Today's Verse - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God  may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

—2 Timothy 3:16-17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God wants us to be prepared to do good works. Thankfully, he gave us the Scriptures. Today, the Bible is translated into many different languages, dialects, and versions. We have online Bibles, audio Bibles, and Bibles that can fit into our pockets. Rather than a threat, all these Bibles are a great blessing because they make the Scriptures plentiful, understandable, and available. Oh yes, a few translations are questionable, but nearly all make it clear who Jesus is and how we come to him for salvation. But we must remember that the goal of Scripture is not to be learned but to be lived. God intended his Word to be practical truth - a gift that prepares us to "be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

My Prayer...

Holy God, it still amazes me that you chose to speak to us, your finite creatures, in our own human words. May I never take for granted the great gift of being able to read your Scriptures and learn your Truth. But Father, please give me the character and the courage not just to know those Scriptures, but to put them to practical use as they train me to do your will and do good things to bless others. In Jesus' name, I thank you for the Scriptures. 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 - Ephesians 5:19-20

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the LORD, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

—Ephesians 5:19-20

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Paul emphasizes that hearts full of thanks make for good singing! With Jesus as the source of our salvation and the center of our future, how can we not sing? But singing is not just for God to praise God. God wants our songs to bless others, to speak to others, and to build others up in the hope we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. This means that singing is our ultimate spiritual talk. It blesses God and blesses others! So, let's speak to God in praise with our songs and singing. And let's speak to each other in those same songs and singing, so that we together can anticipate gathering with the saints of all time, blessing each other and God before his throne of grace.

My Prayer...

O LORD my God, you are awesome and wondrous. Your works are magnificent, and your deeds are beyond comprehension. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart ever declare your praises. May my heart be filled with thanksgiving for all that you have done to save me from sin, shame, law, and death. You alone are worthy of my praise, my songs, and my life. So please receive my songs of praise and use them to bless my brothers and sisters in Christ and encourage them to live for you. In the holy 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 - Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

—Proverbs 9:10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We pursue so many things, but only one pursuit brings true wisdom: a reverent awe and appropriate respect for the holiness and greatness of God. The apostle Paul reminded the Athenians, who always wanted to appear wise, that God made us to seek him, find him, and discover that true wisdom is in him (Acts 17:24-27). The wisdom of Proverbs keeps leading us back to knowing God and having deep, reverent awe of him. This is where wisdom begins! This is where true understanding finds its source. We can only understand life's priorities, purposes, goals, and directions when we recognize who the LORD is, walk with him in our day-to-day lives, and live before him with reverence and awe at his greatness and his grace!

My Prayer...

Holy, majestic, righteous, and eternal God, we confess that we know you so much less than you know us. That also means we have far less wisdom than you do! Still, your faithfulness to us, your power displayed in history, your grace shared with us through the cross of Christ, and your promises to bring us home to you sustain us. We want to know you better. We want to honor you more, so that our lives can be caught up in your will and wisdom - not for our glory or gain, but for your praise. We ask that you make yourself known to us as we reverently approach you with thanksgiving for who you are, what you have done, and what you will do in the future with us. In the name of Jesus, we 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.