Who is Jesus Christ?

This is one of the most important questions you can ever ask because, you need Jesus.

God loves you. He desires to have a living relationship with you and give you salvation, purpose and eternal life. It is an important decision that only you can make, but you need to make it!

1. You have a past

Scripture states clearly that everyone in the world is guilty of sin — and that includes you and me. Romans 3:23 says: ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’

2. Sin has its price

Romans 6:23 tells us: ‘For the wages of sin is death.’ The wage we earn from work is money, but the wages of sin is death. Death means separation from God forever. But there is good news.

3. Christ paid for your sin

Even though we are sinners, Christ loves us so much that He died in our place to pay for our sin. ‘But God demonstrated His own love for us in this while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Romans 5:8)

4. You must believe

To become a Christian and have assurance of eternal life is a personal decision only you can make. Romans 10:9 says: ‘if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’ The word ‘believe’ here means to entrust your life completely over to Jesus Christ. That’s what real faith is, asking Jesus Christ to be Lord of your Life.

If You’d like to begin a personal relationship with Jesus today, please pray this prayer.

Dear Lord Jesus, I believe You died for me and that Your blood paid for my sins. Please forgive me for my sin. I want You to be my Lord. Thank You for dying for me, forgiving my sin and giving me the gift of eternal life. I wish to turn away from sin and I acknowledge You as my Lord and Saviour. Lead and guide me in Your way, Amen.

You have just made an important and very wise decision. We encourage you to now contact your local Christian church for regular, ongoing fellowship and guidance in becoming a disciple. Anytime you would like us to pray for you, either now or in the future, you can always contact the team at Vision Christian Prayer.

We’d love you to send us an email to tell us the story behind your decision.

We’d also love to send you a complimentary copy of our devotional, The Word for Today to help you search the Scriptures daily, know Jesus better and follow Him more closely. Give us a call if you’d like a copy.

1 John 5:11-12 tells us there are two groups of people. ‘He who has the Son has life’ and ‘He who does not have the Son of God does not have life.’ Because you have prayed and believed in the Son you have life!

Commit to the relationship (2)

‘The two shall become one.’ Matthew 1 9:5 NKJV

The word commit means ‘to bind, or obligate, or pledge’. And for some of us, it evokes pictures of servitude, restraints, and the loss of our freedom. In other words, it frightens us.

Many people place a high value on their independence and self-sufficiency, and as a result, some of them can also become more reluctant to commit to a relationship that requires compromise and consideration of another person's views (see Philippians 2:3-4). It may lead to a desire to keep the relationship fluid and flexible, so they can stay or leave whenever they want. The partner desiring the commitment finds such a relationship frustrating and unfulfilling. So, what should you do if you’re reluctant to commit to the relationship? Two things:

1) Be honest with yourself about your fears, feelings, and motivations. David said, ‘You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom’ (Psalm 51:6 NKJV). Notice, wisdom comes from being honest about what is going on inside you. What are your memories of your parents’ marriage and how it affected you? Have you observed similar patterns of behaviour on your part or that of your potential mate when it comes to dealing with relationships?

2) Admit the role you may have played, even as an enabler of poor behaviour, in the collapse of a former relationship. Have you changed now? Are you willing to? If so, then here is God’s promise to you of a better future: ‘Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing…’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV).

SoulFood: 1 Chr 1-2, Luke 11:14-28, Ps 78:56-64, Pro 20:7-10

Training Leaders Who Can Train Others (1)

‘Teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on.’ 2 Timothy 2:2 NLT

Most church leaders would concede that people are their greatest resource. Which raises the question, why isn’t more time devoted to training new leaders? After all, by failing to do this, the effectiveness and growth of ministry is curtailed. Barnabas raised up and trained up Paul who in turn raised up and trained up others. He told his trainee, Timothy, ‘Teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on.’

