When Corrie ten Boom travelled the world sharing her experiences, she would often speak with her head down. She appeared to be reading notes, but she was actually stitching a needlepoint design. When she would finish telling her story of the atrocities she suffered from the Nazis, she would reveal the needlepoint she had been working on. She would first show the back side, which was just a tangle of coloured threads with no distinct pattern. And she would say, ‘That’s how we see our lives. Sometimes it makes no sense.’ Then she would flip the needlepoint over to unveil the finished side. And she would say, ‘This is how God views your life, and someday we will have the privilege of seeing it from His point of view.’ Then she would end her talk with this poem written by Grant Colfax Tullar, a minister: ‘My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me; I cannot choose the colours, He worketh steadily. Oft times He weaveth sorrow and I, in foolish pride, forget He sees the upper, and I the underside. Not til the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly, will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver’s skilful hand, as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.’ Paul writes, ‘Now we see a dim reflection, as if we were looking into a mirror, but then we shall see clearly. Now I know only a part, but then I will know fully, as God has known me.’

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Motivational speaker Denis Waitley describes an experience that marked his life forever. He was trying to catch a flight for a speaking commitment and was running through the airport terminal. He reached the gate just as the agent closed the door. Denis explained his dilemma, but the agent didn’t reopen the door. That’s when his annoyance turned into anger. He stomped out of the boarding area and returned to the ticket counter to lodge a complaint and reschedule his flight. His anger increased as he waited for over twenty minutes in a line that hardly moved. Right before his turn at the ticket counter, an announcement over the intercom changed his life, because he realised that by missing that flight, his life had been saved. The flight he missed, Flight 191 from Chicago to Los Angeles, had crashed on take-off with no survivors. Denis never lodged his complaint. He also never returned his invalidated ticket for Flight 191. He brought it home and tacked it on a notice board in his office. In the aftermath of that experience, anytime he felt irritated or upset, all he had to do was look at that ticket from Flight 191. It was an unforgettable reminder that life is a gift that should not be undervalued. The psalmist wrote: ‘The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years…it is soon cut off, and we fly away…So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom’ (vv. 10, 12 NKJV).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The prophet Isaiah tells us God ‘energises those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire…folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind’ (vv. 29-31 MSG). When an eagle is on the ground it’s vulnerable to attack by predators like snakes and wolves. On terra firma its surroundings are a fixed reality the eagle can’t change. So what does it do? It rises above them! From the air, everything looks different. The eagle’s altitude transforms its attitude – and that can happen for you too. ‘Those who wait upon God get fresh strength.’ Here are two illustrations of what it means to wait upon God: 1) Like a wide-winged eagle waiting for a thermal current to carry it heavenward, you must stay in God’s presence with your heart attuned to Him. Do you have duties and demands? Yes, but none as important as this. Why? Because you understand that if you don’t get into God’s presence and stay there until He refreshes and restores you, you won’t make it. 2) Like an attentive waiter at a fine restaurant, whose only aim is to please, you wait on God, sensitive to His voice and surrendered to His will. Have the pressures of life left you drained? Watching television may entertain you for a while, but it won’t restore what life takes out of you. Only God can do that, so learn to ‘wait’ on God.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

