‘My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths;’ Daniel  6:22 CSB

Here are some more situations when God might send an angel to help you.

1) When doing the right thing gets you into trouble. Doing God’s will put Daniel in the lions’ den, but God brought him out and publicly vindicated him. The king declared, ‘I issue a decree that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel.’ (Daniel 6:26 CSB).

2) When you’re tired of battling temptation. When the urge to pick up a drink, drug, or cigarette feels overwhelming, or you think the only way out is to lie, or loneliness is driving you into the arms of the wrong person. After Jesus had battled temptation for 40 days, the Bible says, ‘Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him’ (Matthew 4:11 NKJV).

3) When the load you have been called to carry feels too heavy. Facing the indescribable agony of being crucified on a cross, Jesus prayed the defining prayer of His life: ‘“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.’ (Luke 22:42-43 NKJV).

God will strengthen you through His Word and prayer. Sometimes He will send people you know to help you do it. Paul wrote, ‘…we were harassed at every turn – conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus…’ (2 Corinthians 7:5-6 NIV). Other times, He will send an angel.

Bottom line: when you call on God for help, you can be sure that help is on the way.

SoulFood: Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:1-11, Eph 4:7-10

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

‘The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them.’ Psalm 3 4:7 NASB

What are some other situations when God might send an angel to help you?

1) To get you out of trouble. Lot was living in Sodom, a city about to be destroyed because of its extreme sin. That’s when God sent angels to rescue him and his family from impending doom. Lot listened, obeyed, and survived, but sadly his wife didn’t, and she perished (see Genesis 19).

2) To change your life’s direction. ‘Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro…There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush’ (Exodus 3:1-2 NIV). Moses thought his life was over. He grew up in a palace and ended up in a pasture. But every experience, good and bad, had equipped him to lead the greatest migration of people in history.

3) When you’re facing your biggest challenge. In order to enter the promised land, Israel first had to conquer its biggest city, Jericho. And Joshua hadn’t a clue as to how to do it. That’s when God sent an angel with a plan that would literally bring down the walls (see Joshua 5:14).

4) When you have given it your best and want to give up. After his spectacular victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Jezebel put out a death threat on the prophet Elijah. How did it affect him? He told God he’d had enough and wanted to die. ‘Then he lay down and fell asleep … there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat!”’ (1 Kings 19:4-5 NASB).

Even today, God still sends angels in disguise to help us.

SoulFood: Deut 14-17, Mark 7:1-13, Ps 37:25-31, Pro 12:1-3

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

‘He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.’ Psalm 9 1:11 NLT

In what situation might God send an angel to help you?

1) When those you love and trust have disappointed you. Imagine how Hagar felt. In a joint decision with his wife, Sarah, Abraham got Hagar pregnant in order to try and fulfil God’s promise. Then Sarah conceived, and after Isaac was born, Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away into the wilderness. Not wanting to see her son die after their resources ran out, Hagar sat a bowshot away from Ishmael, lifted her voice, and wept. But God sent an angel to tell her that her son was a child of destiny from whom would come a great people (see Genesis 21:18).

2) When you’re facing embarrassment and can’t defend yourself. Mary planned to get married first and then have a baby. But God had a different plan. Not only was she facing public humiliation, but according to the law, she should be put to death. But God sent an angel to vindicate her and tell her that she was in the centre of His will (see Luke 1:34-38).

3) When you’re grieving the death of someone you love and fearing for your future. Mary Magdalene loved Jesus more than life itself, so when He died and was buried, she was distraught and heartbroken. That’s when God sent an angel to announce to two women: ‘He is not here: for he is risen …’ (Matthew 28:6 KJV).

The Bible says to show hospitality to strangers for some have entertained angels without knowing it. (see Hebrews 13:2). A cynical world will make you doubt that God actually loves you so much that He would send an angel to help you. But it’s true.

SoulFood: Deut 11-13, Mark 6:45-56, Ps 37:16-24, Pro 11:30-31

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

‘Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?’ Hebrews  1:14 NIV

God can come to you in varied forms. When Jesus appeared to His disciples and stilled the storm, they thought He was a ghost. So, your intellect can undermine your faith. The Bible says angels are ‘ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation’.

