Today’s Verse – Psalm 9:1
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. —Psalm 9:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The words of Jessie Brown Pound’s old hymn, “Will You Not Tell It Today?” say it best: “If the light of his presence has brightened your way, O will you not tell it today?” Prayerfully select someone who needs to know of the goodness and graciousness of God, then please, lovingly, share Jesus with that person. A heart filled with praise to God will not only praise him but will lead others to do so as well. I can’t think of a better example of this than Andrew, who heard about Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was tell his brother Simon Peter and bring him to Jesus (John 1:40-42). My Prayer… O LORD, I praise you from the bottom of my heart. In addition, dear Father, please bless me today as I seek to bring others to know and honor you more fully by following Jesus. In Jesus’ name, I pray, asking for your power and grace to be with me as I seek to lead others to Jesus. 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 – Mark 8:31
[Jesus] then began to teach [his disciples] that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. —Mark 8:31 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Knowing Jesus is God’s Messiah is one thing. Following Jesus as our LORD is quite another. Getting our minds, hearts, and lives to line up with Jesus is always a challenge. Once Jesus’ disciples confessed him as the Christ, he knew he had to teach them the real road to glory. Each of the Gospels reminds us that this road led to the cross of agony before it led to the crown of glory. The early church captured it in a song that reminded them that they, too, must walk that same road of the cross as their Savior and LORD walked (see Philippians 2:5-11). We are heaven-bound people, but we can be sure that we will encounter potholes and bumps along the road and face some steep hills to climb as Satan tries to derail and defeat us. Our Savior, however, has already walked this road triumphantly. He is our great reminder that the path of the cross also leads us to share in our LORD’s glory! My Prayer… Dear Father, I know several believers who are struggling to follow Jesus faithfully. I ask that you give them strength and courage to endure. Please use me to encourage them and to help them through this dark time in their lives. May my life and my words point them to Jesus. I want to specifically mention several people by name, people who are struggling… [Insert the names you want to mention.] and ask you to bless 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 – John 8:30
Even as [Jesus] spoke, many put their faith in him. —John 8:30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… While we often talk about Jesus as our LORD and Savior, we can also find it easy to ignore his voice, or worse, hear Jesus’ words and ignore them. Our obedience to what Jesus says demonstrates that we have put our faith in him. To foolishly disobey, ignore, or neglect to do what Jesus says is to show that we don’t believe him to be our LORD to DO what he says to us as our LORD! Jesus promised a very rude awakening at judgment for those who take this attitude (Matthew 7:21-27). So, let’s commit to reading through each of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) before the end of the year. As we read about Jesus’ life and teachings, let’s do it as a search for the heart of Jesus and ask God to help us know him better and follow him more thoroughly and more obediently as the Holy Spirit conforms us to be more like him (2 Corinthians 3:18)! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Be with me, dear Father, as I seek to know Jesus better and obey his words more faithfully as I read your holy Scriptures, which find their center in him. So, I pray for obedience in my daily life in the name of my LORD, Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, and my Savior. 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 – Mark 8:29
“But what about you?” [Jesus] asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” —Mark 8:29 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The sweetest confession any of us will ever make is this: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and I want him to be LORD of my life.” Let’s repeat it, out loud, to the glory of God the Father: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and I want him to be LORD of my life.” What other people say about Jesus and what they believe about Jesus is not the focus of the LORD’s question to Peter. Who do I say that Jesus is? Will you answer like Peter? I think we should. So, let’s say it again for the third time: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and I want him to be LORD of my life.” Now, let’s commit that before the year ends, we will invite someone else to say these words for the first time in their life! My Prayer… Thank you, LORD God Almighty, for having a plan that brought me your Messiah, Jesus. I believe, dear God, that he is your Son, and I want him to be the LORD of my life, and I want him to be my LORD for the rest of my days. I pray this in the name of Jesus, your Son, and my Savior. 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 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. —Romans 8:28 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The real issue in our lives is not God’s faithfulness and goodness but ours. The history of God’s faithfulness to Israel and his promises is found throughout the Scriptures. We can depend and rely on him to do what he promises despite the apparent circumstances of our lives. The real issue is whether or not we choose to truly love him and live for his purposes when our lives become unbearable and faith becomes hard. This verse is no platitude or easy answer. It is the life ring of hope for those with gritty faith who choose to persevere when there is no easy reason for doing so. Faith like this is rooted in a Savior who triumphed over death, Satan, sin, and hell by voluntarily giving his life for our salvation. But he remained in the grave a second day. There appeared to be no hope, but hope burst forth as Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. So, will we choose to keep loving God and living for his purposes when things are hard — when we are caught on our own “second day” while waiting for the dawn of the third day and our complete salvation? My Prayer… Please give me courage, faith, and character, O LORD, and may I never outlive my faith and hope in you as I love you and live for your purpose 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.
