Word For You

‘The peace of God…will guard your hearts and minds.' Philippians 4:7 NIVWhen you feel anxious and afraid, here are two things that can help: 1) Find a ‘faith friend'. When anxiety grabs your mind, one of the most powerful ways to break the worry spiral is to talk to a ‘faith friend'. When Israel went out to occupy the promised land, here's what God said to them: ‘Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too' (Deuteronomy 20:8 NIV). Pessimism, fright, and discouragement are contagious. And so is courage! 2) Take action and face your fear. Sermons about how God will take care of you aren't enough to remove anxiety from your life by themselves. You also need to do certain things, like stepping out in faith and trusting God. The way to get His peace from your head to the rest of your body is to trust Him, to the point where you're able to face your fears head-on. So, with that in mind, a) meditate on passages like Psalm 23; imagine yourself being shepherded by the Lord through green pastures and led beside still waters, b) talk to your ‘faith friend' before worry gets a foothold in your mind, c) use a ‘breath prayer' such as, ‘God, I'm casting all my cares on You,' d) exercise; physical exercise is a great way to stop excess adrenaline from building up and finding the wrong outlet, e) identify your fear and take even one small step towards confronting it, and f) get enough rest. David said, ‘In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety' (Psalm 4:8 NIV). Today, give your worries to God!

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.' Revelation 2:11 NKJVYou can read the same Scripture at different times, and it'll speak to you in totally different ways. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is credited with saying, ‘You never step into the same river twice.' And you never read the same Bible verse the same way twice. That's a testament to its heavenly author. And His illumination and revelation of Scripture to you is based on His intimate and unlimited knowledge of your circumstances, your desires, your fears, your past, your personality, and your destiny. But you must take time to listen and cultivate your sensitivity to what He's saying. There's a story of a music trainer hired to work with opera singers who couldn't hit certain notes even though they fell within their vocal range. It was a musical mystery. The trainer did extensive testing on their vocal cords, but he couldn't find any reason why they couldn't hit those notes. Then, on a whim, he tested their hearing. And what he discovered was that these opera singers couldn't sing a note they couldn't hear. The problem wasn't singing. The problem was hearing. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.' Until you hear the voice of God, you won't be able to sing His song, because you're out of tune with Him. That's how we get trapped in sinful lifestyles and negative cycles and destructive patterns. But when you open up the Bible and truly hear the voice of God – His loving voice, His affirming voice, His graceful voice, His convicting voice, His authoritative voice, His powerful voice – your life begins to harmonise with the Holy Spirit.

‘Let us hold fast…without wavering…He who promised is faithful.' Hebrews 10:23 NKJVDuring the creation process, God counted days based on the previous nights. The Bible doesn't say, ‘The morning and evening were the first day.' It says, ‘God called…the evening and the morning…the first day' (Genesis 1:5 KJV). That means God specialises in bringing light out of darkness – you just have to get through one to get to the other! God told Moses that the angel of death would come at night, and wherever he saw the blood of the lamb on the doorposts, the inhabitants of that house would be saved (see Exodus 12:12-13). In Exodus, we read that God ‘sent a…wind that blew all night until there was dry land…and the Israelites walked through' (Exodus 14:21-22 CEV). The psalmist wrote, ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning' (Psalm 30:5 NKJV). The dawn is all the more brilliant because of the darkness that came before it, just as your progress is all the more rewarding when it's set against a backdrop of pain, gain, and breakthrough. Great mornings come by getting through rough nights. When you see somebody who's having a great day, chances are you're looking at somebody who has been through a long night. When you hear them shouting victory, it might be because they've spent the night praying and weeping before God. The Bible says, ‘Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise' (Hebrews 10:23 NLT). Trusting God is more than just wishful thinking. It's knowing that if He said it, He will do it. It's realising He doesn't just know about creation, He knows all about your circumstances too. So, ‘hold fast'.

‘Make sure you understand what the Master wants.' Ephesians 5:17 MSGTo fulfil God's plan for your life, you need to do these: 1) Map out your day. Plan your time and stick to your plan. Only one out of three people do that. One leadership expert says, ‘It's…rare…that I get up in the morning wondering what I'll be doing that day.' He uses his time in the most efficient and effective way he can. That's one reason why he's ended up a leader, and an expert! 2) Keep first things first. Goethe said, ‘Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.' Most of us don't get to our most important tasks until mid-afternoon. We complete low-priority tasks first so we will have a sense of accomplishment. That's not always the best strategy. And if you plan your day but don't follow through, your results will be the same as those who don't plan at all. As Dwight Eisenhower observed, ‘Taking first things first…often reduces the most complex human problem to a manageable proportion.' 3) Be focused but flexible. Expect the unexpected and learn to adapt. Conditions constantly change, and your ways of getting things done need to be flexible enough to adapt to shifting circumstances. 4) Learn to delegate. People tend to fall into two categories: clingers and dumpers. Clingers refuse to let go of anything they think is important, whether or not they're the best person for the job. Their goal is perfection. Dumpers, on the other hand, are quick to off-load tasks without giving much thought to how well the job gets done. Their goal is to get it off their plate ASAP. Delegating well calls for being wise, secure in who you are, and generous towards others. It also means the job gets done right – and in the end, that's what you want.

‘By the grace of God I am what I am.' 1 Corinthians 15:10 NIVThere's a story about a boy who comes home and doesn't know the pastor is paying a visit to his mum at that moment. He runs into the house, carrying a dead rat, and shouts, ‘Mum, you'll never guess what. There was a rat running around in the garage. I saw it, threw a stone, and hit it. It just lay there, so I went over and stamped on it. Then I picked it up and hurled it against the wall.' Then he sees the pastor, and the look on his mum's face - and realises he's in trouble. So, he holds the rat up and adds in a pious voice, ‘And then the dear Lord called him home.' That's the kind of talk people slip into when they want to hide their flaws and appear more ‘spiritual'. The old hymn ‘Just as I Am, Without One Plea' is about taking off the mask and knowing that God loves you in spite of your problems. If there was a true ‘just as I am' church where people could bring their baggage and brokenness, if there was a group where everyone was loved and no one faked it, we couldn't make enough room for them inside the building. Paul acknowledged that sometimes he acted like Dr Jekyll, other times like Mr Hyde. He talked of the times when he wanted to do good but evil took over. But he refused to give up because he realised he was a work in progress. ‘I…do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect' (vv. 9-10 NIV).

