Today’s Verse – Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes his steps. —Proverbs 16:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We’re now a week and a half into the new year. How are you doing with those changes, commitments, and resolutions you made for this year? Don’t give up or quit on them, even if you’re having trouble staying on track. Remember that only one commitment is essential for this year: Asking the LORD where he wants us to go and what he wants us to do, then we go there and do it. Let’s ask the LORD to lead us by his Holy Spirit and establish our steps! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Holy God, almighty LORD, my Abba Father, thank you for being wondrous, holy, and mighty. Thank you for tenderly caring about me, my life, my decisions, and my struggles. Please guide me by your Holy Spirit as I seek to understand your Scriptures and discern your will for my life. I want to have you fully establish my steps. In Jesus’ name, I ask for this guidance. 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 2:22
Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? —Isaiah 2:22 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “If only I had a friend.” “If only my father hadn’t left.” “If only she was more supportive.” “If only…” Even though we know deep down that people can and will often fail us, we still pin so many of our hopes on them — or excuse our failure on not having the right ones of them in our lives. However, people are fallible and mortal, just like we are. So, while we are involved in other people’s lives and we’re connected to other believers in Jesus, let’s also remember to keep our hopes connected to the Son of God, who “destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 2:11) and who will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6; Romans 8:37-39). My Prayer… Dear Father, please forgive me when I have pinned my well-being and happiness on being accepted by a particular group of people or supported by another special person. Even more, dear Father, I ask for your forgiveness for excusing my weaknesses and for strength to overcome my bitterness because I blamed you for not having the right people in my life. I know my only lasting hope is in Jesus. So, I pray this in the name of the always faithful, LORD 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 – Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. —Lamentations 3:25 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Out of the ashes of Jerusalem’s destruction and the disaster that befell God’s people because of their repeated disobedience comes this reminder of truth. Those who wait patiently, hope fervently, and seek the LORD will find their soul’s deepest needs met. So, we can wait quietly, not complaining but anticipating our salvation coming from the LORD! My Prayer… Give me patience and faith, please, O God, to wait quietly on your deliverance when life is hard and everything seems to be against me. I believe that you are good to those who persevere, waiting patiently in hope for your mighty deliverance. Dear Father, please give me the strength I desperately need to wait quietly in faith, trusting that I will receive your salvation and your blessing as I live to honor you. In the name of your Son, Jesus, 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 – Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. —Lamentations 3:22-23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What sustained you through the night? What will get you through today? What will enable you to achieve, even thrive, in the days ahead? The LORD’s great love! His incredible resources for love, compassion, and faithfulness never really run dry! Each new day brings a fresh supply of them from his mercy and grace. God is faithful in making sure we have them each and every day. Praise be to God for making our world new and inviting us to walk with him and find his love, compassion, and faithfulness always near! My Prayer… Thank you, holy God and loving Father, for sustaining me through the night and promising me endless days at the end of my life’s journey. May you, my heavenly Father, find my love for and praise offered to you and always on my lips and in my heart. In Jesus’ name, I thank and praise you for being the one true, loving, compassionate, and faithful 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 – Psalm 104:33-34
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. —Psalm 104:33-34 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Do you sing in the shower? What words are on your lips? What is the soundtrack for your heart as you sleep? Singing is such a wonderful gift! First, it is a gift from God to help us express our joy, excitement, sorrow, and victory in him and to him. Second, it is a gift from us to God to help us communicate our respect, appreciation, love, thanksgiving, and confidence in God. So let’s sing, praising God for what he has done, proclaiming what he will do, and sharing what he is currently doing in our lives! And, let’s ask the Spirit to give us songs in the night (Job 35:10; Psalm 77:6) that celebrate our life in Christ and comfort us when life is harsh and we are discouraged. My Prayer… O God, my Father in heaven, even your name is holy, yet you welcome me with love. As I worship you, please insert your will into my heart as I seek to more closely reflect your holy character. I trust you, dear LORD, for the food I need daily. I ask you, Holy Father, to forgive me as I release the bitterness and anger I have held against those who have wounded me. Empower me, O God, to resist the temptations and deceptions of the Evil One. Holy Spirit, please fill my heart with love, joy, and peace as I sing praises, and comfort me with songs in the night. 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 – Isaiah 26:9