When you devote time to developing leaders with a caring attitude, they learn to pass the same level of care on to the people they minister to. There are proven principles that apply to leadership in any organisation, and the church is no exception. For example, Jon Gordon says: ‘Great customer service begins with being employee-focused first and customer-focused second. Too often organisations focus all their energy on the customer while ignoring the people who serve. This may work in the short run, but eventually employees become tired, burned out, negative, and resentful… Organisations who deliver the best service have a culture where employees are valued, listened to, and cared for. In turn these employees value, care for, and serve their customers… If you model great service, your people will share it. If you want your team to serve, serve them. If you want your people to care, care about them. If you want your team to love their work, love them. If you want your employees to be their best, give them your best.’

So are you training people who can train others?

SoulFood: Jos 5:1–8:29, John 16:1–11, Ps 130, Pro 28:21–24

Being There In The Crisis (3)

‘He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble.’ 2 Corinthians 1:4 CEV

In a crisis people often fail to see the resources that God has made available to them. Here are three types:

(1) Spiritual resources. ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’ (Psalm 46:1 KJV) This ‘very present’ God illuminates our darkness and confusion. His love is the source of all comfort (see 2 Corinthians 1:3). His presence addresses our loneliness, and His power addresses our helplessness.

(2) Personal resources. People in crisis forget that God has given them strengths and abilities which include faith, skills, memories of past triumphs, empowering attitudes, and motivations. Reminding them of these encourages them to ‘take back their power’.

(3) Interpersonal resources. Most people already have support networks; they just need to be activated. There are famili members, friends, business associates, and neighbours willing to pitch in when asked. Community resources might also be available for medical, financial, and material assistance. And the church can find ways to apply the ‘great commandment’ in crisis times (see Matthew 22:36–39). Members can be invited to pray, give money, provide practical assistance like meals, help with the pikininis, transportation, etc. People are reluctant to ask for help because they’re embarrassed and feel they should be able to handle their own problems, or think they’re failing by ‘accepting charity’. Help them to understand that others are happy to help, and that one day they can ‘return the blessing’.

SoulFood: 1 Ki 6–7, Mark 8:1–13, Ps 97, Pro 12:1–3

A Love For God’s Word

‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’ Psalm 119:105 NKJV

The Psalmist highlights two important things Bible reading does for you:

(1) It shows you your spiritual condition. In Bible times there were no paved roads, so when guests entered a house, they paused to wash the sand, dirt, and grime from their feet. That’s what Bible reading does. The psalmist said, ‘How can young people [and older ones] keep their lives pure? By obeying Your commands.’ (Psalm 119:9 GNT)

(2) It shows you the direction you need to go. When you’re faced with an important decision and you don’t know which way to go, God will be a light to your path and guide you through His Word.

David, who loved God’s Word and meditated on it constantly, prayed, ‘Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.’ (Psalm 143:10 NKJV) Many of the mistakes we make could be prevented if we stopped long enough to seek God’s guidance. He knows what lies ahead; we don’t. So ‘commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.’ (Psalm 37:5 NKJV) Just like children need to be taught to cultivate a taste for healthy food instead of junk food, you need to cultivate a taste for God’s Word.

The psalmist said, ‘I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love.’ (Psalm 119:47 NKJV) ‘Your Word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it.’ (Psalm 119:140 NKJV) Today ask God to give you a love for His Word. That’s a prayer He will answer!

SoulFood: Jonah 1-4, Matt 11:1-19, Ps 88:1-9a, Pro 11:24-26

Why do we resist change? (2)

‘He went out, not knowing where he was going.’ Hebrews 11:8 NKJV

Who among us wouldn’t like to have a success story like Abraham’s? He had fame, great riches, and was even called the ‘friend of God’. (James 2:23 KJV) It doesn’t get better than that! But Abraham’s story begins with these words: ‘By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.’ (Hebrews 11:8 NKJV) How on earth did he do it? By faith!

