How Big Is Your God?

TODAY’S VERSE
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths.
Psalms 36:5-6

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How big is your God? In 1952, J.B. Phillips wrote a book called Your God Is Too Small. It shook the Christian world. His theory was that many believers had misconceptions about God that were no more than superimposed human characteristics. God was a Santa Claus, a stern father, an impersonal clockmaker, a killjoy. His book begged the question of how big was the God we visualized as we worshiped. In today’s scripture, David paints a picture for us to imagine when we think of God. He writes that God’s unfailing love is “vast as the heavens,” and His faithfulness “reaches beyond the clouds.” He compares God’s righteousness to “mighty mountains” and His justice to the “ocean depths.” How can we begin to know how vast God is? How do we keep from making God too small? Paul shares the secret. He writes, “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ask God to help you experience His love today. To really know it, feel it, sense it, see it. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you in ways you have never experienced Him before. If you do, what does God promise? He promises, “Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father. can it be true? Can I experience Your love today? Can I begin to know how deep, high, long, and wide it really is? Pour into my heart a sense of Your presence. Help me imagine who You are. Forgive me for making You so small. Enlarge my vision today, I pray. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Do You Know Who You Are?

TODAY’S VERSE
And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. – And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Romans 8:17, 30-31

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I don’t think we understand who we are in Christ. If we did, the church would be a more powerful force globally. Instead, we go around blinded to our true inheritance. We are like a child who, separated at birth from its father, the King, grows up never realizing the birthright that was his. Never accepts the reality that they are the child of Royalty. Bill Johnson drives this point home in his book “When Heaven Invades Earth.” He writes, “At what point do we start thinking of our worth through His eyes? If it is true that the value of something is measured by what someone else will pay, then we need to rethink our worth. – Jesus paid the ultimate price to make it possible for us to have a change in our identity. – Doesn’t it honor Him more when His children no longer see themselves only as sinners saved by grace, but now heirs of God?” Today, let that fact sink in. You are God’s child. You are a co-heir with Christ in our Heavenly Kingdom. If God is for you, what in this world could possibly stand against you?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I have judged myself by so many false standards. I have seen myself with blurry vision. I have looked in a distorted mirror, never seeing what You see. Today, help me believe. Help me understand that I am Your child, a joint heir with Christ. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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This Generation

TODAY’S VERSE
So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.
Psalms 78:7

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Some things are meant to pass on. Hope in God is one of them. We look back at the early church and say, “If only God would do His mighty deeds today?” Why won’t He? Isn’t He the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow? Aren’t we called to live by faith in the same way that Paul taught the early church? Are not all the promises of God’s provision true today as they were centuries ago? Jesus said that he would commission us in the power of the Holy Spirit to do even greater things than He did! This is our generation. It is time for our hope to be realized. May we not forget His miracles and obey Him fully, expecting God to do great and mighty things, even today.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I am thankful to live in such a time as this. You are alive and mighty. You are loving and compassionate. I hear of all Your miracles in time past and say, “This is my generation, and I put my hope in You. Work through me in all Your power as You have in the past.” In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Not Ashamed

TODAY’S VERSE
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
II Timothy 2:15

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We have choices to make every day. Today we can choose to live for God or to live for ourselves. Even if we decide to live for God, we will still have to make that choice every time we come to a decision that could potentially take us away from living the way He wants us to. Will we do the right thing or not? That is why Paul says to “do our best” at living our Christian life. It is not easy to resist temptations, go the extra mile, love the unlovely, and put others before ourselves, yet this is the life God has called us to. He has called us to be good workers who will not be ashamed when examined and will be approved of—a worker who knows God’s word and can apply it correctly to their actions. Thankfully, we don’t have to live the way God wants us to in our own power. We have the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us. Today, call upon the Holy Spirit to fill you, guide you, and help you “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me live for You as a workman who isn’t ashamed. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and empower me to honor You in everything I do today. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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His Perfect Peace

TODAY’S VERSE
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What do you think about? Where do you fix your thoughts? God expects us to consider what we think, and judge it according to His word. Trouble comes into our life, and we begin to fear. When it does, we have a choice to make. Will we remain in fear? Will we let it escalate into a panic? Or will we obey today’s passage and trust in God, fixing our thoughts on Him? When we do, He promises us peace. Not just any peace, His perfect peace. It is the same way with anger, jealousy, doubt, and a hundred other thoughts that come into our lives daily. When negative thoughts come to your mind today, begin a new habit. Trade them in for peace. How? Giving your thoughts to God and then choosing to trust Him by fixing your thoughts on His love for you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me trade my negative thinking for Your perfect peace. Today, help me to fix all my thoughts on You. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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That People Would Know Him

TODAY’S VERSE
O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.
I Kings 18:36-37

