Today's Verse

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Ephesians 4:22-23
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds...

— Ephesians 4:22-23 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We are made new when we become Christians. Most of us, however, have moments when the old way of life erupts and wants to make its presence known. This means that being new is a lifetime decision we must make each day. As we make that commitment and seek to follow the Lordship of our Savior, the Holy Spirit's power (that Paul talks about all through Ephesians) is promised to us and the Spirit's goal is to mature us to be like Christ. (Eph. 4:12-16; 2 Cor. 3:18 )

My Prayer...

Almighty God and dear Heavenly Father, please bless me today as I seek to live as a new person -- cleansed, made holy, and empowered by your Spirit. Give me a new and clean mind as I intentionally put aside my old habits and desires. 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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John 4:23-24
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

— John 4:23-24 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God seeks true worshipers. He seeks those who long to praise him authentically and spirit to spirit. To help us in our quest, he gives us his Spirit to help us worship (Philippians 3:3; Jude 20; Romans 8:26-27). Most of all, he wants us to genuinely worship him -- worship him according to his will and with all of our heart.

My Prayer...

Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit who is interceding even now to perfect this prayer. My heart thrills at the knowledge that you not only know me, but that you desire me to come into your presence. Please accept my feeble words and hear the emotion of my heart as I say "Thank you!" for all you have done for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Mark 4:24-25
"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you -- and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

— Mark 4:24-25 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"O be careful little ears what you hear ... for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little ears what you hear." God doesn't want to just be heard aloud; he wants his Word to enter our systems and change our lives. The more we receive the blessing of God's words, the more it should change us. If it doesn't, the problem isn't with the message but with the listener!

My Prayer...

Please open my eyes, my ears, my heart, and my mind, dear Father, so that I can appropriate your message into my life. Bless me, please, dear Father, so that what I hear in your word is seen in my life. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Romans 4:25
He [Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

— Romans 4:25 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Why are the Cross and the Empty Tomb so important? Because everything important and truly lasting in life depends upon them!

My Prayer...

Thank you, dear Father, for paying such an awful price for cleansing me of my sins. Thank you, precious Savior, for sacrificing everything to save me. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for cleansing me and living inside me to conform me to Christ. In his name, Jesus of Nazareth, I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Ephesians 4:26-27
"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

— Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Pent up anger is an explosion waiting to happen. Sooner or later, the pent up frustration will explode, either in our own life or into the life of someone else. Jesus taught us to forgive and to reconcile (Matthew 18 ). Anger must be dealt with. Otherwise the devil will use it to abuse us as well as others in our lives. Don't give him a foothold in your life. If you give him an inch (2.54 cm), he'll take a mile (1.61 km)!

My Prayer...

Father in heaven, thank you for the ability to get angry at the things that anger you. Please help me channel that emotion in ways that are productive and help me to be repulsed at evil. Please stir my heart to reconciliation, especially when that anger is against one of your children. By the power of your Holy Spirit, help me to forgive as you have forgiven me. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Proverbs 4:27
Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

— Proverbs 4:27 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

When I see someone swerving in and out of their lanes of traffic, I immediately go into a defensive driving mode. Whether they are drunk, sleepy, or just plain careless, I know they are dangerous. God wants us to know the same is true of us when we allow ourselves to wander by and sample every form of temptation available. Let's stick to the straight and narrow with our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus!

My Prayer...

Loving Father, please forgive me for being so easily distracted by sinful temptations. Please give me wisdom to see the things that the evil one has designed for me and avoid them and resist them. Please make Jesus, his costly sacrifice, and his holy life very real to me today, and every day, as I seek to be your holy child in the corrupt world in which I live. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Acts 4:28
They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

— Acts 4:28 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The cross of Golgotha, the sacrifice of Jesus for our sin, was no after-thought, mistake, or revised formula. Jesus came as God's anointed, his holy Messiah, to die for the sins of the people and bring life and immortality to us. Those who were evil and conspired to kill him to keep their place and their position were doing only what God knew they would do; he just ransomed what was intended for evil by a few and made it the source of salvation for all.

My Prayer...

Almighty God and loving Father, thank you for your awesome sacrifice that fulfills your demand for justice and allows you to dispense your rich mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, in whose name I pray, for your loving sacrifice, your holy example, and your promise to return for me. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

— Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

When was the last time you truly searched after God? I'm not talking about an obscure theological insight about God or another best selling book about God. When was the last time you sought after the Father so that you could know him better and appreciate him more? Let's open our hearts and go on the Great Quest to find God. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, we will find he's waiting and watching for us to come home!

