Today's Verse - Psalm 33:12

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.

—Psalm 33:12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Each of us needs to ask ourselves: "Who or what is the god of our culture and nation?" Certainly, our God is the LORD, the King of Israel and Redeemer of the lost. He is the King of all nations, yet he is not always valued as God in our nations. In the hearts of all people, we are far from "one nation under God," but God is LORD of all nations. So, we can pray for revival to sweep our lands. We can repent for not placing him first in our own lives. He has promised to respond if we humble ourselves and seek him as a people, a church, and a nation (2 Chronicles 7:14). So, let's commit to humbling ourselves as we come to God in prayer, and then invite others to join us, to meet Jesus, to know our Father, to be filled with the Spirit, and to be made one with the "ruler of the Kings of the earth" (Revvelation 1:5).

My Prayer...

LORD, God of the heavens and Father of all nations, we humble ourselves before you today, acknowledging our personal sins and the sins of our people. We pray that you will revive us by the power of your Word and through the sanctifying power of your Spirit. Please bring renewal and revival to our land so that you can be glorified, and so peoples that you love can come to you through Jesus and be one. In the name of Jesus, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we ask this. Amen.

Today's Verse - Proverbs 14:34

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

—Proverbs 14:34

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Wow, what an indictment, so please bear with me as we think through this and open our hearts to God.
When we vote our pocketbook more than character, and when we excuse the indiscretions, infidelities, and illegalities in the leaders of any political party, we have reached a very sad state indeed! When we ignore the anti-biblical stands politicians and their parties make to vote for a candidate because we hate the other candidate, we give the future away to godlessness. So, what do we do? We can and should pray for wisdom when we go to the polls. But there is a more important issue for each of us. Before we rant and rave about the sad state of morality and ethics in our public officials, let's make sure we're honest with ourselves about the sin in our own daily lives. What do we do in private when we think no one is looking? What corners are we willing to shave off of holiness and honesty to justify our indiscretions, falsehoods, lusts, and distortions? Do we say cruel things and gossip about others behind their backs? Are we faithful to our marriages? Do our hearts seek purity more than security? Do we treat others who serve us with dignity and respect? Is our word trustworthy, empty of malice, while being full of kindness? Let's make sure we expect higher standards of ourselves than we do of others. Let's also live to bless our nation through our righteous living. Let's seek to be sinless, bringing honor to God and his people. Then, let's ask our officials, politicians, and church leaders to do the same.

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Father, we honor you as the only true, living, almighty, and holy God! We join the angels of heaven in saying, "Holy, holy, holy are you, the LORD God Almighty." May we bring you glory through what we think, say, and do. Please forgive us of our sins as we seek to banish hypocrisy from our character. Please bless us with purity, righteousness, holiness, compassion, and love as we pledge ourselves to live for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Jeremiah 17:9-10

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

—Jeremiah 17:9-10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus told us that what is in our hearts ultimately works its way out into our public lives (Luke 6:43-45). The wise man of Proverbs told us to guard our hearts because the heart is the wellspring of our lives (Proverbs 4:23). Jeremiah wants us to know that God knows our hearts. At Heartlight.org and verseoftheday.com, we want to stress the importance of what goes into our hearts because it really makes a difference in what goes on inside our hearts and heads, and what comes out in our lives as behaviors. Please, invite the LORD into what you do, plan, think, read, scroll, swipe, watch, and hear. Ask the LORD to remove deceit from you. Ask the Spirit to help you see if what you are doing is truly worthy of your time and interest as a child of God and one who lives for the Kingdom of heaven.

My Prayer...

Righteous Father, please help me guard my heart. Help me be wise enough not to place things into it that would rob it of its purity and devotion to you. I want to be holy through and through - body, soul, mind, and spirit. Please search me and help me remove everything that would steal my devotion from you and that would ruin my influence with others for you. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.