Today’s Verse – Matthew 8:27
The men [in the boat caught in the storm] were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” —Matthew 8:27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What kind of man is this? Ah, Jesus is much more than a man; he is our LORD, King, Messiah, Shepherd, and Savior. Most certainly, when Jesus came in the flesh to earth, he was fully a man. Yet this Christ Jesus is also the Master of earth, wind, and storm because he is the Creator of it all (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-18). Rather than merely talking about Jesus, we need to bow down and worship him for all that he is, all has done, and all he is in the process of doing to bring us home to him, safely and eternally! My Prayer… Tender Shepherd and Abba Father, thank you for emptying heaven of your choicest glory and sending Jesus to be my LORD and Savior (Philippians 2:6-11). As I face the storms in my life, please give me the courage to stand bravely in faith, trusting that my Savior will still the winds and the waves and deliver me safely home to you. In Jesus’ glorious 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 8:26-27
In the same way [as the Spirit blesses us in so many ways in our lives], the Spirit [also] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. —Romans 8:26-27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sometimes, our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling like BBs and fall to the floor, rattling around under our feet and tripping us up in mockery of our requests. Other times, we are overcome with emotion, and the words of our prayers can’t begin to capture what’s crashing around in our hearts. Thanks be to God for the assurance that the power of our prayers is not dependent upon the choice of our words but upon his grace given us by the Holy Spirit’s intercession. The Holy Spirit presents our requests — our words, our emotions, and even the things beyond our words and emotions — and he does so to God powerfully and acceptably, no matter what comes out of our hearts and mouths! My Prayer… Holy God and loving Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, through whom I have the ultimate assurance that you hear and accept my words, thoughts, emotions, and even the conflicts of my heart when I pray. In Jesus’ name, I thank you for this 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 – Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. —Romans 8:25 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I’m not good at waiting. I don’t like waiting for Christmas. I don’t like waiting in line to check out or check in somewhere. I don’t like waiting for someone who is late. I don’t like waiting for a surprise. I don’t like to wait for…. well, you get the idea, I don’t like to wait. But my hope in the LORD gives me patience beyond my human tendency. As much as the LORD has blessed me, I’m fully confident that I can’t even begin to imagine the good things Jesus has in store for me when he comes again! So, while I wait, I try to stay busy, busy loving my Father in heaven and busy sharing his grace with others. My Prayer… Thank you, dear Father, for the patience I possess as I await Jesus’ coming. This patience is beyond my normal inclination, and I recognize it as a gift from your indwelling Spirit. Bless my efforts at leading others to know Jesus and to find salvation in him. Bless my faith so that it will be strong and endure my waiting. Please bless my life, not with worldly goods but with godly patience and compassionate character, so I can be a light to others. 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 – John 8:24
[Jesus warned the crowds,] “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” —John 8:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The crucial phrase in Scripture, somewhat disguised by our translations, is: “Unless you believe that I AM, then you will indeed die in your sins.” As John so often does, he grabs a simple phrase, fills it full to the brim with meaning, and leads us to see Jesus in a dramatically fresh way. Jesus is I AM (Exodus 3:13-14 — See Jesus’ seven “I AM” statements in John’s gospel.) Jesus is God with us in human flesh (John 1:14-18; Hebrews 1:1-3). How could God love us so much and come to us as Immanuel, God with us? (Matthew 1:23) We can’t fully grasp the depth of God’s love, but we can surely believe, be humbled, rejoice, and choose to live to bring I AM, the LORD, the glory due him (Philippians 2:6-11). My Prayer… Holy and Righteous God, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for all that Jesus is, all he did while on earth, and all he will do when he comes in his glory. I praise you and thank you for giving me confidence that because of Jesus, I will not die in my sins. I believe Jesus is “I AM” who inhabited human flesh. Even more, dear Father, thank you for the assurance that I will live with you forever when I die. All praise to the great I AM! 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 8:23
Not only [is all creation groaning under its bondage to decay], but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our bodies. —Romans 8:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Life can be very difficult at times. Anyone who has lived long knows this. At the same time, even our worst nightmares are staging periods for our great redemption. Our loneliest moments are the waiting room for our final adoption into the very presence the King of Ages. With the Spirit living inside us, we are assured of the ultimate destination of our lives, our Abba Father in our forever home! No matter where the current scene in life’s drama places us, let’s live as those who are assured of their final destination. We are not of those who have no hope, those who have made their home and placed all their hope in what is present in the here-and-now reality of our decaying universe. For us, however, our best days lie ahead with a new heavens and new earth with God, forever. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Almighty and faithful God, our loving Abba Father, bless us with courage today to face whatever obstacles lie ahead. Please give us spiritual strength to live with grace, dignity, and integrity so that others may see our faithfulness, hope, and joy. We want them to come to know you and bring you glory with us on that great day when the Holy Spirit fully redeems our bodies and our world from their slavery to death, decay, and destruction. In Jesus’ name, we wait in hope and pray with anticipation. 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.