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God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth. — John 4:24 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Genuine worship is a gift. God is spirit. God is holy. So, we cannot fully and authentically approach God in worship without the gift and blessing of his Holy Spirit. As Christians who received his Spirit when we were born of God through our faith and baptism ( John 3:3-7 , 4:23-24 ; Titus 3:3-7 ), we can now speak to him and worship him openly and confidently - our spirit combined with the Holy Spirit in us, worshiping God who is Spirit. The Spirit within us makes us a place where God lives through his Spirit ( 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ). The Spirit intercedes for us when we approach God in prayer ( Romans 8:26-27 ). We are then filled with God's Spirit as we worship him ( Ephesians 5:18-20 ). No wonder Jesus commanded: God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth. That's with our spirit, combined with the Holy Spirit, and with worsh...

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. — Ephesians 6:12-13 Thoughts on Today's Verse... How often do you forget that we are in a spiritual war? Our enemy is deceptively cunning. If we lose the sense of immediacy to his threats, the danger appears gone. But he's always there, lurking in the shadows. Remember that Jesus' battle with the evil one during his temptations was only the beginning of his spiritual battles. Luke ends his account of the LORD's temptations with these ominous words: When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time ( Luke 4:13 ). We never know when the evil one's "opportune time" will come ...

Humble yourselves before the LORD, and he will lift you up. — James 4:10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Humble yourselves..." That sounds almost obscene to a world so caught up in self-promotion and willing to do almost anything for "likes" and "views" in social media. This "get ahead at all costs" and this "look at me" driven culture of self-promotion is destroying our inner character before our very eyes. Humility is a forgotten virtue. Often confused with weakness or timidity, humility is really about knowing our proper place in the world and our eternal value to God without flaunting, promoting, and exalting ourselves. Only God can exalt permanently, so the key is for us to know our place before him and let him put us in the place he chooses for us to honor him and bless others. My Prayer... Abba Father, Most Holy God, thank you for allowing me into your presence because of your Holy Spirit and grace. When I think of all that you have...

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. — Philippians 4:8 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Our actions follow our thoughts like a heat-seeking missile follows the exhaust of a jet fighter's engine. So, in a day when so much around us trains us to find the negative in life, and especially in others, we must aggressively pursue the character, the qualities, and the things of God's goodness. Social media drowns us in negativity, spite, division, ugliness, and hostility. God gives us these things in our verse today to remind us of goodness, nobleness, rightness, and purity. God gives us admirable things, things that are excellent and praiseworthy. So, let's think about these things in a world that is drowning in negativity, futility, and loss. My Prayer... Holy and Magnificent God, thank you for being better than anything my world can...

If someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. — Galatians 6:1 Thoughts on Today's Verse... In a day when intervening in someone's life is no longer politically or socially correct, these verses ring out like a gunshot on a still night. Sin is still real and is just as deadly as ever. Yet because we fear being branded judgmental and self-righteous, we let many trapped in sin progress to their spiritual death ( Hebrews 2:1-3 ; 3:12-13 ; James 1:14-15 ). Paul calls us to nonjudgmental, gentle intervention because we recognize the gravity of sin and the sinner's need, without feeling arrogant about our righteousness. We approach the situation humbly because the phrase, "There but for the grace of God go I," applies to us. Nevertheless, love doesn't remain silent when someone's behavior is self-destructive, evil, and taking them to "hell in a handbasket," as the old sayi...

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. — James 1:5 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Wisdom is that elusive quality we respect in others but find so difficult to develop in ourselves. Yet God promises wisdom to those of us who genuinely ask for it. But remember the secret of A.S.K. asking we learned yesterday - asking, seeking, and knocking. Or better yet, check out what Solomon says about wisdom ( Proverbs 2:1-22 ). Wisdom is ours only if we seek it above all other possessions and value it above all other diversions. God longs to impart it, but there is something about spiritual wisdom that demands we value it before we can receive it. Video Commentary... ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer... Gracious giver of all good gifts, please bless me with wisdom today. Let me reflect your will and live for your glory in all my decisions - not just today, but moving forward in my li...