Podcasts by The UCB Word For Today
With daily readings based on Scripture, articles, and things to pray about, the UCB Word For Today is designed to help you get into the habit of spending time with God every day.
Further podcasts by United Christian Broadcasters
Podcast on the topic Christentum
All episodes
What to do when you feel down (1) from 2022-03-01T20:01
Elijah got so ‘down’ that he was ready to end it all. And it happened on the heels of his greatest victory. He had just called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, when he went from exhilaration ...
Listen
When conflict comes home (2) from 2022-02-28T20:01
Family conflict brings out the worst and the best in all of us. But conflict itself isn’t the problem – character is! Conflict just reveals what’s important to us. Abram’s priority was the family; ...
Listen
When conflict comes home (1) from 2022-02-27T20:01
The conflict between Abram and Lot teaches us important principles about our families. Lot had lived peacefully in his Uncle Abram’s home. Abram had taken him along on the journey of faith, when su...
Listen
Take time to rest and sharpen from 2022-02-26T20:00
A competition was held between two men to see who could chop down the most trees in a single day. One man was older and more experienced, while the other was younger and less experienced. And that’...
Listen
Forgiving others (2) from 2022-02-25T19:00
The Bible tells us: ‘Isaac’s servants dug…a well…But the herdsmen of Gerar quarrelled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So…they dug another well, and they quarrelled over that one...
Listen
Forgiving others (1) from 2022-02-24T20:01
Long after you think you have forgiven someone, you can still be harbouring hard feelings. Some indicators that you still have work to do are these: you keep thinking about the person who hurt you ...
Listen
Adjusting your vision from 2022-02-23T20:00
Before God called the prophet Isaiah to a position of leadership in the nation, He adjusted his vision. Uncorrected vision leads to skewed perspective, poor judgment, and wasted effort. Israel’s co...
Listen
It’s a blessing in disguise from 2022-02-22T20:00
If you’re going through a difficult time right now, let Paul’s words encourage you. ‘Surrounded and battered by troubles…we’re not demoralised; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows...
Listen
When preparation meets opportunity from 2022-02-21T20:00
Seneca the Younger said, ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’ As you read in Scripture about the people God used to accomplish great things, you discover that much of their ti...
Listen
Are you doing it for the right reasons? from 2022-02-20T20:01
When you grow up with rejection, it can manifest itself in a need to isolate and withdraw or in a drive to constantly ‘prove yourself’. One man said it like this: ‘I can still hear my father yellin...
Listen
Servants to God’s will from 2022-02-19T20:00
The word ‘servant’ can have a negative connotation, but not in this Scripture. Knowing how pressures and people distract us from our God-given purpose, Paul uses the strongest possible language, do...
Listen
God will give you another chance from 2022-02-18T20:01
Because they disobeyed God, the Jews spent seventy years as slaves in Babylon. They lost their joy, their freedom, and their identity; all the things that make life worth living. But God hadn’t fin...
Listen
To succeed, you must study God’s Word from 2022-02-17T20:00
The key to Bible study is to do it daily, systematically, and prayerfully. The psalmist prayed, ‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.’ This involves three things: 1) God will s...
Listen
Where there is strife, sow seeds of peace from 2022-02-16T20:01
When a well-known pastor was asked by a sceptic, ‘Do you believe there is such a thing as a real devil?’ he smiled and replied, ‘Have you ever been to an annual church business meeting?’ Seriously,...
Listen
Don’t exaggerate from 2022-02-15T20:01
King Solomon wrote: ‘Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to an...
Listen
Making Jesus look good, on the job from 2022-02-14T20:01
Do the people you work with know that you are a follower of Christ? What do they think of your attitude towards those in authority? How about the people who work under you – are you critical or com...
Listen
Remember to say ‘I love you’ from 2022-02-13T20:01
Hoping to save their relationship, a woman dragged her husband to see a counsellor. During their session, the counsellor asked him, ‘Do you tell your wife you love her?’ The man growled, ‘I told he...
Listen
Learning to confront (2) from 2022-02-12T20:01
Healthy confrontation calls for putting the other person’s well-being above your own interests. So how do you confront someone in the right way? By doing these three things: 1) Be sure. There must ...
Listen
Learning to confront (1) from 2022-02-11T20:01
We don’t enjoy confrontation, but it’s impossible to grow without it. Healthy confrontation calls for ‘speaking the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15 NIV) to those we value. Just as God confronts each...
Listen
What are you called to do? from 2022-02-10T20:01
own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’ (Romans 8:32 NIV) Notice the words ‘all things’. We are all equal in Christ. But when it ...
Listen
The Supporting Cast from 2022-02-09T20:00
At Oscar time, Hollywood hands out awards to the best actor, producer, director, editor, costume designer, etc. But the Screen Actors Guild knows there would be no place for big stars and best movi...
Listen
Praying and meditating on Scripture can improve your health from 2022-02-08T20:01
Gone are the days when gun-shy theologians bowed to the god of science. Reliable scientists are now affirming how ingenious God is and how His principles hold up under the piercing light of scienti...
Listen
For God’s sake, control yourself! from 2022-02-07T20:01
Trials, disagreeable people, and frustrating circumstances are potentially upsetting – and the bad news is, they’re not going away anytime soon. However, the good news is, they’re not your problem!...
Listen
How to lower your anxiety level (2) from 2022-02-06T20:01
When you’re anxious about the future, stop and remind yourself that two of God’s names are ‘Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end’ (Revelation 22:13 KJV). Where you’re going – God already is! ...
Listen
How to lower your anxiety level (1) from 2022-02-04T20:01
When we’re stressed, the surge of negative emotions can be overwhelming. And unless you unburden your soul before God, it’s easy to make wrong decisions, succumb to wrong impulses, move in the wron...
Listen
Focus on the inward instead of the outward from 2022-02-04T20:00
Next time you’re at a supermarket checkout, notice the magazine covers. Airbrushed faces, toned bodies – ads for diets and products that promise you can look that way too. Now, there is nothing wro...
Listen
Worry less and trust God more from 2022-02-03T20:01
In the parable of the sower, Jesus said the seed fell into four kinds of soil. Here is one of them: ‘The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are…people who hear the message. But they start worryi...
Listen
God is teaching you patience from 2022-02-02T20:00
Patience is born of trust. David said, ‘Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart’s desire’ (vv. 3-4 CEV)....
Listen
Give Jesus a chance from 2022-02-01T20:00
When others don’t see your potential, Jesus does. In common fishermen, He saw the capacity to change the world. Here is something you may not have considered: there are two sides to following Jesus...
Listen
Overcoming Rejection from 2022-01-31T20:01
When you struggle with a sense of rejection, it will manifest itself in things like these: 1) Perfectionism. But it doesn’t work, because other people’s needs and expectations vary so much that it’...
Listen
Taking in and giving out from 2022-01-30T20:01
When you’re involved in God’s work, it’s easy to get out of balance and end up enjoying the work of the Lord more than the Lord of the work. First, Jesus called His disciples to Him; then, He sent ...
Listen
Speak life to their spirit (2) from 2022-01-29T20:01
We have all heard people say, ‘The Lord told me,’ and it turned out not to be so. As a result, we have become doubting and cynical. What a loss! God speaks through people, and your fear of someone ...
Listen
Speak life to their spirit (1) from 2022-01-28T20:01
Paul writes, ‘From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh…anyone…in Christ…is a new creation; old things have passed away…all things have become new’ (vv. 16-17 NKJV). Here is an important...
