Today's Verse - Joshua 1:9

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

—Joshua 1:9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

While these words were spoken to Joshua when he took over for Moses as Israel's leader, they are also applicable to us. Take a moment and read Psalm 139 out loud and see that God's promise to be with us is for all who truly call upon him. Listen to Jesus' words in Matthew 28:18-20, as he promises his disciples to be with them always, even to the close of the age. Remember God's promise, declared in an Old Testament blessing and reiterated in Hebrews 13:5: "Never will I leave you, never will I desert you!" So, let's be strong; our God, our Father, our Shepherd is always near, even if it doesn't seem so. We cannot go anywhere without his presence being near us and in us. We are not alone. We don't have to be afraid. We can have great courage; not even death can separate us from his love (Romans 8:35-39).

My Prayer...

Be near, dear Father, not just in your promises or in your spiritual presence, but also in my awareness. I need to know you are near when I respond to the incredible opportunities you place before me. I need to be confident in your help and sustaining love as I face the rigorous challenges in my life. O, LORD, I trust in your unfailing love, so I commit to being strong and courageous because you are with me. In Jesus' name, I declare this faith. 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

For 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...

What is the greatest tool to repair the human heart? ...by-pass surgery? ...angioplasty? ...artificial heart? ...transplant? How about the word/Word of God? You see, while these other techniques can be of great aid to the physical hearts of people, God's tool for spiritual heart surgery is his word (the Scriptures) and his Word (his Son). This sharp scalpel of the Scriptures can reach the soul and spirit as well as being a physical blessing. The tender touch of the Son can heal our deepest wounds. So how much of your heart are you offering to God? How frequently are you offering him your inner self to receive his powerful heart-healing touch? As you open God's Scripture and hear the message of God preached, ask for the Holy Spirit to help you understand, apply, and put into practice what is being taught. As you deal with life's heart-battering realities, invite God's Word, the Son, to minister to your inner being. Let's offer ourselves to God so that his word (the Scriptures), and his Word (the Son), can do their work in us and adjust our thoughts and attitudes to align with our Father's.

My Prayer...

Holy God, I ask that as I open your Scriptures and hear your Word preached and taught, the Holy Spirit penetrate my heart and convict me of sin, discomfort me in areas where I need growth, and stir me in areas where I need motivation to be more like Jesus. I also ask that I commit to honor your Word, the Son, minister to the tender places of my heart with grace and mercy. In the name of the LORD Jesus Christ. 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 107:9

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

—Psalm 107:9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The Bible cries out with an essential and recurring truth: God quenches the thirst and satisfies the hunger of those who genuinely seek him. Jesus even said in his Sermon on the Mount:

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

We try to soothe the ache in our souls and fill the emptiness in our hearts with what is only a temporary satisfaction - an ache and emptiness that only God's presence can fill. Let's refuse every false satisfaction and tempting distraction and truly seek the LORD who alone can satisfy our spiritual thirst and fill the emptiness and hunger of our hearts. There IS a God-shaped hole in all of us that only he can fill!

My Prayer...

Forgive us, dear Father, for trying to find the satisfaction for our souls' hunger in what is not truly sustaining or satiating. We confess the areas of temptation that most often leads us to stumble into false satisfaction - sex, status, possessions, economic security, chemical dependency, busyness, abusing food, buying new stuff, body identity, or a host of other possible vulnerabilities - are all too true in us. As we seek you, dear LORD, please make your presence known as you satisfy our spiritual thirst and satiate our souls' deep hunger. In the name of Jesus, our LORD, we 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.