Bible Verse for Today

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
— 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Have you ever wondered how many potentially good friends you may have lost simply by judging them on your first impression of them? I'm amazed at how the first impression very seldom tells us much of substance about another person. We're not really going to be able to evaluate people properly until the Lord reveals at...

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
— James 1:22 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...What we know and what we believe are not all that significant if they do not show up in the way we live our daily lives. Pure and simple, faith not lived out in everyday life is not faith; it is facade. Just as Jesus had told us to put into practice what we have learned from him, his brother James reminds us the same thing: when we learn the truth of God's word...

 

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
— Psalm 119:114 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Where can we go to remain secure from the onslaught of bad ideas, evil influences, and false hopes? We can go to God and his Word. While people can be disloyal and misguided, God's love is proven through history and through Jesus and his truth stands forever.

My Prayer...Almighty God, you alone are trustworthy. You keep your word and fulfill your promises. Forgive me...

 

To all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
— John 1:12-13 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...We live in a time and culture of rights. "It's my right to ___." Just fill in the blank. But we don't have a right to be God's child. We are given that right by God's grace. This right came to us at great cost to God. Jesus' came to...

 

[Jesus said] "You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
— Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Our life will not be neutral. We will either point others away from God or show them that allegiance to God is important. Let's make an intentional effort today to shine the light of God's holiness and grace in all we do and say.

My Prayer...O God, may the words of my mouth, the actions...

 

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.
— Psalm 119:93 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Much like the rules parents have for young children -- don't drink what's under the cabinet, don't play in the street, don't walk out from behind parked cars... -- God's guidance is not to restrict us, but to protect us. His commands, both positive and prohibitive, are for our protection and perfection. By them we find life and have it preserved. (The Old...

 

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
— Philippians 3:14 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...The way to walk a tightrope is to keep one's sight on the goal, looking neither down to the ground nor over our shoulder at what is behind. The way to walk with Jesus is to keep our eye on the goal, his victory waiting for us when he returns, not on the ground (our failures) and not what is behind (our accomplishments). The goal of the...

 

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
— Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...With all the great heroes of the Bible, both big and small, we can do God's work with confidence. But to boldly go where he wants us to go, we must first be willing to let go of the sin that entangles our lives, distorts our vision, enlarges...

 

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
— Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...While the road ahead of us may be clouded with questions and concerns, we can look back and see the many ways God has acted in our behalf to get us to the places we need to be. But more than just us, we see his work through history and we can take assurance that his promises are true and his victory in us is assured.

My Prayer...Almighty God, I believe that...

 

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.
— Psalm 119:60 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Obedience is faith put into practice. Without action, James 2 reminds us that our faith is not real. So without arguing, let's quickly obey, even when we don't fully understand why because we've seen God's love demonstrated to us in Jesus, and we've seen the protection that his will has for us when we obey him.

My Prayer...O God, give me a heart that is quick to obey and a faith that is...