Written by TWFYT
Thursday September 10

"Remember well what the Lord your God did." Deuteronomy 7:18 NIV

The ability to recall the past is one of the most powerful functions of your brain. And when you recall past victories, you rekindle the courage, joy, and sense of accomplishment associated with the victory. You can never underestimate the power of an experience to re-inspire faith. From the parting of the Red Sea to the fall of Jericho, the Israelites had numerous miracles God had performed on their behalf. And He had cautioned them about forgetting His mighty acts: "Remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the Lord your God brought you out. The Lord your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear" (Dt 7:18-19 NIV). If you've allowed Satan to give you "experience amnesia" and have forgotten those times of divine intervention in your life, why not recall someone else's testimony? Faith can cone from more than one direction. Recall the good things God has done for your friends, acquaintances, and coworkers. Miracles are exciting, no matter who the recipient is. And if God did it before, He can certainly do it again. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever' (Heb 13:8 NIV). When something in your future feels threatening, strop and remember God's goodness to you in the past. Recall a time or incident in which He brought you out of a difficult situation that you thought you'd never get through. The word for you today is—reach;; your past victories.

Written by TWFYT
Wednesday September 9

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

Shame and condemnation are two weapons Satan will use to torment you. They will steal your rest and sap the joy out of your life. What's the answer? Begin to see yourself as God sees you. "God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." When we are aware of our shortcomings, how is it possible to believe that God sees us as "righteous" and wants us to see ourselves that way too? Because when you became a Christian, God placed you "in Christ"; therefore, you are always accepted by Him. "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ro 5:1 NIV). The word justified means: "just-as-if-I'd never sinned." And that's how God sees you twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred sixty-five days a year, all the way from the new birth to the New Jerusalem. Plus, Jesus understands your struggles since He dealt with them Himself. He "understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same struggles since He dealt with them Himself. He "understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most" (Heb 4:15-16 NLT). Confession: "Jesus took all the shame and condemnation for my sin on the cross, and I am in right standing with God because I'm 'in Christ'!"

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday September 8

"James...to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings." James 1:1 NKJV

James addressed "the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad," those early Christians who had fled Jerusalem. The Greek word James used to describe this is "diaspora," from which we get the word "dispersed." The pictures is of someone scattering seeds. After the martyrdom of Stephen in Acts chapter seven, the Christians in Jerusalem came under increasing persecution from the Roman Empire. They refused the Romans' demand to confess "Caesar is Lord." Instead, they insisted that there was only one Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the Bible informs us, "They were all scattered...except the apostles" (Ac 8:1 NKJV). James wrote to believers who had to leave their homes their jobs, their properties—everything. Talk about stress! Yet God permitted them to experience the scattering and the resulting stress for a purpose. Had these believers stayed in Jerusalem, chances are the gospel would not have spread so completely through the known world. Everywhere these early followers of Jesus were scattered, they shared the Good News of Christ's redemptive work, and in just one generation, the gospel had spread throughout the Roman Empire. That's why James wrote to the church that was "scattered abroad": "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (Jas 1:2 NKJV). Their uprooting from Jerusalem resulted in the planting of the church throughout the known world. "Our God turned the curse into a blessing" (Neh 13:2 NKJV). With God, short-term pain can lead to long-term gain. He uses setbacks we sometimes don't understand to fulfill His purposes. Is that what's happening in your life right now? Trust God; He knows what He's doing!

Written by TWFYT
Monday September 7

"A doer...will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25 NKJV

North of Israel and teeming with aquatic life of many kinds, the Sea of Galilee is a beautiful blue. South is Israel is the Dead Sea, and it's called "Dead" for a good reason: There's no life in its stagnant water. What makes these two bodies of water so different? First, the Sea of Galilee has an inlet: the Jordan River flows into it. On its southern shore, the Sea of Galilee also has an outlet; water flows through the Great Rift Valley. Like the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea has an inlet: the Jordan river flows into it. But the Dead Sea has no outlet; it takes but does not give out. This is the theme of the book of James. Vibrant believers not only take in, but they also give out. They put the word the receive (input) into action (output): "If anyone is a hearer of the words and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does" (has 1:23-25 NKJV). James warns us not to become to heavenly-minded that we are no earthly good; that it's not enough to read the Scriptures, but we must also look fro practical ways to put then into practice each day. His message could be summed up in the famous Nike slogan: "Just do it!"

