Today's Verse - Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

—Micah 6:8

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God's desires for us are not hard to discern. He wants to bless us with salvation. The incredible gift of his Son is a powerful testimony to this truth. Yet salvation from sin and death is not something he wants to happen in our lives just once. He wants our lives to reflect his salvation daily and to share that salvation with others by the way we live. When we act justly, pursue mercy in our relationships, and honor him with our worship from humble hearts, then God's salvation becomes real in our lives and impacts others with his grace. In the language of Jesus, we work for God's kingdom to come and will be done on earth, and in us, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10).

My Prayer...

Almighty and compassionate Father, as I embrace this New Year, help my eyes see what your heart sees. Teach me to hate sin and to be merciful to all who need mercy. Teach me to know truth and act fairly, while hating abuse and exploitation. As I reflect on the great distance between your holy majesty and my inconsistent and flawed character, I ask for the Spirit's help to fashion me to be more and more like Jesus with greater urgency. Make me wholly your child in word, thought, and deed. I pray this in Jesus' name and to become more like him. 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 - Titus 2:11-12

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age...

—Titus 2:11-12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

In a world that has chosen to have no absolutes and that seems to have abandoned any moral standards, salvation by the costly grace of the Father beckons us to change our lifestyles in response to his grace, regardless of society's values (1 John 3:1-3). All who receive grace and refuse to pursue righteousness demonstrate their ignorance or hardness of heart. In our day, in our time, to be saved must mean that we pursue righteousness - not so that we may earn our salvation, but so that God's saving grace will not be fruitless in us (1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:2). You see, to have Jesus as our Savior also means to have him as our LORD and we tune our lives to his will, his character, and his example.

My Prayer...

Holy Father, I confess that I live in a morally confused time. Satan is constantly distorting the distinction between right and wrong, good and evil, moral and immoral. Because you have been so gracious with me, may my life today reflect the righteousness you gave me through Jesus.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Through Jesus, my atoning sacrifice, 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 - Psalms 90:12

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

—Psalms 90:12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

So often we can look up and time has passed us by. The things we promised ourselves we'd accomplish and the deeds we told others we'd do, well, they get left undone or forgotten. Before we know it, days have become weeks, weeks have become months, and months have become years. We find ourselves unable to do what we once assumed we could do whenever we wanted. So, let's ask the LORD to use the Holy Spirit to help us see and seize the opportunities he places in our path, and let's embrace them with a sense of urgency that today is a day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Father, I confess that too often I leave undone what needs to be done, forget the commitments I have made, and lose track of people I intended to bless. Please help me see your plans for each day and live in a way that not only honors you but also blesses those you want me to reach. As your servant Moses prayed so many years ago:

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

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.