Good morning people who make someone’s day with the words that you speak.

Proverbs 12:25 MEV Heaviness in the heart of man makes it droop, but a good word makes it glad.

Oh, there is grace attached to this word today!

There are many people walking through life with a heavy heart. There are many who are sad and lonely, and who are down and depressed. There are many without hope and many without friends. There are many who wonder if anyone truly cares.

And then there are many men and women of God who literally carry the God of hope and peace inside of them!

Yet, we can be delayed in the supermarket queue for a couple of minutes, and through our frustration and annoyance, add to the heaviness in the heart of the person serving at the checkout.

The same can be said about people driving on the roads, serving in retail, and participating on the sporting field. Sadly, this can even happen in the carpark at church on a Sunday.

Something is wrong!

I have discovered that it really doesn’t take much effort to say a good word to people. Kindness is like a superpower that is under-utilised.

What could happen if we said a genuine “thank you” to the person who serves us today?

If you think that they don’t deserve it because they are going to slow and not doing a good enough job, I remind you that Jesus died for us while we were sinners. People don’t have to be perfect to be shown love and grace and mercy.

I challenge us all today to only speak good words to people. As we do, just watch how good you end up feeling yourself.

Good morning people who are unstoppable because of the resurrection power of God!

The Son of God died and then there was a deadly silence. But Jesus Christ rose from the dead! Hallelujah! There is no stopping our incomparable God!

And it is to this power that I want to point us all towards today.

May the following scripture release faith into our hearts as we celebrate and embrace the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit in us who believe.

Ephesians 1:18-23 NIV I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

The power of God that is available for us who believe is the same power as the mighty strength that the Father through the Holy Spirit exerted when He raised Christ from the dead! The same power!! This is your God!

Therefore, resurrection Sunday makes the following scripture so real for us today:

2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

There is no stopping our God! And there is no stopping those who are alive in Christ!

May today be a day of victory in Christ Jesus our Risen Lord!

Good morning people who are worth Jesus Christ dying for you.

The day inbetween Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday is Silent Saturday. Human minds can’t fathom the emptiness of this day to God the Father and to the Holy Spirit.

I find myself wondering what Father wants to say into this Silent Saturday.

For you, maybe it is an identification that God knows what it is like for everything to feel hopeless and lost. Jesus’ death was real. It was not symbolic or figurative. The Son of God was crucified, and now, He laid dead in a tomb. Dead was dead.

Maybe for you, Father wants to address your “Why did it have to happen this way?” With God, surely there could have been an easier way; a less costly way. Surely. Maybe this is how you feel too about areas in your life.

Maybe for others, Father wants to acknowledge your honest thought of “Does God even care?” It almost feels wrong writing this, but I believe God is big enough to hear our broken laments and cries. After all, it’s not without reason that Jesus uttered the following words:

Matthew 27:46 NIV About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

To all those who are hurting and broken, I pray you know the unequalled love of your heavenly Father today. I pray that His presence will surpass your understanding. I pray healing will flow in Jesus’ name.

To all of us, I want to remind us that, while it is Saturday, Sunday is still coming. There are no barriers that are greater or more powerful than God’s plans! No devil or demon in hell has the final word! No sickness or pain or disease is sovereign! Silence doesn’t mean final.

May we all find our hope in God alone today in Jesus’ wonderful and life-giving name.

Good morning people who honour and value the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

John 19:30 NIV When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

It is Easter Friday. It comes around every year. It’s nothing more than a public holiday for many, while for others, Jesus might get a passing thought or mention.

But for us as followers of Christ, it is infinitely more than this.

I asked Father what He would have me write about this Easter for BIY. Here’s what I heard Him say:

In all eternity, there is no comparison to the day the Son of God died.

I pray that this touches us all deeply.

The eternal Word and the only begotten of the Father died the cruellest death on a cross for all humanity. He deserved the highest crown and the greatest praise, and yet, He was nailed to a tree that He had created.

People needed a Saviour because of their sin. Animal sacrifices were a temporary measure for generation after generation. But God saw a better way. God made another way.

But it wouldn’t come cheaply, nor would it come easily. This new and better way would bring with it the greatest ever cost to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is not possible for us to comprehend the separation and the humiliation of the cross.

And yet, this is what our Jesus did for us.

Today is a day of extreme gratefulness. Words are insufficient. Therefore, what might be more acceptable and honouring are lives that are rededicated to be lived wholly for the Lord.

May Easter be a time of fresh surrender to the One who made us and who died for us.

Good morning people whose words literally release life into the atmosphere.

Proverbs 12:18 MEV There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health.

We’ve talked a lot about the effect of our words in our own lives. This is important. But it is equally important to consider the effect of our words in other people’s lives.

There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword.

This is talking about words that cut and destroy and kill. This is talking about words that pull down. This is talking about words that are contrary to the heart, tone and nature of God. This is talking about words that are too often spoken.

This is talking about words that are heard by others, as well as words that are spoken in secret or to other people. Gossip, slander and malicious talking causes deep damage, even if these words are never heard by the person being spoken about. Our words matter because our words contain within them the power of life and death.

The tongue of the wise is health.

This is the alternative to the words that are like the piercings of a sword.

There is healing and life and courage and hope in the tongue of the wise. There is destiny and purpose released through the lips of those who carry the heart of God. There is restoration and redemption and healing contained in the words of the wise.

Whether spoken directly to a person, spoken to others about a person, or spoken to God on behalf of a person, wise people release health through the careful words that they choose to speak. We always have more power in our tongue than we are aware of.

Is the fruit of your tongue heathly or damaging?

May our words always reflect the God of grace and truth.