we wear each day, we also choose the attitude we display. So, love is controllable. Second, love is a matter of behaviour. ‘Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth’ (1 John 3:18 NIV). Jesus said, ‘I give you a new command: Love each other… as I have loved you’ (John 13:34 NCV). When we reach out towards someone with genuine love and concern, our feelings towards that person change. And even if they don’t return our love, God is pleased with us. And that’s the best reward! So what now? Each day, pray: ‘Father, help me to reach out with your love to everyone I meet today, even those I find difficult to get along with.’

Inside job (3) ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate.’ John 14:16 NIV Before he was arrested, Jesus told his disciples, ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever’ (John 14:16 NIV). The Greek source for the word ‘advocate’ is parakletos, which means ‘one who comes alongside’ to strengthen, encourage and advise us. When we feel discouraged, confused and powerless, we have access to a wise, compassionate, competent helper who will show up to comfort us, support us and supply us with what we need. That helper is the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us, ‘He [the Holy Spirit] will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to’ (Galatians 5:16 TLB). Our human fleshly nature cannot overcome evil. We need the Holy Spirit for this. Another benefit of having the Holy Spirit in us is freedom! ‘The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them. The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God’ (Romans 8:14-15 NCV). The Holy Spirit is here to guide and direct our lives, remove our fears and comfort us when we need support. Let’s learn to lean on him, draw on his power and trust him to do his mighty work within us. So what now? What are you struggling with? Whether it’s something big or small, as you face it (or the thought of it), thank God that you are his child, led by his Spirit, so therefore you need not fear.

Three cheers! ‘Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33 NKJV On three different occasions, Jesus encouraged his disciples to ‘be of good cheer’. Bible teacher Philip De Courcy calls them ‘the three cheers of the New Testament’. The first reason to be cheerful is because our sins are forgiven and forgotten in Jesus. ‘He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you”’ (Matthew 9:2 NKJV). Because of the cross, our faults and failings will never be used in judgment against us: ‘Those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins’ (John 5:24 NLT). The second reason to be cheerful is because we’re not fighting for victory; we’re fighting from victory. ‘In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 NKJV). And the third reason to cheer is because Jesus will be with us no matter what! Just as he was with the terrified disciples on board a storm-tossed boat, he’ll be there whenever we need him: ‘They were troubled…But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid”’ (Matthew 14:26-27 NKJV). Peace isn’t the absence of storms. It’s knowing Jesus is with us and ‘nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God…revealed in…Jesus’ (Romans 8:39 NLT). So what now? Ask God to help you see storms in life as new opportunities for you to get closer to him and see more of his power at work.

Life is a team effort ‘Two are better than one.’ Ecclesiastes 4:9 NIV Basketball coach John Woden would remind his teams, ‘It takes ten hands to score a basket.’ And his message lines up perfectly with this biblical advice: ‘Two are better than one’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9 NIV)! No one can realise their best potential on their own. God’s word, and life itself, teach us that living is designed to be a team sport. In the very beginning, God established this principle: ‘It is not good for the man [or woman] to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’ (Genesis 2:18 NIV). God never intended us to do life alone. Ecclesiastes 4:1-12 talks about the value of human relationships in a challenging and difficult world. And Bible teacher Philip De Courcy describes how biblical wisdom embraces ‘a theology of we’ and rejects ‘a theology of me’ (see Philippians 2:4). To reach our full potential, we need to commit ourselves to: (1) resisting the urge to do everything ourselves; (2) treasuring our friends and cultivating real, meaningful relationships; (3) staying closely connected to the members of the body of Christ; (4) reaching out to the lonely and the broken; and (5) going out of our way to show what true friendship really looks like (see Proverbs 17:17; Hebrews 10:24-25; Luke 10:25-37; John 15:13). Life is a team effort. So what now? Try doing these today: (1) Celebrate with someone who’s had a success; (2) Reach out with kindness to someone who’s lonely or hurt; (3) Help someone; (4) Ask for help with something; (5) Share a Bible verse with someone; (6) Pray with a friend.

