Today’s Verse – Psalm 34:2
My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. —Psalm 34:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We have no basis to boast in our own might. We can’t preserve our lives. We can’t topple kingdoms. We can’t see the edge of the heavens. We can’t determine the future or change the past. So, what do we have to boast about? The LORD! We are living proof of his grace and mercy. He saved us when we didn’t deserve it, he rescued us from sin and death when we had no power to preserve our lives, and he has promised us a home with him forever. Those in sorrow, brokenness, and night can look at us and rejoice, because we are living proof that God saves sinners, lifts up the disheartened, and mends the broken. Praise the LORD for his glory. Praise the LORD for his grace. My Prayer… LORD, we thank you! Thank you for all that you have done for us. Let others see your work in us and understand that you can do a great thing in them, as well. In Jesus’ precious name, we rejoice 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 – Psalm 34:1
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. —Psalm 34:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… One way to keep our life on track and our hearts surrendered to the will and work of God is to joyously praise (“extol”) our glorious LORD continually. Let’s put our praise for the LORD on our lips with songs and memorized scriptures. Let’s tell his remarkable and glorious deeds to our children, grandchildren, and friends. Let’s give him thanks for all that he has done for us. Just as surely as the LORD is with us always (Psalm 139:1-24), let’s praise him always (Colossians 3:17). My Prayer… Almighty God, eternal and loving Father, I praise you for your great and incredible creativity displayed in your creation. I marvel at your vastness and incomprehensible glory revealed in the great expanse of the heavens. Thank you for your power, mercy, faithfulness, and grace demonstrated by your care for your people and the sending of your Son as you promised. You are wonderful. You are awesome. You are majestic. You are the LORD Most High! Thank you for loving me. In Jesus’ name, I extol 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 119:30
I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. —Psalm 119:30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Yesterday we committed to follow the LORD Jesus wholeheartedly. Let’s not forget it and slip back into old habits and destructive patterns. Let’s choose the way of truth again today, and tomorrow, and each day until we go home to be with him! Let’s set our hearts on Jesus, follow his example, obey his words, and invite the Holy Spirit to conform us to his character as we seek to become JESUShaped disciples (Matthew 7:21; Luke 11:28; 2 Corinthians 3:18). My Prayer… Righteous Father, your way and your Word are my source of life and guidance. I choose your will, your truth, and your Son, today. Help Jesus, please come alive in me, through joyful obedience and transformation to be like you. In the name of my LORD and Christ, 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 – Matthew 10:38-39
And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. —Matthew 10:38-39 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus wants us to seriously look into our hearts and surrender those things that hold us back from fully following and serving him. He comes to us with his now nail-scarred hands and reminds us that he gave up everything to redeem us. He now wants us to surrender to the Cross all the things that distract us and hold us back from wholly yielding to him. Let’s do it today! Only in Jesus will we find true, fulfilling, and eternal life! After all, he told us that “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” My Prayer… Father God, Almighty King, I am sorry for the areas of my life that I have kept hidden away from the righteousness that your Spirit is working to cultivate in me. I now confess those secret areas of sin to you and ask that you cleanse me and liberate me from the evil one’s power that binds them to me and holds me back from wholehearted service to your Son. In Jesus’ name and by the power of the cross where Jesus triumphed over all evil and demonic powers (Colossians 2:12-13, 15), I pray to be holy, and wholly yours! 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 119:133
Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. —Psalm 119:133 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God’s Scriptures, the word of God, and the LORD Jesus, the incarnated Word of God, provide light to our dark paths in our morally uncertain and confused world. God’s Scriptures and our LORD Jesus must be our standards for right and wrong and set the goal for our behaviors as the Holy Spirit works to make them come alive in us (Colossians 1:28-29; 2 Corinthians 3:17). Let’s ask God to have the Holy Spirit use both his words in Scripture, and his Word the Son, to have the formative influence in our lives and deliver us from all sorts of destructive practices that can ruin them. My Prayer… Great and Almighty God, who raises the dead and restores the fallen, shape my heart to delight in your truth. Mold my life to more perfectly conform to your will. Lead me in your way, and please guide my footsteps in righteousness. I ask you to empower me to freedom from any form of bondage that Satan might use to control me and ruin my godly influence. Use your Scriptures, the power of the Holy Spirit, and my desire to honor you to conform me to your living Word, my LORD Jesus, in whose 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 10:32
