Friday, May 03, 2024
Verse of the Day - Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
When I read this verse, I remember Richard Melton, a beloved elder in a church where I once preached and a dedicated prayer warrior. He would quote this verse every morning before he entered into prayer. He often quoted this verse with tears in his eyes because he did expectantly wait for the LORD to join him and to answer! Why the tears? Because prayer is so much more — more than we realize and more than we can explain. It is more than making requests. It is more than offering praise. It is more than giving thanks. It is more than interceding for others. It is more than the positions we use to pray — kneeling, prostrating, or bowing before God. Prayer is us knowing God wants us there and loves when we "wait in expectation" for him and his answers to our prayers. Prayer is expecting God to act and bring his redemption in response to our prayers. It is eagerly expecting that God will meet us in our prayer time and do what is best for us, and those for whom we pray.
Video Commentary...
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My Prayer...
Loving Father and Eternal God, thank you for meeting me in this prayer time. I know you hear me and care about what I share with you. Thank you for paying attention to someone like me and accepting me as your precious child. Thank you! O LORD, I wait in expectation to see you move in the lives of people for whom I pray. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@verseoftheday.com.© 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. Verseoftheday.com is part of the Heartlight Network. 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. | Privacy Policy
Thursday, May 02, 2024
Verse of the Day - Ecclesiastes 5:2
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Even in our TikTok®, short sound-byte world, far too often, many words are spoken in pledge to God that go unfulfilled. We are also tempted to pray long prayers, thinking God will hear us because of our many words (Matthew 6:7). Instead, let's thank him, praise him, and make our requests to him. But let's also realize that while our prayers need to be persistent, our words don't need to be elaborate, refined, and many in number.
My Prayer...
Almighty God, thank you for the Holy Spirit interceding with you for us as we pray (Romans 8:26-27). Thank you for reminding us in your Scriptures that we don't have to use articulate prayers for you to hear our hearts. Thank you for not expecting grandiose promises or dazzling words from us when we pray. We come to you as your children, your humble servants, who long to live for you and praise you with our lives and our words. In Jesus' name, dear Father, we seek your grace as we pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@verseoftheday.com.© 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. Verseoftheday.com is part of the Heartlight Network. 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. | Privacy Policy
Wednesday, May 01, 2024
Verse of the Day - Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
The cost of peace is always high. Jesus' enormous sacrifice purchased our peace with God. God made sure the price for our rebellion was paid, but he didn't make us pay it because we could never have fulfilled our obligation. Instead, God paid it himself, in Jesus, and asked us to believe this "too-good-to-be-true" gift is true through his grace and our faith in his gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-7).
My Prayer...
Holy and loving Father, thank you for making peace and bringing me back to you at an enormous cost to yourself, the crucifixion of your Son (Colossians 1:18-19). Thank you, LORD Jesus, for willingly surrendering yourself to the horrible cruelty of the Cross. Thank you for not treating me as your enemy because of my sin (Romans 5:6-11) but as a lost sheep that needed to be found by your grace. Thank you for adopting me as your beloved child. In Jesus' name, I offer my thanks and praise. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@verseoftheday.com.© 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. Verseoftheday.com is part of the Heartlight Network. 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. | Privacy Policy
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Verse of the Day - Ephesians 4:30-31
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Don't cause God's Holy Spirit to grieve! But how do we cause the Spirit of God to grieve? By harboring bitterness, unleashing anger-driven rage, brawling with others, and slandering the name of people or plotting to harm them. Not only are these behaviors in direct opposition to the will and character of God, but they are also the exact opposite of the qualities the Spirit is seeking to produce in our lives — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). No wonder such evil behaviors listed grieve the Holy Spirit; they are in direct opposition to the work of the Spirit in our lives and in our relationships.
My Prayer...
Almighty Father, please conform me to be more like Jesus by the power of your Holy Spirit as I commit to display Jesus' character and compassion in my life, especially how I treat others. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@verseoftheday.com.© 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. Verseoftheday.com is part of the Heartlight Network. 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. | Privacy Policy
Monday, April 29, 2024
Verse of the Day - Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
When was the last time you yearningly searched after God? I'm not talking about an obscure theological insight about God you got from a preacher or another best-selling book about God. When was the last time you sought after the Father so that you could know him better, recognize his nearness to you, and appreciate him more? Let's open our hearts and go on the great quest to find God. Like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), we will find he's waiting and watching for us to come home!
My Prayer...
Precious Heavenly Father, majestic in glory, awesome in might, and ever near with your loving presence, please bless me with a deeper and more personal knowledge and experience of you in my life. I want to know you even as I am known by you (1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 3:1-3). Until the day I can see you face to face in glory, please draw me closer and closer to you as you make your presence known in my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@verseoftheday.com.© 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. Verseoftheday.com is part of the Heartlight Network. 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. | Privacy Policy
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Verse of the Day - Acts 4:28
[The evil men who killed Jesus] did what your power [O God,] and will had decided beforehand should happen.
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
The cross of Golgotha and the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins were no afterthought or mistake. Jesus came as God's anointed, his holy Messiah, the Christ, the Suffering Servant, to die for the sins of the people and bring life and immortality to us. Those who were evil and conspired to kill Jesus as they sought to preserve their power and position as religious leaders were doing what God knew they would do. God used their evil actions to bring his grace and his goodness to us. He ransomed what was intended for evil by a few and made it the source of salvation for all, and he planned this ages before it happened. That is truly God's loving grace planned long ago for us!
My Prayer...
Almighty God and loving Father, thank you for your gracious sacrifice that fulfilled your demand for justice and brought us your rich mercy and grace in Jesus. Thank you, LORD Jesus, for your loving sacrifice, holy example, and promise to return for me, to take me home with you in glory. I pray this in your name. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@verseoftheday.com.© 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. Verseoftheday.com is part of the Heartlight Network. 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. | Privacy Policy
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Verse of the Day - Proverbs 4:27
Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
When I see someone swerving in and out of their lane during heavy traffic, I immediately go into a defensive driving mode. Whether they are drunk, sleepy, distracted, or just plain careless, I know they are dangerous because they are swerving "to the right and left." God wants us to know the same is true of us when we allow ourselves to be distracted or drift in our lives trying to see and sample every form of temptation available. Let's stick to the straight and narrow with our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus!
My Prayer...
Loving Father, please forgive me for being so easily distracted by sinful temptations. Please give me wisdom to see the things that the evil one has designed for me and avoid them and resist them. Please make Jesus, his costly sacrifice, and his holy life very real to me today, and every day, as I seek to be your holy child in the corrupt world in which I live. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments to phil@verseoftheday.com.© 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. Verseoftheday.com is part of the Heartlight Network. 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. | Privacy Policy