‘Let your eyes look straight ahead…’ Proverbs 4:25 NKJV

Behind every success story you’ll find sacrifices made to fulfil a dream, principles that govern lives in public and in private, the ability to turn a single victory into a system of success, and finally a relentless quest for personal growth. One Bible teacher writes, ‘As a boy I loved to watch the older men play draughts. One day one of them invited me to play. At first it looked easy. I captured one, then another of his draughts. Then suddenly he took one draught and hopped across the board yelling, “King me!” With that king he proceeded to wipe me off the board. That day I learned about long-range vision. Nobody minds losing a few draughts as long as they’re headed for king territory!’

What sustained Moses in the wilderness? His vision! ‘…He persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.’ (Hebrews 11:27 NIV) A God-given vision will keep you going when nothing else will. The Bible says, ‘Let your eyes look straight ahead… Ponder the path of your feet… Do not turn to the right or the left…’ (Proverbs 4:25–27 NKJV) What do you see in your future? You’ll never grab hold of it until you see it! So, write down your vision and the reason you want to fulfil it, and what you’re willing to go through to make it happen. Then write down every challenge you can think of that you’ll have to overcome in order to pursue it. Do that, and you’ll be prepared for much of what comes your way. The difference between winners and losers is in how they view failure. Losers let failure stop them; winners see beyond it!

SoulFood: Ecc 1–4, Matt 15:29–39, Ps 33:1–12, Pro 5:7–14

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.’ Nehemiah 6:3 NIV

When it came to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah discovered that not everyone around him wanted him to succeed. To stop the work, his enemies used two things—threats and rumours. Nevertheless he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in less than two months. How did he do it? He stayed focused on what mattered and refused to be distracted.

‘They were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with 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 same answer.’ (Nehemiah 6:2–4 NIV)

In the language of today, they emailed him. They Whatsapp-ed him. They left messages on his mobile phone. Over and over they tried to distract and detour him with dialogue. But he refused to fight. His voicemail greeting would have sounded something like this: ‘You have reached the phone of Nehemiah. I’m not here. I’m carrying on a great project right now. If this is Sanballat, Tobiah, or Geshem, you’re wasting your time. If it’s anybody else, please leave a message after the beep.’

When you decide what your life’s priorities are, they will help you decide everything else. They will help you keep your eye on the ball. When life seems to be against you, ask yourself, ‘What are my biggest priorities for this day? For this week?’ Settle those in your mind and be laser-beam focused on them as you pursue the assignment God has given you.

SoulFood: Acts 24–26, Matt 11:1–9, Ps 1, Pro 16:10–15

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘Once you had no identity.’ 1 Peter 2:10 NLT

Peter the apostle started out as Simon the fisherman. His father owned a fleet of fishing boats, and Peter probably thought that one day he’d end up running the family business when his Dad was gone.

But when the Lord has a plan for your life, He will come looking for you! Think about this fascinating interaction between Jesus and His disciples: ‘Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told him: “Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn’t discover this on your own. It was shown to you by My Father in Heaven. So I will call you Peter, which means ‘a rock’.”’ (Matthew 16:15–18 CEV)

There’s an important lesson here. Just as Jesus redefined Simon as Peter ‘the rock’, so too when you discover who Jesus really is, you discover who you are and what He has called you to do for Him. There’s a lot more to life than working forty hours a week for forty years, retiring with a gold watch, getting a pension, and playing with your grandchildren. Just as surely as your DNA differs from every other person’s on the planet, so does your individual destiny.

But to understand and fulfil it, ‘you must be born again.’ (John 3:7 NKJV) Jesus said at the grave of Lazarus, ‘He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’ (John 11:25 NKJV) And the One who raised Lazarus from the dead can bring you to life spiritually, too. Seek Him and He will also tell you who you really are.

SoulFood: Josh 2:1–24, Acts 9:20–30

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you.’ Luke 22:10 NLT

Every year, Hollywood hands out the Oscars—awards to the best actor, producer, director, editor, costume designer, etc. But Hollywood superstars and big movies wouldn’t be created without the supporting cast and the contributions of technical and artistic crews. The Oscars remind us that the brightest lights can only shine because of the lesser lights that go unrecognised.

