Today’s Verse – Psalm 7:9
O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure. —Psalm 7:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… In a world of organized crime, gangs, militias, corrupt leaders, people traffickers, and sexual predators, we have some real work cut out for us if we as God’s people are going to influence the violent part of contemporary culture to change its ways. Maybe the place to start is down on our knees before the Father, asking him to use us to make a difference in our violent world! When we see the eruptions of violence in media reports in our day, let’s hit our knees and pray the prayer David prayed in Psalm 7: O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure. My Prayer… Loving LORD and Father of all peoples, please forgive us for anything we have done to condone or accept the violence entrenched in many parts of our world and cultures today. Please bring the evil and hostile eruptions of violence in our day to an end. Frustrate and defeat those who use violence to intimidate, enslave, and destroy people who are precious to you. May your people be an example of righteous, compassionate, and non-violent living. Please give strength and protection to all who face the threat of violence because of their faith. In Jesus’ name, we plead for the redemption of our world. 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 – Ezekiel 7:8
[The Sovereign LORD said to Israel:] “I am about to pour out my wrath on you and spend my anger against you; I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices.” —Ezekiel 7:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Because God’s people had repeatedly rebelled and chosen to turn their unhearing ears and hard hearts against his will, God was about to let his people face the consequences of their sinfulness. Because of their entrenched rebellion, he was ready to judge them using the harshest of standards; their rebellion compared to his divine and loving will. We must remember that God still wants us to be his holy people in our day just as much as he wanted his people in Ezekiel’s day. Let’s be faithful to him, no matter the values of our culture and how far they stray from God’s will. Jesus has called us to be salt in our world’s decay and light in our world’s darkness (Matthew 5:13-16; John 3:16-21; Philippians 2:12-16). My Prayer… O God, please do not rebuke me in your wrath, but encourage me to live for you regardless of my circumstances or the culture surrounding me. I want to be faithful to you in all I do, say, and think. The world around me is trapped in darkness, so please use me to bring your light and life to the people around me. As I seek to honor you this way, please help me not to compromise my values or depart from your will. In Jesus’ name, I pray and plead for these gifts from your grace. 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 7:7-8
[Jesus promised his disciples,] “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” —Matthew 7:7-8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Blaise Pascal talked about a vacuum, an emptiness, a craving in each of us that we cannot fill with anything created thing, only with the presence of God. You see, God made us to seek after him and find him (Acts 17:27-28). We are left empty without him — with a God-shaped hole inside of us. Try to imagine the astounding reality of this truth: the God of the Universe made us to need him and to desire his presence in us. Is it any wonder he longs for us to seek him? He waits expectantly to welcome us into his presence just as the father welcomed the repentant and returning prodigal home (Luke 15:11-31). So, Jesus urged us to ask, seek, and knock because God — Father, Son, and Spirit — longs to welcome and bless us with what we need most: their presence! My Prayer… O, God, while my selfish heart seeks after many things, deep inside, I know that what I need most is to know you in a more holy and majestic way and for you to be present in our lives. In Jesus’ name, I seek your presence — my Father, my Savior, and your indwelling Spirit within me. 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 7:6
But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. —Romans 7:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We are free from law and law-keeping as a basis for our righteousness! Does that mean anarchy and lawlessness? Absolutely not! The grace that freed us from the law also brought God’s Holy Spirit to live within us. The Spirit can empower us to do what we could never do on our own (Ephesians 3:14-21). The Spirit helps us in our weakness to pray with confidence and boldness (Romans 8:26-27). With the Spirit’s help, we are brought into a circle of accountable friends joined together by the grace of God and the Spirit of Christ. We can encourage each other to let the Holy Spirit have his way in us as we develop the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) — and are transformed to be more and more like Jesus as we pursue and reflect him in our lives (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). Thank God for this “new way” to live holy and loving lives in a world that needs holiness and love! My Prayer… Father, thank you for redeeming and delivering me from the requirements of the law and placing your Spirit in my heart to help me be more than I could ever be trying to obey the law. 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 – Jeremiah 7:5-7
If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. —Jeremiah 7:5-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What is the most accurate measure of our character? It is not merely how we act “at church” or among other like-minded people. The real test of our character, our true godliness, is found in our partnership with our Father in heaven and his work to redeem the lost, forgotten, downtrodden, and broken — or quite literally in this verse, the “foreigner”* and “fatherless” and “widows” among us. When we live only for ourselves and leave the “have-nots” far behind in our practice of love, justice, and mercy, our culture collapses upon itself because it lacks the heart of God for the outcast and alone; in addition, culture breaks down because the people who are the “have-nots” can become jealous and resentful of those who have and the “haves” can feel superior to those who do not have! The real test of our character is how we love people around us who are in need. * The NIV 11, rather than our usual NIV 1984, is used for this passage because of the translation of the literal term “resident alien” as “foreigner” by the NIV 11 is deemed closer to our modern usage of these terms. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Loving God, the Almighty and Sovereign LORD, please forgive us and use your children who live by your righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful love and justice to heal our land. Father, I especially pray that you will use me to be a blessing to someone in need with no one to turn to in their times of crisis. 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 – 1 Corinthians 7:4-5