Written by TWFYT
Sunday September 6

"Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James 1:22 NKJV

the book of James has 108 verses, and it outlines how we can put our faith into action. It was written by Jesus' half-brother, the natural-born son of Mary and Joseph. Apparently, James became a believer as a result of the resurrection. Paul said the after Jesus rose from the grave, "he appeared to James, then to all the apostles" (1Co 15:7 NIV). Somewhere, privately and personally, the risen Lord met with James, and His little brother's life was never the same. After His encounter with his older brother, who was the victorious-over-death Godman, James grew in faith and became the undisputed leader of the Jerusalem church. The apostle Paul referred to him as a pillar of the church (see Gal 2:9), and tradition tells us that James was so devoted to prayer that he was given the nickname "camel knees" because of the calluses resulting from the hours he spent on his knees. Today we are 2,000 years removed from James' writing, yet his letter remains as relevant to us as the internet's morning news. The central message of his book is contained in these words: "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James addresses our biggest challenge: practicing with our lives what we proclaim with our lips. In every paragraph, he reminds us that when we are walking in step with the Holy Spirit, we will not be wearing out the seat of our pants, but the soles of our shoes. We will put shoes leather to what we say we believe and be "doers of the word."

Written by TWFYT
Saturday September 5

"We have an obligation." Romans 8:12 NIV

Paul wrote: "We have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live" (vv. 12-13 NIV). Obligation: it isn't your favorite word, is it? That's because we interpret it in a negative light. Don't think of it as something you have to do but as something you get to do. Our greatest obligation doubles as our greatest opportunity—surrendering our lives to the lordship of Christ. Can you think of any greater privilege than being used by God to help fulfill His eternal purposes? The word "obligation" means to be legally or morally bound, and the best picture might be marriage. When you say, "I do," at the altar, you are obligating yourself "for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part." And when we enter into a covenant relationship with God through the new birth, two things happen. We are legally and morally bound to Him, and He is legally and morally bound to us. The gospel demands that we give all of ourselves to God. But when we do, God gives all of Himself to us. Think of the benefits of such a trade-off! You'll never get a better deal. The trade-off also gives full veto power to the Holy Spirit. But once again, that's a good obligation. Why? Because He will take you places you can't go and do things in and through you that are otherwise impossible. 

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Friday September 4

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15 NKJV

In 1993, a group called AD2000 United Prayer Track came up with an innovative idea. To help realize their goal of "a church for every people and the gospel for every person by AD2000," they established a program called "Praying through the Window." The "window" referred to an area in the globe from ten degrees to forty degrees north of the Equator, from North Africa and Southern Spain eastward to Japan and the northern Philippines. Almost three billion people live in this area, where the most prominent religions are Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism. For the entire month of October 1993, and agin in 1995, millions of Christians prayed for the people in "the 10/40 window." The goal was that. new churches be established in Albania grew 50 to more than 300, and the number of Christian fellowship groups formed in India rose from an average three to seventeen each day. If your world consists only of your loved ones, your job, and your church, ask God to open your eyes to the world beyond your world. Begin praying that He will move in those nations. "Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession" (Ps 2:8 NKJV). You say, "Can we realistically believe that the world will turn to Christ?" Read this: "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You" (Ps 22:27 NKJV).

