TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 17
Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. - Psalm 17:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
The room is quiet and dark, save for a small lamp on a stand by the door. A wooden crib stands against one wall, near a changing table. A few toys and books lie scattered on the floor. The mother sits quietly in a rocking chair, cradling her baby girl and singing softly. It’s bedtime. The child snuggles closer and closes her eyes.

At that moment, all is well and right in that child’s world. She is completely secure and at peace in her mother’s arms. Our hearts should rest so securely in God’s love--a key attitude of prayer we see in Psalm 17.

The early verses of this psalm are a faith-filled call for God to hear and answer. As we’ve seen elsewhere, David was confident in God’s justice--He would vindicate him. David could have this confidence because he had been righteous in thought, word, and deed. He humbly invited God to test and examine him, so this was not a prideful claim. He was willing to submit to the perfect Judge. And he didn’t claim to have achieved righteousness on his own, but freely admitted he had avoided the path of sin through following God’s Word (vv. 3–5).

David prayed that God would show His love and power in order to demonstrate their special relationship to outsiders. His confidence flowed primarily from this personal relationship, described in various ways: God was his place of refuge. He was to God the “apple of your eye,” that is, the pupil, especially valuable and worthy of protection. God was to him a mother bird, covering a chick with her wings (vv. 7–8).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How does it feel to rest securely in God’s loving strength? Our illustration gave a picture of a mother holding her baby. David used images such as hiding in a strong tower, walking on a straight path, and a mother bird covering her chicks with her wings. What about you? What does it feel like to you personally? If you wish, make a metaphor or word picture to express your answer. This can be a creative way to express your love and trust in your heavenly Father.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 18
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. - Psalm 18:3
TODAY IN THE WORD
The legendary Civil War General “Stonewall” Jackson was once accidentally hit by “friendly fire” from his own Confederate soldiers. At a field hospital, they amputated his shattered left arm. General Robert E. Lee commented, “He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right,” and the army buried the arm in a family plot near the hospital. Today, visitors can find there a plaque reading simply, “Arm of Stonewall Jackson, May 2, 1863.” The rest of General Jackson, of course, went on fighting until his death after the Battle of Chancellorsville.

As strong and famous as “Stonewall” Jackson’s left arm was, God’s “right hand” is even more powerful and glorious (v. 35). Today’s psalm is a prayer of praise to God the mighty warrior who rescued David and made him king (cf. 2 Sam. 22). Its main theme is the saving character of the Lord and how He exercises His power to protect and deliver those who love and follow Him (vv. 1–3).

The heart of the prayer is a narrative that symbolizes salvation, through David’s testimony of what God had done for him (vv. 4-19). He vividly pictured his situation as one of bondage, drowning, or similar miserable and life-threatening circumstances. In his distress, he prayed for help, then watched as the incredible Divine Warrior rushed to his aid and won the battle in awe-inspiring fashion. God snatched him from danger and set him in a “spacious place,” both secure and free.

God answered David’s prayer because He delights in His worshipers, so Psalm 18 goes on to explain what such people are like (vv. 20–29, see also Nov. 10). David also returned to the theme of God’s greatness and mighty perfection and described how He had empowered him to win even more victories. Though David claimed amazing strength and extraordinary speed, he wasn’t boasting in himself, but in the Lord: “You stoop down to make me great” (v. 35).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, He has rescued you just as surely and powerfully as He rescued David in today’s psalm.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 20
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God - Psalm 20:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
In September 2002, recounts the syndicated News of the Weird column, a New York art student “painted randomly chosen words on about 60 meandering cows to see if they would inadvertently line up to form poetry. At about the same time, in England, [a writer] did the same thing with sheep (except that she chose the words of only one poem, to see if the sheep could form another poem). An arts council granted [her] about $3,400 for her project, which she said would break down the boundaries between 'literature’ and 'quantum mechanics.’”

These bizarre ideas of what constitutes a poem contrast with the beautiful linguistic artistry we’ve been seeing in the Psalms. It’s especially apparent in Psalm 20, a public prayer for the king and his army as they headed into battle. Commentators aren’t sure exactly who’s speaking when, but the first five verses were probably spoken by the people (or the army) to the king, then the next three by a priest or Levite (or possibly the king himself), with the last verse essentially being the people’s closing amen.

