Today’s Verse – Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. —Hebrews 11:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… And why do we serve God? Fear? A sense of obligation? Because our parents did? How about because we want to please God and bring the Father joy? How about because we believe in what God has done and will do for us? We believe that God sent his Son Jesus to die for our sins so we can be forgiven, cleansed, and adopted as his children into his forever family. What’s more, we believe that God longs to share his blessings with us and loves to reward those who believe in his grace and love. We believe! So, we earnestly, diligently, and passionately seek him! My Prayer… Dear Father, thank you for my faith and all those who helped me come to know you and your grace. Please bless me as I seek to share this faith with my family and friends. Thank you for the confidence that my life is secure in your love and victorious because of your power demonstrated in Jesus’ resurrection. And it is in his name, Jesus, that I offer you my thanks, praise, and 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 – Matthew 11:5
“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” —Matthew 11:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The clear sign of the Messiah’s presence was a time of true blessedness for all who knew and followed him. His actions — his miracles and compassion shared with others — gloriously displayed the anticipated Messiah’s coming. If this was true with his first coming to earth, imagine how much more gloriously blessed the LORD’s people will be when he returns in his glory! The good news preached by Jesus is the anticipation of even more fantastic news when he returns to take his disciples home to the Father! My Prayer… LORD God Almighty, I praise you for the time of blessing that accompanied Jesus’ first coming to earth. I anticipate even greater rejoicing at his return and the glorious blessings that await his disciples, my brothers and sisters in Christ, when our Savior returns in glory. In anticipation of that Day, I thank and praise you in the name of Jesus, my Savior, King, Friend, and LORD. 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 11:4
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. —Proverbs 11:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What is your primary investment? Only righteousness offers a truly long-term benefit! That’s why Jesus said: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:32-33). My Prayer… Holy God, thank you for valuing what is good, holy, and righteous. I praise you for empowering me through the Holy Spirit to develop those qualities I see in Jesus, have them formed in my character, and invest my life in what matters eternally. I thank you, 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 – Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. —Hebrews 11:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Where did it all come from? Where did matter, energy, order, beauty, specificity, diversity, and time come from? How did our universe come to possess complexity and structure when all we know about our existence moves to decay, disorder, and death? By faith, we know it came from the articulated design of our Heavenly Father! Out of chaotic nothingness, God spoke into existence all creation. My Prayer… We thank you, dear LORD, for the incredible world that you made. Thank you for the principles of order that govern our world and help us understand it. Thank you for the intricacies and beauty that humble us. Our hearts soar at the variety and majesty of your vast and astounding creation. In Jesus’ name, we praise and thank you as we look at what you have done with amazement. 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 11:2-4
He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” —Luke 11:2-4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We approach the LORD as the holy and almighty God to be worshiped in reverence and our Abba Father, whom we approach as loving children. Rather than needing long, ornate, and lofty prayers, God wants us to speak with him about the most basic everyday issues and needs of our lives, trusting that he hears us and responds to our spiritual and physical requests by doing what we need while aligning us to his will and blessing us with his grace. My Prayer… Dear Father, thank you for being a holy God who is ever near. Please do your will in my life and use me to your glory. Forgive me as I work on forgiving those who have sinned against me. I know that you will bless me in my life with my daily needs. I come to you in Jesus’ name, dear Father, confident that you love us and do what is best for us in your will. 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 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. —Hebrews 11:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “I believe, but help my unbelief!” That’s what the father of the boy with convulsions said to Jesus (Mark 9:24). This probably is your prayer at times, too! As we look at the great heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:2-40 — which follows our verse — we know this must have also been their prayer. Their faith wasn’t always perfect. Their trust wasn’t always mature. But they stayed at it; they believed and acted with a relentless assurance that somehow, someway, God would act and deliver based on his faithfulness and their faith. Let’s “hold unswervingly” to our certainty in our God’s faithfulness as we look to the Savior and pray, “I believe, but help my unbelief.” Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Dear God, “I believe, but help my unbelief.” Please mature and empower my faith so my life will be a steadfast and consistent testimony to your presence and 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 – 1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. —1 Corinthians 10:31 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We can quibble over things we feel are important to us, especially when others don’t share our enthusiasm for those things — whether food, holidays, teams, special days, or events. This kind of divisive quarreling often feels more like a sign of our insecurities than as a mark of our sincere desire to honor God and bless others. Paul reminded the Corinthians that they were to do whatever they chose to do based on their commitment to honor the LORD. They were not to do things because others did them and approved them or didn’t do or approve them. We must be careful about judging others for what they do or do not celebrate, eat, drink, or approve. Judging people’s hearts based on external things and controversial matters is dangerous. We need to consider whether we should do something — or not do it — based on honoring the LORD and building up our brothers and sisters in Christ. Whatever we do must have as its goal what Jesus said was most important: Loving and honoring God with all I am and loving my neighbor as I love myself (Matthew 22:37-40). Or, as Paul says elsewhere: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17). My Prayer… Holy and Righteous Father, forgive my foolish and divisive behaviors. Help me avoid them and refuse to get so worked up over controversial and divisive things that I forget to keep my focus on the matters and people that are important to you. May all I do be done based on a conscious and consecrated decision to honor you and bless others through Jesus, in whose 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 10:30
The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land. —Proverbs 10:30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… This proverb’s promise to ancient Israel is even truer for those of us who live on this side of Calvary and the empty tomb! As the apostle Paul declared: …our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the LORD Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21). The righteous will never be uprooted from their true homeland, heaven, for no one and no power can steal this promised land from us. Neither can they corrupt it or destroy it! My Prayer… Father, thank you for declaring me righteous because of Jesus’s atoning death and my obedient faith in him. Because of this gift of grace, I know I have been added to your eternal family and your homeland. Please have the Holy Spirit continually transform me to become more and more like him each day. I want to be righteous in all I say, think, and do for your glory as I await my promised home. In the name of 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 – Hebrews 10:29
How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? —Hebrews 10:29 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We often look at the swift and dramatic discipline and punishment God used with his people in the Old Testament and are struck by its severity. The Holy Spirit reminds us that while this was true, to spurn grace and ridicule the sacrificial death of Jesus are actions all the more worthy of God’s punishment. Grace is incredible. It is marvelous. But to reject Jesus and all he did to bring us God’s love and salvation is to court disaster and reject any source of grace. Rejecting Jesus has harsh consequences, so please, dear friend, don’t! Please don’t reject God’s offer of love, mercy, grace, hope, and salvation in Jesus. As the apostle Peter said while inspired by the Holy Spirit: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). My Prayer… Holy and righteous Father, thank you for your painful and costly gift of grace. Please empower me to be a transmitter and sharer of that grace to others. Please bless me with the ability to share the message of Jesus in all its loveliness so others can know your salvation and not have to face your justice after having spurned your gracious gift to them in Jesus, in whose name I pray and plead. 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 10:28
The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. —Proverbs 10:28 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Good news! When we seek righteousness, justice, holiness, mercy, and godliness — qualities of our Father in heaven — our future is with him and will be full of joy. Don’t let the darkness that may be around you now steal away the glorious dawn of joy that has already begun to appear but will dawn brighter than the sun with the return of our Savior in glory! My Prayer… Father, please forgive me for the times I’ve grown depressed and melancholy over the apparent condition of my world, the culture around me, or my current situation. Thank you, dear Father, for your promise of victory and the glorious blessings that lie ahead when Jesus returns to take me home in glory. Please continue your transformational work through the Holy Spirit as I keep my eyes on Jesus, in whose 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.