Today’s Verse – Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. —Micah 6:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sometimes we need God to make what he wants from us plain and simple to understand. I need to handle those around me justly — practicing patience and dealing with others in fairness, without partiality, and treating them as I would like to be treated. I also need to practice mercy — blessing others in need with what they don’t deserve but so greatly need. I need to walk humbly with my Abba Father, knowing that without his grace and help, I will fall short and fail. I need to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [my] God.” I have a sneaking suspicion you need the same. My Prayer… Father, please make of me what you will. As you fashion me, please bless me as I seek to be a person of justice, mercy, and humility. I know you identify yourself as the “I AM,” known by your righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful lovingkindness. In Jesus’ name and through the power of the Holy Spirit, I seek to become more like you. I am thankful for Micah who made clear that this begins with me acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with you. Please help as I depend upon your grace and the power of the Holy Spirit to do just that! 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
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. —Matthew 7:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God wants us to seek his blessings. This is not because he wants to manipulate our lives, but because he longs to bless us and have us know the gifts in our lives come from him. So let’s seek his presence, his grace, and his blessing. As we do, let’s remember this promise is in a section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where he clearly states that a disciple obeys what God, the Scriptures, and Jesus command. In that context, we can be sure we have what we seek, ask, and knock to receive. When we love and live according to his purposes (Romans 8:28), Jesus’ promise is our assurance of the Father’s blessing and our Savior’s delight as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. My Prayer… Dear Father, I yearn for your blessing and guidance. I need your presence and blessing in several specific areas of my life that weigh heavily on my heart… (share with God some things that are on your heart). In addition, dear Father, I need your wisdom in the following matters… Finally, dear God, please make your presence in my life very clear to me this week. I don’t doubt your love for me, but I sometimes need reassurance of your nearness as I face the challenges that lie before me. Please hear me asking for your nearness, see my search for your way in this world, and open the door to my knocking on your door of grace as I seek your blessing. 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 – Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. —Proverbs 3:5-6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Trust, by definition, can’t be half-hearted. Either it is a full trust or it is clouded with suspicion and doubt, and not authentic trust at all. As we face the everyday challenges of life and as we look for answers to deep and difficult problems, let’s put our full trust in the LORD. Let’s ask for his wisdom and guidance as we make our choices. Let’s give him praise for the good in our lives and seek his blessing for the days ahead. Why? Because he longs to bless us with life, both now and forevermore with him. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… O LORD, my LORD, I place my trust in you. Please guide me in my steps as I seek to bring you glory. Please help me with the decisions, those challenges that I face. Give me discernment as I seek to influence others and to share your grace with them. Give me the right words to say so that I can have a redemptive influence on my family, my friends, my co-workers, and those people in need of your grace that you place in my path. 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 103:5
[Bless the LORD] who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. —Psalm 103:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Our heavenly Father is the God of new things, the God of renewal and blessing (Isaiah 43:18-21). His desire is to renew and bless us. He wants to not only bless us once with our salvation, but God desires to bless us daily. His steadfast love is new every morning as he faithfully pours out his blessings (Lamentations 3:22-23). But more than just giving us what we want, he satisfies us with good things. He brings us what we need and what truly satisfies our deepest desires with his godly good things! My Prayer… Abba Father, Almighty God, I praise you for your power, majesty, glory, faithfulness, mercy, wisdom, and grace. Thank you for blessing me with your salvation, the gift of your Holy Spirit, the blessings of your church family, the promise of a home with you, and the daily assurance of your renewing presence. You have repeatedly blessed me with good things, godly things, and renewed me with your grace. In Jesus’ name, I thank and praise you with all of my heart. 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 6:3-4
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. —Romans 6:3-4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Baptism is far more than getting wet or checking off another thing on our obedience to-do list. What saves us is God’s grace working through our faith that Jesus died, was buried, and was raised on the third day for us (1 Corinthians 15:1-5). God gave us the incredible grace (Romans 6:1,14,15) of being able to share in Jesus’ saving work through faith and experience it in baptism (Galatians 3:26-27). We die to the old way of life and bury it in the past. Those past — now dead — deeds no longer hold us. Our death to the past with Jesus is what matters most. Raised to a new life, our life is now joined to Christ, and his future becomes our own future (Colossians 3:1-4). The life we now live is to glorify God, and our destination is to live with him forever. That means the Gospel is not just something preached; it is something we experience by grace because of our faith in what Jesus has done for us! My Prayer… Thank you, Father, for raising me from death to your new life for me in Jesus. Thank you for your grace in sending Jesus. Thank you for making Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection something I not only believe but have experienced. May my life reflect your powerful grace given to me in the saving events of Christ’s Passion. 