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In your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. — 1 Peter 3:15 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Peter, the great apostle, is calling us to be ready and able to tell folks about the hope that Jesus has brought into our lives. This must be an "always readiness" because we don't know when the opportunity to share our hope may come our way. Two things are incredibly important as we share this hope: Our Credibility: Is Jesus really LORD of our hearts or not? The reality of our passion, or lack of passion, for Jesus' lordship in our lives will shine through in our daily lives, as well - the way we treat people, the language we use, our hope for the future, and our kindness to those who need grace. Our Character: Do we show gentleness and respect in the way we approach and treat others, especially those who question us? The goal is n...

God has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. — 2 Timothy 1:9 Thoughts on Today's Verse... "Before the beginning of time!" How do you understand when that was? God first thought of us at a time we cannot even begin to imagine. His reason for thinking of us was to demonstrate his kindness, grace, and call in our lives and to bring others to his side. Jesus has always been God's plan, and we have always been his goal for that. Let's make sure we respond by living his holy life in our day-to-day world. My Prayer... Thank you so much, Father, for knowing me and thinking of my needs even before there was a world. I dedicate this day and every day that follows to your honor as I seek to live a life that reflects your righteousness, holiness, mercy, and grace. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. The Thoughts and Prayer on ...

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Thoughts on Today's Verse... We have been comforted by God the Spirit, our Advocate, Comforter, and Helper, who lives in us ( John 14:18, 26-27 ). Now, we should be able to comfort others. God doesn't bless us with his presence and the comfort of his Spirit just because we are somehow better than everyone else. No, he comforts us to equip, empower, encourage, and comfort others. God has human hands, but they only work when our hands are used for his glory and to comfort others. My Prayer... Tender Shepherd, there have been times when I was so broken I could not go on. I know my strength to continue in those times came from your rich grace and mercy. Please use me this week to offer your comfort and love, your ri...

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. — Psalm 139:23-24 Thoughts on Today's Verse... God does know us. We cannot pretend we are something we are not with him. He knows us - inside and out, through and through, from beginning to end. Knowing this should liberate us to share a remarkable degree of intimacy and honesty with him. Unfortunately, many of us run from such a close relationship with our Father. If our desire, however, is to become more like him, the only way to be transformed is by inviting him in to look at our hearts, our motivations, and our desires so that our Father can lead us in his everlasting way of mercy, grace, and love, as we journey home to him. He knows us. Let's invite him to search us and mold us as he makes us his, new, fresh, and holy every day! My Prayer... O God, I know you search and examine hearts and minds ( Jeremiah 17:10 ; 20:12 ; Ps...

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago. — Isaiah 25:1 Thoughts on Today's Verse... God's actions are not reactions to current situations, but part of his long-term plan to bring redemption. Yes, he has done marvelous things, both in history and also in our personal histories. God transformed the vile intentions of a mob urged on by evil men and made it into the atoning sacrifice for our sins to display his love, mercy, and grace ( Acts 2:22-24 ; 1 John 2:1-2 ). He changed the hearts of people who cried "Crucify him!" into people who believed in Jesus, repented of their evil, and were baptized, in faith, at Pentecost ( Acts 2:36-41 ). He turned the ugliness of the cross into an opportunity to fulfill the prophets and redeem us through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulnes...

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. — Deuteronomy 6:6-7 Thoughts on Today's Verse... We are to begin each day with God. Every breath we take should be a powerful reminder that our Father has granted us another day of life to serve him and bless others. Each heartbeat is God's drumbeat of love, reminding us that we are blessed with another minute to offer him our best. This blessing is so easily forgotten. We best remember these truths when we teach, demonstrate, and live them with and before our families, children, and grandchildren. We should also teach, demonstrate, and live these with our spiritual friends. But, let's not leave their learning these truths to our example alone. Let's find teachable moments to explain our faith to them, praise our Heavenly Father with them, and to teach God's t...