   Marian wanted to become a concert singer, a challenge that was doubly difficult because of the colour of her skin. Her mother, however, had a patient trust in God. Marian later said, 'Mother's religion made her believe she could receive what was right for her if she was conscientious in her faith. If it did not come, it was because God had not considered it right for her. We grew up in this atmosphere of faith that she created...We believed as she did, because we wanted the same kind of haven in the time of storm.' When Marian was denied admission to a famous music conservatory on account of her race, her mother said, 'Someone would be raised up' to help her accomplish what she hoped to do at the conservatory. That someone arrived a few weeks later. One of Philadelphia's outstanding voice teachers, Giuseppe Boghetti, made room for her to become one of his students. And Marian Anderson was on her way to becoming one of the most popular singers of the twentieth century. On Easter Sunday in 1939, she sang to seventy-five thousand people at the Lincoln Memorial and gave a performance never to be forgotten by those present. 

   Solomon said this about God's guidance: (1) 'The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way' (Proverbs 20:24 NLT)? (2) 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take' (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT).





— SCRIPTURE —

    'The Lord decides what a person will do.' Proverbs 20:24 NCV
— SOULFOOD —

    Eze 37:1-14, Matt 27:50-53, Eph 1:18-21
    

Marian wanted to become a concert singer, a challenge that was doubly difficult because of the colour of her skin. Her mother, however, had a patient trust in God. Marian later said, 'Mother's religion made her believe she could receive what was right for her if she was conscientious in her faith. If it did not come, it was because God had not considered it right for her. We grew up in this atmosphere of faith that she created...We believed as she did, because we wanted the same kind of haven in the time of storm.' When Marian was denied admission to a famous music conservatory on account of her race, her mother said, 'Someone would be raised up' to help her accomplish what she hoped to do at the conservatory. That someone arrived a few weeks later. One of Philadelphia's outstanding voice teachers, Giuseppe Boghetti, made room for her to become one of his students. And Marian Anderson was on her way to becoming one of the most popular singers of the twentieth century. On Easter Sunday in 1939, she sang to seventy-five thousand people at the Lincoln Memorial and gave a performance never to be forgotten by those present. Solomon said this about God's guidance: (1) 'The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way' (Proverbs 20:24 NLT)? (2) 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take' (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT).
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'The Lord decides what a person will do.' Proverbs 20:24 NCV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Eze 37:1-14, Matt 27:50-53, Eph 1:18-21

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.

The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day’s devotion appeared to be ‘written just for me’

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.
The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day&rsquo;s devotion appeared to be &lsquo;written just for me&rsquo;

The Word For Today

God-directed steps

   Consider these examples of resistance to inventions that we now consider commonplace and enjoy every day. In Germany, 'experts' said that if trains went as fast as twenty-four to thirty kilometres an hour - considered a frightful speed - blood would spurt from the travellers' noses and passengers would suffocate when going through tunnels. In America, experts said the introduction of the railway would require the building of many asylums, since people would be driven mad with terror at the sight of the locomotives. When the idea of iron ships was first proposed, experts insisted that they would not float, it would be difficult to preserve the iron bottom from rust, and that iron would play havoc with compass readings. In 1797, when the first cast-iron plough was invented, farmers in New Jersey rejected it, saying the cast iron would poison the ground and stimulate the growth of weeds. When the YMCA in New York welcomed the invention of the typewriter and announced typing lessons for women, protests erupted on the grounds that the female constitution would break down under the strain. 

   Now consider these statements, each of which is a product of a negative mindset: (1) 'Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible' (Lord Kelvin, President, Royal Society, 1895). (2) 'Man will never tap the power of the atom' (Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize winner in physics, 1923). (3) 'Everything that can be invented has been invented' (Charles H. Duell, U.S. Patent Office Director, 1899). 

   If you want to accomplish great things and be used by God, become an 'I can' person.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'I can do all things through Christ.' Philippians 4:13 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Ezra 9-10, Mark 1:1-8, Ps 46, Pro 19:18-20
    

Consider these examples of resistance to inventions that we now consider commonplace and enjoy every day. In Germany, 'experts' said that if trains went as fast as twenty-four to thirty kilometres an hour - considered a frightful speed - blood would spurt from the travellers' noses and passengers would suffocate when going through tunnels. In America, experts said the introduction of the railway would require the building of many asylums, since people would be driven mad with terror at the sight of the locomotives. When the idea of iron ships was first proposed, experts insisted that they would not float, it would be difficult to preserve the iron bottom from rust, and that iron would play havoc with compass readings. In 1797, when the first cast-iron plough was invented, farmers in New Jersey rejected it, saying the cast iron would poison the ground and stimulate the growth of weeds. When the YMCA in New York welcomed the invention of the typewriter and announced typing lessons for women, protests erupted on the grounds that the female constitution would break down under the strain. Now consider these statements, each of which is a product of a negative mindset: (1) 'Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible' (Lord Kelvin, President, Royal Society, 1895). (2) 'Man will never tap the power of the atom' (Robert Millikan, Nobel Prize winner in physics, 1923). (3) 'Everything that can be invented has been invented' (Charles H. Duell, U.S. Patent Office Director, 1899). If you want to accomplish great things and be used by God, become an 'I can' person.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'I can do all things through Christ.' Philippians 4:13 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Ezra 9-10, Mark 1:1-8, Ps 46, Pro 19:18-20

Be an 'I can' person

   Jesus said: 'The Helper, the Holy Spirit...will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you' (John 14:26 NKJV). When you need to make a critical decision, you need 'the spirit of wisdom and revelation' (Ephesians 1:17 NKJV). When you're in a difficult situation and unsure of what to say: 'Just say whatever is given to you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit' (Mark 13:11 NIV). When you find it hard to show love: 'The fruit of the Spirit is love' (Galatians 5:22 NIV). The same is true with every fruit of the Spirit. Do you need to overcome an addiction? 'The fruit of the Spirit is...self-control' (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). Of course, that's an oxymoron because it doesn't come from you. It's the Spirit who manufactures it, so it's really Spirit-control. 

