Today’s Verse – Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. —Psalm 23:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Death is the ultimate profanity in today’s world. We don’t like to think about it, much less talk about it. However, death is the one reality that will not leave us alone. We must all address it! We lose friends and family members to death. At one point in our lives, we, too, will face this inevitability unless Jesus comes before our passing. So what is our assurance as we face the inescapable? Our Shepherd! The LORD, who is our Good Shepherd, will walk us through the fears and dangers of death, guiding and protecting and comforting us in our journey. And as followers of Jesus, this promise is only intensified because we know Jesus as our Good Shepherd. He has taken the walk through death’s dark valley ahead of us to assure us that our walk through death’s valley doesn’t end in death, but in glory. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. My Prayer… Dear Heavenly Father, my Shepherd and Savior, thank you that I do not have to face death alone. I look for your guidance and listen for your voice to lead me through death’s dark valley and bring me to your holy and glorious presence in victory and with great joy. I can say this, and believe this, and pray this confidently, in Jesus’ name. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 16:16
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! —Proverbs 16:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What are the greatest riches in life? Well, surely they are not silver and gold. Of infinitely greater value is wisdom, which helps us understand what is valuable, what is true, what is worthy of our hearts, and what is not. Silver and gold can buy a lot of things, but they can’t buy us favor with God, or wisdom and understanding. These only come when we seek God and rely on the gift of the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom that is spiritual and lasting, not something that is fleeting and selfish. My Prayer… Heavenly Father, God of the Ages and giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), please bless me with holy and practical wisdom so that I can more fully know how you have blessed me and so that I can be the blessing to others in the ways that you want me to be. Please give me wisdom and understanding. In Jesus’ name, I ask this. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Romans 6:15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! —Romans 6:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… This matching verse to Romans 6:1-2 serves as a great reminder that sin is no longer our master and no longer our choice (Romans 6:14). We choose to live for God with every fiber of our being and loathe the life of sin that once held us in bondage to defeat. So, with the Holy Spirit’s power at work in us, our lives are being transformed to become like Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). My Prayer… Dear God, my Father; precious Jesus my LORD; Holy Spirit, my inner companion and holy fire; please stir in me a holy passion to be the person of righteous grace you have created me and redeemed me to be in Jesus. I refuse to go back to the old way of sin. I choose to live in grace, by faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I rejoice in grace. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Romans 6:14
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. —Romans 6:14 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As we called on Jesus’ name in baptism and trusted him to be our Savior, we died to sin (Romans 6:3-4). By sharing in his death and resurrection, we died to dying (Romans 6:8-10; John 11:25-26). We passed from death to life because of our faith in Jesus and God’s power (John 5:24). Our life is joined with Jesus, and his glorious future becomes our own (Colossians 2:12, 3:1-4). We are not under law, but grace. Let’s respond to the gift of grace with passion and with zeal to be holy. Let’s open ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, who is daily at work transforming us to become more like Jesus with ever-increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). We are grace-children. We don’t earn our righteousness. We don’t keep laws to be owed salvation. In fact, we could never succeed at such a venture. We are not in bondage to sin, but liberated by grace to be all that God has made us to be – his craftsmanship, his artistry created to do good works (Ephesians 2:1-10). So let’s refuse to let sin be our master and live fully into the grace we have received! My Prayer… Purify my heart, dear LORD, and make it new and alive to your grace and dead to the sin that once entangled me. By grace I rejoice and choose to live by the power of your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Titus 2:13-14
We wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. —Titus 2:13-14 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We haven’t arrived at our destination (Philippians 3:12-14). We are a people “in waiting” – saved and redeemed but awaiting the full realization of these at the “glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”! Jesus, who offered his own life for our redemption, will gloriously return to take us home. During our time of waiting, let’s not waste our time. Instead, let’s be eager to do what is right, good, and holy, showing that we are God’s very own people. My Prayer… Father, please continue your work of transformation and sanctification in me. Holy Spirit, make me eager to be transformed to become like my Savior. Jesus, make me eager to do what is good and bless others. Please do these things for your praise and for the blessing of those who need to know you better. I am not seeking my own glory, but yours, dear Father. Please forgive me for the times I have settled for mediocrity and stir me to a holy passion to belong to you and be more like you in the life I live here. In Jesus’ name and until he returns, I ask for your help and grace to be more like my Savior. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age… —Titus 2:11-12 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Grace is not about excuses for our sins, but about a deep-seated thanksgiving for pardon and a life-changing commitment to say, “No!” to all that is evil, corrupt, and wicked, no matter how alluring or how pervasive those temptations and desires may be, and no matter how prevalent they are in our culture. As Paul taught the Ephesians, we have received mercy and grace so we could be saved FROM sin, death, and hell (Ephesians 2:6-8), and so we can be saved FOR doing what is good (Ephesians 2:10). Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… LORD, God of Jesus, my Abba Father, I praise you for your costly grace and love demonstrated to me in Jesus. Now, please galvanize my commitment to say “No!” to all those sins that required my Savior’s pain and humiliation to cleanse me and empower me to be your child. Through your Spirit, form in me a righteous lifestyle that is self-controlled and that reflects your righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful love and justice. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Romans 6:11-12