Written by TWFYR
Thursday September 3

"I will...show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV

Most success stories begin as an idea in someone's mind. And God is the giver of good ideas. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights" (Jas 1:17 NKJV). God imparts wisdom and knowledge to those who are humble enough to seek His guidance. His promise is: "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Robert Chesebrough had a product in which he believed wholeheartedly. In fact, it was his own invention. Cheseborough had transformed the ooze that forms on shafts of oil rings—rod wax—into a petroleum jelly that he personally found to have great healing properties. He believed so much in the healing aspects of his creation that he became his own "experimental subject." To demonstrate the benefits of his product for others, he burned himself with acid and flame. He cut and scratched himself so often and so deeply that he bore scars of his tests for his entire life. Nevertheless, Cheseborough proved his point, and people were convinced. They only had to look at his wounds and how they were healed to see the value of his product, which is still an international bestseller. We know it as Vaseline. What do you see in your future? Do you believe enough in its potential  to help others that you're willing to invest your time, energy, resources, and hope into developing it? If you seek God's guidance, He will "show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

Written by TWFYT
Wednesday September 2

"As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran...to meet him." 1 Sa 17:48 NIV

Are you ready to grab your sword of faith and behead the giant in your life? Your best strategy will always be to attack a giant before it has a chance to get the best of you. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in rhetoric face." And you can do it! "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2Ti 1:7 NKJV). Whether real or imagined, all threats are perceived as having the potential for loss. It may be the loss of your income, your health, your position, a desired relationship, etc. Freedom begins when you stop and make an honest confession of the loss you really fear. Identifying and acknowledging your real fears will be a giant step toward breaking free from them. To do this, you must go through the process of peeling the "fear onion" to get to the core of your anxiety. And you may have to peel back a lot more layers than expected. David didn't wait for the giant to come to him. "David ran quickly...to meet him." Get your problem out into the open, confront it, develop a plan for overcoming it, and remember that God is with you and will enable you to conquer it. Dale Carnegie said, "Do the thing you fear to do, and keep doing it...That is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear." And with God on your side, your victory is guaranteed.

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday September 1

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all..." Proverbs 3:9 NIV

Of all the items in your monthly budget, giving to God should be your top priority—not just a priority, but your first and highest one. The Israelites were largely an agricultural people. With that in mind, read this wonderful promise that God made to them and claim it: "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over the new wine" (vv. 9-10 NIV). Notice the words "the firstfruits of all." That means before you pay the mortgage orb groceries or pay other bills, the very first check you need to write it to God. Here's why: If you wait until other expenses are met first, it will impact the bottom line of your giving. That's just the way it works with priorities. Whatever you place first will take precedence over everything thatches after it.Generosity should be the primary impetus behind your giving plan. And your generosity tends to be highest, immediately after receiving provision. Waiting until that provision has dwindled and been reduced by your monthly obligations has a tendency to squash generosity. However, if you prioritize your giving, then everything else will take its proper place inline behind the priority of God's work. Honor God with the first portion of your income instead of giving Him the leftovers. That means that before you pay the mortgage, buy groceries, or cover any other expenses, the very first thing you should set aside is God's portion. Then use what is left over to meet your own needs, such as paying bills or buying groceries. That's what we mean when we say, "priority giving."

Written by TWFYT
Monday August 31

"Always be willing to listen and slow to speak." James 1:19 NCV

What comes out of your mouth, and what you might get or tweet, is of such importance that James devotes almost an entire chapter to it (see Jas 3:1-12 NKJV). Why? Because your words have power. They can bless or break, help or hurt. People who have been the target of harsh words can carry wounds for a lifetime. Too many children have heard a frustrated parent saying, "You're worthless, and you'll never a mount to anything." And they have believed it, allowing those words to shape their self-image and determine their self-worth. Other children have had parents who affirmed and nurtured the with encouraging words such as, "You're important, and God has something for you to do that no one else can do quite like you can." These children believed that message and ultimately grew up to act on it. James made three statements about the use of our tongues, and he gave two illustrations to substantiate each point. First, he remembered us that speech can be controlled and directed, and he illustrated his point with a horse's bridle and a ship's rudder. Second, he said that contentious speech can be destructive like and fire and poison. Finally, he pointed out that conflicting speech can be deceptive, and he illustrated this with images of a spring of water and a fig tree. The truth is that our words reveal what is in our hearts. And whether we speak them or type them, they have the power to heal or hurt, help or hinder. Knowing that you never have to take back what you don't say, David prayed, "Set a guard over my mouth, Lord" (Ps 141:3 NIV).