A saleswoman passed a particular corner each day on her way to work. For more than a week, she observed a little girl trying to sell a flop-eared puppy. The saleswoman finally said to the little girl, ‘Honey, if you want to sell this dog, I suggest you clean him up, brush his coat, raise your price, and make people think they’re getting something of value.’ At noon, the saleswoman noticed the little girl had taken her advice. The puppy was groomed and sitting under a big sign that read, ‘TREMENDOUS Puppy for Sale – £5,000.’ The saleswoman smiled and gulped, determined to tell the little girl later that she may have overpriced the puppy. To her surprise, on the way home she saw the puppy was gone! Flabbergasted, the woman sought out the little girl to ask if she had really sold the dog for £5,000. The little girl said, ‘I sure did, and I want to thank you for all your help.’ The saleswoman spluttered, ‘How in the world did you do it?’ She said, ‘It was easy. I just took two £2,500 cats in exchange!’ Seriously, two thousand years ago the greatest exchange of all time took place. On a cross outside Jerusalem, Jesus Christ gave His life in exchange for ours, ‘the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God’. At the cross God took all your sin and placed it upon Christ. And when you place your trust in Christ, God takes all of His righteousness and wraps you up in it. That’s the great exchange!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Sports psychologists have identified six recurring traits that are common to Olympic gold medallist athletes. These traits of a champion apply to both men and women, but they are also dominant factors in the lives of those who succeed in nonathletic vocations as well. Let’s look carefully at each trait and see what we can learn. 1) Self-analysis. The successful athlete knows their strengths and weaknesses, and engages in a critical appraisal that is honest but never negative. 2) Self-competition. A winner knows that he or she can only control their own performance, so they compete against their own best effort and not that of others. 3) Focus. The champion is always ‘in the present’, concentrating on the task at hand. 4) Confidence. Successful athletes control anxiety by setting tough but reasonable goals. As these goals are reached, their confidence increases. 5) Toughness. This is a mental trait that involves accepting risk and trying to win, rather than trying not to lose. A winner sees change as opportunity, and accepts responsibility for their own destiny. 6) Having a game plan. Even the best athletes know that talent is not enough; they must have a game plan. And here is the good news: you can develop these six traits. You say, ‘Where can I get a game plan for my life?’ From the God who loves you and says in His Word, ‘For I know the plans I have for you…plans for good…to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen’ (vv. 11-12 TLB).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Perhaps you wonder, ‘Is the Bible really inspired by God? Is it true, trustworthy, and infallible?’ The answer is yes, and here are three reasons why: 1) It is remarkable in composition. It was composed over sixteen centuries by forty different authors, including soldiers, shepherds, farmers, and fishermen. Begun by Moses in Arabia and finished by John the Revelator on Patmos – it was penned by kings in palaces, shepherds in tents, and captives in prisons. Would it be possible for forty writers, largely unknown to each other, writing in three different languages in several different countries, separated in time by as much as 1,600 years, to produce a book of singular theme? This would be impossible unless behind them there was one mind and one designer. (See 2 Peter 1:21.) 2) It is remarkable in durability. It is the single most published book in history. Translated into at least 1,200 languages by an army of translators, it has outlived all its opponents. Bibles have been burned by governments and banished by courtrooms, but God’s Word endures. The death knell has been sounded a hundred times, but God’s Word continues (see Isaiah 40:8). 3) It is remarkable in prophecy. Its pages contain more than 300 fulfilled prophecies about the life of Christ, yet they were all written at least 400 years before He was born. What are the odds? Imagine if something similar occurred today. If we found a book written in the year 1900 that prophesied two world wars, a depression, an atomic bomb, and the assassinations of a president and a civil rights leader, wouldn’t we trust it? Yes. So you can believe these words: ‘All Scripture is inspired by God.’

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Don’t chart your life’s course according to the opinions of people or popular culture. If you do, you’ll make the mistake that a farmer’s son made. The father sent the boy to prepare a field, reminding him to till straight lines. ‘Select an object on the far side of the field and plough straight at it.’ Later, when the father checked on the boy’s progress, there wasn’t a straight furrow to be found. ‘I thought I told you to select an object and plough towards it,’ the dad said. ‘I did,’ the boy answered, ‘but the rabbit kept hopping.’ A straight line requires an unmoving target, so set your sights on the unchanging principles of God’s Word. Let it be the authoritative Word in your world. This decision rubs up against the skin of our culture. We prefer the authority of the voting booth, the pollster, or whatever feels good. Such resistance is not novel to us. When Paul wrote a letter to Timothy he listed nineteen characteristics of people, each of which was a fruit of rebellion (see 2 Timothy 3:1-5). Then he wrote: ‘Continue following the teachings you learned. You know they are true, because you trust those who taught you. Since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right’ (2 Timothy 3:14-16 NCV). So soak yourself in the Scriptures!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