Why do we resist change? Doubt and fear! We fear personal loss. Anytime change is imminent, the first question that pops into our minds is, ‘How will it affect me?’ For example, suppose a co-worker approaches you and says, ‘I just heard the boss is thinking about laying off some people today.’ Is your first thought, ‘I wonder what market conditions triggered that decision?’ Or is it, ‘I bet he feels bad about having to do that!’ No, probably your first thought is, ‘Am I at risk?’ That’s simply human nature. The second we face change we can quickly feel alone and helpless.

Where do you find strength in such moments? In God! His promise is: ‘“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So, we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”’ (Hebrews 13:5–6 NKJV) Relax! That which is unknown to you is fully known to God. And the One who has always taken care of you has already gone ahead to prepare the way (see Deuteronomy 31:8).

SoulFood: Song 5–8, Lk 1:39–56, Ps 21, Prov 16:16–19

What Are Your Boundaries?

‘I have learned the secret of living in every situation.’ Philippians 4:12 NLT

Inflexible boundaries can cause you to shut other people out and live unprepared and unable to participate in the give-and-take that healthy relationships require. Holes in your boundaries leave you open to ‘users’ who feel entitled to manipulate you and expect you to be the solution to their every problem. Having a flexible boundary allows you to live your own life and keep a balanced and healthy interest in others. You should be generous in sharing your time, compassion and resources, but not at the expense of becoming overly responsible, or betraying your God-given duty to be the unique person He made you to be, just to please others. A healthy relationship with others, shouldn’t mean you have to give up being you! So don’t let others violate your boundaries. You can bend and adjust as circumstances require, but don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed, defensive, resentful, blaming or reactive. In tough situations stay focused and draw on the well of inner strength God provides.

Paul was such a person: ‘I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. I am able to do all things through the One who strengthens me.’ (Philippians 4:12–13 NET)

Let God, not other people and circumstances, control you. Be helpful, but don’t feel guilty because you can’t ‘fix’ everybody. Your boundaries enable you to adjust to circumstances. Practise ‘Bear one another’s burdens’ (Galatians 6:2 NKJV), but don’t let others just dump their problems on you.

SoulFood: Job 5–7, Luke 16:19–31, Ps 26, Pro 7:26–27

Experiencing God’s presence and pleasure

‘In Your presence is fullness of joy.’ Psalm 1 6:11 NKJV

If you were miserable before you met Jesus, it’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that the only place His presence can be enjoyed is in church. No, you can enjoy His presence everywhere. At home, at work, at school, in business, and even in times of suffering and adversity.

Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite monk in a French monastery, wrote the best-selling book, The Practice of the Presence of God. He resented his daily routine in the kitchen. Then God showed him that everything he did each day could be done for God and with God. That truth transformed his life. You can cultivate your mind to be more productive, and you can also cultivate your spirit to be more sensitive to God. You can reach the place where you sense His presence and His pleasure in all that you do. Believing God is present with you won’t help you much if you think He is always upset with you. But when you see yourself as accepted in Christ, you realise that He is not only present with you at all times but pleased with you (see Ephesians 1:6). That will radically change your thinking about God.

There are dozens of things pertaining to everyday life, and you can enjoy them all if you just make the decision to do it – getting dressed, going to work, organising things, running errands, grocery shopping, etc. After all, these are the things life is made up of.

Joy comes not merely from being entertained but from a decision to be grateful for each moment you are given as a rare and valuable gift from God.

SoulFood: Acts 27-28, Mark 5:31-43, Ps 94:12-23, Pro 11:16-18

When Someone Stumbles, Help Them (1)