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 – Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. —Proverbs 16:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The real question behind this promise is very simple: How do I define success for my plans? The answer is very simple as well: bringing glory to God for his grace (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). Committing our works and plans to God means surrendering them to God’s will (James 4:15), trusting that Jesus will be glorified in them (Colossians 3:17), and recognizing that it is not in our power to properly guide our steps (Proverbs 16:9). God longs to bless us and empower us — not for our selfish ambition (James 3:16, 4:3), but for our eternal good and God’s glory (Romans 8:28-29). Like Jesus, when we commit our plans and works to the LORD, we are saying, “Not my will, Father, but yours be done!” When we do that and seek his glory, we will find true success! My Prayer… Father, I want your will to shape all of my plans. I want your glory to be my goal and the result of my plans. I have things that I want to do. However, if these plans are not for your glory, if these plans are not a blessing to my family or those over whom I have influence, then please defeat me in those plans and please guide me into other areas of blessing. I want you to be glorified in what I do. I want to go where your grace leads. I commit my ways, my plans, and my works to you and your glory, and trust that you will bring the proper success. 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 – Romans 6:1
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? —Romans 6:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Grace doesn’t mean that we are sloppy with our sins. We have died to sin when we surrendered our lives to the Lordship of Christ. We don’t want sin, or its power, to have control over us. We don’t want to take lightly the awful cost Jesus paid to cover our sin. The apostle Paul uses the strongest language possible (“By no means!” is way too tame a translation: “God forbid!” “Unthinkable!” “Abomination!” would all be much more accurate.) As those saved by grace, we realize that sin is more than breaking a divine command. Sin is making light of Jesus’ love for us by choosing our sin over his sacrifice. Ouch! That is a startling revelation. Sin is rebelling against the Father who paid such a high price to adopt us into his family. Sin is breaking our Father’s heart because we are choosing our sin over our love for him. Finally, sin is choosing our own will rather than God’s will; a choice that leads us down a path of self-destruction. My Prayer… Father, thank you for your incomparably generous grace lavished upon me through Jesus’ death on the Cross and the salvation I have received through him. Please make my own sin abhorrent to me. Please give me a passion for holiness and a deeper appreciation of what it cost you to make me holy. 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 – Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. —Isaiah 40:30-31 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What is your strength? Is it your youth? …your conditioning? …your wisdom? …your friends? …your experience? …your intellect? None of us can depend on our human ability. Health, wisdom, and wealth are all vulnerable to the fragility of life and circumstance. Only the LORD can ensure that we can survive the unthinkable, thrive in the mundane, and soar in good times. Let’s call upon, let’s wait upon, let’s depend upon the LORD and trust him to supply what we need to live for his glory! My Prayer… O LORD, thank you for sustaining me through the hard times in my life. Thank you for helping me soar, doing things for you that I never dreamed I could accomplish in the best of times. Father, thank you for blessing me during the everyday comings and goings of life. I depend upon you for help and strength. For every good thing in my life, I praise you and thank 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.
Today’s Verse – Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. —Galatians 2:20 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Christianity, following in the way of Christ Jesus, is all about dying to ourselves. Some see this as hideous, onerous, and weak. “Why give up your desires, wants, and longings for something someone else mandates? That sounds like slavery!” However, they fail to realize that surrendering our wills to Christ is like a bird surrendering to air currents or a fish to the water. The Holy Spirit is God’s “Breath of Life” within us. When we surrender to the LORD, he gives us the power to be what we were made to be — enabled to be useful in ways that are eternal, empowered to have life not limited by mortal boundaries, and blessed by communion with the Creator as our Father. What is lost in this surrender to Christ living in us? Only our selfishness, self-interest, self-will, and self-damage are caused by our own stubbornness and rebellion. Chasing Jesus Reading Plan mentioned in the video below. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Holy Father, thank you for your work in my life through Jesus. As you remake me to be more like your Son and my Savior, I trust you will use me in ways far grander than I can imagine. Please take my heart and cleanse it thoroughly. Please take my life and use it mightily for your glory. Please expand my thoughts and help me dream more majestically about things that matter to you. May all of this be empowered by your Son’s life in me, and may all I do, dream, and desire be for your 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 – Galatians 5:25
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. —Galatians 5:25 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… It is one thing for us to talk about being filled with the Spirit, but it is quite another to live under the Spirit’s control and direction in our lives. Paul reminds us in this passage that we must do more than talk about the Spirit; we must walk with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit must guide our decisions, determine our morality, and control our speech. His fruit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) — must be the evidence, this holy fruit, of the Spirit’s presence. As the Spirit leads our “dance through life,” we must walk in step with the Spirit! My Prayer… Holy God, thank you for your gift of your Spirit, who is alive in me. May your Spirit guide my thoughts and mold me to be like Jesus in thoughts, words, and deeds. I pray that my life shows the evidence of the Spirit’s holy leadership. In Jesus’ name, I seek to honor the Spirit’s presence by bearing the Spirit’s fruit. 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.