UCB Word For Today

• Signs follow faith

  The book of Mark concludes this way: ‘They went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.’ Understanding the will of God is not a precise science, and the most spiritually mature among us can get it wrong. But this much you can count on: God will use a combination of the Spirit and Scripture to guide you. As you open His Word and open your heart, God will speak to you. Then you have to act on it. The way to get spiritual momentum is by praying, and then making a decision. And the harder the decision, the more momentum it can produce. The main reason most of us don’t notice God moving is because we aren’t moving. If you would like to see God move, you need to make a move! Near the end of her ministry, Mother Teresa was frequently asked by her admirers how they could make a difference with their lives the way she had with hers. She often replied with only four words: ‘Find your own Calcutta.’ That doesn’t mean God’s will for you is to be a missionary in a foreign land. It could be; the greater likelihood is that God is calling you to take action where you live and where you work. Before God asks you to do greater things, He will ask you to use what you have, do what you can, and serve where you are. So, what little things do you need to do now that will make you ready for the big things God wants down the road?© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

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• How to build your self-esteem

  After four hundred years of living as slaves in Egypt, the Israelites struggled with low self-esteem. So, God said to them, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt’ (vv. 3-4 NKJV). Notice the words ‘built’ and ‘rebuilt’. How can you build, or rebuild, your self-esteem? In three ways. First, by believing in God’s unearned, undeserved, unchanging, unfailing love for you at all times. Second, by serving and giving to others. When you have been victimised in the past, you tend to focus unduly on yourself. It’s not that you want to be selfish, it’s just what you feel you must do in order to survive. Yet, the opposite is true. Helping someone – even making a small difference – lifts your self-esteem. It’s difficult to harbour bad feelings about yourself when you’re doing something good for someone else. On top of that, adding value to another’s life causes that person to value you more. It creates a cycle of positive feelings from one person to another. Third, doing the right thing, even when it’s the hard thing. Being true to yourself and your values is a remarkable self-esteem builder. Each time you do something that builds your character, you become a stronger person – the more difficult the task, the greater the character builder. You can actually ‘act yourself’ into feeling good about yourself, because positive character enlarges into each area of your life, providing you with confidence and positive feelings about all you do.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

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• Parenting, the Bible way

  Planting a seed is only the first of a season’s worth of steps. There is watering, fertilising, weeding, and protecting the struggling plant from pests, diseases, storms, and adverse weather. Many flowers and vegetables require stakes, cages, and other supports to help them stand tall and bear their fruit. The gardener who does nothing but sow a seed shouldn’t be surprised if his or her plants never reach maturity. Almost all living things in God’s creation reproduce by sowing a seed: human beings, plants, birds, fish, and animals. When a seed is buried out of sight in the ground, there is little we can do to impact its growth. But when a new plant – and especially a new baby – enters the world, that’s where the results of real husbandry – and parenting – can be seen. Passive parenting is letting a child grow up in his or her own way. But Bible parenting is a different matter altogether. If you’re a parent, read these Scriptures (if you’re not, perhaps you could use these verses to guide your prayers for parents in your community): ‘True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honour, and long life. Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it. Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it’ (Proverbs 22:4-6 NLT). ‘The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing’ (Psalm 92:12-14 NKJV). That’s called ‘parenting, the Bible way’.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

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• How to get what you want

  The first step to getting what you want in life is knowing what you want. Jesus said, in essence, ‘The key to getting what you want out of life is to focus on what I want for your life.’ Note the words ‘seek first’. This word ‘seek’ means ‘to strive for diligently’ or ‘to desire strongly’. The action is continuous. It says, ‘Keep on striving for, keep on seeking, keep on desiring daily.’ When Jesus says, ‘Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,’ it means you don’t have to pray about what your top priority in life ought to be; everything you do will be ordered by those two things. Where you work, how you spend your time, the person you marry, how you manage your money, the relationships you form, the pastimes you enjoy, the purchases you make – all of these will be sifted and sorted through one filter: ‘Is this for His kingdom? Does it relate to His righteousness?’ Can’t you see how living this way would transform your marriage, your work, your family, your finances, and every other area of your life? But in order to pursue the priorities of the kingdom, you must first have a relationship with the King. You won’t even know where the kingdom is, or what it looks like, until you know the King. And you can know Him. How? As you open the pages of His Word and open your heart, there He will reveal Himself to you. And as you spend time with Him in prayer, He will respond to you.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

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• Know your purpose, know your partners

  In order to identify God’s will for your life, you must be clear about two things: 1) Your purpose. Facing the cross, Jesus said, ‘For this cause came I into the world’ (John 18:37 KJV). Your passion is that area of your life that fires you up. It might be world hunger, or neglected pensioners, or education. You see little kids growing up in underfunded areas, and they’re never going to have a chance to thrive, and it just kills you. Or unwed mums, or the gospel being proclaimed unclearly. Instead of finding your passion in the area of your opportunities and your skills, sometimes you will find it in the area of your hurts and scars. From people who struggle with addictions, to those who have spent time in prison, to those who contend with emotional disorders – there are so many areas. God won’t waste a hurt. 2) Your partners. Jesus called twelve disciples, then He dispatched them on a brief mission two at a time so they could go together. So along with your passions and strengths and scars, you need people in your life who will encourage you, applaud you, and take part in what you are doing. Paul spells out his passion: ‘The longing of my heart…is for the people of Israel to be saved’ (Romans 10:1 NLT). Paul also knew his partners: ‘Every time I think of you, I give thanks…for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ’ (Philippians 1:3, 5 NLT). So, the word for today is – know your purpose, know your partners.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

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