Written by TWFYT
Sunday August 30

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21 NKJV

When we started our relationship with Christ, we began a lifelong journey of becoming the people God created us to be. In the process, we earn how to overcome our weaknesses and draw on God's strength. The often means learning to break bad habits. Some of these habits are obvious, such as alcohol and drugs. Some are not so obvious, such as gossip, jealousy, and being judgmental. God does not want us to be controlled by our emotions and impulses—He wants us to have victory. Breaking a bad habit requires making a series of good choices, one after another. Most of us try to do that on our own without the help of the Holy Spirit, but eventually, we figure out that we can't do that without God helping us. Jesus said: "The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (Jn 14:26 NKJV). But the Holy Spirit won't just show up uninvited; you must ask for His help. The Bible says that we overcome evil with good. That's one of the biggest secrets in the Word of God. It's a lot easier to make the right choice when you're focused on God and the Word of God. It's a lot easier to make the right choice when you're focused on God and your victory instead of your fear of failure. Jesus told His disciples: "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!" (Mt 26:41 NLT). That means if you pray and keep watch, you can break that bad habit.

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Saturday August 29

"You...made me bold with strength in my soul." Psalm 138:3 NKJV

A little boy was overheard talking to himself as he strutted out of his house and into the backyard carrying a baseball bat and a ball. He tipped his baseball cap in a salute to his eager puppy. Then he picked up the bat and ball and announced with a loud voice, "I'm the greatest  hitter in the world." He then proceeded to toss the ball in the air, swing at it, and miss. "Strike one!" he cried, as if he were also playing the role of the umpire. He picked up the ball, threw it into the air, and said again, "I'm there greatest baseball hitter ever!" And again he swung at the ball and missed. "Strike two!" he announces to his dog who was watching. Undaunted, he picked up the ball, examined his bat, and then just before tossing the ball into the air, announced once again, "I'm the greatest hitter who ever lived." He swung the bat hard but missed for a third time. "Strike three!" he cried. And then he added, "Wow, what a pitcher! I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!" Today that is what we would call a P.M.A: Positive Mental Attitude. And when you know that God has redeemed you, equipped you, and called you to serve Him, it's the attitude you should have too. Because God loves you, accepts you, and believes in you, you should believe in yourself. David said, "In they when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with  strength in my soul" (NKJV). So the word for you today is this: Believe in yourself; God does.

Written by TWFYT
Friday August 28

"He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." Psalm 107:20 KJV

The Old Testament is full of healing promises as well as examples of God healing people. Here are some healing promises: "Worship the Lord you God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span" (Ex 23:25-26 NIV). "I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' dealers the Lord" (Jer 30:17 NIV). "O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me" (Ps 30:2 NKJV). And here are a few examples of healing on the Old Testament: (1) God healing Naaman of leprosy (see 2Ki 5:14-15); (2) Elijah raising the widow's son from the dead (see 1Ki 17:17-24); (3) God healing Hannah's infertility (see 1Sa 1:19-20); (4) The children of Israel being healed when bitten by poisonous snakes in the wilderness (see Nu 21:4-9). Even beyond the healing of sickness, the Old Testament provides evidence that God cared about the sustained health of His people. Psalm 105:37 says when God delivered the Israelites fro slavery in Egypt, "He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes" (KJV). If God would do that for His children under the old covenant, think how much more He will for us who are "in Christ" living under a better covenant. "[Jesus] is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises" (Heb 8:6 NKJV). So the word for you today is—believe God for your healing.

