The Lord Bless You

TODAY’S VERSE
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
So often we put the emphasis on us “following” God when we would be better off “responding” to God. We worry so much about how to love God when we all we really need to do is truly understand His love for us. If we knew what today’s verse really meant, how could loving God ever be an issue? How could we ever be worried about following Him? But do we really believe that God desires to bless us and keep us? Do we see God as a loving God that turns His face toward us with such a focus that it is as if His face is shining right on us? It is this daunting attention from our loving God that causes us to love Him. It is this knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that His intention is to bless us and keep us, to be gracious with us, and give us peace that causes us to follow Him without reservation. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, said it best, “We love Him because He first loved us.” Today know that God has blessed you and kept you. Understand that He has turned His face toward you and has shined it upon you. Finally, receive the peace that comes from knowing His unconditional love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your awareness of me. Thank You for shining Your face on me. Thank You for turning Your face toward me and giving me peace. Today, Lord, help me live in this reality.
AMEN

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Come In Jesus

TODAY’S VERSE
Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
Revelation 3:20 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I have always loved this metaphor. Here is Jesus coming to the door of my heart and knocks. What a deliberate move. Jesus is so vitally interested in me and you, that He comes to us and bids to come in. And to do what? Investigate every nook and cranny in order to scorn and shame us? No, He knocks so we can invite Him in because He wants to “share a meal together as friends!” In his book, “The Deeper Journey,” M. Robert Mulholland Jr. writes, “God comes into the core of our being. God comes to bring light into darkness, cleansing into our sin, life into our deadness, healing into our brokenness, and liberation into our bondage; to nurture us there into wholeness in the very image of God.” And so today He knocks. Now a door can be a considerable barrier, but to a friend, it is an entrance into a wonderful relationship. Listen, can you hear His footsteps? Quick answer the door, Jesus, your friend is here.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Jesus, thank You for knocking on my door. I hear You and open up my heart. Please, Jesus, come in and fellowship with me today.
AMEN

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His Presence

His Presence

TODAY’S VERSE
Now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light. Psalms 56:13 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Have you ever wondered what it would have been to be Adam and Eve? They had a personal relationship with God. They met with Him every day and lived in His presence. Though they disobeyed God and changed the world forever, we still have an opportunity to fellowship with God. David knew this. As a shepherd boy, he would spend his nights under the stars and sing to God. As he grew, he became “a man after God’s own heart.” David knew what it meant to walk with God. He admitted, “Now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.” He realized that there was nowhere he could go, no situation he could be in that would take Him outside of God’s presence. We, too, can have that same reality. God bids us come and fellowship with Him. He desires for us to live in His life-giving light. Today, stop and realize that you are in the very presence of God. Better yet, remind yourself that His presence lives in you! Rejoice and walk with Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your abiding presence. Today I choose to walk in Your life-giving light.
AMEN

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Extend Grace To Others

TODAY’S VERSE
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.
Galatians 6:1 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We all do wrong and need help sometimes. But why is it, those of us who are forgiven so much, can be so stubborn when it comes to understanding someone else’s sin? Where is the restoration? Where is the grace? Paul sees this lack of love in the church and instructs us to restore a person by being gentle and humble. In the classic book, “Truefaced” the authors write, “One of the greatest gifts we can offer another person is a safe place to fail.” How true is that? Indeed, that is what Christ has done for us. The authors also write, “Grace frees Christians to see others as saints who sin, rather than sinners striving to be saints.” Yes, we should praise God that He has saved us and forgiven us of all our sins, but we should also remember that we are saved by “grace” and are called to live by grace as well. Today, let us offer grace to those that need it in the same proportion that God has given it to us.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your grace. Help me to be gentle and humble and extend that same grace to those around me.
AMEN

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Love Others

TODAY’S VERSE
If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.
Matthew 5:46-47 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is a lot easier to love those that love you. But Jesus wasn’t satisfied with that. He wants us to love those that don’t love us in return. This is harder than it seems. Paul expresses what love is. He writes, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” I have a hard time loving those that love me this way, so what chance do I have loving those that I don’t particularly care for? The truth is, I can’t. Loving the way God does must come from God. If you and I desire to live the way God wants us to, then we need His power, His strength, and His Holy Spirit filling us and exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit in our life. Today let God live His love through you.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, I want to love others the way You did, but I need Your help. It is so hard to love those that don’t love me. I need Your power. Give me the strength to love the way You would have me.
AMEN

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Compassion

TODAY’S VERSE
Then they will reply, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?”
And he will answer, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.”
Matthew 25:44-45 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I am amazed at the compassion that Jesus had for the needy. He was consistent in the way He lived. Matthew wrote of Jesus, “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless.” So why are we surprised when we read that Jesus wants us to do the same? And He never said it any more potent than He did in today’s passage. Jesus told us if we don’t love the people around us, we really don’t love Him. Not just the lovable, but the seemingly least deserving. Jesus’ parable was practical and to the point. He made helping others with food, water, shelter, clothing, physical care, and visitation a priority. These are things that you and I can do. So today, decide to get involved. Volunteer as one of Christ’s compassionate followers and do the things that He did. The things He has commanded us to do.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your mighty compassion. Help me to be the same way. Guide me and lead me in the kind of compassionate work You want me to do. Today, help me love others in the same way You love me.
AMEN

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Rejoice

Rejoice

TODAY’S VERSE
But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy. Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the LORD—rejoice in his presence!
Psalms 68:3-4 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Joy comes from relationships. And one of the most joyous relationships we can have is with God. Why? Because God created us that way. He created us for fellowship with Him. It is the longing of God’s heart to have communion with us. We love our children, and we hope that they rejoice in that fact, but who is really blessed? Isn’t it us, the parents? We are the ones who had the joy of bringing them into the world and nurturing them into maturity. Aren’t we the real winners? What joy our children bring us. Likewise, God gets great pleasure out of His relationship with us. And at the same time, we are blessed by God. How thankful this should make us. How full of praise. So today, rejoice that you are loved by God, deeply loved. Be glad in His presence, for He desires your relationship. Be filled with joy that you bring the Almighty pleasure. Sing praises for all His love for you. Rejoice!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, how I thank You for Your love for me. How full of praise I am in the thought that I can know You. How glad I am to dwell in Your presence. Thank You, Lord. How I praise Your name.
AMEN

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No Burden

TODAY’S VERSE
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love this passage. The Lord bids us come and rest. How different is that? It is the complete opposite of striving. You know, striving to “earn” God’s love, or worst, “keep it” as if God is some fickle tyrant. Nothing could be farther from the heart of God. Jesus knew we would be weary and carry heavy burdens. It is part of living in this world. But He never meant that living for God would be the cause of the burden. No, He said if we would take His teachings and live them, we would find rest for our soul. In “Desiring God’s Will” Dr. David Benner writes, “Hearing the invitation, everything within me wants to draw near and receive the gift of love that Jesus represents – not out of obligation but out of a soul-aching desire. And each time I do, my heart is slowly but progressively more aligned with the heart of God – God’s desires becoming my desires and God’s will becoming my will.” So today, quit trying to earn His love. You already have it. Don’t strive to please Him so He won’t abandon You; he will never leave you. Today, rest in His love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for not believing You. Forgive me for making a mockery out of Your unconditional love for me. Thank You that your love for me is real, I don’t have to earn it, it is not a burden. Help me rest in your love today.
AMEN

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Give Praise

TODAY’S VERSE
But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.
Nehemiah 9:17 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The story of Nehemiah in the Old Testament is about the redemption of God’s people. The people were scattered. They had disobeyed God, and He allowed calamity to come upon them. But in God’s timing, He called Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so the people could come back together as a nation. When they were done rebuilding the walls they had a great celebration. Nehemiah writes, “Standing on the stairs were the Levites—who called with loud voices to the LORD their God and said: “Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. – Our God, the great, mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love.” They celebrated God, who is forgiving, gracious, and compassionate. What do you celebrate about God? What is it about God that brings a smile to your face and joy in your heart? If you can’t think of anything, then think on this. God has never given up on you; He will never desert you; He is always slow to anger and will always keep His covenant of love with you. Today, take pause and give praise.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your gracious love toward me. Thank You for Your forgiveness and compassion. Thank You that You will never desert me but will keep your promise to always love me.
AMEN

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Your Heavenly Father

TODAY’S VERSE
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:15-16 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
When we became a Christian, we were born-again. We received the Holy Spirit, becoming a child of God with the right to call God our Father. I don’t know which is more exciting, the fact that I am a child of God or that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me. The beautiful fact is that both are true. Do you believe this? Do you truly understand that God is your father? Do you fully comprehend that you are a child of God that is loved and cherished? If it hasn’t already, this truth can change your life. Why not let it? Today, breathe in the fact that you are a beloved child of God. Not just the Holy Almighty God, but your Heavenly Father. Know Him, love Him, talk to Him. The Spirit will testify to you, that indeed you are His child.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Oh my loving Father, thank You for making me Your child. Help me to know You, love You and live for You. I need You to guide my life.
AMEN

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