UCB Word For Today

The largest bulldozer in the world is the Komatsu D575A. It’s 16 feet long, 25 feet wide, 41 feet high, and weighs 225,000 pounds. It was once used in a country where there was a surplus of rubbish that was polluting the environment. The bulldozer was brought in to dig a hole big enough to gather all that rubbish, bury it, and remove it from the lives of the residents. At the cross, God dug a hole so big that He could gather the sins of the entire world, in the past, present, and future. He gathered and placed them upon His Son. Now He takes all of His Son’s sinless perfection and righteousness and places it on you the moment you put your trust in Him. ‘For He made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him’ (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV). You say, ‘But I have failed so badly.’ A dirty diamond is still a diamond; it just requires cleaning. And that’s what the blood of Jesus does for us (see 1 John 1:7). The wonderful thing about an electronic calculator is that if you press a wrong button, everything isn’t lost. You don’t have to untangle or figure out the problem. Simply pressing ‘clear’ restarts the calculation. ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon’ (Isaiah 55:7 NKJV). God is ready to pardon, restore, and give you a fresh start.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

C.S. Lewis said, ‘God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.’ It was in the furnace of affliction that the psalmist David said, ‘Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good’ (Psalm 119:66-68 NIV). But you don’t get to that place of submission easily or overnight. It takes time, some kicking and screaming, and a few skid marks on the pavement where you dug in your heels and resisted! God told Isaiah to prophesy, ‘I have refined you…I have tested you in the furnace of affliction…for my own sake’ (Isaiah 48:10-11 NIV). Suffering is a lonely experience; it’s not something you would choose. The poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox reminds us, ‘There is room in the halls of pleasure for a large and lordly train, but one by one we must all file on through the narrow aisles of pain.’ Nevertheless, the Bible says, ‘To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps’ (1 Peter 2:21 NIV). There is no easy way to become like Jesus; it involves discomfort and pain. But the good news is, you’re not in the fire alone. God’s hand is controlling the thermostat. And He knows exactly how much heat it will take to bring you to the place where you can say, ‘You are good, and what you do is good.’ You may not be there yet, but you’re getting closer.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

