The Word for Today is just for you

‘Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.’ James 1:22 NIV

When you listen to or read God’s Word but don’t apply it to your life, you deceive yourself. How so?

(1) You settle for knowledge rather than experience. The Bible says, ‘If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.’ (James 4:17 NIV) How does that grab you? When you know the truth but don’t act on it, you’re not simply making a mistake or exercising poor judgment, you’re sinning. The Bible says knowledge without obedience is sin.

(2) You compare yourself with others. Paul writes, ‘Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.’ (Galatians 6:4 NIV) ‘When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.’ (2 Corinthians 10:12 NIV) That enables you to remain carnal but comfortable, and the older you get, the more seasoned you become at doing it. Over time you build a reservoir of responses, and when the truth gets too close for comfort, you have 101 reasons why it applies to everyone except you.

(3) The Word moves you briefly but doesn’t change you permanently. There’s nothing wrong with responding emotionally to spiritual truth. But if you go on your way without changing your behaviour in the slightest, your spirituality boils down to nothing more than a vague emotional experience.

(4) You substitute communication for transformation. You talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. You think if you speak eloquently and convincingly about a point of Scripture, you’re off the hook. You’re not! James says, ‘Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.’ (James 1:22 NIV)

SoulFood: 1 Sam 24–26, Lk 4:14–30, Ps 110, Prov 17:15–17

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.’ John 16:33 ESV

Stress is destructive and it’s ready to knock you out and diminish you to a heap of trembling, useless mush. What should you do?

(1) Immerse your exhaustion. Go for a swim. Even standing in a shower can assist in washing away fatigue and reviving your breathless body tissues and brain cells. Feel the moment and focus on the water’s invigorating sensory contribution to your skin; allow it to spread resilience to your spirit. You say, ‘That doesn’t sound very spiritual.’ Job’s friend Zophar would disagree with you—he said to Job, who had more troubles than you will ever see: ‘You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away.’ (Job 11:16 NLT)

(2) Ask for help! Allocate responsibilities and chores. When everyone does their portion, no one is left depleted. ‘Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.’ (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 NIV)

(3) Give up perfectionism. Nobody is perfect but Jesus, and you’re not Him. Let some things go. Tomorrow, give up a few more. Over time, those chores will stop nagging at you, and you will truly feel the stress in the pit of your stomach disintegrate. You will never be totally free from stress, but you can learn to cope with it and conquer it. Jesus said, ‘I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33 NIV)

SoulFood: 1 Sam 20:30–23:29, Lk 4:1–13, Ps 102:18–28, Prov 17:11–14

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace.’ Isaiah 55:12 NKJV

Let’s look at three proven and effective strategies for dealing with stress.

(1) Place yourself on your daily to-do list. Designate fifteen minutes twice a day to renew, regroup, and restore. Distance yourself from the stress source, even if that simply means stepping outside for a few minutes and going for a walk to refresh your brain. Sing your favourite song or do whatever helps you to chill. And persevere when other events threaten to crowd you out. You’re important—learn to value yourself.

(2) Lighten up! The Bible says, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV), and when your joy goes, so does your strength and ability to cope. Some people think Christians should always be sober, humourless, and as quiet as the grave. But Jesus arose from the grave—and that’s one of the best reasons in the world to celebrate.

(3) Relax your stiff muscles with five-minute stress-relievers throughout the day. Stop thinking and move! Stretch out, bend over, roll your tense shoulders, get that invigorating blood flowing throughout your body while your mind takes a mini-break. Turn up the praise music and dance through your chores. Swing a little while stirring the food on the cooker! Physical activity triggers your brain to secrete beta-endorphin, which helps calm you. You weren’t meant to live under stress. The Bible says, ‘For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace.’ (Isaiah 55:12 NKJV) And that came straight from the mouth of the One who created and redeemed you.

SoulFood: Mt 5:7, Mt 18:21–35, Ps 103:8–18, Lam 3:22–24

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘You will stand firm and without fear.’ Job 11:15 NIV

I

ignore the warning signs and chronic stress can take a toll on your body. So, what are some of the signals? Well for starters, your stomach churns at any form of disagreement. When you can’t find an outlet for pent-up frustration, you may resort to overeating, smoking, drinking, drugs, and generally abusing your body. You isolate yourself, which affects your loved ones.

