30 years of UCB Word For Today celebration devotional

YEARS

UCB WORD FOR TODAY

A 30-day devotional in celebration of 30 years of the UCB Word For Today

Here at UCB, one of the highlights of 2024 is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the

UCB Word For Today!

We are blessed to have been publishing

one picked from each year – that celebrate

this devotional, in partnership with Bob

the life-changing power of God’s Word, and

and Debby Gass, for so long. It is really

highlight the great love that Bob had for

a privilege to be able to share the hope of

Scripture.

God’s Word every day with so many people.

From the first reading (which is also the very

And we have many reasons to celebrate this

first UCB Word For Today reading, published

special anniversary! First, thanks goes to our

on 1st April 1994), through to those published

faithful God for bringing divine partnership,

in more recent years, I hope that each one

and through it seeing countless lives changed

inspires you in your own love for the Bible.

by the power of God’s Word. Second, it is

Each reading also include a suggested prayer

truly an opportunity to honour Bob and Debby,

to help you connect with God and grow in

who have faithfully written each devotion that

your relationship with Him as you spend time

you read, together with UCB founders and

reflecting on His Word.

an army of staff and volunteers, producing

My prayer for you is that as you read through

and distributing the devotional over the years.. We are so grateful for their riendship over the years, and we thank them for their dedication. What an amazing legacy Bob has left – one which we are honoured to continue, in partnership with his wife, Debby.

this selection of devotions, each one would touch your heart and encourage you to get God’s Word grounded and rooted in your life.

As you read, please do oin us once again in praising God for every life transformed through His Word and the UCB Word For

This anniversary year is also a good time

Today. And please pray that as we journey to

for us to look back to the early days of the

the unprecedented move of God, we will lift

UCB Word For Today and see just how far

up our eyes and see that the fields are white

God has brought us. From a small number of

for harvest!

printed copies in 1994, to today when it is

Every blessing,

also available around the world on UCB Radio, online, via the UCB Player app, by email, and much more, God is equipping us to make His Word accessible to everyone!

We want you to share in the celebrations with us, so we have produced this special

David L’Herroux

celebration edition containing 30 readings –

UCB Chief Executive

READING 1 // 1994

This year can be ‘so different’

‘But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.’

2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV

I was thoroughly disgusted with myself and my own weaknesses and inconsistencies.

I remember crying out to God one day, ‘How can I change? How can I really become more like Jesus?’ In that moment, God directed me to this great verse. When I read it, God spoke to me and asked, ‘How do you see yourself reflected when you look into My Word?’ I answered, ‘I see that I am “more than conqueror”. I also see that I have “power over all the power of the enemy”. I see that I should be “complete and lacking nothing”.

But Father,’ I said, ‘I seem to be a million miles from that mark.’ Then His Spirit gently spoke within me and said, ‘You can’t do it. You may as well try to lift yourself up by your own bootstraps as to try to walk on this level of faith and victory. That’s why I put My Holy Spirit within you. As you read the Word and agree with it, the Holy Spirit who is inside you will make you more and more like the pattern you are looking at.’ And then God said something important, ‘By the way, son, you don’t pole-vault into this special place of promise, you grow into it step by step, grade by grade, and from glory to glory.’

I can’t wait for tomorrow. Do you know why? Because I’m getting more like Jesus every day. This can be your year of change!

PRAYER Father God, thank You for Your powerful and life-changing Word that works within us to align our hearts with Yours. I pray that each day will bring me closer to You through the power of Your Word and the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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READING 2 // 1995

Spiritual food!

‘Let the people renew their strength.’

Isaiah 41:1 KJV

If some of us were to eat as little in the natural as we do in the spiritual, we would die of malnutrition. As amazing as it may seem, a lot of Christians read their Bible only once a week and that’s because the pastor has invited them to read with him as he gives out his text on Sunday morning. Your faith cannot be sustained without renewal from God. Jeremiah said, ‘Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart’ (Jeremiah 15:16 KJV). Job said, ‘I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food’ (Job 23:12 KJV). Jesus said, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4 KJV). It doesn’t take much discernment to know when we have been neglecting the Word of God or the place of prayer. It shows up in just about every area of our lives. Spurgeon says, ‘If our faith can live without God, that faith is not from God; it is only a dream. But if our faith is from God, we will wait for Him as flowers wait for the dew!’ Don’t wait until the storm comes or the enemy begins to attack, only to discover you’ve got nothing to fight with. Get ready! Today, fortify yourself with the Word; put on the whole armour of God and you’ll be able to stand.

PRAYER Thank You, Lord, for Your nourishing Word that helps to strengthen and sustain me.

I pray that I would develop a hunger for Scripture, one that keeps me coming back for more each day! Amen.

The UCB Word For Today is a free* daily devotional packed with verses and a ‘Bible in a Year’ reading plan.

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READING 3 // 1996

When the Word is born in your heart, you can overcome anything!

‘For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’

1 John 5:4 KJV

If you try it any other way, you will be fighting the flesh in the power of the flesh, so you’ll only finish up fighting yourself. Remember, Jesus said, ‘The words that l speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.’ (John 6:63 KJV) Get into His Word today, for it’s what He says directly to you that becomes spirit and life. His Word is literal, energising, creative power! When the Word is born and begins to grow up in you, your whole attitude becomes one of total expectation, real faith, and absolute confidence!

You begin to rise up in your spirit and declare the Word over all your circumstances!

As more of the Word is born in you each day, you will begin to take back more and more ground that the devil has stolen from you in every area of your life. The devil can do nothing with the man or woman who knows the Word, walks in the Word, and is committed to responding to every attack, every obstacle, and every problem by using the Word. This is the key to your victory today! Listen, ‘If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you’ (John 15:7 NKJV). Don’t just ‘read’ the Word… ‘seed’ the Word into your heart daily and you’ll begin to experience God’s blessings in a way you’ve never known before!

PRAYER Dear God, I pray that Your Word would become planted deep into my heart so it becomes unmoveable within me. May it bring me hope in every circumstance, and confidence to face every obstacle in my path. Amen.