The psalmist wrote, ‘Your path led through…mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen’ (v. 19 NIV). When you can’t see God’s ‘footprints’, He is calling you to walk by faith, not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). Joni Eareckson Tada wrote: ‘A few months from now, I’ll mark an anniversary that is a heart-breaking story of loss and an incomparable testimony of God’s faithfulness…I will have been in a wheelchair for 47 years…barely a heartbeat in history, and as nothing compared with eternity. But for a flesh-and-blood, earth-dwelling human being, 47 years is a long time. Anyone who suffers…[wants] assurance that somehow, someway, things will work out in the end. We want to know that God is at the centre of our suffering. In Romans 8 we have…that assurance: “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (v. 28 ESV) …[God] is so supremely in charge of the world that everything touching our lives…is ordered in such a way that it serves our good. This is true whether we face cancer, broken relationships, job loss, bankruptcy…or even a broken neck at age 17. The strong hope of the believer is not that we will escape “bad things”…but that God will transform our hardships into an instrument of his mercy to do us good…Romans 8:29 reveals [our] sufferings are small and short…compared with the weight of glory they are accruing for [us] in heaven. So bear with heartbreak and hardship a bit longer. These things are expanding your soul’s capacity for joy, worship, and service in heaven.’© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Author Sherry Surratt notes that when Jesus promised to build His church, ‘[he] wasn’t just talking about the bricks or wood that form a…building, but he was talking about building his church of…ordinary, human people who are imperfect…broken and [who] bring their messy lives…with them every time they walk through the door. This is what Christ died for…He died for people – for his church…a group of people, led by people, and not a single one of us is perfect. We’re a broken bunch who hopefully recognises our brokenness and acknowledges that Jesus is the only fix…No matter how long we’ve been in the church, we never reach perfection…we’ll have to work at it every day. We’ll come face-to-face with our human side every morning when we wake up, and…when we do, we’ll bump up against each other and we’ll get hurt. Our natural tendency is to steer clear of what hurts us…So when we encounter gossip aimed at us or witness hatred or hypocrisy in our fellow churchgoers or even our pastors, it’s natural to think about walking away. But to do this is to separate ourselves from something that God built for us to use for our good…The Bible never says other people aren’t going to wound [us]…What [it] does teach…is that it doesn’t help to just sit in hurt and feel sorry for [ourselves] (see Matthew 5:24). God’s Word warns [us] not to let bitterness set in (see Hebrews 12:15). This has nothing to do with pretending something didn’t happen. It has everything to do with being honest…admitting when our spirit is crushed and leaving revenge in the hands of God.’© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Being hurt by another Christian can be devastating, but the church is filled with imperfect people who do things they shouldn’t. As C.S. Lewis said, ‘God works on us in all sorts of ways…above all he works on us through each other.’ So before you give up and walk away, consider these suggestions: 1) Admit how much it hurt, and start to cope with it. Running away doesn’t achieve this. Humbly approach the person who hurt you, motivated to reconcile. Discuss your pain with the purpose of releasing it and moving on. 2) Ask, ‘What’s my role in this?’ If it had nothing to do with you, as in the case of a trusted leader who has fallen morally or legally, ask yourself if you put idealistic expectations on their humanness. Did you think they were perfect? Now that you realise they’re not, can you forgive them? 3) Ask God what to do next. He knows the motives in the hearts of the people involved. Give Him time to answer. 4) ‘Guard your heart…for it determines the course of your life’ (Proverbs 4:23 NLT). Choose to follow God, even when your heart breaks. He alone can decide motives and intents, and He is just and reasonable. But many times, our faithfulness must come first before His blessings flow. 5) If you still feel you must leave, promise yourself and God that you will leave well. Refuse to say anything bad. Don’t leave mad, and admit the good, no matter how small. Most important of all, don’t give up. God is good, His church is good, and people are flawed. Locate another house of worship, and commit to it with an open heart.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

At times it’s impossible to be at peace with certain people. Recognising this reality, the apostle Paul, in essence, said, ‘Do all that you can to try and make it happen.’ Besides the covenant relationship you have with your husband or wife and your responsibility for your children, if you’re wise, you will prayerfully evaluate your other relationships and know how much time you should invest in them. For example: if you have a close relative who is always argumentative or negative, don’t put yourself in a position where you have to interact with them on a regular basis. Only holidays together may be enough! The same is true for friends. Those who gossip, condemn others, compete with you, or engage in cutting remarks should rarely find you available – unless the Lord impresses you to spend some time with them to impart His Word. You are not commanded to spend time with people who disturb your peace. Solomon said, ‘Don’t…associate with hot-tempered people’ (Proverbs 22:24 NLT). Paul warned, ‘Watch out for people who cause divisions…Stay away from them’ (Romans 16:17 NLT). When you’re in the company of a stress-producing person, ask yourself these questions: ‘Will this situation grow patience within me if I endure it rather than leave? Why do this person’s actions stress me out? Is it because they are reflecting my own behaviour? Why am I continuing to interact with them?’ Prayer: ‘Father, I need you to help me discern when and how to be with stress-producing people so that your love continually shines through me.’© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Virginia Satir, a founder of family systems therapy, determined that most families have five styles of communication. 1) Some members are placaters. They go along to get along, and reduce stress by saying what others want to hear that makes them less upset. 2) Others are blamers: finger-pointers, nit-pickers, spinners of exquisite theories, eager to prove that they’re right and you’re wrong. And by accepting the blame, you vindicate and empower them. 3) Satir describes other family members as super-reasonable. Their motto is, ‘Always agree with what other people say and conceal your real feelings.’ It’s how they prevent getting hurt. They talk from their head and not their heart, redirecting the conversation towards things that are ‘safe’. 4) Other family members opt for irrelevance, deflecting the conversation away from uncomfortable and potentially threatening topics. They talk only about what’s unrelated to whatever is going on. 5) The final communication style is congruous or consistent. Congruous people tell it like it is. No disguising feelings, no double-talk, and no pretending. If they’re angry, they own their anger, they say they’re angry, and they may even look angry. They’re straight shooters. They have credibility; you can understand and believe them. No topics have to be dodged, and no questions avoided. Anything and everything can be discussed, and everyone’s opinion is respected. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, ‘Nothing astonishes men [and women] so much as common sense and plain dealing.’ And it’s a scriptural, truth-based communication style that works. © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

