‘Our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No”.’ 2 Corinthians 1:18 NLT

Paul writes, ‘Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver.’ (2 Corinthians 1:17–18 NLT) Paul had learned to set boundaries in his relationships, and you must do the same.

A wise man said, ‘Never complain about what you permit.’ Unless you set boundaries, you have no right to complain about people who take advantage of you and waste your time. ‘Jesus… does not waver between “Yes” and “No”… He always does what He says.’ (2 Corinthians 1:19 NLT) And as His follower, you must learn when it’s appropriate to say yes and when it’s appropriate to say no. When people back you into a corner, confront them promptly, privately, and personally. And if they won’t listen, take someone with you. And if they won’t listen to both of you, take it to the church leadership (see Matthew 18:15–17). Be clear about what you will and won’t tolerate.

In the words of the country song, ‘You’ve got to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.’ Get comfortable voicing your wishes and preferences without fear of rejection and alienation. Make this your prayer today: ‘Lord, let me serve and give to others from a pure heart rather than a need for love and acceptance. On the authority of Your Word, I command the spirit of fear that has prevented me from setting healthy boundaries to leave now. I place my trust in You. I will not fear what people can do to me (Psalm 56:11). In Jesus’ name. Amen.’

SoulFood: Gen 50, Hag 1–2, Jn 20:1–18, Ps 105:1–7, Ecc 5:13–17

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

‘Stormy wind, fulfilling His word.’ Psalm 148:8 NASB

The winds were contrary when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they were contrary on their way to the Promised Land, and they were contrary when they got there. There is no such thing as a storm-free voyage: ‘It is through many tribulations that we must enter the Kingdom of God.’ (Acts 14:22 NASB) When you have to fight to stay afloat day after day, it’s easy to get discouraged. Paul said, ‘When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days… all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.’ (Acts 27:20 NKJV)

Maybe you’re weary and discouraged because of what you’re battling. You’re ready to call it quits—and, humanly speaking, nobody would blame you. But before you give up, ask yourself this: what if God is the One engineering this storm to get you where you need to go? What if He is the One who ‘spoke and raised a stormy wind’ (Psalm 107:25 NASB), so you would have to keep your eyes on Him? What if He is the One who ‘hurled a great wind on the sea’ (Jonah 1:4 NASB), to see if you would keep the faith when you can’t see the far shore?

The psalmist tells us God uses ‘fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His Word.’ (Psalm 148:8 NASB) In Exodus 10, ‘the Lord directed an east wind on the land all that day and all that night; and… it… brought the locusts… So the Lord shifted the wind to a very strong west wind, which picked up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea.’ (Exodus 10:13;19 NASB)

One author adds, ‘When the Lord fought for Israel … stormy winds brought about their deliverance … And one day, by God’s great mercy, we too shall stand upon the sea of glass and see how stormy winds brought about our deliverance.’

SoulFood: Gen 47–49, Jn 19:25–42, Ps 150, Ecc 5:10–12

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

‘This voyage will end with disaster and much loss.’ Acts 27:10 NKJV

Paul told everyone on board the ship bound for Rome, ‘Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.’ (Acts 27:10 NKJV)

One author writes: ‘Paul didn’t talk about a little skirmish… a little loss… This voyage would be beset with disasters, with much loss, even to their lives… To Paul this journey meant eventual martyrdom. However, Paul would not die until his mission was completed until he would strike a fatal blow at the heart of the Roman Empire, its political genius, military supremacy… pride and pomp. When Paul walked into Rome with the Gospel, hell shook, and all Heaven rejoiced. We are all beneficiaries because that little battle-scarred man with a chain around his ankle started to convert many in Rome and gave us the books of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon while he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ… These phrases from Acts 27 bring this journey more to life: The winds were contrary… we sailed slowly… passing with difficulty… sailing was now dangerous… tempestuous winds arose… we secured the skiff with difficulty… we used cables to undergird the ship… exceedingly tempest tossed… we threw the ship’s tackle overboard… neither sun nor stars appeared for many days… all hope that we would get saved was given up… the stern was broken up.’ The destination is within reach—but not without ‘much loss’. Thank God that’s not the end of the story. The centurion, ‘wishing to save Paul… commanded those who could swim to throw themselves overboard… and make for the shore… the rest on… pieces of the vessel… escaped safely to land.’ (Acts 27:43–44 AMPC) When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will make it in spite of the storm. Guaranteed!