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READING 4 // 1997

The voice of God in print

‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NIV

When you open your Bible you are holding the voice of God in print! This Book is alive! It’s how God still speaks to us today! How you treat it will determine absolutely everything else in your life! When the truth of this really takes hold of you, you’ll have a new confidence and respect for His Word. God wants to talk to you today, and the things He wants to say are in your Bible. Have you been reading it prayerfully and with an open heart? Paul said these Words are ‘God-breathed’. Until God breathed into him, Adam was a corpse (and spiritually speaking, so are we). When God breathed into Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones, they received life and became a mighty army (see Ezekiel 37:1–14).

Are you getting the idea? When you get the Word into you, you are getting God’s very life into you! The Word is to train you in ‘righteousness’. One translator says, ‘To let you know about your right standing before God’! Do you know what your ‘rights’ are? Satan will cheat you out of them if you let him, but the Word will train you how to know, to claim, and to enjoy your covenant rights and privileges as a child of God. Don’t settle for less! Eugene Peterson in The Message puts it this way: ‘Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way’ (2 Timothy 3:16 MSG).

PRAYER Father, I’m so thankful that the Bible is much more than just words printed on a page – it’s Your living voice, and it speaks directly into my life! Thank You for the privilege of being able to hear from you every day.

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READING 5 // 1998

Basic survival skills

‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?’

Psalm 27:1 KJV

For seven years, Jeremiah Denton was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. Most of it in solitary confinement. As one of the highest ranking American prisoners, he was subjected to gruelling torture. But he not only survived, he overcame it and, when he returned home, he was elected to the United States Senate. How did he ever do it? He says that one of his ‘basic survival skills’ was quoting passages he had memorised from the Bible. Internalised Scriptures were his sword to defend himself against the cruellest weapons the enemy could use. He used them to build a wall of protection around himself. Memorised Scriptures literally became his prayers. Try it today! Meditate upon His Word. Memorise it! Begin to pray it and watch your faith grow and your fears melt.

You pray differently when you’re not sure you’ll see the light of another day. David spent years on the run from King Saul. One night in a cave he wrote, ‘I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me’ (Psalm 30:1–2 NIV). What a testimony! Go ahead, child of God, start declaring His Word over your situation today. It worked for Denton, for David, and it will work for you too!

PRAYER Heavenly Father, today I’m praying for all the people facing challenges and troubles, but who are being sustained by Your Word. I pray that it would be a light of hope in their darkest times. And for all those who haven’t yet turned to You and the comfort Your Word brings, I ask that their hearts would be opened to the truth of the Bible. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

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READING 6 // 1999

Bible fortifiers

‘He is able to help those who are being tempted.’

Hebrews 2:18 NIV

God’s love for you is rivalled only by Satan’s hatred. The devil knows you have the potential to fulfil the words, ‘Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10 KJV). He’s out to stop that at any cost. One of his greatest weapons against you is temptation. If you’re facing it today, here are some Scriptures to help you stand. They’re Bible fortifiers – use them! 1) ‘God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV). 2) ‘I have given you authority ... to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you’ (Luke 10:19 NIV). 3) ‘The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you’ (Romans 16:20 NIV). 4) ‘Put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground’ (Ephesians 6:13 NIVUK). 5) ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand’ (Isaiah 41:10 NIV). 6) We have Jesus, ‘who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need’ (Hebrews 4:15–16 NIV). The way to handle the wolf is to stay close to the Shepherd. Just run to His arms today: He’ll shelter you and strengthen you.

PRAYER Help me, Lord, to stand in the strength of Your Word when I’m facing spiritual attacks.

Thank You that Your Word speaks into every situation, so whatever I’m going through, I know I have exactly the words of wisdom that I need.

When you don’t have the words…

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READING 7 // 2000

Look out for the thorns!

‘The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word.’

Mark 4:19 NIV

Jesus said that four different types of ground received the seed (His Word), but only one produced any fruit. In the first it was wasted, in the second it withered, in the third it was choked by thorns, and in the fourth it was fruitful. Which are you? Are you the third type – you received the Word and began to grow, but gradually your growth was choked by thorns? What are they? Three things: 1) The worries of this life! The German word for worry is wurgen; it means ‘to strangle mentally’! What a picture! Perfect peace strangled by constant stress, the fear of tomorrow, or the opinions of others. Surely God looks on and thinks, ‘How easily they forget.’ 2) The deceitfulness of wealth. We rationalise this by saying money doesn’t mean much to us. We’re like heavyweight champ Joe Lewis, who smiled and said, ‘l don’t like money actually, but it quiets my nerves.’ Yeah, sure Joe! Take another look at the things that money won’t buy – like character, the love of your family, the respect of your peers, or the peace of God. 3) The desire for other things. The mistake here is in thinking you’d be happy if only you had something ‘other’ than what you’ve got – like another house or another spouse!

Life is not built on things, it’s built on relationships, and the first relationship you need – is a relationship with God. How’s yours today?

PRAYER Dear Lord, I pray that Your Word would grow within me so that I can produce fruit for Your kingdom. Help me to recognise the things that hinder that growth so that I may keep my focus on You. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Let us pray with you and help you invite God into your situation.

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READING 8 // 2001

How to read your Bible

‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.’

Psalm 119:18 NIV

You ask, ‘How can I get more out of my Bible reading?’ As you come to God’s Word today, here are four tips to help you: 1) Come humbly! Listen: ‘Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation’ (1 Peter 2:2 NIV). What’s more helpless than a baby? Or more needy? Or more dependent? That’s how to approach your Bible. 2) Come hungry! Listen: ‘He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things’ (Psalm 107:9 NIV). It’s your hunger that determines your future, so protect it. Refuse to be satisfied with televised garbage when you can sit at God’s table. 3) Come persistently! Ask more from each verse. Paul speaks of ‘the manifold wisdom of God’ (Ephesians 3:10 NIV). The word manifold means that each verse is like a diamond – every angle brings another beam of light. Martin Luther said, ‘Study your Bible like you pick apples. First, shake the tree, then shake the limbs, then shake the branches, then shake the twigs, then look under every leaf.’ 4) Come openly!

Most people’s opinion of a good sermon is one that goes right over their heads and hits their neighbour right between the eyes! Personalise what you read. Prayer is you talking to God; Bible reading is God talking to you. Today, pray, ‘Lord, what are You saying to me in this?’ If you do that, your Bible reading will come alive.

PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You that You meet me where I’m at and welcome me into Your kingdom. Even though I may need to step out of my comfort zone, in Your grace You don’t rush me or treat me harshly. Help me approach my Bible study not with a spirit of apprehension, but with expectancy and excitement at what new things You’ll reveal to me through Your Word.

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READING 9 // 2002

Walking sticks

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’

Proverbs 3:5 NIV

Abbott Vaughn writes: ‘At my father’s house, we’d a little closet where he kept walking sticks from several generations. When we went out for a walk, he’d pick one to suit the occasion. David said, “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 KJV), and I’ve often been reminded that God’s Word is a staff we can lean on. During the war when we were in such danger, the verse, “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:7 NIV) was our staff on many a dark day. When our child died and we were broken-hearted, I found a staff in the promise: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 NKJV). When I was away from home for a year due to poor health, not knowing if I’d ever return, this staff never failed: “For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you...plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). In times of doubt when I didn’t know which way to go, l went forward leaning on this staff: “in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15 NIV). And in emergencies, when there was no time to figure anything out, this staff never failed me: “he that believeth [trusts in God] shall not make haste” (Isaiah 28:16 KJV).’ Solomon says, ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5 NIV). What are you leaning on today?

PRAYER Thank You, God, that we can always lean on You and Your Word for strength whenever we need it. When I don’t know where to turn, help me to remember that my hope and comfort is found in You. Day and night, Your Word is there to support me. Thank You for this amazing gift! Amen.

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READING 10 // 2003

Get into God’s Word

‘Let his words enrich your lives and make you wise.’

Colossians 3:16 TLB

How does the Spirit of God make us like the Son of God? Through the Word of God! That’s why Satan fights to keep you from reading your Bible. Listen: ‘[God’s] gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need’ (Acts 20:32 MSG). Did you get that? ‘Everything!’ God’s Word is seed.

It’s filled with potential. Jesus said, ‘the words that I have spoken to you...are life’ (John 6:63 NASB). When we hear from God, things suddenly come to life in us! Your Bible is more than just a doctrinal guidebook; it generates life, creates faith, produces change, frightens the devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever. You can’t survive spiritually without God’s Word. It’s as essential to your life as food. Job said, ‘I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread’ (Job 23:12 NIV). God’s Word is the spiritual nourishment you need to fulfil your life’s purpose. The Bible is called our milk, bread, solid food, and sweet dessert (see 1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 4:4; 1 Corinthians 3:2; Psalm 119:103). This four-course meal is the Spirit’s menu for daily strength and growth. Peter writes, ‘crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation’ (1 Peter 2:2 NIV). So rearrange your priorities, sacrifice lesser things, discipline yourself, and make a commitment to spend time each day in God’s Word!

PRAYER Lord, I never stop being amazed at the variety in Your Word! Every verse is rich with wisdom and insights, and has everything I need to be able to grow more Christlike. It speaks into every situation. Help me recommit myself to You and get to know You even more through Your precious Word. Amen.

The UCB Word For Today is a free* daily devotional packed with verses and a ‘Bible in a Year’ reading plan.

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READING 11 // 2004

Wimpy faith

‘Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ Romans 10:17 KJV

Too many of us are getting by on wimpy faith. We are not ‘putting ourselves out there’ when it comes to trusting God. There are all kinds of things that we say we believe, but we cannot really believe them – because they do not show up in the way we live.

We should live in such a way that if God is not who He says He is, we will fall flat on our face. That means looking for opportunities to trust Him more; living in such a way that He has to come through for you; making decisions that will strengthen your faith for the tough times ahead. ‘But how?’ you ask. Paul answers, ‘faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ lf someone could stick a spiritual thermometer under your tongue and read the level of your faith, the thing that would cause it to rise or fall measurably, would be the time you have spent in God’s Word. ‘Well, my faith’s pretty low at the minute,’ you say. Then we know that you have not spent enough time in God’s Word! ‘I wish I had your faith,’ you say. Actually, there is no mystery about how to close the gap between our faith and that of others – just log more time in God’s Word! Is this always easy to do? No. It calls for rearranging your priorities, taking better control of your time and putting Bible reading at the top of your ‘to-do’ list. But if you are serious about growing in faith, it is a price you will be willing to pay.

PRAYER There are times when life takes over and I forget to spend time in Your Word, or I rush through it with my mind on something else. Father God, help me to make Bible reading a priority in my life. With every Word I read, help me expand my faith and increase my trust in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get your copy of the daily readings FREE OF CHARGE* online at

UCB.CO.UK/signup *UK only. Overseas subscription charge applies.

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READING 12 // 2005

Deepening your hunger for God’s Word

‘Crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.’

1 Peter 2:2 NIV

Have your daily devotions become more duty than desire? God says, ‘crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.’ The word ‘crave’ means ‘asking earnestly; longing eagerly; feeling in great need of.’ So: 1) Ask God to meet you in the Scriptures. As you read, expect Him to show up. Remember, your goal is to build a relationship, not turn in a book report! Listen: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matthew 4:17 KJV). As you read, become aware that Jesus is present. Ask Him to wash your mind, even if the cleanser stings a bit. Expect to be moved by His love for you, convicted of some sin, or prompted to make changes in your life. 2) Read your Bible with a repentant heart. Be vulnerable! What you are after is not information but transformation. Being unchanged by your Bible is worse than having no Bible at all! Jesus said, ‘Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you’ (John 15:3 KJV). 3) Meditate on a brief passage or a word. This may mean adjusting your attitude from ‘getting through the Bible’, to hearing God speak to you. Success is not in the number of pages you read; God does not have a big behaviour modification chart on His refrigerator and each time you read another chapter you get a gold star.

Your goal is not to get through the Scriptures, it is to get the Scriptures through you!

If you are serious about deepening your hunger for God’s Word, take a moment and re-read today’s devotion.

PRAYER Lord, it isn’t always easy to read my Bible. Sometimes it feels dry and I lose some of my enthusiasm. But You are a God of new things! So today I pray that You would give me fresh revelations from Your Word. Help me to discover different ways to study so that I would learn new things about You and see things from a different perspective. Amen.