During World War II, Corrie ten Boom and her Dutch family hid many Jews from the Nazis. Eventually, she was caught and put in a concentration camp where she saw all sorts of atrocities, including the death of her father and sister. Then she was accidentally released. She never became bitter. She even forgave the man who killed her relatives. Someone asked her how she could endure those dark days and remain loving, forgiving, and kind. She answered with a story of how, when she was a little girl, her father would take her on train rides all over Europe. He would always purchase her ticket several weeks ahead of time, but he would never let her have it until they were boarding. That’s because she was a little girl, and he didn’t want her to lose it or leave it at home. But whenever her father saw the headlights of the train approaching the station, he would give her the ticket, and they would step on board together. Corrie said, ‘The reason you can’t fathom how I could forgive the person who killed my family, how I could not be filled with bitterness…is because just like my father and our train tickets, God doesn’t give us the grace we need until we’re about to step on board. But if you ever go through something like I went through, I can assure you God’s grace will be there to help you make it through the dark valleys and still keep your head held high and your heart filled with love.’ © 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

One Christian author writes: ‘What if everywhere you went, you ran into someone you didn’t like? You attend a party and have to endure her conversation and constant opinions. You go to church, and she’s sitting right beside you…she is at the dinner table…she’s everywhere! That sounds pretty awful, but this is the exact situation you’re in if you don’t like yourself, because you are everywhere you go. You can’t get away from yourself, even for a second, so you’re in for a sad life if you dread your own company. Even though…it makes no sense to live…this way…most people don’t like themselves. They may not even realise it, but some genuine soul-searching reveals the sad fact that they have rejected themselves, and in some cases, even hate themselves…I’m amazed at how few are truly at peace with themselves. Instead, they’ve declared war on themselves. God wants you to love yourself, not in some wrong selfish or prideful way, but in a healthy way that truly understands how special you are to Him. As you begin to see yourself as God sees you, not only will you love yourself, but you’ll have the confidence and faith to be a powerful force for good in the world.’ Somebody said just because nobody has been fortunate enough to realise what a gold mine you are, doesn’t mean you shine any less. Just because nobody has been smart enough to figure out that you can’t be topped, doesn’t stop you from being the best. Just because nobody has come along to share your life, doesn’t mean that day isn’t coming…Keep shining, keep running, keep hoping, keep praying…keep being exactly who you are.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Most of us could come up with a long list! The fact is, Jesus alone holds the world record when it comes to perfection. In the words of Jennifer Dukes Lee: ‘Until you are convinced of God’s incredible love…you will continue looking for replacement love everywhere but in the heart of Christ. No matter where you live or work…the enemy prowls like a lion, stalking people on Wall Street, fashion runways, suburban cul-de-sacs, [and] Facebook walls…[We’re] in a showdown with Satan, who will use every opportunity…to whisper in our ears, “What are people thinking of you?” [He] will tell you you’re too fat, too frumpy, too stupid, too poor. He will do whatever he can to set your affections on the things of this world, instead of on Christ. And he’ll wrap those accusations in glossy magazine covers if he has to.’ Don’t buy into his lies. Jesus said, ‘There is not an iota of truth in him…he is the father of liars’ (John 8:44 TLB). One Christian author summarises it like this: ‘Discontentment is one of the big giants we must conquer if we ever hope to enjoy life…We may not have all we would like to have, but we certainly have more than some people. No matter how you think you look, there is somebody who would love to look like you. No matter how old you are, there is someone who would love to be as young as you…Love yourself and love your life; it is the only one you have!’ The truth is that you’re the only you God made…after that, He broke the mould!© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

