Watch And Pray

TODAY’S VERSE
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:41 (ESV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It is hard to pray and wait on God when horrific times come. Peter, James, and John went with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane, and He asked them to watch and pray for Him. But they couldn’t do it. They fell asleep. This same Jesus who walked on water, healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised Lazarus from the dead told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” They watched Jesus’ face turn into a look of sorrow, His posture slump, and a sense of urgency come over Him. I imagine they were shaken to the core. The spiritual battle was so intense that they were overcome. They weren’t ready. The same can happen to us. While everything is going our way, it is easy to think we are spiritually alive, but affluence, convenience, all our different ways of protecting our lives have given us a false sense of spirituality. We become smug, complacent, and ritualistic. The truth is we don’t spend that much time with God. We don’t talk to Him about our life. We don’t listen. We don’t WATCH. We don’t PRAY. So when our own Gethsemane comes around, when we enter into that dark night of the soul, we don’t have any spiritual depth. Our spirit may be willing, but our flesh is truly weak. My Gethsemanes of life have revealed my weaknesses. What has yours revealed? Today, let us heed the words of Jesus and watch and pray.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You that You are there in the darkest night of my soul. Help me to always watch and pray that I might not fall into temptation.
AMEN

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Stand Firm

TODAY’S VERSE
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
Ephesians 6:10-11 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
When fear comes, it attacks you at your weakest point, and you are caught in a crisis of faith. Paul knew what danger was and how bad things could get. Yet while sitting in prison, he wrote that we, regardless of danger, need to be strong in the Lord and His mighty power! How? How can we maintain such strength? Paul knew we could not do it ourselves, so he wrote, “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm.” He uses various pieces of armor as a metaphor. We are in a war for our soul, and our helmet of salvation protects our soul, and nothing will ever separate us from His love. Nothing! The belt of truth and the body armor of righteousness protects us from the horrific lies that attack us. Guilt and shame cannot touch us. Paul follows with the shoes of peace. Both peace with God and the peace of God will help fear dissipate. Our shield of faith stops all the fiery arrows of the devil. And the Sword of the Holy Spirit slays all our enemies. The Spirit prays on our behalf. He comforts, protects, and leads us to victory. Today, stand firm! Put on your spiritual armor and be strong in the Lord and His mighty power.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Oh Father, help me today take salvation, truth, peace, faith, and Your Spirit and stand firm in Your mighty power. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Forgive Me

TODAY’S VERSE
For the honor of your name, O LORD, forgive my many, many sins.
Psalm 25:11

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Who are we fooling? Our sins are many. David knew this. He wrote, “Lord, forgive my many, many sins.” David had a grasp on who he was and who God was. He knew his humanness, his tendency toward sin. He wrote, “I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.” But David also knew God’s compassion and forgiveness. Again he wrote, “Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.” God’s forgiveness and unfailing love allow us to see ourselves and our many sins against the background of His almighty sacrifice. Today, trust God. Get right with Him. He knows you; He loves you. Clear your conscience, confess your sins. He longs to forgive you and put you on the right path.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, for the honor of Your name, forgive me for my many, many sins.
AMEN

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Confess

TODAY’S VERSE
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
Psalms 32:1 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How clear is your conscience? How heavy is your heart with unconfessed sin? David knew how important it was to keep his conscience clear with the Lord. He wrote, “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.” Two things need to happen to get out of this dilemma. The first is to repent. That simply means to agree with God. Our behavior and attitude were wrong, an offense to God. It was a sin. The second is to tell God about it and seek His forgiveness. This is confession. The great news is God is waiting with His unconditional love and forgiveness. David knew the joy of forgiveness. He wrote about the freedom he experienced. He said, “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” Today examine your heart. Confess any sin to God and be forgiven and free.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, help me search my heart. Help me acknowledge any sin that has offended you. I desire Your forgiveness and a clear conscience. In Jesus’ Name.
AMEN

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Are You Paralyzed?

TODAY’S VERSE
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:5 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
It was confusing. Here was a paralyzed man lying on a cot waiting to be healed, and Jesus said that his sins were forgiven. Jesus knew the concern of those judging Him, so He asked, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?” This begs the question. Which is more critical, the paralysis of the body or the soul? Now being paralyzed is a horrible situation, and without a doubt, I would want Jesus to heal me. But the paralysis of the soul leads to a much more horrific ending, one for all of eternity. The good news is Jesus had the authority to forgive sins and the power to heal the person. He did both. Today, you may not be paralyzed in your body, but how is your soul? How are you spiritually? Ask Christ to heal you today. He can, and He will.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, my heart and soul are often paralyzed with sin, apathy, and despair. Come heal me today. Draw me to Yourself. Save me. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Deeply Saddened

