Today’s Verse – Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What can genuinely guard our hearts? What can authentically protect our minds? Did you know God wants his peace to guard our hearts and minds? That’s the apostle Paul’s promise to us in this passage. If we present our requests to God, always with thanksgiving, God’s peace is more significant than any explanation, it transcends our ability to comprehend it, and it will stand sentry over our hearts and minds. Do you want an example of how this is true? Look at the book of Job. All that befalls him. All that wounds him. Yet, still, he doesn’t become hard of heart or go insane. What is the key to his survival? His ongoing conversation with the LORD — his open recognition of the LORD’s presence. Job will not relinquish his relationship with God no matter how badly he hurts, how much he is confused, or how badly he is ridiculed. Amid all of his life’s uncertainties, losses, and wounds, Job holds onto God’s presence (Job 19:25-26). My Prayer… Father, I need you and the peace of your abiding presence. Wounds pierce my heart, but I don’t want my heart to become hardened and callused. At times, my mind is so confused that I fear I may lose my rationality. Dear Father, I trust that as I cling to Jesus and speak openly with you about my life and your grace, I believe you will bless me with your peace and protect my heart and mind from destruction. Thank you, dear Father, for the reminder that even as I struggle with my troubles, I also need to thank you for all the good things you have done to bless my life in my walk with you! In Jesus’ name, I pray thank you. 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 – Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. —Philippians 4:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Anxiety is worrying about things that we cannot control and worrying over things that we cannot remove from our thoughts. Anxiety dominates and controls a passive mind and a troubled heart, filling both with doubt, fear, and dread. The truth is clear. Anxiety cannot be removed; it must be replaced. We replace our anxieties by giving our concerns and worries to the LORD, trusting him to care for us. Then, as we thank him for what he has done and what he is doing in our lives, we replace those concerns and worries with a genuine sense of his presence through our thanksgiving. As a result, our confidence in his future for us can return to us, leading to even more reduction of anxiety and a greater anticipation of joy. My Prayer… Father, I know you love me. You have done so much to bless and save me. I deliberately place the worries and concerns of my heart in your hands… (Let’s each take a moment and specifically mention what burdens our hearts today and give them to the Father.) Father, I also want to thank you for the many ways you have blessed me over my life… (Let’s specifically mention blessings we have received from God). Now, dear Father, please fill my heart with your Spirit and my mind with the sense of your presence and peace. 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 – Philippians 4:5
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. —Philippians 4:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Extravagant over-reaction! That’s what we’re programmed to seek and to display in our modern world of sound bytes, social media “likes,” and the over-hyped cult of personality. But gentleness, the moderating grace amid chaos and conflict, is vital to bringing God’s peace to conflict-laden churches, families, relationships, and our troubled world. How can we be gentle? How can we restrain from over-reacting to the wounds, offenses, and slights that come our way? The LORD is near! He is our vindication. He is our example. He is our comfort. He is our hope. He is our strength. He is near. We are not alone and our destiny, reputation, and value are not up to us others to decide. He claims us! We are his, and, he is near. My Prayer… O LORD, my Father God, please be ever near me as I seek to be your person of character and gentleness in the middle of the chaos and conflict around me. I ask that your presence be made known and that my character reflect that presence in all that I do and say, especially with gentleness. In Jesus’ name and for his sake, 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 – Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! —Philippians 4:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sometimes, the squabbles among church folk can discourage us and lead us to lose sight of our incredible blessings in God’s family. We have many reasons to rejoice in the LORD. Let’s not lose sight of those reasons, especially when those around us get caught up in pettiness, division, and rivalry. Let’s not let discouragement, grief, or danger wear us down and make us lose our joy. Our joy is in Jesus, an eternal, glorious, and victorious joy . Let’s remember our hope is in our resurrected Jesus, our LORD and ever-present Savior. Paul wants us to know that it is time to reclaim our joy! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, thank you for the joy I have in knowing Jesus. I rejoice in the salvation you have brought me through his death and resurrection. With joy, I anticipate the day of glorious celebration when he returns to share your glory with me and all those who long for his coming. Even in my darkest moments of despair, I thank you for the flame of hope and the assurance of victory that sustains my deep and abiding joy of being your child. In the name of my Savior, the LORD Jesus, I rejoice as 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 – 1 Corinthians 1:30
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. —1 Corinthians 1:30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God’s grace has brought us into a saving relationship with Jesus as our LORD and Savior. As believers, we recognize that Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross was much more than a terrible miscarriage of justice and the murder of a good and decent man. Jesus is God’s Son. He is Immanuel, God with us. He is God’s lovingly wise way to show us of his love. Jesus is our righteousness. He took our sins upon himself and made us righteous through his death, the shedding of his blood. Jesus is our ongoing holiness. His blood cleanses us at the beginning of our salvation and continues to do so as we live for him. Jesus is our hope. His death means our atonement for our sins and our reconciliation with God. Jesus is our ransom. He paid to redeem us from sin, death, and hell. Jesus is our everything! My Prayer… Almighty and Abba God, thank you for your holiness. Thank you for your righteousness. Thank you for your gracious forgiveness. Mold in me a heart like your Son’s heart. Make from me a more usable vessel for your Kingdom work. Make me more JESUShaped. It’s in his 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 – 1 Corinthians 1:27