God gave Joshua a big job: conquer the Promised Land and divide it up among the twelve tribes of Israel. He also gave him the key to success: ‘This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in 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.’ God didn’t command Joshua to seek a spiritual experience or a personal revelation. He told him to meditate on the Scriptures. Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson wrote a book called Move. They wanted to find the key factors for spiritual growth, so they surveyed the congregations of one thousand churches. Here’s what they found: ‘Nothing has a greater impact on spiritual growth than reflection on Scripture. If churches could only do one thing to help people at all levels of spiritual maturity grow in their relationship with Christ, their choice is clear. They would inspire, encourage, and equip their people to read the Bible.’ You don’t grow in Christ simply because you’re busy in church; it happens automatically when you read and trust God’s Word. So engage with your Bible. Meditate on it day and night. Think and rethink on it. Let it be your guide. Make it your go-to book for questions. Let it be the ultimate authority in your life. Peter puts it this way: ‘As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby’ (1 Peter 2:2 NKJV).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Prayer should be your highest priority. Why? Because when you fail to pray, you set yourself up to fail. You’re saying in essence, ‘I don’t need God’s help or input.’ God comes by invitation. Prayer opens the door and welcomes Him into your situation. Jesus said, ‘Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.’ An unknown poet wrote: ‘I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day. I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t have time to pray. Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task. “Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered. He answered, “You didn’t ask.” I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, grey and bleak. I wondered why God didn’t show me. He said, “But you didn’t seek.” I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.” I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day. I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray!’ The psalmist said, ‘O God…early will I seek thee’ (Psalm 63:1 KJV). The first voice he wanted to hear in the morning was God’s. The first conversation he wanted to have – was with the Lord. Before others made demands on his time and energy, he wanted to know God’s will. Has your prayer life been hit-and-miss? Rearrange things and make it your first priority each day. If you do, you’ll begin to thrive spiritually.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Studies suggest that just 3 per cent of life events are highly memorable. So, over the course of an average year, approximately seventeen experiences will make it into your long-term memory. The other 97 per cent fades into the black hole called the subconscious. But that remaining 3 per cent can hurt us every day if we cannot or will not forget. That 3 per cent can make us prisoners of our past. Even if we’ve confessed our sin, we often still feel condemned. And that feeling of condemnation undermines the fact that God is for us (see Psalm 56:9). We keep beating ourselves up. We keep sabotaging ourselves. We keep believing the self-defeating lies that come from Satan ‘the accuser’ (see Revelation 12:10). And how can you overcome the accuser and silence him? Revelation 12:11 says: ‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony’ (NKJV). Push back! Testify to Satan the accuser. Tell him what the blood of Jesus Christ has done on your behalf. Remind him that ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8:1 KJV). None. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Not a trace. Not a whiff. Not a hint. Instead of defining yourself by what you’ve done wrong, define yourself by what Christ has done right on your behalf. Instead of defining yourself by the hurtful things done to you, begin to declare what Christ has done for you. If you are in Christ, you are not in sin. If you have been forgiven, you are no longer guilty.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Have you ever watched a hamster running on a wheel? The hamster looks outside his glass cage and sees freedom, so he decides to make a run for it. But after a while, he realises that he is not getting anywhere, so he runs faster. He runs until he is exhausted and can run no more. Can you identify with the hamster? You have been trying for years to break a habit, yet today you’re still in the same place, or worse. You have made New Year’s resolutions to give up your bad habits or have a better marriage or work on getting fit or improving your finances. Yet, you’re still in the same position. Why? Because you’re using the wrong method! You cannot change yourself. The only way for a hamster to find freedom is if his owner reaches down inside the cage and lifts him out. He needs somebody bigger than himself, with greater power. David said: ‘I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD. Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD’ (vv. 1-4 NLT). The way to get off the treadmill is to cry out to God, and He will set you free.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

In some of the world’s greatest success stories, you will find chapters of failure and discouragement. Dr Seuss’s first children’s book was turned down by twenty-seven different publishers. The twenty-eighth publisher sold six hundred million copies, and Dr Seuss’s perseverance resulted in helping millions of children learn to read. In their first year of business, the Coca-Cola company usually sold only nine servings of its drink a day. But they persevered, and today they are the leading soft drink seller in the world. Henry Ford went bankrupt twice in his initial three years in the car industry. But he persevered, and today Ford is the second-largest American-based motor company and the fifth biggest worldwide. In 1905 the University of Bern in Switzerland rejected a PhD dissertation by a student named Albert Einstein, describing it as ‘irrelevant and fanciful’. Was he disappointed? Of course – wouldn’t you be? Did he give up? No, he kept on writing. And consider this: as a redeemed child of God, you have a plus factor; God is on your side. ‘God is for me’ (Psalm 56:9 NKJV). That changes the equation and tilts the odds in your favour. Paul writes: ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?…Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us’ (Romans 8:35, 37 NKJV). With God, despite whatever you’re facing, it’s always too early to give up. Hold on because His grace and strength are always on their way.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

When it comes to your life’s calling, here are two more myths that can sabotage you: 1) Making the wrong choice can somehow thwart God’s will. You don’t have to worry on this score because the Bible tells us that the God ‘Who is calling you…will…[fulfil His call by hallowing and keeping you].’ It’s always commendable to want to make the best choice you can. But the fact remains that at some point you have to go ahead and make a choice, and no choice you make is outside of God’s control. Even if you don’t know where the path you have chosen will eventually lead, you can rest assured in the knowledge that ‘all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to…those who…are called according to [His] design and purpose’ (Romans 8:28 AMPC). 2) Your calling is settled. Finding your calling isn’t necessarily what you do once or twice in a lifetime. It’s not something you check off a list and move on. The life of a Christian is a continual process of discovering your calling. And because God has called you to a specific purpose at a specific time doesn’t mean His plans for you won’t change. Who knows what the next stage of your life will bring? Everyone’s calling is going to look distinct, and every chapter of your life will bring a fresh process of discernment. The important thing to remember is that God is in control, He loves you, and His will is always to draw you closer to Him.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