Look to God for your peace ‘You will keep in perfect peace…all whose thoughts are fixed on you!’ Isaiah 26:3 NLT Wouldn’t it be great if we had a tiny internal warning light that informed us each time our focus was off Jesus? Or if we had a small beep or signal light that cautioned we were out of tune with God? Actually, we do! It’s better known as tension. When we become tense it’s generally because we’re focusing on the problem or circumstance instead of the solution. Tension can be God’s way of saying, ‘Get your focus in line: look at me.’ The Bible says, ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you’ (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). We have the choice to focus on our troubles or to focus on the one who holds the answer to them. Corrie ten Boom wrote: ‘The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the word of God. If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at God, you’ll be at rest.’ It’s what we concentrate on that decides our amount of peace. So when problems come, let’s focus on God’s presence; he is with us, and he has promised that he will never leave us (see Hebrews 13:5). So what now? If you notice yourself getting tense at any time today, use that feeling as your personal alarm that you need to talk to God about the situation you’re in or whatever’s on your mind. Change your tension into peace – in fact, God offers you his ‘perfect peace’!

Decisions, decisions… ‘If you listen to me, you will be safe and secure.’ Proverbs 1:33 CEV Life is full of decisions. If we consistently make wise choices with little decisions, it will be easier to tackle the bigger decisions. Psychologist Jennifer Winquist wrote: ‘We make choices based on what feels best, what’s easiest…fastest…shuts up the boss…stops our problem for the moment…We buy wants instead of saving for necessities…We eat a bag of [crisps] instead of a bag of carrots…We don’t plan to fail, but unless we plan to win by making wise choices, we can end up getting the short end of the stick…Wise choices aren’t usually quick fixes, selfish or short-term; they involve planning, hard work, sacrifice and resilience. But the rewards are huge.’ James said, ’If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticising you’ (James 1:5 NCV). John Mason says growing in wisdom means fearing God, pleasing him, hearing from him, looking to him, choosing his way, staying humble before him, taking his advice, receiving his correction, maintaining a prayer connection with him, and knowing his Son personally (see Psalm 111:10; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Proverbs 2:6; 3:13; 8:10-11; 11:2; 13:10; 29:15; Ephesians 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 1:30). As God’s children, we have access to the wisdom of the Creator of the universe. And when we develop the patience and maturity to make the wise, godly choice instead of the easy one, we never have to live in fear or dread the outcome. So what now? Involve God in your life. Ask him for wisdom in the small and big decisions.

Try slowing down (1) ‘You won't need to run… The Lord God…will lead and protect you.’ Isaiah 52:12 NLT There are some people whose default setting seems to be impatience. They’re like hummingbirds. These tiny birds can fly forward, then hover in mid-air going nowhere. Their tiny wings can move up to seventy-five times per second! A hummingbird’s average life span is only three years; compare that to an eagle, that can live for thirty years. When an eagle flies, it conserves its energy by riding on the wind currents. The message here is: when we draw on the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, we have more stamina to keep going, and go higher than we imagine. ‘Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city’ (Proverbs 16:32 NLT). One pastor said he was a ‘stress-distributing machine’ when he was younger, and everybody around him felt it. One day one of his children said to him, ‘Daddy, I’ll try to hurry up and tell you this.’ He replied, ‘It’s okay, honey, you can speak slowly.’ After a long pause, he had an ‘aha’ moment when his child said, ‘Then – listen – slowly!’ Going fast won’t make God move any faster, and our hurry might even mean that we miss something he wants to say to us. If we’re inclined to be impatient, let’s try slowing down and let God set the pace. So what now? Turn times of waiting into times of thanksgiving – if you’re waiting in a queue, at traffic lights, on hold, etc., use that time to think of something you want to thank God for. If you’re still waiting, try thinking of one more!

