UCB Word For Today

You need more of the Holy Spirit (2) Jul 25, 2026 124 The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom beyond our knowledge, power beyond our strength, and gifting beyond our ability. With His help, we become better than our best effort and better than our best thought. We become the best version of ourselves possible. Of course, this takes a lifetime. Hence, Paul wrote: ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do no

You need more of the Holy Spirit (1) Jul 24, 2026 111 Jesus said: ‘The Helper, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.’ 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 Spir

Step out and do it! Jul 23, 2026 111 When God told Joshua, ‘Be strong and courageous,’ the word be really means become. It’s not like a computer in which you enter a password and ‘hey, presto!’ you’re courageous. Courage is a quality you grow into. Like filling bigger shoes, the more you walk in them, the more comfortable they become. Joshua had already been to the Promised Land. He knew there were seven nations to be conquered. He w

Walk in fear, or walk in love Jul 22, 2026 121 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.’ 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 o

Don’t allow yourself to be distracted Jul 21, 2026 113 In March 1987, Eamon Coughlan was running in the qualifying heat at the World Indoor Track Championships in Indianapolis. He was the reigning world record holder at 1500 metres and was favoured to win the race. Unfortunately, with two and a half laps left, he tripped and fell hard. But he got up, and with great effort managed to catch the race leaders. With twenty yards to go, he was in third plac

Blessings beyond your imagination Jul 20, 2026 120 Prayer Pastor Heidi Scanlon said: ‘God has blessings for us in categories we don’t even know exist.’ That means God can create something out of nothing. He can seemingly come out of nowhere, and just when you need Him most, give you something you don’t even have a category for. God says: ‘“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are

Be steadfast Jul 19, 2026 115 Back in the days of the great western cattle ranches in America, a little donkey would sometimes be harnessed to a wild horse and then turned loose onto the range. The wild horse would drag the donkey for miles, throwing him around like a bag of feed. In several days, however, they would return. The little donkey would be seen first, trotting back towards the ranch with his submissive steed in tow

You will conquer your Jericho (2) Jul 18, 2026 118 In late January 1956, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr received a threatening telephone call at his house. It was not the first foreboding message he’d received. But on this night, as his children and his wife lay sleeping, the weight of the Civil Rights Movement was too heavy. He decided that the risk was too great. He began to map out an exit strategy. At midnight he bowed over the kitchen table and be

You will conquer your Jericho (1) Jul 17, 2026 133 Here’s what you need to know about the walls of Jericho: they were immense. They wrapped around the city like a suit of armour, forty feet above the ground. They were impenetrable. Here is what you need to know about Joshua: he didn’t bring the walls down – God did. And God will do that for you too. Your Jericho is your fear, anger, bitterness, or prejudice. It’s also your insecurity about the fut

Acquire a taste for God’s Word Jul 16, 2026 124 In ancient Jewish culture, formal education began at six years of age. Jewish boys enrolled in the local synagogue school called bet sefer, which means ‘house of the book’. By the time they graduated four years later, they had memorised the entire Torah – every jot and tittle of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy was engraved on their cerebral cortex via memorisation. There goes

Rest in your redemption Jul 15, 2026 115 As the Jordan River swelled to a mile in width, crossing it was no small task. Especially with millions of people! God said, ‘Go over this Jordan, you and all this people’ (Joshua 1:2 NKJV). Do you think they were scared? Would you have been? ‘The feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water’ (Joshua 3:15 NKJV). It was the smallest of steps, but with God, the smallest step

The importance of daily prayer Jul 14, 2026 116 Dr George Washington Carver overcame racial prejudice and became an educator, scientist, and inventor who was honoured by the U.S. Congress. He was also a follower of Christ. And here’s what he had to say about prayer: ‘My prayers seem to be more of an attitude than anything else. I indulge in very little lip service, but ask the Great Creator silently, daily, and often many times a day to permit

Be a team player Jul 13, 2026 119 Solomon wrote: ‘One standing alone can be…defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.’ What Solomon is saying is this: ‘Be a team player.’ Deuteronomy 32 speaks of one person chasing 1,000 and two putting 10,000 to flight (v. 30). The lesson is that two working together will be ten times more effective than one going solo. Teams create synergy. The best explanation of synergy is that a h

Start your day with God Jul 12, 2026 113 How do you start your day with God? If you’re not a ‘morning person’, don’t put pressure on yourself to have an extended time of reading Scripture and praying first thing in the morning. Frank Laubach, a modern-day master of practising the presence of God, said, ‘If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are.’ Instead of forcing yourself in the morning

Look back and be encouraged Jul 11, 2026 120 James wrote: ‘My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful’ (James 5:10-11 NKJV). Here we are reminded to look back and be challenged and encouraged by those who wen

Holy Communion Jul 10, 2026 121 Here are three reasons you need to partake of Holy Communion: 1) To make you grace-minded. No one will ever stand in heaven and say, ‘Look what Jesus and I have accomplished.’ If you had to pay one penny of your debt of sin, it would make you a co-redeemer with Christ. What an offence to the cross! (See Ephesians 2:8-9.) Hymnist Horatio Spafford wrote: ‘My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious though

Reprogramme and renew your mind Jul 9, 2026 123 Neuroscientists tell us that every sound, every experience, every conscious thought, and every subconscious dream is recorded and literally engraved on our external hard drive, the cerebral cortex. Now juxtapose that with this: ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 2:5 NKJV). Simply put: the mind of Christ is the Word of God. After all, Jesus is ‘the Word’ (John 1:1

