Today's Verse - 1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

—1 John 4:18

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

There are many kinds of fear. Some fears are legitimate and based on threats to our physical safety. Some are fear based on things we only imagine could happen. Still, other fears are irrational and based on superstitions. Thankfully, as Christians, we don't have to fear the one crucial event in our life — standing before God in judgment. God's love saves us, empowers us, blesses us, works in us, and touches others through us. Once we understand God's overwhelming, sacrificial, and steadfast love, fear of our eternal future is gone. Having experienced God's love has the power to cast fear out of our hearts. We know where we stand with him. He is our loving Father who longs to bring us home!

My Prayer...

Holy, majestic, and awesome God, you are mighty in your strength. You are holy beyond comparison. You are righteous and fair in your dealings with your people. Most of all, dear Father, you do not deal with me as my sins deserve. You deal with me graciously, blessing me with your redeeming and transforming grace because of your love for me. Knowing your love gives me the confidence to live for you and to await the day I stand before you. Until that day, I offer you my thanks and praise and trust that as the Holy Spirit pours your love into my heart, it will drive out all fear.* In Jesus' holy name, I pray. Amen.

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*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 - 1 John 4:17

In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

—1 John 4:17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

When we live lovingly toward others as Jesus did, we can have the same confidence in the face of death our Savior did. We can place our spirits in the hands of God. We can trust our future to his grace. We don't have to worry about standing before God in judgment. However, our confidence is not in our personal achievements, religious efforts, or good deeds. Our confidence on the day of judgment is based on the work of our Savior and being joined to him and safeguarded with him in glory (Colossians 2:12-15; 3:1-4). His love has not only redeemed us from sin; it has changed us to trust him and live in his love. His love is not only a gift to us but also given through us. We can be confident because we know that Jesus' life is present in us until we stand with him in the presence of our Father.

My Prayer...

Holy Father, thank you for the power to love others. Thank you for the confidence your love gives me. You have done so much to save me. Thank you for your loving grace and my confidence in 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.

Today's Verse - 1 John 4:16

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

—1 John 4:16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We can rely on God's love because he demonstrated it by sending Jesus to save us (John 3:16-17). The Father wants us to live in and be blessed by his love. That love is more than just the grace that reached us when God saved us. We experience God's love when he extends it through us to others who need it. His love is redemptive and manifest — shown through our loving behaviors toward others. His presence is demonstrated and experienced through our loving attitudes, words, and deeds expressed to our brothers and sisters in Christ, our neighbors, and even our enemies. As we share God's love with others, his love blesses us as we experience the presence of the Father, Son, and Spirit, making their home in us (John 14:21, 23, 25).

My Prayer...

Father in heaven, I rely on your love. I cannot imagine my life without it; I would be lost entirely. However, I know you love me, Father. I am confident about my future because of that love. I am full of joy as I stand on tiptoe in my heart, looking over my life's horizon to the time I experience your love in its full glory at Jesus' coming and I see you face-to-face. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus' name, I thank and praise 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.