Mind your mind ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.’ Proverbs 23:7 NKJV Here’s solid advice for every area of our life: ‘Mind your mind.’ Proverbs 23 gives six principles to live by in terms of our thinking: (1) Our thoughts determine our character. ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he’ (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). Before we tell a lie or give in to temptation, we allow the thought of the deed into our mind. We must teach our minds to develop godly, positive thought patterns. (2) Don’t waste our thoughts on people who don’t value them. ‘Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words’ (Proverbs 23:9 NKJV). (3) Learn to lead ourselves first. ‘Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge’ (Proverbs 23:12 NKJV). We can’t set an example to others if our own self-control is lacking. (4) Be sure our role models are people with good values and integrity. ‘Do not let your heart envy sinners’ (Proverbs 23:17 NKJV). (5) Stay confident that the vision God’s given us will happen. ‘Be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off’ (Proverbs 23:17-18 NKJV). (6) Stay committed to what is right. Let’s not get side-tracked. ‘Hear…and be wise; and guide your heart in the way’ (Proverbs 23:19 NKJV). Our thoughts have power. Let’s ensure they line up with God’s thoughts. So what now? Read through the six points and Bible verses in today’s reading. Ask God to help you ‘mind your mind’.

You’re full of God’s potential ‘I have come that they might have life.’ John 10:10 NIV The events of life can sometimes lead us away from God’s best for us. The people and activities we choose may leave us with regrets. We can lose our sense of self-worth, which may lead us to believe that God doesn’t love us. But he absolutely does! He knows that hidden inside each of us is a person who can do great things for him. That’s why he stirs our hearts – to let us know that he’s at work in our lives. Our part is to respond to him in faith, and dare to believe he can make us ‘a new creation’ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus knows every mistake we’ve made. He wants to mend the broken parts and make us whole again. But to do that, he needs access to every area of our lives. When he comes into our hearts, we’re changed and empowered to reach the potential he sees within us! King David’s sins became a national scandal. But when God forgave and restored him, he wrote: ‘Praise the Lord, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done: He is the one who forgives all your sins, the one who heals all your diseases, the one who rescues your life from the pit, the one who crowns you with mercy and compassion, the one who fills your life with blessings’ (Psalm 103:2-5 GWT). So what now? Get together with a trusted friend, and share the qualities or potential you see in one another. Then thank God for seeing even more potential within you than you can!

Heal your scabs ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.’ Psalm 147:3 NKJV If we want to help someone with their unresolved issues, we must first deal with our own. If the medicine we’re offering hasn’t made us whole, we’ll have reduced or no credibility when we use it to help someone else. It’s hard to talk about victory to someone else when we’re experiencing defeat. When we’re bleeding spiritually and emotionally, we can’t treat people’s problems with the faith we would have if we’d already worked through our problem. Is it wrong to have a broken heart? No, because God ‘heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3 NKJV). In Old Testament times, a person couldn’t serve as a priest if they had a scab, which is an unhealed wound. This is why: (1) They wouldn’t be up to par spiritually. (2) They couldn’t get close to others in case they were bumped and the scab was knocked off. (3) They wouldn’t be at their best because the pain was sapping their strength. (4) They’d be afraid to talk about their scab in case people rejected them, so they’d live on two levels of effectiveness. (5) Worst of all, they’d be so busy working for God and taking care of others, they wouldn’t have time to stop and take care of themselves. Does that mean that if we have unresolved issues, God won’t use us? No, it’s the broken who become masters at mending. Let’s allow God to make us whole so he can use us powerfully. So what now? Take your ‘scabs’ and unresolved issues to God. Allow him to help you deal with them.

June 16

Words of wholeness ‘You are trapped by your own words.’ Proverbs 6:2 CEV Author Stormie Omartian wrote: ‘Early in my walk with the Lord I spoke many negatives…“I’m a failure,” “I’m ugly,” “Nothing ever goes right,” “Nobody cares about me,”…[Then] the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart…“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV). I had been speaking words of death, not life. One clear example had to do with my speech problems. I’d had them since childhood and was teased about them all through school…[When] I was old enough to afford professional help, I worked with a speech therapist…I practised day after day, year after year, to gain…little improvement…I still lost my voice…halfway through each [speaking] engagement…“I’ll never be able to speak right,” I cried…But as I spoke those words…the Lord [said]: “You’re bringing death to your situation…speak what you know to be the truth of my word…‘The stammering tongue will be fluent and clear’ (Isaiah 32:4 NIV)…‘I have put my words in your mouth’” (Isaiah 51:16 NKJV)…Soon after, when I was asked to speak at a…women’s meeting, I took my fears…to [God]…and…spoke [his] truth instead of voicing my own negative opinions.…my talk went so well…an entire speaking ministry opened up…The Bible says, “You are snared by the words of your mouth” (Proverbs 6:2 NKJV). That includes [your self-talk]…Wipe [out] words of hopelessness, doubt and negativity from your vocabulary. [They] may seem harmless…but [they] affect your body and soul…Speak words that reflect the wholeness you desire.’ So what now? Start today: speak God’s truth, love and wholeness over your life!