The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. —1 Corinthians 7:4-5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul told us that our bodies were not our own, but that Christ bought us at a price and that we should glorify God with our bodies. Once again, in chapter 7, Paul reminds us that when we marry, our body is not our own. It belongs to our spouse. We are to use our bodies to bless, please, and bring fulfillment to our marriage partner. It is not our job to make sure they bless us, but our job is to make sure we bless our husband or wife. Such mutual self-giving and sacrificial love are crucial to healthy marriages. Without such loving sacrifice, we cannot please God or bless our spouse. My Prayer… Holy and loving God, please forgive me when I have cheapened myself by not treating my body as a gift to you. Whether I am married or single, I want to use my body in ways that are holy and pleasing to you and in ways that will bless my marriage partner if I am married. 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 7:3
This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. —Jeremiah 7:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We often take for granted what we have, where we live, the friends who bless our lives, and the family that gives us a place to belong and grow. All of these are gifts to us from God. We don’t deserve them. They are not ours by divine right or ethnic status. We don’t earn these blessings, but we can surely destroy them. God wants us to live obediently, not just to please him but also to protect ourselves and those we love. So, let’s reform our actions and live for Jesus and not for ourselves. My Prayer… Almighty and Holy Father, please forgive me of my sins. I acknowledge them to you, and I am sorry for committing them. Please bless and empower me as I seek to turn my life toward you, live passionately for you, and bring you glory. 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 – Matthew 7:2
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. —Matthew 7:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus is concerned! He does not want us to have a critical spirit toward others — especially other brothers and sisters in Christ. He does not want us to judge their motives. After all, we can’t know another person’s heart; only God can. When we are unfairly critical, overly harsh, and unduly judgmental, we must remember that God will use that same standard on us that we have used on others. I don’t know about you, but I need grace. So do those I love and those with whom I fellowship in Jesus. Plus, I am trying to win those who don’t know Jesus by treating and speaking to them “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). So, I will try very hard to be as gracious toward others as God has been gracious with me. This doesn’t mean I compromise on personal holiness; it just means I’m motivated by love. My Prayer… Forgive me, Abba Father, for the times that I’ve been far more critical of others than I should be. Arouse my passion to be gracious toward others so they can see your grace, mercy, and kindness shining through 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 – Psalm 7:1
O LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me… —Psalm 7:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Who or what is pursuing you? Is it a past mistake? Is it an old enemy? Is it an addiction in your life that is dragging you down? Is it your conscience? Is it a nagging sense of guilt? Is it someone who wants to do you physical harm? Is it a physical illness? Is it a lingering sense of dread or an uncertainty about your future? We have many things that we can fear and feel — a lingering sense that these things we dread are pursuing us. So the bigger question is: Where do we go to find peace and security amid all the storms and struggles of life? There is only One who can be a true and lasting refuge. Just One: The LORD God! And this One LORD longs to deliver and save you if you take refuge in him! My Prayer… Father God, you are my refuge and source of strength. This is especially true when my courage is gone, and my soul is weary. Please, dear Father, destroy all the forces and powers and enemies that pursue me and seek to take me captive and draw me away from you. In Jesus’ name, I confidently pray that you are my refuge. 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 – Exodus 6:30
But Moses said to the LORD, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” —Exodus 6:30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Moses had to learn the same lesson most of us have to learn: folks really don’t care that much about what we say. If the truth is known, most of us can’t express ourselves all that well. Communication with others is hard. However, when we offer ourselves to the LORD, he truly works through us and uses us in mighty ways. Ol’ Stammerin’ Moses is a great testimony that God can take a shepherd with his faltering speech and turn him into one of the greatest leaders and speakers of all time. Don’t you think we had better ask what God wants to do with us and get to doing it? God used Moses mightily despite his limitations, and I believe God wants to use us in powerful ways, too! My Prayer… Loving Father, please use me in your service. I recognize that all my gifts, abilities, and experiences came from you. All my capabilities were given to me so I can bring you praise and lead others to you. So please enable me to use my abilities for your glory and empower me to do more than I could ever imagine possible for 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.