Today's Verse - Psalm 27:14

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

—Psalm 27:14

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

If there is anything we don’t like to do, it is to wait. Maybe that is why God is so interested in us learning to do it - to learn to prayerfully wait on him. There is something purifying about remaining strong in tough times and remaining faithful when ill winds blow. So God gives us times to wait on him to see whether our search is really about him or merely looking for an easy way out of our messes. I don't know about you, but I am going to wait on the LORD because that's where my future, my hope, and my strength will come from.

My Prayer...

Loving Father, I know you have waited patiently for me so many times - for me to show my faith, repent of my sins, grow in holiness, come to you in prayer, act more maturely, give to those who cannot return my grace and care, and you have waited on me for so many other things and in so many other times. Thank you! Thank you for waiting! Now please help me be strong and take heart as I wait for you to show me your way to handle my decisions, act to meet my needs, reveal your presence in my loneliness, and let me see your coming deliverance. I really do seek you with all my heart. So, dear Father, in Jesus' name, I wait and trust in you. 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 25:14-15

The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

—Psalm 25:14-15

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Where does true deliverance come from? Only from God. Deliverance is found in God through deep reverential respect for his holiness and strength, through living faithfully in covenant relationship with him, and through maintaining our focus and dependence upon him. Any other roads to deliverance are false shortcuts that ultimately prove themselves to be a snare. Like the tightrope walker whose eyes are not on the ground or the surroundings, but on the rope in front of him where he will walk, so too our eyes must be on the LORD. Only by looking to him will he lead us to safety and from the snares of the one who longs to have us and destroy us. Our eyes must be ever on the LORD because we trust that he will lead us away from "temptation" and "deliver us from the evil one" (Matthew 6:13).

My Prayer...

Precious Father, you have done so much to save me. You, who are so holy and righteous, have reached down to take my hand when I was a sinner and in rebellion against your love (Romans 5:8-11). You saved me by your grace. Now, please teach me your ways. Please correct the wrongs in my life. Please guide me into the ways of your truth. I want to be saved not only from my past sins, but also from days of uselessness, vanity, and frustration. So I offer myself to you as a vessel to be used to honor you. 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 - Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

—Psalm 19:14

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God does so much for us. He is the Rock and Redeemer that undergirds our lives. He is the One who has saved us from sin and death. Our worship comes from our gratitude for what he has done, recognition of who he is, and anticipation of what he is going to do. But worship can never be compartmentalized to just fit into church places or quiet times (Colossians 3:16-17). Worship involves every aspect of life (Hebrews 12:28-13:16). That is why it is so important to tune our hearts so the words of our mouths and the motives of our hearts align with God's will and work. Then our private worship, whether alone in quiet or in a group with fellow believers, becomes the tuning fork for our hearts and lives so that our public worship, our lives lived out in the world, will play the song of God to a world that has not yet heard or learned his tune of loving grace.

Video Commentary...

ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos

My Prayer...

O Holy and Almighty God, I want this day to be a day of worship and honor to you. May my life praise you: not just in my thoughts, not just in my words, and not just in my songs, but also in my actions. In the name of 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.