The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. —Proverbs 10:32 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How many times have you said just the “wrong” thing at the wrong time? For me, it is more often than I like. Jesus’ words on this topic are indeed convicting to me: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34-37). In other words, poor words and bad timing in our speech are more issues of our heart than a lack of proper social skills and decorum. Let’s ask God to purify, mend, and re-focus our hearts on his will and passions, so that we can be a blessing to others. My Prayer… Almighty God, loving and merciful Father, please purify my heart of all evil, hate, duplicity, prejudice, malice, lust, and greed. By the powerful name of Jesus, please drive away any evil power or enticing temptation that would corrupt my heart and wound my soul. Please use the Holy Spirit to fill my heart with your love, grace, righteousness, holy passion, gentleness, forbearance, sensitivity, courage, and forgiveness. Give me discernment to know which of these qualities I need at any given moment. Sanctify me, body, soul, and spirit with your Holy Spirit.* In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. * I love this promise-prayer from Paul that we can pray for each other: Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV) 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 23:6
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. —Psalm 23:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God is our Shepherd. Our Shepherd has chosen to attach his goodness and mercy to us. Why? Because our Shepherd longs to shower us with his goodness, mercy, grace, and love in this life now. Then, when this life is over, he will usher us home to dwell with him forever. We praise and thank our LORD God and the Son who shepherded us with their loving care and showered us with goodness with ever-increasing blessing in this life, and the life to come, when we “will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father God, please bathe my heart in your goodness and reach out through me and use my influence to extend your love to others who desperately need it. Please guide my heart as I live to experience my home with you, and you make your home with me (John 14:23). In Jesus’ name, I thank you and praise you for being my Shepherd. 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 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. —Psalm 23:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Our verse from the beautiful and comforting twenty-third psalm contains this stunning image of our Shepherd preparing us a victory dinner table in the presence of our vanquished enemies. While the enemies of the righteous may flourish for a season, God will lavish his love and show his favor on the righteous. As the apostle Paul reminded his dear friends in Philippi, their prayers and the work of the Holy Spirit guaranteed his deliverance: he would either be delivered from prison and death to serve them again, or he would be delivered from prison through death to be with the Father in glory (Philippians 3:19-21). Either way, God’s righteous will get a banquet, a place of honor, and a royal welcome that will vindicate their faithfulness before those who oppose them. Our Shepherd will prepare a victory banquet for us, while the evil one and his minions will be cast out in horror forever, as we share in Jesus’ victory forever. My Prayer… Father, King of the ages, I do believe that you will throw a party in our honor and treat us as your royal children worthy of great honor – to sit at your table in glory. Thank you for this promise. Thank you for the assurance of our ultimate vindication and victory. Thank you for making my life overflow with your love and grace, both now and forever. In Jesus’ name we 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 – Proverbs 10:24
What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted. —Proverbs 10:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The wicked fear the triumph of goodness, holiness, and righteousness. The wicked fear not being in control. The wicked fear death overtaking them. The righteous, however, desire the triumph of goodness, holiness, and righteousness. The righteous ones offer their lives to be controlled by the Holy Spirit of God and guided by the Spirit-inspired Scriptures. The righteous recognize death as an enemy, but one that their Savior has already conquered. In times like these, isn’t it comforting to know that the fear of the wicked is really all they can be sure of receiving, while the glory of the Father, his angels, the Son, and the Holy Spirit await us, as his righteous children, in that glory! My Prayer… O LORD God, please bring your justice, mercy, and righteousness to triumph in the lives of all who seek after you and your will – those who are seeking to be truly righteous. Please make our hearts and behaviors more consistent with your will. Please stir in us a bold passion to lead those to Christ who do not yet know you – those who pursue evil, have wickedness in their hearts, and who perpetrate the brokenness and sinfulness of our current age. Until Jesus returns, we pray for righteousness to triumph 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 – Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” —Luke 9:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Offering ourselves to God isn’t a one-time event. We learned that yesterday – we offer ourselves, we offer our bodies to God as a living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). We are committing to die to our selfish wills and follow Jesus daily, obeying him as we live to honor him. As the LORD Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane with the Father, we must face our daily challenge to “take up [my] cross daily,” putting our selfish wills on the cross, and crying out, “Not my will, but yours be done,” Abba Father (Luke 22:42). My Prayer… Dear Father, thank you for sending Jesus as my Savior. LORD Jesus, I want to follow you completely. I don’t want it to be half-hearted or hypocritical. I yearn for your life to be seen in me each day. So please, LORD, humble me gently, and show me the areas where I need to soften my heart and have the Spirit shape my character, so that I can more perfectly reflect your glory, grace, and character to those around me. In Jesus’ name, I ask for the Father’s help in taking up my cross and following the way of Jesus, each and every 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.