‘Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.’ Proverbs 1 5:22 NIV

A good mentor does three things. They:

(1) Observe you.

(2) Instruct you.

(3) Motivate you.

At first, the thought of having someone evaluate you may be intimidating. But think about it; people are watching you anyway, so why not have a good adviser among the crowd? Here is a list of some areas where you might invite a mentor to evaluate you. These things are essential: spiritual development, personal discipline, family relationships, decision making, handling finance, conflict resolution, picking the right people, breaking bad habits and establishing good ones, goal setting and planning for the future. If you’re serious about succeeding, look for an environment where you will be mentored, not just paid. Initially, what you learn is more important than what you earn because what you learn early determines what you earn later. What you don’t know can hurt you and limit your potential. You owe it to yourself and to those who depend on you to open the doors to evaluation. And don’t let it stop with you. Pass on what you’ve been given to somebody else.

Jesus said, ‘Freely you have received, freely give.’ (Matthew 10:8 NIV) You might think you’re too young, and nobody is going to take you seriously, but remember what Paul told Timothy. ‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example.’ (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV) You’re not responsible for knowing everything; you’re just responsible for sharing what you know with others. They will advance farther and more quickly as you pour into them what God and others have put into you. So, ask God for a good mentor and then become one for somebody else.

SoulFood: Job 1-4, Luke 1:1-10, Ps 105:23-36, Ecc 7:5-8

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright © 2024

‘By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.’ Hebrews 11:3 NIV

Speaking of our amazing bodies: what about DNA? Each human cell (up to 100 trillion in each of us) contains an enormous database of information. Could all that have originated by chance? Physicist Paul Davies makes this comparison: ‘It’s rather like exploding a stick of dynamite under a pile of bricks and expecting it to build a house. You may liberate enough energy to raise the bricks, but without coupling the energy to the bricks in a controlled way, there’s little hope of producing anything other than a chaotic mess.’ Clearly, it requires more than a pile of bricks to build a house. The intelligence of the architect and the skill of the builder are key components.

It’s the same with all the complexities of a human being. The odds are infinitesimally small that all the required elements necessary to initiate human life just happened to assemble themselves in the same spot on Earth at the same time. And even if we did accept that notion, blind chance couldn’t put those 100 trillion cells together in the order required to produce life.

Prominent scientist Francis Crick wasn’t noted for his faith, but even he said, ‘The origin of life seems almost to be a miracle, so many are the conditions which would have had to have been satisfied to get it going.’

And what’s the miracle? The psalmist said, ‘You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.’ (Psalm 139:13–14 ^{NIV) That’s the miracle!}

SoulFood: Lev 5–7, Mt 5:1–12, Ps 10:12–18, Prov 1:17–19

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

‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.’ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

What would you like to change about yourself? How would you change it? To ask it another way, what would your spouse or your best friend like you to change? Maybe that would be more enlightening. How would you end the sentence, ‘It’s just like me to…’? Always be late? Not stay on a diet? Say the wrong thing? Burst out in anger? Be sad?

Jeremiah puts it this way: ‘Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil.’ (Jeremiah 13:23 NLT)

You say, ‘I guess it’s hopeless.’ No, this is where God’s life-changing power comes into operation: ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV) Once we commit our lives to Christ, we’re not the same any longer; a new life has begun. That’s why the Bible calls it being ‘born again’. We immediately have a new nature, plus the indwelling Holy Spirit. A set of ‘spiritual batteries’ is included to supply the power! That makes all the difference.

Just as your first birth was the beginning of your life, so the new birth is the beginning of this new life. And it’s followed by a lifelong process depicted in Romans 12:2 NASB: ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.’

SoulFood: Dan 11–12, Mt 8:28–34, Ps 89:38–52, Prov 3:1–2

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

‘His mother called his name Jabez.’ 1 Chronicles 4:9 NKJV

The name Jabez means ‘pain and trouble’. Can you imagine walking into a room and hearing someone say, ‘Here comes trouble,’ or someone describing you as ‘a pain’? And what’s more, his mother labelled Jabez that way the day he was born because she ‘gave birth to him in pain.’ (1 Chronicles 4:9 NIV)

But Jabez refused to let that name define him. Instead of looking back at his past and listening to his critics, he turned to God and prayed: ‘“Oh, that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm, that it might not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.’ (1 Chronicles 4:10 NASB)

The label on the outside of a bottle tells you what’s on the inside. And when you let others label you, invariably they make your world too small. And once you accept the label they place on you, you start to believe that’s who you are and that you’ll never amount to anything more than that. No, only God can tell you who you are! So do what Jabez did—go directly to the source: God. He created you. He redeemed you. He calls you. He equips you. He empowers you. He rewards you.

