Today's Verse - Mark 12:30-31

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

—Mark 12:30-31

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Sometimes the most important things are not hard to understand. However, we must not treat these clear commands as simple. They challenge us to honor God with all we have, are, and dream. God wants us to love him with every fiber of our being and also to love those around us. All of his demands on our character boil down to honoring these two great principles that transcend law and bring the character of God to hearts. It all comes down to loving God and others with love that has hands and feet - it's something we not only feel, but we actively and sacrificially live in our daily lives.

My Prayer...

Almighty God, my heavenly Father, I love you. I love you for your plan to send your Messiah as a descendant of Abraham and David. I love you for your unfailing love. I love you for your listening grace that hears my humble prayers. I love you for sending Jesus and for starting your church. I love you, Almighty God, for your steadfast presence and love in my life. Now I ask the Holy Spirit to show my love for you by loving my neighbors. I love you, dear God, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Today's Verse - Proverbs 14:29

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

—Proverbs 14:29

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Responding to aggravation, threat, insult, irritation, and difficulty requires patience - great patience. Responding hastily out of anger is foolish. A hasty, unfiltered response seldom produces our desired long-term effect. This quick-tempered kind of response nearly always compounds the problems that need to be addressed. Patiently dealing with frustrating and painful situations shows our understanding and is nearly always more fruitful in the long run. Plus, the patient and wise approach can prevent the unnecessary loss of friendships, integrity, and respect.

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Father, I ask for patience and self-control. I know these virtues are part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit's presence in my life. I am inviting the Holy Spirit to have more impact on my heart as I look to how Jesus handled difficult situations in his life and ministry. Please give me the understanding and wisdom to keep my mouth shut until I have had an opportunity to pray and think about the issues and people involved, and only answer then. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

—Romans 8:28

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Bad stuff happens.
We face this reality every day because we live in a fallen world subject to decay and death. Plus, we live among people who are fallen, broken, and sinful - just as we are. Satan has a part to play in the bad stuff. Our sins and their consequences also play a part. The rebellion against God and the spiritual weakness in those we love bring hurtful things into our lives. Sometimes, God disciplines us to awaken us out of lethargy or correct some sinful problem in our lives. Yet in all these things, we have an incredible promise: If we love God and are seeking to honor his purpose in our lives, our Father in heaven will work out all of those things - the difficult ones and the great ones - going on in our lives to turn out for our ultimate good.

My Prayer...

Father, we appreciate your promise to work out all things in our lives toward our best good. We ask, dear Father, for faith to believe this promise is true during painful and difficult times we face. We ask for patience, O God, to hang on to our convictions when trying times persist and we don't understand why they are happening. We believe your promise, dear LORD, and look forward to what you will eventually make of us when you finish with your work in us. We will wait for the dawn of that glorious day with faith and hope. In Jesus' mighty name, we pray. Amen.