‘They loved human praise more than the praise of God.' John 12:43 NLTThe Bible says: ‘Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn't admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God' (vv. 42-43 NLT). How secure are you when you have to take the lead? When someone else has a great idea, do you support it or suppress it? Do you celebrate other people's successes, or feel threatened by them? If your answers are that you suppress and feel threatened, you have a problem with insecurity and you need to deal with it in order to fully succeed in what God has called you to do. Think about these three points: 1) Insecure leaders create insecurity in others. The old saying goes, ‘You cannot give what you do not have.' Without your own inner security, you can't make others feel secure. And to be an effective leader, the kind that others want to follow, you need to encourage those who follow you to feel good about themselves. 2) Insecure leaders take more from people than they give. They're on a constant quest for recognition, validation, and love. Because of that, their attention is on finding security and not imparting it to others. They're mostly takers rather than givers, and takers don't make good leaders. 3) Insecure leaders continually limit their best people. They hoard power. In fact, the better their followers are, the more threatened the leaders feel – and the harder they work to limit their followers' success and recognition. If any of these things describe you, read this: ‘Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other' (Romans 12:10 NLT).

‘Do not neglect the gift that is in you.' 1 Timothy 4:14 NKJVThe only way to keep improving is to keep practising. Nancy Dornan says, ‘The longest distance between two points is a shortcut.' That's really true. If you really want to grow in a particular area, you'll need to work out what it will really take, including the price, and then determine to pay it. David didn't suddenly discover his talent as a harpist when he arrived at King Saul's palace. He developed it through years of practice on lonely hillsides while tending his father's sheep. Paul instructed Timothy: ‘Till I come, give attention to reading…Do not neglect the gift that is in you…Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all' (vv. 13-15 NKJV). When you stop growing, everything stops. Progress, success, and growth don't happen by soaking them up by chance, they take determination and discipline. There's no easy way to become a disciplined person. The reason last year's winner was this year's runner-up is because one was willing to go the extra mile when it came to practice and discipline, and the other wasn't. Anyone who does what they must do only when they're in the mood or when it's convenient will get left behind. Improvement comes through discipline. A disciplined person doesn't make excuses or accept excuses; they eliminate excuses. As French classical writer François de La Rochefoucauld said, ‘Almost all our faults are more pardonable than the methods we think up to hide them.' If you have several reasons why you can't be disciplined, realise they're just a bunch of excuses – all of which need to be challenged if you want to succeed in what God's called you to do.

‘Hear Me, everyone, and understand.' Mark 7:14 NKJVJesus said, ‘Hear Me, everyone, and understand.' He spoke life-changing words, but He understood that preoccupied minds don't always listen too well. Are you a good listener? 1) If you're a leader in some way, do you listen to your followers? The kind of leaders people want to follow do more than just deal with the task at hand when they interact with you; they take the time to get a feel for who you are as a person. Philip Stanhope, the Earl of Chesterfield, believed, ‘Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request.' If you're used to listening only to the facts and not the person who expresses them, change your focus, and really listen. 2) If you're providing something, do you listen to the people you're supposed to be serving? A Cherokee saying states, ‘Listen to the whispers and you won't have to hear the screams.' Never get so caught up in your own ideas or products that you don't hear concerns, complaints, and suggestions about them. In his book, Business @ the Speed of Thought, former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates said, ‘Unhappy customers are always a concern. They're also your greatest opportunity.' That's why you should make it a priority to keep in contact with the people you're serving. 3) If you're committed to growth, are you listening to your mentors? You'll never become so advanced or experienced that you can afford to be without mentors. If you don't have some, go out and find them. If you can't get some, begin by reading appropriate books, starting with your Bible. If you're not following in the footsteps of someone wiser, there's a good chance you're not on the right path.

‘We all stumble in many ways.' James 3:2 NIVWhen we make a mistake, we can end up fixating on it and punishing ourselves about it for ages. We overthink it, worry about it, think we've failed, and anticipate that we'll just fail again. Once we're in this mindset, it's dangerous. Our self-esteem evaporates and we can label ourselves as failures. But this isn't our identity. It's true that we'll make mistakes. James wrote: ‘We all stumble in many ways' and Solomon said: ‘There's not one totally good person on earth, Not one who is truly pure and sinless' (Ecclesiastes 7:20 MSG). We will fail. But we aren't failures. It's good to recognise where we're going wrong so that we can try and avoid making the same mistakes again. But when we start living out of a place of guilt and shame, we've let God's truth about who we are become drowned out. The truth is that we're loved by God and accepted by Him. He doesn't see all our mistakes and condemn us. Instead, He sees the mistakes, forgives us and continues to love and accept us. The Bible says: ‘There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus' (Romans 8:1 NIV). God isn't condemning us, so we need to stop condemning ourselves. We're all a work in progress. In Philippians 1, it says: ‘God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns' (v.6 NLT). God's working on us, and He'll finish what He's started. He's not a harsh God who's angry when we make mistakes. He's gentle with us, so let's be gentle with ourselves too.

‘A man who has friends must himself be friendly.' Proverbs 18:24 NKJV Jonathan and David had a very strong friendship. The Bible says: ‘By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David – an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David's number-one advocate and friend' (1 Samuel 18:1 MSG). Jonathan was heir to the throne, but he voluntarily gave it up because he knew his friend David was God's choice to be king. Jonathan desired to be a friend more than he desired to be a king. People often want to put their own success over and above their friendships with others. But friendship, and God's ultimate plan, was more important to Jonathan. And their friendship ended up changing the course of Israel. Whether we're introvert or extrovert, shy or outgoing, friendship is an important thing in our lives. We need other people for support, advice and prayer. God can use our friends to speak to us. But in order for us to have strong and godly friendships we need to be prepared to be strong godly friends to others. The Bible says: ‘A man who has friends must himself be friendly.' Friendships like Jonathan and David's don't just happen. They have to be worked at and grown, just like any relationship. When we meet up with our friends, we can often find ourselves checking our phones, watching TV or checking our watch to make sure we'll get to wherever we need to be next on time. Developing strong friendships requires the investment of quality time. It involves focusing completely on what the other person is saying. It involves putting people above our own personal gains, just like Jonathan did in his friendship with David.

