Today's Verse

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Genesis 2:7
... the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

— Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We are God's creation. He fashioned and formed our original ancestors out of the dust of the ground. He molded each of us and created each of us in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-16). Like Adam, God fills us with his breath and blesses us with life. We are his workmanship, his artistry, made to experience life in all its fullness (John 10:10) and created to do his work in our world (Ephesians 2:10).

My Prayer...

Thank you for my life, dear God. Please don't let anyone, or anything, distract my heart from honoring you. Please do not let the evil one distort my sense of being your creation. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.

— Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

As a child, I loved to receive gifts. In such a simple time of life, a gift meant I was loved. I didn't worry about the significance or hidden message in a gift. I wasn't concerned about the "strings attached" to the gift. It was just a gift -- a free expression of love I didn't deserve, given to me by someone who truly cared for me. Isn't it great to get to be God's child and receive his gift and know we can receive it as a child?!

My Prayer...

Thank you, generous Father, for the gift of grace, the gift of faith, the gift of salvation, and most of all, the gift of Jesus. I know I can never repay these gifts, but I look forward to saying "Thank you!" through my lifestyle now and I look forward to continuing to say "Thank you!" through all eternity. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Jeremiah 2:12-13
"Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror," declares the LORD. "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

— Jeremiah 2:12-13 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Where do you turn to have the thirst of your soul slaked? I firmly believe that many addictive habits and sins are the result of pursuing things to satisfy this thirst in our soul by some means other than seeking God. He is the only source of true and lasting refreshment, satisfaction, and fulfillment. Let's pursue God, knowing that only he can satisfy the desire of our souls.

My Prayer...

Thank you, O God, that you care that my soul thirsts with superhuman thirst. Thank you for providing your Living Water through the Holy Spirit to satisfy this longing deep within my soul. Help me see the deceptiveness of every false source of satisfaction so that I can find my thirst properly and fully satisfied in you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Proverbs 2:11
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

— Proverbs 2:11 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

My greatest mistakes have been made in haste, when I didn't allow a little prayer time to consider what I was going to do or say. While discretion and understanding are acquired through learning and experience, they are also a gift from God. But this gift doesn't come on demand. It comes from patiently seeking, trusting, and waiting on the Lord's guidance and from longing to live for him as a person of character.

My Prayer...

Forgive me Father, for I fear that I am more often a "character" than I am a person of character. Forgive my selfish desire to play to the crowd. I confess that I sometimes try to be witty and popular, rather than being a person of discretion, understanding, and integrity. Help me please, dear LORD, to see through the temptation of haste and find your path to integrity. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

— Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Did you know that God is an artisan? Even more importantly, did you know that you are one of his masterpieces? God has designed us to be beautifully useful for doing good things! So let's not let anyone, especially not the evil one, convince us that we are not worth anything to others or to God. His grace has made our lives canvases upon which he will provide the world more masterpiece works of his artistry! Let's live up to God's high opinion of us.

My Prayer...

Thank you, dear Father, for knowing me and re-making me by your grace in Jesus. Use me to do your will and lead me to the appropriate people so that I can most effectively minister to them. In Jesus' grace-filled name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Habakkuk 2:9
"Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin!"

— Habakkuk 2:9 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

In our "dog eat dog" world, in our race to get to the top and leave all our rivals in a heap at the bottom, God tells us both "Whoa!" and "Woe!" He tells us to stop and realize that Kingdom values are different from worldly values -- that there is no success without service. He also warns us that he will bring us to ruin if we ignore his values by placing ourselves above the well-being of others or pursuing our own success at the cost of our ethics.

My Prayer...

Gracious, almighty, and righteous God, please strengthen me so that I can resist the temptation to exploit, cheat, and lie to get ahead. Dear Father, I truly want to be a person of integrity, character, and blessing. Please help me to see any duplicity in my own heart and to treat others graciously, just as you have so graciously treated me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Joel 2:13
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

— Joel 2:13 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

One of the most amazing things about our God is that he is so gracious and compassionate. This is true even when we've "blown it big time." In fact, when we sin, he longs to forgive and cleanse, not condemn and punish. His grace rushes to greet our genuine heartbreak and heart-change with forgiveness, cleansing, and redemption.

My Prayer...

Dear Father, when I sin, please help me see my sin as you do. Help my heart break over my sin when I've rebelled against you. I don't want to ever become callused or cold to your grace. I want to always appreciate the great cost you paid to redeem, to forgive, and to cleanse me with you grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

— Habakkuk 2:14 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What a glorious day when this promise is fully realized! Let's make every effort and commit ourselves to the task of making our glorious God known to every nation, tribe, language, and people.

My Prayer...

