UCB Word For Today

‘Lord, Your Word says, “A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.” Satan is attacking my family, and I’m turning to You for help. Your Word says, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will [be my defence and] lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19 NKJV). Touch the hearts and minds of every member of this family, and draw them closer to You. You said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9 KJV). I commit myself to be a peacemaker in this situation, and ask You for the wisdom to know what to say and do. Deliver my family from selfishness, pride, and bitterness. Give us the sort of love that covers all sins and weaknesses (see Proverbs 10:12). Help us to know when a disagreement is about to open a floodgate, and give us the grace to drop the matter before the clash gets out of control (see Proverbs 17:14). Your Word says that avoiding a fight is a mark of honour, and that only fools demand to quarrel (see Proverbs 20:3). Lord, put an end to the strife that is wreaking havoc in our family. I take authority over every contentious spirit. I ask You to help my family start to pursue things that produce peace and the things we can use to edify and build one another up (see Romans 14:19). Your Word says that there is nothing too hard for You (see Jeremiah 32:17). So, I’m praying and believing for healing and restoration in my family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.’© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

‘Father, when Adam was lonely, You made Eve and brought her to him. And just as You knew what Adam needed, I’m struggling with loneliness, and You know what I need too. You said in Your Word, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). There is a part of me that can never be satisfied or fulfilled by any relationship other than You. But You also created me to be sociable and need interaction with other people. Help me to admit and stop any negative behaviour on my part that may cause people not to enjoy and to accept me, such as being critical, envious, hot-tempered, judgmental, or unforgiving. Please give me the tongue of the learned so that I will know how to speak appropriate words in season to others. Please open my ears to listen to them with real understanding (see Isaiah 50:4). Help me to overcome shyness and the fear of rejection and to reach out to others believing that You can speak to their heart and cause them to be open and accepting. Teach me how to accept their love, help, and generosity. Help me to understand the importance of caring for my relationships and not just paying attention to friends when it’s convenient for me. Help me to be a reliable friend (see Proverbs 18:24). You know what I need in a relationship. You put David and Jonathan together, and Ruth and Naomi together. So, I ask You to put me together with the right person or persons. In Jesus’ name. Amen.’© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Opposites often attract, marry, and then have to deal with their differences – especially when their children become teens and they run up against boundary issues. Boundary disputes test the parents’ capacity to negotiate differences in deciding what’s right or wrong for their child. You let her do whatever she wants…You’re driving him away with your strictness…She needs more discipline…He needs space to be a kid. Both parents love their children and want only the best for them, but they disagree on how to accomplish it. In his book Boundaries with Teens, Dr John Townsend gives some helpful and practical suggestions. 1) Agree that your teen comes first. Calmly, honestly, and selflessly discuss your differences together. The winner should always be your child! Agree, even compromise, on setting limits that protect your teen and promote his or her best interests. 2) Defer to one another’s strengths. Each of you has areas you’re better equipped to handle. For example, whichever one is better at organising, listening objectively in heated moments, or calming a troubled teen should help the other one with these issues. 3) Don’t triangulate your teen. It’s easy to pull your child into conflict on your side. Typically the other parent then responds by pampering the child with gifts, privileges, and liberties in order to regain their approval. That strategy guarantees everybody loses! Agree to sort out your differences. And if you can’t, seek the help of a wise friend, pastor, or counsellor. Your child’s life and future are what matter – not which one of you wins the popularity contest!© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Let’s begin with three short stories that spell out the challenge of building a strong and happy marriage. First story: A man was observing a couple and said to his wife, ‘Look at them, they look so happy.’ She said, ‘Don’t be so sure, they’re probably saying the same thing about us.’ Second story: A woman once said, ‘My husband and I have a very happy marriage. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for me. So we’ve gone through life doing nothing for each other.’ Third story: A husband told his friend, ‘My wife and I have decided never to go to bed angry.’ His friend asked, ‘How’s that working?’ He replied, ‘We haven’t slept in a month.’ Seriously, the biggest challenge in marriage is selfishness. When two people each put their own desires and interests first, their relationship is headed for trouble and possibly a divorce court. What’s the answer? These inspired words were written almost two thousand years ago, but they are still God’s formula for a stable and successful marriage: ‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends…So these three things continue forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love’ (vv. 4-8, 13 NCV). © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica and says, ‘Now, brothers and sisters, we ask you to appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you. Respect them with a very special love because of the work they do’ (vv. 12-13 NCV). Consider these twenty-first-century statistics: 1) Fifty per cent of pastors feel so disheartened that they would exit the ministry if they could, but they don’t know any other way to make a living. 2) Fifty per cent of ministers starting out won’t continue five years in the ministry. 3) Only one out of every ten ministers will retire as ministers in some capacity. 4) In America more than seventeen hundred pastors exited the ministry every month of 2011. There are many reasons why pastors leave the ministry. One reason is inadequate financial support and stress on the family. Paul addresses this: ‘Let the elders [pastors] who rule well be counted worthy of double honour [financial remuneration], especially those who labour in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The labourer is worthy of his wages”’ (1 Timothy 5:17-18 NKJV). Some pastors leave the ministry because they are the target of frequent criticism. Paul addresses this: ‘Do not receive an accusation against an elder [pastor] except from two or three witnesses’ (v. 19 NKJV). So, pray for your pastor, and make it a point to show them your appreciation. God will bless you for it. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.