Today's Verse - Deuteronomy 6:6-7

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

—Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We are to begin each day with God. Every breath we take should be a powerful reminder that our Father has granted us another day of life to serve him and bless others. Each heartbeat is God's drumbeat of love, reminding us that we are blessed with another minute to offer him our best. This blessing is so easily forgotten. We best remember these truths when we teach, demonstrate, and live them with and before our families, children, and grandchildren. We should also teach, demonstrate, and live these with our spiritual friends. But, let's not leave their learning these truths to our example alone. Let's find teachable moments to explain our faith to them, praise our Heavenly Father with them, and to teach God's truths to them. We should do this with them when we sit at home... walk along the road... lie down and... get up." What's the point of all of this? So our can "be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14).

My Prayer...

Almighty God, Gracious Sustainer, and Undeserved Friend, thank you! Thank you for this breath I take and for the heartbeat that sustains my life. Please make me aware, as I travel and talk, rest and work, that you are there every moment, and that you are worthy of my awareness, love, and reverence. Please help me share your greatness and nearness with those whom I love. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Joshua 1:9

Have not I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

—Joshua 1:9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Never forgotten!
Never abandoned!
Never alone!
What a promise. God promised Joshua that he would go with him into the unknown future. The Father has promised us that he will go with us through all the seasons of life. He was there at our conception, molding us, and he will be with us through all our ups and downs, through temptations and triumphs, even through death (Psalms 139:1-24). Nothing can separate us from the love of God we have through Christ Jesus our LORD (Romans 8:35-39). So we can believe God's promise, feel his strength, and launch into our unknown future with courage. We are not, nor will we ever be, alone, abandoned, or forgotten!

My Prayer...

O God, the one who is and was and is to come, thank you for being with me and staying near me when all others forsake and leave me. You are the one constant in my life, a life so full of change. Help me be steadfast and faithful in my commitments and relationships. May those commitments and relationships all honor you. Through the intercession and by the authority of Jesus, who will never forget or leave me, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Isaiah 55:8-9

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

—Isaiah 55:8-9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

No matter how hard we try to perceive the awesomeness of God, he is still God, and we are not. We must forever remember that the original, and still primary, sin was seeking to become equal to God. We are to know God, and we should seek to know about God, but we can never fully know everything about him or become equal with him. Trying to become equal to God and losing our sense of reverence and awe for God are at the heart of all sin. While we should seek to put on God's righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful lovingkindness, in humility, we recognize that we cannot begin to approach his majesty, righteousness, wisdom, or holiness on our own. When we have done our best to describe and praise our glorious God, what Job said centuries ago is true:

"And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?” (Job 26:14)

My Prayer...

Tender Shepherd, thank you for your patience with me. I cannot fully understand or appreciate your holy, transcendent character and glorious nature. Thank you for sending Jesus so I can know you better and trust you to know me more than I know myself. I look forward to seeing you face-to-face when Jesus comes to bring me home to you. Until that day, please know I love you. In the name of Jesus, I humbly offer my thanks and praise. Amen.