The people prayed for a series of requests. They asked God to answer the prayers of His anointed king, just as He promised to do. They asked Him to protect, send help, and grant support in the battle to come. They asked Him to remember and accept the sacrifices and worship offered to Him by His people--an acknowledgment of their covenant relationship. And they prayed that He would give David the desire of his heart and make his plans succeed. This “desire” was not merely for a battle to be won, but for the name of the Lord to be glorified and exalted among the nations.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
A New Testament application of today’s psalm may be found in 1 Timothy 2:1–2: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–for kings and all those in authority.” On this basis, we encourage you to pray today for our political leaders, including those at the local, state, and national levels. In light of Psalm 20, you might also remember the armed forces engaged in the ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 25
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Are you too busy to pray? Well, then, hire someone to do it for you! Believe it or not, prayers-for-hire is a growing business in the Philippines. If people want something–for example, to pass a bar or medical exam–they pay a “prayer lady” to ask God for it while they continue working or studying.

No doubt God is appalled when He hears these prayers-for-pay. One reason is because at the heart of true prayer is a personal relationship between God and His people. We’ve mentioned the relational aspect of prayer several times already this month, and we’ll give it special attention in today’s psalm.

David opened his prayer with a simple but profound statement about the relationship between himself (as the king) and God (as the King). God is the righteous protector of His people who would bring their enemies to shame. He is worthy of the wholehearted trust David placed in Him.

A series of petitions and praises made in the context of this relationship follow, many of which focus on David’s desire to know God better. He prayed that God would teach and guide him in the way of truth and obedience, the only way that he could have any genuine hope. He also prayed that God would “remember” him–meaning, as we’ve seen before, that God would remain loving and faithful to him. Only God’s mercy and love could cover and cleanse his sins. The psalmist was confident that God is the sort of God who can and will answer such requests. He affirmed that God instructs sinners and forgives wrongdoing. He loves people who are humble, repentant, and obedient, and who revere Him. Best of all, “The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.” In this relationship, God Himself has taken the initiative and shared His “secrets,” as friends do (v. 14; cf. John 15:14).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we see in Psalm 25 and elsewhere, the idea of a personal relationship with God is a key facet of the life of prayer.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 26
Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blameless life. I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. - Psalm 26:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Constant complaining can injure a person’s health, according to Dr. Matthew Budd of the Harvard Medical School, “There is no action, just anger and hostility. Chronic complainers put themselves in a heightened mood state that disrupts the physiology of the body. There is a higher risk of heart disease associated with anger and hostility. . . . People who complain a lot see themselves as victims. They are prone to an increased sense of hopelessness, which is tied to [stress and] depression.”

The antidote for a complaining or bitter spirit is trust in the Lord, especially in His justice. Rather than worrying or becoming angry, we should follow David’s example in today’s reading and pray for vindication. His prayer is neatly summarized in verse 1, which is also our verse for today. The request–justice. The doer–God. The basis–the innocence and faith of the psalmist.

The plea of innocence was not a proud or blind one, for David confessed his sinfulness in other psalms. Here he invited God to examine him, preferred God’s house over the “assembly of evildoers,” and cited righteous actions as evidence of his worshipful heart. He didn’t claim perfection, only a certainty that what he was suffering was undeserved.

Assuming God accepted his claim, and assuming His sovereign power as well, David renewed his prayer for vindication. David’s righteousness could not save him–he needed the mercy and redemption of the Lord (v. 11). Verse 12 is a beautiful, confident conclusion: “My feet stand on level ground; in the great assembly I will praise the Lord.” Level ground is smooth; there are no hidden holes or stumbling blocks. In the same way, God’s justice is the most secure place to take a stand.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If even secular researchers can see the danger of a bitter or critical attitude, so should we.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 28
Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. - Psalm 28:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
An annual survey by Massachusetts Institute of Technology asks Americans what invention they hate most but can’t live without. This year, the cell phone earned this dubious distinction, with the alarm clock and television as runners-up. A full 30 percent of the survey’s respondents named the cell phone as the top “love it, hate it” part of their lives. They like the freedom it gives them to communicate, but dislike the feeling that they are never away from work or truly alone.