An ancient European monastery perched on a high ledge was accessible only by way of a basket that was held in place by a single rope on a series of pulleys. One day a concerned visitor noticed the rope was frayed in numerous places. Hoping to relieve his anxiety, he asked the monk who was sharing the ride with him, ‘How often do you guys change the rope?’ Stoically the cleric replied, ‘Whenever it breaks!’ Seriously, waiting for the worst to happen before taking action is a risky life strategy. Just as common sense dictates that machinery, health, and relationships require continual attention and maintenance, the same strategy applies to your spiritual life. Because we become what we consistently practise in our walk with God, routine and repetition can be spiritual lifesavers. Spiritual excellence isn’t an act; it’s a habit! Consider prayer and meditation: rather than exceptions, they’re intended to be habits you practise daily. Don’t wait until the rope snaps before incorporating them into your life! Prayer must first be a spiritual discipline. God’s Word designates it as a life habit and not merely an act. Paul instructs us to ‘pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion…be persistent in your prayers’ (Ephesians 6:18 NLT). ‘Never stop praying’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT). The psalmist David understood this principle. He said, ‘Evening…morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud.’ And Daniel practised it too: ‘He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done’ (Daniel 6:10 NLT). It was a routine that proved powerful and effective for both men – and it’s one that will work for you too!

A woman once had a dream in which an angel was giving her this message: ‘As a reward for your virtues, the sum of £1,440 will be deposited into your bank account every morning. This amount has only one condition. At the close of each business day, any balance that has not been used will be cancelled. It won’t carry over to the next day or accrue interest. Each morning, a new £1,440 will be credited to you.’ The dream was so vivid that when she woke up, she asked the Lord to explain what it meant. He led her to understand that she was receiving 1,440 minutes every morning – the entire number of minutes in a twenty-four-hour day. What she did with this deposit of time was important because 1,440 minutes per day were all she would ever receive! And you have a similar account. At the close of each day, you should be able to look back with joy and satisfaction and see that those golden minutes were invested wisely. Someone has said, ‘Time is God’s gift to you, but what you do with your time is your gift to God.’ And it’s true. The psalmist wrote: ‘Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away…Teach us to realise the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom…And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful’ (vv. 10, 12, 17 NLT).

In Pharaoh’s palace, Moses threw down his rod and ‘it became a snake’ (v. 3 NIV). He was so scared; he ran from it. Then God said, ‘Reach out your hand and take it by the tail,’ leaving the head, the most dangerous part, unrestrained. One Bible teacher points this out: ‘During your training trip through the wilderness, you’ll probably think God is leading you the wrong way; that He’s saying something that doesn’t make sense. His commandments aren’t usually accompanied by explanation. And when you can’t figure out what He’s doing, you must trust Him. Once Moses picked up the snake by its tail, it became a rod once more, and it was never again referred to as “the rod of Moses,” but “the rod of God” (see Exodus 4:1-20; 17:9). When Moses released it, the snake element was taken out of it, and it became God’s rod. The one thing Moses thought he could trust, his old, familiar, tried-and-true shepherd’s rod, had to be relinquished. And God may strip you of certain things to let you see your dependence on Him. But with that stripping comes power. There are things you want to hold on to that you have to release so God can remove the snake.’ So, what are you holding on to today? A desire to teach? Musical talent? An aptitude for business? Leadership abilities? Take your gift, whatever it is, and ‘throw it on the ground’ (v. 3 NIV) before God. He is the only one who knows if there is a snake hiding inside it. He can remove the ‘flesh’ element, bless it, and give it back to you as an instrument fit for service.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

