UCB Word For Today

During World War II, Corrie ten Boom and her Dutch family hid many Jews from the Nazis. Eventually, she was caught and put in a concentration camp where she saw all sorts of atrocities, including the death of her father and sister. Then she was accidentally released. She never became bitter. She even forgave the man who killed her relatives. Someone asked her how she could endure those dark days and remain loving, forgiving, and kind. She answered with a story of how, when she was a little girl, her father would take her on train rides all over Europe. He would always purchase her ticket several weeks ahead of time, but he would never let her have it until they were boarding. That’s because she was a little girl, and he didn’t want her to lose it or leave it at home. But whenever her father saw the headlights of the train approaching the station, he would give her the ticket, and they would step on board together. Corrie said, ‘The reason you can’t fathom how I could forgive the person who killed my family, how I could not be filled with bitterness…is because just like my father and our train tickets, God doesn’t give us the grace we need until we’re about to step on board. But if you ever go through something like I went through, I can assure you God’s grace will be there to help you make it through the dark valleys and still keep your head held high and your heart filled with love.’

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

One Christian author writes: ‘What if everywhere you went, you ran into someone you didn’t like? You attend a party and have to endure her conversation and constant opinions. You go to church, and she’s sitting right beside you…she is at the dinner table…she’s everywhere! That sounds pretty awful, but this is the exact situation you’re in if you don’t like yourself, because you are everywhere you go. You can’t get away from yourself, even for a second, so you’re in for a sad life if you dread your own company. Even though…it makes no sense to live…this way…most people don’t like themselves. They may not even realise it, but some genuine soul-searching reveals the sad fact that they have rejected themselves, and in some cases, even hate themselves…I’m amazed at how few are truly at peace with themselves. Instead, they’ve declared war on themselves. God wants you to love yourself, not in some wrong selfish or prideful way, but in a healthy way that truly understands how special you are to Him. As you begin to see yourself as God sees you, not only will you love yourself, but you’ll have the confidence and faith to be a powerful force for good in the world.’ Somebody said just because nobody has been fortunate enough to realise what a gold mine you are, doesn’t mean you shine any less. Just because nobody has been smart enough to figure out that you can’t be topped, doesn’t stop you from being the best. Just because nobody has come along to share your life, doesn’t mean that day isn’t coming…Keep shining, keep running, keep hoping, keep praying…keep being exactly who you are.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Most of us could come up with a long list! The fact is, Jesus alone holds the world record when it comes to perfection. In the words of Jennifer Dukes Lee: ‘Until you are convinced of God’s incredible love…you will continue looking for replacement love everywhere but in the heart of Christ. No matter where you live or work…the enemy prowls like a lion, stalking people on Wall Street, fashion runways, suburban cul-de-sacs, [and] Facebook walls…[We’re] in a showdown with Satan, who will use every opportunity…to whisper in our ears, “What are people thinking of you?” [He] will tell you you’re too fat, too frumpy, too stupid, too poor. He will do whatever he can to set your affections on the things of this world, instead of on Christ. And he’ll wrap those accusations in glossy magazine covers if he has to.’ Don’t buy into his lies. Jesus said, ‘There is not an iota of truth in him…he is the father of liars’ (John 8:44 TLB). One Christian author summarises it like this: ‘Discontentment is one of the big giants we must conquer if we ever hope to enjoy life…We may not have all we would like to have, but we certainly have more than some people. No matter how you think you look, there is somebody who would love to look like you. No matter how old you are, there is someone who would love to be as young as you…Love yourself and love your life; it is the only one you have!’ The truth is that you’re the only you God made…after that, He broke the mould!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

An ancient European monastery perched on a high ledge was accessible only by way of a basket that was held in place by a single rope on a series of pulleys. One day a concerned visitor noticed the rope was frayed in numerous places. Hoping to relieve his anxiety, he asked the monk who was sharing the ride with him, ‘How often do you guys change the rope?’ Stoically the cleric replied, ‘Whenever it breaks!’ Seriously, waiting for the worst to happen before taking action is a risky life strategy. Just as common sense dictates that machinery, health, and relationships require continual attention and maintenance, the same strategy applies to your spiritual life. Because we become what we consistently practise in our walk with God, routine and repetition can be spiritual lifesavers. Spiritual excellence isn’t an act; it’s a habit! Consider prayer and meditation: rather than exceptions, they’re intended to be habits you practise daily. Don’t wait until the rope snaps before incorporating them into your life! Prayer must first be a spiritual discipline. God’s Word designates it as a life habit and not merely an act. Paul instructs us to ‘pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion…be persistent in your prayers’ (Ephesians 6:18 NLT). ‘Never stop praying’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT). The psalmist David understood this principle. He said, ‘Evening…morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud.’ And Daniel practised it too: ‘He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done’ (Daniel 6:10 NLT). It was a routine that proved powerful and effective for both men – and it’s one that will work for you too!

A woman once had a dream in which an angel was giving her this message: ‘As a reward for your virtues, the sum of £1,440 will be deposited into your bank account every morning. This amount has only one condition. At the close of each business day, any balance that has not been used will be cancelled. It won’t carry over to the next day or accrue interest. Each morning, a new £1,440 will be credited to you.’ The dream was so vivid that when she woke up, she asked the Lord to explain what it meant. He led her to understand that she was receiving 1,440 minutes every morning – the entire number of minutes in a twenty-four-hour day. What she did with this deposit of time was important because 1,440 minutes per day were all she would ever receive! And you have a similar account. At the close of each day, you should be able to look back with joy and satisfaction and see that those golden minutes were invested wisely. Someone has said, ‘Time is God’s gift to you, but what you do with your time is your gift to God.’ And it’s true. The psalmist wrote: ‘Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away…Teach us to realise the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom…And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful’ (vv. 10, 12, 17 NLT).