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Elijah challenged 450 Baal worshippers to a contest. Elijah and the Priests of Baal would put up two altars complete with offerings, and whichever, Baal or Jehovah, would throw down fire from Heaven onto the sacrifice was the real God. Elijah was confident that it would be Jehovah because he was doing what he commanded. Today our faith in God is on trial more than ever before. God has given us commands too. Not a command to call fire down from Heaven but to live our Christian life out in front of the world. Why should we love others? Why should we care? Why should we live a life exhibiting the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Because, like Elijah, we are servants of the Most High, and we are to do what He has commanded us to. God’s great compassion is exhibited throughout our lives. As we love others, in the name of Christ, they see the love He has for them. How can we do anything else? We who were snatched from our sinfulness, brokenness, and alienation from God, how could we not love others and pray for them to know God the same way we do? Elijah cries out to God in a broken voice and says, “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Do our hearts weep over those that do not know Him? Do we live so that others would see our life and recognize the Savior’s influence? Oh, that God’s holy fire would fall from the sky today through our acts of love and kindness. Might He receive the Glory, and might people turn to Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, like Elijah, I come to the altar of sacrifice. Might You use me today to love, sacrifice, and care for those in need. Might others see my life today and come to know You, the true and living God. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Real Hope

TODAY’S VERSE
Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
Daniel 10: 12-13

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love this passage because of the hope it gives. There are two great truths to learn from this passage. The first is that God hears the cry of our heart. The angel assures Daniel, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” What a precious reality is painted by the angel. Since the very first time Daniel set his mind in the direction of God, the Lord was aware and heard his prayers. He does the same with us. The second truth is that God works on our behalf even if we don’t understand His timing. The angel saw it as a delay. He was detained for twenty-one days by other duties. Daniel was fasting and praying that God would rescue him quickly. He no doubt was wondering what God was doing. However, from God’s perspective the angel arrived right in time. God was in control and all worked for good. Perhaps my brother Rodney Ovitt says it best in his commentary on this passage. He writes, “To me, this doesn’t diminish my faith or cause me to doubt God’s power and might. It just broadens the mystery! There is so much that we don’t understand and so much going on in the cosmos that we must simply trust God and know that He will see us through to the end.” God will see you through to the end. Do not grow weary, do not give up. Hope yet in God; He is aware of your prayers.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, it is so hard to wait. I cry out to You and it seems that there is no answer. My heart despairs and is tempted to grow bitter. Forgive me, Lord. Help me to understand what You showed Daniel. You are conscious of my situation and Your solutions are always on time. Thank You, Father, that You do hear my prayers and that I can trust You with the timing of Your answer. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Boast About This

TODAY’S VERSE
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24. (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We are taught as a child not to be proud. But what about an earnest, heartfelt joy welling up inside us that has to express its appreciation for what we have? What of expressing our sincere gratitude and wonder at something so extraordinary and surreal that it defies us to keep our silence? There is such boasting. It is a deep, holy appreciation for what God has done for us. The Lord told Jeremiah to tell the people not to boast about human wisdom, strength, or materialism. These are nothing to brag about; they pale compared to what God has for us. If we are going to boast about anything, then here is what God says we should boast about: “Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness.” How can we hold such a truth inside? How can we stop sharing what a tremendous privilege it is to know the Lord God of the universe? That this same God has given us the privilege to call Him “Lord of our life”? The same God who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness calls us His children. It is He that we affectionately call Father. Today, rejoice in the fact that our Almighty God loves you. Go boast in this and when you tell others, tell them that He loves them too!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank you that I can boast about the fact that You love me and that I know You. Thank you so much. Help me understand the unbelievable privilege that is mine so that I boast about Your fantastic love to others, and they will desire the same for themselves. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Praise and Confession

TODAY’S VERSE
But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.
Psalm 66:19-20 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Were you ever tempted to lie to someone because you thought telling the truth would get you in trouble? The author of today’s verse took the risk of confessing his sins to God, and he was so surprised at God’s reaction that he could not wait to tell everyone. He wrote, “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.” He came crying to God with confession and praise, and God heard his cries. He wrote, “For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” And what was the result? God listened. The Father paid attention to his prayers. The author concludes, “Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.” Today you can have the same results. Bring your praise, confession, and prayers before God. He will hear you. He will not withdraw His unfailing love from you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God and Father, thank You for Your unfailing love that does not reward me according to my sins nor ignores my prayers. Thank you for the fact that I can come to You with all my sins and requests, and know that you will not shut me out. I praise You for Your unfailing love. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Where Are You Walking?

TODAY’S VERSE
And so I walk in the LORD’s presence as I live here on earth!
Psalms 116:9

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Where are you walking? It is easy to walk and not be conscious of where we are. I was hiking on a mountain trail in a dark green lush forest. It was a beautiful sunny day, and yet as the afternoon set in, it suddenly dawned on me that I spent most of my time looking down at the trail, watching out for roots, rocks, and snakes, trying to forge ahead and make my destination. We have a negativity bias. I never looked up at the trees or saw all the beautiful panoramic views of the valley below. I missed a whole day of breathtaking scenery because of my preoccupation with potential dangers in the trail in front of me. Our God is magnificent. His love is unfathomable. And yet, if we are not careful, we will find ourselves walking through this life worried about everything, never really aware of His loving and protective presence. Today, let’s make a conscious effort, like the Psalmist, to walk in the Lord’s presence as we live here on earth!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I am so sorry for missing so much of your love. I have not been consciously aware of your grace and Glory because I have been preoccupied with a negativity bias. I forgot that you love me and will protect me. You are the true source of joy, love, and life itself. Today, Lord, I come back. I want to walk the trail with you, fully conscious of Your presence. Oh, Holy Spirit, help me to that end, I pray.
AMEN

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