Scripture for Today

VERSE: As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. -- James 2:26 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=James+2:26T

HOUGHT: By this definition, a whole lot of people claiming to bebelievers are really spiritual corpses. For faith to be real, itmust express itself in service. Faith not only moves mountains; it moves believers to act in ways that honor God and bless others, demonstrating their thankfulness for God's incredible grace.

PRAYER: Holy and Faithful Father, please forgive me for the times I'vebeen lazy in my spiritual walk. Help me see the many opportunitiesfor service you give to me each day, and then empower me to act inthose opportunities in ways that bless others. In Jesus' holy nameI pray. Amen. http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20080226

Scripture for Today

VERSE: Jesus would not entrust Himself to them, for He knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for He knew what was in aman. -- John 2:24-25 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=John+2:24-25

THOUGHT: If we've spent a bunch of time reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John in the New Testament), we probably have alreadycome to the conclusion stated in our verses. So, if we want to knowhow to better live as a person, the place to start is Jesus. We need to follow his example and follow his teachings. It is not aneasy path, but it is an authentic and transformational journey. As we learn that we can trust him because he knows us, we see ourlives take on a greater depth and richer meaning.

PRAYER: Thank you, Father, for sending your Son to show me how to liveand to teach me your truth. In the name of your precious Son,Jesus, I pray. Amen.http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20080225

Scripture for Today

February 20, 2008

VERSE: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. -- Galatians 2:20 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Galatians+2:20

THOUGHT: We are dead, but more alive than ever before. We are crucified and humiliated, yet glorified as never before. You see, Christ lives in us. He works through us to bless others. So the life we live now in our limited bodies is not limited -- it is the work of Christ. The life we live now is lived by faith in the one and only Savior, who has shown his love by giving himself to redeem us.

PRAYER: Almighty and Holy God, thank you for sharing your life and powerwith me and through me. Thank you for joining my life to Christ. Thank you for joining Christ to my life! May his love, grace, andpower be seen in my actions and character. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20080220

Scripture for Today

VERSE: I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.

THOUGHT: God longed for Israel to be faithful to him. Despite the unfaithfulness in the past, God offered his people forgiveness and hope that they could be restored to relationship with him again. If God was willing to pay such an incredibly high price to do this, shouldn't we do the same with each other? But, let's go one step further; let's be faithful to each other and to God in the first place!

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, God of compassion, please give me a more forgiving and sensitive heart. In addition, dear Father, please give me a faithful heart that will not stray from the pledges and vows I have made to you and to others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi

Scripture for Today

February 13, 2008

VERSE: Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD yourGod, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger andabounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. -- Joel 2:13 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Joel+2:13

THOUGHT: One of the most amazing things about our God is that he is so gracious and compassionate. This is true even when we've "blown it big time." In fact, when we sin, He longs to forgive and cleanse,not condemn and punish. His grace rushes to greet our genuineheartbreak and heart-change with forgiveness, cleansing, andredemption

PRAYER: Dear Father, when I sin, please help me see my sin as you do. Help my heart break over my sin when I've rebelled against you. Idon't want to ever become callused or cold to your grace. I want toalways appreciate the great cost you paid to redeem, to forgive,and to cleanse me with you grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20080213

Scripture for Today

VERSE: Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror," declares the LORD. "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
Jeremiah 2:12-13, New International Version

THOUGHT: Where do you turn to have the thirst of your soul slaked? I firmly believe that many addictive habits and sins are the result of pursuing things to satisfy this thirst in our soul by some means other than seeking God. He is the only source of true and lasting refreshment, satisfaction, and fulfillment. Let's pursue God, knowing that only he can satisfy the desire of our souls.

