Today's Verse - Ephesians 4:26-27

"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.

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 - Romans 4:25

[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.

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 - Mark 4:24-25

"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.

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.