Written by TWFYT
Thursday August 27

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed." 2Ti 2:15 KJV

Wallace E. Johnson, president of Holiday  Inns and one of America's most successful builders, said, "I keep on a card in my billfold the following Scriptures, and refer to them frequently: 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened' (Mt 7:7-8 NIV). These Scriptures are among God's greatest promises." Then Johnson said something interesting: "These verses can seem a little one-sided, and indicate a philosophy of receiving but not of giving. One day as my wife, Alma, and I were seeking God's guidance for a personal problem, I came across the following verse witch has since been a daily reminder to me of what my responsibility as a businessman is to God: 'Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed.' Since then I have measured my actions against the phrase: 'A workman that needeth not to be ashamed.' Without knowing that you have God's approval, your success, however great, will leave you feeling empty. But when you know you have God's approval, you are totally fulfilled." Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth and said, "Our goal is to please (God)" (2 Co 5:9 NLT). To the Thessalonians he said, "We urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you" (1 Th 4:1 NLT). So this is the word for you today: What matter most is pleasing God.

Written by TWFYT
Wednesday August 26

"Work out your salvation." Philippians 2:12 NIV

Paul writes: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (vv. 12-13 NIV). Salvation is a gift from God, so you can't work for it—but you can work on it. How do you do that? The same way you work out your muscles. If you want to get into good shape, you've got to exercise! And the more you do it, the stronger you become. You've got to take your faith to the gym and bench press it.  It will involve some trembling—that's what muscles do when they are pushed to their limit. But that's how they grow stronger. And as you keep doing it, today's faith ceiling will become tomorrow's faith floor. Paul writes: "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son" (Ro 8:29 NIV). The "predestined" part is God's part, and the "conformed" part is our part. A good example of this is the oft-repeated maxim: "Pray like it depends on God, and work like it depends on you." If you only do one or the other, it will result in half-baked spirituality. Our destiny is to be conformed to the image of Christ. And God will use any circumstance, good or bad, to accomplish that objective. Hence, Paul writes: "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.' Then you will shine...like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life" (Php 2:14-16 NIV). 

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday August 25

"We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable." 1 Corinthians 8:21 NLT

In an extensive survey called The Day America Told the Truth, James Patterson and Peter Kim reported these startling findings. Only 13 percent of those interviewed believed that all Ten Commandments are still binding and relevant today. Ninety-one percent admitted that they lied regularly, both at home and at work. Most workers admitted to goofing off an average of seven hours a week. About half of the workforce admitted they regularly called in sick, even when they felt well. When they were asked what they would be willing to do for ten million dollars, 25 percent said they would abandon their families, 23 percent said they'd be willing to word as a prostitute for a week, and seven percent said they'd be willing to murder a stranger! And should you conclude that those surveyed are the unsaved and the unchurched, Doug Sherman and William Hendricks surveyed Christians and found that they were almost as likely as unbelievers to do these things too. They admitted to stealing in the workplace, falsifying their tax returns, and selectively obeying the laws. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "We are careful to be honorable." Then he wrote to the Christians in Rome: "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you" (Ro 12: 2 NLT). So always do the honorable thing.

Written by TWFYT
Monday August 24

"When you came to Christ, you were 'circumcised.'" Colossians 2:11 NLT

Before allowing His people to conquer and inhabit the Promised Land, God commanded all the males to be circumcised (see Jos 5:2). Circumcision was first introduced by God to Abraham as "a sign of the covenant between Me and you" (Ge 17:11 NKJV). The act of circumcision meant they belonged to Him. During the wilderness wanderings, the Hebrews let this practice lapse. But before they began their new life in Canaan, God introduce it to them again as a condition for enjoying a covenant relationship with Him. What's the secret of survival in enemy territory? First, remember what God has done for you. Second, remember whose you are. The Hebrews did what God commanded—and God protected them and gave them spectacular victories over their enemies. "So it was, when all the kings of the Amorites who were on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan...their heart melted; and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the children of Israel" (Jos 5:1 NKJV). Their devotion to God brought protection from God. And it still works that way. "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (Jas 4:7-8 NKJV). These Scriptures teach that when you are surrendered to God, He gives you the power to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. 

