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This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. — Philippians 1:9-10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... I don't know about you, but my hardest decisions aren't about choosing between good and bad. I usually know what is good and what is bad, especially when bad involves evil. My toughest choices are when I have to choose between good, better, and best. My love for God usually overcomes my weaknesses, and I choose good over bad - or at least recognize good over bad. But unless I've placed myself before God's word and surrendered my heart to him in prayer, asking to be led by the Holy Spirit, I have a very tough time choosing between good, better, and best. In my heart of hearts, I want "to discern what is best" and "be pure and blameless until the day of Christ." Yet I'm convinced that much of what Go...

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. — John 3:20-21 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Truth is seen in what it does and whom it seeks. Let's live as children of light and seek after the Father who dwells in unapproachable and glorious light ( 1 Timothy 6:16 ) so we might be light to a world darkened by evil ( Matthew 5:14-16 ). Let's not hide, play, or flirt with the darkness, but come to the light and receive the light of life ( John 1:4 , 8:12 ) as we live as light in our dark world ( Philippians 2:15 ). My Prayer... Father of the heavenly lights,* I ask you to correct me gently as I place myself, my imperfections, failures, and sins before you, bringing them into the light of your presence. Please forgive and cleanse me by the blood of Jesus so that I might be spotless ...

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. — 1 Corinthians 2:14 Thoughts on Today's Verse... The Holy Spirit is God's abiding gift, God's seal, our anointing, and our promise of future glory.* The Spirit is our assurance that what God began with Jesus' sacrificial death and our participation in it through faith and baptism, he will bring to completion at Jesus' return. But the world cannot understand this great promise, just like it cannot understand much of Scripture. Without the gift of the Holy Spirit, their eyes only see what they can touch with their fingers and cannot fully see what is true in God's heart and what God has revealed in his Word. * The things said about the Holy Spirit come through clear statements in the Scriptures from places like John 14:18-23 ; Romans 8:9-39 ; Titus 3:3-7 ; 2 Corinthians 1:22...

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. — Matthew 6:33 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Jesus is speaking in his Sermon on the Mount. He wants us not to worry about all the stuff we often pursue. So, let's seek (pursue relentlessly) God's Lordship over our lives and his righteousness, which reflects his holy character in our daily dealings. Everything else we pursue is temporary. Only God and his Kingdom remain. As we pursue God's Kingdom and his righteousness, Jesus promises that the one who gives us his Kingdom and his righteousness will also bless us with what we need in this life, as well! My Prayer... Holy LORD, only in you do I find what satisfies my soul's deepest desires. The things that have captured my eye are boring after only a short while. The artificial things I have pursued, all of my addictive interests, have left me empty, enslaved, and in debt. I find hope and help only in you alone. I join with ...

We know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. — Hebrews 10:30-31 Thoughts on Today's Verse... God hates injustice, unfairness, brutality, and abuse. In a world where the greedy, the murdering, the thieving, the raping, the mugging, the abusive, and the bullies often get away with their shameless and despicable behavior, God is the ultimate assurance that justice will be done. The wicked will not triumph. The evil will have to give account to the one who will judge them ( Acts 10:42-43 ; 1 Peter 4:3-5 ). While those who love and serve Jesus expect his return with anticipation and joy, those who are evil and vile will find out what a dreadful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God. The hands that wipe away the tears of Jesus' wounded disciples in heaven ( Revelation 7:17 , 21:4 ) will also be the hands that avenge those who ...

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ the Righteous One. — 1 John 2:1 Thoughts on Today's Verse... God hates sin. Don't you? I know I do. But isn't it amazing how we'll fall back into the same old traps again and again? The goal is not to sin even one sin! But knowing our struggle against flesh, John also gives assurance to those of us who are trying to live faithful and pure lives. He wants us to know that when we do sin, the sacrifice for our sins, God's Son, is also our defense attorney who proclaims us sinless before God by his blood ( Colossians 1:22 ; 1 John 1:7 , 2:2 ). So let's draw close to Christ. Let's invite him into our hearts each morning as we begin the day ( Revelation 3:20 ). Let's trust in his power and grace to sustain us and carry us through. As Paul prayed for new believers in Thessalonica: May God himself, the God of...

Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. — Hebrews 10:35-36 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Some tough times come with living. They're inescapable. There can also be even tougher times for those who believe and seek to share Jesus. We call that persecution. That's when our confidence in the LORD's salvation and our relationship with him get tested! It is one thing to sing "it is well with my soul" at the end of a peel-the-paint worship service. It is quite another to be able to sing those words when they auction your house off at the courthouse steps, you are told you have a long-term debilitating illness, you lose a child to death, or you are ridiculed and persecuted for your faith. Faith can't take a holiday when we travel through the suburbs of hell - when times are tough. If we quit then, we'll never find our way out. We must ...

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. — Romans 5:3-4 Thoughts on Today's Verse... I remember the Corrie ten Boom phrase, "Thank God for the fleas." The fleas kept the German soldiers out of the barracks in the concentration camp where she was imprisoned. This allowed her to minister to and visit those being persecuted. The deplorable conditions and her sufferings allowed her to show and share the love of Jesus authentically. In the earliest days of the church, the apostles rejoiced "because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" of Jesus! Their willingness to suffer for Christ opened some people's hearts to believe because they could see that their hope in Jesus wasn't just something they preached, but also something they lived! Even in the worst of suffering, God can bring blessings through those who know that life's goal is ch...

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. — Romans 15:7 Thoughts on Today's Verse... I hate racism and exclusivity. But my loathing does not match God's revulsion at these things. On the other hand, we can anticipate the choir of heaven ( Revelation 7:9-11 ) where fellow believers "from every nation, tribe, people and language" will worship Jesus together in glory! But, dear friend in Jesus, we must accept one another in Jesus now, and not let race, language, culture, or suspicion keep us from loving each other as we have already been loved by the Savior. Why do we do this? Because it is right, it is what Jesus does, and it brings glory to God! My Prayer... Holy and Righteous Father, I pray that we will have the Holy Spirit use your grace to help us tear down any and all walls that divide your people based on race, culture, status, ethnicity, or privilege. Teach us, and please teach me, to love all peoples as you did when...

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. — 2 Corinthians 13:14 Thoughts on Today's Verse... I have a friend in Jesus who has taught me the power of sharing a spiritual blessing with others. We share a conviction: Many times in life, ministry, and trial, people need way "more than my words"! Oh, for sure, they do need to hear from me. But my words are earthbound and relatively unproven. The Scriptures, however, are full of proven, inspired, and powerful blessings and prayers. They are way "more than my words"! Which brings us to today's verse. I can't think of a better blessing that is way "more than my words" than this short blessing from the apostle Paul: grace, love, and fellowship, all rooted in the eternal, sacrificial, and gracious nature of our God, are captured in this one short and amazing blessing! May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and...

Rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. — Joel 2:23 Thoughts on Today's Verse... "The prayers go up, and the blessings come down..." The words to this children's song are only half right, because God sends his blessings many times even when we don't pray. But just as we love the special smell that comes with a drought-breaking rain, God loves the aroma of his children's joy, especially when he is the source of their delight! So, dear friends, let's find reasons to rejoice with the seasons changing to autumn (Northern Hemisphere) and spring (Southern Hemisphere). As the apostle Paul told the Philippians: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near ( Philippians 4:4-5 ). My Prayer... Holy God and tender Father, you are our great delight. In the changing of our seasons, you ...

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. — Ephesians 4:29 Thoughts on Today's Verse... The goal in Christian communication is not just clarity. The goal is not just to be understood. The goal is not just to be truthful. The goal is not only to be appropriate and helpful, but also to be JESUShaped disciples ; it means we want to deliver our message based on their needs so it benefits, blesses, and builds up those who listen. Not only do we avoid crude, profane, or improper speech, but we are to fill our lives and the ears of those who hear us with the kinds of words that Jesus would share with people. God has called us to this high standard because we are to reflect and demonstrate Christ's character in our lives, bearing the fruit of the Spirit ( Galatians 5:22-23 ) as he transforms us to become more like our Savior ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). My Prayer......

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. — Philippians 2:3-4 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Do you remember one of the earliest questions in the Bible? "Where is your brother... Abel?" To which Cain responded: "Am I my brother's keeper?" ( Genesis 4:9 ) Paul's answer to Cain's question is clear and undeniable: It is, YES! As Paul tells the Philippians (and us) in this verse, we must not look only to our "own interests, but also to the interest of others" ! We are our brother's keeper! We are our sister's keeper! We look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of those around us who need God's grace and our love. Video Commentary... ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer... Father, teach me to love your family as you love me. I get so c...

