Today's Verse - James 5:16

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

—James 5:16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

To confess our sins means we do two things with our sins:

1. We recognize sin for what it is in God's eyes.
2. We get rid of our secrets and are honest with another Christian about our weaknesses, vulnerabilities, failures, then have them pray for us to overcome those sins.

James' language is powerful. He mentions that this confession doesn't just bring forgiveness, it brings healing. So, let's confess our sins to each other, and pray for each other, so we can bring healing to relationships, the family of God, and be a demonstration of reconciliation and healing to the world.

My Prayer...

Holy Father, I have sinned. I now confess my own personal sins of the following things: ____________. I ask for your forgiveness and for your Spirit to strengthen me to overcome temptation as I pursue Jesus with all my heart. I want to live for you and not let my sin, any sin, entangle me and draw me away from you. Through the mighty 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.

Today's Verse - Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 4:6-7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God wants to hear our prayers. But to keep them from becoming too self-focused, God wants us always to remember to give thanks (Philippians 4:6). It is so easy for us to turn prayer into a request line. We are the ones who are left bereft when thanksgiving and praise are robbed from our prayers. Without praise, our hearts grow dim because all we think about is our problems, and prayer becomes a wish list of stuff we selfishly want, treating God as our heavenly Santa Claus rather than the Father who sacrificed everything to make us his children!

My Prayer...

Gracious God, I have so many reasons to praise you. In the face of trial and hardship, I have your promises to reawaken my hope through your presence in my life and the power of the Holy Spirit. In the moment of victory, I have you to thank for my abilities and the power to accomplish things for your glory. In my boredom with the routine, I can find great joy in your surprises. Thank you, God, for being so great and yet so lovingly present and attentive to my needs. In Jesus' name, I thank and praise you. 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 - 2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

—2 Chronicles 7:14

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Humility is not our culture's most valued asset or most desired character quality. However, humility is what is needed - not so much because it's commanded (though that would be enough), but because we've "earned" our need for humility through our arrogance and abandonment of God and his character, compassion, and faithful lovingkindness. Every year brings another wave of major failures in morality, character, and spirituality among our leaders, both political and religious. Even on our best days, we all fall short of God's holiness. Rather than progressing culturally, we find ourselves slipping, rebelling, and degrading ourselves. Our need to approach God with humility is "earned." So let's be humble ourselves and call upon the LORD, throwing off our sin and seeking after him. Only then will we begin to see our hope for a brighter future emerge and healing come to the people.

My Prayer...

Holy and Almighty God, your deeds are awesome, your faithfulness is overwhelming, and your mercy and grace are such blessings. I come to you knowing that you hear me, despite the incredible distance between you and me, between your worth and holiness and my lack of it. I confess that I, and my culture and country around me, have made a mess of what you so wonderfully blessed us with. We come humbly, asking that you reassert yourself in our churches, nations, and leaders in clearly recognizable ways. At the same time, we humbly acknowledge our personal failures, arrogance, and rebellion. We ask for your grace, in faith, through the power and loving mercy found in Jesus and 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.