Written by TWFYT
Sunday August 23

"I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Joshua 5:9 NKJV

When Israel entered the Promised Land, there were thirty-one kings who had to be conquered. That means they'd be living in enemy territory. God told Joshua to "circumcise the sons of Israel" (Jos 5:2 NKJV). When it was done, the Lord said, "This day I haverolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." The "reproach of Egypt" was the humiliation as God's chosen people. Circumcision, then, was a symbolic separation from the past and a declaration of a new identity: no longer a slave, but free. What about your old temptations, lusts, and shortcomings? He detached you from their power! it cannot be stated too often or too clearly—you are not the person you used to bet. When Christ died, you rose with Him. "You put off...the old man" and "put on the new" (Eph 4:22, 24 NKJV). Satan is called "the tempter" and  "the accuser." When he comes against you in either role, tell him: "I have been bought with a price. I belong to God" (see 1Co 6:20). "I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mine" (see 2Ti 1:7). "I cannot be separated from the love of God" (see Ro 8:35). "I can find grace and mercy in the time of need" (see Heb 4:16). "I can do all things through  Christ who strengthens me" (Php 4:13 NKJV).

Written by TWFYT
Saturday August 22

"Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts." 1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT

A young woman studied violin under a world-renowned violinist and master teacher. He worked hard for several years perfecting his talent. The day finally came when he was called upon to give his first major public recital in a large city where both he and his teacher lived. Following each selection, which he performed with great skill and passion, the performer seemed uneasy about how to handle all the applause he was receiving. Even though he knew that those in the audience were musically astute and not likely to give such applause to a less than superior performance, the young man acted almost as if he couldn't hear the appreciation that was being showered upon him. At the close of the last number he performed, the applause was thunderous, and numerous "bravos" were shouted. The talented young violinist had his eyes glued, however, on only one spot. Finally, when an elderly man in the first row of the balcony smiled and nodded to him in approval, the young man relaxed and beamed with both relief and joy. His teacher had praised his work! The apples of thousands meant nothing to him until he had first won the approval of his master. That was Paul's aim too, and it should be yours, "For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts" (v. 4 NLT). So the word for you today is this: In all things, seek to please God!

Written by TWFYT
Friday August 21

"Taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34:8 NKJV

There's an old African folktale about a king and his friend. IN every circumstance, the king's friend had a saying: "This is good." One day they were out hunting. The friend loaded the firearm for the king, and he fired it. But it exploded, blowing off the king's thumb. As was his habit, the friend said, "This is good," to which the king replied, "This is not good," and has his friend thrown in prison. A year later, the king was out hunting without his friend when he was captured by cannibals. The king was taken back to their village and tied at the stake. He thought  to himself, "This is not good." But just before lighting the fire, one of the cannibals noticed that the king's thumb was missing. According to tribal tradition, they could never eat anyone who wasn't whole, so they untied the king and let him go. When the king realized that his missing thumb spared his life, he immediately thought of his friend whom he'd sent to prison. He said to his friend, "You were right. It is good that my thumb was blown off. I' sorry for sending you to jail. This is not good." To which his friend said, "No, this is good." The king still didn't understand. "What do you mean, this is good? I sent my best friend to jail for a year!" The friend insisted, "This is good. If I hadn't been in jail, I would have been out hunting with you and my thumb's not missing!" So the word for you today is: God is good—all the time.

