Today's Verse - Habakkuk 3:19

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

—Habakkuk 3:19

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

In a horribly turbulent, violent, and dangerous time for the children of God, the prophet Habakkuk confidently said, "The LORD is my strength!"
Wow, what faith. Wow, what power we have in the LORD's abiding and empowering presence. Even in the worst of times, we are an enabled people. Unfortunately, we often forget the power available to us as disciples of Jesus. That's why I believe we need to pray Paul's prayer for fellow believers in our day, especially those brothers and sisters caught in a hard time:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
. . .
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

Yes, because of the power given to us, we can confidently say, "The LORD is my strength!"

My Prayer...

Sovereign God and Almighty Father, I pray today, asking that you not only be my strength, but be the strength of those I love who are battling depression, grief, and despair. I ask your blessings, especially and specifically for these people... (Speak the name of several you want to pray for by name, here!)
O, dear Father, I pray that together, we may...

...know the hope to which [you have called us], the riches of [your] glorious inheritance in [your] holy people, and [your] incomparably great power for us who believe..

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 90:2, 4

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

. . . For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

—Psalm 90:2, 4

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

So many things about our lives are uncertain. This one thing, however, is sure: no matter where, when, or how long, God will be there and will be with us and will be for us. He is the "I AM" - the one "who is, and who was, and who is to come" - of every past, present, and future moment (Revelation 1:8). He will not forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). We will never be separated from his love for us in Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Because God existed before anything was made (John 1:1-3), we can trust he will be with us when this form of creation ends, and when he ushers us into our eternal home with him forever. Hold fast, dear child of the eternal God, our Father has all of us, his children, in his "everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27-28).

My Prayer...

Everlasting Father, I find great comfort in knowing that I cannot be in a place or time where you are not. Stir my courage through your Spirit, that I may be bolder because of your power and presence. Help me to share the Gospel of Jesus with boldness, yet with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16), with those who need your hope. 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 - Ephesians 3:17-19

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

—Ephesians 3:17-19

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Love that surpasses knowledge is truly powerful, but difficult to explain. However, when you have loved your spouse for decades, and he or she is as close to you as any bodily organ, you experience what this means. Love that surpasses knowledge. You know each other, and each other's faults and weaknesses, but your love is deeper than when you first fell in love. When you love a child and do for them what you never dreamed you could do for another human being, you understand this phrase. Love that surpasses knowledge. And when you stand before God, adopted as a full heir of all his great riches (Romans 8:14, 16-17), a full sibling to Jesus Christ the LORD (Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-2), and Jesus presents you to the Father as holy, without reproach, and blameless (Colossians 1:22), you begin to understand this phrase. Love that surpasses knowledge.

My Prayer...

Holy and incredible God, help me to know in my soul the love that is greater than words and greater than knowledge, so that I may not only be like you, but that I may know you in experience just as I know you in faith. Thank you for loving me first, now use me to love others with a love that surpasses knowledge. Through Jesus, and by his authority, 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.