   One morning in a city called Dothan, a servant of the prophet Elisha awoke and was terrified because an enemy army surrounded him and his boss. 'What shall we do?' he cried. Elisha answered: 'Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' Then Elisha prayed for him: 'Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' And the Lord opened his eyes, and he saw that they were surrounded by horses and chariots of fire - the power of God and protection of God (read the story in 2 Kings 6:15-17). As a result, their enemies were neutralised. 

   This can be you prayer too: that when you're challenged or burdened, God opens your spiritual eyes to see that you're surrounded by his power and protection. It happened to two followers of Jesus who were walking on the road to Emmaus after the crucifixion. A third man joined them. It was Jesus, walking and talking with them - but they didn't recognise him until he began to pray. And then they knew. Then they said, 'Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us on the road, and while he opened the Scriptures to us' (Luke 24:32 NKJV)? 

   What if you were on the road to Emmaus, commuting into work, school or home - and Jesus was right there beside you? What if you could join the 'fellowship of the burning heart' and actually experience his presence? You can. Just reach for him, recognise him and respond to him.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Lord...open his eyes that he may see.' 2 Kings 6:17 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Rev 5-9, Luke 17:20-37, Ps 115, Pro 8:1-3
    

One morning in a city called Dothan, a servant of the prophet Elisha awoke and was terrified because an enemy army surrounded him and his boss. 'What shall we do?' he cried. Elisha answered: 'Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' Then Elisha prayed for him: 'Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' And the Lord opened his eyes, and he saw that they were surrounded by horses and chariots of fire - the power of God and protection of God (read the story in 2 Kings 6:15-17). As a result, their enemies were neutralised. This can be you prayer too: that when you're challenged or burdened, God opens your spiritual eyes to see that you're surrounded by his power and protection. It happened to two followers of Jesus who were walking on the road to Emmaus after the crucifixion. A third man joined them. It was Jesus, walking and talking with them - but they didn't recognise him until he began to pray. And then they knew. Then they said, 'Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us on the road, and while he opened the Scriptures to us' (Luke 24:32 NKJV)? What if you were on the road to Emmaus, commuting into work, school or home - and Jesus was right there beside you? What if you could join the 'fellowship of the burning heart' and actually experience his presence? You can. Just reach for him, recognise him and respond to him.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Lord...open his eyes that he may see.' 2 Kings 6:17 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Rev 5-9, Luke 17:20-37, Ps 115, Pro 8:1-3

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 with you

   A prayer for you, for God-confidence in all you do:

   'Father, I come boldly before your throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace for deliverance from emotional insecurity (see Hebrews 4:16). Your word says you make all your grace abound towards me so that I have all sufficiency in all things and abound in every good work (see 2 Corinthians 9:8). I cast down every thought of inadequacy and every imagination that rises up against what your word says about who I am and what I can do (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). I resist any anxiety over the possibility of losing a social, professional or other position or desired relationship. I know that no one can thwart your purpose for my life. You, O Lord, have sealed my destiny (see Isaiah 14:27). 'You guard all that is mine' (Psalm 16:5 NLT). I know, according to your word, that you deliberately shaped me in the womb to be your servant. Therefore, I rest, rejoice and trust that I am designed for my destiny and perfect for my purpose (see Isaiah 49:5). Because of your grace, I walk neither in self-doubt nor in self-confidence because I know that apart from you, I can do absolutely nothing (see John 15:5). Therefore, my eyes are on you alone to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ask or think according to your power that works in me (see Ephesians 3:20). I thank you that you've heard me and delivered me from all my fears, and they no longer have power over my life (see Psalm 34:4). In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.'





— SCRIPTURE —

    'I sought the Lord, and he...delivered me from all my fears.' Psalm 34:4 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Rev 10-14, Luke 18:1-17, Ps 11, Pro 8:4-5
    

A prayer for you, for God-confidence in all you do: 'Father, I come boldly before your throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace for deliverance from emotional insecurity (see Hebrews 4:16). Your word says you make all your grace abound towards me so that I have all sufficiency in all things and abound in every good work (see 2 Corinthians 9:8). I cast down every thought of inadequacy and every imagination that rises up against what your word says about who I am and what I can do (see 2 Corinthians 10:5). I resist any anxiety over the possibility of losing a social, professional or other position or desired relationship. I know that no one can thwart your purpose for my life. You, O Lord, have sealed my destiny (see Isaiah 14:27). 'You guard all that is mine' (Psalm 16:5 NLT). I know, according to your word, that you deliberately shaped me in the womb to be your servant. Therefore, I rest, rejoice and trust that I am designed for my destiny and perfect for my purpose (see Isaiah 49:5). Because of your grace, I walk neither in self-doubt nor in self-confidence because I know that apart from you, I can do absolutely nothing (see John 15:5). Therefore, my eyes are on you alone to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ask or think according to your power that works in me (see Ephesians 3:20). I thank you that you've heard me and delivered me from all my fears, and they no longer have power over my life (see Psalm 34:4). In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.'
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'I sought the Lord, and he...delivered me from all my fears.' Psalm 34:4 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Rev 10-14, Luke 18:1-17, Ps 11, Pro 8:4-5

A prayer for your life

   Paul wrote: "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NIV). 

