Sunday, March 30, 2025

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

—Ephesians 3:17-19

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Paul wants us to solidly connect with each other in love. More than being able to understand all the unfathomable mysteries of the universe or the deep teachings of Scripture, knowing and sharing the love of Christ enables us to bring God's full blessing to others. While knowledge can be good, love is greater still. While power can be helpful, love is more helpful still. While experience can teach us many things, love teaches us to use what we know to bless others. Let's be a people who live with love for each other (Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

My Prayer...

O, Father, pour your love into my heart through the Holy Spirit and pour it out into the lives of those around me through me. Make me an instrument of your loving grace so that your love will be felt in clear and unmistakable ways by those my life impacts. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Saturday, March 29, 2025

For this reason I kneel before the Father... I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

—Ephesians 3:16-17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What's the greatest thing we can do to bless those we love in Christ Jesus?

What is the most helpful thing we can do when a brother or sister in Christ, or even a whole congregation of God's people, faces major challenges from the Evil One?

What is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children, parents, and close friends as they seek to live for Jesus today?

In these verses, the apostle Paul showed us how to ask God to strengthen his people with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in their inner being. Then, he told them what he prayed. We can pray this prayer for those we love, too. Then, we can let them know that we have prayed this prayer for them and will continue to pray until their storms are passed.

My Prayer...

Gracious God and Almighty Father, please bless... (mention several people specifically by name as you pray) with your power and presence through the Holy Spirit. I will continue to do all I can to encourage and strengthen them, but I believe that they need your Spirit's power far more than anything I could do for them. Thank you for hearing my prayer in Jesus' name. Amen.

Friday, March 28, 2025

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

—Romans 8:26-27

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Most of us will face very difficult circumstances at some time in our lives. When we do, we will likely feel that our prayers just bounce off the ceiling. Our words will feel empty and useless. We can't seem to verbalize what is on our hearts. We feel like our words are ineffective and insufficient. So what do we do? We trust this promise in these verses. We go to God in prayer. We aim our hearts toward heaven. Even when we don't have words to say, we offer our hearts to him, trusting that the Holy Spirit takes those thoughts, emotions, and inarticulate frustrations to God. The Spirit makes our hearts known to God, interceding for us according to God's will. Even when we don't have words, the Spirit makes our needs known. What a tremendous reassuring grace!

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My Prayer...

Abba Father, it is so comforting to know that my words, thoughts, and emotions are all presented to you through your Holy Spirit. Father, there are times when I feel inadequate and unworthy to approach you, my words insufficient to speak the burdens and wounds in my heart. Thank you for the assurance that you will always hear me because of the Holy Spirit, even when I can't find the right words to say. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Thursday, March 27, 2025

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

—Romans 8:18

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Life in our fallen world, which is under the influence of the evil one, is hard and sometimes filled with suffering and persecution. Is it worth it trying to live for Jesus in a hostile world? Oh yes! It's more than worth it. We can't begin to imagine God's glory reserved for us with him in heaven. No matter how hard, hurtful, and painful our trip through this world may be, our future with God holds something incomparably better. Does that mean my difficulties are meaningless or insignificant? Absolutely not! Our future glory with God does mean that it is more than worth our efforts to hang in, be faithful, and honor him, for we will receive his glorious reward!

My Prayer...

Father, I confess that I don't like suffering, pain, disappointment, persecution, ridicule, or sorrow. I do, however, believe that your promises are true. I hold on to the promise that the glory you have in store for me is far greater than the difficulties I face right now. Strengthen me for the days ahead and use me to bring your glory no matter my current situation. In Jesus' name, I endure, persevere, and hope. Amen.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

—Romans 8:16-17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Your older brother, Jesus, died and left you the family inheritance! I know it's hard to believe, but the Bible does teach that Jesus is our brother (Hebrews 2:11-12), and Paul emphasizes in today’s passage that we are co-heirs with Christ. That's the message here. Because we have God's Spirit, we are God's children. Since we are God's children, we are heirs of all God offers us. We are co-heirs with Christ, whose death made our adoption into God's family possible. So, if we have to face some hard times or painful difficulties, we will not despair. We know the time is coming when we will inherit all the blessings of heaven, and we will live with our Father in heaven because of the Son Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

My Prayer...

Father, thank you for your grace. Please pour out that grace more and more. Please help me bear the weight of my trials and the difficulties of my temptations with character and faithfulness. Please give me the courage to hang on through the tough times because I know I will eventually share heaven with you. Thank you for your Spirit, who is my assurance that I am your child and will share in all of your blessings forever. In Jesus' name, I shout, "Hallelujah!" as I pray. Amen.

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

—Psalm 37:16-17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What do we want to be the basis of our security? Will it be what we can do, accomplish, achieve, earn, protect, and hoard? Or will it be our God who has shown himself faithful throughout generations upon generations? We get to choose! We do that every day with our choices — what we do with our investment of time, money, and influence. So, in what will you find your security? What will you invest your life in? I choose to invest it in the LORD! How about you?

My Prayer...

Almighty God, you are the Father of Israel, God of the nations, and my Abba Father. I place my trust, my future, and my hopes in you. I know that my money, possessions, achievements, and abilities are not my own. You have blessed me with these to honor you and bring your grace to others. Please keep my heart pure and focused on you. Gently purge my heart of pride and selfishness. Please pour your blessing out on me — not so I can have them but so that I might bring you greater glory and share your gracious blessings with those who need them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.