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Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. — Romans 12:12 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Sometimes the key to survival is simply "setting our jaw" and going on, faithfully trusting that God is there helping us, despite the apparent outward circumstances. Choosing joy through hope rather than dwelling on despair, choosing patient endurance in times of affliction, and choosing faithfulness in prayer when all circumstances are tough are all decisions of the will. They show that we trust God, who raised Jesus from the dead, can also change our circumstances because he hears our voice and loves us. Everything seemed to suggest God was silent and had forgotten his Son when Jesus was in the tomb. We know now this wasn't the case at all. We know that our triumph over sin, death, the evil one, and hell was happening during that silence. As we are being "joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" , let's also remain confident that ...

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him. — 1 John 5:14-15 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Confidence before God. That's a bit of an oxymoron if you meditate upon it. Yet through the presence of Jesus at the Father's right hand ( Hebrews 2:14-18 ; 1 Timothy 2:5 ) and the intercession of the Holy Spirit ( Romans 8:26-27 ), we can have confidence and come boldly before the Creator of the universe. Because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit's mediation and intercession for us, we know that God not only hears us, but that he also cares for us. Wow, what an audience! What confidence! Oh, and one final thing, he also ACTS on what we ask. The Holy Spirit shares this beautiful promise with us in Hebrews 4:16 : Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help u...

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. — Hebrews 11:6 Thoughts on Today's Verse... I believe! I believe that God not only knows me, but cares about me. I believe that God not only created the universe, but he also knows the number of hairs on my head. I believe that God not only sent his Son to save the world, but that he's sending him back to bring me home. What's more, I believe that God is pleased by my belief. And even on my worst days when it is hard, I pray, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief" ( Mark 9:24 ). I believe, and I know that pleases God! Video Commentary... ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer... Almighty God, most holy LORD, I thank you for your steadfast love and enduring faithfulness. I thank you for your grace and mercy. I thank you for your might and power. I thank you for your awesome holiness. I...

Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. — Ephesians 4:15 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Speaking the truth is hard enough. You mean we have to do it in love? Yes, if we are to be Jesus' women or men, we must speak to others as he did. As the Spirit grows us up to become more like Jesus ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ), we will share our hope in Jesus with gentleness and respect ( 1 Peter 3:15-16 ), just as Jesus spoke to the lost who were seeking him. Our goal in speaking with others is not to win arguments, but to win hearts to the Savior. My Prayer... Father, forgive me for the bitterness in my heart and unfairness on my lips. Through your Spirit, help me better use my speech to bless others and glorify you. May I speak your truth with your love today in all my conversations. Through him who is Truth and Love I pray. Amen. The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. You can email questions or comments...

I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. — Job 19:25 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Beyond what these words originally conveyed in Job's day, we know today that our Redeemer will return as the Rider on the white horse in triumph and give us God's victory forever ( Revelation 19:11-16 ). Hallelujah, what a day! Every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father ( Philippians 2:10-11 ). Then the world truly WILL KNOW that Jesus Christ, our Savior, brother, and friend, is LORD of all! As the messenger of God dressed in white promised Jesus' amazed disciples at his glorious ascension ( Acts 1:9-10 ): "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Yes! We know that our Redeemer lives and will stand upon the earth and take us home with him! My Prayer... Conquering King, Immortal God, I look forward to...

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! — Philippians 2:5-8 Thoughts on Today's Verse... "LORD, humble us gently." That is one of my friends' favorite prayer requests. I like it, too. I want to be humbled, but not humiliated. Thank God, however, Jesus was willing to be humbled, but not gently humbled. He humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! He was willing to be humiliated to save us! I hate that he went through such agony. I grieve that his self-emptying humility was stark, brutal, drastic, humiliating, and outrageous. Jesus' self-sacrificing love challenges me to have the same attitude as he had! Jesus' example challe...