Scripture tells us that God also has a supporting cast; people who are happy to work behind the scenes. They’re the ones who go about their business at home, at work, and at church, serving quietly, gladly, and faithfully. Families are raised, nations are strengthened, businesses prosper, and churches grow, thanks to those who do the little things that make all the difference. The Bible is filled with behind-the-scenes people, like the unnamed ‘man carrying a pitcher of water’ who led Peter and John to the Upper Room for Jesus’ eve-of-crucifixion meeting with His disciples. Or people like ‘James the less’ (Mark 15:40 KJV), a relatively unknown disciple, often overlooked by men—but never by God!

Whatever you do, no matter how small, take this promise to heart: ‘God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown towards His name.’ (Hebrews 6:10 NKJV) So, stay faithful. Jesus said, ‘Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves.’ (Revelation 22:12 NASB)

The truth is that God is planning His own Oscar awards ceremony—and you can be part of it!

SoulFood: Gen 40-41, Luke 9:18-27, Ps 138, Pro 4:14-17

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2023

‘…Your faith has made you well.’ Luke 17:19 NKJV

Luke records: ‘As He… passed through… Samaria… there met Him ten… lepers, who… lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ So when He saw them, He said… ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.’ (Luke 17:11–14 NKJV) In Christ’s day people with leprosy were social outcasts, so they lived together in a colony. But the problem is, you can’t get well hanging around people who are as messed up as you are. That’s why you need to bring the problem to Jesus. Notice the words, ‘He passed through.’ Jesus didn’t go to the colony, He was just passing through. What do you do when you’re losing your life, your family, your joy, your finances etc, and Jesus doesn’t seem to be looking in your direction? You can get frustrated when it feels like He’s blessing everybody but you, and wonder, ‘Lord, when is my turn coming? I’ve served You faithfully, yet it seems like everybody else is the object of Your attention.’ It’s time to cry out, ‘Jesus, have mercy on me!’ Away with dignity and decorum, desperate people pray desperate prayers and God responds to their prayers. Notice, when Jesus was passing by these people with leprosy did not shout, ‘Unclean,’ as the law required. No, they broke protocol. When you’re in a bad situation, sometimes you have to break out in order to break through. You’ve got to do what David did: ‘I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.’ (Psalm 3:4 NJKV) Come on, if you want an answer, put your faith to work!

SoulFood: Mal 3–4, Matt 2:16–23, Ps 139:13–24, Pro 31:28–29

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.’ Acts 24:16 NLT

It’s been said that our conscience was given to us after the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden. In other words, we got to know the difference between good and evil through God-giving us a conscience. So we must not ignore its promptings, silence its voice, or allow it to become calloused [hard and insensitive], because it’s a built-in warning system that protects us from danger and harm. That means you shouldn’t be troubled when your conscience bothers you; you should be troubled when it doesn’t.

Here are 10 principles for keeping your conscience clear:

(1) Always pay attention to the inner nudging that makes you stop and question your decisions.

(2) Think of your conscience as a God-given filter that helps keep your heart pure.

(3) Examine your motives in all ‘giving’ situations.

(4) If you think you may have hurt someone’s feelings, ask for forgiveness.

(5) Invite God to examine your heart and show you changes that need to be made in your attitudes and actions.

(6) To the best of your ability, don’t knowingly get involved in compromising situations.

(7) Consider others first, and honour them with your words and actions.

(8) Remember that your conscience is your moral compass – it points towards what is right.

(9) Establish ethical guidelines in all your business dealings.

(10) When a thought leaves you feeling unsettled, take time to pray and talk about it with someone you trust.

The word for today is—always maintain a clear conscience before God.

SoulFood: Jer 45-48, Matt 25:31-46, Ps 109:1-15, Pro 15:22

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2023

‘David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”’ 2 Samuel 12:13 NKJV

God sent the prophet Nathan to confront King David over his affair with Bathsheba. As king, David had the power to have Nathan put to death. But he didn’t. He humbled himself, received correction, repented, and was restored to his throne and God’s favour.

Question: can you be corrected? If you can, your future is bright and your potential is great. But you must be discerning. Not all correction is constructive and therefore does not have to be accepted. Someone may desire to tear you down, take away your self-esteem, or manipulate [trick] you into accepting their way of thinking. You must make it a habit to look carefully the motives of the person who is correcting you. Ask yourself these questions:

(1) In the past, has this person shown a genuine concern for my personal well-being and development?