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READING 13 // 2006

A daily dose of Scripture

‘It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus…explained the Scriptures to us.’

Luke 24:32 NCV

The two Emmaus-bound pilgrims discovered the power of the Scripture that first Easter Sunday. They were broken-hearted from the crucifixion: ‘sadness [was] written across their faces’ (Luke 24:17 NLT). They allowed their pain to blind them to the presence of Jesus. He’d risen from the dead, and though they didn’t yet recognise Him, He’d come to take their sorrow. How would He do this? ‘Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself’ (Luke 24:27 NLT). He opened their eyes, lifting their heavy hearts with the Scriptures. He chose the one thing that never fails; God’s Word! Did it make a difference? For those two it did: ‘It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us.’ Trying to live a victorious Christian life without a daily dose of the Scriptures is like trying to run your car on an empty tank, work all week on an empty stomach, or pay your bills on an empty bank account.

Steve Farrar writes: ‘I need to be reminded of what is true. God’s Word gives me a dose of reality. My morning briefing in the Word gives me a perspective that I don’t get in the world. I need God’s commentary on my life every day. A Christian...in this society is swimming upstream. Without the constant nutrition of the Word, he will soon tire and be dragged off by the sheer force of the current.’ So, spend time each day in the Scriptures!

PRAYER Heavenly Father, when it feel like I’m running on empty in areas of my life, please refill me with Your Word. May it give me energy, a reserve of courage to draw on, and a never-ending supply of comfort when I need it most. Thank You for the blessing of Your living Word. Amen.

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READING 14 // 2007

If you want the benefits!

‘His powerful Word is sharp.’

Hebrews 4:12 MSG

Your Bible will speak to a part of you that can’t hear or receive direction from anybody else. It’s like a surgeon’s knife piercing to the deepest part of us: ‘His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defence, laying us open to listen and obey.’ Others hear what we say and see what we do, but when we get alone with God and open His Word, He exposes our thoughts and intentions, ‘cutting through everything’. Thank God, we’re not left to our own devices!

In Life Essentials, Dr Tony Evans writes, ‘I’ve had my car for several years now, but I went for about two years without ever reading the owner’s manual. That changed one day when my car broke down and I had to take it in for service. The store manager began showing me all the stuff my car was equipped to do. I didn’t even know half that stuff was available because I had never opened the book. He told me, for instance, that the car had a built-in speaker for telephone conversations, and showed me how to use the car phone without having an accident while trying to dial all the numbers. I listened in amazement, and quickly decided that it would be in my best interests to read the owner’s manual that came with my car. But I am not reading that manual just to check off how many chapters I read, or memorise various passages. I am reading it so I can enjoy all the good gifts the manufacturer gave me when I purchased the car.’ So, if you want the benefits, read the book!

PRAYER Dear God, thank You that You don’t leave us to figure things out for ourselves, but give us Your Word to teach, show, and correct us. Thank You that it contains a whole lifetime of discovery for us. Help me to see the Bible for the wonderful gift it truly is.

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READING 15 // 2008

Be faithful to the Scriptures ‘All Scripture is God-breathed.’

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

The first lie ever recorded was the one Satan told Eve when he said that God didn’t really mean what He said, and he’s still peddling the same line. You hear it in comments like: a) ‘If you’re sincere, it doesn’t matter what you believe.’ What if you’re sincerely wrong? If your car brakes don’t work your sincerity won’t stop you; telephone poles and buildings will. b) ‘We must be careful not to offend anyone.’ What if people don’t want to hear the truth or live according to it? Should we soften or edit the Scriptures based on what we think they can handle? If you love someone, wouldn’t you interrupt their sleep to keep them from burning up with the house? c) ‘There is truth in the Bible, but not all the Bible is true.’ Paul writes that ‘all Scripture is God-breathed’, and Isaiah says, ‘If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them’ (Isaiah 8:20 KJV). Twelve inches must make one foot, otherwise we’re all open to each other’s interpretations and subject to each other’s value judgments, and somebody’s going to get the short end of the stick. Now, when we become arrogant in presenting the truth, the cause of Christ suffers and spiritually hungry people are turned off. We who have received grace and mercy must show it. But let’s not compromise what God’s Word says. Interestingly, when polled recently, the majority of today’s young people (16- to 29-year-olds) said, ‘Give it to me straight. And if you don’t live it, don’t give it!’

How refreshing! Bottom line: God’s Word is wholly, solely, fully, completely, and altogether true. So be faithful to the Scriptures!

PRAYER Lord, help me to share the truth of Your Word with others. When I have my own doubts, please help me to remember all the times You’ve been faithful to Your Word. Thank You that we can trust You completely. Amen.

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LIFE ISSUES

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Looking back and looking forward As UCB looks back on the past, we are also able to look with expectation toward the future. This transcript of a prophetic word given by David L’Herroux in 2016 has come to be known as the ‘iSee vision’, and it’s a core part of UCB’s vision for the future. ( Transcript of a prophetic word given by David L’Herroux in 2016) After spending time with God seeking the way forward; rejoicing about the past and those who’ve gone before us; rejoicing about the many lives that have been changed and transformed by the power of God, I want to give you a glimpse of what I am seeing today and that came with the challenge of Jesus’ words to His disciples in John 4:35.

He challenged them and said, ‘You need to lift up your eyes and look at the fields and see how white and ready they are for the harvest.’ It’s easy to look at the gloom and the despondency and the brokenness that there is in our world today, but I think that God wants us to see what He sees today.

Here is what I see:

I see God turning the heart of a godless society back to Himself; I see the church living and operating in the power of the gospel; I see our government, our laws, our society being reshaped by the truth of God’s Word.

I see family units coming together into the knowledge and transformation of God’s power. From the toughest parts of the cities to the rural parts of our country.

I see every generation, young and old, knowing their worth and experiencing value and purpose for their lives.

I see people standing for what is true and becoming intolerant for all the right reasons.

Intolerant of injustice; intolerant of wrongdoing; that’s what I see.

I see people getting ready to answer God’s call in a way that we have never seen before.

I see people standing together, totally united for their city, and not being afraid to stand and say, ‘We are the church.’

The UCB Word For Today is a free* daily devotional packed with verses and a ‘Bible in a Year’ reading plan.