Written by TWFYT
Thursday August 20

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

After falling twice in the 1988 Olympic speed-skating races, Dan Jansen sought out sports psychologist Dr. Jim Loher, who helped  him find a new balance between sport and the rest of his life and to pay more attention to the mental aspects of skating. Peter Mueller became his coach, putting him through workouts that he described as "the toughest I've ever known." By the time the 1994 Olympics arrived, Jansen had more confidence than ever. He had set a 500-meter world record just two months previously so that race seemed to be all his! Then the unimaginable happened, and he fell during the 500-meter race. Dr Loher advised him, "Start preparing for the 1000-meter race. Put the 500-meter race behind you immediately. Stop reliving it. Think 1000!" For years Jansen didn't believe he could win that distance, as he had always considered it his weaker event. Now it was his last chance at an Olympic medal. As the race began, Jansen said, "I just seemed to be sailing along," and then he slipped and came within an inch of stepping on a lane marker. Still, he didn't panic; he raced on and recorded a world-record time that won him the gold medal. There's an important lesson here for you. Put the past behind and believe that God has greater days in store for you—because He does. So the word for you today  is this: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!"

Written by TWFYT
Wednesday August 19

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15 NKJV

Joe was a carpenter who worked for a building contractor. One day, the contractor said to him, "Joe, I'm putting you in charge of the next house we build. I want you to order the materials and oversee the job." Joe accepted the assignment with great enthusiasm. He studied the blueprints and checked every measurement and specification. Then he had a thought: "If I'm really in charge, why couldn't I cut a few corners, use less expense materials, and put the extra money in my pocket? Who will know? Once the house is painted, it will look great." So Joe ordered second-grade lumber and inexpensive concrete, put in cheap wiring and cut every corner he could. When the home was finished, the contractor came to see it. "What a fine job you have done!" he said. "You have been faithful to me all these years, and I have decided to show you my gratitude by giving you this house that you just built as a gift." Night after night as Joe lay in bed listening to the roof leaking and the floor creaking, the message came through loud and clear: The house you built is the house you will live in! Are you short-changing your spouse and your family in love, time, example, and instruction? Count on it: There will come a time when you will regret what you have done and have left undone. And depending on time and opportunity, you may or may not have a change to undo it. So make this your prayer: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday August 18

"Why should the work stop while I leave and go down to you?" Nehemiah 6:3 NIV

Like David's older brother Eliab, there will always be people who try to discourage you from killing the giant  in your life or taking on any other God-given assignment (see 1Sa 17:28). Their resistance could be due to the fact that "misery loves company." Or that they're projecting their fear and lack of faith onto you. Or it could be envy; they resent your attempt to do what they are afraid to do. And this is even more so when you succeed where they have failed. Whatever their motivation and intention may be, you may have to stand alone in your quest. Nehemiah's enemies tried every trick in the book to deter him from rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. They were relentless. Notice how he handled their opposition: "Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: 'Come, let us meet together.' But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent...this reply: 'I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?' Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the answer" (New 6:2-4 NIV). Nehemiah remained steadfast in what he knew God had called him to do, and you must too. You must be willing to take the put-downs, the envy, the distractions, the discouraging words, and all other opposition and stand on God's Word: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Ro 8:31 NIV). So the word for you today is—be careful to who you listen. 

Written by TWFYT
Monday August 17

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 NKJV

In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis demonstrated that God wants humankind to attend chiefly to two things: "To eternity itself, and to that point of time, which they call the Present. For the Present is the point at which tie touches eternity." In light of that truth, Screwtape, the veteran demon, advised a novice name Wormwood with these words: Our business is to get them away from the eternal, and from the Present. With this in view, we sometimes tempt a human...to live in the Past." Screwtape then advised Wormwood about another demonic tactic—getting people to live in the future. "We want a whole race perpetually in pursuit of the rainbow's end, never honest, nor kind, nor happy now, but always using as mere fuel wherewith to heap on the altar of the future every real gift which is offered to them in the Present." Whether we are overcoming lifelong addictions or going after life goals, one key to accomplishing things is breaking the down into manageable and measurable steps. A goal is a dream with a deadline. And without deadline, the dream is dead in the water. Successful programs that help alcoholics and addicts find sobriety and strength use the slogan: "One Day at a time!" If you want to break a habit, break it down into day-tight compartments. Just like boxing, you'll win some rounds and lose some rounds. But you've got to fight one day and one round at a time. Before you know it, your winning streaks will get longer, and your losing streaks will get shorter.