Listen
Speak words of healing from 2022-01-27T20:01
Even when a surgery is successful, the patient can carry within them scar tissue that causes lingering pain and discomfort. And it’s the same in life. Some people around you wear a mask of success,...
Listen
Remember what you used to be like? (2) from 2022-01-26T20:01
It’s easy to develop ‘spiritual amnesia’. You forget what you used to be like. And that attitude affects the people you deal with each day. One author writes: ‘I’ve a workplace acquaintance who emb...
Listen
Remember what you used to be like? (1) from 2022-01-25T20:01
If you want to win people to Christ, you won’t do it with a holier-than-thou attitude. Sadly, this is how society sees many Christians; their hearts are in the right place, but their ability to rel...
Listen
Build on your strengths from 2022-01-24T20:01
Your success isn’t found in your similarity to others, but in your difference. Instead of comparing yourself with somebody else and competing with them, try to discover your point of God-given diff...
Listen
Relationships (3) from 2022-01-23T20:01
Letting go of a person doesn’t mean you no longer love them; it just means the relationship is not right for you. How should you handle it? 1) A gradual separation is sometimes the best solution. T...
Listen
Relationships (2) from 2022-01-22T20:01
Not everyone who starts out with you is capable of going where God wants to take you. Sometimes they don’t have the emotional capacity required. Other times their vision differs from yours. So how ...
Listen
Relationships (1) from 2022-01-21T20:01
Having the right relationships will help you to soar in life; they’re like the wind beneath your wings. But the wrong relationships will drag you down; they’re like a ball and chain around your fee...
Listen
There is no turning back from 2022-01-20T20:01
A little boy in Sunday school heard the story of how Lot’s wife looked back towards Sodom and turned into a pillar of salt (see Genesis 19:26). ‘That’s nothing,’ he said. ‘Last week when my mother ...
Listen
Don’t ‘fly off the handle’ from 2022-01-19T20:01
When a person loses his or her temper, one of the most common expressions used to describe their reaction is ‘flying off the handle’. The phrase refers to the head of a hammer coming loose from the...
Listen
The story of Cyprian from 2022-01-18T20:01
Cyprian, a wealthy noble who lived during the third century, enjoyed galloping about Carthage in his gold and bejewelled chariot. He wore fancy clothes studded with diamonds and precious stones and...
Listen
Be gentle (4) from 2022-01-17T20:01
When someone corrects you, be teachable and not unreachable. ‘Let every man be quick to listen but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper’ (James 1:19 PHPS). If you do the first two th...
Listen
Be gentle (3) from 2022-01-16T20:01
When someone disagrees with you, be tender without surrender. You will never be able to please everyone. You will always meet people who like to argue and quarrel. Some people will contradict every...
Listen
Be gentle (2) from 2022-01-15T20:01
When someone upsets or disappoints you, God expects you to be gracious towards them instead of judgmental. The Bible says, ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore ...
Listen
Be gentle (1) from 2022-01-14T20:01
The Greek word used for gentleness means ‘strength under control’. It pictures a wild stallion that has been tamed. It doesn’t mean to be weak and wimpy. The only two people in the Bible who were c...
Listen
Be wise – say nothing! from 2022-01-13T20:01
The story is told of a wealthy grandfather who went to his doctor to be fitted for a unique hearing aid. The device not only allowed him to hear perfectly, it was hidden so no one could see it. Whe...
Listen
Go back and make things right from 2022-01-12T20:01
A legacy, good or bad, is something handed down from one person to another. I hope, over time, God has healed your hurts and you have moved on, but what are you leaving behind? The harsh words you ...
Listen
Lord, Teach Me to Pray (4) from 2022-01-11T20:01
Your prayer style should be consistent with the way God designed you. Yes, you can learn from people who are more experienced in prayer than you are, but you need to be careful not to make them you...
Listen
Lord, Teach Me to Pray (3) from 2022-01-10T20:01
God is far too creative to insist that every person interacts with Him in exactly the same way. He designed each of us differently. There are prayer principles that apply to all of us, but God lead...
Listen
Lord, Teach Me to Pray (2) from 2022-01-09T20:01
One of the dangers of being involved in God’s work is that you can go for weeks, or even months, without praying. In a survey of a thousand pastors, half acknowledged that they often went for long ...
Listen
Lord, Teach Me to Pray (1) from 2022-01-08T20:01
In his book With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray writes: ‘None can teach like Jesus…therefore we call on Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” A pupil needs a teacher who knows his work, who...
Listen
Love is a decision from 2022-01-07T20:01
When a lawyer asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, He replied that he must love God, others, and himself (see vv. 37-39 NLT). Observe that He said, ‘You must love’ (emphasis added). This ...
Listen
Weigh your words carefully from 2022-01-06T20:01
When it comes to your tongue, here are three rules: 1) Don’t speak too quickly. ‘We all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we…could…control ourselves in every other way’ (v. 2...
Listen
How to be fruitful (5) from 2022-01-05T20:01
You must submit to the pruning process. ‘He prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops.’ Pruning entails cutting off dead branches and cutting back living branches. Both are necess...
Listen
How to be fruitful (4) from 2022-01-04T20:01
You must eliminate the weeds. In His famous parable of the sower, Jesus said the seed fell into four different kinds of soil. ‘The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they...
Listen
How to be fruitful (3) from 2022-01-03T20:01
Paul writes this: Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow s...
Listen
How to be fruitful (2) from 2022-01-02T20:01
You must cultivate deep spiritual roots. ‘Blessed are those who trust in the LORD…They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bother...
Listen
How to be fruitful (1) from 2022-01-01T20:01
When Jesus said, ‘I chose you…that you might…bear fruit – fruit that will last,’ He was saying, ‘Spend your life in pursuit of that which has lasting significance and eternal value!’ What does He m...
Listen
This year, glorify God and enjoy Him from 2021-12-31T20:01
In 1643, the Houses of Parliament in England abolished the Episcopal system of government in the Church of England. An assembly of one hundred and twenty-one ministers and thirty laypeople was call...
Listen
Believe in your vision from 2021-12-30T20:01
God spoke through the prophet Joel saying, ‘Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and…maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days’ (...
Listen
You don’t have to hide anymore from 2021-12-29T20:01
When you don’t feel good about yourself, you use things like work, food, relationships, money, and mood-altering substances to build a wall and keep people from getting too close. But lasting relat...
Listen
Your heart must be circumcised from 2021-12-28T20:01
Hebrew baby boys went through the rite of circumcision. It signified that they were in a covenant relationship with God in which He promised to protect, guide, and bless them. And in the New Testam...
Listen
Avoid habits that can enslave you from 2021-12-27T20:01
Paul said, ‘Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean…it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.’ If you...
Listen
How to forgive yourself from 2021-12-26T20:01
God says in His Word: ‘I…am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be...
Listen
Celebrate Christmas! (2) from 2021-12-25T20:01
The word holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, which means ‘holy day’. So, when Nehemiah announced, ‘This day is holy,’ he was declaring a celebration; a time to ‘eat and drink before t...
Listen
Celebrate Christmas! (1) from 2021-12-24T20:01
The word ‘celebrate’ means to rejoice, delight in, revel, and appreciate. Jack Hayford writes: ‘There is so much done in the name of Christmas that is neither pleasing nor honouring to Christ. Even...
Listen
The best gift ever! from 2021-12-23T20:01
For many people Christmas is filled with dread instead of delight. Author Jon Walker writes this: ‘I’m sitting in a fast-food restaurant observing a young girl celebrating an early Christmas with h...