However, it’s the signs you don’t see that can do the most damage. Cortisol, a hormone our bodies release in the grasp of stress, adds to out-of-control feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness. And studies verify that over time, stress raises your blood pressure, contributes to migraines and tension headaches, and results in the plaque that leads to heart disease. Chronic stress has been observed to increase cardiovascular risk by almost 50%t! Not to mention documented connections to alcoholism, anxiety attacks, asthma, cancer, colds, depression, flu, insomnia, obesity, strokes, and ulcers. And those uncontrolled crying spells when you’re exhausted are no coincidence. Stress lowers oestrogen levels, which can activate emotional outbursts.

If this describes you, take action! Rearrange your priorities, slow down, start taking control of your life, and turn to God. ‘Yet if you devote your heart to Him and stretch out your hands to Him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favour.’ (Job 11:13–19 NIV)

SoulFood: 1 Sam 18:1–20:29, Lk 3:15–38, Ps 102:12–17, Prov 17:7–10

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ Romans 12:2 NIV

How do we renew our minds? Mark Batterson wrote: ‘The way to upgrade your mind is to download Scripture. Doctors… of the National Institute of Mental Health did a fascinating study asking subjects to perform a simple motor task—a finger-tapping exercise. As subjects tapped, the doctors conducted an MRI to identify what part of the brain was being activated. The subjects then practised the finger-tapping exercise daily for four weeks. At the end of the four-week period, the brain scan was repeated. In each instance, it revealed that the area of the brain involved in the task had expanded. That simple task—a finger-tapping exercise—literally recruited new nerve cells and rewired neuronal connections. When we read Scripture, we are recruiting new nerve cells and rewiring neuronal connections. In a sense, we are downloading a new operating system that reconfigures the mind. We stop thinking human thoughts and start thinking God thoughts.’

‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 2:5 NKJV) How do we fulfil that command? Paul tells us how: ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.’ (Colossians 3:16 NKJV) Whether through preaching, teaching, reading, or singing, our brains are rewired in alignment with God’s Word, and we develop the mind of Christ. We think His thoughts. As a result, we end up doing His will instead of being led by our own will. So, keep renewing your mind with God’s Word.

SoulFood: 1 Sam 16–17, Lk 3:1–14, Ps 102:1–11, Prov 17:4–6

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against… spiritual hosts of wickedness.’ Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

Before doing battle with Syria, Joab told his brother, ‘If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you.’ (1 Chronicles 19:12 NKJV) If one was overwhelmed, the other could step in and help. Spiritual warfare is different, however. We’re not wrestling with ‘flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness.’ (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV) And wrestling is a one-on-one struggle that means getting up close and personal, going toe-to-toe with your opponent.

When David faced Goliath, the giant was so sure of himself that he announced to all Israel, ‘If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.’ (1 Samuel 17:9 NKJV) Think about the long-term implications of this. If Goliath prevailed, God’s people would spend their lives serving the enemy! The stakes were incredibly high for Israel—and they are for you too.

Satan is out to defeat you, and if you wrestle according to the rules of the flesh, you will lose. Just like professional wrestlers have rules they must abide by, there are fail-safe spiritual rules designed to work for you. Paul says, ‘The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.’ (2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV) The only hope you have of defeating Satan lies in prayer, Christian fellowship, God’s Word, the name of Jesus, and the Blood of Jesus. These five things top the list of powerful weapons given to you to defeat the enemy. So, use them today!

SoulFood: 1 Sam 14–15, Lk 2:36–52, Ps 98, Prov 17:1–3

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘Uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.’ Ruth 3:4 NKJV

As a person from Moab, the law said Ruth was unqualified to mix with Jews. ‘An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord.’ (Deuteronomy 23:3 NKJV) But when God has a plan for your life, He steps in and says, ‘I have called you by your name; you are Mine… Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honoured… Therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.’ (Isaiah 43:1;4 NKJV) When Boaz began showering Ruth with kindness, she knelt before him saying, ‘Why have I found favour in your eyes?’ (Ruth 2:10 NKJV) Notice how Boaz answered: ‘It has been fully reported to me all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband.’ (Ruth 2:11 NKJV)