Have you ever seen an angel? They aren’t always dressed in white with dramatically arched wings. Sometimes they’re so ordinary that they’re overlooked. ‘Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it’ (Hebrews 13:2 NIV). Perhaps you think God doesn’t send angels because He has given us His Holy Spirit to help, protect, and guide us. Not so. Remember, God sent an angel to deliver Peter from prison on the eve of his execution. On his way to Rome, Paul was on board a ship that was destined to be destroyed by a ferocious storm. But God sent an angel to assure him he would survive it. So, Paul announced to the crew and passengers: ‘Take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul”…Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me’ (Acts 27:22-25 NKJV).

You may not be able to see angels, but you can be certain that they see you; indeed, they never take their eyes off you! (See Matthew 18:10.)

SoulFood: Deut 8-10, Mark 6:30-44, Ps 37:8-15, Pro 11:27-29

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

‘Forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.’ Ephesians  4:32 NLT

The Bible says, ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you’ (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT).

Are you struggling to forgive someone? Here is a prayer: ‘Lord, I praise You for forgiving me and washing my sins away. Reveal anything I need to confess to You today so that I can bring it before You and be cleansed and set free, especially any place in my heart where I have not forgiven someone. I know how subtly resentment and bitterness can build up and hinder my prayers. I recognise that my lack of forgiveness towards others can keep me from experiencing Your forgiveness (see Mark 11:25). To say that I need Your help to forgive others the way You have always been forgiving towards me is a huge understatement. You forgave the unforgivable on the cross. I acknowledge that I am incapable of forgiving on my own. Remind me that I cannot make my forgiveness conditional upon whether people deserve it or not and that the focus of my heart must remain on becoming more like You. Give me the grace to forgive and not hold forgiveness back until the other person says or does what I think they should. Take away any anger, bitterness, or resentment in my heart. Pour out Your Spirit upon me and cleanse me of all that’s not of You. Enable me to walk in the forgiveness You have given me and to extend it to others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.’

SoulFood: Gal 5:22, Luke 6:27-36, Exo 23:1-9, Rom 12:14-21

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

‘He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work.’ Exodus 3 5:35 NKJV

The Bible says God ‘filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver – those who do every work and those who design artistic works’ (Exodus 35:35 NKJV).

When God calls you to do something, He has already placed within you the ability to accomplish it. Satan hopes you never discover that. He wants you to remain trapped in the status quo, believing that the way things are is how they will always be. Not so! When you change your thinking, your life begins to change. ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he’ (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). As long as you are content to remain as you are, you will never begin to think creatively. But when you decide you want your life to change for the better, you become teachable and open yourself to becoming creative. Like anything else in life, creativity begins with one idea. Then those ideas multiply! And each creative idea you have increases your ability to become a creative thinker.

Using your creativity doesn’t use it up. In fact the more you use it the more you get. Unfortunately the flame of creativity is far too often smothered and extinguished when it should be encouraged and nurtured.

If you cultivate creative thinking, there is no telling what kind of ideas you will come up with or how far you will go in life. Are you ready to start? Ask your Creator for a creative idea, then step out in faith and act on it.

SoulFood: Deut 5-7, Mark 6:14-29, Ps 37:1-7, Pro 11:24-26

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

‘He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house.’ Proverbs 1 5:27 NKJV

Today one of the biggest sources of conflict in marriage is money. That is because a husband and wife often have opposite ideas about how money ought to be used. Stop and consider the words ‘delayed gratification’. When one spouse is willing to delay purchasing something until their financial house is in order, but the other one isn’t, the battle lines begin to form. Another disagreement that can arise is deciding when and for what credit should be obtained. This is very dangerous territory. Nothing irritates a disciplined, thrifty person more than living with someone who wastes their income and their future earnings on things that aren’t truly needed.

