Today’s Verse – Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. —Philippians 4:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Let’s get our minds out of the gutter and get our hearts focused on God’s glory. Let’s get our minds out of the focus on problems, difficulties, and horrible things we see in our world today and remind ourselves of God’s goodness and the glorious things that pertain to him. If “we become what we behold,” then let’s choose to focus our gaze on: …whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. My Prayer… Righteous and Holy God, you are marvelous and glorious, perfect in every way and beyond my comprehension. Please awaken the character of your holiness within me through the power of your Holy Spirit. I don’t want minor changes, but the Spirit’s transformation to become more like Jesus. Please help me see and focus upon the good and glorious things that reflect your nature and not the divisiveness, sleeze, and fluff of my world. In Jesus’ name, I pray for your help to rise above the meaningless, vain, and nasty things of my world and focus on you and your glory so I can bring others to 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 – Psalm 85:6
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? —Psalm 85:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Our Father, God, loves his children even when they are rebellious. However, God showed Israel that their rebellion would drive his presence and blessing from them. But with their genuine repentance and their confession of sin, God joyously promises to bring revival, renewal, and restoration. He gives them, and gives us as Jesus’ disciples, this very prayer as we turn our hearts to God, repent of our past sins, and return to His ways of living: Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? And the Father will answer, “YES!” My Prayer… Father and Almighty LORD, please forgive me for my sins. I confess them freely to you now… (Be specific about the sins you want to confess.) Having you in my life, honoring your Kingdom with my behavior, and honoring your love with my graciousness toward others are very important to me. Please revive me again and empower me to love, do good deeds, and live a holy life so that you will be praised. 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 – Psalm 121:8
The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. —Psalm 121:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Today’s verse builds on yesterday’s verse and thoughts. Does it matter to anyone that I’m here? Does anyone notice when I’m gone? Does anybody care if I make it home or never leave the house? The answers? “Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!” The LORD, the Savior of Israel and the Father of Jesus, knows all about us and our comings and goings. He will watch over us, now and forevermore. He will never forsake us or leave us (Hebrews 13:5-6; Romans 8:38-39). My Prayer… Father, thank you for being there when I rise and watching over me. Almighty God, thank you for being with me when I return home at the end of my day, escorting and welcoming me. I thank you most of all, dear Father, that when I leave this life and go to the next, you will be with me to escort me out of this life and welcome me home to life with you, forever! In Jesus’ name, I know this is true, 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 – Psalm 121:3
He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber… —Psalm 121:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I still remember when my children were little. I would sneak in and watch them sleep. Sometimes, it was to check on them when they were sick. Sometimes, it was to sit and pray for them, joining the LORD as he watched over them while they slept. Sometimes, it was to bathe myself in the grace and wonder of God’s love for such blessings. Even now that they are much older, I still love to be around them and pray for them when I visit them in their homes. I still marvel at the wonder of these precious gifts from the Father to Donna and me. To know that my Abba Father in heaven looks at me in the same adoring way, that he will not let my foot slip, and will not slumber as he watches over me with delight and joy, ah, that fills me with unspeakable wonder. Our Abba will not let our feet slip! Our Abba will not slumber. My Prayer… Now I lay me down to sleep, And pray you LORD my soul to keep, Safely in your loving care Confident you’re always there. Thank you for your grace and love, And for Jesus now above. I share with him my every care, Confident, he’s always there. In Jesus’ name, I humbly pray, To awaken with you to a brand new day. 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 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. —Psalm 121:1-2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Since God could speak the universe into existence and knows our names and the number of hairs on each of our heads, surely we know we can go to him for our help. Let’s lift our eyes and hearts to El Shaddai, LORD God of the Mountains. Let’s remember the Almighty sees our needs, hears our requests, cares about our hearts, and longs to make his help available and his home present with us. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Holy and All-powerful Abba Father, I do look to you for help. You are the one true source of redemption, power, comfort, encouragement, hope, and excellence in my life. Please give me the wisdom to know your will and choose your will for my life. Thank you for being faithful through the ages to your people and to me. In Jesus’ name, I seek you, praise you, and 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 4:23
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. —Philippians 4:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Some prayers are so simple and precious that we need to pray them and not overanalyze them. Praying for grace to be with someone physically is a true blessing that transcends time. So, let’s choose some folks who are precious to us, pray this blessing over them, and let them know what we have prayed! My Prayer… God, please pour out your grace on the following people I deeply love. I want each of them to know your grace, mercy, and power in their life. By the authority of Jesus’ name, I specifically pray for his grace to be real and alive in the following people… 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 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the LORD is not in vain. —1 Corinthians 15:58 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The Stock Market can be fickle. Friends can disappoint us. Nothing is truly sure except one thing, or better yet, our very special ONE person — Jesus! If we build our lives on his work, love, grace, power, and plan, we can hang in, persevere, and even triumph because what we do for the LORD and with the help of the LORD matters eternally. It will not be work done in vain. Why? Because the LORD is raised from the dead and at work in our lives! My Prayer… Please, Father, bless me with courage and strength. Empower me, O God, to not budge from my hope and confidence in your Son to bring me to your glory, make the work I’ve done on earth endure, and bless those who come after me. In Jesus’ name, I pray confidently. 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 15:57
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 15:57 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Life is ours! Death no longer holds us captive! God has given us victory through Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD. What else needs to be said? “Praise God!” “Hallelujah!” “Thank you, Jesus!” My Prayer… Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus. Thank you, Almighty God, for raising him from the dead. Thank you for the assurance that his life is alive in me as I serve in you. Thank you that my life will not be lived in vain. Thank you for the assurance that I am going home to you in victory, forever! In Jesus’ name, I 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 – 1 Corinthians 15:55
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? —1 Corinthians 15:55 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Death has the power to end our physical, human lives in this world. Death has the power to separate our loved ones from us in this world. Death has the power to discourage and defeat us. But we know the truth: Jesus lives victoriously over death! Because he lives, we know we will live with him. We believe that his victory over death is our victory over death. So, like Jesus, we mock death and its power ultimately to destroy us. Jesus has destroyed death and brought immortality to life in us through the Gospel. So we join the angels of heaven at Jesus’ resurrection and mock death: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?” We’ve triumphed over death in Jesus’ resurrection power! My Prayer… Father, I confess that the death of those I love still hurts me. I thank you that my separation from them will be only for a short time. I thank you, however, that death doesn’t separate me for long from those I love and who love you. Thank you for giving me this victory, this assurance, in Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for defeating death. I pray in your precious and triumphant name, Jesus Christ, my Savior and 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 – 1 Corinthians 15:54
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” —1 Corinthians 15:54 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As Christians, even if our body dies, we don’t! Our physical death just means that we will be given immortal bodies. Christ will raise us up and clothe us with immortality. Death will not have a hold on us because we are God’s children. We will be like the glorious LORD Jesus and see him as he truly is. Victory will be ours. Death does not have the final word. Jesus does. And one day he will say to us, “Arise!” My Prayer… Father, I know that my physical earthly body is fragile. Dear Father, I know that no matter how good a shape I stay in or how careful I am about my health, I cannot stop the process of physical death in my body. But I am excited to know that even though my physical body will fail, you won’t fail. Even though my human body is fragile, I know you are powerful and triumphant. Father, I look forward to the day of victory when death is swallowed up by the glory and power of Jesus’ return for me and transformation of me. Until that day, dear God, I serve you with joy as I look forward to seeing you face to face. In Jesus’ mighty 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.