Just as we may hate it but feel still we need a cell phone, because of pride we hate to ask for God’s mercy, even though we know we need it. In today’s psalm, we find a model prayer for mercy. It begins with a call to the Lord. He’s the only one who can hear and answer, and encouragingly, He certainly will answer–He’s a dependable Rock. To David, an unanswered prayer would be like death (v. 1). He went on to acknowledge God’s justice with fear and trembling. Evil people show no respect for the Lord and would be torn down. David knew that he had done wrong, but he still honored and worshiped God and prayed not to share their terrible fate.

The psalmist had such confidence in answered prayer that he immediately rejoiced in the gift of God’s mercy: “My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song” (v. 7). Why did God say yes? Because it is in His nature to do so. He is the strength and shield of His people, a “fortress of salvation” for His chosen king. When we as weak people need help, forgiveness, protection, and so much more, God delights to answer our trusting prayers with His power, wisdom, and love.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In response to the final line of today’s psalm, sing “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” to close your time of personal devotions and prayer. Singing hymns and choruses as part of your devotions can add another dimension to your walk with the Lord. If you don’t have a hymnbook at home, you can buy one at your local Christian bookstore. Because they are printed in large quantities, many are quite inexpensive. Purchase one soon and begin putting it to good use!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 30
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. - Psalm 30:11
TODAY IN THE WORD
When the United States imprisoned Japanese-Americans during World War II, some of them coped through music. In fact, swing bands popped up in all the internment camps. “The music got our minds off the war and what was happening to us,” said one bandleader. “Because we were so concerned about the music, it took our minds off of the bad things. I’m sure prisoners of all kinds do this kind of thing–find some way to take your mind off of your misery. Otherwise, you’d go crazy.”

Making music helped Japanese-Americans endure their difficult and unjust situation. At one level, it transformed grief into happiness, at least for the younger people. At a spiritual level, transforming weeping into dancing is what God is all about, as David testified in today’s psalm of thanksgiving. He had wanted to replace the tabernacle with a permanent place of worship, but God had determined it would be David’s son who would be given this privilege, not David (cf. 2 Sam. 7). For someone who loved the Lord as passionately as he did, this must have been a cause of grief. Later, God gave the king an opportunity to buy the land for the future temple as part of his public repentance for numbering the army, and he prepared selected building materials as well (see 1 Chron. 21–22). How thrilled David must have been that God allowed him to do this! His sorrow was turned into joy. His heart was so much in this project that he even composed a psalm for a day he would never see–the day his son Solomon dedicated the finished temple.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What do you want God to change in your life? What do you know that He needs to change? We serve a God who transforms weeping into dancing, so pray in faith about this issue today. There is no need to whine, demand, or doubt. He already knows your need and wants His very best for your life. You can step forward boldly in prayer and believe that He will do whatever is necessary to clothe you with His joy (v. 11).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 31
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. - Psalm 31:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
North Korea is the country that most intensely persecutes Christians, according to a World Watch List updated annually by the Open Doors organization. Other areas high on the list include Saudi Arabia, Laos, the central highlands of Vietnam, and Iran. In the isolated Communist nation of North Korea, tens of thousands of believers have been executed or imprisoned for being Christians–to practice one’s faith openly is very dangerous. Yet reports indicate the the church there continues to grow!

How can we pray about this persecution? The psalmist showed us a way in today’s reading. Though we don’t know the exact situation, David seemed to be faced with a murderous conspiracy (v. 13). In the face of trouble, he took refuge in the Lord and proclaimed his faith in God’s strength, trustworthiness, loving care, and ability to rescue and guide him. He believed that God saw and understood the anguish of his soul and had already responded with grace (v. .

