Today's Verse - Romans 8:14

...those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

—Romans 8:14

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The Holy Spirit is God's seal of ownership on us (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30), showing that we are his. The Spirit lives in us, and his presence in us means we are God's holy temples (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The Spirit works to transform us to be more like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). The Spirit helps us produce the virtues of Christ — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22-23). The Spirit intercedes for us when we pray, communicating the groanings of our hearts when we don't have words that express how we feel (Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit fills us with power when we worship (Ephesians 1:17-20, 3:20-21, 5:18-20). In addition, the Spirit is our assurance that we are God's children. We are his. His future, his blessings, and his grace are eternally ours.

My Prayer...

Dear Father, thank you so much for living inside me through your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the assurance of your love, your presence, your power, and your guidance as I try to make the decisions and face the challenges of my daily life. Dear Father, as I yield my heart and my will to your Spirit's transforming grace and power, please help me develop more of your character and more completely display your grace today as I face the tasks before 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 - John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

—John 15:13

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Words can communicate and explain some of how we feel about others. We can even tell someone we love them. We can explain how precious they are to us. However, our actions will either validate and confirm our love or reveal that our words are false. When we sacrifice ourselves, however, and give up our wishes, our preferences, and our lives for our friends, we give the greatest of all gifts and prove our love beyond any doubt. I had an outstanding professor who loved to say, "We must put our lives where our mouths are." Jesus did just that for us on the cross: he called us his friends (John 15:14-15), then he showed his love for us. Now, Jesus calls us to love each other as Jesus has loved us — not just with our words but also with our deeds (1 John 3:16,18).

My Prayer...

Father, thank you for loving me enough to send Jesus as a ransom for my sins. Jesus, thank you for your loving sacrifice that not only saves me, but shows me the full extent of your love. Now I ask the Holy Spirit to pour that love into my heart* so I can love others as Jesus has loved me. In the name of my LORD Jesus, I thank you. Amen.

---

* Romans 5:5.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 - Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

—Proverbs 3:11-12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Discipline is considered onerous, irritating, and unnecessary. The lazy and sinful parts of us want no boundaries, even if they are good. We resist any guardrails to our behavior because we do not wish to receive any direction that might conflict with what we want to do. But the LORD disciplines out of love to bless us. It is a sign of his delight in us. Why? Because he is not content to leave us unchanged, unmotivated, and disinterested in what real life is. He does not want to see us deceived, misled, or captured by the evil one's lying ways. He wants to move us closer to our goal: Jesus, and our eternal destiny with our LORD!

My Prayer...

I confess, Righteous Father, that I don't like discipline. However, Father, deep down, I know that your discipline is for my spiritual good and eternal blessing. Please help me better understand and use the situations in my life that you use to discipline me, so that I can become more like Jesus, in whose 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.