Today’s Verse – Isaiah 41:10-11
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. —Isaiah 41:10-11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Not only does God’s blessing rest on us, but his presence also goes with us. We can never be in a place where he is not with us (Psalms 139:1-24). His presence and power will uphold us and strengthen us. No matter what may happen in our physical bodies or with our physical worlds, God has given us the ultimate triumph over every enemy and all wickedness in Jesus. Even Jesus’ doubters and enemies will worship our LORD, kneel at his feet, and recognize that our faith is not only appropriate but it is also victorious (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Philippians 2:9-11). Hallelujah! My Prayer… Thank you, dear Father! You are not only the God of the heavens but also the God of my heart. You know me inside and out as you care for me through every step I take. You hear my cries for help and mercy. You share my struggles and burdens. You hear my thoughts, songs, and shouts of praise. Please deliver me from every physical and spiritual enemy and give me the boldness to stand firm in my faith in you. In Jesus’ name, I ask this. 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 – Numbers 6:24-26
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. —Numbers 6:24-26 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How would you like to place the mighty name of the LORD on people you love? God promised that this priestly blessing enabled his name — his power and authority — to be placed on his people. What an incredible gift! We can bless and empower others with these faithful words of blessing! Such blessings are found throughout Scripture. Why not begin looking today for ways to pronounce these blessings of God on others? You can start with this one and then add many others as you find them in Scripture. Send them by personal note, email, mail, or an in-person, hands-on blessing spoken over someone you love! Special Note: Download Eldon Degge’s “Book of Blessings” for free. This simple text version has hundreds of simple blessings you can say and share with others! My Prayer… O LORD of every good and perfect gift, your blessings are too many and more wonderful for me to fully comprehend or count. Please use me to speak your blessings over others today. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear so I can share your blessings with others today! In the name of Jesus, your greatest blessing, 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 138:8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever — do not abandon the works of your hands. —Psalm 138:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Notice the powerful beauty of this verse from the psalm. First is conviction: “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me.” (See also Philippians 1:6.) Second is declaration: “your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.” (See also 1 Corinthians 13:8). Finally is supplication: O LORD“do not abandon the works of your hand.”. (See also Psalms 139:13-16). What a beautiful balance for our walk with the LORD — conviction, declaration, and supplication. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever — do not abandon the works of your hands. For clarity, please note that the translation above blends the NIV and ESV of Psalm 138:8. My Prayer… Heavenly Father, the LORD of all, I am confident that you will accomplish your will and purpose in me. Seeing how you loved and worked through the centuries through your people, I know your love will endure long past my time on earth. However, dear LORD, I do face some struggles and difficulties in my time, so I ask you to please intervene with your grace and power in my life. Please fulfill your purpose for me. And please, do not abandon me, the work of your hands. In Jesus’ name, I confidently 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 – Exodus 15:6
“Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy. “ —Exodus 15:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… One of the great images of the Old Testament is God stretching out his right hand with power and doing mighty things for his people. So often, Israel faced a larger and more experienced foe. When his people fully trusted in him, God gave them great victories. In this victory song, Moses and Miriam praised God for defeating Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea. Moses praised God as the provider and power behind this miraculous victory and refused to take that honor for himself. Praising God in our times of success and victory reminds us where our true victory originated and was sustained: The LORD, whose right hand shatters the enemy! My Prayer… Father, you are great in holiness and majesty. You are incomparable in power. I ask, O God, that you please uphold and strengthen me with your power and grace. Thank you for shattering the power of my greatest enemy by the power of your right hand. Please give me the courage to live for you as I trust in the power of “your right hand”. In Jesus’ name, I praise you, mighty LORD and God. 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 – Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. —Hebrews 10:24-25 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We need each other. We cannot make it on our own. God calls us to get together regularly to encourage and motivate each other in Christ to live vibrant lives of service to each other and faith in him. With the day of Jesus’ return and our ultimate victory on the horizon, we should be even more motivated to help and encourage each other. And as the Spirit of God reminds us in our passage today, we need to consider and plan how best to help spur each other along to love and good deeds. My Prayer… LORD God, thank you for giving me a Christian family to encourage and motivate me to serve others. Please use me to bless others when we gather in Jesus’ name and praise you. I ask for the Holy Spirit’s help to know how best to encourage and inspire my brothers and sisters in Christ to join me in doing good deeds and loving each other. In the name of the LORD Jesus, I pray to be a more encouraging person, one known for building others up in Jesus. It is in his name, and for his glory I live and 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 – Isaiah 30:18
Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! —Isaiah 30:18 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God is slow to exercise his justice when that justice demands his people’s punishment. “Gracious and slow to anger” is a phrase repeatedly used to describe God in the Old Testament in relationship to his people. God longs to be gracious and bless his people. He extends the time for us to have opportunities to repent and turn to him. In Jesus, God even gave us his own Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins so we could have the opportunity to come home to him. Let’s hear the heart of God and respond by turning our lives and hearts to our Father in heaven, who loves us and longs for us to come home to him! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Almighty God and Abba Father, how can I ever thank you for your love and mercy demonstrated so overwhelmingly in the sacrifice of your Son for my sin? Please forgive me for those times when I have not intentionally and wholeheartedly shown my appreciation for your grace. I deeply appreciate your graciousness toward me. Please perfect me by your Spirit just as you have forgiven and cleansed me by your grace. In Jesus’ name, I thank you for being my gracious heavenly Father. 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 18:24
A person of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or sister. —Proverbs 18:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Close spiritual friends are rare — especially friends who will hold us accountable when we need it most, build us up when we’re down, and celebrate with us when we’ve enjoyed success. Unfortunately, many people are terribly lonely in our modern world and they don’t have that kind a friend. They’re lonely for something, or better yet, someone they’ve never experienced. In modern culture, we tend to have acquaintances and social media “friends” instead of genuine friends. When things go poorly for us or when we have nothing to offer to others, our acquaintances can run away in times of trouble or fade away if our problems are ongoing. True friends do exist. Their commitment and dedication can even run deeper than our physical family. How do I know? God promised it! I’ve seen it! My family has been blessed by it! So let’s hear the call to be that kind of friend to others; in so doing, we will often find that kind of friend for ourselves — a friend that sticks closer than a physical brother or sister. My Prayer… Gracious and holy Father, thank you so much for calling me into your family. Please bless me as I seek to enter into meaningful friendships with those in your family and be a true friend to others. 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 – Ezekiel 36:23
I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes. —Ezekiel 36:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God can and will use us even though, at times, we are not worthy vessels for him to use. Scripture gives us many examples of people God used who did not meet his moral and holy requirements — for example, think about Samson or most of the other Judges! God will be revealed as the sacred, mighty, and awesome God that he is whether we do it or not. Let’s be willing tools in his hands to do his divine work in our fallen world so the world can know his holiness revealed through us, in our lives, and our behaviors. Let’s offer ourselves to him for his service and his glory. My Prayer… Holy Father, we ask that you purify us and make us holy — not just because of your grace but also demonstrated in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Create a clean heart in us and renew a righteous spirit in us by the power of your Holy Spirit. May our lives be holy offerings of praise to you, O, holy and mighty God. In Jesus’ name, we offer ourselves 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 – Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. —Galatians 6:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Weariness is a part of life. Weariness is a part of ministry. Weariness is often part of being in a family. Weariness often overtakes us when we set our hearts on doing good for others. However, God’s wonderful blessing renews, sustains, and rekindles us. He does it through the encouraging word of a friend. He does it through his presence in us, the Holy Spirit. He does it through songs that lift our hearts. He does it through Scripture and prayer. So, while our bodies and spirits may grow weary, let’s not let our hands fall idle. If we serve with faithfulness, discipline, and integrity, God’s grace will empower us through the Spirit to do what he has called us to do. My Prayer… Dear Heavenly Father, I sometimes find myself weary and discouraged in my service to you and especially to others. Please convict me, beloved Father, when I’ve neglected sleep, exercise, or good eating habits. I want to live a more balanced life and have the energy and strength to better serve those who need my help. Please empower me as I seek to correct those problems in my life. Gently humble me in those times when I neglected my spiritual nourishment and sought to depend upon my own strength. I want to actively and effectively serve you, dear Father, all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name, I ask this. 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 54:5
For your Maker is your husband — the LORD Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. —Isaiah 54:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When I read the phrase “he is called the God of all the earth” in today’s verse, several other Bible passages came to mind: “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16). “The God who made the world and everything in it is the LORD of heaven and earth…” (Acts 17:24). “The Father, from whom every family on earth derives its name…” (Ephesians 3:15). God is not just the God of Israel or any particular nation, race, tradition, or culture. The LORD God, ruler of heaven and earth, is the God of all nations. As a follower of the Christ, I believe all people will one day recognize God for what he did in Jesus: [A]t the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11 NASB). The Holy One of Israel, the Redeemer and God of all the earth, has extended his grace through Jesus to draw all peoples to himself. And as the apostle Paul said: “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth… God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:26-27). My Prayer… Great Redeemer and the Father of all nations and peoples, I humbly come before you to offer my thanks and praise for all you have done to bless us. Guide me as I seek to know you fully and be more aware of your daily presence in my life. 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.