June 14

Who’s advising you? ‘Listen to advice and accept discipline.’ Proverbs 19:20 NIV It’s very difficult (actually impossible) for us to reach our highest potential without a good and trusted adviser. World-class tennis player André Agassi valued his trainer even when he’d reached the top level of his game: ‘Tennis requires subtle adjustments crucial to winning and my coach, Gill, is the best at making them. The older I get, the more valuable he becomes.’ Age and experience don’t necessarily make us better or more skilful; sometimes they just deepen the rut we’ve found ourselves in. In life, just as in the sports world, we’ll never reach a point where we don’t need good input. Even if we’ve reached the top of our skill, job or sport, good advice is always valuable. We often make the mistake of measuring ourselves against others instead of our own God-given potential. Self-evaluation is important, but the evaluation of others is crucial. A good adviser measures our performance against our own strengths, not somebody else’s. That’s because they understand what we’re capable of and they’ll push us to reach for it. Good advisers are constantly on the scene, observing and getting involved. They walk with us and take a personal interest in every success we have, big or small, celebrate with us when things go well, and encourage us when things don’t go to plan. Ruth needed Naomi and Timothy needed Paul. We all need an adviser – who’s ours? So what now? Say thank you to anyone who mentors or advises you. If you don’t have an adviser, start to look out for one – ask God to show you who it could be.

June 9

Be a giver ‘God loves a cheerful giver.’ 2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV The film Schindler’s List tells of one man’s efforts to rescue people in a desperate situation. Oskar Schindler was director of a munitions factory in Poland during the Holocaust. He decided to use his position to save Jewish lives. By employing them in his factory, Schindler rescued many condemned Jews from the gas chambers. But it was expensive to keep them employed, and little by little he sold his personal property to keep his factory going. At the end of the story, the Nazis are defeated, and the full impact of Schindler’s efforts is revealed as the living make it back to freedom. In one scene of the film, as Schindler is kneeling by the railway tracks that had carried thousands to their deaths, he realised: he could have saved a few more! If only he hadn’t kept hold of the few things he still owned. If only he had known when the war would end, he would have done more. Oskar Schindler is credited with saving more Jews during World War II than any other single person. But all he could think about was how he wished he had done more. We all have different levels of what we can afford to give, whether it’s time, money or another resource, but let’s not waste an opportunity to give when God prompts us, and give with joy. ‘God loves a cheerful giver.’ So what now? Be extra-aware of when God nudges you to give or share something (money, time, food, knowledge and so on), and then act on his nudge.

June 8

Keys to prayer (4) ‘Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.’ Hebrews 4:16 NLT Boldness. Boldness isn’t arrogance, presumption or a sense of entitlement. It’s a type of confidence that’s based on who we are in Jesus. Paul wrote, ‘Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). As God’s redeemed children, we have a right to approach him at any time. When we have hidden sin in our hearts, it affects our confidence. Unconfessed sin locks us in and shuts God out (see Psalm 66:18). But, when we ask God to reveal our sins, he will. And then we need to deal with it straight away. God will help. If he reminds us of a situation when we didn’t do the right thing, we shouldn’t ignore or hide it. Instead, we should acknowledge it, receive his forgiveness, and then pray with renewed confidence. Our natural inclination may be to say, ‘I know God can do it, but it’s hard to believe he’ll do it for me.’ Jesus has made us worthy (see Colossians 1:12)! ‘We will find grace to help us when we need it most’ (Hebrews 4:16 NLT). God gives us what we don’t deserve when we’re confident enough to ask him. Plus, we’re asking in Jesus’ name, not our own. We’re presenting to the Father who Jesus is, not all that we are. So what now? Do you know someone who struggles to pray with confidence? Offer to pray with them and remind them that God loves us and welcomes our prayers.

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