David’s faith enabled him to rejoice, but his pain was real and he didn’t pretend otherwise. He spoke of sorrow, grief, groaning, and affliction. Both body and soul were in agony–he compared himself to broken pottery. Socially, he was an object of contempt. His friends had deserted him. His joy was not a smiley-button pasted on over the pain–rather, it was deeper than the pain. That’s why he was able to say, “'You are my God,’ My times are in your hands.” He trusted God’s lovingkindness to display itself at just the right time to save him (vv. 14–16).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you in a situation in which you or your family feel directly or indirectly persecuted for your faith? Or perhaps are you experiencing other sorts of troubles and difficulties? God sees and cares about your circumstances and feelings. Like the psalmist, cry out to Him. Describe the situation, affirm your trust in Him, and call on Him to rescue, vindicate, and give you hope. As Paul said: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Rom. 12:12; cf. 2 Cor. 4:7–12).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 38
I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. - Psalm 38:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
A leading Boston Puritan, Samuel Sewall, was one of the judges during the notorious Salem witch trials in early American history. Afterwards, his conscience began to eat at him. One day he heard his son reciting Matthew 12:7: “If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.” Sewall knew he had to repent. On January 14, 1697, he stood before his church with head bowed while his pastor read out his humble confession.

Confessing our sins before God is another type of prayer we should practice often. Psalm 38 is traditionally considered one of the seven “penitential psalms,” with the others being Psalms 6, 32, 51, 102, 130, and 143. The main point is found in verse 18: “I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.” Thus, when the psalmist asked the Lord to help him, we understand that he was talking primarily about forgiveness.

David’s soul was sick, and he described these feelings in intense bodily terms. He had no health, his bones were unsound, his back ached, his wounds festered, he was mute and deaf, he felt crushed and helpless. All these symptoms afflicted him because he knew he had offended God (v. 4). God was disciplining His child, exercising holy wrath to bring him to the painful point of repentance. The physical imagery is so vivid here that some commentators actually think the psalmist had a life-threatening illness! Have you ever confessed your sins with this kind of spiritual intensity? In addition, because David was Israel’s king, God had made his sin and its consequences public. As a result, his friends had dropped away and his enemies were waiting to pounce.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we see in Psalm 38, there’s nothing heavier than the burden of sin, and nothing sweeter than a draught of God’s forgiving love. 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Ask the Spirit to search your heart and bring you into unhindered fellowship with the Lord. If there is unconfessed sin, as well, repent before the Lord. Renew your commitment to righteousness and enjoy even closer fellowship with Him!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 40
He lifted me out of the slimy pit; . . . he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. - Psalm 40:2
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the Scripture reading today, you may have been puzzled by the beginning of verse 6: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced.” Put aside all thoughts of jewelry–the explanation is found in the Mosaic Law. “But if the servant declares, 'I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life” (Ex. 21:5–6).

In other words, to have one’s ear pierced symbolized a voluntary, lifelong commitment to service. Verse 6, then, is King David’s declaration that he is God’s servant for life. In the prayer of Psalm 40, he explained why he made this choice–God’s saving actions and character.

Who is God and what does He do? He hears and answers prayer. He saves and redeems people in trouble, giving them a secure place to stand. He even puts a new song in their mouths to praise Him for doing so–and if anyone was ever qualified to write that verse, it was David! Even beyond the mighty wonders God had done, though, the psalmist was amazed at the personal relationship God had made possible between Himself and mere humans. He has revealed to us personally His love, truth, and faithfulness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Let’s imitate the psalmist and make a better effort to let praise dominate our prayer times.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Kings 18:30-46
Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God. - 1 Kings 18:37
TODAY IN THE WORD
On August 27, 1883, the volcanic Pacific island of Krakatoa, located near present-day Indonesia, erupted with colossal and terrible force. Over a course of five hours, there were four separate explosions that could be heard as far as 3,000 miles away. The final explosion is one of the biggest in recorded history. Six cubic miles of rock and ash were hurled more than twenty miles into the air, and the resulting giant tsunamis destroyed much on the nearby islands of Java and Sumatra. Riverboats even sunk 2,000 miles away in Calcutta, India. In fact, Krakatoa blew itself completely to bits, as well as the island it sat on–it’s literally not there anymore. People thought the world was ending.

Awesome. And yet the power of Krakatoa is nothing compared to the power of God on display in today’s reading. Though we move out of the Psalms for the rest of the month, our study’s purpose remains the same–to explore the life of prayer and how to live it.

