The Word for Today
With Bob Gass

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How To Avoid Shipwreck You will guide me. - Psalm 73:24

Your life is like a voyage. If you want to avoid shipwreck read Acts 27:12-15 (NIV) and notice the following things:

1. They were dissatisfied with where they were. "Since the harbour was unsuitable... the majority decided that we should sail on." God doesn't guide us by dissatisfaction or by opinion polls; He guides us by His Spirit. When things get difficult we're called to overcome them, not try to escape them.
2. They were impatient to get to where they were going. There's not a single verse in the Bible that tells us to hurry up or we'll miss God! In the wilderness Israel learned that when the cloud moves, you move; when the cloud stops, stay where you are and wait on God.
3. They failed to heed God's Word. "But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot." Be careful, if you look hard enough you'll find someone whose opinion confirms what you want to do. And that will get you into trouble.
4. They looked to the circumstances instead of God to guide them. "When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they... sailed. Before very long... The ship was caught by the storm." The idea that circumstances will always line up favourably with God's guidance is not Scriptural. Sometimes God leads you through the wilderness. And He'll never lead you anywhere that doesn't require His provision and protection. If you can get there without God - He didn't send you.

So if you want to avoid shipwreck ask God to show you the right way - which is His way!

SoulFood Bible Readings: Ex 20:7, Isa 29:22-24, Mt 6:9

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This message from The Word for Today came from Rhema Broadcasting Group Incorporated in association with The Vine, New Zealand. "The Word for Today"® is copyright © Bob Gass Ministries.

Used under 'limited copy' permission by:

The Word for Today
With Bob Gass

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The Rubber Band Principle Straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize. - Philippians 3:13-14 NIV

All rubber bands work on the same principle - they must be stretched to be effective! Anybody who has ever achieved anything of note has been stretched to their limit. There are no exceptions. One of the most common mistakes is thinking that success in life is due to some genius or some 'special something-or-other' you don't possess. Get rid of that thinking! Success comes when you stretch to meet the challenge; failure comes when you shrink back from it. And stretching makes you vulnerable. When a rubber band is taut, it's much easier to break. Is that why you're afraid to stretch? To go where you haven't gone and try what you haven't tried? Or have you tried and been criticised? You'll always have critics. Jesus had them. And He said, "No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also" (Jn 15:20 NIV).

Dr. Jonas Salk, who invented the polio vaccine, was continually attacked by his peers for his pioneering work in the field. He found that comments came in three stages. First they'll tell you, "It won't work!" Then when you begin to succeed they'll say, "What you're doing isn't really important!" Finally, after they see that it's important they'll say, "We knew you'd do it all along!" So don't look at the way things are and ask, why? Look at the way things could be and ask, why not?

Through the power of God's indwelling Spirit you can make a difference. Just make yourself available to God and let Him show you what He can do with your life.

SoulFood Bible Readings: Isa 34-37, Mt 12:1-21, Ps 107:1-9

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Tell your friends about The Word For Today e-mail service. If you've been encouraged by The Word for Today, then your friends will be too. NZ - Click here, UK - Click here.

---

This message from The Word for Today came from Rhema Broadcasting Group Incorporated in association with The Vine, New Zealand. "The Word for Today"® is copyright © Bob Gass Ministries.

Used under 'limited copy' permission by: