Today's Verse - Psalm 90:2, 4

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

. . . For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

—Psalm 90:2, 4

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

So many things about our lives are uncertain. This one thing, however, is sure: no matter where, when, or how long, God will be there and will be with us and will be for us. He is the "I AM" - the one "who is, and who was, and who is to come" - of every past, present, and future moment (Revelation 1:8). He will not forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). We will never be separated from his love for us in Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Because God existed before anything was made (John 1:1-3), we can trust he will be with us when this form of creation ends, and when he ushers us into our eternal home with him forever. Hold fast, dear child of the eternal God, our Father has all of us, his children, in his "everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27-28).

My Prayer...

Everlasting Father, I find great comfort in knowing that I cannot be in a place or time where you are not. Stir my courage through your Spirit, that I may be bolder because of your power and presence. Help me to share the Gospel of Jesus with boldness, yet with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16), with those who need your hope. 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 - Ephesians 3:17-19

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide 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...

Love that surpasses knowledge is truly powerful, but difficult to explain. However, when you have loved your spouse for decades, and he or she is as close to you as any bodily organ, you experience what this means. Love that surpasses knowledge. You know each other, and each other's faults and weaknesses, but your love is deeper than when you first fell in love. When you love a child and do for them what you never dreamed you could do for another human being, you understand this phrase. Love that surpasses knowledge. And when you stand before God, adopted as a full heir of all his great riches (Romans 8:14, 16-17), a full sibling to Jesus Christ the LORD (Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-2), and Jesus presents you to the Father as holy, without reproach, and blameless (Colossians 1:22), you begin to understand this phrase. Love that surpasses knowledge.

My Prayer...

Holy and incredible God, help me to know in my soul the love that is greater than words and greater than knowledge, so that I may not only be like you, but that I may know you in experience just as I know you in faith. Thank you for loving me first, now use me to love others with a love that surpasses knowledge. Through Jesus, and by his authority, 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 - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

—1 Thessalonians 5:11

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

While Paul's exhortation here is excellent, it is the style of the exhortation we should especially notice. We live in an age where we are constantly pressured to emphasize the novel, new, or improved versions of things. But in our lives as Christians, our knowledge always exceeds our obedience - we very seldom live up to the truth we know, even though it is old truth and established truth. So, more often than we like to think, we need to remind each other of what we are doing that is right, good, obedient, and holy. Our words of affirmation and encouragement don't need to be elaborate or profound or novel or new. We can say, "Hey, you're doing well; just keep doing what you're doing! I know your Father in heaven is pleased with you!" Let's encourage each other and build each other up, as in fact some of us are already doing, and need to do so more and more.

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Faithful Father, thank you for noticing and keeping record of the things I've done that are good and pleasing to you. Thank you for choosing to forget those things you have forgiven me. Please help me to keep doing those things that please you, only help me do them better, more completely, so that you may be pleased and glorified. And, dear Father, help me see the good things others do, and encourage and affirm their goodness. I want to be the kind of disciple who catches people doing good things, then lets them know I appreciate them. In Jesus name and to become more JESUShaped, 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.