Today's Verse - Leviticus 19:18

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

—Leviticus 19:18

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Hanging on to bitterness and keeping alive grudges is consuming and exhausting work. It leaves little energy for blessing others, praising God, or enjoying life. The only way to overcome a bitter heart toward others is to actively love and serve them in ways that bless their lives, as we ask God to help us forgive them. If we can't do this because it's hard to feel like it is the right thing to do, let's do it because we know God and want to please him. After all, Jesus said that how we let go of the sins and grudges we have toward others is how God will choose to deal with our sins and failures (Matthew 6:14-15). So, dear brother or sister in Christ, let's forgive because we have been blessed with mercy, grace, love, and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). When we love others, we find the Spirit empowering us to become ever more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18), our LORD and Savior!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Father of light, love, and mercy, please remove from my heart any cynicism toward others who dislike me or hurt me. Please remove any delight in seeing others around me fail when they have wanted me to fail. Instead, please use me as a friend rather than an enemy, a helper rather than a detractor, a person who forgives rather than one who holds a grudge. I want your grace to be seen in my friendships and the way I let go of offenses committed against me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Jeremiah 23:24

"Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord.

—Jeremiah 23:24

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

There is no hiding from God, but for those who willingly and joyously seek him, there is great comfort, power, and hope in knowing that his presence is ever with us. He promises never to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). David beautifully praises God for his abiding presence in Psalm 139. He wants us to remember that God is with him, and that God's presence goes with us from conception to death, and even beyond. God knew us in the womb. He guides us daily and regularly in our lives. He is willing to go with us to the farthest reaches of our existence, and he always longs to be near us and to be for us.

My Prayer...

El Shaddai, God Almighty, God of the Mountains, Jehovah Jireh, God our constant Provider, please be my source of strength as I seek to abide in your presence and walk with you in every moment of my days. I seek to acknowledge your might, love, mercy, power, strength, and grace in all I do and everywhere I go. Please, dear Father, don't just bless me with your presence; please use me to bless others so they can find their place in your plan for their lives. In the name of Jesus, my LORD and Savior, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - 2 Thessalonians 3:3

The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

—2 Thessalonians 3:3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

It's amazing to me how Satan knows our personal weaknesses and vulnerabilities - those sins that can especially wound and disable us from the work Christ Jesus. It's amazing to me that he knows how best to tempt us. Let's commit to silently supporting each other in prayer daily, believing the promise that God is faithful and will strengthen and protect us from the evil one. Let's pray that both we and those we love will be strengthened "with power through his Spirit in our inner being" (Ephesians 3:14-16). Let's pray that we all will be delivered from the insidious and besetting attacks and temptations from the evil one. As Paul prayed for the Thessalonians:

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, souls, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

My Prayer...

Mighty and Triumphant King, please crush your enemies under your feet and liberate us and those we love from the oppressive and insidious attacks of the evil one and the horrible consequences of the sin he tempts us to swallow (Romans 16:20). Not only forgive and cleanse us, dear Father, but please guard our hearts so that we might gain strength to serve you with passion and power. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.