Simply stated, God's word is 'beyond this world' powerful. This doesn't mean the Bible is a magic book (hint: don't worship the book itself but have huge respect for what it says), but equally it's not a human work, like a Shakespeare or Aristotle title. The Bible is a record of God's story to humanity. It tells us of God's character and about what he said and did. God's story is powerful like no other: it's creation 'let there be light' powerful (see Genesis 1:3). Psalm 19 helps to highlight this power:

(1) 'The law of the Lord is perfect' (Psalm 19:7 NIV)). Our mind may have gone straight to 'do and don't' rules. But 'law' is much bigger; like, 'laws of physics' bigger. We could question whether God's morals are perfect (hint: they are), but not many of us would question the law of gravity. God's laws work, usually mysteriously, and always perfectly.

What else about God's law? (2) 'The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy' (Psalm 19:7 NIV). This shouldn't surprise us... but we do not know everything. In the absence of personal omniscience, it turns out we need to decide what or who to trust. What God says is, by definition, trustworthy. It's been proven to be so by people who've followed it throughout history. No amount of study would get us to a place that's wiser than the wisdom God offers us.

So what now? Read Psalm 19. Let the beauty and assuredness of God's true law settle deep in your heart.

One of the most valued attributes of any deep relationship is faithfulness. Can we trust this other person with our heart, our conversation, and our time and energy?

For example, when people get married, they usually mean their vows. The relationship usually starts out with honourable intentions. But being faithful and having integrity in a marriage doesn't start with the ring. Faithfulness when dating will become our faithfulness when married.

So how do we keep integrity in any relationship? (1) Talk with God daily. Jesus taught us to ask for daily bread (Matthew 6:7-13), so we'd need to go back to him tomorrow. A daily relationship with God will arm us against distractions that might unravel us. Also note that the prayer is plural - Our Father, Our sins... Is prayer at the centre of our relationships? (2) Talk about God's word. Chatting over the Bible together is a powerful tool to help us live right, and strongly, in relationship. (3) Communicate with each other. No-brainer maybe, this one, but chatting about any real (or potential) differences, weaknesses or threats to the relationship is very healthy. It's good to be honest and ready to change if our relationship is at risk somehow. Listen and learn together.

So what now? Chat about faithfulness with a friend and see how you can be prepping your heart for your important relationships. As Jesus taught his disciples: 'If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones' (Luke 16:10 CEV).

In Isaiah 48:17 (CEV) we read: 'I am the holy Lord God, the one who rescues you. For your own good, I teach you, and I lead you along the right path.' Then the next verse says: 'How I wish that you had obeyed my commands! Your success and good fortune would then have overflowed like a flooding river.' Pretty clear instructions!

So, whether it's a command from God that applies to everyone, or something he's teaching us individually, the point is that we can live in a way that glorifies him. Which is what God wants - to reveal himself to the earth that he loves. Because of this, he makes sure that we have those commands available and he is constantly teaching us his stuff.

So where does it go wrong? Well, rather than sticking with things that make us strong - God's guide to living right and the abilities and skills he's developing in us - we look elsewhere. We forget to do what he's asked, and we try to take charge of our own progress. But that's not where we find peace or well-being. Read Isaiah 48:17 again. 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.'

So what now? If you feel like you're in need of real peace, you'll find it in God. If you feel like you're off track, you'll find your way back to the right course through God. Ask him to reveal himself and his good ways to you.

In Exodus 14, Moses finds himself with a huge obstacle, the sea, and something has to change. This is what we may feel like when we're facing tricky circumstances, where something must change for us to move forward.

First, we get the people's reaction (in Exodus 14:10-12). They're like: 'Moses, are you crazy? We're going to die. We were better before, as slaves.' Familiar? Sometimes, fear can make us want to turn back, to retreat to what we used to have, even if what we had was awful. The second reaction we see is in Moses' (in Exodus 14:13). He tells the people to calm down, stay still and wait for God to move. Closer to the mark, at least. But not quite there. He seems to have faith in God's ability to help, but he just stays rooted. Also familiar. When faced with change, we just... don't. We stop and stagnate, waiting for something to swoop in and save us.

Exodus 14:15, though, has the answer. God basically says, 'Stop the blabbing. Just move. Go for it.' He gives Moses just enough instruction for his next step, but no further than that. He's asking Moses to trust and to act. And that's his advice to us. When faced with a big change, we don't need to retreat or get stuck; we just need to take the first, God-orchestrated step.

So what now? When you're walking somewhere today, stop completely. Pray through something you'd like to see change, then take your next step, and carry on.

What if God spoke to us today and said: 'Hey, would you consider Matthew 19:21: to let go of everything, leave home and let me take it from there?' Most people would not find that an easy task. But it's exactly what God asked Abraham to do. God said: 'Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you' (Genesis 12:1 NLT), and Abraham did. Note, God didn't say, 'Go to the land I've already shown you', or even 'the land I'm showing you now.' He said, 'the land that I will show you.' Will. As in, haven't already. As in, walk out in blind faith, with no idea of the destination. Gulp!

There's a lot to take in in that verse. Imagine if we were more willing to live like Abraham. It means us getting our hearts into a place where we can make any change that God asks because we trust him wholly. The heart space to hear Matthew 19:21 and trust God to help us do it.

Now, we don't need to chuck everything into a rucksack and head out. We just need to be willing to hear the need for change and make the choice to trust God enough to take the first step. In tomorrow's reading, there's more about that first step.

So what now? Today, ask God to point out something you could do without, and a person to give it to. Then do it. Start letting him direct you daily.

We don't have to be afraid. Yes, us, with a shakier job market and less certain housing situation. Or us, with a varied and painful romantic past. Or us, quietly figuring out where our life will go, trying to work hard and stay true to our friends and family.

Fear of the future can get the better of us. Jabez is a guy in the Bible. He only features in two verses of the Bible, yet what he says has literally filled volumes of books, inspirational posters and bracelets, etc. Jabez understood the value of asking God to bless his future. Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain' (1 Chronicles 4:10 NLT)! Jabez got it! He welcomed God into his future and depended on God being in that future.

Are we struggling to let go of pain? Let's remember that God doesn't waste anything we've been through. Struggling to see a future? God won't just protect us, he'll enlarge our life, for good end and for closer friendship with us. Every day and in every way, with God there is more and better ahead.

So what now? Write Jabez's prayer somewhere you can see it easily. Read it often and thank God that he wants to expand your life.