Monday
"What about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE ...\There is no other name under heaven that can save us (Acts 4:12). We are to confess Jesus before others, and when we do we are assured that he confesses us before the Father in heaven. We may not know all the theological import behind those words – after all, Peter didn't at the time – but we can make a commitment to know him and follow him until we do.
MY PRAYER ...
Living God and Holy Father, I believe you sent Jesus as your Son to save me. I confess to you that I want Jesus to be Lord of my life because I believe him to be your Son and my Savior. It is through your Son, the Christ promised in Scripture, that I pray. Amen.
Tuesday
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE ...
Jesus' love for children in an age when they weren't those whom highly regarded is a powerful reminder of God's love for the world often abuses or abandons. We are called to love the unloved, the forgotten, the abused and neglected. Why? Because that is what Israel was in Egypt and that is what Jesus was at Calvary and that is what we were without grace (Romans 5:6-11). How can we claim to know salvation and not share it with others who need that grace!?
MY PRAYER ...
Father, I want to be more of a Father like you – a holy and loving father to my children and a tender father to the forgotten children of today. Help me be aroused by the neglect and abuse children suffer in my world, and to be moved to act in ways that bless them. Through Jesus, the great lover of all children, I pray. Amen.
Wednesday
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE ...
Generosity is love expressed in practical ways with joy. Generosity and justice are needed in our selfish world. They come from a heart touched by grace.
MY PRAYER ...
Loving Father, I know I will meet people today who need me to be generous with my love, time, forgiveness and money. Please help me to treat them fairly and with love, just as you have treated me. May my life reflect your grace to others who need your love. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Thursday
I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE ...
Obedience is faith put into practice. Without action, our faith is not real, James 2 reminds us. So without arguing, let's quickly obey, even when we don't fully understand why, because we've seen God's love demonstrated to us in Jesus and we've seen the protection that his will has for us when we obey him.
MY PRAYER ...
O God, give me a heart that is quick to obey and a faith that is quick to express itself in action. I want to please you with my words and thoughts, but even more, Father, I want to live a life full of your character, wisdom, and grace. Help me to quickly obey your voice. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
Friday
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE ...
While the road ahead of us may be filled with questions and concerns, we can look back and see the many ways God has acted in our behalf to get us to the places we need to be. We see his work through history and we can take assurance that his promises are true and his victory in us is assured.
MY PRAYER ...
Almighty God, I believe that before there was a world, you existed. I trust that even now you sustain our world with your word of grace. I am confident that before the future arrives you are already there preparing it for us. Help me when I worry to remember my faith and to press on trusting that you are there. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Saturday
Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE ...
Like the great heroes of the Bible, both big and small, we can do God's work with confidence. But to boldly go where he wants us to go, we must first be willing to let go of the sin that entangles our lives, distorts our vision, and robs us of spiritual vitality and stamina.
MY PRAYER ...
Holy Father, forgive me for my sin. Not just my blatant sins, but my willingness to dabble in things that are not holy, to flirt with things that are spiritually dangerous, and to expose myself to things that leave a residue of Satan's world. Give me strength to say no to the things that distract me from you and to embrace with passion those things that make me more like you. Through Jesus my Lord I pray. Amen.
Sunday
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE ...
The way to walk a tightrope is to keep one's sight on the goal, not on the ground or what is behind. The way to walk with Jesus is to keep our eyes on the goal, his victory waiting for us when he returns, not on the ground (our failures) and not what is behind (our accomplishments). The goal of the Christian walk is to keep walking toward Jesus until we walk with him in heaven.
MY PRAYER ...
Lord, I look forward to the day when you call me by name and walk hand in hand with me. Until that day, help me fix my eyes on what you want me to be and not what I've done. By your grace I ask it. Amen.