In Pharaoh’s palace, Moses threw down his rod and ‘it became a snake’ (v. 3 NIV). He was so scared; he ran from it. Then God said, ‘Reach out your hand and take it by the tail,’ leaving the head, the most dangerous part, unrestrained. One Bible teacher points this out: ‘During your training trip through the wilderness, you’ll probably think God is leading you the wrong way; that He’s saying something that doesn’t make sense. His commandments aren’t usually accompanied by explanation. And when you can’t figure out what He’s doing, you must trust Him. Once Moses picked up the snake by its tail, it became a rod once more, and it was never again referred to as “the rod of Moses,” but “the rod of God” (see Exodus 4:1-20; 17:9). When Moses released it, the snake element was taken out of it, and it became God’s rod. The one thing Moses thought he could trust, his old, familiar, tried-and-true shepherd’s rod, had to be relinquished. And God may strip you of certain things to let you see your dependence on Him. But with that stripping comes power. There are things you want to hold on to that you have to release so God can remove the snake.’ So, what are you holding on to today? A desire to teach? Musical talent? An aptitude for business? Leadership abilities? Take your gift, whatever it is, and ‘throw it on the ground’ (v. 3 NIV) before God. He is the only one who knows if there is a snake hiding inside it. He can remove the ‘flesh’ element, bless it, and give it back to you as an instrument fit for service.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

God loves you unconditionally at all times – but you must receive His love. Only when you do that can you love God in return and extend His love to others. In other words, you can’t give away what you don’t have! ‘God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us’ (Romans 5:5 AMPC). That means when you commit your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live in your heart, and He brings God’s love with Him. The question is, what are you doing with that love? Are you rejecting it because you think you’re not good enough? Has it ever occurred to you that you have a relationship with yourself, and until you learn to love yourself you will never be able to love God or anybody else? John says, ‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear’ (1 John 4:18 NIV). One author writes: ‘I tried for years to walk in “perfect love” and failed daily. I thought perfect love referred to my loving others perfectly. Then God showed me that the only “perfect love” was His love for me – He’s the only one that can love perfectly! Once that became clear, I started confessing, “I don’t love everything I do, but I love myself as I am because God loves me that way. I know I need to change, and I want to change. In fact, I believe God is changing me daily. But meanwhile, I will not reject what God accepts. I’ll accept myself as I am right now, knowing I won’t always remain this way.”’ God loves you – believe it and receive it!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

A Sunday school teacher was telling the story of how Jonah disobeyed God and ended up being swallowed by a big fish. For three days, he cried out from the depths of the ocean, and after three days and nights, God ordered the fish to spit him up on the beach. At the end of the lesson, the teacher asked the class what they had learned, and a little boy piped up, ‘It just goes to prove that you can’t keep a good man down.’ You don’t drown by falling into the water; you drown by staying there. David said, ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him’ (Psalm 37:23-24 NKJV). When your dreams and plans get rained out, stay focused and ‘run with perseverance’ (Hebrews 12:1 NIV). Winston Churchill said, ‘The nose of the bulldog slants backward, so that he can breathe in comfort without letting go.’ When you focus on something, you empower and give it momentum; that’s why Satan wants you to concentrate on things that don’t matter. Jesus looked beyond the cross. He focused on what lay on the other side of it. The Bible tells us to fix ‘our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith’. Remember, God doesn’t pay by the week; He pays at the end. You will be rewarded based on how you finished, not how you started. Paul says, ‘These troubles and sufferings…won’t last very long. Yet…result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever’ (2 Corinthians 4:17 TLB). So, stay focused – and keep on going!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

One author writes: ‘Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals. It’s a marathon, not a sprint…You’re not just running, but getting hit along the way. Grit keeps you moving forward through the sting of rejection, pain of failure, and struggle with adversity. When life knocks you down, you may want to stay down and give up, but grit won’t let you quit…True grit starts with knowing what you truly want. When you know what you want and you can see it, you’ll work hard and persevere to achieve it. True grit is also driven by clarity of mind, purpose, passion, optimism, faith, love, hope and quite honestly – stubbornness. Knowing your why, refusing to give up, ignoring the critics, believing the possible, loving what you do, and showing up day in and day out keeps you on the path towards your vision. There’s something inside each of us that wants to feel worthy and be someone of value…The truth is not everyone will share your vision and believe in your project. But always remember that the circumstances around you and the opinion of others don’t create or define you. Life is never created from the outside in. You create life from the inside out. The grit and spirit you possess on the inside will create the life you experience on the outside. If you have a vision, keep it alive. Remember your purpose. Show up every day and do the work.’ John Quincy Adams said, ‘Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear.’ So, stay on course and keep moving forwards, and you will succeed.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania tell us that a key predictor of success isn’t talent, title, wealth, or good looks. It’s the ability to work hard for a prolonged period of time towards a focused goal; to keep moving forwards despite challenges, obstacles, and failures. Paul writes: ‘We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going’ (vv. 8-9 TLB). Here are some famous people who got knocked down but kept on going. A memo issued after Fred Astaire’s first screen test said, ‘Can’t act…slightly bald…can dance a little.’ Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland. Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was four and didn’t write until he was seven. His teacher described him as ‘mentally slow, unsociable and adrift forever in foolish dreams’. F.W. Woolworth’s employers at the dry goods store said he hadn’t enough sense to wait on customers. Winston Churchill failed at junior school. He didn’t become Prime Minister of Great Britain until he was sixty-six, after a lifetime of defeats and setbacks. He made his greatest contribution as a senior citizen. Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘Bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.’ So when life knocks you down, get back up and keep going.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.