Word for Today, Mon, 12 Jan 2004, Weekly Verses
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
I haven't shared the Weekly Verses with you in a while. Those of
you who are long time readers know that I frequently pass along
writings from Phil Ware early in the week. Lord willing, I'll
also be sharing a message from Larry Davies this week, and
hopefully I'll have a chance to get back to a more regular
schedule of writing messages. If things work out really well, I
may even share some original material. In either case, my prayer
is that each of us, in our own ways, find time for Christ in our
personal lives. For me, when time is especially short, the
shower and the driving commute are two times for personal
reflection and prayer. With the great online resources that are
available, reading a few verses of scripture is always possible,
when more time is available, it's nice to sit down with an easy
to read Bible and simply enjoy God's Word, or sit down with one
or two good Bible translations and really dig in.
My prayer is that each one of us find our own way to consistently
find at least some time for God's Word, then also set aside time
for study, prayer, and meditation. Who is more worthy of our
attention, friendship, love, adoration, and respect than the One
who made us?
Yours in Christ,
Brian
Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.17787.1.293748
January 12, 2004
These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.17787.2.293748
~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY
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
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
I don't know about you, but my most difficult decisions are
not 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
weakness and I choose good over bad. But unless I've placed
myself before God's word and surrendered my heart to him in
prayer, I have a very tough time choosing between good and
best. Yet I'm convinced that much of what God would love to do
through us today does not happen because we've settled for good
when he longs to lead us to best!
MY PRAYER...
Gracious and Almighty God, teach me your ways and give me
your heart as I strive to love you, know your will, and have
insight into your ways. Help me to know the best things to do
today and to use my time in the best way in my work, my family,
among my friends, and especially before those who do not know
Christ as their Savior. Through him I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
TUESDAY
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were
before you.
--Matthew 5:11-12
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
For most who can read this Internet message, the sentiments
of this verse seem foreign. But among those who closely study
persecution, believers in Christ are enduring perhaps the
greatest amount of persecution in the history of Christianity.
For those of us who live in cozy places where belief is
tolerated and Christians are just considered "unhip" or a bit
out of touch, we need to be thankful that our lives make enough
of a distinction from our culture to be noticed, even if it's a
bit unfavorably. But at the same time, we need to pray for
other believers throughout the world who are undergoing the
wrath of hell for the faith.
MY PRAYER...
Great Deliverer, we have many who call on your name with
faith in Jesus who face persecution and hardship every day. I
pray that they will not lose heart and give up their
confidence. I pray that you will bring deliverance from this
time of persecution. I pray that their sufferings will be the
source of powerful witness so others will come to see the great
value of Jesus and our allegiance to him. This I pray in his
precious and holy name. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
WEDNESDAY
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the
Lord is kept safe.
--Proverbs 29:25
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Fear is such a paralyzing emotion. It robs us vitality,
decision-making ability, and strength. Courage helps us step
out of fear's paralysis and turn its nervous edge into power.
But this kind of courage comes to us fully only when we know
that all that Satan and his allies can really have of us is our
bodies. He cannot take our mind, our attitude, our faith, and
most of all, he cannot take our relationship with God, given to
us through Jesus.
MY PRAYER...
O Savior, my Great Redeemer, thank you for triumphing over
all that I fear through Jesus. You have not only given me a
hero I trust, but a hope by which I can live victoriously.
Through my Conquering King I thank you. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
THURSDAY
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In
his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
--1 Peter 1:3
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
The great truth about Jesus' empty tomb is not that he is
risen, but that he is living! His victory over death wasn't
short-lived, it was ultimate. He now lives to make
intercession for us until he can return and bring us to his
home. Our life is hidden with him so that no one and nothing
can take it from us. When he appears, we will get to share in
his never-ending glory. How can we not praise God for such
grace?
MY PRAYER...
Almighty God, I praise you from the bottom of my heart for
your incredible and glorious grace that has brought eternal
victory out of mortal anguish. Thank you for paying the price
to make it so. You are marvelous beyond my words and worthy of
more praise than all your children's voices together can tell.
My Hope will live forever because he is risen and reigning as
Lord. To you be all honor, glory, and majesty forever, and
ever, Amen!
~~~~~~~~~
FRIDAY
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may
bring forth.
--Proverbs 27:1
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Don't you have your hands full with today? Don't you find
yourself distracted from the urgent and important things of
today by worrying about the problems of tomorrow and
fantasizing about all the possibilities down the road? Isn't
it a waste of time to be anxious about those things you have no
influence over? So why...?
MY PRAYER...
God, give me the strength to seize the moment and live the
life today that will please you and bless others. Help my
heart feel the urgency of today and act with boldness,
kindness, and salvation instead of worrying so much about what
may happen. Give me the immediacy of the moment I see in your
son's ministry. Through whom I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SATURDAY
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is
near.
--Isaiah 55:6
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
In truth, God is always close to those who genuinely seek
after him. The real problem is that we drift away from him,
lose interest, and leave his presence. So let's seek him and
receive his grace and his help while we recognize that he alone
is the one who truly saves.
MY PRAYER...
Father, I seek you with all my heart. While I seek to know
about you through your Word, I long to know you and be known by
you as a tender father knows his child and as a child feels
complete trust toward his tender father. Be not only my God,
but be real to me in ways that transcend explanation. Help me
sense your nearness and to know your presence. Through Jesus I
pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SUNDAY
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock
Eternal.
--Isaiah 26:4
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
When we see mountains we feel small, knowing not only how
much larger they are than we are, but also how much longer they
have been here than we have been. But the Lord existed long
before any mountain and will exist long after it has melted
into nothing. The only rock of security, and all the forevers
we have, are found in him.
MY PRAYER...
Eternal I Am, who is and was and will be forever, I trust
that you are and will always be my God, my Redeemer, my Savior,
my Shepherd, and my Father. I commit all my tomorrows to you.
Through Jesus my Lord. Amen.
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=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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