Verse Of The Day

The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

— Proverbs 10:7 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Sometimes the wisdom of God is short, succinct, and sweet for those who seek to do his will. I refuse to live the kind of life that poisons the lives of those I touch and leaves rot in the heritage of my descendants. I want my children and grandchildren to remember me with sweet thoughts because their dad, and granddad, sought to be righteous and love the Lord with all their hearts.

Prayer...

O Holy and Righteous Father, I want my character to be a blessing to my children and my children's children. Please give me wisdom, discernment, tact, honor, integrity, and compassionate holiness in all my actions, words, demeanor, and influence. May I provide a godly influence and a righteous memory for those in both my physical and spiritual families. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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 (NIV)

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, and hoard? Or will it be our God, who has shown himself faithful throughout generations upon generations? We get to choose! So what will be your choice? In what will you find your security?


Prayer...

Almighty God, you are the Father of Israel, God of the nations, and my Abba Father. I place my trust 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 so that I might bring you greater glory and those I love your gracious blessings. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Amen!! God is really so GOOD & GREAT!!!

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

— Romans 8:18 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Is it worth it? Oh yes! It's more than worth it. We can't begin to imagine the glory God has in store for us. No matter how hard, bad, or 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! But our future glory with God does mean that it is more than worth it to hang in, to be faithful, and to receive his glorious reward!

Prayer...

Father, I confess that I don't like suffering, pain, disappointment, persecution, 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. Strengthen me for the days ahead and use me to bring you glory no matter what my current situation may be. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

April 5, 2009


VERSE:
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

-- Philippians 4:5


THOUGHT:
Extravagant over-reaction! That's what we're programmed to seek
and to display in our modern world of sound bytes and over-hyped
personality. But gentleness, that moderating grace in the midst of
chaos and conflict, is so vital to bring the peace of God to
conflict-laden churches, families, and relationships. How can we be
gentle, how can we restrain from over-reacting to the wounds,
offenses, and slights that come our way? The Lord is near! He is
our vindication. He is our example. He is our comfort. He is our
hope. He is our strength. He is near. We are not alone and our
destiny, reputation, and value are not up to us to establish or to
defend.

PRAYER:
O LORD, my Father God, please be ever near me as I seek to be
your person of character in the middle of the chaos and conflict
around me. I ask that your presence be made known and that my
character reflect that presence in all that I do and say today, and
each day that follows. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

God Is GOOD!!!

Praise God! He never neglect or abandoned us... we just should follow the path!

VERSE:
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has
become for us wisdom from God -- that is, our righteousness,
holiness and redemption.

-- 1 Corinthians 1:30


THOUGHT:
God's grace has brought us into a saving relationship with Jesus
as our Lord and Savior. As believers, we recognize that Jesus'
sacrifice on the Cross was much more than a terrible miscarriage of
justice and the murder of a good and decent man. Jesus is God's
wisdom, a wisdom to convince us of his love. Jesus is our
righteousness; taking our sins upon himself he made us righteous.
Jesus is our ongoing holiness. His blood cleanses us at the
beginning and continues to do so today. Jesus is our holiness; his
death means our righteousness. Jesus is our ransom payment,
redeeming us from sin and death. Jesus is our everything!

PRAYER:
Almighty and Abba God, thank you for your holiness and
righteousness. Thank you for your gracious forgiveness. Mold in me
a heart like your Son's heart. Make from me a more usable vessel
for your Kingdom work. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.[u][i]

VERSE:
...present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.

-- Philippians 4:6-7

THOUGHT:
What guards your heart? What protects your mind? Did you know
that the peace of God can stand guard over our hearts and minds?
That's the apostle Paul's promise to us in this passage. If we will
present our requests to God, with thanksgiving, then God's peace
that is greater than any explanation and that transcends our
ability to comprehend it, will stand sentry over our hearts and
minds. You want an example of how this is true? Look at the book of
Job: All that befalls him; all that wounds him. Yet still he
doesn't become hard of heart or go insane. What is the key to his
survival? His ongoing conversation with the LORD. He will not
relinquish that relationship no matter how badly he hurts, how much
he is confused, nor how badly he is ridiculed.

PRAYER:
Father, I need your peace. There are wounds that pierce my
heart, but I don't want it to become hardened and callused. There
are times my mind is so confused that I fear I may lose my
rationality. Dear Father, I trust that as I cling to Jesus, and as
I speak openly with you about my life and your grace, that you will
bless me with your peace and will protect my heart and my mind from
destruction. Thank you, dear Father, for the reminder that even as
I struggle with my troubles, I also need to give you thanks for all
the good things that you have blessed me with in my life and my
walk with you! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

VERSE:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have
plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every
situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or
in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
-- Philippians 4:12-13

THOUGHT:

Life is full of ups and downs. So much of what we hold dear can
be touched by death, disaster, and decay. What do we have that is
certain? To whom can we turn for assurance? Where do we find the
power to live victoriously in good times and bad? In the Lord who
gives us strength!

PRAYER:

O LORD God, Father of all creation, I confess that my life and
the circumstances in which I try to live it are beyond my ability
to control. I thank you for being present to comfort, protect,
guide, and empower me to face each situation with confidence and
assurance. Because you are with me, O loving Shepherd, I know I
will have all I need to live victoriously for you until the day I
go to share with you in your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

VERSE:

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
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THOUGHT:

Trust. It can't be half-hearted. Either it is full trust or it
is clouded with suspicion. So as we face the everyday challenges of
life, or as we look for answers for 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 so that our paths may be straight.
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.

PRAYER:

O LORD, my Lord, I place my trust in you. Please guide my steps
as I seek to bring you glory. Help me in the decisions 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, with my friends, and among my
co-workers. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.