‘Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.' Psalm 62:10 NIVIf God can trust you with something small, He'll trust you with more (see Luke 16:10, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11). But His blessings come with certain conditions, and here are four you need to honour. 1) Don't try to claim credit for yourself. God told the Israelites, ‘You may say to yourself…“My hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord…for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…If you ever forget…you will surely be destroyed' (Deuteronomy 8:17-19 NIV). 2) Don't forget others. The Bible commands ‘those who are rich in this present world…to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds…generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves' (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV). 3) Don't become arrogant. Jeremiah warns us, ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong…of their strength or the rich…of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord' (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV). 4) Don't allow anything to take God's place. ‘Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the Lord?”' (Proverbs 30:8-9 NIV). Remember, you don't own anything – you're just an administrator of God's estate and an executor of His will. It's an awesome responsibility, so make sure you do the best you can.

‘It is…by my Spirit,' says the Lord.' Zechariah 4:6 NLTSometimes it can feel like we're having to face things on our own, that nobody is willing to walk alongside us or support us in what God's calling us to do. People can often assume we're strong and don't need anything. It's easy to become discouraged and give up when we feel we're not being supported. But God never leaves us to face anything on our own. Zerubbabel was called to rebuild the temple. It was a huge task, so God told him, ‘It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit.' We can't do everything on our own, we need to be dependent on God. When we don't let Him in to what we're doing, we can end up in a worse situation. Samson discovered this: ‘He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I'll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Then the Philistines seized him' (Judges 16:20-21 NIV). God stepped back and let Samson see that it was the Lord doing it, and not himself. We need to remember that it's God's power, not ours, that makes the difference. God's ‘power is made perfect in weakness' (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). So when we're feeling weak, we're in the best position for God to work through us and with us. We've got to take that step of courage, trusting that He'll equip us as we go along. When we're relying on His strength rather than our own, we can do what He's calling us to.

‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.' Colossians 4:2 NIVThe word ‘watchful' is a throwback to the Old Testament-era routine of sitting on a city wall and keeping watch. Watchmen were the first to see attacking armed forces or travelling merchants. They had the best vantage point. They saw what nobody else saw, and they saw things sooner than others saw them. That's exactly what happens when we pray. We see what nobody else sees, and we see them sooner than others see them. Prayer provides us with a God's-eye view; it increases our awareness and gives us a sixth sense that allows us to discern spiritual realities. In their classic book Geeks and Geezers, business gurus Warren Bennis and Robert Thomas make an interesting observation about a common trait among successful leaders in every field. Bennis and Thomas call them first-class noticers. ‘Being a first-class noticer allows you to recognise talent, identify opportunities, and avoid pitfalls. Leaders who succeed again and again are geniuses at grasping context. This is one of those characteristics, like taste, that is difficult to break down into its component parts. But the ability to weigh a welter of factors, some as subtle as how very different groups of people will interpret a gesture, is one of the hallmarks of a true leader.' Prayer turns us into first-class noticers. It helps us to see what God wants us to notice. The more you pray, the more you notice. The less you pray, the less you notice. It's as simple as that. Here's a Bible formula for success in any area of life: ‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.'

‘But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.' 1 Corinthians 2:10 NKJVThe Bible says, ‘“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit' (vv. 9-10 NKJV). Our five senses are limited, so the Holy Spirit compensates for them by enabling us to realise things we can't perceive with our five senses. Think of Him as a sixth sense. That sense must be cultivated, matured, and fine-tuned. And that can only happen when we spend time meditating in the Scriptures and sitting with God in prayer. Until we're awakened by the Holy Spirit, we're unaware of our need for God, of the spiritual warfare that's happening all around us, and of what God's doing all around us. One night Jacob had a dream where God appeared to him and said, ‘I am with you and will keep you wherever you go' (Genesis 28:15 NKJV). When he woke up the next morning, Jacob said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it…This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!' (Genesis 28:16-17 NKJV). Jacob went to sleep and woke up in the same place, but he woke up a different person. After his wake-up call, Jacob saw God everywhere he looked. Today, ask God for spiritual inspiration. Pray, ‘Father, show me what You want me to see, teach me what You want me to know, lead me step-by-step in the path of Your perfect will.' That's a prayer God will love to answer!

‘Give your servant a discerning heart.' 1 Kings 3:9 NIVWhen God asked Solomon what he wanted, Solomon gave what we might think of as a surprising answer. Out of everything he could have wanted, he asked for the gift of wisdom. He prayed: ‘Give your servant a discerning heart…to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?' Solomon recognised the value of wisdom. We all need wisdom. From decision-making to solving conflicts, we need to be able to make wise choices. And discernment fits in with this. Being able to discern between right and wrong, the truthfulness of a statement or the character of a person, helps us make those wise choices. The Bible says that discernment is a spiritual gift. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul shows us that people are given differing gifts (see v.10). So some of us have discernment as our spiritual gift. But for those of us who don't, we can ask God to help us be discerning and wise in our everyday decisions, faith, relationships and workplaces. ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you' (James 1:5 NIV). And when we're filled with God's wisdom, the decisions we make will bring peace, justice and goodness. And that will bring glory to God. When Solomon received the gift of wisdom, he was soon put to the test when two women approached him both claiming to be a baby's mother. He managed to discern who the real mother was and we're told that the people were in awe of him because they could see God's wisdom in him (see 1 Kings 3:28). Can people see the same in us?