You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light... — Ephesians 5:8 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Our before and after: we were lost, now found; we were darkness, now light. This should be our journey of grace. "I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see," as the old hymn "Amazing Grace" has us sing. If we could only fully grasp what we so easily sing, then maybe our lives would be filled with more grace and our churches with more confident servants of God. Let's "live as children of light" ( 1 Thessalonians 5:5 ), transferred from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of God's love ( Colossians 1:13-14 ), in whom we have light and life ( John 1:4 ). My Prayer... LORD God Almighty, by your grace we know that we stand before you today, welcomed into your glorious presence and received as your beloved children. You have rescued us from the dominion of darkness and flooded ou...

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. — James 3:13 Thoughts on Today's Verse... James promised that if we ask for wisdom in faith, God will grant it to us ( James 1:5 ). This kind of wisdom, God-granted wisdom, reveals itself through a loving, humble lifestyle. In worldly cultures, someone who is smart can easily justify acting arrogantly. In the LORD's eyes, however, smart but arrogant people are worse than those who are silly and foolish. The pridefully intelligent people of our world are woefully ignorant if they are ignorant. True godly wisdom is not about flaunting knowledge, but about living a "good life" characterized by good deeds done with humility. Which more closely resembles you in your walk with Jesus: Wisdom expressed through good deeds and a humble lifestyle, or an arrogant intelligence expressed in deeds and words of superiority and arrogance? My Prayer... Loving...

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...

Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. — Titus 2:2 Thoughts on Today's Verse... "Worthy of respect": What a goal for our lives, whether we are a man or a woman! Don't you want your life to reflect the character of God because your faith expresses itself in a life that is temperate (reverent), self-controlled, faithful, loving, and steadfast? Paul wants Timothy to urge the older men to genuinely display these character qualities as they live in the presence of and have influence over others in the family of God. Such character is the work of the Spirit in our lives ( Galatians 5:22-23 ) and manifests only as we dedicate ourselves to pursuing Christ-likeness and offering ourselves to the Holy Spirit for God's transforming work in us ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). As we grow older, we often worry about securing our financial investments so we can live comfortably in our older years. The apostle...

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. — Psalm 143:10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... We want the Holy Spirit to be at work in us, transforming us to become more like Jesus ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). For this to happen, we must seek Jesus and open our hearts to God's will. There are no greater words God wants to hear than "teach me to do your will." That is what it means for him to be our God. We invite him to have control over our lives and influence over our wills. This is a key part of what it means for us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength ( Matthew 22:37-38 ). As we open ourselves to the Father in this way, the Holy Spirit sets us on God's level ground and leads us on our journey home to our Father, maturing us to be more like Jesus, doing God's will. My Prayer... Almighty God, I want you to be God in and over my life. I renounce any attempt to manipulate or use your grace and kindne...

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we present everyone perfect in Christ. — Colossians 1:28 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Our goal as Christians, as disciples of Jesus, is not to obey some ancient law, adhere to some arcane set of rules, or even follow some prescribed spiritual discipline. Our goal as Christians is to be conformed to the character, way of life, and heart of Jesus ( Luke 6:40 ). We want to be JESUShaped people. This is also the Holy Spirit's work in us ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). As Paul the apostle makes clear here and elsewhere ( Galatians 4:19 ), his goal is to see "Christ formed" in new disciples. Shouldn't this be our work as parents, friends, and spiritual mentors, too? We want to see each other, those we love, those we influence, and those in Jesus' family, fully and perfectly mature in Christ Jesus. My Prayer... Holy LORD, conform my heart, words, life, ministry, and actions to those of Jesus. I wan...

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." — John 14:23 Thoughts on Today's Verse... At many Christian funerals and memorials, the preacher emphasizes that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us to join him in heaven, but will one day come back for us and bring us home with him ( John 14:1-3 ). Just a few verses later, the LORD deepens his promise. He promises that if we love him and obey him, he will love us and reveal himself to us ( John 14:21 ). On top of that, he and the Father will love us and make their home in us until we can go home to be with them ( John 14:23 ). As we love God and obey Jesus' commandments, our relationship, closeness, and experience of God's presence as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, deepens because they live inside us - make their home with us. Obeying Jesus' teaching is our pathway to a closer walk with God! My Prayer... Holy God, I k...

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." — Matthew 28:18-20 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Last words matter! The last words of a parent to a child leaving for college... The last words of a loved one at the bedside of someone dying... The last words of a friend before moving to a distant place... Our last words are chosen with care because we know they leave a lasting impact on those who hear. They are important to us. We want those who hear them to know them and keep them. Jesus' last words are our authoritative marching orders for us as his disciples. These words are also very clear: Make disciples of all peoples by... Going to all nations. Baptizing believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spi...