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

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Anger is a secondary emotion and often hides what is really bothering us. In today’s verse, we see that Jesus was angry at the Pharisees because they were more concerned about their laws than God’s love and mercy. Instead of rejoicing in a visitation from God, they wanted to stop Jesus from healing a man’s hand because they considered it was working on the Sabbath. Upon a second look, we see that behind His anger, Jesus was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. So many would try to motivate us into righteous behavior because of the anger of God, but in truth, our disobedience saddens Him. Instead of anger, how many nights did the father of the Prodigal Son cry when he saw his son’s empty bed? It grieves my heart to think that I have caused the Lord, who loves me so much, to be deeply saddened. Forgive me, Lord. Help me live for you and bring you joy instead. Today consider God’s love for you; such a deep love that it saddens Him when you stray. Let that kind of love motivate you to live for Him.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, forgive me for grieving Your heart. I have been so selfish and ungrateful. Help me consider your deep love for me so it will motivate me to glorify You with the way I live.
AMEN

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Turn From Idols To God

TODAY’S VERSE
I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.
Isaiah 65:1 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I don’t think anything would break my heart more than to have my boys in trouble, need my help, and they never tell me about it. It would also grieve me to have them live in the same neighborhood as I do, yet we never meet and get together. How much more does God feel that way about us. Isaiah writes that God was ready to respond to the needs of His people, and yet they never asked. God even pursued them, yet they did not call on His name. That’s what idolatry does. It replaces God in our hearts with something else. It takes our attention and allegiance away from God. An idol doesn’t have to be made out of wood or stone. It could be made out of success, pleasure, or other life pursuits. It could be an emotional idol like bitterness, vengeance, or shame that keeps us away from the God who loves us. Whatever it is that is keeping you away from God, repent of it. God is calling you. He is waiting, respond to His love today.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, forgive me for having idols that keep me from You. Today, I desire a deep relationship. I will turn away from those things that have stolen my heart and renew my affection for You. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Habitual Sin

TODAY’S VERSE
Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me.
Psalms 19:12-13 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We are creatures of habits. That is why so many of our sins happen over and over again. Unfortunately, some sins we get so used to, they no longer offend us. Others drive us to our knees. We cry out like Paul when he wrote, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” What are we to do? We can do what David did. He acknowledged his behavior and asked God to cleanse him and keep him from his deliberate sins. We can do what Paul did and acknowledge the power of Christ when he wrote, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” The secret is found in what David writes in this same passage. In our relationship with God and His Word, we will see victory. David writes, “The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.” Today, talk to God about your habitual behavior. Confess any wrongdoing and accept His forgiveness. Spend time with the Lord and let His word shape your life. In Christ, there is freedom!

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord, forgive me for my habitual sins. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit and Your word, give me victory. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Why Do You Call Me Lord?

TODAY’S VERSE
So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?
Luke 6:46 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What an indicting question. It is so easy to use a name and forget its true meaning. How often have we called our spouse “husband” or “wife” and yet treated them as if they were someone of little importance? We call someone our “brother” or “sister” and treat them disrespectfully. We call another “teacher” and do not do what they tell us to do. And so Jesus asks, “Why?” Why do we do it? Why have we done it to Him? What drives us to behave in the opposite direction of what we profess to believe? Perhaps it is because we don’t know Him? Instead, it may be that we have grown accustomed to Him and take Him for granted. Could it be that someone or something else has taken His place of importance? Maybe we have become so self-centered that we dismiss His authority in our life. It could be that we have let strong emotions come between Him and us. Whatever the reason, here is the next question, “Why not repent and let Jesus be your true Lord today?”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus. Forgive me for calling You Lord and living as if it wasn’t true. I repent. I want to live for You. I want You to be the Lord of my life today.
AMEN

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My God

TODAY’S VERSE
This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
Psalms 91:2 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Where do you go to escape? Life is full of pressures. Relationships, finances, health, and our career make it easy to become overwhelmed with stress. Then there is the inward battle. Our emotions run us ragged. Anger, sadness, fear, and disgust seem to take their turn in dominating our thinking. We find ourselves getting stuck in people-pleasing, codependency, minimizing, maximizing, and any of hundreds of mind games. What can we do? Where can we go to ward off this onslaught against us? The Psalmist went to God. He declared that the Lord alone was his refuge. God was that place of safety that He needed. He declared that God was his God and he could trust Him. That personal acceptance is what made the difference. It was his God. It was his place of refuge. It was his place of safety. Today, you too can make it personal. Acknowledge Him as your Lord God. Accept His as your refuge. Find your place of safety by knowing Him in a deeply personal way. As you develop your relationship with Him, you too will find that trusting Him will be the result.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, my Father. I need You and want You to be my refuge and place of safety. Help me to know You in a deeper and more profound way so I too can say, “You are my God, and I trust You!”
AMEN

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