Today's Verse - Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

—Proverbs 3:5-6

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Trust, by definition, can't be half-hearted. Either it is a full trust or it is clouded with suspicion and doubt, and not authentic trust at all. As we face the everyday challenges of life and as we look for answers to deep and difficult problems, let's put our full trust in the LORD. Let's ask for his wisdom and guidance as we make our choices. Let's give him praise for the good in our lives and seek his blessing for the days ahead. Why? Because he longs to bless us with life, both now and forevermore with him.

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

O LORD, my LORD, I place my trust in you. Please guide me in my steps as I seek to bring you glory. Please help me with the decisions, those challenges that I face. Give me discernment as I seek to influence others and to share your grace with them. Give me the right words to say so that I can have a redemptive influence on my family, my friends, my co-workers, and those people in need of your grace that you place in my path. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Psalm 103:5

[Bless the LORD] who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

—Psalm 103:5

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Our heavenly Father is the God of new things, the God of renewal and blessing (Isaiah 43:18-21). His desire is to renew and bless us. He wants to not only bless us once with our salvation, but God desires to bless us daily. His steadfast love is new every morning as he faithfully pours out his blessings (Lamentations 3:22-23). But more than just giving us what we want, he satisfies us with good things. He brings us what we need and what truly satisfies our deepest desires with his godly good things!

My Prayer...

Abba Father, Almighty God, I praise you for your power, majesty, glory, faithfulness, mercy, wisdom, and grace. Thank you for blessing me with your salvation, the gift of your Holy Spirit, the blessings of your church family, the promise of a home with you, and the daily assurance of your renewing presence. You have repeatedly blessed me with good things, godly things, and renewed me with your grace. In Jesus' name, I thank and praise you with all of my heart. Amen.

Today's Verse - Romans 6:3-4

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

—Romans 6:3-4

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Baptism is far more than getting wet or checking off another thing on our obedience to-do list. What saves us is God's grace working through our faith that Jesus died, was buried, and was raised on the third day for us (1 Corinthians 15:1-5). God gave us the incredible grace (Romans 6:1,14,15) of being able to share in Jesus' saving work through faith and experience it in baptism (Galatians 3:26-27). We die to the old way of life and bury it in the past. Those past — now dead — deeds no longer hold us. Our death to the past with Jesus is what matters most. Raised to a new life, our life is now joined to Christ, and his future becomes our own future (Colossians 3:1-4). The life we now live is to glorify God, and our destination is to live with him forever. That means the Gospel is not just something preached; it is something we experience by grace because of our faith in what Jesus has done for us!

My Prayer...

Thank you, Father, for raising me from death to your new life for me in Jesus. Thank you for your grace in sending Jesus. Thank you for making Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection something I not only believe but have experienced. May my life reflect your powerful grace given to me in the saving events of Christ's Passion. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.