Listen
Handling your money wisely (3) from 2021-12-22T20:01
J. Paul Getty’s estate exceeded four billion dollars. He was considered the richest man on earth. The Los Angeles Times quoted something Getty wrote: ‘I have never been given to envy, save for the ...
Listen
Handling your money wisely (2) from 2021-12-21T20:01
Next to teaching your children how to walk with God,you will never teach them a more important life lesson than how to handle their money wisely. Dr James Merritt writes: ‘We began teaching our kid...
Listen
Handling your money wisely (1) from 2021-12-20T20:01
There are about five hundred Bible verses on prayer, and more than two thousand on handling money and possessions. It’s a make-or-break issue! It’s no surprise that money-related issues are often c...
Listen
Pray for discernment (3) from 2021-12-19T20:01
In the 1940s, Switzerland manufactured 80 per cent of the world’s watches. Then in the 1960s, when an inventor presented a concept for a new type of watch to the leaders of a Swiss company, they re...
Listen
Pray for discernment (2) from 2021-12-18T20:01
‘The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream…and…said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”’ (v. 5 NKJV). Solomon said, ‘Give…Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern betwe...
Listen
Pray for discernment (1) from 2021-12-17T20:01
Who said, ‘I tell you Wellington is a bad general, the English are bad soldiers; we will settle the matter by lunchtime’? Napoleon Bonaparte over breakfast with his generals just before the Battle ...
Listen
You can get back what you have lost! from 2021-12-16T20:01
While David and his men were off fighting, the Amalekites destroyed their homes and took their families captive. First, David’s army wept. Second, they looked to David for guidance. Third, David so...
Listen
How to solve your problems from 2021-12-15T20:01
First, listen to the Holy Spirit within you. He will constantly remind you of God’s plan and show you how to carry it out. He will ‘teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things th...
Listen
Look for the hand of God in ‘all things’ from 2021-12-14T20:01
God can make the wrong decisions of the people around you to work in your favour. So instead of looking for someone to blame, try to see the hand of God at work in your situation. Joseph discovered...
Listen
Keep your spiritual priorities in place from 2021-12-13T20:01
Your highest priority should always be your relationship with God and fulfilling His will for your life. Don’t let that priority ‘slip’. There is a sobering illustration of this in the Old Testamen...
Listen
Caring means getting involved from 2021-12-12T20:01
Many people have no one who loves them enough to tell them the truth. That’s because it’s easier to say nothing when others are messing up. But it’s not the loving thing to do! The Bible says, ‘Giv...
Listen
Coping with crises (2) from 2021-12-11T20:01
When you find yourself in a crisis, having the right attitude makes the difference between despair and determination. Dr Jeffrey Rossman offers these six steps: 1) Look for ways to find meaning. Re...
Listen
Coping with crises (1) from 2021-12-10T20:01
How you handle a crisis can determine whether you end up feeling overwhelmed or come out stronger. Dr Jeffrey Rossman suggests five ways to do it: 1) Acknowledge your feelings. David said, ‘When my...
Listen
Heman and Jeduthun from 2021-12-09T20:01
There is a good chance you have never heard of these two men; they’re among the Bible’s more inconspicuous characters. In the wonderful worship choirs of King David, they were appointed to give tha...
Listen
Use your ‘password’ from 2021-12-08T20:01
To enjoy the benefits of a computer, you must have a password. That’s what enables you to log on, participate, download, and get the information you need. And in a similar vein, The Message paraphr...
Listen
How to discover your vision (5) from 2021-12-07T20:01
From 1923 until 1955, Robert Woodruff presided over the Coca-Cola Company. He wanted the beverage to be made available to every American serviceman around the world for five cents, no matter how mu...
Listen
How to discover your vision (4) from 2021-12-06T20:01
When God wants to change the status quo, He often starts by giving someone a vision. That’s what broke a centuries-old racial barrier and allowed the Gentiles to hear the gospel preached for the fi...
Listen
How to discover your vision (3) from 2021-12-05T20:01
Maybe you think because you haven’t been to Bible college that God would never give a vision to someone like you. But you would be mistaken. The Bible says this: ‘There was a certain disciple at Da...
Listen
How to discover your vision (2) from 2021-12-04T20:01
Paul believed he was doing God’s will by imprisoning and killing Christians. And when he discovered his true calling, it was in a dramatic way. ‘As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly ...
Listen
How to discover your vision (1) from 2021-12-03T20:01
You don’t get to decide God’s purpose for your life, you discover it. How? Through prayer. God says, ‘I know the plans I have for you’ (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT). Your parents may not have planned you, b...
Listen
How are things at home? from 2021-12-02T20:01
After King David’s affair with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan told him, ‘The sword shall never depart from your house’ (2 Samuel 12:10 NKJV). And it happened. His son Amnon raped his half-sister Tam...
Listen
Let their criticism strengthen you from 2021-12-01T20:01
Are you being criticised? Has it shaken your confidence? God told Gideon, ‘If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp…and listen to what they are saying. Afterwards, you will be encouraged’ (...
Listen
The reasons for your discontent from 2021-11-30T20:01
Let’s take a moment and try to understand some of the reasons for our discontent: 1) Looking for happiness in the wrong places. God said: ‘My people have done two evil things: They have abandoned m...
Listen
You’re in a time of testing from 2021-11-29T20:01
God may not respond exactly when you want Him to, but He is always on time. ‘No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly’ (Psalm 84:11 NKJV). It’s difficult to watch God blessing o...
Listen
Take the initiative (3) from 2021-11-28T20:01
Fourth, change your mindset. Does risk scare you? Are you discouraged by past failures? Do you not see the potential that opportunity offers? You won’t be able to move forward until you discover wh...
Listen
Take the initiative (2) from 2021-11-27T20:01
Second, take action. There is an old saying ‘you can if you will’. Initiators don’t wait for others to motivate them. They know it’s their responsibility to move themselves forward beyond their com...
Listen
Take the initiative (1) from 2021-11-26T20:01
When God gives you an unconditional promise, all you need to do is wait for it. But when He makes a conditional promise, you have a part to play in its fulfilment. Sometimes that calls for taking t...
Listen
The danger of rising too quickly from 2021-11-25T20:01
Before David became the king of Israel, he spent years tending a flock of sheep in the wilderness. That’s not an impressive start. But that’s where he built his relationship with God and honed his ...
Listen
Positioned for God’s blessing from 2021-11-24T20:01
God told Moses, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you’ (v. 19 NKJV). But in order to see that promise fulfilled, Moses had to be properly positioned, so God said, ‘Here is a place by Me.’ Wh...
Listen
Don’t get ahead of God! from 2021-11-23T20:01
When God gives you a promise or a vision for your life, it’s like a seed; it needs time to take root before it can bear fruit. It’s like the birth of a baby. First the seed, then the pregnancy, the...
Listen
You must know truth from error from 2021-11-22T20:01
‘Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat,...
Listen
To be godly is to be good (2) from 2021-11-21T20:01
In the Old Testament, when King Joash repaired the temple, we’re told: ‘The money brought into the temple…was paid to the workers…They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the...
Listen
To be godly is to be good (1) from 2021-11-20T20:01
Sometimes we say to people, half in jest, ‘Try to be good. And if you can’t be good, be careful!’ The idea being that if you decide not to be good, make sure you’re clever enough not to get caught....
