Today's Verse - Deuteronomy 7:9

The Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

—Deuteronomy 7:9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God is faithful to his promises and his people. He fulfilled every promise with a great "Amen!" in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:18-20). His covenant is far more than a set of agreements between a god and his people. God's covenant with us is a covenant of love. He will not forsake us or abandon us (Hebrews 13:5-6; Romans 8:32-39). He will treat us better than we deserve, just as a loving parent treats a rebellious child better than she or he deserves. We must tune our hearts to beat in honor of God as our God. We must not treat him as a good luck charm, a bellhop to bring us our every wish, or our weekly guest we occasionally invite to visit in the margins of our otherwise busy lives. What we do must be done with an awareness and intention that what we have done has been done before him, to honor him! As we do these things, God is faithful. He will uphold his covenant to love us, forgive us, restore us, and empower us until he brings us home to be with him.

My Prayer...

Faithful God, thank you for loving me so sacrificially and steadfastly. Thank you for keeping your promises to the Israelites and for bringing Jesus just as you promised. I trust your promise to send him back to bring me home to you. Until then, please receive the deeds and words of this day as my thanks to you for your covenant of love with me and those who love Jesus. In the name of Jesus, your gift of love, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - 1 Peter 3:15

In your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

—1 Peter 3:15

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Peter, the great apostle, is calling us to be ready and able to tell folks about the hope that Jesus has brought into our lives. This must be an "always readiness" because we don't know when the opportunity to share our hope may come our way. Two things are incredibly important as we share this hope:

• Our Credibility: Is Jesus really LORD of our hearts or not? The reality of our passion, or lack of passion, for Jesus' lordship in our lives will shine through in our daily lives, as well - the way we treat people, the language we use, our hope for the future, and our kindness to those who need grace.
• Our Character: Do we show gentleness and respect in the way we approach and treat others, especially those who question us? The goal is not to win arguments but to win hearts to the grace and goodness of God through our daily lives.

My Prayer...

Holy and Loving Father, thank you for speaking your grace into my heart through the gift of Jesus. I'm not sure I would have heard any other message. Please give me the conviction to share my hope in Jesus passionately, yet in ways that reflect your grace, patience, and kindness. Through Jesus, my Living Hope, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - 2 Timothy 1:9

God has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

—2 Timothy 1:9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"Before the beginning of time!"
How do you understand when that was? God first thought of us at a time we cannot even begin to imagine. His reason for thinking of us was to demonstrate his kindness, grace, and call in our lives and to bring others to his side. Jesus has always been God's plan, and we have always been his goal for that. Let's make sure we respond by living his holy life in our day-to-day world.

My Prayer...

Thank you so much, Father, for knowing me and thinking of my needs even before there was a world. I dedicate this day and every day that follows to your honor as I seek to live a life that reflects your righteousness, holiness, mercy, and grace. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.