‘The Spirit of truth…will lead you…and …tell you what is to come.' John 16:13 NCVMaking decisions without getting God's guidance first is like trying to fly a plane without radar and a compass. You can do what makes sense based on your past knowledge and experience, but what ‘looks right' can end up destroying what's most important to you if it's actually the wrong course to take. The Bible says even the most profound and complex human thinking looks simple to God (see 1 Corinthians 1:18-20). Only He knows the way, and He wants to go ahead of you. Don't assume that every opportunity that comes along is from God. Paul said, ‘Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light' (2 Corinthians 11:14 NCV). And while his invitations are packaged to look like he has your best interests at heart, his way always leads to ruin (see John 8:44). God's Word was designed as ‘a lamp for [your] feet and a light for [your] path' (Psalm 119:105 NCV) to guide you in the ways of righteousness. That's why it can be catastrophic to follow a path that seems right to you without first asking God for direction. Jesus said, ‘When the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words, but…only what he hears, and he will tell you what is to come' (John 16:13 NCV). The truth is that most of us don't naturally seek God. It's only as His Spirit speaks to our hearts that we start desiring His will. Take time to seek the Holy Spirit's direction. Trust Him. He understands the consequences of your choices, and He'll show you ‘the big picture' and help you stay on the right road.

‘Let us have…no envy of one another.' Galatians 5:26 RSVPaul warned the early church about envy, and it's still a problem. A friend gets better exam results, a co-worker gets promoted, a neighbour gets a new car. Do you rejoice with them, or force a tight smile? We're human; an occasional flicker of envy is normal. But beware of harbouring a lingering sense of being cheated. The Roman historian Tacitus said, ‘When men are full of envy, they disparage everything…good or bad.' When somebody else prospers, before you think, ‘It should have been me,' ask yourself if you'd be responding the same way if some tragedy had happened to them. Jealousy is like a moth; it nibbles away at clothes until they're ruined, except envy destroys irreplaceable things like relationships and families. One author reminds us: ‘When we're…in the valley, it is human to envy those…[on] the mountaintops. It is easy to forget [they] didn't fall there – they climbed there. Behind the success story is always a courageous decision and a gallant action…If we want to reach them…we have to…climb. Inspiration from someone else may get us started, but the success is in the climbing.' Imagine a runner striding out; they're fast, focused, and ahead of the pack. Then they start looking at the competition. Before long they stumble, lose momentum, and drop out. That's what happens when you let jealousy distract you from completing the course God mapped out for you. Paul writes, ‘You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?' (Galatians 5:7 NIV). Keep your eye on the prize, and don't get distracted by what others have and don't have. Remember that you have God!

‘If you accept correction, you will be honoured.' Proverbs 13:18 NLTSolomon said, ‘If you accept correction, you will be honoured.' Pastor Charlie Shedd gives us ten ways to grow through criticism: 1) Criticism is often a compliment. The barbs in daily life only strike people who are prepared to raise their heads above ground level. Jesus said, ‘Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down…it means…that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable' (Luke 6:22 MSG). 2) Accept that you have faults which are open to criticism. Stay humble, and criticism won't rattle you. 3) ‘The words of the godly save lives' (Proverbs 12:6 NLT). Invite constructive criticism from friends; then when it comes from your enemies, you'll be prepared. 4) Let criticism make you better. When you burn with anger, you destroy the passport to your own improvement. ‘When you do right and suffer for it…take it patiently' (1 Peter 2:20 RSV). 5) Some criticism should be ignored, especially if it stems from false motives. Never give unhappy people the key to your happiness. 6) Keep it in perspective. Everybody hasn't heard. Most people don't care. One bad word doesn't cancel the good in you. 7) Let criticism make you kinder. Remind yourself that you have criticised others too. Is this a boomerang that started in your own heart? 8) Pray for your critics. It will improve them and neutralise your bitterness. Hate destroys your health and steals your happiness. 9) Check with the Master Critic. What does God say? How do things look deep in your soul? 10) When you have checked to make sure you're right, move ahead. In quiet confidence finish what you started, because God's promises are to those who endure (see Hebrews 6:12).

‘They shall still bear fruit in old age.' Psalm 92:14 NKJVDoes the thought of getting older depress you, make you anxious, or make you fatalistic in your outlook? If so, read this: ‘Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing' (vv. 13-14 NKJV). Even thinking about how we'll be ten years from now can fill us with anxious thoughts. Here are some ideas of how to stay ‘fresh and flourishing' as we get older: 1) Guard your health. Studies show that good health is a huge factor in determining our level of happiness as we get older. So try to eat healthy, and exercise as often as you can. Drink lots of water, and take advice from a doctor or medical professional when you need to. All these things can help to improve your quality of life, whatever age you are. 2) Take care of your appearance, but don't let it control you. When you look good, you feel good – and inspired. But keep your quest for looking good in balance. Remember God's words to Samuel: ‘The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart' (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT). Examine your motives and seek God's advice if you begin to feel that your self-worth is dependent on how you look. You have so many unique and amazing qualities, and looks are really only a tiny part of what makes you you. 3) Look for someone to help. Mother Teresa said, ‘We cannot do great things. We can only do little things with great love.' You'll be amazed at the sense of strength, self-worth, and satisfaction you feel when you meet the needs of others. An unknown poet wrote, ‘It's loving and giving that makes life worth living!'

‘My chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.' Isaiah 65:22 NIVWe live in a society where showing signs of getting older can devastate our self-worth. But you don't have to be a victim of that value system. ‘As the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands' (v. 22 NIV). Someone said, ‘Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter!' So, if you're worrying about getting older and how it could affect the way you view yourself, and how others might see you, keep in mind these points: 1) Build a strong relationship with God. Spend time talking with Him and reading His Word. ‘Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying' (Proverbs 3:1-2 NLT). 2) Come to grips with the reality of ageing. We've been ageing from the moment we were conceived. In fact, on the day we're born we're already nine months old. Fretting about getting older is like worrying about the sun going down each day. It's going to happen, whether we want it to or not. But what we can change is how we use each day we're given to its full potential. Every morning, try starting your day by announcing, ‘This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it' (see Psalm 118:24). 3) Always have a goal. It doesn't have to be something big in the eyes of the world, just something to look forward to doing with your skills and your mind. Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘I could not at any age be content to take my place in a corner by the fireside and simply look on.' Read, grow, contribute, stay involved, live every day to its full!