God loves you unconditionally at all times – but you must receive His love. Only when you do that can you love God in return and extend His love to others. In other words, you can’t give away what you don’t have! ‘God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us’ (Romans 5:5 AMPC). That means when you commit your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live in your heart, and He brings God’s love with Him. The question is, what are you doing with that love? Are you rejecting it because you think you’re not good enough? Has it ever occurred to you that you have a relationship with yourself, and until you learn to love yourself you will never be able to love God or anybody else? John says, ‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear’ (1 John 4:18 NIV). One author writes: ‘I tried for years to walk in “perfect love” and failed daily. I thought perfect love referred to my loving others perfectly. Then God showed me that the only “perfect love” was His love for me – He’s the only one that can love perfectly! Once that became clear, I started confessing, “I don’t love everything I do, but I love myself as I am because God loves me that way. I know I need to change, and I want to change. In fact, I believe God is changing me daily. But meanwhile, I will not reject what God accepts. I’ll accept myself as I am right now, knowing I won’t always remain this way.”’ God loves you – believe it and receive it!© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

A Sunday school teacher was telling the story of how Jonah disobeyed God and ended up being swallowed by a big fish. For three days, he cried out from the depths of the ocean, and after three days and nights, God ordered the fish to spit him up on the beach. At the end of the lesson, the teacher asked the class what they had learned, and a little boy piped up, ‘It just goes to prove that you can’t keep a good man down.’ You don’t drown by falling into the water; you drown by staying there. David said, ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him’ (Psalm 37:23-24 NKJV). When your dreams and plans get rained out, stay focused and ‘run with perseverance’ (Hebrews 12:1 NIV). Winston Churchill said, ‘The nose of the bulldog slants backward, so that he can breathe in comfort without letting go.’ When you focus on something, you empower and give it momentum; that’s why Satan wants you to concentrate on things that don’t matter. Jesus looked beyond the cross. He focused on what lay on the other side of it. The Bible tells us to fix ‘our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith’. Remember, God doesn’t pay by the week; He pays at the end. You will be rewarded based on how you finished, not how you started. Paul says, ‘These troubles and sufferings…won’t last very long. Yet…result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever’ (2 Corinthians 4:17 TLB). So, stay focused – and keep on going!© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