You probably know today’s story: Israel was ruled by Ahab and Jezebel, a pair so stubbornly idolatrous that even a three-year drought and famine had not changed their behavior. Against this backdrop, Elijah made a mountaintop challenge to the gathering of prophets of their favorite Canaanite idols–a winner-take-all challenge for the spiritual heart of Israel. Despite the circumstances, his prayer resisted the temptation of showmanship. He was quiet, confident, deliberate, and sad over Israel’s hardness of heart. He prayed simply, on the basis of God’s promises and glory (vv. 36–37). There was never a doubt about the awe-inspiring answer, and the prophet seized the moment for a decisive spiritual cleansing of the nation.

But the praying this day was not yet done. Elijah’s second prayer was done in private, humbly and persistently, but the answer was equally dramatic. God sent rain to end the long drought, and with a truly divine flourish, He empowered His prophet for a supernatural sprint back to the city.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Think of an overseas missionary or another Christian worker supported by your church or family. Why not pray for their ministry as Elijah prayed in today’s passage? Ask that God’s power would be clearly seen and that the hearts of the people would turn to Him.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Habakkuk 3:1-19
The Sovereign Lord is my strength, . . . he enables me to go on the heights. - Habakkuk 3:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Physicist Stephen Unwin recently wrote a book entitled The Probability of God. “I don’t consider anything to be understood until numbers have been applied,” he said. “I have made a career of understanding and analyzing uncertainty and probabilities. Therefore, it seemed obvious to apply these methods to the ultimate uncertainty–whether God exists.” Using something called Bayes’ Theorem as well as other equations, he reviewed evidence from observation and experience in an attempt to assign a mathematically rigorous number to the probability of the existence of a personal God. He concluded that the probability of God’s existence was 67 percent.

People wrestle with their spiritual doubts in many different ways–the prophet Habakkuk took his questions directly to God. Habakkuk ministered around the same time as Jeremiah. In his book, written mostly as a dialogue, he asked and argued about the comprehensibility and justice of God’s ways–especially regarding His punishment of Israel through conquest and exile–and God answered. This prophecy encouraged the faith of the godly remnant of Israel.

Today’s reading is a prayer or psalm that was Habakkuk’s concluding response to God’s answers. His central petition was for God to do what He had done in the past, that is, to show His power and love in the lives of His people in order to make His name known in present times: “Renew them in our day, in our time make them known” (v. 2). His poetic recounting of the Exodus in verses 3 through 15 described God’s unstoppable power exercised on Israel’s behalf–it was a faith-boosting recollection of what God could do. These memories made the prophet’s heart pound with excitement, even though he would have to wait for God’s judgment on Babylon (v. 16).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Did you know you’re allowed to ask God tough questions? Even to express doubts? God is far bigger than all your questions and doubts–He can handle them, and your faith will be strengthened as a result.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Daniel 9:1-19
O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! - Daniel 9:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
The National Day of Prayer takes place the first Thursday of every May, as designated by President Ronald Reagan since 1988. Prayer events involving millions of people are organized at courthouses, city halls, parks, and other public places. This tradition of public prayer dates back to the Continental Congress’s nationwide call to prayer in 1775. The vision is “to communicate with every family the need for personal repentance and prayer, and to mobilize families to personal and corporate prayer, particularly on behalf of the nation and those in leadership on all levels of local, national, church and educational areas of influence.”

Daniel understood and acted on a similar vision in today’s reading. As a young man, he had been taken in exile to Babylon and had a long career there as a civil servant and prophetic interpreter of dreams. In chapter 9, the Medes and Persians had just conquered Babylon, confirming God’s prophecy through dreams from chapters 2 and 7. This encouraged Daniel to search for more information. When he found Jeremiah 25:11–12, which prophesied the Exile as lasting seventy years, he knew the time must be drawing to a close and he got on his knees.

