Today's Verse - Psalm 94:18-19

When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

—Psalm 94:18-19

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We are amazed at the vastness of God's reach, the awesome breadth of his power, and the glorious sweep of his majesty. An additional truth is God's personal nearness, tenderness, and attentiveness to our needs - his continual support and consolation. Our Father chooses to know us and be actively involved in the trials and triumphs we face each day. Imagine how today and every tomorrow will be different because we are aware of his presence and certain of his companionship in our lives. Realize the difference knowing that God supports us when our feet slip and how near God's consolation is when our anxiety and fear rise in our hearts. God, the Master of all creation, knows each of us and intervenes in each of our lives to support and console us!

My Prayer...

Loving God, you are everywhere yet always near. Please, dear Father, hear my heartfelt love and appreciation for you. I am overwhelmed at your presence near me and within me. You provide me comfort when I am under siege; you offer me strength when I am weak; you give me courage when I am under attack; and you instill hope when all seems hopeless. These gifts of your presence are precious to me. Without your presence, I would not know where to go or why I am here. Thank you for knowing me and loving me. Dear Father, I look forward to knowing you one day as you know me today (1 John 3:2-3; 1 Corinthians 13:12). In Jesus' name, I revel in your grace, rejoice in your presence, and reawaken to your companionship with me each day. 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 8:32

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, give us all things?

—Romans 8:32

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

If God gave up his Son to save us, what will he not do to bless, guide, and keep us? That's Paul's point in our verse today. God bought us out of bondage to sin, death, and hell so that now we are holy to him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul was telling the Corinthians that God's overflowing grace should motivate us toward holiness, living wholeheartedly and unabashedly for God while using our bodies to glorify him as a temple to God in the Holy Spirit. In our verse for today, Paul is seeking to motivate us to live for God while also giving us assurance. God was gracious to redeem us when we were undeserving (Romans 5:6-11). Now that we are his children and seeking to honor him, we can trust that he is doing everything to bring his salvation in us to completion! God's initial grace saves us while his ongoing grace blesses us continuously. Isn't it amazing how God's grace is such a multifaceted and ongoing blessing to us?!

My Prayer...

Almighty God, I am overwhelmed by your sacrificial love offered to me in Jesus. As your Spirit comforts, encourages, and moves me toward holiness, I revel in the assurance of your continual outpouring of grace as you lead me toward the full realization of salvation, a salvation you long to grace me with your continuous blessings in my life. In Jesus' glorious name, I pray and thank you. 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 - Psalm 42:8

By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me — a prayer to the God of my life.

—Psalm 42:8

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

I have always loved music. To this day, songs help unlock the part of me that is most open to God. Songs help me declare my love for him and offer my praise to him. But as the psalmist said so many centuries ago, and I find it is still true for me today: his song is with me at night, especially on those nights when sleep is hard to find and I need reassurance of his love. Even when I can't remember what I dreamed the previous night, I often awaken to a praise song that had been sung over me (Zephaniah 3:17), with me, and by me in my sleep - "...at night his song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life ... the LORD [who] directs his love" to me!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

O God of my life, thank you for music and song. Thank you for giving me so many good things to sing joyfully to you, about you, and with you. Thank you for hearing my heart when I sing, not just my words or the song's melody, but my heart. I long, dear Father, for the day I get to hear you sing over me personally, and as I join the heavenly chorus around your throne praising you. Until then, please fill my life, and especially my nights, with your songs. Through Jesus, I ask and pray for this grace to continue. 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.