Sunday, April 28, 2024

[The evil men who killed Jesus] did what your power [O God,] and will had decided beforehand should happen.

—Acts 4:28

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.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

—Proverbs 4:27

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.

Friday, April 26, 2024

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

—Ephesians 4:26-27

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Pent-up anger is an explosion waiting to happen. Sooner or later, the pent-up frustration will explode, either in our own lives or into the lives of others. Jesus taught us to forgive and to reconcile (Matthew 18). We must deal with our anger, TODAY! Otherwise, the devil will use it to abuse us as well as others in our lives. Don't give the devil a foothold in your life. If you give him an inch (2.54 cm), he'll take a mile (1.61 km). In our anger, let's not sin but deal with our anger, today!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Father in heaven, thank you for the ability to get angry at the things that anger you. Please help me channel that emotion in ways that are productive and help me to be repulsed at evil. At the same time, dear Father, please stir my heart to yearn and seek reconciliation — not anger or vengeance — especially when my anger is directed against one of your children. By the power of your Holy Spirit, I ask for your help in forgiving others as you have forgiven me and not give the devil a foothold with anger in my life. In the name of Jesus, my LORD, I pray. Amen.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

[Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

—Romans 4:25

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Why are the Cross and the Empty Tomb so important? Everything essential and truly lasting in this life and our salvation in the life to come depends upon Jesus' death and resurrection! Jesus came to earth, lived among us as one of us, went to the cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and was raised victorious over death, sin, and hell for us — to erase our sins and bring us to life as God's holy children. Jesus did what he did for us. The love of God demonstrated to us in Christ Jesus is staggeringly gracious!

My Prayer...

Thank you, dear Father, for paying such an awful price for cleansing me of my sins. Thank you, precious Savior, for sacrificing everything to save me. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for cleansing me and living inside me to conform me to Christ. I pray in his name, Jesus of Nazareth, my Savior and Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

"Consider carefully what you hear," [Jesus] continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you — and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

—Mark 4:24-25

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"O be careful little ears what you hear ... for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little ears what you hear." Sometimes, our children's songs say things in the easiest ways to understand. God doesn't want just to be heard aloud; he wants his Word to enter our systems and change our lives. We must carefully filter out things we don't need to hear and focus more intentionally on what we do need to hear! The more we receive the gift of God's words and apply them, the more they will change us and bless us.

My Prayer...

Please open my eyes, ears, heart, and mind, dear Father, so that I can appropriate your message into my life. I want to hear your messages, and I want to apply each of those messages in my life each day. Bless me, please, dear Father, so that what I hear in your word becomes displayed in my life. In Jesus' precious name, I pray. Amen.

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

[Jesus continued his message, saying:] "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

—John 4:23-24

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God seeks true worshipers. He seeks those who long to praise him passionately and authentically as they praise him spirit to spirit. To help us in our quest, he gives us his Spirit to help us worship (Ephesians 5:18-21; Philippians 3:3; Jude 20; Romans 8:26-27). Most of all, our Father wants us to worship him genuinely, according to his revealed will in Scripture, with each heart yielded to him in daily living.

My Prayer...

Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit, who is now interceding to perfect this prayer. My heart thrills at the knowledge that you not only know me but also desire for me to come into your presence. Please accept my feeble words and hear the emotion of my heart as I say, "Thank you!" for all you have done for me. In Jesus' name, I pray and praise you. Amen.