Bible Verse for Today

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 (NIV)
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...

 

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 (NIV)
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 to be appropriate, encouraging, and building up others based on the needs of the other person.

My Prayer...Tender Shepherd...

 

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 interest of others.
— Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
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?" Paul's answer is a clear and undeniable yes! We must look to the interest of others and not...

 

You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
— Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Before and after -- that's the story of grace. "I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." If we could only fully grasp what we so easily sing then life would be filled with more grace and our churches with more confident servants of God.

My Prayer...Lord God Almighty, by your grace I know today that I stand before you welcomed into your presence and received...

 

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 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...The character of a loving and humble lifestyle shows who is truly wise. It is so easy for people to act arrogantly, yet in the Lord's eyes they are worse than silly; they are woefully ignorant. Wisdom is not about flaunting knowledge but about living a godly life. Which more closely resembles you in your walk...

 

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 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...How do you know God is at home in your heart? You know when you are doing loving things to bless the lives of others! Just as we trust and rely on God's constant love for us, our brothers and sisters in Christ need love demonstrated to them, too!

My Prayer...Loving God and Almighty Father, fill me with your Spirit so I can be...

 

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 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Our call to sacrificially submit ourselves to others does not begin with our sacrifice, but with God's blessings. The actual grammatical construction of this statement is...

 

Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
— 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Unity and harmony are no accident! They happen because of intention and submission. But more than just states of being, they are commanded by God. How do we have unity and harmony? Peter reminds we must have three commitments in our "church" lifestyle -- 1) actively share the sorrows and concerns of those who grieve; 2) love each other just...

 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!
— Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Joy is found in the Lord, not in things. Joy is found in knowing that he always accompanies, sustains, helps, protects, and upholds me. How can I not rejoice? God loves me so much that he emptied heaven of his greatest treasure so that I could join him in glory. Joy is mine because of his grace.

My Prayer...Precious Father, thank you for always being there and knowing what is...

 

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 (NIV)
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 and now sustains it. He knows us and will help us if we will but believe what he has tried so many ways to say: "I love you as my child and I deeply care what happens to you and those you...