If you’re questioning your calling, author Diane Paddison identifies two thought patterns that may be sabotaging your thinking. 1) It’s all about you. Your calling isn’t about self-fulfilment; it’s about submission to God’s will for your life. Many people experience satisfaction from exercising their God-given gifts. But it’s a result of being in God’s will, not the goal. To discern God’s will, you must develop your relationship with Him through prayer and Bible study. You must also develop relationships with peers and mentors who will pray for you and speak truth into your life. 2) If it’s uncomfortable, it can’t be your calling. Knowing what you’re meant to be doing is often just the start of a long, demanding journey. Some of the most successful people in history endured overwhelming failure in pursuit of their paths. Moses’ calling didn’t seem all that wonderful to him. His response? ‘Who am I that I should go?’ He questioned God, but God responded, ‘I will be with you.’ Still, Moses continued to question: ‘But what if they don’t believe me?’ Even when God provided him with miraculous signs, they weren’t enough. He came back with, ‘But I’m slow of speech.’ Clearly Moses was called to a task God designed for him – and it didn’t feel good to him. Moses tried every way he knew to prove to God that He had the wrong man for the job. And when that didn’t work, he asked God to send someone else! (See Exodus 4.) Can you relate? If so, keep this thought in mind: discomfort doesn’t automatically mean you’re on the wrong path. The truth is discomfort usually precedes growth.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Dr Ernest Sachs wanted to make a difference in the world. And he did. Years ago most brain tumours were fatal. Sachs heard a surgeon predict that someday a cure would be discovered that could save all those lives, and he determined to be that surgeon. At the time, the leading expert on the anatomy of the brain was Sir Victor Horsley. Sachs received permission to study under him but felt he should prepare for the experience by studying for six months under some of the most able physicians in Germany. Then he went to England, where for two years he assisted Dr Horsley in long and intricate experiments on dozens of monkeys. When Sachs returned to America, he was ridiculed by the medical establishment for requesting the opportunity to treat brain tumours. For years he fought obstacles and discouragement, driven by a desire to succeed in his quest. And succeed he did! Today, largely thanks to Dr Sachs, the majority of brain tumours can be cured. And his book Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Tumours is considered the standard authority on the subject. Just because something isn’t presently done doesn’t mean it can’t be done. And maybe you are the one to do it! And as a redeemed child of God, think of the advantage you have: ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ ‘For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding’ (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV). Use your faith, and believe God for great things.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Arriving at church one Christmas morning, a pastor paused to admire the nativity scene. The figures, lovingly crafted, sat on a small stage…shepherds…wise men…animals…and in the centre, the Holy Family. Then he noticed the manger was empty; the baby Jesus was missing! After searching the church he called the associate pastor and the elders, but they knew nothing. The baby had obviously been stolen. Solemnly he reported the theft to his congregation, disappointed to think one of them might be involved. ‘If the baby is returned by the end of the day there’ll be no questions asked,’ he said. But the manger remained empty all day, and that afternoon, heavy-hearted and discouraged, the pastor took a walk through the wintry streets. Ahead he noticed six-year-old Tommy, bundled up against the cold, proudly dragging a bright red wagon. Knowing Tommy’s family struggled financially, the pastor was touched by their sacrifice and sped up so he could wish Tommy a merry Christmas and admire his shiny new wagon. As he approached, however, he noticed the wagon wasn’t empty – inside, wrapped and blanketed against the cold, lay the baby Jesus! Solemnly the pastor crouched down beside Tommy. He was just a little boy, but old enough to know that stealing was wrong. The pastor made this crystal clear as the child listened; his eyes filled with what the pastor assumed were penitent tears. ‘But pastor,’ the little boy replied, ‘I didn’t steal Jesus. It wasn’t like that at all. I’ve been asking Him for a red wagon for Christmas for ages – and I promised if I got one, I’d take Him on the first ride.’