My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. —Isaiah 26:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When a young couple in love is apart, they long to be with each other so much they ache. When parents are separated from a child, they miss that child intensely. When a spouse can no longer be with a long-time marriage partner, that person’s soul can ache to be reunited with the one they have loved and lost. God created us to be in the most profound fellowship with him and find our source and significance in our relationship with him. This deep relationship was initially called “walking in the garden in the cool of the day,” something that sin took away from us and caused us to hide from God (Genesis 3:8). Do you recognize your spirit aching to be with God? Many believers call this ache the God-shaped hole in all of us. It is a powerful metaphor for the yearning and longing for God we have built into our hearts, a longing that even sin and the evil one cannot extinguish. So, how do we fill our God-shaped hole? First, let’s recognize our God-hunger can only be satisfied by the LORD himself, not another person, creature, or creation. Then, we should confess our longing and yearning for God as Isaiah did in today’s verse. That opens the door for our hearts to satisfy our yearning and longing by spending time in our Abba Father’s presence as we communicate our desire, affection, and need to be with our Abba in heaven. Yes, our souls yearn for God during the night; in the morning, our spirits long to be alive with God as we begin each day! My Prayer… Holy and righteous Father, I do ache to experience your presence. I know the piece of my soul I sometimes feel is missing can only be found in you. Please, dear Father, be very real and present in my life today. 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 – Ephesians 4:24
…and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. —Ephesians 4:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Remember, our verse today comes from Paul’s challenge to put off our old way of life (Ephesians 4:22-24). Yesterday, we offered ourselves to God to be made new in our ways of thinking and serving. One of the most significant decisions we face at the beginning of each day is what we will wear. Well, no matter what we choose for our physical clothing, let’s make sure we choose to put on the new person God re-made us to be, clothed with Christ as our new self (Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27), someone committed to live for God “in true righteousness and holiness.” Only the “garments of salvation” and the “robe of God’s righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10) will fit us eternally! My Prayer… Dear Father, may people see the character and likeness of Jesus in me today. LORD Jesus, in your name, I ask you, please, to guide my decisions and help me know how you would have me act in today’s situations. Precious and powerful Holy Spirit, please fill me and continue your work in transforming me as I seek to clothe myself with Christ, cherishing the garment of your salvation as Jesus clothes me in the robe of his righteousness. 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 – Ephesians 4:23
…be made new in the attitude of your minds… —Ephesians 4:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Remember, our verse today comes from Paul’s challenge to put off our old way of life (Ephesians 4:22-24). As we put off the corruption and deceitful desires of our former way of life before Jesus, we now offer ourselves to God to be renewed. But we cannot renew ourselves on our own. We can guard ourselves against corrupting influences, but only God can renew us and enable us to discern his will more fully (Romans 12:1-2). God promises to do the work of renewal in us! Jesus didn’t just come to save us from sin, death, and hell; he also came to redeem us for his purposes and his work as his living piece of artistry (Ephesians 2:1-10). God sustains, empowers, and renews us as the Holy Spirit transforms us in this renewal. So, let’s offer ourselves first to God and then to others as servants of the LORD Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:5). Then, we confidently ask for the Holy Spirit to make us new inside and out! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, I come to you asking for your grace to make me new in how I look at things, especially how I view people. Please cleanse my heart and make me new in my mind and my spirit. I want to live each day of this coming year sharing your love, empowered by your Spirit, and aware of your grace. 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 – Ephesians 4:22
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires… —Ephesians 4:22 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Paul gives us several challenging verses when we read Ephesians 4:22-24. We will take each of these verses one day at a time. Today, Paul reminds us that we surrendered our hearts to God. Our old selves were crucified with Christ when we became Christians (Romans 6:6). Jesus reminds us that this kind of surrender is something each of us should do daily (Luke 9:23). We need to put the old sinful life aside every day — “put off your old self” — and choose to live for Jesus in response to God’s grace. Why is this “putting off” so important? Because our way of life before being united with Christ was full of sinful influences and the deceitful desires that the evil one seeks to reawaken in us. So, as we begin this new year, let’s make it our spiritual habit to consciously offer ourselves to the LORD daily as we seek to live joyously under his lordship. My Prayer… Holy and Almighty LORD, I approach you as my loving Abba Father. I want to honor you. I want to ignore the temptations of the evil one. I don’t want him to deceitfully lure me back into the corrupt ways of my former life before Jesus. Please empower me through your Holy Spirit and conform to Jesus* as you capture my heart with your grace. Father, I want to live each day for you, honoring Jesus’ sacrifice for me and yielding to the influence of the Holy Spirit. I ask this through the intercession of the Spirit and the authority of the Son. Amen. * 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 3:22-23.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 21:30
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. —Proverbs 21:30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… No matter how fresh the start nor how great the plans we have made this new year, if we do not walk with God, this coming year will not be a spiritual success. As we receive this gift of a new year, let’s commit to serving the LORD. As we plan for the coming year ahead of us, let’s make sure that those plans are based on the LORD’s revealed will in Scripture, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and prayerful consideration of what our God wants us to accomplish as we live for him. My Prayer… God of the ages, my Father in heaven, thank you for being very near as I start this new year. Please bless me and reveal to me your will for each day. Bring the people into my life who will help me love you more, serve you effectively, and bless others in meaningful ways. To you be all the honor and glory in what I do, think, and say in the days ahead. 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.