One author writes: ‘Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals. It’s a marathon, not a sprint…You’re not just running, but getting hit along the way. Grit keeps you moving forward through the sting of rejection, pain of failure, and struggle with adversity. When life knocks you down, you may want to stay down and give up, but grit won’t let you quit…True grit starts with knowing what you truly want. When you know what you want and you can see it, you’ll work hard and persevere to achieve it. True grit is also driven by clarity of mind, purpose, passion, optimism, faith, love, hope and quite honestly – stubbornness. Knowing your why, refusing to give up, ignoring the critics, believing the possible, loving what you do, and showing up day in and day out keeps you on the path towards your vision. There’s something inside each of us that wants to feel worthy and be someone of value…The truth is not everyone will share your vision and believe in your project. But always remember that the circumstances around you and the opinion of others don’t create or define you. Life is never created from the outside in. You create life from the inside out. The grit and spirit you possess on the inside will create the life you experience on the outside. If you have a vision, keep it alive. Remember your purpose. Show up every day and do the work.’ John Quincy Adams said, ‘Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear.’ So, stay on course and keep moving forwards, and you will succeed.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania tell us that a key predictor of success isn’t talent, title, wealth, or good looks. It’s the ability to work hard for a prolonged period of time towards a focused goal; to keep moving forwards despite challenges, obstacles, and failures. Paul writes: ‘We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going’ (vv. 8-9 TLB). Here are some famous people who got knocked down but kept on going. A memo issued after Fred Astaire’s first screen test said, ‘Can’t act…slightly bald…can dance a little.’ Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland. Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was four and didn’t write until he was seven. His teacher described him as ‘mentally slow, unsociable and adrift forever in foolish dreams’. F.W. Woolworth’s employers at the dry goods store said he hadn’t enough sense to wait on customers. Winston Churchill failed at junior school. He didn’t become Prime Minister of Great Britain until he was sixty-six, after a lifetime of defeats and setbacks. He made his greatest contribution as a senior citizen. Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘Bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.’ So when life knocks you down, get back up and keep going.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Author Tim Hansel tells about a seminary professor who set up his homiletics class in an unusual way. Each student was required to deliver a sermon on the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). They were to go from classroom to classroom preaching love and compassion for others. Some students had ten minutes between classes, while others had less time, which forced them to hurry in order to stay on schedule. Each student was also required to walk down a designated corridor past a ‘beggar’ who had been deliberately planted there by the professor. What happened that day was a powerful lesson. The number of would-be preachers who stopped to help the beggar was extremely low, especially among those who were pressured for time. They were so busy rushing to preach about the Good Samaritan that they walked right past the beggar at the heart of the parable. Here is a paraphrase of Christ’s words in Matthew 25 that’s designed to make you think, pray, and reach out to hurting people: ‘I was hungry, and you formed a humanities club to discuss it. I was imprisoned, and you stayed home to pray for my release. I was naked, and you debated the morality of my appearance. I was sick, and you thanked God for your health. I was homeless, and you preached to me about the shelter of God’s love. You seem so holy and so close to God, but I’m still hungry, lonely, cold, and in pain. Does it matter to you?’ Don’t just talk about God’s love; show it!© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Generally speaking, when we’re young, healthy, capable, and socially involved, we can go where we want and do as we please. As the saying goes, ‘The world is our oyster!’ It seldom occurs to us that we’re surrounded by those who, because of age, disability, illness, or social and physical isolation, can no longer enjoy the same benefits we do. They depend on the compassion and care of others to meet their most basic daily needs. Sadly, our self-focused youth-oriented culture often ignores and marginalises such people: in essence, relegating them to the scrap heap of life. Their intrinsic worth is discounted, and their contribution to society largely forgotten. This is certainly not God’s way of doing things. Paul tells us to ‘bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ’. Note: it’s not a suggestion. It’s a law; a divine directive in which we’re all expected to participate. Against the backdrop of final judgement, His law of love is illustrated in Matthew 25:31-46. To the sheep he said, ‘I was hungry…thirsty…a stranger… naked…sick…in prison, and you met my need. Every act of compassion you do for anyone is recorded to your credit as having done it to me.’ To the goats he said, ‘I was hungry…thirsty…a stranger…naked…sick…in prison, and you ignored my needs. Every time you failed to show anyone compassion is recorded as your failure to care for my needs.’ The message is loud and clear: if you truly want to love and follow Jesus, you must intentionally show your love for others in practical ways. In other words – be there when you’re needed.© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.

Some people know what they want and have the bravery to ask for it. Others know what they don’t want and have developed the ability of saying it in a way that doesn’t create hostility. If you do not practise asking for what you desire, you will live in frustration. You may also become resentful that people don’t detect your needs or desires without you informing them. Some people let others violate their boundaries while they suffer in silence instead of asking for a change in behaviour. Asking for what you want may be the hardest in a work environment. Never assume that your welfare is topmost in your boss’s mind. This is not a charge against them but an acknowledgment that they’re probably occupied with their own issues. Example: if you’re a salaried employee and have been steadily working lots of hours of unpaid overtime, try asking for a special bonus for some of the amount it would have cost the company if they had paid you for the time. Offer a well-thought-out analysis, or ask for some time off equal to a portion of what the hours would convert to in a number of days. Of course, pray and believe God for favour before you ask. If that fails, keep being excellent at your work and start thinking of Plan B for your career. A businesswoman writes: ‘One of the most unique attributes that God has given to us is the ability to communicate. We do not have to stress out wishing or hoping that someone will read our minds when we could just ask for what we want.’© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.