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Here’s a great story from Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. It’s about a recovering alcoholic called Jim. It was his first Christmas alone, and when a young family sat down beside him in the pew he couldn’t handle it. As he was leaving the church he met Pastor Thomas Tedwell, who asked where he was going. ‘Out for a drink,’ he replied. Tedwell said, ‘You can’t. Where’s your sponsor?’ ‘On vacation,’ replied Jim. ‘I came here tonight looking for a word of hope and ended up sitting beside this happy family. And if I had my life together, I’d be here with mine.’ As the pastor walked to the pulpit he prayed, ‘God, give me a word of hope for Jim.’ Then after welcoming the congregation, he said, ‘I’ve an unusual request. If anyone here is a friend of Bill W.’s, and if you are – you’ll know it – please meet me in the vestry.’ (Bill Wilson, better known as Bill W., cofounded Alcoholics Anonymous). Immediately people from all over the church began to respond. As Dr Tedwell observed, ‘While I was busy preaching about the Incarnation, the Word was becoming flesh before my eyes!’ This Christmas some of the people around you are hurting; they’ve lost hope. So, ‘Let the word become flesh.’ Lift the fallen, encourage the despairing, and minister to the sick, the lonely, and the forgotten. Jesus said, ‘When you did it to these my brothers you were doing it to me!’ (Matthew 25:40 TLB). Instead of keeping to yourself this year, reach out to someone. Go ahead – it’ll be your best Christmas ever!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

For many years Dr Donald Grey Barnhouse pastored Philadelphia’s Tenth Presbyterian Church. One Sunday morning a twelve-year-old boy in the balcony was transfixed after hearing him speak about the length and breadth and depth of God’s amazing grace. Barnhouse closed his sermon by summarising many of the great promises from Scripture in one impressive sentence: ‘Our sins are forgiven, forgotten, cleansed, pardoned…covered…blotted out as a thick cloud, removed as far as the east is from the west…cast behind God’s back.’ At the end of the service when Barnhouse went to the back to greet people, the boy approached him, tugged at his sleeve, and said, ‘Good sermon, Doc! We’re sure sittin’ pretty, aren’t we?’ That glorious phrase ‘in Christ’ speaks to the redemptive miracle God performed for us through his Son (see Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:6-13). The word ‘in’ assures us that just as our natural birth positioned us in Adam, our forefather, at the new birth God deliberately and precisely positions us in Jesus, our Redeemer. Think about it: ‘God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses…raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus’ (Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV). Note that we’re seated together in heavenly places in Christ, not beside Him. And it gets even better! We’re seated there so closely identified with Jesus that we’re inseparably and eternally one with Him! Now if that’s not sitting pretty, tell us what is!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Psychologists say our self-worth is based upon what we believe the most important people in our lives think of us. For children, that would likely be their parents. For adults, that could be a spouse, a boss, a friend, or mentor. The problem is that people disappoint us. They can do things that bring us heartache and pain. The key to really knowing and sustaining a true sense of self-worth is to let your heavenly Father be the most important person in your life. Form your sense of value on what He says about you. When you make mistakes, some people may criticise and make you feel overcome with guilt. But God says, ‘I have mercy for every mistake. Get up and go again. Your future is brighter than your past’ (see vv. 4-10 NLT). The Bible says that you are ‘God’s masterpiece’. A masterpiece is not mass-produced or created on an assembly line. It’s not average. It’s unique. It’s original. It’s custom made. It’s one of a kind. That’s how God sees you. And that’s how He wants you to begin seeing yourself. The psalmist put it this way: ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!’ (Psalm 139:16-18 NLT).

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding reception. There were six water pots, each capable of holding thirty gallons. First, He said, ‘Fill those pots with water.’ Next, He said, ‘Take some out and bring it to the host of the party.’ When the host tasted it, he told the groom, ‘This is amazing. Everyone serves the best wine first, and after people have had a lot to drink, they bring out the less expensive wine. But you have saved the best wine for last’ (see vv. 7-10 NLT). Do you know how long it takes to make wine? It begins with planting seeds, then takes several years for the vines to grow mature grapes. Then they have to be picked and processed to produce the wine. It often takes three to five years before the first wine is ready to be bottled. The better-quality wine takes five to seven years to make. And people consider the best wine to be twenty to thirty years old. Jesus produced in a moment in time what normally takes decades to produce. So if you’re concerned that you don’t have enough time to achieve your goals, remember that Jesus can do in a moment what might usually take years. Maybe it would typically take you twenty years to pay off your mortgage, or ten years to build your business. But God’s favour can thrust you years down the road. He still turns water into wine. Be encouraged, the God we serve knows how to accelerate natural laws. He can take you further, quicker than you can ever imagine.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.