Today's Verse - Psalm 119:130

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

—Psalm 119:130

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Years ago, before GPS, driving to a distant place required a map, and sometimes several maps. As you journeyed to that place, the route became increasingly more straightforward as you unfolded the map and found your destination. Sometimes the right path is not so difficult to find; we need to know where to begin our search. We need to unfold our map by reading God's words. As we unfold them, the way we should travel in life becomes increasingly clearer. The right way is very seldom just the property of the bright, wise, and scholarly; it can be very clear for any of us who choose to look for it in God's words, and then unfold them so God can get us to his destination for us.

My Prayer...

O holy Father, thank you for making your will known through your words in Scripture. Bless me as I open your Word, as I listen to your words, and as I focus on your will. I ask that the Holy Spirit guide me in understanding those words and that the Spirit lead me as I seek to live your will. May I find not only the answer to my questions, but also find you and your precious will as I unfold your words. In Jesus' precious 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 - Jeremiah 33:2-3

This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it — the LORD is his name: Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

—Jeremiah 33:2-3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

In a universe of billions of stars, think of the power of God who made them and knows each of their names. Think of all he knows that we don't. Think of all he has seen that is not in our history books. Think of all he has done and can do and will do. Add to this that he invites us to speak to him about the things of our hearts and understands what is in our hearts. He even allows us to ask him to reveal to us what we don't know. And he invites each of us to come to know him (John 17:3) - not just know about him, but to know him! He invites us to become his children (John 1:12-13), and he promises to let us share in his glory (Colossians 3:2-4). Ah! This LORD is incredible, so let's ask him the great and unsearchable things we do not know!

My Prayer...

Almighty God, there are so many things about which I am incredibly ignorant. There are so many things in my world that I can't comprehend. There are so many things about you that I long to know, but I can't even begin to imagine. Please, dear Father, give me more of you. Help me get to know you better so that I may know you more completely. Help me know what you would like me to know. I readily confess: you are beyond me, so please be gentle with my limitations as you reveal your majesty and greatness. I look forward with anticipation to knowing you - the Unsearchable and the Almighty God, my Abba Father, whom I will get to know face-to-face in glory. In Jesus' name, I anticipate this day with great expectation. 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 - 1 Samuel 16:7

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

—1 Samuel 16:7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Have you ever wondered how many potentially good friends you may have lost simply by judging them on your first impression of them? And how many people that you looked at that seemed to be remarkable, ended up turning out to be not very good people? I'm amazed at how the first impression we have of many people very seldom tells us much about their substance. We're not really going to be able to evaluate people properly until the LORD reveals what is really in their hearts at judgment. But we also know that what comes out of people's mouths and what we see in their behavior emanate from their hearts (Matthew 15:18-19). Over time, we do get to see what their hearts are about: their hearts reveal the person inside them. So, don't you think that we should give people time to reveal what is in their hearts before we decide about them? Let's not judge people prematurely by their outward appearances; let's give them time to reveal their hearts! And let's remember that God knows and will judge each of us by our hearts, and not by our appearances (Proverbs 16:2, 17:3).

My Prayer...

Father, you alone know each heart. Please help me be more patient with others before forming an opinion about them. Please give me eyes to see them as Jesus does and treat them as I would love to be treated. Father, I don't want to make preliminary judgments about people, good or bad. Please help me be patient as I wait to see their hearts come to light in the way they talk to others and in their behaviors. 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.