Today's Verse - Psalm 91:1

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

—Psalm 91:1

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We are blessed to be as close to God as his shadow and to share in the comfort of his sheltering presence. He is not far from our hearts as we choose to draw near him. Sounding very much like the beatitudes of Jesus, Isaiah shares God's promise with us:

For this is what the high and exalted One says - he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite" (Isaiah 57; 15).

As we follow and obey Jesus, God - Father, Son, and Spirit - not only wants us close to him, but Jesus promises us that he will come to us in all three representations of himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He will reveal himself in us, to us, and make his home in us (John 14:15-18, 20, 23). God wants us as close to him as his shadow!

My Prayer...

O great Almighty God, my tender Shepherd and Abba Father, please make your nearness known to me as you make your presence real in me. I long to live in your presence as I try to reflect your holiness and grace. By Jesus' blood, I draw near to you in full assurance of your loving presence and accompanying grace. I want to dwell in your presence and live in your shadow as I reflect your gracious compassion and holy character. 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.

Today's Verse - Mark 8:36

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his very soul?

—Mark 8:36

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Advertising, easy online purchasing, and social media lead us to chase after so many worldly things. We feel like we're lacking if we don't have all this stuff, or thousands of likes, or all these friends and followers on social networks. However, only one thing is needful. Having a fist full of dollars, a post that has thousands of likes, a magnificent estate, and a lot of prestige don't mean a whole lot in life if we've gone to your eternal address without the LORD. Lying awake at night only to find ourselves in a barren place where Christ does not dwell, and life is not found, is horrifying - worse than our worst nightmare, horrifying and forever. Let's not lose our life, our soul, our meaning, to chasing after what is not lasting and can only satisfy for a moment until we achieve the next bigger and better thing.

My Prayer...

Father, help me keep my priorities in order, my life holy, my love genuine, my heart open to your will, and my desires free from covetousness for things that don't last. I ask for the Holy Spirit's help so my own self-seeking, greed, ambition, and pride do not blind me to what is most important in my life - my walk and my relationship with Jesus. In his precious name, I pray this, as I seek to find what is truly and lasting life. 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 5:25-26

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy.

—Ephesians 5:25-26

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

For husbands, there is sacrificial love in our purpose with our wives, and purpose in our sacrifice as we give up our wills to help our wives as they are molded to become more like Christ by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18) . We are to give up ourselves to actively love our wives. Jesus is our example here, and he gave up everything to serve and bless us (Mark 10:45). His example demonstrates our purpose in our relationship with our wives. Just as Jesus sought to make us holy and beautiful in God's sight, so also we should love our wives with that same purpose. Our motives are to be equally as sacrificial and pure in surrendering our rights to bless and love our wives (Philippians 2:6-9). As Paul reminds all believers, and specifically husbands in their relationship with their wives, that we, too, are to submit ourselves to bless our wives. This does not mean, however, spinelessness; it means service and sacrifice to bless and bring glory to Christ in how we love and serve the ladies in our lives!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Holy God, help our families to be full of love. May this loving service begin with me, today, in my family. 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.