‘As we live in God, our love grows more perfect.' 1 John 4:17 NLTIn today's culture, the word ‘love' means different things to different people. You can love your family, your country, your dog, your new mobile phone, and your car. But you don't love your family the same way you love your mobile phone or your car. The kind of love we see in films and books where you fall in and out of love at the drop of a hat isn't real love, it's selfishness and immaturity. The Bible word agape (God's love) is an unconditional commitment to love that's rooted in an unchanging decision. It always gives, and doesn't change whether the love is returned or not. It's a decision of your heart to seek the other person's highest good, no matter how they may respond. When the King James Bible translators came to the Greek word agape, in addition to using the English word ‘love' to transliterate it, they often chose the word ‘charity'. This was meant to reinforce the idea that love is a selfless, unconditional, giving love. And as such, it directs kindness, respect, and loyalty towards the loved one. ‘God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect' (vv. 16-17 NLT). What causes us to stand out from the world isn't our words but our love for one another. When we can overcome our differences, when we can cross lines of denomination, race, and culture, and truly love one another, the world is drawn to Christ and it pays attention to what we say (see John 13:35).

‘The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.' Proverbs 24:16 NLTWhen it comes to handling relationships, we all have our pluses and minuses, strengths and weaknesses. So to flourish in a relationship, we must learn to persevere. Even when we've done the best we can to reduce our potential for failure, we must still be ready for it. If we stay stuck in self-defeat, guilt, and shame over missed chances and incorrect choices in one particular relationship, we'll never experience the freedom we need to sustain our other relationships. One pastor says: ‘To counter that, I allow myself a 10 per cent ratio for failure in a relationship to work out the way I thought it would.' That's good advice! So with that in mind, remind yourself that no matter what circumstances occur, or which relationships fail miserably, you'll eventually come out stronger. You'll learn from them, draw closer to God, and be able to thank Him for the blessings that still remain in your life. When you really stop and think about them, you'll start to notice so many! When you think about the long list of gifts that remain in your life even in the middle of difficulties, losses, and frustrations, you're better able to see the big picture and not just the problem in front of your eyes at that moment. Gratitude is a great antidote to self-pity and despair. Thanksgiving lifts you back to a position of seeing your relationships and life more clearly. If you really want a particular relationship to work, commit to praying for the other person, loving them unconditionally, and investing in them. Then trust God to do the rest! There'll be times when He'll say it's time to end a relationship, and that can be heartbreaking, but you can be certain He knows best and He's always there to strengthen and comfort you.

‘Walk in love as Christ also has loved us.' Ephesians 5:2 NKJVSpiritual healing takes place when you're able to confess your problem to someone mature enough to handle it and committed enough to not give up on you. What does it mean to ‘walk in love'? a) To be confident of God's unfailing love towards you. b) To show His love to others. c) To be able to accept their love in return. Only then can you become spiritually whole. You can only be loved to the extent that you're known. When you keep part of your life a secret, others may tell you they love you, but deep inside you think, ‘If you knew the whole truth about me, you wouldn't love me.' So, you're unable to receive and be strengthened by their love. Sin isolates us, and sin and isolation will make us sick in our soul, and even our body. Confession and then prayer, being connected to each other and to God, invites the Holy Spirit in and begins the healing process. To be fully known and fully loved is the most healing gift we can give to each other. The Bible says, ‘Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed' (James 5:16 NASB). We're all forgiven, recovering sinners, and no one can be secure in a relationship if they're loved only because they're intelligent, strong, good-looking, or successful. Those things may not last. We need that connection which runs deep and can't easily be broken by superficial problems. One Bible teacher says: ‘When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find it is those who instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.'

‘He…shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.' Psalm 91:1 NKJVWhat is ‘the shadow of the Almighty'? In the wilderness where Israel wandered for forty years, temperatures could reach over 54 degrees. (To put that into perspective, the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK was 40.3 degrees in 2022.) There was no shade, except what was provided by the tents in which the people lived. So they understood this powerful metaphor, ‘under the shadow of the Almighty'. If you were lost in the desert, the children of Israel were required by the law of hospitality to satisfy your need for food, water, protection from an enemy, and shade from the blistering sun. It worked like this: first you had to find out the chief shepherd's name. Then you would take hold of the cord on his tent and cry out for help. When you did that, the law of hospitality required him to take you into the safety of his tent. ANd once you were safely inside his tent, the chief was duty-bound to protect you with his life. God's name, El Shaddai, describes two wonderful aspects of His character. ‘El' speaks of His power and strength. ‘Shaddai' literally means ‘strong-breasted-one', which refers to the gentleness of a loving mother. Some days you have to go to God for the strength you need to withstand the enemy's attack; other days you just need to go to Him and let Him hold you in His arms and comfort you. A poet wrote, ‘Let me no more my comfort draw, from my frail grasp on Thee; in this alone rejoice with awe – Thy mighty grasp of me.' When things get too much for you, run to ‘the shadow of the Almighty'.

‘When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.' Proverbs 21:11 NKJVWhether it's in your personal life or your career, learning how to communicate with others is vital to success and happiness in a relationship. Apart from learning facts, communication should be a way to gain some understanding into the heart and mind of another person. And good communication calls for translation. Really, you're learning that other person's language. We all use the same words, but we have unique languages when it comes to love. What you mean when you say, ‘I need someone to be here for me,' might not be what the other person means when they say, ‘I will be here for you.' You need to learn their language without wrong assumptions and incorrect projections weighing you down. Learning this strategy will serve you well every time you communicate. It'll help you see everyone as unique, with their own way of expressing themselves. We all need to love and be loved, but we use different means of communication to express what we want and need. Don't be afraid of checking and comparing to make sure you're both understanding each other. A respected Bible teacher puts it like this: ‘Often in my own conversations, I will say, “Let me tell you what I heard so I can see if that is what you meant.” I am shocked at how many times I hear something totally different from what is intended!' Lasting happiness doesn't come from owning things, it comes from having good relationships. So, work on improving your communication skills. It's well worth the investment!

