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The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. — Psalm 119:130 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Years ago, before GPS, driving to a distant place required a map, and sometimes several maps. As you journeyed to that place, the route became increasingly more straightforward as you unfolded the map and found your destination. Sometimes the right path is not so difficult to find; we need to know where to begin our search. We need to unfold our map by reading God's words. As we unfold them, the way we should travel in life becomes increasingly clearer. The right way is very seldom just the property of the bright, wise, and scholarly; it can be very clear for any of us who choose to look for it in God's words, and then unfold them so God can get us to his destination for us. My Prayer... O holy Father, thank you for making your will known through your words in Scripture. Bless me as I open your Word, as I listen to your words, and as I focus on your wi...

This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it — the LORD is his name: Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. — Jeremiah 33:2-3 Thoughts on Today's Verse... In a universe of billions of stars, think of the power of God who made them and knows each of their names. Think of all he knows that we don't. Think of all he has seen that is not in our history books. Think of all he has done and can do and will do. Add to this that he invites us to speak to him about the things of our hearts and understands what is in our hearts. He even allows us to ask him to reveal to us what we don't know. And he invites each of us to come to know him ( John 17:3 ) - not just know about him, but to know him! He invites us to become his children ( John 1:12-13 ), and he promises to let us share in his glory ( Colossians 3:2-4 ). Ah! This LORD is incredible, so let's ask him the great and unsear...

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Have you ever wondered how many potentially good friends you may have lost simply by judging them on your first impression of them? And how many people that you looked at that seemed to be remarkable, ended up turning out to be not very good people? I'm amazed at how the first impression we have of many people very seldom tells us much about their substance. We're not really going to be able to evaluate people properly until the LORD reveals what is really in their hearts at judgment. But we also know that what comes out of people's mouths and what we see in their behavior emanate from their hearts ( Matthew 15:18-19 ). Over time, we do get to see what their hearts are about: their hearts reveal the person inside them. So, don't you think that we should give people time to reveal what is in their hearts...

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. — James 1:22 Thoughts on Today's Verse... What we know and what we believe are not all that significant if they do not show up in the way we live our daily lives. Unfortunately, most of us know more truth than we obey. Pure and simple, faith not lived out in everyday life is not genuine faith; it is a facade ( James 2:14-15, 17, 18, 20 ). Just as Jesus had told us to put into practice what we have learned from him ( Matthew 7:23-27 ), his brother James reminds us of the same thing: when we learn the truth of God's word, there is only one thing left for us to do: obey it and put it into practice! My Prayer... Holy God, please help us put into practice what we know to be your will for us and the truth you have given to us. And please, dear LORD, help us do it with passion today, and to do it day after day, until we come into your presence in glory. In the name of the LORD Jesus, I pray. Amen. The Though...

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. — Psalm 119:114 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Where can we go to remain secure from the onslaught of bad ideas, evil influences, and false hopes perpetrated by social media? We can go to God and his Word, the Scriptures, and to Jesus, who is the fulfillment of these Scriptures and is the Living Word ( John 1:1-18 ). While people can be disloyal and misguided, God has proven his faithfulness through his word, in sending Jesus, and by keeping his loving promises. He promises never to leave us or forsake us ( Hebrews 13:5-6 ; Romans 8:38-39 ), and his truth and his promises stand forever. God is our refuge, shield, fortress, strong foundation, and rock as we give our hearts to the Word of God. My Prayer... Almighty God, you alone are trustworthy. You keep your word and fulfill your promises. Forgive me when I trust my own insight and the wisdom of others rather than seeking your will in your Word. Please give me your wi...

To all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. — John 1:12-13 Thoughts on Today's Verse... We live in a time and culture of rights. "It's my right to..." - and you can fill in the blank with almost anything. But we don't have the right to be God's child. God's grace gives us that right at great cost to God. Jesus, God the Son, came to earth, lived, died, and was raised from the dead. We receive this grace through faith: God gives us new birth as we trust in Jesus as LORD and we share in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection in baptism ( Romans 6:3-7 ; Colossians 2:11-12 ), as by faith we are reborn through the power of the Holy Spirit ( John 3:3-7 ; Titus 3:3-7 ). To be "born of God" - to be "born from above," to be "born again" - is the gift of adoption into Go...