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.
Today’s Verse – Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:1-2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The motivation for our holiness is God’s incredible mercy and grace already given to us in Jesus. We offer ourselves to him because he has already shown us his love through the sacrifice of Jesus. As we offer ourselves to honor him, we are worshipping him – “this is your spiritual act of worship.”. As we refuse to be molded into the lifestyle of the world, we offer our LORD praise through our actions. As we consistently do these things with our lives, God’s character becomes more and more apparent in our lives. With the Spirit’s help, we are daily being transformed to be more like Jesus with ever-increasing glory (2 Corinthians 3:18) as we display the character traits of God by the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). This, my friends, is true worship: not just in a church building but in all of life. My Prayer… Father, as the old hymn says, “Have thine own way, LORD… mold me and make me after thy will!” I gladly offer you my heart, my life, and my future to use to your glory. Have your way in me and use me for your glory. Have your way in me and use me for your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray and worship you in all of my life (Colossians 3:17; Hebrews 13:15-16). 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 14:21
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. —John 14:21 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Love is much more than a feeling or an attitude: true love is always demonstrated by loving action to be true love. When we love, we show it by our deeds. As disciples of Jesus, we show our love by our obedience to the things Jesus taught us and showed us by his example. Our goal is to become JESUShaped – fashioned to be like our Teacher, the LORD Jesus Christ (Luke 6:40; 2 Corinthians 3:18). That obedience brings an incredible blessing – Jesus reveals himself to us and makes his home within us (John 14:21, 23). My Prayer… Dear LORD, my Abba Father, please forgive me for my times of disobedience. Help me see my unwillingness to obey as a loss of love for my Savior. Empower me to resist the evil one. Holy Spirit, please pour your love into my heart and help me demonstrate more fully. Heavenly Father, I ask that you help me find delight in obeying the teaching of my LORD and Savior, Jesus, and thereby demonstrating my deep love for him. In the name of your Son, 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 – Romans 8:19
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. —Romans 8:19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Eagerly waits! Don’t you love that phrase! Sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s not. Think of a groom waiting for his bride to come down the aisle. Eagerly waits! Imagine the parents of a child who is due to be born. Eagerly waits! Remember what it was like as a child waiting for Christmas morning. Eagerly waits! Yes, we know that experience and emotion, and that is what all creation – the cosmos so caught up with decay, disaster, and death – is doing right now! Eagerly awaits! And what is creation waiting for so eagerly? Our transformation and revelation as God’s triumphant and glorious children when Jesus returns in all of his glory. Sounds pretty wonderful for a time and world like ours, doesn’t it! So, on those bad days, disillusioning days, days of painful waiting, let’s retrain our hearts to eagerly await the LORD’s return, the healing of our broken cosmos, and our celebration of Jesus’ victory. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… O LORD, God of all creation and source of all redemption, we long for the day that every tear is dried and our long bondage to decay is over. Please keep our hearts set on the glory that is to be revealed in us when Jesus returns. In the name of our LORD and Christ, we 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 18:20
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. —Matthew 18:20 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When are friends more than friends? When they gather in the name of Jesus, and he meets with them there. Matthew 18:6-25 is a powerful description of the kind of fellowship that exists when we truly follow Jesus and love our brothers and sisters as Jesus does. Forgiveness, discipline, restoration, rescue, and welcome mark such fellowship. They are also signs of Jesus’ presence, because he is our great example and the power behind such fellowship. When two or three who share this kind of fellowship gather, Jesus IS present! My Prayer… Father, thank you for sending your Son, not just to minister on earth during his incarnation, but also to bless us with his presence during our fellowship while he is now at home with you in glory. Open our hearts to rejoice in Jesus’ presence as we meet with brothers and sisters who share our faith and live in commitment to seek the best in each other’s lives in fellowship and love. In the name of the LORD Jesus, 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 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. —Psalm 23:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Death is the ultimate profanity in today’s world. We don’t like to think about it, much less talk about it. However, death is the one reality that will not leave us alone. We must all address it! We lose friends and family members to death. At one point in our lives, we, too, will face this inevitability unless Jesus comes before our passing. So what is our assurance as we face the inescapable? Our Shepherd! The LORD, who is our Good Shepherd, will walk us through the fears and dangers of death, guiding and protecting and comforting us in our journey. And as followers of Jesus, this promise is only intensified because we know Jesus as our Good Shepherd. He has taken the walk through death’s dark valley ahead of us to assure us that our walk through death’s valley doesn’t end in death, but in glory. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. My Prayer… Dear Heavenly Father, my Shepherd and Savior, thank you that I do not have to face death alone. I look for your guidance and listen for your voice to lead me through death’s dark valley and bring me to your holy and glorious presence in victory and with great joy. I can say this, and believe this, and pray this confidently, 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 – Proverbs 16:16
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! —Proverbs 16:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What are the greatest riches in life? Well, surely they are not silver and gold. Of infinitely greater value is wisdom, which helps us understand what is valuable, what is true, what is worthy of our hearts, and what is not. Silver and gold can buy a lot of things, but they can’t buy us favor with God, or wisdom and understanding. These only come when we seek God and rely on the gift of the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom that is spiritual and lasting, not something that is fleeting and selfish. My Prayer… Heavenly Father, God of the Ages and giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), please bless me with holy and practical wisdom so that I can more fully know how you have blessed me and so that I can be the blessing to others in the ways that you want me to be. Please give me wisdom and understanding. 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 – Romans 6:15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! —Romans 6:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… This matching verse to Romans 6:1-2 serves as a great reminder that sin is no longer our master and no longer our choice (Romans 6:14). We choose to live for God with every fiber of our being and loathe the life of sin that once held us in bondage to defeat. So, with the Holy Spirit’s power at work in us, our lives are being transformed to become like Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). My Prayer… Dear God, my Father; precious Jesus my LORD; Holy Spirit, my inner companion and holy fire; please stir in me a holy passion to be the person of righteous grace you have created me and redeemed me to be in Jesus. I refuse to go back to the old way of sin. I choose to live in grace, by faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I rejoice in 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.