‘By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.' Hebrews 11:3 NIVSpeaking of our amazing bodies…what about DNA? Each human cell (up to 100 trillion) contains a database larger than the Encyclopedia Britannica! Could all that have originated by chance? English physicist Paul Davies makes this comparison: ‘It's rather like exploding a stick of dynamite under a pile of bricks and expecting it to build a house. You may liberate enough energy to raise the bricks, but without coupling the energy to the bricks in a controlled way, there's little hope of producing anything other than a chaotic mess.' Clearly it requires more than a pile of bricks to build a house. The intelligence of the architect and the skill of the builder are key components. And it's the same with all the complexities of a human being. The odds are zero that all the elements that are needed to start human life just happened to assemble themselves in the same spot on earth at the same time. And even if we did accept that idea, it's even less likely that chance put those 100 trillion cells together in the order needed to produce life. Prominent scientist Francis Crick wasn't noted for his faith, but even he said, ‘The origin of life seems almost to be a miracle, so many are the conditions which would have had to have been satisfied to get it going.' And what's the miracle? The psalmist said, ‘You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made' (Psalm 139:13-14 NIV). That's the miracle!

‘Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous.' Psalm 139:14 NLTCould life as we know it – plant, animal, and human life – have spontaneously happened by chance? Could our amazing solar system have happened by accident? The more advanced science becomes, the more evidence there is for a Master Designer. Researchers continue to uncover the divine order in each tiny human cell. American biochemist Bruce Alberts, former president of the National Academy of Sciences, writes, ‘We have always underestimated cells; undoubtedly we still do…Cells are the basic unit of life…indeed the entire cell can be viewed as a factory that contains an elaborate network of interlocking assembly lines, each of which is composed of a set of different protein machines in defined positions.' The psalmist David wasn't a scientist, but he recognised that each of us is a complex product of God's amazing hands! ‘You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb…You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion…woven together in the dark of the womb…How precious are your thoughts about me…They cannot be numbered!…And when I wake up, you are still with me!' (vv. 13, 15, 17-18 NLT). The average human heart beats 115,000 times a day. Our blood travels 12,000 miles every day (about twenty times the length of the UK from northern Scotland to southern England!). Adults take an average of 18,000 to 30,000 breaths a day, and for the most part, all these functions take place without our awareness. Amazing! Today, stop and take a few minutes to acknowledge and thank your Creator for the amazing things He did with that first clump of dirt.

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your…mind.' Mark 12:30 NKJVLoving God with all your mind means managing your mind and making the most of it. It means loving God in all ways: logically, creatively, intuitively, and thoughtfully. Albert Einstein, one of history's greatest minds, said: ‘The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvellous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.' Downplaying his genius, Einstein said, ‘I have no special gift, I am only passionately curious.' The Bible says, ‘The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein' (Psalm 24:1 NKJV). So, your curiosity should be boundless and without limits. The Latin word for ‘education' means ‘to draw out' rather than ‘to cram in'. Most academic programmes focus on force-feeding knowledge rather than releasing curiosity. The result is that we know some things – but we lose what's most vital: the love of learning. In one study of a top university, the highest scoring graduates were given their same final exams one month after graduation. All of them failed. When you attempt to cram the truth into your mind, it rarely gets past the short-term memory. And it certainly doesn't get into the soul. Sadly, sometimes that's what happens in church each weekend. What's the answer? Put God's Word into practice every chance you get.

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your…mind.' Mark 12:30 NKJVGod has created us with the capacity to keep learning for the whole of our lives, which is something we shouldn't take for granted. The average brain weighs approximately three pounds, but neurologists estimate that we have the ability to learn something new every second of every minute of every hour of every day for the next three hundred million years. Isn't that amazing! But it's more than that. It's an awesome obligation. Learning isn't an indulgence; it's a stewardship matter. Jesus said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' It's impossible to calculate the percentage of our minds that we use, but all of us have untapped potential. Your imagination is capable of so much more than you can dream.But somewhere along the way, most of us stop living out of imagination and start living out of memory. We stop designing the future and start copying the past. And that's the day we stop living life to its fullest, because at that point we stop educating ourselves. Loving God with all your mind takes stretching your mind, by learning as much as possible about as much as possible. The real test of spiritual maturity isn't how much you know. It's realising there's plenty that you don't know. It's reconciling yourself with the reality that we might not always understand God, but He's always a source of wonder. And that sacred sense of wonder sparks a curiosity to keep learning more about the Creator and His creation.

‘Teach us to use wisely all the time we have.' Psalm 90:12 CEVWe all get the same twenty-four hours every day. That's 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. And we ‘must give an account to God' for how we use them (see Ecclesiastes 11:9). A good place to start is by asking yourself, ‘How would I spend the next twenty-four hours if I knew I would have to tell God tomorrow about how I spent them?' Your answer can help you prioritise your life. Think about it: if somebody steals your car, you can get another one. If they steal your wallet, a few phone calls to the credit card company can usually sort it out. But who can you call when you lose your time? How you spend your time is how you spend your life! Ephesians 5:16 says, ‘Make every minute count' (CEV), so learn to do these: 1) Stop saying yes to everybody. When your spiritual gut says no, but your people-pleasing gut says yes, go with your spiritual gut. Jesus did. It's what enabled Him to tell His Father, ‘I have finished the work…You have given Me to do' (John 17:4 NKJV). Don't let the good rob you of the best; back off on some activities so you can excel in others. 2) Be led by the Spirit, not the flesh. Paul said, ‘If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires' (Galatians 5:16 CEV). And when you walk in the Spirit, you can avoid burnout because the Holy Spirit supplies you with strength. 3) Put first things first. A mark of real maturity is doing what's necessary and right, even when you don't feel like doing it. So, this year, put first things first – and keep them there!