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I see the church mobilised to take the gospel to towns, villages and cities, making disciples and being totally committed to what God has called them to, in the very core of society.

I see restoration; I see addictions being broken. I see miracles being the order of the day in the life of society because the church is the true light and soul today, like never before.

I see an army of young people having visions, and I see older people, instead of being put on the shelf, having dreams that they have never had before, and wanting to support and converge with the younger generation to make sure that God will have His way.

I truly see and believe that the day is coming when God is going to pour His spirit upon all flesh.

I see the young and the old, children and grandparents, lifting the banner of victory; looking at their society and believing that God has a message of hope, and praising God, using every means, every effort, everybody, to lift up a banner for victory!

You might say, ‘David, you’re in cuckoo land, you’re dreaming in a way that’s never been dreamed before.’

And therefore it is time to switch on and see what God wants us to see. Believe that the enemy will not have the upper hand. He may have the best strategy – the strategy to steal, to kill and to destroy – but the verse doesn’t stop there. The Bible says that Jesus came that we might have life, life to the full.

I strongly believe that we are moving into an hour without precedent, and we, as a ministry, need to be ready like never before; we need to be ready so that people will be resourced, that we will help them in their faith, and at a time when the church will not be able to cope with the unprecedented harvest coming into the barn, those who are becoming Christians will be able turn to a place for reliable content which encourages, edifies, and inspires.

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PAGE 19

READING 17 // 2010

Read your Bible!

‘But the Word of the Lord endures forever.’

1 Peter 1:25 NIV

Jana Jones says, ‘During the day I take a few moments to unwind by reading the Bible. After seeing me do this for several months, my four-year-old daughter became concerned: “Aren’t you ever going to finish reading that book?”’ You could read the Bible for a lifetime and not ‘scratch the surface’. There’s no other book like it. For example: 1) No human being would have written to such a high standard. Stop and think of the best person you know. You must admit, even they would have left certain things out, wouldn’t they? 2) There’s an aura the Bible generates that no other book does.

Martin Luther said, ‘The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.’ Try laying a newspaper on your table at a restaurant and no one will give you a second look. But lay your Bible on it and they’ll stare at you, watch you chew your food, and maybe even take a note of your number plate when you get into your car. That’s because the Bible creates a sense of God’s presence that forces a reaction in the hearts of men and women. 3) We are changed as we read it. Our core values are altered, peace enters our spirit, joy wells up within our heart. ‘Whatever God says to us is full of living power: it is sharper than the sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are’ (Hebrews 4:12 TLB). The answers you need are in your Bible, so make it part of your everyday life.

PRAYER Father, I pray that I would see Your Word as a feast for my mind and soul, full of nourishment and goodness. Let it shape me, sharpen me, and bring me true joy that can only come from You. I pray that my desire to spend time with my Bible would grow each day.

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READING 16 // 2009

Attitude. Appetite. Aim.

‘Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.’

1 Peter 2:2 NASB

When it comes to Bible-reading, Dr Howard Hendricks points out three things we must constantly be aware of: 1) Our attitude. Just as a baby grabs for the bottle, we should reach for our Bible. A baby needs milk to sustain its life physically, and we need the Scriptures to sustain us spiritually. 2) Our appetite. We should ‘long’ for God’s Word. This is a cultivated taste. When someone says, ‘I’m not getting much out of the Bible,’ that’s a greater commentary on them than on the Book! Psalm 19:10 says the Scriptures ‘are sweeter than honey’ (NIV). But judging by some of us you’d never know that. There are three basic kinds of Bible students. There’s the ‘nasty medicine’ type. To them, the Word is bitter, but it’s good for what ails them. Then there’s the ‘shredded wheat’ type. To them, the Scripture is nourishing but dry. It’s like eating a bale of hay. Then there’s the ‘strawberries-and-cream’ type. They just can’t get enough of it. How did they acquire such a taste? By feasting on the Word. They cultivated what Peter describes as an insatiable appetite for scriptural truth. Which of the three types are you? 3) Our aim. The aim of Bible reading is ‘that you may grow’. Now you can’t grow unless you know, but unfortunately you can know and not grow. The Bible wasn’t written to satisfy our curiosity, but to help conform us to Christ’s image. Not to make us smarter, but to make us more like the Saviour. Not to fill our head with biblical facts, but to transform our lives.

PRAYER Thank You, Lord, for Your sustaining Word. Each time I open up my Bible, I pray that You would help me approach it with the right attitude, a healthy spiritual appetite, and with the right aim and motives. Let each verse touch my heart and transform my life.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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READING 18 // 2011

God’s Word has the answer

‘The teaching of your word gives light.’

Psalm 119:130 NLT

God’s Word has the answers you need, but you’ve got to read it! You say, ‘But I’m not sure where to start!’ Here are some helpful Scriptures from the New Living Translation: 1) When you are worried. ‘Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you’ (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). ‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything’ (Philippians 4:6 NLT). ‘He alone is my rock and my salvation...I will not be shaken’ (Psalm 62:6–7 NLT). ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!’ (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). ‘The Lord...will...go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you’ (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT). 2) When you are heartbroken. ‘He heals the broken-hearted and bandages their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3 NLT). ‘Even when l walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me’ (Psalm 23:4 NLT). ‘He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others’ (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT). ‘God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you’ (Deuteronomy 33:27 NLT). 3) When you are feeling guilty. ‘Everyone who believes in him is made right in God’s sight’ (Acts 13:39 NLT). ‘lf we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness’ (1 John 1:9 NLT). ‘You are holy and blameless as you stand before him’ (Colossians 1:22 NLT).

‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow’ (Isaiah 1:18 NLT).

‘Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God’ (Romans 8:39 NLT). ‘I alone am he who blots away your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again’ (Isaiah 43:25 TLB).

PRAYER Thank You, God, that I can find answers in Your Word. Help me equip myself with it so that I’m ready to face every challenge that comes my way. There is no occasion too big or too small for You to care about, and I am so grateful that I can find wisdom for all of them simply by turning to my Bible.

When you don’t have the words…

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READING 19 // 2012

Do you love God’s Word?

‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’

Matthew 24:35 NIV

One of the first books to come off the printing press when it was invented was the Bible. And it’s still the world’s best-selling book. An anonymous author has written: ‘It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the fate of sinners, and the happiness of believers. It is a light to direct you, food to nourish you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller’s road map, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s weapon, and the player’s game plan. It’s a mine of incredible wealth, and a river of genuine joy.

Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Christ is its grand subject, your good its design, and the glory of God its end. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practise it to be spiritually healthy. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. Let it fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your steps. It is given to you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered for ever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and judge those who trifle with its sacred contents.’ The Bible is ‘The word of our God which shall stand forever’ (see 1 Peter 1:25). Most of us respect the Bible; the trouble is we don’t read it daily and put it into practice. After hearing a discussion on various translations of the Bible, one man said: ‘I prefer my mother’s translation, because she translated it into everyday life.’ Are you doing that?

PRAYER Help me, Father, to bring Your Word to life through my actions and attitude each day. May I be an ambassador of Your Word to the people around me. Thank You for encouraging me to love the Scriptures; I pray my love for them would increase day by day! Amen.

Let us pray with you and help you invite God into your situation.

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READING 20 // 2013

Trust your Bible. It’s true!

‘That the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’

Matthew 26:56 NIV

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled no less than twenty-nine different Old Testament prophecies. The odds of that happening are virtually impossible!

Mathematician Peter Stoner explains it this way: ‘If you were to cover the state of Texas two feet deep in pound coins, then on one, place a mark. What is the probability that a blindfolded person could, on their first attempt, select that coin? That’s the likelihood of just eight prophecies being fulfilled in one lifetime. And Jesus fulfilled twenty-nine of them in one day!’ Let’s look at some of the prophecies He fulfilled: 1) ‘They pierced My hands and My feet’ (Psalm 22:16 NKJV). 2) ‘They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots’ (Psalm 22:18 NKJV). 3) ‘In that day…I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in broad daylight’ (Amos 8:9 NKJV).

Jesus predicted both His death and His resurrection. He told His critics, ‘“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”…the temple he had spoken of was his body’ (John 2:19–21 NIV). Jesus orchestrated every event, including Judas’ betrayal, the high priest’s hypocrisy, and Peter’s denial. Why? ‘That the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ So you can trust your Bible because it’s true. And something else is true too. God is ‘able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine’ (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). Note the words ‘immeasurably more’. What seems impossible to you at the moment is all in a day’s work for Him. So start trusting Him to work on your behalf.

PRAYER Lord, in the busyness of everyday life, it’s easy to forget the wonder of Your Word. So today I pray for a renewed sense of amazement and awe that burns within me and compels me to open my Bible. Thank You that nothing is impossible for You. Thank You for every miracle that has been faithfully recorded in the Scriptures. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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READING 21 // 2014

‘Jack’

‘Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him.’ Luke 24:31 NKJV

He was a militant non-believer, who summed up his worldview with a verse from Lucretius: ‘Had God designed the world, it would not be a world so frail and faulty as we see.’ So Jack turned his attention to academia, excelling in each field he studied.

Soon the dons of Oxford took him in as a respected peer and he began to write and teach. Yet, far beneath the surface, his doubts were taking their toll. He described his mental state with words like ‘misery and hopelessness’. He said, ‘I maintained God did not exist. I was also angry with God for not existing.’ Then two friends, also Oxford dons, J.R.R. Tolkien and H.V.D. Dyson, both devout followers of Christ, urged him to do something he’d surprisingly never done: read the Bible. So he did. Jack began to wrestle with the claims Christ made, concluding that He was either deluded, deceptive, or the very One He claimed to be, the Son of God. On the evening of 19th September 1931, Jack and his two friends took a long walk through the Oxford campus. They talked late into the night. And Jack, C.S. ‘Jack’ Lewis, would later recall a rush of wind that caused the first leaf to fall – a sudden breeze, which possibly came to symbolise for him the Holy Spirit. Soon after that night, Lewis became a believer. The change revolutionised his world and consequently the worlds of millions of readers. Could it be this simple?

Could the chasm between doubt and faith be spanned with Scripture and Christian fellowship? Why don’t you come to Christ and find out for yourself?

PRAYER Lord, Your Word has the power to reach out to people and touch their hearts in a way that nothing else can. Today, my thoughts are with everyone who is opening a Bible for the first time, and those who are opening it after a long time away from it. Please bless them and fill them with a thirst that can only be quenched by Your precious Word. Amen.

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READING 22 // 2016

Your answer is in the Bible

‘The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.’

Psalm 19:7 NLT

Worldly success can leave you empty, but here’s something that won’t: ‘The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.’ Have your plans fallen apart? Have you made a mess of your life? Do you need direction? Read this: ‘The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple’ (v. 7 NLT). Have the things you thought would bring you happiness ended up bringing you misery? Read this: ‘The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart’ (v. 8 NLT). Are you directionless, wondering where to go and what to do with your life? Read this: ‘The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living’ (v. 8 NLT). The answers you’re seeking are in your Bible.

David was a brilliant soldier, a popular king, and a man with access to all the riches anyone could desire. But he discovered these things don’t bring lasting joy. What he found instead is that: ‘The laws of the Lord are true…They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them’ (vv. 9–11 NLT). What was David’s problem? ‘How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?

Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt’ (vv. 12–13 NLT). What was David’s solution? Reading God’s Word daily, feeding his soul on it, and walking according to its precepts.

PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You that Your ways and Words are totally different from the world’s. Thank You that You give us a better perspective. When success as the world sees it fails to fulfil me, help me to turn instead to Your Word for hope and guidance, because I can only find real success and contentment in You. Amen.

The UCB Word For Today is a free* daily devotional packed with verses and a ‘Bible in a Year’ reading plan.

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READING 23 // 2016

Bible study: make it personal

‘The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you.’