‘…if anyone is caught in any trespass…’ Galatians 6:1 NAS

Paul writes, ‘If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.’ Note the word ‘caught’. Most of us have thought, ‘That will never happen to me.’ But it did. In a moment of weakness we gave in to evil. When this happens to someone in God’s family we have a responsibility to restore them, regardless of the nature of the sin. In this Scripture this word ‘restore’ has medical overtones. It pictures a doctor resetting a broken limb. To restore someone Scripturally, we must help them in several ways. (1) We must help them to acknowledge their failure. After his affair with Bathsheba, David prayed, ‘…[I have] sinned and done what is evil in Your sight…’ (Psalm 51:4 NIV) (2) Help them to accept responsibility for their sin. Even though someone else may have been part of the problem, we are still accountable to God. (3) Help them to repent. Repentance involves deep remorse, turning away from our sin, and moving in a new direction. We also must help them to restore trust, damaged relationships and, when possible, pay for anything taken. We can help them to grow stronger through it. Through failure, God teaches us lessons that keep us from similar situations in the future. We can help them to respond to God’s correction with gratitude. Granted, this is not easy, but when a person understands God’s purpose in such discipline—that we might ‘…share in His holiness’ (Hebrews 12:10 NIV)—they begin to thank their heavenly Father for His loving correction. It even protects them from any root of bitterness springing up as a result of their sin.

SoulFood: Acts 8–9, Luke 8:26–39, Ps 146, Pro 16:4–5

Keys To Answered Prayer (1)

‘We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for Him.’ Hebrews 11:6 CEV

Just as the right key opens the door, there are Scriptural principles that act as keys to prayer. For the next few days, let’s look at them. Faith. ‘Without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for Him.’ (Hebrews 11:6 CEV) God doesn’t necessarily respond to your need. Look around and you will see that everyone has unmet needs. So what does God respond to? Your faith!

But Satan will try to fill your mind with doubts. And when he does, you need to examine your heart and see what it says. You can believe God’s Word in your heart even when your mind questions it. So stand on what’s in your heart instead of what’s in your head. Sometimes doubt begins with distraction. When you’re distracted from God’s promises, you start to doubt. And as you focus more and more on your problems, your faith begins to waver. When that happens, you must refocus and concentrate on God’s promises—and merely glance at your problems. Don’t try to deny them, but don’t give them undue attention.

The Bible says: ‘When you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.’ (James 1:6–8 CEV)

Stay anchored to God’s Word, and don’t drift all over the place when your circumstances begin to change.

SoulFood: 1 Kings 18:16 – 20:43, Matt 14:22-36, Ps 116, Pro 12:25

Hold fast

‘Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.’ Hebrews 10:23 NKJV

You will notice that during the creation process, God counts days based on the previous nights. The Bible doesn’t say, ‘The morning and evening were the first day.’ No, it says, ‘God called… the evening and the morning… the first day.’ (Genesis 1:5 KJV) That means God specialises in bringing light out of darkness—you just have to get through one to get to the other!

God told Moses that the angel of death would come at night, and wherever he saw the blood of the lamb on the doorposts, the inhabitants of that house would be saved (see Exodus 12:12–13). Exodus states that God ‘sent a… wind that blew all night until there was dry land… and the Israelites walked through.’ (Exodus 14:21–22 CEV) The psalmist wrote, ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.’ (Psalm 30:5 NKJV)

The dawn is all the more brilliant because of the darkness that preceded it, just as your progress is all the more rewarding when set against a backdrop of pain, gain, and breakthrough. Great mornings come by getting through rough nights. When you see somebody who is having a great day, chances are you’re looking at somebody who has been through a long night. When you hear them shouting the victory, it may be because they have spent the night praying and weeping before God.

The Bible says, ‘Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.’ (Hebrews 10:23 NLT) Trusting God is more than just wishful thinking. It’s knowing that if He said it, He will do it. It’s realising He doesn’t just control creation, He controls your circumstances. So, ‘hold fast.’

SoulFood: Num 7, Mt 10:21–31, Ps 107:1–9, Prov 3:13–18

Dipendra is blessed

Hi!

I am so blessed with this Word of God which you are sharing with me. I am listening to it from Dubai. Though it is about 2 or 3 minutes short it gives me strength everyday. Last few days I was feeling very low but The Word for Today gave me courage, strength, hope and peace. When I have to work long hours, I am not able to study Bible but when I get free time I am used to hearing this message and pray.

