Today's Verse - Psalm 19:1-2

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

—Psalm 19:1-2

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God's voice is always speaking through his creation. His witnesses give testimony to his glory, majesty, and creative grace. The universe shouts with joy that behind its intricate beauty, astounding powers, and marvelous wonders is the One who gave it life, purpose, order, specificity, and intention. The apostle Paul said something similar when he wrote to the Corinthians:

...what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:19-20)

The Creator is magnificent and glorious. All his creation - with its vast expanses of the universe, dazzling array of stars and planets, intricate patterns of beauty, its incredible variety of species and terrain, and wonderful motion and forces - proclaim his glory!
Are we listening to the voice behind it all, or are we simply taking it for granted?

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

O Great God, Creator of the countless heavens and gracious one who tends to our own small blue planet, we thank you for noticing the heart-cry of each of us, even though we are so small in a universe so vast. We love you, admire you, trust you, and worship you with wonder at your greatness and grandeur. Your marvelous love, demonstrated to us in Jesus, silences us in the breathless wonder of your grace just as creation shouts to your glory about your marvelous work as Creator, in Jesus' 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 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.