Today’s Verse – Leviticus 19:18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. —Leviticus 19:18 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Hanging on to bitterness and keeping alive grudges is consuming and exhausting work. It leaves little energy for blessing others, praising God, or enjoying life. The only way to overcome a bitter heart toward others is to actively love and serve them in ways that bless their lives, as we ask God to help us forgive them. If we can’t do this because it’s hard to feel like it is the right thing to do, let’s do it because we know God and want to please him. After all, Jesus said that how we let go of the sins and grudges we have toward others is how God will choose to deal with our sins and failures (Matthew 6:14-15). So, dear brother or sister in Christ, let’s forgive because we have been blessed with mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). When we love others, we find the Spirit empowering us to become ever more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18), our LORD and Savior! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father of light, love, and mercy, please remove from my heart any cynicism toward others who dislike me or hurt me. Please remove any delight in seeing others around me fail when they have wanted me to fail. Instead, please use me as a friend rather than an enemy, a helper rather than a detractor, a person who forgives rather than one who holds a grudge. I want your grace to be seen in my friendships and the way I let go of offenses committed against me. 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 – Jeremiah 23:24
“Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. —Jeremiah 23:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… There is no hiding from God, but for those who willingly and joyously seek him, there is great comfort, power, and hope in knowing that his presence is ever with us. He promises never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). David beautifully praises God for his abiding presence in Psalm 139. He wants us to remember that God is with him, and that God’s presence goes with us from conception to death, and even beyond. God knew us in the womb. He guides us daily and regularly in our lives. He is willing to go with us to the farthest reaches of our existence, and he always longs to be near us and to be for us. My Prayer… El Shaddai, God Almighty, God of the Mountains, Jehovah Jireh, God our constant Provider, please be my source of strength as I seek to abide in your presence and walk with you in every moment of my days. I seek to acknowledge your might, love, mercy, power, strength, and grace in all I do and everywhere I go. Please, dear Father, don’t just bless me with your presence; please use me to bless others so they can find their place in your plan for their lives. In the name of Jesus, my LORD and Savior, 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 – 2 Thessalonians 3:3
The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. —2 Thessalonians 3:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… It’s amazing to me how Satan knows our personal weaknesses and vulnerabilities – those sins that can especially wound and disable us from the work Christ Jesus. It’s amazing to me that he knows how best to tempt us. Let’s commit to silently supporting each other in prayer daily, believing the promise that God is faithful and will strengthen and protect us from the evil one. Let’s pray that both we and those we love will be strengthened “with power through his Spirit in our inner being” (Ephesians 3:14-16). Let’s pray that we all will be delivered from the insidious and besetting attacks and temptations from the evil one. As Paul prayed for the Thessalonians: May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, souls, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). The LORD is faithful. He will strengthen and protect us from the evil one. Hallelujah and amen! My Prayer… Mighty and Triumphant King, please crush your enemies under your feet and liberate us and those we love from the oppressive and insidious attacks of the evil one and the horrible consequences of the sin he tempts us to swallow (Romans 16:20). Not only forgive and cleanse us, dear Father, but please guard our hearts so that we might gain strength to serve you with passion and power. In the mighty name of Jesus, we 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 – Isaiah 40:31
Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and will not be faint. —Isaiah 40:31 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… It is easy for us to live victoriously for the LORD when we are soaring on the wings of eagles. Things are going great. We can see the LORD at work in our life and good things are happening. It can be exciting when we run and don’t grow weary doing the work of the LORD, buoyed by his power and presence, as the Holy Spirit shows up and makes us better than we really are. But it often takes real heroes to keep walking without fainting during trying times, attacks from the evil one, or oppressive criticism and opposition. So, dear friend of Jesus, please keep walking forward. Trust the Spirit of the living God is alive in you to empower you, more than you can even ask or think (Ephesians 1:17-20, 4:14-21). The LORD is with you, even when you most fear he has forgotten you. Keep walking, and as you do, may the LORD reveal his sustaining presence to you, in you, and through you! My Prayer… O, Majestic God, who spoke into existence the universe, whose voice holds together the great expanse of the heavens, give those who can barely walk forward with faith, the strength to continue as they face the stress and assaults of the evil one. I specifically want to pray for those I know personally who are facing trying times. Please, dear LORD, give them strength as I share their names with you, and meet their most pressing needs, and do your work through them in ways that they can see and experience. Through Jesus, who conquered Satan, sin, hell, and death. 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 – Psalm 121:7-8
The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. —Psalm 121:7-8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… One of the great blessings and confidences we have in Jesus is that we do not live out our lives on our own, alone, unnoticed, and forgotten. The LORD of the universe is with us personally (Psalm 139:1-18). He holds our future and our safety in his hands. Our deliverance is assured, either deliverance from death – which means service to him and to others – or deliverance to him through death – which means freedom from the constraints of mortality and the battle with sin (Philippians 1:18-24). The LORD will never leave us, forsake us, or abandon us – we are more than conquerors in this life and into the next life because of Jesus (Hebrews 13:5-6; Romans 8:35-38). My Prayer… Mighty Protector, Rock of my salvation, thank you that I cannot go where you are not. Thank you for ensuring my life is hidden with Christ in you (Colossians 3:1-4). Make this assurance the motivating power in my life as I turn my future over to you and live obediently, today, to honor you. By the power of Jesus, I believe this, and I ask this in his 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 – Mark 8:36