Listen
Don’t judge a book by its cover from 2021-11-18T20:01
John Wesley said, ‘We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others.’ Why did Jesus say, ‘Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly’? (v. 24 NLT). Because He had ...
Listen
Walking with a limp from 2021-11-17T20:01
Concerning Jacob, the Bible tells us: ‘A man came and wrestled with him until…dawn began to break…He touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the da...
Listen
Have an attitude of faith from 2021-11-16T20:01
Shortly before he was executed, Paul wrote: ‘I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, in...
Listen
Try praying – and fasting! from 2021-11-15T20:01
Are you facing a problem that prayer alone hasn’t yet solved? Do you have a loved one who has been taken captive by drugs, or alcohol, or some other destructive power? Try praying – and fasting. So...
Listen
Overcoming your insecurity (2) from 2021-11-14T20:01
If your sense of well-being comes from any source other than God – including yourself – chances are you will always struggle with insecurity. That’s why Paul wrote: ‘God can pour on the blessings i...
Listen
Overcoming your insecurity (1) from 2021-11-13T20:01
Insecurity can sideline you. When you feel like you’re unqualified and unworthy of success, self-doubt can make you act in ways that sabotage your chances to be successful. The truth is, it’s impos...
Listen
Does your love have staying power? from 2021-11-12T20:01
When we watch celebrities move through multiple marriages and hop from one relationship to another, it reminds us that you can have charisma without character, talent without trustworthiness, and s...
Listen
You must hear from God for yourself from 2021-11-11T20:01
In the New Testament, God emphasised different things to each of the seven churches in Revelation. Why? Because they each had a different assignment and faced different challenges. It’s wise to rea...
Listen
Understanding Satan’s schemes from 2021-11-10T20:01
One of Satan’s favourite schemes is getting us to use legitimate things in an illegitimate way. During the wilderness temptation, he tried to take advantage of Christ’s hunger by saying, ‘Turn thes...
Listen
He understands (2) from 2021-11-09T20:01
Are you disappointed in people? Jesus understands, because in the final analysis, those He loved and counted on let Him down. Judas, His treasurer, sold Him out, and then sealed the deal with a kis...
Listen
He understands (1) from 2021-11-08T20:01
The Lord understands what you are going through today because He has been where you are. The Bible says: ‘This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings ...
Listen
Night vision (3) from 2021-11-07T20:01
When the darkness you are experiencing is God-ordained, don’t try to create your own light: ‘You who…walk in the light of your fires…will lie down in torment.’ Abraham decided to kindle his own fir...
Listen
Night vision (2) from 2021-11-06T21:01
Sometimes God doesn’t tell us why because He wants us to know who. In Psalm 23, David goes from talking about God, ‘The Lord is my shepherd,’ to talking with Him, ‘Thou art with me’ (KJV). What hap...
Listen
Night vision (1) from 2021-11-05T21:01
God promises us peace, but not smooth sailing or immunity from life’s problems. The Bible says you can ‘fear the Lord yet walk in darkness and trouble.’ Check your Bible: a) Job lived an exemplary ...
Listen
Prepare through prayer from 2021-11-04T21:01
In Gethsemane, Jesus ‘came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, “Can’t any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won’t be tested. You want...
Listen
Say, ‘God is my dwelling place’ from 2021-11-03T21:01
Even though the Israelites were God’s people, they ‘wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them’ (Psalm 107:4-5 NKJV...
Listen
We need each other from 2021-11-02T21:01
Next time you walk in the woods, stop and think about what’s taking place right under your feet. As the roots of the trees connect with each other, they form a support system. One has access to wat...
Listen
His servant and His witness from 2021-11-01T21:01
A ‘servant’ focuses on doing his master’s will. And a ‘witness’ testifies to what he or she has seen and personally experienced. And as a redeemed child of God, you’re called to do both. Let’s look...
Listen
Be at peace – God is still in control! from 2021-10-31T21:01
Mother Teresa is attributed with saying, ‘I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much!’ Is that how you feel today? Like there is too much to do and not...
Listen
Conquering the giants in your life (2) from 2021-10-30T21:02
Goliath’s ancestors were Israel’s long-standing enemies. And when Joshua entered the Promised Land, he annihilated them all – except the inhabitants of Gath where Goliath hailed from. Why is that i...
Listen
Conquering the giants in your life (1) from 2021-10-29T20:01
When he went out to fight Goliath, David said, ‘You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD…and he will give you to us!’ (1 Samuel 17:45, 47 NLT). Nobod...
Listen
The answer is: gratitude from 2021-10-28T20:01
The surest way to ruin your child’s prospects for a happy life is to indulge their every whim, teach them that the world ‘owes them’, cultivate in them a sense of entitlement, under no circumstance...
Listen
Red lights and green lights (3) from 2021-10-27T20:01
Someone quipped, ‘When Columbus set out, he didn’t know where he was going. When he arrived, he didn’t know where he was. And when he returned home, he didn’t know where he’d been.’ We all need hel...
Listen
Red lights and green lights (2) from 2021-10-26T20:01
Vincent’s passion for ministry led him to the Belgian coalfields where he preached to miners, fed the hungry, and earned a place in the people’s hearts. His church was filled to capacity with those...
Listen
Red lights and green lights (1) from 2021-10-25T20:01
When God gives you a green light, you must go. And when He gives you a red light, you must stop. ‘Paul and his friends went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit would not let them preac...
Listen
How to de-stress from 2021-10-24T20:01
Answer the following ten questions honestly. 1) Are you sometimes grumpy without knowing why? 2) Do you work hard but feel unappreciated? 3) Do you feel guilty and unproductive when you’re caught r...
Listen
The seven sons of Sceva (3) from 2021-10-23T20:01
Here are three more important lessons from the seven sons of Sceva: 1) Those around you aren’t necessarily with you. Just because somebody hangs out with you, admires you, and tries to emulate you,...
Listen
The seven sons of Sceva (2) from 2021-10-22T20:01
From the seven sons of Sceva we learn two very important things: 1) Satan knows who you are. The demons in this man spoke to the sons of Sceva, saying, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are y...
Listen
The seven sons of Sceva (1) from 2021-10-21T20:01
The Bible says: ‘Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits w...
Listen
God connects the dots from 2021-10-20T20:01
One day a businessman called his wife to say that he was bringing a foreign visitor home for dinner. His wife had three children in school and one toddler at home, so she had a full workload. But s...
Listen
Don’t short-change your children from 2021-10-19T20:01
If you succeed in making a good living but fail to teach your children how to live ‘right’, your success will be empty, and you’ll end up living with regrets. The average child spends six to seven ...
Listen
What goes around comes around from 2021-10-18T20:01
In the late nineteenth century, a member of parliament went to Scotland to make an important speech. He travelled to Edinburgh by train, then took a horse-drawn carriage southward to his destinatio...
Listen
How’s your spiritual appetite? (3) from 2021-10-17T20:01
Thank God for skilled doctors who know how to diagnose illnesses and prescribe medications that bring health and healing. But here’s something for you to think about: what if many of our stress-rel...
Listen
How’s your spiritual appetite? (2) from 2021-10-16T20:01
Prolonged starvation can have a profound effect on your health. You lose your ability to think clearly. Your vision gets blurry. Your strength wanes, and you stop being productive. Guess what? It’s...
Listen
How’s your spiritual appetite? (1) from 2021-10-15T20:01
When you’re sick, one of the first questions a doctor asks in order to diagnose your problem is, ‘How’s your appetite?’ That’s because when you lose your desire for food, something’s wrong in your ...
