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.
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 10:7
The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. —Proverbs 10:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sometimes, the wisdom of God is short, succinct, and sweet for those who seek to do his will. I want my children and grandchildren to remember me with sweet thoughts because their dad, their granddad, and their great-granddad sought to be righteous and love the LORD with all his heart. I refuse to live the kind of life that poisons the lives of those I touch and leaves a wicked rot in the heritage of my descendants. Let’s encourage each other to bless those who come after us with a legacy of faith that brings them many blessings. My Prayer… O Holy and Righteous Father, I want my character and kindness to bless my children, children’s children, and grandchildren’s children. Please give me wisdom, discernment, tact, honor, integrity, love, and compassionate holiness in all my actions, words, demeanor, and influence. May I provide a godly influence and a righteous memory for those in both my physical and spiritual families. 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 – Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! … For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. —Romans 11:33-36 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The apostle Paul wrote these words after concluding his presentation of salvation by grace through faith and God’s plan of redemption for all people, found in his letter to the Romans. These words move me every time I read them. They remind me that some things in Scripture don’t need commentary, explanations, or elaboration; they just need to be spoken and believed. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! … For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. I encourage you to memorize this short passage of praise and keep it close to your heart, and let it come from your lips during all your times of difficulty as well as times of bounty and blessing and worship. My Prayer… Oh, the depth of the riches of your wisdom and knowledge, O God! All things have come from you and through your grace. For your glory, O God, all things proclaim your creative genius and reflect your majesty. To you be the glory forever! 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 37:6-7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. —Psalm 37:6-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… If you listen to these words carefully, heaven says, “Have a holy chill-out moment.” I’m not making light of this invitation. Heaven says, “Come into God’s presence with dependent yet confident patience and silence.” But how can we when our world is frantic, noise is everywhere, and evil seems to abound? We know God will do what is right for us over the passage of time and eternal time. The Bible is God’s story. More than history, it is HIS-story. It is our great reminder that God is always faithful to his promises, gracious in his power to redeem, and generous with his love shared with his children. So come into God’s presence and be willing to be still, patient, trusting, and hopeful! God is on his throne. We can have a holy chill-out rest in his grace as we trust in his faithfulness. My Prayer… Father, in the quietness of this moment, I consciously relax into your presence as I place the concerns and cares of my heart before you. I trust, dear Father, that you will act redemptively in my life. You will give me peace and I can confidently put my soul, future, and hope in your hands. In Jesus’ name, I rest myself in 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 – Isaiah 41:4
Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD — with the first of them and with the last — I am he. —Isaiah 41:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 1:8). This should be a great comfort for us. We don’t have to worry about our God leaving us as prey for other gods. We don’t have to worry about his truth becoming obsolete or outdated. We don’t have to worry about him abandoning us. His love is faithful. He will be with us always. He is always I Am (Exodus 3:13-14), the LORD from first to last. Our end will not be a lasting end, because it will be life with him forever. My Prayer… Eternal Father, the great I Am, God of mercy and grace, thank you for your faithfulness. You were faithful to your promises to Israel. You were faithful in your promises to send a Messiah. You are faithful to lead and guide me by your Spirit. You will faithfully bring me into your presence at the return of the LORD Jesus. Thank you for being my stable Rock and Refuge in unstable, transient, and fickle times. 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 – Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment. —Proverbs 10:21 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Righteous people have a way of blessing others with their words. They may be words of encouragement, carefully chosen speech, advice full of wisdom, messages of comfort, truth in teaching, or faithfulness to their promises. Now, there are folks who think their words are wise, but they don’t match up to this promise: The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.” No matter what form, the words of righteous people are blessings to those who receive them. But fools don’t listen to the righteous. The foolish plot their own course, refusing truth, wisdom, and godliness, only to find their lives lost to meaninglessness and folly. My Prayer… Father God, Author of all truth and wisdom, please help me discern those around me who are truly righteous and wise. Please give me the wisdom to listen to what they say. Please help me avoid the pitfalls of pride and arrogance as I humbly seek to hear your truth from those whose lives are conformed to your character. Keep me from the ways of the foolish, I ask, 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 37:5-6
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. —Psalm 37:5-6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How much do we trust the LORD? How much of ourselves have we entrusted to the LORD? We focused the last several days on the promised blessings the LORD longs to give us. Yet, God sometimes chooses to release these blessings dependent upon our trust in him and our asking of him. As long as we grip the steering wheel of our lives, it is hard to let God take us in the direction of his blessings and his will. I once saw a bumper sticker that put it this way: “If God is your co-pilot, then you had better switch seats!” Committing our way to the LORD is offering our lives to him to do his work, to receive his blessing, and to know his presence. So what are we waiting for? Let’s put God in the pilot seat of our lives! My Prayer… Holy, Righteous, and Almighty God, everything is yours except the hearts of stubborn men and women who will not release their will to you. However, dear Father, we commit our hearts, lives, futures, abilities, wealth, and families — our everything — to you. All we have of value has come from you, so please use all of each of us to bring you glory. We invite you to drive the direction of our lives. We love you and thank you 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 8:14
…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. —Romans 8:14 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Over the last two weeks, we have been blessed to read a number of Scriptures that speak of the Spirit’s work in our lives. Over the last several days, we’ve celebrated being God’s beloved children, with all the rights of the oldest son, full heirs of our Father’s inheritance. The two concepts come together today in our verse in one glorious declaration: we are God’s “sons,” his children with full inheritance rights. It doesn’t matter if we are men or women, young or old. It doesn’t matter our race. Because of the Holy Spirit’s work and presence in our lives, we are his children, rightful heirs. We have not only been given grace, but we also live as his children and enjoy the blessings of his eternal family. My Prayer… Dear Father in Heaven, may your name be recognized as holy in my life as your child. May your will and your reign be known in my life just as the hosts of heaven honor it. Father, I am confident that you will give me the food I need today, and I thank you. Please forgive me of my sin as I commit to forgiving those who sin against me. You are glorious, dear Father. Your Kingdom is eternal and is the goal of my heart. Your power is my source of strength. I love you, dear Father. In Jesus’ name, I pray and praise you as your beloved child. 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.