Today's Verse - Romans 12:1

I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.

—Romans 12:1

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Because God went first and sacrificed his most precious gift, Jesus, to save us, he can ask us to surrender ourselves to him. Only one problem: The sorry ol' sacrifice wants to keep crawling off the altar. Let's admit it; talk of sacrifice and being a living sacrifice doesn't sound all that enticing. Except offering ourselves to God is where we find life and find what is most enduring about ourselves. As the famous missionary Jim Elliot profoundly put it: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." We offer ourselves, our will, our time, our heart, our commitment, to God each day because of what he has already done for us, and the greater things he has promised us in the future!

My Prayer...

Holy and Righteous Savior, I want to surrender my life, my body, and will to you. But I confess, there are little things (and maybe some big things) that I keep from ever placing on that altar. Things I don't want to give up. To the best of my ability, I will live for you today in a way that leaves nothing outside your Lordship and control. I offer you me - all that I have and am - to be yours today, and all the forever I have. In Jesus' name. 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 Peter 1:24-25

All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.

—1 Peter 1:24-25

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

As the seasons change, the leaves fall, and the grass dies, we are reminded once again of how short our lives actually are. Despite rapid advances in technology, our deepest needs are met only by the eternal, proven will of God in Scripture and through the gift of your Son, your Word in human flesh (John 1:1-3, 14-18). Whether you get your Scripture from the Bible on your mobile device or from an old family Bible, please access it today. You're not here forever, but God is! He wants to bring you close, so that with him, you can stand forever. We each need the blessing of eternal goodness from the well of the Holy Spirit's truth in Scripture (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

My Prayer...

As I age, I am constantly reminded, O God, of my transitory stay on earth and your eternal reign in heaven. Please give me the proper sense of my place before you as I seek your will in your Word, the Scriptures. In Jesus' name, I seek your truth and your character as 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 - Hebrews 4:12

The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

—Hebrews 4:12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

How often do you let God do major surgery on your spirit as the Holy Spirit uses God's Word to encourage, judge, motivate, convict, instruct, and inspire you? Open the Bible. Search the Scriptures. Find Jesus in the four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. With such a great tool so readily at hand for most of us, let's not let a day go by without inviting God to use his words on our hearts and inviting the Holy Spirit to give us understanding as he leads us to become more like Jesus.

My Prayer...

Almighty God, your will is my heart's desire. But I also realize I need to be fed more consistently by your Word in Scripture and conformed to your ultimate Word, Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). Please give me strength and consistency in my walk with you through your Scriptures. I open my heart and will to your Spirit, so please inspire me to change what needs to be changed, convict me of what I need to be convicted about, and encourage me when I need encouragement. I turn to you and trust in your Scriptures and the LORD Jesus to lead me to your life. I pray in the name of your ultimate Word, Jesus of Nazareth. 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.