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his very soul? —Mark 8:36 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Advertising, easy online purchasing, and social media lead us to chase after so many worldly things. We feel like we’re lacking if we don’t have all this stuff, or thousands of likes, or all these friends and followers on social networks. However, only one thing is needful. Having a fist full of dollars, a post that has thousands of likes, a magnificent estate, and a lot of prestige don’t mean a whole lot in life if we’ve gone to your eternal address without the LORD. Lying awake at night only to find ourselves in a barren place where Christ does not dwell, and life is not found, is horrifying – worse than our worst nightmare, horrifying and forever. Let’s not lose our life, our soul, our meaning, to chasing after what is not lasting and can only satisfy for a moment until we achieve the next bigger and better thing. My Prayer… Father, help me keep my priorities in order, my life holy, my love genuine, my heart open to your will, and my desires free from covetousness for things that don’t last. I ask for the Holy Spirit’s help so my own self-seeking, greed, ambition, and pride do not blind me to what is most important in my life – my walk and my relationship with Jesus. In his precious name, I pray this, as I seek to find what is truly and lasting life. 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 – Ephesians 5:25-26
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy. —Ephesians 5:25-26 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… For husbands, there is sacrificial love in our purpose with our wives, and purpose in our sacrifice as we give up our wills to help our wives as they are molded to become more like Christ by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18) . We are to give up ourselves to actively love our wives. Jesus is our example here, and he gave up everything to serve and bless us (Mark 10:45). His example demonstrates our purpose in our relationship with our wives. Just as Jesus sought to make us holy and beautiful in God’s sight, so also we should love our wives with that same purpose. Our motives are to be equally as sacrificial and pure in surrendering our rights to bless and love our wives (Philippians 2:6-9). As Paul reminds all believers, and specifically husbands in their relationship with their wives, that we, too, are to submit ourselves to bless our wives. This does not mean, however, spinelessness; it means service and sacrifice to bless and bring glory to Christ in how we love and serve the ladies in our lives! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Holy God, help our families to be full of love. May this loving service begin with me, today, in my family. 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 – Psalm 68:4-5
Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD — and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. —Psalm 68:4-5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I can’t help but think of what James, Jesus’ brother, said: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27). Jesus demonstrated the Father’s heart for the marginalized in his ministry by making time to love, serve, heal, welcome, and bless widows (Luke 21:1-4), lepers (Mark 1:40-45), children (Matthew 19:13-15), the afflicted (John 5:3-8), and the oppressed (Matthew 4:24). Now it is up to us, his people, his disciples, to continue the work of Jesus as his people, his bodily presence in our world today. My Prayer… Father, may our lives, our compassion, and our ministries reflect your heart for those who need care, protection, and love. Give us eyes to see these needs more clearly and hearts that respond more certainly so that we can demonstrate your love to people more fully. We pray that as we respond, the Spirit will lead us to do things that bless others, and we ask that you give us wisdom to know how best to demonstrate your love to all people. In the precious name of Jesus, we 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 – Psalm 103:13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. —Psalm 103:13 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Compassion! Not pity, not anger, not shame, not impatience, not intolerance, not rejection, none of this is what God, our Father, longs to share with us. We know this because today’s verse declares it. We know it even more by the way Jesus treated children in his busy and overly-scrutinized ministry: He welcomed them and placed his hands on them to bless them (Matthew 19:13-15). He took the children into His arms, placed His hands upon them, and blessed them (Mark 10:13-16). He welcomed little children, and held them up as examples for us to follow (Luke 18:15-17) God cares for our pain, loneliness, emptiness, abandonment, and mistreatment. God cares for us when we are overlooked, neglected, minimized, and pushed aside. God loves us and longs to share his compassion with us. He chose to enter our world and demonstrate his love for us in Jesus. My Prayer… Father of mercies and God of all compassion, we thank you not only for knowing and caring about our struggles, but also for sending Jesus to us and for living in us through the Holy Spirit. Because of your mercies, we know your love, grace, and forgiveness. Because of your compassion, we know your might and power released to us and in us through your gentle presence. May your Spirit of compassion be found in our relationships so others can recognize that this grace comes from you. Through the intercession of the Holy Spirit, and through Jesus our Savior, we 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 – Proverbs 23:24
The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. —Proverbs 23:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The greatest gift I can give my father – whether as a son or daughter – is to be like my Father in heaven, full of righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful loving kindness. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can become people who are characterized by “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Such character qualities as these honor both our Father and our earthly fathers. As children of God, let’s live into those qualities, asking for the Spirit’s help, and use those qualities and the character of our lives to bring our earthly fathers joy and our Heavenly Father delight! My Prayer… Holy and righteous Father, may my life please you and bring honor to my father and his name. I know, dear Father in heaven, that if I please you, it will make my earthly father’s heart glad. Please help me as I seek to know and serve you in ways that better display your character in my life. May this bring honor to my earthly father and his reputation, and bring delight to you. 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.