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. —1 Corinthians 1:27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The Cross is such an offensive symbol when viewed in its most basic and raw form (1 Corinthians 1:18-24). For God to allow himself to become human flesh and live among us is unbelievable enough. For God to be willingly subjected to the vagaries and rigors of mortality and human needs in Christ is unthinkable. For God in Christ to endure the indignities and inhumanities of the Cross is preposterous. That, however, is the gospel truth! What appears to be foolish, weak, and offensive has the power to remake us and inspire us to unparalleled faith in Christ. When we come to the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, we come to the impossible, which was made possible and accomplished by God’s grace for us, and in us, in Jesus and his death on the Cross. Only God would bring us salvation in such a way. My Prayer… Holy and gracious Father, I know that the Cross may seem silly and foolish to some people. I know some people who wear the Cross as a symbol don’t honor Christ for what he did upon the Cross. But Father, I confess that for me, Jesus’ willingness to go to the Cross is powerfully convicting and amazingly reassuring. You have captured my heart with your sacrificial love in sending Jesus to redeem me. Thank you for your gift of grace and Jesus’ willingness to endure and suffer for me. In his name, I thank, pray, and praise you. 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 3:17-19
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. —Ephesians 3:17-19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Paul wants us to solidly connect with each other in love. More than being able to understand all the unfathomable mysteries of the universe or the deep teachings of Scripture, knowing and sharing the love of Christ enables us to bring God’s full blessing to others. While knowledge can be good, love is greater still. While power can be helpful, love is more helpful still. While experience can teach us many things, love teaches us to use what we know to bless others. Let’s be a people who live with love for each other (Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13). My Prayer… O, Father, pour your love into my heart through the Holy Spirit and pour it out into the lives of those around me through me. Make me an instrument of your loving grace so that your love will be felt in clear and unmistakable ways by those my life impacts. 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 – Ephesians 3:16-17
For this reason I kneel before the Father… I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. —Ephesians 3:16-17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What’s the greatest thing we can do to bless those we love in Christ Jesus? What is the most helpful thing we can do when a brother or sister in Christ, or even a whole congregation of God’s people, faces major challenges from the Evil One? What is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children, parents, and close friends as they seek to live for Jesus today? In these verses, the apostle Paul showed us how to ask God to strengthen his people with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in their inner being. Then, he told them what he prayed. We can pray this prayer for those we love, too. Then, we can let them know that we have prayed this prayer for them and will continue to pray until their storms are passed. My Prayer… Gracious God and Almighty Father, please bless… (mention several people specifically by name as you pray) with your power and presence through the Holy Spirit. I will continue to do all I can to encourage and strengthen them, but I believe that they need your Spirit’s power far more than anything I could do for them. Thank you for hearing my prayer 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 – Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. —Romans 8:16-17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Your older brother, Jesus, died and left you the family inheritance! I know it’s hard to believe, but the Bible does teach that Jesus is our brother (Hebrews 2:11-12), and Paul emphasizes in today’s passage that we are co-heirs with Christ. That’s the message here. Because we have God’s Spirit, we are God’s children. Since we are God’s children, we are heirs of all God offers us. We are co-heirs with Christ, whose death made our adoption into God’s family possible. So, if we have to face some hard times or painful difficulties, we will not despair. We know the time is coming when we will inherit all the blessings of heaven, and we will live with our Father in heaven because of the Son Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. My Prayer… Father, thank you for your grace. Please pour out that grace more and more. Please help me bear the weight of my trials and the difficulties of my temptations with character and faithfulness. Please give me the courage to hang on through the tough times because I know I will eventually share heaven with you. Thank you for your Spirit, who is my assurance that I am your child and will share in all of your blessings forever. In Jesus’ name, I shout, “Hallelujah!” as 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 37:16-17
Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. —Psalm 37:16-17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What do we want to be the basis of our security? Will it be what we can do, accomplish, achieve, earn, protect, and hoard? Or will it be our God who has shown himself faithful throughout generations upon generations? We get to choose! We do that every day with our choices — what we do with our investment of time, money, and influence. So, in what will you find your security? What will you invest your life in? I choose to invest it in the LORD! How about you? My Prayer… Almighty God, you are the Father of Israel, God of the nations, and my Abba Father. I place my trust, my future, and my hopes in you. I know that my money, possessions, achievements, and abilities are not my own. You have blessed me with these to honor you and bring your grace to others. Please keep my heart pure and focused on you. Gently purge my heart of pride and selfishness. Please pour your blessing out on me — not so I can have them but so that I might bring you greater glory and share your gracious blessings with those who need them. 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.