Listen
Recognising God’s voice from 2021-10-14T20:01
As a boy working in the temple, Samuel didn’t recognise God’s voice when He spoke to him. But later as a prophet, his ear was the portal through which God spoke to an entire nation. Learning to rec...
Listen
Today, practise humility from 2021-10-13T20:01
Paul had one of the greatest ministries the world has ever known, yet he said of himself, ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief’ (1 Timothy 1:15 KJV). When people to...
Listen
Be an exhorter (3) from 2021-10-12T20:01
When it comes to being an exhorter, observe two things: 1) Exhortation is a neglected gift. No ministry is more needed in the church today, as that of encouragement. It’s so easy to find discourage...
Listen
Be an exhorter (2) from 2021-10-11T20:01
An exhorter has the ability to do three things: 1) Confirm. ‘When they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the...
Listen
Be an exhorter (1) from 2021-10-10T20:01
The Greek word for ‘exhort’ is parakalew. It comes from two words, one meaning ‘alongside of’ and the other meaning ‘to call’. This is the root of the Greek word paraclete, which is the name Jesus ...
Listen
How God deals with our self-centredness from 2021-10-09T20:01
It’s estimated that the average person speaks about nine million words a year, and more than half are, ‘I, me, my, mine.’ But following Christ means dying to self, and self-centredness doesn’t give...
Listen
Strive to become intimately acquainted with God from 2021-10-08T20:01
It’s one thing to know about God, but it’s entirely another thing to know Him intimately. Take a moment and examine your life today. Has your walk with God slowed to a crawl? Are you running on emp...
Listen
Get free from debt from 2021-10-07T20:01
To get free from debt: 1) Write down your financial goals. Decide what’s truly important – how much you’ll save, how much you’ll spend, and how much debt you can handle without jeopardising your fu...
Listen
Through Christ, you can break the habit! from 2021-10-06T20:01
Stubborn habits assume a life of their own; that’s why they keep growing. They have a mind that thinks for you, a voice that speaks to you, and a power that keeps conquering you. So…what should you...
Listen
Learn to be alone with God from 2021-10-05T20:01
It’s essential to be alone with God in order to hear clearly from Him. For a texting/tweeting generation hooked on mobile phones and bombarded by round-the-clock media, this can be a tough concept ...
Listen
Peace, in spite of the circumstances from 2021-10-04T20:01
God rarely sends us into situations where our comfort level is high. Instead He promises to be with us in spite of our fear. It’s God’s presence, not comfortable circumstances that strengthens our ...
Listen
God will forgive and restore you from 2021-10-03T20:01
The Prodigal Son’s story begins like this: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them. ...
Listen
Thoughts on giving (3) from 2021-10-02T20:01
We each give for different reasons. 1) Some people give out of guilt. They give to God’s work because they would feel bad if they didn’t. 2) Some people give out of greed. They give only to get. Th...
Listen
Thoughts on giving (2) from 2021-10-01T20:01
The Bible says; ‘We have different gifts…If a man’s gift is…contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously’ (vv. 6-8 NIV 1995 edition). Every believer receives grace for giving, but s...
Listen
Thoughts on giving (1) from 2021-09-30T20:01
God doesn’t want your generosity to be restricted by fear. Either you’ll trust Him financially and experience the joy of participating in His purposes on earth, or trust your own earning ability an...
Listen
Think more about others (3) from 2021-09-29T20:00
Here’s a group you don’t want to be part of: ‘In the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God’ (2 Timot...
Listen
Think more about others (2) from 2021-09-28T20:01
Here are four ways in which you can express kindness and generosity towards others. 1) Giving your time. Giving a few hours of your time to someone, especially if you’re a busy person, can mean the...
Listen
Think more about others (1) from 2021-09-27T20:00
On a scale of one to ten, how often do you think about the needs of others and try to meet them? Before you answer, read this: ‘Whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shu...
Listen
Recognise when it’s wise to compromise from 2021-09-26T20:00
Paul wouldn’t yield an inch on Bible truth, but when it came to customs, traditions, and people’s preferences, he refused to fight about them. For example, some of the Corinthian Christians thought...
Listen
How to protect yourself when you’re alone from 2021-09-25T20:00
David, who committed adultery with another man’s wife, prayed: ‘Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!…See how ...
Listen
Check the soil of your heart from 2021-09-24T20:00
In Jesus’ parable of the sower, the seed landed on four types of ground, producing four different results. ‘The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Sa...
Listen
Speculation or revelation? from 2021-09-23T20:01
When it comes to knowing what God has called you to do in life, you have two options. 1) Speculation. Dr Hugh Moorhead, who heads the philosophy department at Northeastern Illinois University, wrot...
Listen
God’s answer to worry from 2021-09-22T20:00
The Bible says, ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.’ Overcoming fear begins with understanding that fear is a ‘spirit’, and it doesn’t come...
Listen
Let God’s love dispel your fear from 2021-09-21T20:01
Modern science confirms the truth of the Scripture: ‘There is no fear in love…perfect love casts out fear.’ Love and fear are incompatible; they can’t co-exist. Children have two basic needs: 1) A ...
Listen
What’s in a name? Everything! (6) from 2021-09-20T20:01
During Israel’s twenty-fifth year in captivity Ezekiel received from God the name Jehovah-Shammah: the Lord is there. He described their future home, Jerusalem, saying, ‘The name of the city from t...
Listen
What’s in a name? Everything! (5) from 2021-09-19T20:00
The name Jehovah-Tsidkenu: the Lord my righteousness, was given by God to Jeremiah, announcing the coming of Jesus. ‘I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line…And this will be h...
Listen
What’s in a name? Everything! (4) from 2021-09-18T20:00
The name Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord my peace, was discovered by Gideon when God assigned him the job of leading Israel against the Midianites – a position Gideon saw as far beyond his abilities. ‘How...
Listen
What’s in a name? Everything! (3) from 2021-09-17T20:01
Let’s look again at Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. It isn’t easy to hand our battles over and let God fight for us. We feel like we’re copping out or being irresponsible. Popular thinking says,...
Listen
What’s in a name? Everything! (2) from 2021-09-16T20:01
When Israel was threatened by the armies of Amalek God gave them a glorious victory. Realising that God was fighting the battle for them, Moses built an altar to Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. ...
Listen
What’s in a name? Everything! (1) from 2021-09-15T20:01
The Israelites called God Jehovah, a name they thought of as incommunicable and inexplicable. The name means the ‘self-existing one’; the ‘I am’. He was before all things, the creator of all things...
Listen
Practise self-control from 2021-09-14T20:01
Paul writes: ‘Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ…Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires…[or] let any part of your ...
Listen
Spiritual growth is a group project from 2021-09-13T20:01
The psalmist said, ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”’ Do you feel that way about God’s house too? And if not, why not? Paul writes: ‘God is building a home. ...
Listen
God will never abandon you from 2021-09-12T20:01
When someone you love dies, divorces or deserts you, it hurts deeply. Even Paul wasn’t exempt. Here are some of his last words: ‘Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demas has deserted me…Only ...
Listen
Don’t lose sight of your goals from 2021-09-11T20:01
To achieve success in life there are three obstacles you’ll have to be aware of and overcome: 1) Weariness. Racehorses run at approximately the same speed; sometimes the difference between winning ...
Listen
Love is a verb from 2021-09-10T20:01
Love is not just a noun; it’s a verb. It’s not what you think or feel; it’s what you do. When Mother Teresa arrived in Calcutta in 1948, one of the first things she did was pick up five abandoned c...