God loves and accepts you Jul 8, 2026 115 Jimmy Wayne never knew his father, and his mother spent more time in prison than out. When Jimmy was twelve, his mother was released from jail and took up with a troublemaker. They loaded him into the back seat of their car, and for a year that was his home. Then one day, they dumped him at a Pensacola, Florida, bus station and drove off. He had no home, no future, and no provision. While wanderin

More responsibility calls for more prayer Jul 7, 2026 123 In the early days of America, a stranger asked how he might identify George Washington among those present at Congress. He was told, ‘You can easily distinguish him when Congress goes to prayer. Washington is the gentleman who kneels down.’ Washington was known as a man who prayed. When the fate of the new nation hung in the balance at Valley Forge, he frequently found rest and relief in prayer. O

Have you prayed about it? Jul 6, 2026 113 From the beginning of the Bible to its conclusion we see absolute evidence that God answers prayer. Things that we think are impossible, God does when people pray! When we pray, we align ourselves with the purposes of God and tap into the power of the Almighty. Because we pray, God works through us in ways He wouldn’t otherwise. God has made certain things dependent upon prayer, things that will n

How to have a good day Jul 5, 2026 121 In Western culture, we think of a day beginning when the sun comes up. But the creation account says: ‘The evening and the morning were the first day’ (Genesis 1:5 NKJV). Each day began with evening. Author Eugene Peterson noted that in this way, the biblical writers help us to remember: ‘Everything doesn’t depend on me. I go to sleep; God goes to work. It’s His day. The world keeps spinning, tide

Exercise patience Jul 4, 2026 121 Patience, from the biblical perspective, embodies these four things: 1) Confidence in God’s unfailing love and faithfulness to us: ‘His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness’ (Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV). 2) Confidence that He will keep His promises to us: ‘There has not failed one word…which He promised’ (1 Kings 8:56 NKJV). 3) Confidence that He has everythi

Before you get married Jul 3, 2026 123 Here are three things you should be clear about before you commit to a lifetime relationship in marriage (if you’re not in this situation yourself, perhaps you could use these points to guide your prayers for others): 1) Does your partner have a strong relationship with Christ? ‘Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?’ (Amos 3:3 NLT). To stay together, you must walk in step

With God’s help, you’ll succeed Jul 2, 2026 129 Some of the world’s greatest achievers went through life with physical disabilities and overcame incredible adversities. Sir Walter Scott was disabled. John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, was imprisoned. George Washington, America’s first president, almost froze and starved to death in the snows of Valley Forge. Abraham Lincoln played a critical part in ending the scourge of slavery in

Spiritual pathways (6) Jul 1, 2026 125 The contemplative pathway. If you relate to God best through the contemplative pathway, you love large blocks of quietness and uninterrupted time alone. It is very likely that when you were a child, your parents would tell you to go outside and play with other kids more. Reflection comes naturally to you. You often feel like an observer in life. Here are some Scriptures you easily identify with: ‘

Spiritual pathways (5) Jun 30, 2026 119 The activist pathway. When you’re on this spiritual pathway, you have a high level of energy. This may be one of your favourite Scriptures: ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.’ But one of the dangers of relating to God best through the activist pathway is that a big chunk of your motivation can be self-fulfilment and self-satisfaction. Hence Paul wrote: ‘Since you are so eager

Spiritual pathways (4) Jun 29, 2026 116 The worship pathway. When you’re on the worship pathway, you resonate with the psalmist: ‘I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.”’ Something deep inside you feels released when praise is given. Your heart opens up and you come alive. You find yourself in tears, sometimes in moments of deep joy, because God seems so close. But here are two cautions if you’re on this

Spiritual pathways (3) Jun 28, 2026 122 The serving pathway. On the serving pathway, you find God’s presence seems most tangible when you’re helping others. You identify with the words of Jesus: ‘Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these…you did it to Me’ (Matthew 25:40 NKJV). And you may find that you are uncomfortable in a setting where you don’t have a role to play or a service to perform. An example of this would be Dorcas

Spiritual pathways (2) Jun 27, 2026 118 The relational pathway. People who follow the relational pathway find that they have a deep sense of God’s presence when they are involved in significant relationships. Jesus’ words, ‘For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20 NKJV), makes perfect sense to the relational type. If you are on the relational pathway, you may feel guilty wh

Spiritual pathways (2) Jun 27, 2026 108 The relational pathway. People who follow the relational pathway find that they have a deep sense of God’s presence when they are involved in significant relationships. Jesus’ words, ‘For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20 NKJV), makes perfect sense to the relational type. If you are on the relational pathway, you may feel guilty wh

Spiritual pathways (1) Jun 26, 2026 122 A spiritual pathway has to do with the way you most naturally sense God’s presence and experience spiritual growth. We all have at least one pathway that comes most easily to us. And there’s enormous freedom in identifying and embracing your spiritual pathway. It means you can focus on relating to God in that way. For the next few days, let’s look at some different spiritual pathways and see which

God’s answer to anxiety (1) Oct 18, 2025 116 Anxiety is the curse of the modern era, but it’s not a new trend. Throughout Scripture, Jesus talked a lot about anxiety, stress, and fear. In fact, He mentioned them repeatedly in His teachings. In Matthew 6:25-27, He said, ‘Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or…what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; the

Be guided by wisdom, not impulse Mar 26, 2025 131 If you are impulsive, you tend to lack discipline. You can be thoughtless, or insensitive to others, or driven by appetite. You may have a hard time with delayed gratification. You have a low frustration tolerance. You get bored easily. You can fly off the handle. If this describes you, here are six principles you should try to incorporate into your life: 1) Ask counsel from wise friends before pl

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