Today's Verse - 2 Peter 3:8-9

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends:
With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

—2 Peter 3:8-9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Maranatha - O LORD come (1 Corinthians 16:22). This cry of the early church, especially during trials, persecutions, and difficulties, must be tempered with the reminder that there is a lost world around us. We want the LORD to come, but many of our dear friends and family are lost. Our passion for the LORD's coming must be equaled by our passion to share his grace with those who have not "come to repentance" (Acts 17:30-31). They have not changed their hearts and lives to serve the LORD based on their faith in Jesus as LORD and Savior - the one who died to bring them life. Until Jesus comes, let's commit to doing his work of bringing others to repentance and salvation in him because the LORD does not anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance!

My Prayer...

O great and patient God, please use all of your power and grace to bring my loved ones and dear friends who are lost, to repentance so that when Jesus appears, they can share in my joy and your salvation. In the name of Jesus, the only Savior, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Matthew 16:25

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

—Matthew 16:25

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The key to life is letting go of ourselves and welcoming Jesus and his will into our lives. Please don't forget to relinquish your life to the one who gave up his own life for you. You see, he took it back up again, just so that when we lose our lives to him, we can have them back forever with him. Listen to this glorious promise from the apostle Paul to the Colossians that underscores Jesus' promise:

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, you also will appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4).

My Prayer...

Holy God, I believe that Jesus is LORD, your Son, Immanuel, God with us, my Savior and King. I long for his life to be made visible in mine to your glory. So, dear Father, I willingly offer up my life to live for your glory, to follow Jesus, and to be transformed into becoming more JESUShaped (2 Corinthians 3:18). In the name of the LORD Jesus, I pray. Amen.

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!

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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.