Listen
Put away the measuring stick! from 2021-09-09T20:00
Before the Passover meal, all the disciples forgot to wash Jesus’ feet. Bad performance! And after Jesus explained how the bread and wine symbolised his upcoming crucifixion, they started arguing a...
Listen
When You Don’t Understand from 2021-09-07T20:00
When you don’t understand what’s happening in your life, start with what you know for sure; namely, that God is good all the time, and His ‘love for those who respect him continues forever’ (Psalm ...
Listen
Prioritise your relationship with God from 2021-09-06T20:00
Admission to certain social clubs depends on your family of origin: blue blood, or blue collar. Sadly some employers and some churches do that too. But God doesn’t. Imagine you were Joseph. You sha...
Listen
Giving brings receiving from 2021-09-05T20:00
Jim Penner says: ‘It was a cold snowy day as my mother drove my sister and me to church. Living at the bottom of the Rocky Mountains I’d become accustomed to slipping and sliding. I remember my mot...
Listen
Speak positively (4) from 2021-09-04T20:00
Pessimism affects you spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Negativity is directly related to heart disease, immune system deficits, and the ability to cope with physical pain. The fa...
Listen
Speak positively (3) from 2021-09-03T20:00
Positive self-talk isn’t a new concept; it’s a scriptural one. Paul writes, ‘Fix your thoughts on what is true…honourable…right…pure…lovely, and admirable…things that are excellent and worthy of pr...
Listen
Speak positively (2) from 2021-09-02T20:01
Let’s begin by acknowledging that sometimes life is hard. And some of us have it harder than others. That’s why the Bible says there is ‘a time to cry and a time to laugh’ (Ecclesiastes 3:4 NLT). B...
Listen
Speak positively (1) from 2021-09-01T20:00
When you can’t choose or control your circumstances, you can still decide how you’ll respond to them. Paul was in prison when he wrote, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always’ (v. 4 NKJV). We’re addressing th...
Listen
Take the high road from 2021-08-31T20:00
Paul and Barnabas had travelled and ministered together, encouraged one other, endured persecution side-by-side, and won many to Christ. But even the best of relationships can go awry, and they wer...
Listen
The ‘If only’ trap from 2021-08-30T20:01
Author Betty Mahalik says in this day and age we’re surrounded by messages that scream, ‘My life would be perfect if only I’d a different job…house…car…nose…spouse…bank account (you fill in the bla...
Listen
Use the smile strategy from 2021-08-29T20:01
A pastor tells of being in a church for twelve years. He had a custom during Sunday morning service of calling the children forward just before his sermon so that they could go to a ‘children’s chu...
Listen
There are no menial jobs from 2021-08-28T20:01
David said, ‘I’d rather scrub floors in the house of…God than be honoured as a guest in the palace of sin’ (Psalm 84:10 MSG). Along those lines Joni Eareckson Tada writes: ‘Elsie runs a Christian h...
Listen
God is only a prayer away from 2021-08-27T20:01
J.C. Penney has died and gone to heaven, but hundreds of department stores across America still carry his name. When he started out in life he was interested in one thing only: making money. Workin...
Listen
When we pray – God works! from 2021-08-26T20:01
Two things about prayer are truly amazing: 1) God listens when we pray.'You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it’ (see Mark 11:24 NLT). You may not have much clout anywhere e...
Listen
Change your thinking! from 2021-08-25T20:01
God told His people: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV). So, if you’re asking God for a vision, or to enlarge the one He’s alre...
Listen
How to find your calling from 2021-08-24T20:01
The Bible says: ‘As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted…prayed, and la...
Listen
Strive for excellence (2) from 2021-08-23T20:01
Excellence requires two things: extra time and extra effort. It calls for going ‘above and beyond’ what is required of you by others, because you consider it a matter of character and integrity. No...
Listen
Strive for excellence (1) from 2021-08-22T20:01
Even though Daniel lived in captivity, he refused to settle for mediocrity. This brought him to the attention of the king of Babylon who said, ‘I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you...
Listen
How to approach Bible reading from 2021-08-21T20:01
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...
Listen
A Spirit-controlled mind from 2021-08-20T20:01
The Bible says: ‘Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life a...
Listen
Thinking of yourself less from 2021-08-19T20:01
Here’s a true saying: ‘Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.’ That doesn’t mean being a doormat for people to walk on or being spineless with no convictions an...
Listen
Your ‘Euroclydon’ from 2021-08-18T20:01
The ship Paul was sailing on to Rome was wrecked by a storm named Euroclydon, meaning typhoon, tempest, or cyclone. Here are some valuable lessons we can learn from his experience. 1) God can make ...
Listen
Have you consulted God about it? from 2021-08-17T20:01
When you consult God before making decisions, it keeps you out of all sorts of trouble. Joshua learned this the hard way. He had just conquered Jericho, the biggest city in the Promised Land. Flush...
Listen
To advance, you must overcome adversity from 2021-08-16T20:01
The Christian life comes with blessings – and battles. You can’t have one without the other. Paul describes it this way: ‘In everything and in every way we show that we truly are God’s servants. We...
Listen
God wants you to succeed from 2021-08-15T20:01
Think about these questions and answer them honestly. 1) Do you believe you can be successful and spiritual at the same time? Some folks equate poverty with humility and conclude that successful pe...
Listen
Does your loved one need a miracle today? from 2021-08-14T20:01
‘Jesus was teaching them God's message. Four people came, carrying a paralysed man. Since they could not get to Jesus because of the crowd, they dug a hole in the roof right above where he was spea...
Listen
Are you struggling with temptation? from 2021-08-13T20:01
Your areas of vulnerability will change as the seasons of your life change, but the truth is that you’ll always be tempted in some way. But the good news is that you can be tempted and triumphant. ...
Listen
Make things right with God from 2021-08-12T20:01
In the Old Testament God marked His priests by putting blood on their right ear lobe, their right thumb, and the big toe of their right foot. That meant they were called to honour God in their hear...
Listen
Work on your marriage from 2021-08-11T20:01
Dr Joyce Brothers once joked, ‘My husband and I have never considered divorce…sometimes murder, but never divorce!’ Getting married is easy; living together successfully is hard. So how do you do i...
Listen
Make criticism work for you from 2021-08-10T20:01
There are two kinds of criticism: 1) Unfair criticism. There’ll always be people who love to rain on your parade; people who try to build themselves up by tearing others down. Mark Twain said, ‘Kee...
Listen
Who knows? God knows! from 2021-08-09T20:01
The Bible says: ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV). That Scripture is easy to quote but hard to live by, especially when tragedy and...
Listen
Failing in order to succeed from 2021-08-08T20:01
Sometimes God uses failure to get our attention and draw us closer to Him. In John 21 the disciples ‘went out in the boat, but…caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but...
Listen
Do you want to do right? from 2021-08-07T20:01
Solomon said, ‘Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.’ Note the progression of events that led to David’s downfall: ‘He saw a woman bathing…inquired about the w...
Listen
Build others up (2) from 2021-08-06T20:01
Albert Schweitzer once said, ‘I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.’ ...
Listen
Build others up (1) from 2021-08-05T20:01
The apostle Paul writes, ‘Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them’ (Ephesians 4:29 NLT). Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this w...
Listen
What has God promised you? Stand on it! from 2021-08-04T20:01
‘Jesus said to his disciples: “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out…But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boa...