So when people try to limit you by putting labels on you, God steps in and says, ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.’ (Isaiah 43:1 NKJV) The truth is that God loves and accepts you, and His approval trumps everybody else’s disapproval!

SoulFood: 2 Chr 5–7, John 11:1–16, Ps 83:9–18, Pro 26:17–22

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

‘The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you.’ Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

Are you feeling anxious today because you don’t know what you’re walking into? Israel was going into a good situation, the Promised Land. They had just come out of a bad one: a back-breaking, soul-destroying, hope-extinguishing 430 years of slavery. Now they were going to be free to own their own homes, raise their own families, work at jobs they liked, and be well-paid for it. But the Promised Land wasn’t problem-free. There were enemy strongholds that had to be conquered one by one, and it would take time.

‘The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.’ (Deuteronomy 7:22 NIV) Question: is this a similar situation to the one you find yourself in today? You’re embarking on a new relationship, a new job, a new ministry, or an unfamiliar area where you don’t have all the answers? And because you don’t know exactly what’s involved, you’re anxious? Don’t be! Here’s the word for you today: ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you… The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’ (Deuteronomy 31:6–8 NIV)

Carry these promises with you. And when your confidence starts to falter and your faith fluctuates, read them, stand on them, and count on God to honour His Word.

SoulFood: Is 63–66, Matt 12:38–50, Ps 120, Pr 3:33–35

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

‘A quick-tempered person does foolish things.’ Proverbs 14:17 NIV

When people lose their temper, one of the most common expressions used to describe their reaction is ‘flying off the handle’. The phrase refers to the head of a hammer coming loose from the handle as you attempt to use it. And several not-so-good things happen as a consequence.

(1) The hammer becomes useless. Your message may be all-important, but the manner in which you deliver it determines whether or not you get the results you desire. Simply stated, when people don’t take you seriously, you don’t get the outcome you hoped for.

(2) The hammer head does damage. By flying out of control, it’s likely to damage anything in its path. Words spoken in anger cause wounds, and sometimes those wounds can last a lifetime. James writes: ‘Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God’s righteous purpose.’ (James 1:19–20 GNT)

(3) Repairing both the hammer and the damage may take a long time. In some cases, it simply can’t be done. Here are some Scriptures to keep in mind before you vent your anger. Again, ‘A quick-tempered person does foolish things.’ (Proverbs 14:17 NIV) ‘Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.’ (Psalm 37:8 NIV) ‘A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offence.’ (Proverbs 19:11 NIV) ‘Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.’ (Ecclesiastes 7:9 NIV)

So the word for today is—‘Don’t fly off the handle.’

SoulFood: Isa 63-66, Luke 4:14-30, Ps 89:15-37, Pro 2:21-22

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

‘Whoever heeds correction is honoured.’ Proverbs 13:18 NIV

When someone corrects you, be teachable and not unreachable. ‘Let every man be quick to listen but slow to use his tongue, and slow to lose his temper.’ (James 1:19 PHPS) If you do the first 2 things, the 3rd one naturally falls into place. If you are quick to listen and slow to answer back, you’re going to be slow to lose your temper.

‘Whoever heeds correction is honoured.’ So use your ears more than your mouth, and be willing to accept correction. The wisest people have a ‘teach me’ attitude and are willing to learn from others. You can learn from anyone, if you just know the right questions to ask. It is important that you never stop asking questions, because the moment you’re through learning in life, you’re through! Full stop!

Be teachable, not unreachable. Husband, can you learn from your wife, or does that threaten you? When she makes a suggestion, do you get defensive? Do you take every comment as a threat to your manhood? Wife, can you learn from your husband? Parent, can you learn from your children? If you want to end up lonely in life, never admit your mistakes, never learn from anyone, and never let anyone teach you anything. How long has it been since you admitted to your spouse, ‘Honey, I was wrong; it was my fault’? Some people haven’t said that in years.