PRAYER: Thank you, O God, that you care that my soul thirsts with superhuman thirst. Thank you for providing your Living Water through the Holy Spirit to satisfy this longing deep within my soul. Help me see the deceptiveness of every false source of satisfaction so that I can find my thirst properly and fully satisfied in you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi

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Scripture for Today

VERSE: Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
Proverbs 2:11

THOUGHT: My greatest mistakes have been made in haste, when I didn't allow a little prayer time to consider what I was going to do or say. While discretion and understanding are acquired through learning and experience, they are also a gift from God. But this gift doesn't come on demand. It comes from patiently seeking, trusting, and waiting on the Lord's guidance and from longing to live for him as a person of character.

PRAYER: Forgive me Father, for I fear that I am more often a "character" than I am a person of character. Forgive my selfish desire to play to the crowd. I confess that I sometimes try to be witty and popular, rather than being a person of discretion, understanding, and integrity. Help me please, dear LORD, to see through the temptation of haste and find your path to integrity. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi

Scripture for Today

VERSE: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9, New International Version

THOUGHT: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9, New International Version

PRAYER: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9, New International Version

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi

Scripture for Today

February 7, 2008
VERSE: ... the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground andbreathed into His nostrils the breath of life, and the man became aliving being. -- Genesis 2:7 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Genesis+2:7

THOUGHT: We are God's creation. He fashioned and formed our predecessorsout of the dust of the ground. He molded each of us and createdeach of us in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-16). Like Adam, Godfills us with his breath and blesses us with life. We are hisworkmanship, his artistry, made to experience life in all itsfullness (John 10:10) and created to do his work in our world(Ephesians 2:10).

PRAYER: Thank you for my life, dear God. Please don't let anyone, oranything, distract my heart from honoring you. Please do not letthe evil one distort my sense of being your creation. In Jesus'name I pray. Amen.http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20080207

Scripture for Today

February 5, 2008

VERSE: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who,being in very nature God, did not consider equality with Godsomething to be grasped... -- Philippians 2:5-6 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Philippians+2:5-6

THOUGHT: What a glorious thought! What a lofty aspiration! What anincredible challenge! I am to have the same attitude as Jesus had.It's almost unthinkable. But just almost! You see, God calls us tothis glorious, lofty, and unthinkable height because he calls ushis children.

PRAYER: Almighty and Eternal Father, thank you for your unfathomablegrace displayed in Jesus. Help his attitude of service, obedience,and sacrifice to pervade my soul and to influence my daily life. Inthe name of Jesus, Lord of lords I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20080205

Scripture for Today

Monday, February 4, 2008

VERSE: But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. -- Ephesians 2:4-5 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Ephesians+2:4-5

THOUGHT: We have no claim to bring to God! We have no right to demand salvation! We have no power within us that can hold on to life! Only God's love can bring us life, hope, and grace. Only God'smercy can bring us salvation. Only God's gift of Christ can awakenus from the death-slumber of sin.

PRAYER: Your love, mercy, and grace have saved me, dear Father. What can I do to praise you? You have shown your might, holiness, andmajesty in redeeming me, dear God. What can I do to repay your grace? Your patience, perseverance, and faithfulness have touched my heart and brought me life. How can I ever find the words to say how much I love you? Thank you, dear Father, thank you for all you have done for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20080204

Scripture for Today

February 1, 2008

VERSE: 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 inour defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoningsacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sinsof the whole world. -- 1 John 2:1-2 http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=1+John+2:1-2

THOUGHT: John wants to prevent even one sinful event in the lives ofthose he loves. He is concerned because he knows that even onesinful event can be used by Satan to discourage and defeat us. Weneed to know that we have a Savior and a defender. He paid theprice to redeem us, he sent his Spirit to help us overcome sin'spower, and he will speak to the Father and claim that right toforgive us.

PRAYER: Father, I'm embarrassed by my weakness and vulnerability when Isin. Even in those moments of shame, I'm thankful that Jesusprovided me the way back into your holy presence. Jesus, I thankyou for coming to my rescue and my defense. I will not let Satandiscourage me when I fall. Instead, I re-commit myself to live withyour character and for your glory. In the name of Jesus, my Lordand my defender, I pray. Amen.http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20080201