‘[You] too may live a new life.' Romans 6:4 NIVRefuse to let your past steal your future. This year God wants to give you a new start. Let's face it, we all have relationships that can't be healed, and issues that will never be resolved ion the way we'd like. But by God's grace we can forgive, forget, and move on. You don't have to lie awake at night digging up old bones, picking at scars, and reviving painful memories. If you give them an opening, the ghosts of your past will make their home in your thoughts. We all still struggle in so many areas. Even the great apostle Paul admitted he didn't have it all together. But, unlike people who condemn others for the exact same things they struggle with themselves, Paul admitted: ‘I know the law but…can't keep it…sin…keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I…need help!…I decide to do good, but…My decisions…don't result in actions. Something…gets the better of me every time' (Romans 7:17-20 MSG). ‘Thank you, Paul,' from all of us who made the mistake of thinking that once we became Christians there would be no more struggles! But Paul didn't stop there; he added these two important Scriptures: 1) ‘Just as Christ was raised from the dead…we too may live a new life' (Romans 6:4 NIV). 2) ‘In the same way [as Christ], count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus' (v. 11 NIV). SO how should we handle our old issues? Admit them, give them up, and forget them! Instead of fighting battles you can't win, let Christ's resurrection power sweep through your life and break the ties between you and the pain of your past.

‘Let the one…boast…that they have the understanding to know me.' Jeremiah 9:24 NIVGod said: ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me' (vv. 23-24 NIV). The truth is, if you don't know God it doesn't matter how much money you have in your bank account, or what certificates hang on your wall, or what position you hold in the company. Until you have a relationship with God, you haven't really started to live life to the full! And part of getting to know Him is learning the truth about yourself. After witnessing the miracle-working power of Christ, Peter acknowledged, ‘I am a sinful man!' (Luke 5:8 NIV). When the prophet Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon His throne, he cried, ‘Woe is me!' (Isaiah 6:5 NKJV). But God doesn't tell you the truth about yourself and then leave you that way. Like a good doctor, He tells you what the problem is so that you can get the best treatment. And the best treatment for sin is salvation through the blood of Jesus. You'll never really know God until you're related to Him through Jesus Christ. So if you've never accepted Jesus as your Saviour, why not start the New Year by praying: ‘Father, I repent and turn away from my sin. I'm putting my life in Your hands, trusting You as my Lord and Saviour. Thank You for the gift of eternal life. Starting today, I'm asking You to lead and guide me and fulfil Your will through me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.' Happy New Year!

‘I have chosen Bezalel.' Exodus 31:2 NIVThe first person in the Bible who was said to be ‘filled with the Spirit of God' was Bezalel. And if his name doesn't ring a bell, it's because he wasn't a prophet, priest, king, or apostle. He was a craftsman, skilled in design. He had an eye for colour and a flair for management, and when it came time for building the tabernacle, he oversaw the job. Here's what God said about him: ‘I have chosen Bezalel…and…filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills – to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts' (Exodus 31:2-5 NIV). Imagine being Bezalel. From the time you were young, you loved to work with your hands. You don't know God is involved in this – but He is! He actually placed these desires within you. When you're working, the joy you feel is actually the presence of God. You have certain strengths; you were born with them. They will always be your strengths, and you delight in them. Wonderful things happen when you discover those strengths, put them to use, and focus on improving them. Trying to develop in an area where God hasn't gifted you is like trying to teach a tortoise to swim or a snail to run. When you're in your God-given slot, working with your God-given strengths, you're at your best. When that happens, you're blessed, and so is everybody around you. The point is, in God's plan, Bezalel was every bit as important as Moses. So, be encouraged; what you do matters!

‘Those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.' 1 Corinthians 4:2 NIVMost adults spend about half their waking lives at work. Your work is a huge part of God's plan for your life. He designed a specific vocation just for you in which you should find personal fulfilment, meet the needs of yourself and the family you build, and help to maintain His purposes in the earth. The fourth commandment covers all seven days of the week, not just the Sabbath. ‘Six days you shall labour and do all your work…for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth' (Exodus 20: 9,11 NIVUK). Sometimes you hear sermons designed to make you feel guilty about not keeping the Sabbath, but have you ever heard a sermon designed to make you feel guilty about not honouring the working week? The point is that just as God made and loves the Sabbath, He also made and loves work. The Bible says, ‘The kingdom of God is in your midst' (Luke 17:21 NIV). Whatever job you hold, you're required to demonstrate integrity in the workplace. It's embarrassing when nonbelievers say, ‘I'll never do business with a Christian again.' The Bible says, ‘O Lord…how excellent is thy name in all the earth!' (Psalm 8:1 KJV). You should strive to be ‘excellent' in your work. Lateness, time wasting, messing around, getting involved in gossip, flirting, speaking badly about other people you work with – these things should have no place in your life. The Bible says, ‘It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.' You should go to work praying, ‘Lord, today I want to do a good job and bring honour to Your name, so people get a glimpse of You through my attitude and commitment.'

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. Maybe you don't know what God's will for your life is yet. If that's the case, 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, so that they could bring You pleasure (see Revelation 4:11). I know that You have a specific job for me to do. Your Word says that before I was born, You formed me to be Your servant (see 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've invested in me; acting like they're of no significance. I know we're 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, unnecessary work, 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 brought glory to You here on earth by doing everything You told me to” (see John 17:4). In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.'

When Isaac blessed his sons, he was acting on God's behalf, using his divinely delegated power to impart blessing. A father's blessing was a cherished thing, but its effectiveness rested on the fact that Isaac blessed his sons as an act of faith and not just out of empty sentiment or favouritism, or because it would make him look good. By Hebrew custom, a father's blessing was made up of two elements. 1) A meaningful touch. ‘Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him…Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, and kiss me”' (Genesis 27:22, 26 NIV). A patriarch's blessing included the laying on of hands, a kiss, and embrace of acceptance and love. Jesus knew exactly what children needed; that's why ‘he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them' (Mark 10:16 KJV). And expressions of love like these are still valuable to people who are having a bad day, who don't often hear kind words, or who need a reminder of God's love. 2) A spoken word of affection. Before blessing Jacob, his father said to him, ‘Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed' (Genesis 27:27 NIV). To a city dweller these words might not mean much, but not to Isaac's boys. This old patriarch who loved nature and the outdoors was basically saying, ‘That's my boy – someone I'm proud of, who loves spending time in God's creation, just like me!' He couldn't have spoken more affirming words to his son. We might not have had the best experience of a father, and many of us aren't parents; but why not try using some of the wise and caring elements of Isaac's blessing to encourage someone you know today!

