Today's Verse - Matthew 16:25

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

—Matthew 16:25

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The key to life is letting go of ourselves and welcoming Jesus and his will into our lives. Please don't forget to relinquish your life to the one who gave up his own life for you. You see, he took it back up again, just so that when we lose our lives to him, we can have them back forever with him. Listen to this glorious promise from the apostle Paul to the Colossians that underscores Jesus' promise:

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, you also will appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4).

Yes, let's lose our lives to Christ to receive back life forever!

My Prayer...

Holy God, I believe that Jesus is LORD, your Son, Immanuel, God with us, my Savior and King. I long for his life to be made visible in mine to your glory. So, dear Father, I willingly offer up my life to live for your glory, to follow Jesus, and to be transformed into becoming more JESUShaped (2 Corinthians 3:18). In the name of the LORD Jesus, 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 - Leviticus 19:18

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

—Leviticus 19:18

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Hanging on to bitterness and keeping alive grudges is consuming and exhausting work. It leaves little energy for blessing others, praising God, or enjoying life. The only way to overcome a bitter heart toward others is to actively love and serve them in ways that bless their lives, as we ask God to help us forgive them. If we can't do this because it's hard to feel like it is the right thing to do, let's do it because we know God and want to please him. After all, Jesus said that how we let go of the sins and grudges we have toward others is how God will choose to deal with our sins and failures (Matthew 6:14-15). So, dear brother or sister in Christ, let's forgive because we have been blessed with mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). When we love others, we find the Spirit empowering us to become ever more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18), our LORD and Savior!

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My Prayer...

Father of light, love, and mercy, please remove from my heart any cynicism toward others who dislike me or hurt me. Please remove any delight in seeing others around me fail when they have wanted me to fail. Instead, please use me as a friend rather than an enemy, a helper rather than a detractor, a person who forgives rather than one who holds a grudge. I want your grace to be seen in my friendships and the way I let go of offenses committed against me. In Jesus' 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.

Today's Verse - Jeremiah 23:24

"Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord.

—Jeremiah 23:24

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

There is no hiding from God, but for those who willingly and joyously seek him, there is great comfort, power, and hope in knowing that his presence is ever with us. He promises never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). David beautifully praises God for his abiding presence in Psalm 139. He wants us to remember that God is with him, and that God's presence goes with us from conception to death, and even beyond. God knew us in the womb. He guides us daily and regularly in our lives. He is willing to go with us to the farthest reaches of our existence, and he always longs to be near us and to be for us.

My Prayer...

El Shaddai, God Almighty, God of the Mountains, Jehovah Jireh, God our constant Provider, please be my source of strength as I seek to abide in your presence and walk with you in every moment of my days. I seek to acknowledge your might, love, mercy, power, strength, and grace in all I do and everywhere I go. Please, dear Father, don't just bless me with your presence; please use me to bless others so they can find their place in your plan for their lives. In the name of Jesus, my LORD and Savior, 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.