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We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. — 1 John 4:16 Thoughts on Today's Verse... How do you know God is at home in your heart? It's an important question! You know when you are doing loving things to bless the lives of others, and your love reflects the Spirit-formed kind of love Paul defines in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ; God is at home in your heart: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. When we consistently act in unloving ways, we show we really do not know God, no matter how much Bible we think we know! Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever d...

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. — Philippians 2:1-2 Thoughts on Today's Verse... While our passage begins with an "If...," it would be better translated as "Since we have..." Our call to sacrificially submit ourselves to others does not begin with our sacrifice, but with Jesus' love, example, and sacrifice! We are called to unity in spirit and shared purpose after having received all these blessings from being in Jesus! We are encouraged by being united with Christ. We are comforted by his love. We do share in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. We have received tenderness and compassion. So, dear brother and sister, how can we not share those blessings with our Christian family and find a way to live together in his Kingdom with lovi...

Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. — 1 Peter 3:8 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Unity and harmony are no accident! They happen because of intention and submission. More than just states of being we find along life's way, they are commanded by God. We are to pursue them! How do we have unity and harmony? Peter reminds us we must have three commitments in our "family of faith" lifestyle: We actively share our sorrows, losses, and concerns We love and value each other as family. We show compassion and humility with each other. Rather than acting superior to others as they deal with their failures and loss, we are sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble. We recognize that we are vulnerable to the same problems, hurts, wounds, and temptations as our brothers and sisters who need us, and whom we need to be fully JESUShaped disciples! My Prayer... Father, I confess that I have let my oversensitive self be wo...

Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice! — Philippians 4:4 Thoughts on Today's Verse... True and lasting joy is found in the LORD, not in temporary things, momentary achievements, or fleeting riches. True joy, abiding joy, unconquerable joy is found in knowing that God always accompanies, sustains, helps, protects, and upholds us, and then one day will come to include us in his forever home with us. How can we not rejoice? God loves us so much that he emptied heaven of his greatest treasure so that we can join him in glory and in never-ending joy. How can we be so sure of all of this? We remember the empty tomb, our risen Savior, and the LORD's disciples who met the risen Jesus and "disbelieved for joy" ( Luke 24:41-43 ). That disbelief, however, was swallowed up in unstoppable joy as Jesus ate some fish in front of them as they marveled at their resurrected Savior. My Prayer... Precious Father, thank you for always being there for us, with us, and i...

I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. — Psalm 121:1-2 Thoughts on Today's Verse... In a world of startling beauty and a universe of dazzling diversity, our hearts are to be drawn back to the One who made it, now sustains it, and reveals part of himself in his creative genius ( Romans 1:19-20 ; Psalm 8:1, 3-4 ). Our God has revealed himself as our Abba Father ( Romans 8:15-16 ), who knows us, will help us, and lives in us ( John 14:18, 21, 23 ). We can look on the created beauty of our universe and say with confidence, "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth," who is also my Abba Father. Video Commentary... ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer... Almighty Creator, Incredible Architect and Majestic Engineer, your creative work absolutely bewilders and delights us. Being so beyond us, you astound us even more when we realize that you care for each o...

Even to your old age and gray hairs, I AM he, I AM he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. — Isaiah 46:4 Thoughts on Today's Verse... This promise was originally made in Isaiah's day to the faithful remnant of God's people living among their corrupted and poisonous neighbors. God wanted them, in their day, just as he wants Jesus' disciples in ours, to realize that he knows us, gave birth to us through his Spirit ( John 1:12-13, 8 ), and will never leave us or forsake us ( Romans 8:37-39 ; Hebrews 13:5-6 ). God will not forget us when we're in trouble or when we are old. We may outlive our friends and be forgotten by those who know us. God, however, will sustain, carry, protect, and rescue us ( Isaiah 46:3 ). And when our earthly journeys come to their end, the Father will send Jesus to rescue us, and "we will always be with the LORD. Therefore encourage one another with these words" ( 1 Thes...