Another potential minefield in marriage for many of us is deciding when and how much to give to our children. Because we love them so much, we want life to be easier and better for them growing up than it was for us. But it takes a steady hand to hold a full cup. The Bible clearly teaches the virtues of hard work, living frugally, saving, building, and producing by the sweat of our brows. And if our children don’t learn these virtues the right way, while they’re living in our home, there is a good chance they will learn them the hard way – while building their own home.

So here is some good advice: stay out of debt as much as possible and be extremely cautious with credit cards. Their misuse can weaken your family’s stability and future. Indeed, credit cards should be labelled, ‘Danger! Handle with care!’ Jesus put it this way: ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own’ (Luke 12:15 NLT).

SoulFood: Deut 3-4, Mark 6:7-13, Ps 2, Pro 11:22-23

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

‘Nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage.’ Ecclesiastes  3:22 NKJV

Solomon writes: ‘Nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works.’ That is why we are here!

If you’re unhappy with your life you don’t get to push some magical reset butten that means you start life over.

Begin now to think about what you can do to find more joy in every experience. The present moment is all you’re guaranteed, so don’t wait until later – until you get married, retire, go on holiday, or until your children finish university – to enjoy your life. No one knows what will happen next in their lives or in the world. You’re alive now, so maximise it, embrace it, and celebrate it.

Nobody was busier than Jesus, yet He knew how to celebrate! His first miracle was performed at a wedding reception. His schedule was hectic, yet He interrupted it to enjoy time with children. The needs He faced were endless, yet He took time off to rest. If you had your life to live over, would you take more chances and more trips? Would you climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets? Would you eat more ice cream and fewer beans? Would you stop worrying about imaginary troubles? Are you one of those people who never goes anywhere without an Aspirin, a hot water bottle, a mouthwash, a raincoat, and a parachute?

You get the picture. Don’t wait; enjoy your life now.

SoulFood: Deut 1-2, Mark 6:1-6, Ps 35, Pro 11:19-21

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

‘In Your presence is fullness of joy.’ Psalm 1 6:11 NKJV

If you were miserable before you met Jesus, it’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that the only place His presence can be enjoyed is in church. No, you can enjoy His presence everywhere. At home, at work, at school, in business, and even in times of suffering and adversity.

Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite monk in a French monastery, wrote the best-selling book, The Practice of the Presence of God. He resented his daily routine in the kitchen. Then God showed him that everything he did each day could be done for God and with God. That truth transformed his life. You can cultivate your mind to be more productive, and you can also cultivate your spirit to be more sensitive to God. You can reach the place where you sense His presence and His pleasure in all that you do. Believing God is present with you won’t help you much if you think He is always upset with you. But when you see yourself as accepted in Christ, you realise that He is not only present with you at all times but pleased with you (see Ephesians 1:6). That will radically change your thinking about God.

There are dozens of things pertaining to everyday life, and you can enjoy them all if you just make the decision to do it – getting dressed, going to work, organising things, running errands, grocery shopping, etc. After all, these are the things life is made up of.

Joy comes not merely from being entertained but from a decision to be grateful for each moment you are given as a rare and valuable gift from God.

SoulFood: Acts 27-28, Mark 5:31-43, Ps 94:12-23, Pro 11:16-18

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

‘The day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.’ 2 Peter  3:10 NLT

Don’t let date-setters make you cynical about Christ’s soon return. When the founder of a major church denomination predicted in print the date of Christ’s second coming, his successors faced the embarrassment of having to publicly acknowledge that they were wrong.

Do you remember the alarmists of Y2K? Declaring a scientific certainty that the year 2000 would bring the end of the world and the return of Christ. They caused people to leave their jobs, sell their homes, stock up on food, and head for the hills. And because of such embarrassments, many preachers today have silenced or toned down the truth of Christ’s second coming. Yes, when some people hear the message, they roll their eyes and say, ‘Not again!’ But doubt about Christ’s return is one of the signs that guarantees it will happen.

The Bible says: ‘Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue just as they were from the beginning of creation.” The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him, at peace,’ (2 Peter 3-4, 9-10, 14 NASB).

SoulFood: Acts 24-26, Mark 5:21-30, Ps 94:1-11, Pro 11:14-15

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