Aware that Ruth has become the object of Boaz’s affection, Naomi instructs her: ‘he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.’ (Ruth 3:2–4 NKJV)

Ruth started at his feet and ended up by his side. ‘Do not make yourself known.’ Don’t push, don’t try to impress God with your performance, just stay at His feet and He will raise you up to His side. ‘Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.’ (1 Peter 5:6 NKJV)

SoulFood: 1 Sam 11–13, Lk 2:16–35, Ps 95, Prov 16:31–33

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley!’ Genesis 19:17 NLT

Before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He sent angels to warn Lot and his family to get out of town. When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, ‘“Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!’… But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.’ (Genesis 19:17, 26 NLT) By looking back, Lot’s wife disobeyed a direct instruction from God. As a result, she died—stuck in the past. There are three important lessons here for you.

(1) ‘Don’t… stop anywhere in the valley!’ We all go through valley experiences in life, but we must not get stuck in them or set up residence in them.

(2) ‘And don’t look back.’ The reason the windscreen in a car is larger than the rear-view mirror is because the driver supposed to spend most of the time looking forward, and only periodically glancing backwards in order to keep moving safely and reach the destination. Get the idea?

(3) ‘Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!’ When someone hurts you, you have two choices: take the high road of forgiveness or the low road of retaliation. When you take the low road, you begin to die spiritually. But when you take the high road, you grow stronger, wiser, and more mature. When you get stuck in the past, it’s always at the expense of the future. Always! God has better days and better things in store for you. So, forgive, forget, and move forwards.

SoulFood: 1 Sam 8–10, Lk 2:1–15, Ps 64, Prov 16:27–30

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’ Proverbs 29:18 KJV

A pastor wrote: ‘The second law of thermodynamics states this physical truth: If left to their own devices, everything in the universe moves towards disorder and decay. Cars rust. Food rots… It’s also called the law of entropy. And the only way to prevent entropy is to introduce an outside energy source to counteract it. The technical term for this is negentropy. And the refrigerator is a good example. You plug it into an electrical outlet, and it produces cold air that keeps food from rotting. If the refrigerator gets disconnected from its energy source, entropy will take over again. And things will get smelly. Isn’t that what happens when we get disconnected from God? Life moves towards decay and disorder. So how do we overcome our entropic tendencies? Solomon said in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” If sin is entropy, then investing our energies in a God-sized vision is negentropy. The word perish comes from the Hebrew word “para”, and “entropy” is a fair translation.’

Perhaps many church problems don’t come from an abundance of sin but rather from a lack of vision? We’re not suggesting that there aren’t sin problems or that those problems don’t need to be dealt with. But in too many instances, there isn’t enough vision to keep churches busy. Our vision isn’t big enough to demand all our energies, so we focus on petty problems to keep us busy. The same is true on a personal level. If we had a larger vision of what God wanted to accomplish in us and through us, our problems would diminish because we are consumed by a cause greater than ourselves.

SoulFood: 1 Sam 4–7, Lk 1:67–80, Ps 59:9–17, Prov 16:23–26

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.’ Ecclesiastes 7:10 NIV

Two more reasons we resist change are:

(1) Because it feels awkward and uncomfortable. When was the last time you tried something for the first time? Can you name it specifically? If you can’t remember, your comfort zone may have turned into a rut. A sign on a wall contained two statements. The first had an X through it. It said, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ The second read, ‘If it ain’t broke, break it!’ Sometimes, the only way to ‘get out of the box’ is to break out.

(2) Because we cling to tradition. The Pharisees could not receive the truth Jesus shared because they were bound by their traditions. And many of us still cling to tradition. We assume that if something is a tradition (a long-established pattern of behaviour), it has to be a better way. That’s not necessarily so, as change agents like inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford demonstrated.

Question: How many traditionalists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Four—one to change it, and three to talk about how wonderful the old light bulb was! Bottom line: when a tradition connects you to other people or to your personal history, it can be good. If it doesn’t, maybe it’s time to try something new.

The Bible says, ‘The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.’ (Proverbs 4:18–19 NLT) So, what changes do you need to make in your life?

SoulFood: Mt 5:6, Is 55:1–7, Ps 63:1–5, Jn 4:1–34

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©