Earnestly, he pleaded for God to relent and bring the punishment of Exile to an end. This punishment had lasted his entire adult life, and the whole time he had kept the faith, and wasn’t bitter or self-righteous. He identified with the sins of his people and repented on their behalf. The sackcloth, ashes, and fasting show us the deep intensity of his prayer. He admitted the fairness of God’s judgment and praised Him for His covenant-keeping faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and love. He knew that God’s character was the only effective basis for his petition to be granted: “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy” (v. 18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Pray today with the nationwide vision of Daniel. Though his personal situation was relatively secure, he identified with his people, confessed Israel’s rebelliousness and disobedience, and acknowledged the justice of God’s judgment. In the same spirit, we might confess America’s various sins–including abortion, pornography, adultery, homosexuality, and racism–and plead with God for mercy and revival. Like Daniel, we can pray motivated by love both for the people around us and for God’s holy standards.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 1:15-23
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be en-lightened . . . that you may know the hope to which he has called you. - Ephesians 1:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
National Geographic magazine has reported that wild turkeys are now here to stay. A century ago, their population had dwindled to an estimated 30,000, because settlers had moved westward, cleared land that was the turkeys’ natural habitat, and over-hunted them for food. Today, however, due to various factors, wild turkeys number at least 5.4 million. “The recovery of the wild turkey is definitely a success story,” said one environmental leader. “They are part of America’s heritage, and the American people came together to recover the species.”

That’s good news this Thanksgiving Day! In today’s reading, Paul gave thanks for the Ephesians and characterized them as a church filled with faith and love. In his epistles, he often told churches what he was thankful for about them and what he was praying for concerning them. We can make these our prayers as well, both for ourselves and for our churches.

The apostle’s main prayer for the Ephesian believers was that they would come to know Christ even better. This would happen as they gained wisdom from the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures (v. 17). The word wisdom here is not primarily intellectual but relational–it suggests personal knowledge.

Paul also prayed that through this godly and God-given wisdom–our Today in the Word theme for this year–believers’ eyes would be opened to two truths. First, the hope that is our rich inheritance in Christ (v. 18). As “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,” we have been reborn “into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” (Rom. 8:17; 1 Peter 1:3–4). The Spirit is a deposit on this inheritance of salvation (v. 14).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The irony of Thanksgiving is that so many people give thanks only in a vague, feel-good sort of way. They fail to thank the Giver of all good things. When you are gathered with your family this Thanksgiving Day, be sure to spend extra time praising and thanking the Lord for His blessings this past year. Your thankfulness might take the form of testimonies, Scripture readings, or songs, but don’t let it take second place to football games or more pumpkin pie.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Philippians 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more. - Philippians 1:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
The New Testament uses the metaphor of fruit to teach several key truths. For example, Jesus taught that you can recognize people, especially false prophets, by the “fruit” of their lives, that is, by what they do and with what results. He also characterized Himself as a vine, His Father as the gardener, and His disciples as branches that need to abide in Him in order to “bear fruit,” that is, to do God’s work successfully. And Paul gave the Galatian church his famous list of “fruit of the Spirit,” that is, qualities the Holy Spirit cultivates in obedient believers (Matt. 7:15-20; John 15:1-8; Gal. 5:22-25).

Along the same lines, Paul spoke in today’s reading of the “fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (v. 11). These verses are a second example of how Paul prayed for the churches under his care. He gave thanks for the growth of the Philippian church, and especially for their partnership with him in the work of spreading the gospel.

He prayed for their love to grow–or actually, not just to grow but to become plentiful, abound, multiply, and overflow to others. But Paul finished this phrase differently from how we might do so–“in knowledge and depth of insight.” This means that love is not primarily a feeling or sentiment, but rather a spiritual quality and action–eyes that see in tandem with a heart willing to do.

Therefore, Paul prayed that such love would result in discernment and holiness. Godly discernment is the ability to see what is best, the path of obedience. Choosing obedience is the only way to righteous and pure living on our spiritual journeys, and for it we will be held accountable for our obedience on “the day of Christ” (v. 10). When we stand before God, our lives will be the evidence of His love at work in us. What will this look like? If we have followed Him, we will be “filled with the fruit of righteousness”–our actions will show love, service, and devotion to Christ and His gospel. Such righteousness comes not through ourselves but through Christ, and earns glory not for ourselves but for God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
During your prayer time today, pray Paul’s words in today’s reading for the people in your church or small group. Insert their names in place of the words “you” and “your.” Don’t pray only for your friends or those who are easy to get along with, but pray as well for that sister or brother in Christ who seems difficult or even out of line spiritually. Praying for God’s will to be done in their lives is a great way to see them through God’s eyes!