Listen
God will guide you from 2021-08-03T20:01
When you’re under pressure and tempted to move too quickly, if you stop and pray you’ll hear God saying: ‘You shall not go out with haste…for the LORD will go before you, and…be your rear guard.’ W...
Listen
Communicating with your family from 2021-08-03T07:09
The storms of life will test whether or not you’ve done a good job with your family. And an important key to succeeding at home is communication. So, ask yourself these four questions: 1) How well ...
Listen
Focus on what’s good from 2021-08-02T20:01
Let’s face it, we don’t have to look very far to find things to complain about. God placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Paradise where they had everything they needed to be happy. But what did the...
Listen
Confession is good for the soul from 2021-08-01T20:01
Sunday school teacher Ranai Carlton writes: ‘I was trying to teach the children that we all need God’s forgiveness. So, I asked one of the girls, “Lisa, when is a time you might need God’s forgiven...
Listen
Don’t meddle in other people’s business from 2021-07-30T20:01
Scan any tabloid or watch any TV talk show and you’ll discover that ‘meddling’ has become a multibillion-pound business. But it’s not the kind of business a follower of Christ should be in. And whi...
Listen
The rewards of kindness (2) from 2021-07-29T20:01
The story of Rebekah teaches us a very important truth about life: when opportunity knocks, make sure you’re ready to answer the door. Rebekah didn’t think about the extra effort and time required ...
Listen
The rewards of kindness (1) from 2021-07-28T20:01
One day Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Isaac. Standing by a small town well, Eliezer prayed, ‘Let the woman who offers to water my camels be the one you have chosen.’ S...
Listen
Throw them all out! from 2021-07-27T20:01
When you’re trusting God for a miracle, nothing will drag you down faster than unbelief. Plus, it’s impossible to know what God is doing based on how things look on the surface. ‘Faith is the subst...
Listen
Become willing to change from 2021-07-26T20:00
Unless you’re willing to change, in a few years from now you’ll be exactly the same as you are today, except you’ll be older, with less time and fewer options. The Bible says, ‘Oh, that they were w...
Listen
Invest in your children from 2021-07-25T20:01
The Lazy B ranch sits on two hundred and sixty square miles. Most of it is scrub brush, and it’s been in the Day family since 1881. When Harry and Ada Mae Day had their first child, a baby daughter...
Listen
Refuse to be fearful from 2021-07-24T20:01
We pride ourselves on our ability to judge people and situations based on appearance – and lots of time we’re wrong. Goliath issued the same challenge to Israel for forty days: ‘Send me your best f...
Listen
God will take care of you from 2021-07-23T20:00
How much time do you spend worrying about things that usually never happen? Be honest! And has anything improved as a result of your worrying about it? Of course not! Paul writes: ‘The Lord is near...
Listen
Take a load off your mind from 2021-07-22T20:06
Jesus said: ‘I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep co...
Listen
Today, magnify the Lord from 2021-07-21T20:00
Notice two things about the Lord’s Prayer. It begins with the words ‘Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name’ (Matthew 6:9 KJV), and ends with ‘Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and...
Listen
Become a nurturer from 2021-07-20T20:00
The Bible says, ‘A good leader motivates, doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit’ (Proverbs 16:10 MSG). Jesus was a good leader. He loved people, but He never used them for His own ends. He was busy, but...
Listen
Ask and listen from 2021-07-19T20:00
Have you ever been guilty of accusing someone before you knew all the facts? If so, be aware that you’re tugging on the same end of the rope as Satan, the official ‘accuser’ of God’s children. The ...
Listen
Be tenacious from 2021-07-18T20:00
One of the most prevalent themes in the Bible is perseverance. The apostle Paul writes: ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to t...
Listen
Bring out the best in others from 2021-07-17T20:00
The ability to bring out the best in others is important for two reasons. First, we usually see in people what we expect to see. Second, they generally rise to our level of expectation. Dr John Max...
Listen
Are you worried? Pray about it! from 2021-07-16T20:01
If after praying, your emotions are still in turmoil – pray more. By cultivating the discipline of frequent prayer, you’ll discover the ability to remain calm and quiet. As you wait before the Lord...
Listen
Never betray a confidence from 2021-07-15T20:00
Betrayal is worse than gossip. A gossip may not necessarily harbour ill will towards his or her victim; but a betrayer knowingly divulges information in a breach of confidence. They commit ‘relatio...
Listen
Do the right thing by others from 2021-07-14T20:00
Taskmasters don’t come much tougher than Bob Thompson. For forty years he pushed his highway workers hard six days a week from April to December to finish the job before the first frost. Their loya...
Listen
Fishing lessons (5) from 2021-07-13T20:00
Lesson five: Stand on the promises of God. In their previous fishing attempt, the disciples were trusting in their own experience and ability. But this time they were trusting in Christ’s promise: ...
Listen
Fishing lessons (4) from 2021-07-12T20:01
Lesson four: God’s plan for your life always involves risk. Why? Because He wants you to live by faith. Why do you think Jesus said to Peter, ‘Launch out into the deep’? Because that’s where the bi...
Listen
Fishing lessons (3) from 2021-07-11T20:01
Lesson three: Cooperate with God’s plan for your life: ‘He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled ...
Listen
Fishing lessons (2) from 2021-07-10T20:00
Lesson two: God is interested in your success. Peter knew Jesus was a great teacher and that He could even heal the sick. What he was about to learn, however, was that Jesus wants you to succeed in...
Listen
Fishing lessons (1) from 2021-07-09T20:00
Lesson one: Invite Jesus into your boat. That’s the starting point! Always! Nothing has greater influence on your personal success than whether or not you have Jesus Christ in your life. By himself...
Listen
Are you successful but unfulfilled? from 2021-07-08T20:00
In?1987 the Minnesota Twins baseball star Kirby Puckett saw a childhood dream come true when he led his team to a World Series Championship. Greg Gagne, the Twins’ shortstop, described the scene in...
Listen
Don’t be a know-it-all from 2021-07-07T20:00
Do you have a hard time refraining from offering unsolicited advice? Do you routinely use expressions like ‘You should’, or ‘You shouldn’t’? People tend to resent someone who always assumes that th...
Listen
How to stay on course from 2021-07-06T20:01
Senator Bill Nelson trained for and flew on a six-day space shuttle mission aboard the Columbia just prior to the Challenger disaster. In his book Mission he explains how difficult it is to maintai...
Listen
Monitor your children’s close friends from 2021-07-05T20:01
If you have children, you’ll never have a more important job in life than being a parent. And as long as your children are under your roof, you are responsible to God for them. With that in mind, d...
Listen
How to help hurting people from 2021-07-04T20:01
Are you are easily hurt? Do you hurt other people without intending to? Three things cause that: 1) We speak out of our own hurt. German poet Hermann Hesse wrote: ‘If you hate a person, you hate so...
Listen
Try to be tactful from 2021-07-03T20:00
If you habitually put your foot in your mouth, there’s a scriptural remedy. ‘Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone’ (v. 6 NLT). Noti...
Listen
Being ready from 2021-07-02T20:00
Did you know that before it snows, certain fir trees retract their branches so that the weight of the snow they’ll have to bear will be reduced? This withdrawal response is programmed into their br...
Listen
Bearing spiritual fruit (2) from 2021-07-01T20:00
A branch doesn’t bear fruit by trying, working, or straining. It bears fruit by simply ‘abiding’. What does this mean? How do you abide in Jesus? Let’s illustrate it this way: when you put a tea ba...
Listen
Bearing spiritual fruit (1) from 2021-06-30T20:00
Jesus said: ‘My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch…that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean ...
