Today's Verse - Isaiah 40:31

Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and will not be faint.

—Isaiah 40:31

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

It is easy for us to live victoriously for the LORD when we are soaring on the wings of eagles. Things are going great. We can see the LORD at work in our life and good things are happening. It can be exciting when we run and don't grow weary doing the work of the LORD, buoyed by his power and presence, as the Holy Spirit shows up and makes us better than we really are. But it often takes real heroes to keep walking without fainting during trying times, attacks from the evil one, or oppressive criticism and opposition. So, dear friend of Jesus, please keep walking forward. Trust the Spirit of the living God is alive in you to empower you, more than you can even ask or think (Ephesians 1:17-20, 4:14-21). The LORD is with you, even when you most fear he has forgotten you. Keep walking, and as you do, may the LORD reveal his sustaining presence to you, in you, and through you!

My Prayer...

O, Majestic God, who spoke into existence the universe, whose voice holds together the great expanse of the heavens, give those who can barely walk forward with faith, the strength to continue as they face the stress and assaults of the evil one. I specifically want to pray for those I know personally who are facing trying times. Please, dear LORD, give them strength as I share their names with you, and meet their most pressing needs, and do your work through them in ways that they can see and experience. Through Jesus, who conquered Satan, sin, hell, and death. 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 121:7-8

The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

—Psalm 121:7-8

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

One of the great blessings and confidences we have in Jesus is that we do not live out our lives on our own, alone, unnoticed, and forgotten. The LORD of the universe is with us personally (Psalm 139:1-18). He holds our future and our safety in his hands. Our deliverance is assured, either deliverance from death - which means service to him and to others - or deliverance to him through death - which means freedom from the constraints of mortality and the battle with sin (Philippians 1:18-24). The LORD will never leave us, forsake us, or abandon us - we are more than conquerors in this life and into the next life because of Jesus (Hebrews 13:5-6; Romans 8:35-38).

My Prayer...

Mighty Protector, Rock of my salvation, thank you that I cannot go where you are not. Thank you for ensuring my life is hidden with Christ in you (Colossians 3:1-4). Make this assurance the motivating power in my life as I turn my future over to you and live obediently, today, to honor you. By the power of Jesus, I believe this, and I ask this in his name. 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 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.