Almighty God, please lead me to someone who needs to know your salvation. Please bless your servants all around the world as they share your message with others. Please give them success and hasten the day when this glorious promise becomes fully realized. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Philippians 2:14-15
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

— Philippians 2:14-15 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We shouldn't be surprised that unbelievers around us have a different set of values than we do. After all, a star isn't surprised to find that it shines in the great expanse of darkness surrounding it. You see, a star and a disciple of Jesus share one basic purpose: shining our light in the darkness, no matter how great that darkness!

My Prayer...

Holy and righteous LORD, I can only anticipate the day I see your glory and stand in your presence. Please give me the courage and integrity to be a light to those around me overwhelmed by the darkness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Isaiah 2:17-18
The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear.

— Isaiah 2:17-18 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Sometimes when we get "too big for our britches," we find ourselves humbled by a natural disaster, world war, incurable disease, economic depression, or widespread social disorder. Our arrogance can be a predictor of our own impending disasters. Is there a general principle of our universe at work here? ("Pride goes before a fall.") Or is this the active discipline of God at work? I guess the answer is "Yes!" to both of these questions. Both God and his world remind us that there is so much about our lives we can't control. This passage, however, goes beyond the general principles and it promises an ultimate day when human arrogance will be eliminated and all false gods disappear. On that day, God's children will rejoice and be glad! Until then, let's walk humbly with our God.

My Prayer...

Dear Father in heaven, please humble me gently. I don't want to lose my keen sense of your presence by becoming too full of myself. Neither do I want to bring disaster upon myself or those I love. Give me an undivided heart of devotion to you out of appreciation for your grace. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Malachi 2:16
"I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, ... "So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith."

— Malachi 2:16 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

In a throw-away world, God wants us to know that he hates it when we throw away people. Let's call each other to God's standard, to God's holiness. Let's not let our spirits be corrupted by selfishness and resentment. Let's not break faith with God by treating those closest to us with contempt. And in a world where people get broken by divorce, let's go find them, include them, and bring them home to God's family for healing.

My Prayer...

Almighty God, please make our words strong, our commitments lasting, and our lives faithful to the promises we make to you and to each other. Thank you for the great example of so many of your people who have had incredibly strong marriages. Bless me and my house with a legacy of faithfulness that lasts for generations to come. In addition, dear Father, please use me to bring home to you those who have been broken and disheartened in marriages that failed. In Jesus' name. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Hosea 2:19-20
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.

— Hosea 2:19-20 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God longed for Israel to be faithful to him. Despite the unfaithfulness in the past, God offered his people forgiveness and hope that they could be restored to relationship with him again. If God was willing to pay such an incredibly high price to do this, shouldn't we do the same with each other? But, let's go one step further; let's be faithful to each other and to God in the first place!

My Prayer...

Dear Heavenly Father, God of compassion, please give me a more forgiving and sensitive heart. In addition, dear Father, please give me a faithful heart that will not stray from the pledges and vows I have made to you and to others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Genesis 2:18
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

— Genesis 2:18 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Two powerful principles are presented here. First, God looks out for us and blesses us with what we need most. Second, God made us for relationship: relationship with him and with a life partner. Yes, Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 both emphasize that some are gifted to be single, but most of us are made to be complete with another. Marriage and a marriage partner are a gift from God. Let's live like they are!

My Prayer...

Holy God, I want to thank you for looking out for my needs. So many times I ask you for what I want, not what I need. Thank you for doing what is best for me and not what I want! Now, dear Father, please help me treat the significant people in my life as gifts from you. In the name of Jesus, your ultimate gift, I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Joel 2:21
Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. Surely the LORD has done great things.

— Joel 2:21 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

This reassurance from God is given to a people facing desperate times, which were brought on by God to lead them to repent. Their land lies desolate and decimated from drought, plagues, and poor harvests. God, however, is now promising to bless them if they will return to him with all their hearts. The LORD, the covenant God of Israel, will do great things to bring his people to deliverance through their repentance and his gracious power. The land can rejoice and be glad. So should his people! So should we! Because of Jesus, we know that "the LORD has done great things" for us!

My Prayer...

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your incredible work in our world. Thank you for your incredible work in my little part of that world. Thank you for your deliverance in Jesus. Thank you for the victory over death. Thank you for the incredible outpouring of your grace and mercy. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the Scriptures which your Spirit inspired and uses to teach us. Thank you for a family of friends in your Church. Thank you ... in Jesus' name. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
Free By RSS News From Heartlight
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Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

— Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We are dead, but more alive than ever before. We are crucified and humiliated, yet glorified as never before. You see, Christ lives in us. He works through us to bless others. So the life we live now in our limited bodies is not limited -- it is the work of Christ. The life we live now is lived by faith in the one and only Savior, who has shown his love by giving himself to redeem us.

My Prayer...

Almighty and Holy God, thank you for sharing your life and power with me and through me. Thank you for joining my life to Christ. Thank you for joining Christ to my life! May his love, grace, and power be seen in my actions and character. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.