Today's Verse - Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

—Psalm 46:10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

David's example as God's poet and psalmist King tells me that the promise of this verse is true (Psalm 37:7).
Jesus' example shows that this is true (Luke 5:16).
Faith helps me trust that this promise is true.
Reverent silences, as we pause amid the hectic rush of our busy lives, can daily remind us that this promise is as true today as it was centuries ago. So, let's make this promise a spiritual principle we bring into our daily lives. Let's be still, and know that God is God, not us!

My Prayer...

O Father in heaven, may your name be reverenced and held holy in my life and my world today. May your will be done, may your reign on earth come with power, might, and finality in my life, and please help me usher it into my world. I want it to come just as it is already real in heaven with you. As I yield my busyness and fretfulness to you, please create the yearning in my heart to be still in your presence and be nourished in the quiet silence of reverent stillness. In Jesus' name, and to be more like Jesus my Savior, 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 - Colossians 3:13

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

—Colossians 3:13

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Today's message is an important but very challenging message to obey. How can I forgive someone who has grievously sinned against me?
Maybe the better question may be: How can I not forgive a brother or sister for whom Christ died (Romans 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11), when I know what Jesus did to forgive me? How can I withhold that grace from others? In addition to our verse today, the Holy Spirit emphasized this principle several times in the New Testament Scriptures:

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15)
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mark 11:25)

These words from Jesus are powerful, but he even further dramatized the importance of this principle in the "Parable of the Unmerciful Servant" (Matthew 18:21-35). So, how do we live into this principle? How do we obey it when many of us have people who have sinned horribly against us?
Part of the answer lies in recognizing the enormous gift of forgiveness and salvation we have received. When we do that and recognize the costly grace we have received, we should be willing to extend grace. In addition, we can tap into the power of the Holy Spirit as followers of Jesus. We can ask for the Spirit to produce godly fruit in us that helps us forgive. Finally, we trust that while we may not have it in us to forgive on our own, with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:25-26).

My Prayer...

Holy Father, I commit today to release any grudge or bitterness that I have against one of your children. I am sorry for not reflecting your grace and mercy more, the grace that you lavished on me. Abba Father, I need the help of your Holy Spirit to relinquish my claim on the wrongs committed against me. Please empower me as I commit to following Jesus' example of forgiving (Luke 23:34), even when it is hard. Through Jesus 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 - Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus said, "Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

—Matthew 7:13-14

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Most people in the world want a Savior but not a LORD. The New Testament is clear, a Savior who is not LORD is no Savior and no friend. If the Old Testament showed us anything, it is that God's truth was written not for his fascination but for his people's preservation. Many people today, maybe even most, believe they are saved because they think their good deeds outweigh their bad ones. Jesus, however, is very clear: Most are lost and will not find their own way to salvation (Matthew 7:13-27). Only Jesus is the way to God (John 14:6), and no one can be saved except through Jesus (Acts 4:12). While Jesus longs to be the Savior of all people (John 4:42), he emphasizes that for him to be our Savior, we must also choose to live with him as our LORD. That means we are bearing fruit that displays his righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful lovingkindness in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). So, let's live that kind of life, enter through that narrow gate, and produce Jesus' style of holy fruit as we trust in him as our Savior and LORD!

My Prayer...

Holy LORD Jesus, please take control of my life and my will. I long to be wholly yours. I want you as my Savior and my LORD. I want to honor you, not just in word, but also in thought, word, and deed. Trusting you as my Savior and LORD, I offer you my heart, my life, and my all as I confess this before the Father and pray through you, LORD Jesus. 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.