(2) What does he or she gain personally if I accomplish the behaviour they are recommending? What do I gain? What do I lose?

(3) Is their attitude one of kindness, or am I feeling attacked and demeaned? (Be careful; don’t confuse a person’s irritation over your behaviour as a personal attack.)

(4) After they criticise me, do I feel like a hopeless failure, or do they communicate faith in my capacity to change?

(5) Are they dedicated to sticking with me through the change? The Bible says, ‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.’ (Proverbs 27:6 KJV) Since God loves you enough to send people into your life to correct you, receive them because they have your best interests at heart.

SoulFood: Gen 24:1-51, 2 Cor 6:14 – 7:1

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2023

‘Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?’ Amos 3:3 NKJV

When it comes to forming relationships, read the fine print. Somewhere in the fine print of meeting, dating, and interacting with someone, it warned you, albeit ever-so-slightly, that they were going to be a certain way. The red flags were always there, even though they started out as a lovely shade of pale pink. You saw how quickly he got angry. You knew she was always late when you picked her up. He invariably went into a panic checking every line item on the restaurant bill. She never failed to flirt with the waiter—and anyone else who looked her way. You noticed, but you didn’t listen to the little voice inside of you.

Before you order something, it’s always wise to read the fine print to make sure you can afford the payments. Maybe the fine print became obvious when you saw how he interacted with his family—or didn’t! Maybe it was in the way his eyes lingered on every woman who walked by. Or in the phone calls she took out of earshot when you were around. Chances are you saw it, but you didn’t pay attention. You overlooked the temper tantrums, the possessiveness, the jealousy, and lack of integrity, thinking you could change the other person, or that they’d change for you. Now you know better.

There’s a reason the Bible asks, ‘Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?’ Yes, the God who gives ‘beauty for ashes’ can change your partner’s heart (see Isaiah 61:3). But if you’re dating or considering a long-term relationship, pray about it and read the fine print.

SoulFood: Lev 13:38–14:57, Mark 1:9–13, Ps 25:1–7, Pr 9:17–18

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘…meditate on it day and night…’ Joshua 1:8 NIV

Pastor, are you an starving chef? Are you serving healthy meals to your congregation every Sunday, while you yourself are starving to death spiritually? Have you allowed the business side of the church to steal your prayer life and rob you of time spent in the Scriptures building yourself up? One of the great dangers of ministry is giving out but not taking in. Financially, when you give out more than you take in you end up bankrupt. And the same thing can happen to you spiritually. When Joshua replaced Moses as the leader of Israel, God said the same thing to him three times: ‘Be strong and of good courage.’ (Joshua 1: 6, 7 and 9) Then He explained to Joshua where his strength and courage would come from: ‘This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.’ (Joshua 1:8 NKJV) Note the words, ‘you will make your way prosperous.’ You have a role to play in both your strength and your success. What is it? To ‘meditate on [God’s Word] day and night.’ To meditate is to ruminate. Cows ruminate. This means they chew grass, swallow it, bring it back up and chew it some more, and each time they do they get something more out of it. So chew on God’s Word. Think about it. Process it. If you want to be spiritually healthy, meditate and ruminate on the Scriptures!

SoulFood: 2 Chr 29–31, John 14:1–14, Ps 118:10–18, Pro 28:1–4

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©

‘Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.’ Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

The men and women who made the greatest impact on the world were those who were totally focused and sold out to their vision. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, once said, ‘If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire.’

Jonathan Edwards, whose ministry sparked the Great Awakening in America, made this his life’s motto: ‘Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I will.’

CT Studd, one of England’s greatest cricketers, shocked the world when he gave up fame and fortune to be a missionary to China. ‘If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him,’ he explained.

Jim Elliot, who died as a martyr in South America, said, ‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.’ The day you were born, God had a track for you to run on. But to win, you must get rid of:

(1) Anything that weighs you down.

(2) Anything that trips you up. ‘Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ (Hebrews 12:1–2 NKJV)

SoulFood: Acts 16–17, Mk 1:23–34, Ps 7:1–9, Prov 11:3–6

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2025