To mark out common ground, we must be adaptable. Thomas Aquinas said, ‘To convert somebody, go and take them by the hand and guide them.' We must be willing to move from where we are to where they are; to adapt and try to see things from their point of view. In practical terms, that means whenever you're aware of distance between yourself 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.

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 we need to do that. First up, availability. Paul wrote: ‘I have voluntarily become a servant to…all…to reach a wide range of people.' Discovering areas of common interest takes time. It also takes effort. It's been reported that our average attention span when listening to someone is about 10 minutes. That's hardly anything when it comes to having a meaningful conversation that allows us to discover common ground. Finding areas that we can agree on needs 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 answer? First of all, we need to acknowledge and answer two of the listener's instinctive, unspoken questions, which are: ‘Why should I listen to you?' and ‘What's in it for me if I let you get to know me?' Anytime we're willing to listen to people and think about how we can meet their needs, we're already halfway towards the goal of finding common ground.

To be a good influence on someone, you need to connect with them first. And to do that, you have to look for common ground. Paul wrote, ‘I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.' In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul's words: ‘Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralised – whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ – but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!' (vv. 19-23 MSG). Remember the words ‘I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view'. When it came to preaching the truth, Paul wouldn't give an inch. But when it came to reaching and influencing people for Christ, he tried to remove every obstacle between them and Christ. And we must be willing to do the same. People don't care how much we know until they know how much we care. That's why we have to try to approach them heart-first, not head-first. Before someone can accept the truth of God's Word that we have to share, they have to be sure that we love and care for them. And that means finding common ground.

The power that comes from meditating on God's Word is a power we need at work in our lives. But maybe you're a beginner, unsure how to go about it, and you need a starting point. Maybe you're thinking, ‘I know I need to spend more time meditating on God's Word, but how do I do it? Here are a few ideas to get you started: 1) Meditate on God's blessings. ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits' (Psalm 103:1-2 NKJV). Meditation leads to a thankful heart. 2) Meditate on your relationship with God. ‘You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God' (Romans 8:15-16 NKJV). 3) Meditate on God's love for you. ‘Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me' (Psalm 63:3-8 NKJV). You can meditate on God's promises to protect you, or guide you, or instruct you, or correct you, or bless you. The point is, you need to get started!

When God gives you a vision for your life, He doesn't give you all the details up front. He simply says, ‘Don't be afraid; just do what I say, and I will guide you and prosper you.' What did Abram's vision involve? ‘The Lord said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation' (Genesis 12:1-2 CEV). How old was Abram? ‘Abram was seventy-five…when the Lord told him to leave the city of Haran' (Genesis 12:4 CEV). What was Abram leaving? ‘Abram was very rich…and had a lot of silver and gold' (Genesis 13:2 CEV). How did Abram respond? ‘By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going' (Hebrews 11:8 NKJV). Abraham couldn't have told you where his final destiny was or how he would get there. He just knew God had told him to leave the safe harbour of where he was. What you're willing to walk away from often determines what God can trust you with. Perhaps you want more information before accepting the vision God's given you. This is when faith and trust come in! With each step of faith you take, God will reveal another detail. So, is the God who said to Abram, ‘Go to the land that I will show you' saying something similar to you today? Don't be afraid; just step out in faith and listen to Him.

When you begin to pray scripturally based prayers, you'll get the answers you need. Here's why: the Bible is God's Word, and He always keeps His Word. Here are some scenarios you may encounter in life, and ideas of how to pray scripturally based prayers: 1) When you don't have the answer. ‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know' (v. 3). 2) When you're worried and under stress. ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid' (John 14:27 NKJV). 3) When you need spiritual insight. ‘When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak of His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come' (John 16:13 NKJV). 4) When you need power for service. ‘He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do…that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it' (John 14:12-14 NKJV). 5) When you need God's blessing on your efforts. ‘I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing' (Ezekiel 34:26 NKJV). Amazing change can happen when we use God's Word and His promises in our prayers to Him. Why not try it?

According to one method of counting, there are 3,573 promises in the Bible. That's almost ten promises for each day of the year. When you know which of those promises apply to you, and you fulfil the conditions that go with them, you can literally begin to pray God's promises into existence in your life (see John 15:7). Will your prayers be answered overnight? Some will, others won't. ‘Be…followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises' (Hebrews 6:12 KJV). The most powerful prayer you can pray is, ‘Lord, you promised in your Word that you would…and today I am praying and believing you for it.' Here are some specific situations and how to pray scripturally about them: 1) When you need guidance and direction. ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye' (Psalm 32:8 NKJV). 2) When you need deliverance from a situation, or to be set free from a habit. ‘Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me' (Psalm 50:15 NKJV). 3) When you need the strength to stand. ‘Fear not; for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand' (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV). 4) When you don't have enough to meet your needs. ‘My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:19 KJV). If you meditate in God's Word every day, each time a need arises, you'll soon learn which of His promises to claim in prayer (see 2 Peter 1:4).

Thomas à Kempis wrote, ‘If you wish to grow in your spiritual life, you must not allow yourself to be caught up in the workings of the world. You must find time alone, away from the noise and confusion, from the allure of power and wealth.' Does that mean God doesn't want us to set goals and achieve things in life? Not at all - in fact, it's just the opposite! The Bible says, ‘In His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper' (vv.2-3 NKJV). The secret of a fruitful tree is having deep roots that are connected to life-giving streams of water. And as the demands on your time and energy become greater, you must discipline yourself and be committed to spending even more time in the Scriptures, not less. When your inner life isn't in order, your outer life becomes dysfunctional and can begin to fall apart. And working harder will only make it happen faster. So what's the answer? David said: ‘I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word' (Psalm 119:14-16 NKJV). Read the Bible as much as you can each day, think about what you've read, let it soak into your mind and heart, and trust Him to reveal new insights and new ways of understanding His Word.