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. —Romans 6:11-12 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… If we have been cleansed from perversity, if we have died with Christ in baptism to our old ways of life and have been cleansed thoroughly and completely by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), then let’s live for God. Let’s resist sin and our inclinations towards evil with all our might, knowing that as we do, the Holy Spirit will empower us to a much greater righteousness than we could ever live on our own (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Corinthians 3:18). Let’s begin each day with a conscious decision to be dead to our sinful past and alive to God the holy character the Spirit is forming in us! My Prayer… Loving and Righteous Father, Almighty God, please help my heart remain firmly committed to your will and more fully conformed to your holy character and grace as I submit myself to the work of the Holy Spirit in me. In the name of Jesus, my Savior and my LORD. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 10:9
The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out. —Proverbs 10:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “Tell the truth the first time, and then you won’t have to remember what you said.” That’s a quote attributed to the famous Speaker of the U.S.A. House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn. That’s basically what God’s wisdom is trying to teach us in this passage. Be a person of integrity. Then, when someone finds out your secrets, you can feel secure knowing that you have lived for godliness. However, a perverse and deceitful person has to worry that someone will find out their duplicity and evil. There is no security or assurance in crooked paths, only the certainty of getting tripped up and caught. When the secrets of evil that have been whispered in dark places get shouted from the rooftops (Luke 12:3), those who have lived for the LORD can be secure, knowing that what gets shouted about them is said with the voice of God: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, 23). My Prayer… Please forgive me, dear Father, for those times that I have been secretive, sinful, and dishonest. Purify me of deceit. Help me speak only what is true, appropriate, and helpful. Transform my evil secrets, through your holy grace, into a character that is consistent in both public and private situations. In Jesus’ name, I ask for your help to grow in the grace of integrity. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… While these words were spoken to Joshua when he took over for Moses as Israel’s leader, they are also applicable to us. Take a moment and read Psalm 139 out loud and see that God’s promise to be with us is for all who truly call upon him. Listen to Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20, as he promises his disciples to be with them always, even to the close of the age. Remember God’s promise, declared in an Old Testament blessing and reiterated in Hebrews 13:5: “Never will I leave you, never will I desert you!” So, let’s be strong; our God, our Father, our Shepherd is always near, even if it doesn’t seem so. We cannot go anywhere without his presence being near us and in us. We are not alone. We don’t have to be afraid. We can have great courage; not even death can separate us from his love (Romans 8:35-39). My Prayer… Be near, dear Father, not just in your promises or in your spiritual presence, but also in my awareness. I need to know you are near when I respond to the incredible opportunities you place before me. I need to be confident in your help and sustaining love as I face the rigorous challenges in my life. O, LORD, I trust in your unfailing love, so I commit to being strong and courageous because you are with me. In Jesus’ name, I declare this faith. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. —Hebrews 4:12 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What is the greatest tool to repair the human heart? …by-pass surgery? …angioplasty? …artificial heart? …transplant? How about the word/Word of God? You see, while these other techniques can be of great aid to the physical hearts of people, God’s tool for spiritual heart surgery is his word (the Scriptures) and his Word (his Son). This sharp scalpel of the Scriptures can reach the soul and spirit as well as being a physical blessing. The tender touch of the Son can heal our deepest wounds. So how much of your heart are you offering to God? How frequently are you offering him your inner self to receive his powerful heart-healing touch? As you open God’s Scripture and hear the message of God preached, ask for the Holy Spirit to help you understand, apply, and put into practice what is being taught. As you deal with life’s heart-battering realities, invite God’s Word, the Son, to minister to your inner being. Let’s offer ourselves to God so that his word (the Scriptures), and his Word (the Son), can do their work in us and adjust our thoughts and attitudes to align with our Father’s. My Prayer… Holy God, I ask that as I open your Scriptures and hear your Word preached and taught, the Holy Spirit penetrate my heart and convict me of sin, discomfort me in areas where I need growth, and stir me in areas where I need motivation to be more like Jesus. I also ask that I commit to honor your Word, the Son, minister to the tender places of my heart with grace and mercy. In the name of the LORD Jesus Christ. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.