SoulFood: Gen 44–46, Jn 19:1–24, Ps 148:7–14, Ecc 5:4–6

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

‘The winds were contrary.’ Acts 27:4 KJV

When you set out to do anything for God, the enemy will make sure you encounter ‘contrary winds’. In fact, if you’re not sailing against the wind, chances are you’re headed in the wrong direction! The Bible says Jesus was ‘tempted of the devil.’ (Matthew 4:1 KJV) Satan never let up, including the night before Jesus was crucified when ‘Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, one of the twelve.’ (Luke 22:3 NIV)

Reimar Schultze, a holocaust survivor, says, ‘Wherever you go today, Satan will… try to get you at some street corner, at the office, or in the field. He will make you fall if you leave home without your spiritual armour on; if you leave your belt of truth… in the closet, your breastplate of righteousness… by the door, your gospel shoes under your bed, or if you leave your shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit and the helmet of salvation behind you… If you say at daybreak, “I will pray whenever I get a chance today,” you just gave away your victory. Before long, the wrong words will come out of your mouth, you will look at forbidden fruits and display an improper attitude. The most foolish thing you can do is to leave home unarmed and spiritually naked. A fool says, “I have no time to pray,” but later… he finds all kinds of time to attempt to repair the damage prayerlessness… produced… Following Jesus is not a walk in the park… Every good thing in the Kingdom… from Adam on, has come to us through men and women who stuck it out when the going got tough. The biblical history of the church ends with these victorious words… “and so we came to Rome.”’ (Acts 28:14 NLT)

SoulFood: Mt 4:21–22, Mt 17:1–9, Jn 19:25–27, Jn 21:20–24

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

‘Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ Luke 18:14 NLT

Jesus said: ‘Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: “I thank You, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.” But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to Heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, “O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.” I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ (Luke 18:10–14 NLT)

You can appear to be the most devout person in church yet have a heart filled with pride. And the worst part is that you don’t know it. For example, when you take all the credit for things God enabled you to accomplish and acquire, that’s pride. When you compare yourself with others, that’s pride. When you think you can do the will of God without the power of God, that’s pride. When you exclude people who don’t fit into your peer group or social circle, that’s pride. And it will cost you, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.’ (James 4:6 NIV) So if you want to walk in His favour today, then humble yourself before Him.

SoulFood: Gen 42–43, Jn 18:19–40, Ps 148:1–6, Ecc 5:1–3

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

‘Is anyone among you sick?’ James 5:14 NIV

The Bible says, ‘Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.’ (James 5:14–15 NIV) So, let’s be in no doubt; when we’re sick, we are told to call for the church elders to anoint us with oil and pray over us, believing that we will be healed. In times of sickness, we’re also told to pray for one another.

Jesus said, ‘And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name… they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’ (Mark 16:17–18 NKJV) If you are sick today, pray: ‘Lord, even though the doctor’s report is negative, You have the last word concerning my life. Your Word says, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.” (Psalm 139:16 NLT) Help me to action any lifestyle changes that will make a difference to my quality of life. Raise me up as testimony to your healing power. You are the changeless miracle-working God yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). I take authority over every defective part of my body and command each one to be made whole in the name of Jesus. I decree that I will not die before my appointed time but will live to report what You have done (Psalm 118:17). By faith I stand on Your Word and declare, “By Your stripes I am healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) In Jesus’ name. Amen.’

SoulFood: Gen 40–41, Jn 18:1–18, Ps 147:12–20, Ecc 4:9–12

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

‘He chose us.’ Ephesians 1:4 NKJV

When it comes to God’s will for your life, He decides it and you discover it. It’s not something you can change, a topic for debate, or a plan you get to have a say in. The truth is, you can miss God’s will and be miserable, or do things His way and experience ‘glorious, inexpressible joy.’ (1 Peter 1:8 NLT) The choice is yours.