   What you need more of is the Holy Spirit. And for the record, the Spirit of God doesn't just want to fill you; he also wants to stretch you and increase your capacity. If you feel like your life is in chaos today, the Spirit of God is hovering - just as he did at the dawn of creation when he brought light out of darkness, order out of chaos and beauty out of nothingness (see Genesis 1:1-3). 

   No matter what question you have, the Holy Spirit is the answer. No matter what problem you face, the Holy Spirit is the solution. You need as much of him as you can get, so you need to yield as much of yourself to him as you can.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'The Helper, the Holy Spirit...will teach you all things.' John 14:26 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Ezra 3-5, Matt 28:1-10, Ps 42:1-5, Pro 19:12-14
    

Jesus said: 'The Helper, the Holy Spirit...will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you' (John 14:26 NKJV). When you need to make a critical decision, you need 'the spirit of wisdom and revelation' (Ephesians 1:17 NKJV). When you're in a difficult situation and unsure of what to say: 'Just say whatever is given to you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit' (Mark 13:11 NIV). When you find it hard to show love: 'The fruit of the Spirit is love' (Galatians 5:22 NIV). The same is true with every fruit of the Spirit. Do you need to overcome an addiction? 'The fruit of the Spirit is...self-control' (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). Of course, that's an oxymoron because it doesn't come from you. It's the Spirit who manufactures it, so it's really Spirit-control. What you need more of is the Holy Spirit. And for the record, the Spirit of God doesn't just want to fill you; he also wants to stretch you and increase your capacity. If you feel like your life is in chaos today, the Spirit of God is hovering - just as he did at the dawn of creation when he brought light out of darkness, order out of chaos and beauty out of nothingness (see Genesis 1:1-3). No matter what question you have, the Holy Spirit is the answer. No matter what problem you face, the Holy Spirit is the solution. You need as much of him as you can get, so you need to yield as much of yourself to him as you can.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'The Helper, the Holy Spirit...will teach you all things.' John 14:26 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Ezra 3-5, Matt 28:1-10, Ps 42:1-5, Pro 19:12-14

More of the Holy Spirit (1)

   Research showing that love mindsets are the norm while fear mindsets are learned is revolutionary for scientists. But it's not new if you look at Scripture: 'There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear' (1 John 4:18 NIV). 

   Over the past several decades, scientists have researched the anatomy and physiology of love and fear. These are two different systems, and at any one conscious moment, we will be operating in one or the other. Science is showing us that there is a massive 'unlearning' of negative toxic thoughts when we operate in love. We can unlearn negative fear - it is not part of our innate natural functioning. Recent neuroscientific research suggests that some of the chemicals the brain releases when we are operating in love, including oxytocin, can calm fear and worry, support the brain's capacity for positive change, and help us form healthier ways of thinking and connecting with others. This chemical also flows when we trust, bond and reach out to others. So, choosing to operate in love can literally 'drive out fear'. Research also shows that when we do good things and reach out in love, endorphins and serotonin are also released. These detoxify our brains and increase our motivation and wisdom, helping us handle life better. 

   We see the profound consequences of choosing between love and fear in Scripture: 'I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life' (Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV). In Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NLT) we are told, 'God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path'. The choice is yours: walk in fear or walk in love.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Perfect love drives out fear.' 1 John 4:18 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

    Zeph 1-3, Matt 27:45-56, Ps 65, Pro 19:5-8
    

Research showing that love mindsets are the norm while fear mindsets are learned is revolutionary for scientists. But it's not new if you look at Scripture: 'There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear' (1 John 4:18 NIV). Over the past several decades, scientists have researched the anatomy and physiology of love and fear. These are two different systems, and at any one conscious moment, we will be operating in one or the other. Science is showing us that there is a massive 'unlearning' of negative toxic thoughts when we operate in love. We can unlearn negative fear - it is not part of our innate natural functioning. Recent neuroscientific research suggests that some of the chemicals the brain releases when we are operating in love, including oxytocin, can calm fear and worry, support the brain's capacity for positive change, and help us form healthier ways of thinking and connecting with others. This chemical also flows when we trust, bond and reach out to others. So, choosing to operate in love can literally 'drive out fear'. Research also shows that when we do good things and reach out in love, endorphins and serotonin are also released. These detoxify our brains and increase our motivation and wisdom, helping us handle life better. We see the profound consequences of choosing between love and fear in Scripture: 'I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life' (Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV). In Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NLT) we are told, 'God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path'. The choice is yours: walk in fear or walk in love.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Perfect love drives out fear.' 1 John 4:18 NIV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Zeph 1-3, Matt 27:45-56, Ps 65, Pro 19:5-8

God-directed steps

In 1 playlist(s)

The Word For Today

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips