Amazing Grace

TODAY’S VERSE
I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
Psalms 73:22-24 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How true is the first part of this passage? And yet, as true as the fact that we behave foolishly and ignorant before God, like senseless animals, so is the fact that nothing can separate us from His love. We are still His. Even in our vilest condition we belong to Him and He extends His hand toward us. This is love. This is God’s love. It is so vast, so great that we could never fully comprehend it. It would be easier to explain when the end of eternity is, than to fully understand the love God has for us. Yet Paul asks God to, “give us the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.” So, even though we are reminded over and over again how foolish we have been, don’t stop there. Also remember that you will always belong to Him and nothing can separate you from His love! He will continue to love you and guide you with His counsel. Praise be to God for His marvelous grace!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, how foolish and ignorant I have been before You. I have sinned over and over again. And yet, Your love for me, your matchless grace, and utter forgiveness has been unbelievable. I thank You for accepting me and continuing to guide and direct my paths.
AMEN

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A Hard Heart

TODAY’S VERSE
He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts.
Mark 3:5 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The Pharisees, who thought they were so close to God because of their ability to follow the letter of the law, failed to acknowledge and teach about God’s grace, and it angered Jesus. It angered Him that the Pharisees thought God cared more about the law than love, mercy, and grace. But what grieves me is that we see that Christ’s anger soon turns to sadness. Sadness over how far we can stray from His love. Sadness that we can become blinded to the truth of His grace and allow our hearts to become hardened by traditions and religion. How hard is your heart? Do you know that God loves you, deeply cares for you? Are you rejoicing in the grace He has for you? Do you enjoy a deep fellowship with Him? Or has your heart been hardened? Today, come to God and let His love and grace soften your heart.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I have let so many things come between You and me. I have allowed my heart to harden toward You. Forgive me. I come now and ask You to soften my heart again. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Don’t Miss The Party

TODAY’S VERSE
“His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”
Luke 15:21-24 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Shame can keep us from the party. Jesus told a story about a young man who leaves home, disgracing his family and squandering all his inheritance. The young man ended up with no friends, no family, and no future. He is feeding pigs for a farmer and is tempted to eat the pig’s food. Full of shame, he decides to go home. In his shame, he rehearses his remorse to give to his father in the form of a speech. He heads home, but when his dad sees him way off in the distance, the father runs toward him. Now shame kept the son from running toward the father. Shame kept him from embracing him. Shame gave a speech of defeat and disownment. Had shame had its way, the son would have become a servant. But the grace of the Father gave the son a robe. Grace put a ring on his finger. Grace put sandals on his feet. Grace gave him back his honor again. Grace threw a party. The son could not refuse his father’s grace. Don’t let shame rob you of your Father’s grace. Every day God has a party just for you. Isn’t it time you went?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your grace. Thank You for rejoicing over me. Forgive me for not celebrating. Forgive me for being so wrapped up in myself. Today, I accept Your loving grace and forgiveness. Today, I come to the party You are having for me.
AMEN

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Revive Me

TODAY’S VERSE
The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.
Psalms 19:7-8 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What if I told you there was a way to revive your soul, to make you wise, to bring joy to your heart, and to give you insight for living your life? Would you be interested? David tells us that there is a way to receive all the above and even more. How? By reading and living according to God’s word. His word is wise, trustworthy, true, and speaks to us in profound and meaningful ways. Today, spend time in the scriptures. Come to God and listen to what He has to say. It will revive your soul.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, revive my soul. Feed me through Your word. Give me deep joy and clear guidance. I come, dear Lord, so speak to my heart. I want to hear You.
AMEN

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Come Back To God

TODAY’S VERSE
Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
James 4:8 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Going down a highway, a person saw a sign that said, “Do you feel far away from God?” He was thinking about the question when the next billboard read, “Who moved?” Isn’t that usually the case? When we feel far from God, it’s not that God has moved, but rather it is because we have turned our back on Him. James knew that we have this propensity, so he wrote, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” But how do we come close to God? The first thing we need to do is go in another direction. If we moved away from God, we need to turn back and “draw near” to Him. Next, we have to confess and repent of those things that took us away in the first place. The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.” Confessing to God and repenting from any wrongdoing will allow us to have a clear conscience and reopen the door of fellowship with Him. Finally, we turn to God with all our heart and mind. We come to Him in quietness, reflection, meditation, and prayer. We open our emotions and thoughts to Him and allow His Holy Spirit to commune with us, guiding, convicting, teaching, and directing our life. God desires to have a relationship with us. He hasn’t moved. Will you come to Him today?

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I must confess that there are so many times I feel so distant from You. I admit to my wandering. Forgive me for the sin that has separated us and help me stay in close fellowship with you. Lead me by Your Holy Spirit, I pray.
AMEN

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Hard hearts

TODAY’S VERSE
For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.
Matthew 13:15 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
God wants His word to penetrate our very being. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and this includes the way we comprehend truth. Jesus took the writing of Isaiah and applied it to the people of His day. He warned them that their “eyes” were not seeing the truth, their “ears” were not comprehending the truth, and their “hearts” were not sensing the implications of the truth. It was a result of hardening themselves toward God. Turning away from Him, they ended up ignoring God’s truth. How often have we done the same thing? But it is not too late. It is through self-reflection, repentance, and being purposeful in believing in God’s word, that we can turn this around. Today, might God help you, and I read the word, hear the word and most of all, believe the word with our whole heart.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for the times I have hardened my heart toward You. Help me today to see Your word, hear Your word, and most of all apply Your word to my life. In Jesus’ name I pray.
AMEN

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Gently Restore

TODAY’S VERSE
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There are many sins that you can fall into. Many habits, addictions, and sins are hard to break. That is why we need each other. There is so much talk about accountability. But you need something more than a watchdog. You need someone who knows your struggles and loves you, even when you fall. Someone who is there for you without judgment. They understand about “slips” and are there to lift you back up. Their goal is to restore, not scold or shun. God has called you to do the same. He has asked that you “restore” someone gently, not reprimand or ostracize them. Today, follow Christ and help carry someone else’s burden.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for judging others. Instead, help me gently restore those in need and bear their burdens. Help me to remember my own sins and how You have forgiven me. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Slipping

TODAY’S VERSE
I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported and cheer.
Psalms 94:18-19 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love the “do-over.” Optimism comes from the ability to “bounce back’, to be resilient, and our God is the God of resilience. The author cried out that he was slipping. Have you ever felt that way? It’s like you are trying to climb out of a well, but the sides are slippery, and you keep sliding back down. The result of the authors slipping was a mind full of doubt. But even in his doubt, God was there. God’s unfailing love was able to support him. The comfort that came from God gave him renewed hope and cheer. God can do the same with you. Today, bring God your doubts. Bring Him your slippery situation. Let His love support you; let His comfort give you renewed hope and cheer.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, I am slipping. Help me today. May Your love support me. May Your comfort renew my hope. I pray this in Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Overcoming

TODAY’S VERSE
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Ephesians 4:21-23 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Every day we make choices. Some choices, however, are more subtle than others. For example, the old saying, “Not to decide is to decide already.” Otherwise, if you need to make a choice and you do not say “yes” to it, then you have really chosen against it. It is like that with most of the things that we “lust” after. Lusting implies that we desire something that we cannot (or should not) have at that moment. The trouble, however, is not in the one time choice to lust. All of us struggle with occasional temptations. Instead, it is the rebound effect that gets us in trouble. You know, get close to something you know is wrong, withdraw and then rebound, getting closer the next time. It is like the proverbial frog that boils in water, never noticing that the water was gradually getting warmer and warmer. As time moves on, we eventually find ourselves in the grips of the thing we were trying to avoid. How much better to choose ahead of time not to trifle with those habits, thoughts, and behaviors that lead to trouble. We do this by being quick to repent when we slip and then asking the Holy Spirit to renew our thoughts and attitudes. If we throw off our old sinful nature and our former way of life like we would a burning jacket, and instead, let the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes, God can help us discern what temps us so we can determine ahead of time to set our limits and boundaries. Today, let us give our various temptations over to God and ask Him to help us overcome them.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit, You know that I struggle with temptation and lust and need Your help. Renew my thoughts and attitudes so I can live the way you want me to. Help me continue to say “no” and throw off those things that war against me. In Jesus Name.
AMEN

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Renew me

TODAY’S VERSE
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. – Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
II Corinthians 4:8,9,16 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What are you going to do today? What’s on your list? It is hard to get everything done when we are stressed and under the gun. But what about those things that never made your list? How will they ever have a chance? Paul knew what it was like to have struggles. He had a lot to do. A lot of churches looked to him for leadership. He was concerned about all the new converts and whether they were getting the right teachings. On top of all that, Paul had much contention and hardships as he ministered. He said that he was hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. It would have been horrible to work under those conditions except for one thing. And Paul had it on his list of things to do. He took the time to be inwardly renewed every day! Look at what he wrote, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Paul took the time to get to know God. He allowed the Holy Spirit to minister to him. He came to God and did not leave until the work of renewing was done. It was on the top of his list of things to do. Is it on yours? Today, find some time to let God minister to you. Be purposeful and deliberate in getting to know God and He will renew you day by day.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Holy Spirit, I come to You today and ask You to renew me. Renew my thoughts, renew my attitudes, renew my passion. Fill me, guide me, direct my path. Renew me today I pray.
AMEN

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