Mark 4:24 AMPC

Martin Luther said studying the Bible was like picking apples. First you shake the trunk, then you shake the limb, then you shake the branch, then you shake the twig, then you look under every leaf. There’s no other book in the world like it. You can read the same Bible verse a dozen times and get a dozen different insights. That’s because it’s ‘Godbreathed’ (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV). Here’s what Jesus said about studying God’s Word: ‘[Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation.] For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything [temporarily] kept secret except in order that it may be made known’ (Mark 4:22 AMPC). Then He adds: ‘Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you – and more [besides] will be given to you who hear’ (v. 24 AMPC). Do you want to grow spiritually? Build better relationships? Succeed in your career? Conquer anxiety and find peace? Break a bad habit? Be healed from the emotional wounds of your past? Then meditate on, ponder, think about, practise mentally, and verbalise the Word of God. Instead of living off someone else’s spiritual insight, study God’s Word for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to bless you with life-transforming insights. Jesus said, ‘The Spirit takes my message and tells it to you’ (John 16:15 CEV). And you’ll experience the truth of those words when you personalise the Scripture you’re reading.

PRAYER Today, Lord, I just want to say thank You that Your Word never grows old or stale.

It’s always fresh, and there’s always more for me to discover. I can’t wait to continue this personal journey with You as I explore deeper into Your Word!

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READING 24 // 2017

Learn to meditate

‘On his law he meditates day and night.’

Psalm 1:2 NIV (1984 Edition)

Butterflies cover more ground, but bees gather more honey. That’s because the butterfly just flies over the flowers, whereas the bee lands on each one and stays there long enough to extract the nectar. That’s the difference between merely reading your Bible for a few hurried minutes, and taking time to meditate on what you’re reading.

Meditation isn’t something difficult and mysterious that only scholars and ‘spiritual’ people do. It’s just thinking deeply and continuously about a passage of Scripture, memorising it, letting it take root, and ‘owning it’ until it becomes a life force operating within you each day. The point isn’t how much Scripture you memorise, it’s what happens to you in the process. Meditating on God’s Word clarifies your understanding and corrects your conduct. It enriches your thinking and equips you by making you think different thoughts than if you were watching TV, for example, or texting, or talking on your mobile phone, or shopping. The psalmist writes: ‘They delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do’ (vv. 2–3 NLT). Meditating on God’s Word is the cure for moral and spiritual weakness; for a life with no focus; for a lack of intimacy with God; for chronically weak faith that causes you to fail and keep missing God’s best. So open your Bible, read it, and pray, ‘Lord, what are You saying to me?’ Then meditate on His answer.

PRAYER God, I pray that I wouldn’t feel intimidated by people who seem to have memorised every chapter in Scripture, or feel that I need to compete with them. My journey with You is unique; help me to keep this in mind each time I open my Bible. I pray for precious times of reflection when I can immerse myself in Your Word and receive new revelations from You.

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READING 25 // 2018

Why you should read your Bible

‘There’s nothing like the written Word of God.’ 2 Timothy 3:16 MSG

Paul wrote to Timothy: ‘Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse. But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers – why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us’ (vv. 13–17 MSG). Here’s why you should read your Bible: 1) So you won’t be led astray. God will never say something to you through another person, or your own thoughts, that does not line up with what He’s clearly revealed in His Word. That’s why you need to know the Scriptures. 2) To know you’re truly saved. The apostle John writes: ‘These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God’ (1 John 5:13 NKJV).

3) To identify your calling and equip you. Paul says, ‘Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us’ (2 Timothy 3:17 MSG). The Bible is your guidebook for living the Christian life, so read it every day!

PRAYER Heavenly Father, there are so many benefits in reading Your Word. I’m sorry for every time I’ve neglected it or let something else take its place in my life. I ask that You would keep my eyes fixed on You, and that the Bible would become my instruction manual for daily life! Amen.

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READING 26 // 2019

When you worship, you’re taking in God’s Word ‘Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.’

Ephesians 5:19 NKJV

The truths of God’s Word have been passed down from generation to generation through preaching, teaching, and publishing. But they have also been passed down through hymns of worship we sing in church. When you sing them, you’re proclaiming the truth of God’s Word and simultaneously ingesting it. You grow spiritually through the Word you hear, the Word you study, the Word you speak, and yes, the Word you sing. Paul writes, ‘Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord’ (vv. 18–19 NKJV).

Jesus didn’t just preach the Word, He sang it too: ‘And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives’ (Matthew 26:30 KJV). Why does the Bible place such emphasis on speaking God’s Word? Because when you read God’s Word aloud you ingest it in two ways – through the eye-gate and the ear-gate. And the same thing happens when you sing God’s Word. The readers of God’s Word shouldn’t look down on the singers of God’s Word, and the singers shouldn’t feel spiritually inferior to the readers. The important thing is to get into God’s Word and get God’s Word into you.

Some of us do that best through a sermon, others through personal Bible study, and others through songs that proclaim the life-changing truths of His Word. So, when you worship, you’re taking in God’s Word.

PRAYER Whether I sing, write, speak, or think Your Words, I pray that each time I connect with them, I would approach them with a heart that’s overflowing with praise and worship!

Lord, thank You that You help us to access Your Word in so many ways, and that You speak to each one of us personally through it.

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READING 27 // 2020

Soak your mind in God’s Word

‘I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.’

Psalm 119:11 NLT

Are you discouraged because you keep committing the same sins over and over again?

Here’s your answer: soak your mind in God’s Word! Just like you soak a sponge in water and it comes out dripping and filled to capacity, soak your mind in Scripture until it’s filled to the brim with God’s Word. That way, when you’re tempted to do wrong, your first recourse will be a ‘Spirit and Word’ empowered response. If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting the same results. So if you are sick and tired of living in defeat, here’s a time-tested prescription from God’s Word for making you whole: ‘How can a young person [or an older one] stay pure? By obeying your word’ (v. 9 NLT). ‘You are already clean because of the word…I have spoken to you’ (John 15:3 NKJV). ‘That He might sanctify and cleanse [you] with the washing of water by the word’ (Ephesians 5:26 NKJV). ‘The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart’ (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV). ‘Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name’ (Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV). These Scriptures all lead to one conclusion: if you’re serious about wanting to walk in victory, you must get into God’s Word and get God’s Word into you. There is no other way.

PRAYER Father, I pray that I may soak in Your Word every day, and become so full of it that there’s no room for wrong thoughts to take root in my mind. Let it protect my mind and guard my heart so that I can live a life that glorifies You in everything I do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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READING 28 // 2021

How to approach Bible reading

‘The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.’

