Today's Verse - Galatians 6:2

Carry each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

—Galatians 6:2

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Sometimes I let myself feel so burdened by my problems that I don't even see others' struggles, trials, and hardships. But Jesus reminds me that if I am to be like him, truly JESUShaped, I will be a burden-bearer for others. This principle is implicit in the second greatest commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39), and it's made clear by the example of Jesus! Jesus became one of us to lift our heaviest burdens. The LORD died and rose again to free us from the weight of sin, the fear of death, and the threat of hell. Jesus blessed us by carrying our heaviest burdens and now calls us to lighten the load of those around us.

My Prayer...

Compassionate Father, help me see the burdens weighing down those around me. Give me wisdom to know how best to respond with help and courage not to put off that help. I want to be a blessing to the broken and discouraged, so please help me find my place and my way of bearing burdens for others, to your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verse - Psalm 40:8

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

—Psalm 40:8

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Too many of us are paranoid about the word "law" and find it hard to hear a scripture like today's verse. However, we must recognize that the goal of the New Covenant of grace and the gift of the Spirit is that God's law is written on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10, 10:16) and demonstrated in our lives (Romans 8:3-4). God is not concerned with the law being written on tablets of stone. He wants us to know his will in our hearts and live it out in our daily lives. Jeremiah prophesied of this day coming, a time when God's people desire to do God's will from the heart, with a passion to love what our Father loves and despise what he despises (Jeremiah 31:33). Having been saved by our faith in Jesus based on God's grace and filled with the Holy Spirit, we can now say with confidence:

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

My Prayer...

Abba Father, I long to do your will. I desire to please you, glorify you, and lead others to you. Please give me spiritual discernment to know your will, and spiritual courage to do it each day. I yearn for your character and righteousness to inform my heart when Satan tempts me not to live for you. Gently humble me when I am wrong, have lost my way, or ignore the Holy Spirit's influence in my heart. Awaken me, dear Father, to your law written in my heart, and unleash the power of the Holy Spirit to animate my life to live your will more completely. In the mighty name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Psalm 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

—Psalm 51:12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

In the face of sin and separation from God, grace is God's refreshing stream that restores our salvation - making it existentially real to us. In our struggles with suffering, grief, and loss, only God's grace and his Holy Spirit ministering to our spirits can help us find a sustaining and willing spirit. This ongoing joy of salvation comes only when we realize and accept the forgiveness, grace, restoration, and Spirit-inspired refreshment God has given us - in other words, we get to drink from the stream of grace as the Holy Spirit wells up within us with heaven's living water to refresh us (John 7:37-39). So we can say with confidence that God will restore to us the joy of our salvation, and he will grant us a willing spirit to sustain us!

My Prayer...

Holy and Righteous Father, I long for the outbreak of joy in your salvation as I see in the book of Acts. I pray that your Spirit leads us into another era of outreach, conversion, and celebration. I pray for wisdom to know and for eyes to see those around me who are most open to the Gospel - people with a willing spirit open to your salvation. I want to be a partner with you in your ongoing work of salvation, for I know that, as I do, I will get to experience again and again the joy of your salvation. And I will experience the Holy Spirit welling up within me as a useful vessel in your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, I offer myself to you as I pray. Amen.