‘But I don’t know God’s will for my life,’ you say. Then pray this prayer: ‘Father, I’m tired of going through life with no real purpose because it brings no glory to You. You created every living thing, including me, that they may bring You pleasure (Revelation 4:11). I know that You have a specific job for me to do. Your Word says You formed me in the womb to be Your servant (Isaiah 49:5). I’m getting lots of input from other people, but I need to know the path You have chosen for me. Help me to stop ignoring and minimising the gifts and talents You have invested in me; acting like they’re of no significance. I know we are all called to serve, and I need Your help to discern who, where, when, and how I should serve. I want to do what You have destined me to do and not be side-tracked by wrong priorities, busywork, or other people’s desires and demands. At the end of my life, I want to be able to look back and say like Jesus, ‘I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do.’ (John 17:4 ESV) In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.’

SoulFood: Gen 37–39, Jn 17, Ps 147:1–11, Ecc 3:5–8

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

‘…but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.’ Matthew 6:32 NLT

God loves to give. Listen, “Since He did not spare even His own Son for us…won't He surely give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32 TLB). When you were born again, you became part of God's family. But, there's a difference in what outsiders know, and what family members know. Your children know things about you – what you have, what you like, what you do – that outsiders never see or know.

And it's the same with us. Because we know that our Heavenly Father is rich and that He has great plans for us, our expectations of Him are enhanced and our confidence in Him is strengthened.

But, just because He has it that doesn't mean He'll automatically give it to you. A good father exercises restraint. He's not only good to His children; He's good for them. Often He withholds things for a season in order to build character and correct behaviour. Then, when the blessing comes, they're mature enough to handle it.

If you don't understand this, you can easily become discouraged and turn away from Him in anger, because you believed for something that didn't come on time – or come at all.

But, if your faith in His wisdom is stronger than your own personal agenda, you’ll hold onto His promise, trust Him, and wait patiently for the blessing to come. Why? Because you understand that your Heavenly Father knows what you need!

SoulFood: Gen 35–36, Jn 16:19–33, Ps 2, Ecc 3:1–4

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

‘To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.’ 1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV

To establish common ground, you must be adaptable. Thomas Aquinas said, ‘To convert somebody, go and take them by the hand and guide them.’ You must be willing to move from where you are to where they are; to adapt and try to see things from their point of view. Anytime you’re aware of distance between you and the person you’re trying to reach, it’s good to search for something in your own background and experience that relates to theirs. Don’t start the process by telling them about yourself. Begin by moving to where they are and trying to see things from their perspective.

Adapt to them—don’t think they should adapt to you. Instead of telling people how you feel, find out how they feel. Instead of telling them what you see, discover how they see things. Instead of trying to tell them what you want, discover what they want. Abraham Lincoln said, ‘When I am getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds about him and what he is going to say.’

The truth is, you can’t take someone on a journey unless you’re willing to start where they are. Only then can you truly connect and lead them to where you want to take them. You can know a lot about a person and still not understand them. More information isn’t always the answer. The Bible says, ‘Deep calls to deep’ (Psalm 42:7 NIV), and to really understand people, you must move beyond head knowledge and learn to speak the language of the heart.

SoulFood: Gen 32–34, Jn 16:1–18, Ps 130, Prov 31:28–31

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

‘For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.’ 1 Corinthians 9:19 NKJV

Whether you’re applying for a job, trying to win someone to Christ, counselling and advising, or correcting someone’s behaviour, to be effective you must look for common ground. Let’s look at some of the qualities that requires.

Availability. Paul writes: ‘I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.’ Establishing areas of common interest takes time. It also takes effort. It’s been reported that today a typical top manager has an on-the-job attention span of six minutes. That’s pathetic! In six minutes a person can hardly get his or her feet on the ground, much less find common ground. Identifying areas you can agree on calls for empathy and a willingness to listen to what the other person has to say.

In her book How to Talk So People Listen, Sonya Hamlin reports that most people find this challenging because of the ‘Me-First Factor’. She writes: ‘Listening requires giving up our favourite human pastime—involvement in ourselves and our own self-interest. It’s our primary, entirely human focus. And it’s where our motivation to do anything comes from. With this as a base, can you see what a problem is created when we’re asked to listen to someone else?’

So, what’s the solution? First of all, it’s essential to acknowledge and answer two of the listener’s instinctive, unspoken, questions, which are: ‘Why should I listen to you? What’s in it for me if I let you in?’ Anytime you’re willing to listen to people and figure out how what you’re offering meets their needs, you are halfway towards your goal of finding common ground.

SoulFood: Gen 30:25–31:55, Jn 15:18–27, Ps 65, Prov 31:25–27

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