Psalm 19:8 NIV

How you approach reading the Bible is crucial. You must do two things: 1) Approach it with integrity. When a new Christian in a Bible study group said, ‘I’ve had a hard time believing some parts of the Bible,’ the others smiled and applauded. They didn’t do it because unbelief is good news; they did it because he’d finally been honest enough to admit his doubts. Don’t worry; God’s not upset with you. Until you’re willing to talk about your doubts, you can’t resolve them. When Thomas questioned the resurrection, Jesus showed up just to convince him. And He will show up for you too! It’s a mistake to try to force yourself into believing something or avoid reading it so you don’t get disturbed. Jesus said, ‘When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth…He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you’ (John 16:13–14 NIV). 2) Read it with expectancy. Once you’ve been to a book signing, met the author and got their autograph, you feel very different about the book. You treasure it. And when you read the Bible with an expectant heart, the author shows up. As you read His words you begin to sense His presence and realise He is speaking to you personally. Jesus said, ‘The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life’ (John 6:63 NIV). When you come to the Scriptures with a hunger and an expectancy, you never go away disappointed.

PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank You that You don’t turn away from us when we doubt Your Word or fail to live in a way that honours You. I pray that I would always treasure the Scriptures, that they would be a guiding light for the journey I’m on, and that I would always come hungry and humbly into my Bible-reading time. Amen.

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READING 29 // 2022

God’s DNA is in His Word ‘All Scripture is God-breathed.’

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

On a cold day, have you ever tried breathing on your hands to restore warmth and life?

That’s like what happens when you meditate on God’s Word, because ‘all Scripture is God-breathed’. Imagine yourself at a party where people are blowing up balloons and popping them with pins. A scientist could figure out which balloon was yours because your DNA (the genetic configuration that makes you unique) is in your breath. Now apply that principle to reading the Bible, and you will understand how vital it is to your spiritual life. John tells us ‘the Word was God’ (John 1:1 NKJV), so anytime you ingest God’s Word, you’re ingesting His attributes. That’s why the Enemy will try to keep you so busy that you have no time to read your Bible. The truth is, many of the issues we struggle with could be resolved or eliminated altogether if we developed a hunger for God’s Word. Job said, ‘I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food’ (Job 23:12 NKJV).

Jeremiah, who was so dejected that he became known as ‘the weeping prophet’, said, ‘Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart’ (Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV). Jesus experienced every test and trial known to man; He even went toe-to-toe with the Tempter. What was the secret of His strength?

He said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”’ (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). Today get God’s Word into you – it’s His DNA.

PRAYER Father, help me see the Words of the Bible as food for my soul and spirit, as necessary to me as food and water. Even though Your Word has stood for centuries, I’m so thankful that it is also a personal message to me. You know everything about me, and You know exactly how to speak to me through Your Word each day!

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READING 30 // 2023

Your handbook for life!

‘The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.’

Psalm 19:8 NLT

The marquee outside a little country church read: ‘Jesus said…’ That’s it – nothing else!

Obviously the custodian was interrupted before finishing the job, leaving the incomplete message for passing drivers to fill in the blank. Doubtless, some would drive by giving it little thought. The more biblically minded might search their memory for the right answer. Some might think the custodian missed an opportunity to proclaim words that can transform lives. Jesus said, ‘Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word and so it is life-making’ (John 6:63 MSG). The words of people can inform us, but only the words of God can transform us. David understood the awesome benefits of God’s Word. In Psalm 19:7–11 (NLT), he tells us it’s essential for these: 1) ‘Reviving the soul.’

God’s Word is inexhaustible, but we’re not! We wear down with time and effort, and need restoration and revitalising. 2) ‘Making wise the simple.’ God’s Word gives you insights for crucial, everyday decision-making. A high IQ isn’t required; the Bible is for regular and ordinary people. David said, ‘I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Your precepts’ (Psalm 119:99–100 NASB 1995 Edition). 3) ‘Bringing joy to the heart’ (Psalm 19:8 NLT). Happiness is dependent on having the right people and circumstances in your life. But ‘joy’ is different; it’s an inside job that comes from living by the principles of Scripture. 4) ‘Giving insight for living.’ When you have a problem in your personal life, home life, or working life, God’s Word offers you ‘insight for living’.

It’s your handbook for life!

PRAYER Dear Lord, today my prayer is simple: thank You for Your Word. Thank You that it is Your voice speaking to me when nothing else can reach me. Thank You for the guidance it provides, and for every insight and every revelation I’ve gained through it. Your Word is a blessing to me, and I praise You and thank You! In Jesus’ name, amen.

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SCAN THIS WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE

Acknowledgements Reading 24: Merritt, James, Friends, Foes and Fools, (Maitland, FL: Xulon Press, 1997), 72–73.

Bible Acknowledgements Scripture quotations marked (AMPC) are taken from the Amplified® Bible Classic Edition. Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are taken from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from The Authorised (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorised Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press (www.cambridge.org).

Scripture quotations marked (MSG) are taken from The Message.

Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) and (NASB 1995 Edition) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020, by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission (www.lockman.org).

Scripture quotations marked (NCV) are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV), (NIV 1984 Edition), and (NIVUK) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by Permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide, www.zondervan.com.

Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible. Copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Dates of original readings Reading 1: 1st April 1994

Reading 11: 4th August 2004

Reading 21: 1st May 2014

Reading 2: 15th November 1995

Reading 12: 21st June 2005

Reading 22: 13th April 2015

Reading 3: 1st August 1996

Reading 13: 8th November 2006

Reading 23: 14th August 2016

Reading 4: 17th September 1997

Reading 14: 23rd July 2007

Reading 24: 7th November 2017

Reading 5: 25th September 1998

Reading 15: 6th May 2008

Reading 25: 4th June 2018

Reading 6: 8th May 1999

Reading 16: 5th September 2009

Reading 26: 17th October 2019

Reading 7: 28th July 2000

Reading 17: 1st August 2010

Reading 27: 9th June 2020

Reading 8: 1st July 2001

Reading 18: 15th December 2011

Reading 28: 22nd August 2021

Reading 9: 26th July 2002

Reading 19: 17th May 2012

Reading 29: 12th May 2022

Reading 10: 15th November 2003

Reading 20: 19th August 2013

Reading 30: 9th November 2023

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