   Sometimes our first reaction to learning that a fellow believer has fallen may be to rush to the phone and say, "Did you hear about?" Or to point an accusing finger. Or to distance ourselves from that person at the very time they need our prayer, love and support. The Bible says: "Above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'" (1 Peter 4:8 NKJV). If the hurting cannot find mercy in the family of God, where are they going to find it? Rather than join those who point accusing fingers, we should be known as those who extend a helping hand. Jesus did that with Simon Peter: 'Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers' (Luke 22:31-32 NIV). 

   God has repeatedly extended his grace to you when you've fallen short of the mark; so he calls you to extend grace to others: 'God...reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation' (2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV).





— SCRIPTURE —

    'God...gave us the ministry of reconciliation.' 2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

    Matt 6:11, John 6:31-40, 1 Cor 11:23-24
    

Paul wrote: "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NIV). Sometimes our first reaction to learning that a fellow believer has fallen may be to rush to the phone and say, "Did you hear about?" Or to point an accusing finger. Or to distance ourselves from that person at the very time they need our prayer, love and support. The Bible says: "Above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'" (1 Peter 4:8 NKJV). If the hurting cannot find mercy in the family of God, where are they going to find it? Rather than join those who point accusing fingers, we should be known as those who extend a helping hand. Jesus did that with Simon Peter: 'Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers' (Luke 22:31-32 NIV). God has repeatedly extended his grace to you when you've fallen short of the mark; so he calls you to extend grace to others: 'God...reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation' (2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV).
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'God...gave us the ministry of reconciliation.' 2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Matt 6:11, John 6:31-40, 1 Cor 11:23-24

Agent of reconciliation

   During World War II, the British Department of Information designed three 'home publicity' posters. The first said, 'Your courage, your cheerfulness, your resolution will bring us victory.' The second said, 'Freedom is in peril.' The third and most famous said, 'Keep calm and carry on.' The department printed 2.45 million of the third poster, but they were never publicly displayed. That motto had all but vanished from Britain's consciousness when a bookstore-owning couple in Alnwick - Stuart and Mary Manley - discovered an original copy of the poster at the bottom of a box of old books. 

   With Pharaoh's chariots bearing down on Moses from behind, and the Red Sea in front of him, he was 'between a rock and a hard place'. That's when God gave Moses these instructions: 'The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm' (Exodus 14:13-14 NIV). That sounds a lot like keep calm and carry on, doesn't it? 

   When we find ourselves in an 'Egyptian chariots charging at us' situation, we want to do something - anything. We have a nervous energy that tries to solve problems as quickly as possible. But these are the tests that reveal trust. Sometimes God leads us to a place where we have nowhere to turn but to him. Is that where you are today? Then trust God's power, love and faithfulness, and he will bring you safely through it.





— SCRIPTURE —

    'The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.' Exodus 14:14 NLT
— SOULFOOD —

    Rev 1-4, Luke 17:1-19, Ps 26, Pro 7:26-27
    

During World War II, the British Department of Information designed three 'home publicity' posters. The first said, 'Your courage, your cheerfulness, your resolution will bring us victory.' The second said, 'Freedom is in peril.' The third and most famous said, 'Keep calm and carry on.' The department printed 2.45 million of the third poster, but they were never publicly displayed. That motto had all but vanished from Britain's consciousness when a bookstore-owning couple in Alnwick - Stuart and Mary Manley - discovered an original copy of the poster at the bottom of a box of old books. With Pharaoh's chariots bearing down on Moses from behind, and the Red Sea in front of him, he was 'between a rock and a hard place'. That's when God gave Moses these instructions: 'The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm' (Exodus 14:13-14 NIV). That sounds a lot like keep calm and carry on, doesn't it? When we find ourselves in an 'Egyptian chariots charging at us' situation, we want to do something - anything. We have a nervous energy that tries to solve problems as quickly as possible. But these are the tests that reveal trust. Sometimes God leads us to a place where we have nowhere to turn but to him. Is that where you are today? Then trust God's power, love and faithfulness, and he will bring you safely through it.
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.' Exodus 14:14 NLT 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Rev 1-4, Luke 17:1-19, Ps 26, Pro 7:26-27

God with you

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