Thank you so much! Please remember me in your prayers. Hope to see your whole team in coming future.

Praise the Lord!

(From Message of Hope Nepal)

Shielda Neimbari from Holik Village

Shielda Neimbari is the youth coordinator for AOG Holik in Yangoru District, Wewak East Sepik Province. She is using The Word for Today in the youth meetings and her personal life as well. She loves how she can use The Word for Today as the fastest way of preparing the youth programs cause it is written daily, weekly & monthly. The youth program has grown strongly rooted in the word of God and the ministry felt like God is always with them by reading the book and applying the scriptures daily. She is always smiling and happy and says The Word for Today is her best friend.

God’s Word through Facebook

I have been fulfilling some of the responsibilities of my church, such as leading youth groups, Sunday school, Sisters fellowship, etc

Due to the burden of family’s responsibility and future, I went out for this job. At the same time, I used to go to church in a hurry due to my busy schedule. Thus day by day I began to weaken in prayer and spiritually and the habit of reciting the Word of God gradually disappeared. As I tried to move closer to God, I began to feel uneasy, frustrated, and depressed.

One day I found out the Facebook page of The Word for Today Daily Devotion that is being broadcast from Message of Hope through social media and started listening to it day after day. From this daily devotional book, I found great excitement and inspiration in my life. Finally, I realized that according to Jeremiah 29:11, God’s plan is greater than my plan and will. Eventually, I changed my mind. So I would like to thank God and Message of Hope Nepal from the bottom of my heart.

Rachan – Kailali, Nepal

A Regular Listener of Radio Chimeki Butwal

The following testimony is from Anju in Butwal who is a regular listener to Radio Chimeki

Greetings
I am Anju Thapa, from Butwal. I am one of the regular listeners of Radio Chimeki Butwal. I am very thankful to the organizing team for providing us with this Christian community radio program. This is the only radio station that provides faith-based programs in our community. My family and I have been blessed by all the programs broadcast by this FM. From the programs played here, I have gained a lot of enthusiasm to understand more about the Lord and move forward in my relationship with Him. There is a great need for these kinds of programs in our community, and I hope that we will have the opportunity to be blessed by listening to more programs in the future. We are constantly praying for this ministry.

Praying over Munda Station

The following Testimony is from Dennis sharing about what God was showing him through some time of prayer with a team from YWAM when they visited the station in Munda. Munda is a small town located on the southwestern coast of New Georgia Island in the Solomon Islands.

Yesterday I took a visiting YWAM team up to our Munda station to pray over it. We walked up and down. Below is what God told them. Very encouraging.
Praying for the radio station
– Psalm 121
– Testimony by Anthony Brown – the radio station itself and the messages it will send out are a witness to Gods goodness and the good news
– The location of the radio station gives us a higher perspective of Munda, in the same way God is speaking Lordship and having a renewed mind and kingdom thinking, especially reaching the youth
– Word of Encouragement – prayer that this dream that seems stagnant will come to fruition
– Trusting Gods promises (the promises of people may be unreliable, but Gods promises will also be fulfilled)
– Trust the process
– What the enemy meant for evil God will turn for good
– He will finish every good work he has started

Kind Regards
Dennis McAdams

Dennis and YWAM team in Munda

Distribution of The Word for Today in Timor-Leste

We love to hear about the people and organizations that The Word for Today is being shared with to bring encouragement and hope. So with the 2024 edition landing in Timor-Leste in early December, our team on the ground has been busy distributing this and Rio has provided us with the following testimonies…

On December 28, the IEVCTL Church held a Christmas celebration service with prisoners and prison officers. The opportunity for me to share the first book with the head or director of the prison as well as all the staff and prisoners. He and they accepted it with great joy. We distributed 500 copies that day to prisoners and guards.

testimonies from the distribution of the Word for Today

PHARMACY / CLINIC
Pharmacy This is a pharmacy that always helps distribute this book to apathetic visitors and visitors to the Timor Plaza shopping center. And to the pharmacy employees, I taught them how to use this book.

MARCIA KOREAN LANGUAGE TEACHER
This woman’s name is Marcia and she is a Korean language tutor. I assigned him to share this book with his students. Marcia is a Radio Voz listener who once came to Radio Voz and experienced problems and we prayed for her and now she is happy and sometimes I take her to church and give her the task of sharing God’s goodness and sharing this book with other people.

ESKOLA LIAN KOREA

DULCIO STUDENT
A child of God named Dulcio. He is very excited to share this book with his fellow students.

Campus Students

Gipora is a talented young man in the church and works at the Perissos company. He asked for some books he could share with his co-workers.

Hearing these testimonials should encourage us all to continue to be the good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, being faithful with this seed (The Word for Today) and sowing it and sharing it with the people that God brings into our path, and trusting God that He will bring forth the fruit, He will bring the growth in people’s lives. Our responsibility is to do our part, sharing it, and inviting people to support us in prayer and/or by donating. Looking forward to hearing more of these powerful testimonies.

A blessing in Vanuatu

Good afternoon

I have started to read The Word for Today since 2020 and it helps me a lot in my daily life maintain and it supports my well being.

God bless
Joyce

Encouragement at an Engagement

Kathrine is a radio listener but rarely listens. But one day she heard the Voz Crista program in the prayer segment she was touched. Finally, we met on Facebook. Long story short, she asked me to attend her engagement ceremony and asked me to convey a short Verse of God’s Word and lead the prayer at their engagement event.

While delivering God’s Word, the two big families thought that I was a catholic priest and they asked me who I really was. And I introduced myself that I was a Radio Voz announcer and introduced Radio Voz to the two families. The thing that made them curious was when I led the prayer, which was very different from the prayer that is often said in the Catholic church. Praise God the engagement event went smoothly with a distinct and meaningful spiritual scent.

Rio
Station Manager – Radio Voz
Timor-Leste

Families in Vanua Levu (Fiji) affected by cyclone YASA received The Word for Today.

The Word for Today was distributed with food rations with the help of one of UCB Fiji’s committee members (Amani Waqetia) who heads the response effort of OLA FOU Fiji in Vanua Levu. The families who received them were very appreciative especially after being devastated by the Cat 5 cyclone which left many of them without food and shelter. In the midst of such a devastating experience, their hope lies not only in the relief items but more-so with God and the encouragement that comes with the stories of hope in The Word for Today. More than 100 copies of the The Word for Today were given to people in Cyclone and flood affected areas of Vanua Levu.

In Suva, a Methodist church minister distributed 2 cartons of the devotional to his congregation. Before that, the books were prayed over and delivered under the guidance of our team. He also distributed some to taxi drivers servicing the greater Suva area.

Feedback I received is that some families are now using The Word for Today as their guide during the daily family devotion and is very simple and easy to understand.

Our friends who were recipients of the The Word for Today in Vanua Levu said that the booklet has given them a sense of hope and courage reading God’s Word in the most difficult time of their life after the hardship faced and the devastation cost by TC Yasa where they seem to have lost everything.

Please continue to pray for our nation, its leaders and the many people affected by the natural disaster.

Thank you and kind regards.

Tomu
Fiji

Starting a Family

Back in June Amali called Radio Voz and asked for prayer so he and his wife could have children because they had been married for a long time but had not been blessed with children. Therefore he asked to be prayed for, and we prayed for him regularly.

In November when we had a meeting between announcers and listeners in the park. Amali came and thanked our Radio Voz team with tears. He happily reported that his wife was pregnant and had been three months.

At Radio Voz’s 17th birthday yesterday we invited him to participate and we shared the happy news he received from God to the congregation and to other listeners.

<em>Radio Voz</em> is name of <em>UCB Timor-Leste's</em> radio station based in Dili. Aside from the high powered station serving the people of Dili they also operate small stations in each provincial capital of Timor-Leste.

+61 7 3387 7300