Listen
Learn to set boundaries from 2021-06-29T20:01
Are you so eager to stay in everybody’s good graces that you comply with their every demand? You’re not alone – good people burn out every day because they can’t set boundaries. And once that happe...
Listen
Memorising Scripture and conquering worry from 2021-06-28T20:01
One of the most powerful tools God has given you for conquering fear and worry is memorising Scripture. Your memory is like a muscle; the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. Seneca, the ...
Listen
‘Casting’, or ‘keeping’ from 2021-06-27T20:01
When it comes to dealing with your fears and worries, you have two choices; cast them on the Lord, or keep them and try to handle them yourself. When the communists overran China, missionary Isobel...
Listen
How to handle disagreements (2) from 2021-06-26T20:01
Lesson one: sometimes the best resolution to a conflict is a separation, even if it’s temporary. When emotions run high, you need space to think clearly. And God can use this time of separation for...
Listen
How to handle disagreements (1) from 2021-06-25T20:01
Paul and Barnabas were a great missionary team. On their first tour, a young man named John Mark had joined them. But it seems he had grown homesick and returned to Jerusalem. On their second missi...
Listen
How to handle disagreements (1) from 2021-06-25T20:01
Paul and Barnabas were a great missionary team. On their first tour, a young man named John Mark had joined them. But it seems he had grown homesick and returned to Jerusalem. On their second missi...
Listen
Don’t doubt God’s Word from 2021-06-24T20:01
You may doubt your own ability, but never doubt God’s – or His promises and His willingness to fulfil them. The psalmist wrote, ‘You have magnified Your word above… Your name’ (Psalm 138:2 NKJV). T...
Listen
Answering the big questions (4) from 2021-06-23T20:01
Some people say that Jesus Christ never existed. A Christian minister writes: ‘While sceptics may choose to reject the Bible’s moral message, they cannot deny its historical accuracy. Over 25,000 a...
Listen
Answering the big questions (3) from 2021-06-22T20:01
How can we trust the Bible when men wrote it? Answer: Do you write the letter or does the pen? The pen is merely the instrument you use. In the same way, God used men as instruments to write His ‘l...
Listen
Answering the big questions (2) from 2021-06-21T20:01
Isn’t the church full of hypocrites? The word hypocrite comes from the Greek word for ‘actor’. Hypocrisy is ‘the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold’. The tr...
Listen
Answering the big questions (1) from 2021-06-20T20:01
What about suffering – doesn’t that prove there isn’t a loving God? Adam was given a choice: to obey God or disobey Him. He chose disobedience, and God said, ‘Cursed is the ground [earth] because o...
Listen
Dad, Start a Tradition from 2021-06-19T20:01
Dad, your children deserve a father who will model the Christian life before them, teach them the truth of God’s Word, and show them how to receive the gift of eternal life. And it could be that in...
Listen
Putting ‘self’ on the altar from 2021-06-18T20:01
In the Bible an altar represented different things. It represented sacrificing to God by giving Him the best of the sheep in your flock. It represented worshipping God and putting Him above all els...
Listen
Be generous from 2021-06-17T20:01
God instructed the Israelites, ‘If there is among you a poor man…you shall open your hand wide to him’ (vv. 7-8 NKJV). Giving is the loftiest level of living. Generous people focus their time and e...
Listen
Either rule, or be ruled from 2021-06-16T20:01
At creation God said something interesting about us: ‘Let them rule.’ In other words, He invested you with full authority for managing your life. You serve as His agent on earth to make sure His wi...
Listen
Crossing the ‘what if’ line from 2021-06-15T20:01
Pastor Andy Stanley writes: ‘As you move forward in your relationship with God, occasionally He will test your grip on your wallet. It’s a faith thing…every so often, God will prompt you to step ou...
Listen
Sow for the future from 2021-06-14T20:01
Jesus gave this advice to a group of people who were anxious about their finances: ‘Don’t worry about these things…your heavenly Father already knows all your needs…and he will give you everything ...
Listen
Tell someone about Jesus today from 2021-06-13T20:01
Jesus said, ‘Don’t you have a saying, “It’s still four months until harvest”?…open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.’ Someone close to you today may be in desperate need ...
Listen
Your old nature and your new one from 2021-06-12T20:01
The Bible says: ‘If you are guided by the Spirit, you won’t obey your selfish desires. The Spirit and your desires are enemies…always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel yo...
Listen
The secret to surviving hard times from 2021-06-11T20:01
The secret to surviving hard times doesn’t lie in what you know, but who you know. You say, ‘Right now I’ve got more troubles than Job.’ Well, when the bottom dropped out of Job’s world, he said: ‘...
Listen
Harmony at home (3) from 2021-06-10T20:01
It’s never okay to explode at those God has entrusted to your care. The Bible says, ’Don’t get so angry that you sin. Don’t go to bed angry and don’t give the devil a chance’ (Ephesians 4:26-27 CEV...
Listen
Harmony at home (2) from 2021-06-09T20:01
They say, ‘The apple never falls far from the tree,’ and Jacob certainly proved that. Nearing the end of his life when he should have been preparing to bless his sons Simeon and Levi, he told them,...
Listen
Harmony at home (1) from 2021-06-08T20:01
Building a good relationship at home is like building a wall: It's done brick by brick. And the mortar that holds it together is unconditional, uncondemning, unselfish love. The only way you'll kno...
Listen
Don’t listen to the accuser from 2021-06-07T20:01
A man who worked in an office loved to play a particular trick on new employees. He would approach them and whisper, ‘They know what you did,’ then walk away smiling. First, the person would look b...
Listen
Are you struggling with change? from 2021-06-06T20:01
They say a rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out. And once you get into a rut, it’s hard to get out, especially if it’s comfortable. But you’ll never become what God wants you to be, or all ...
Listen
Conquering your toughest enemy – yourself! from 2021-06-05T20:01
Richard C. Halverson, former chaplain of the United States Senate, said: ‘Want to be a winner? Compete against yourself, not somebody else…Outrunning your rival doesn’t mean you ran your best race....
Listen
Seek God’s ‘peace’ concerning it from 2021-06-04T20:01
God reveals His will in several ways. One is by giving us a sense of ‘peace’ that we are doing the right thing. Paul writes, ‘Let the peace of God rule in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:15 NKJV). That ...
Listen
Approval addiction from 2021-06-03T20:01
You can be addicted to a lot of different things like alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, and even food. But did you know you can also be addicted to approval? When Moses chose seventy leaders to help g...
Listen
Give God the first moments of your day from 2021-06-02T20:01
What are the first moments of your day like? Do you turn on the TV, or rush into the bathroom, or allow your ‘to do’ list to come rushing in? Instead, try lying there quietly and allowing God to sp...
Listen
How to strengthen your marriage from 2021-06-01T20:01
To strengthen your marriage you must realise three things: 1) Marriage is one of Satan’s favourite targets. He was angry because Job’s family was a source of delight to God. So when your home is ha...
Listen
Always be honest from 2021-05-31T20:01
One day a clergyman was walking down the street when he saw a group of boys surrounding a dog. ‘What are you doing?’ he demanded. One of the boys replied, ‘He’s a neighbourhood stray. We all want h...
Listen
Always be honest from 2021-05-31T20:01
One day a clergyman was walking down the street when he saw a group of boys surrounding a dog. ‘What are you doing?’ he demanded. One of the boys replied, ‘He’s a neighbourhood stray. We all want h...
Listen