My Prayer...

Precious Heavenly Father, majestic in glory, awesome in might, and ever near with your loving presence, please bless me with a deeper and more personal knowledge and experience of you in my life. Until the day I can see you face to face in heaven, please draw me closer and closer to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Ephesians 4:30-31
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

— Ephesians 4:30-31 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Don't make God's Spirit sad! But how do we do that? By harboring bitterness, unleashing anger driven rage, fighting with others and slandering their name while plotting to harm them. These things are the exact opposite of the qualities the Spirit is seeking to produce in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). No wonder it makes him sad!

My Prayer...

Almighty Father, please make me more like Jesus by the power of your Holy Spirit. 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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Romans 5:1
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...

— Romans 5:1 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The cost of peace is always high. Our peace was purchased by Jesus' enormous sacrifice. God made sure the price for our rebellion was paid, but he didn't make us pay it because we could never have fulfilled our obligation. Instead, God paid it himself in Jesus.

My Prayer...

Holy and loving Father, thank you for making peace and bringing me back to you at great cost to yourself. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for willingly surrendering yourself to the horrible cruelty of the Cross. Thank you that I'm not treated as your enemy because of my sin, but as a lost sheep that needs to be found. Thank you for adopting me as your beloved child. In Jesus' name I offer my thanks and praise. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Ecclesiastes 5:2
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

— Ecclesiastes 5:2 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Even in our sound-byte world, far too many words are spoken in pledge to God that go unfulfilled. Let's thank him, praise him, and petition him. But let's also realize that, while our prayers need to be persistent, our words don't need to be elaborate or refined, just few in number.

My Prayer...

Almighty God, thank you that the Holy Spirit intercedes for me while I pray. Thank you that I don't have to have articulate prayers to be heard. Thank you for not expecting grandiose promises from me. I come to you as your child, your humble servant who longs to live for you and praise you with all of my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

— Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Prayer is more than asking. Prayer is more than praising. Prayer is more than thanking. Prayer is more than requesting or interceding or kneeling or humbling ourselves. Prayer is expecting that God wants us there, expecting that God hears us, and expecting that God will meet us in our prayer time and do what is best for us and those we love.

My Prayer...

Loving Father and Eternal God, thank you for meeting me in this prayer time. I know that you hear me and care about what I share with you. Thank you for paying attention to someone like me and accepting me as your precious child. Thank you, in Jesus' name. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Micah 5:4
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace.

— Micah 5:4 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The great hope that we have is that our Good Shepherd will return for us, call us each by name, and bring us securely into his fold. There we will share in his protective care and eternal peace.

My Prayer...

Lord God, thank you for sending Jesus to not only be the sacrificial lamb for my sins, but also the Good Shepherd. Thank you for the promise of rest, protection, and peace that are part of both my present and my future life with you in your Son. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[nChrist]

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Today's Verse
By Phil Ware, Heartlight Magazine
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Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

— Romans 5:5 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The source of our hope is not just in Jesus' prior work on the Cross and in the empty tomb. It isn't dependent just on our own will-power and commitment to hang on to hope. No, God made sure the fire of hope could never run out of fuel in our hearts. He did this by filling us with his Holy Spirit and pouring his love into our hearts. That same Spirit will help raise us up and give us life when Jesus returns (cf. Romans 8:11).

My Prayer...

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the gift of your Holy Spirit who keeps my hope alive and fills me with a sense of your loving presence. May my life today, and everyday, display my confidence in your love by sharing your kindness with 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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Deuteronomy 5:6-7
"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."

— Deuteronomy 5:6-7 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God is Sovereign, all-powerful, and without rival. So it is absolutely amazing that he repeatedly chooses to bless us with his grace before he calls us to worship and obedience. In most other religions, their gods demand adherence, sacrifice, and obedience before their favor is acquired. But the One True and Living God offers grace and then calls us to obedience. Not only does he have the right to ask us to have no other gods, he is worthy of being our only God because of his demonstrated love and his incomparable glory!

My Prayer...

Almighty God, you are worthy of all honor, worship, and praise. I want my heart to always be reverent of your glory and appreciative of your grace. Please don't let me outlive my love and allegiance to you. I pray this in Jesus name with all my love and respect. Amen.