Today's Verse - Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

—Proverbs 22:6

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Children don't just need to be taught facts, truth, and school subjects; they need to be trained and prepared for life in the grace of God, the way of Jesus, and the leading of the Holy Spirit. This training should come from their parents and other faithful adults in their lives. Deep down, we know that life is not just about intellectual lessons and information. Authentic life and productive living are about integrating God's truth into the fabric of our daily lives as we teach them and model them before our children and the children God places under our influence. Our Father in heaven calls us to move our children and their training to the top of our list of priorities. Our children are forever; other things we invest our time in are temporary. So, let's recommit to training up children and living as examples before them so that they will follow the way of God their whole lives.

My Prayer...

Great and holy Counselor, please help me as I seek to know the best way to share your love and truth with my children and the children you have placed into my circle of influence. I want them to know and love you, respect you, honor you, and live for you. Please, dear Father, bless me with the wisdom and courage I need to make wise decisions on how to lead and discipline these children. I need your help to display tenderness toward these precious children as I seek to demonstrate your righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful love and justice in my daily life. In Jesus' name, I pray for your help. 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 95:6-7

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

—Psalm 95:6-7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Worship is more than our hearts, souls, and words offered to God. It also necessarily involves our physical bodies, our strength, and our posture (Mark 12:29-30). When we understand the grace God has given us to be called his children, what else can we do but bow down or kneel before him in his majesty and loving grace? We come to him, a conquering ruler, offering ourselves in full submission. God chooses, however, to treat us tenderly like a loving shepherd who longs to care for us, and our Abba Father who is full of tender love for us. We must not forget the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7) and the lost sons (Luke 15:11-32) as we pray this truth! Such grace leads us to bow and kneel in heartfelt worship before the LORD, our maker.

My Prayer...

Shepherd of my soul, my loving Abba Father, I come to you seeking your protection and rest as one of your sheep. I often find myself harried and driven by life's pressures and temptations. I come to you submitting myself to be used for your glory - not just today, but for the remainder of our lives because we want others to find their rest in Jesus. So we kneel, we bow, and we humble ourselves. 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 2:19

"You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household."

—Ephesians 2:19

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Those of us who have been Christians a long time sometimes forget that we have no claim or right to the grace that we have received. God offered his grace freely to all people who are willing to call on Jesus as LORD and Savior, then live for him wholeheartedly (Titus 2:11; Acts 2:21, 41, 16:22; Romans 10:13). When we feel we deserve our place in "God's household", that it is ours by right, we are no longer living under grace. To be a part of God's family is a gift. The Holy One who spoke into existence the universe - and we are a submicroscopic speck in comparison - has given us grace to be adopted into his family. Being part of God's people, God's household, is simply and magnificently a gift from the One who knows how to share grace in ways we can't even imagine.

My Prayer...

For the incredible and boundless love you have given to your other children and me, born anew, born from above, born of you, O God, we fall to our knees and thank you. Your power is beyond our comprehension. Your awesome holiness is beyond our understanding. Yet your infinite grace is ours because of your costly love and boundless grace through Jesus. Thank you. A million times over we say it, "Thank you!" In the name of Jesus, our 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.