The Bible says, ‘Humbly accept the word planted in you.’ (James 1:21 NIV) The word ‘humble’ here means ‘gentle’. When you approach God’s Word, you ought to approach it with a gentle, or humble, attitude that says, ‘Lord, I’m willing to be taught.’

SoulFood: Isa 53-57, Luke 3:21-38, Ps 84, Pro 2:16-19

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

‘My best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.’ Psalm 41:9 NLT

Not only must we leave room for unexpected disappointments and unknown variables in life, we must realise that inevitably we’ll be betrayed and hurt by other people. Perhaps they deceived us into believing they were trustworthy, or they began sincerely and became infected with the viruses of jealousy and greed. In either case, you’ll face betrayal at some point along the way. Even the psalmist David wrote: ‘My best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.’ And included in the list of adversities Paul suffered in his ministry, are ‘false believers’. (2 Corinthians 11:26 NIV)

If you live long enough, you’ll eventually discover how self-centred and self-absorbed even the most generous of human hearts can be. And it’s most often the people we love and trust implicitly who have the greatest power to betray us. So what can we do? We must deal with the hurt and anger, without allowing either one to blind us to the long-range consequences of bitterness.

And don’t be deterred from your life’s goals or other relationships when it happens. Like a child who has learned to walk and gets tripped up by a bully, get back on your feet and continue your journey. You’ll be a little sore and a bit bruised at first, but the scabs will heal, and you’ll be stronger for having survived the fall.

After lamenting about his friend who betrayed him, David said to God, ‘I know You are pleased with me, for You have not let my enemies triumph over me. You have preserved my life.’ (Psalm 41:11–12 NLT) That’s the winning attitude!

SoulFood: Gen 28:1–30:24, Matt 19:1–14, Ps 66:1–12, Pr 6:20–22

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

‘When we are knocked down, we get up again.’ 2 Corinthians 4:9 CEV

Every problem you face in life introduces you to yourself. It shows you how you think and what you’re made of. People basically respond to problems in three ways:

(1) they refuse to accept them

(2) they accept them and then endure [put up with] them, or

(3) they accept them and try to improve things.

Which of the three people are you?

Paul was a problem solver. He knew that with God on his side, he would prevail. ‘We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.’ (2 Corinthians4:7 –9 CEV)

So when it comes to having problems, what should you do?

(1) Anticipate them. Since problems are unavoidable, prepare for them spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. If you pray for God’s best and anticipate Satan’s worst, you will find yourself in a good position to solve the problems that come your way.

(2) See the big picture. You can’t afford to be overcome by emotion or get bogged down and lose sight of what’s important.

(3) Handle one thing at a time. Richard Sloma said, ‘Never try to solve all the problems at once—make them line up for you one-by-one.’ And if you’re facing lots of problems, try to solve the one you’re working on before moving on to the next one.

SoulFood: Eph 4:17 – 6:24, John 3:22-36, Ps 89:15-37, Pro 23:15-18

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

‘The Lord gives wisdom.’ Proverbs 2:6 NKJV

What are the people in your life telling you? Are they increasing your self-doubt or strengthening your faith? Just because people tell you something doesn’t make it so. In 1492 many of the people Columbus tried to interest in his venture thought the earth was flat. And even those who believed it was round thought his idea of a short-cut to the Indies was far-fetched. The ‘experts’ examined his travel plans and said they were impossible. But Columbus didn’t fall off the edge of the earth as the doomsayers predicted—instead, he discovered America!

Along the same lines, Alexander Graham Bell tried to interest the communications company Western Union in his invention, the telephone. But they regarded it as having too many limitations and being little more than a toy. Even after John Logie Baird had demonstrated the capabilities of the first television set, a leading radio pioneer said it was ‘a development of which we need waste little time dreaming.’

There will always be naysayers, so don’t let someone else’s limited thinking squash you and restrict your thinking. Negativity is contagious; you have to be careful if you don’t want to catch it! Even if you’re the only positive person in your family, maintain an optimistic outlook in every situation. What we call ‘common knowledge’ often is commonly wrong!

‘The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.’ (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV) Have the people who are telling you ‘it can’t be done’ factored God into the equation? If not, pay no attention. Instead of listening to people who increase your doubts, listen to the people to whom God has given wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

SoulFood: 1 Tim 1–3, John 5:16–30, Ps 5, Pr 24:8–9

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