Word for Today, Tue, 10 Feb 2004: Weekly Verses
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Today's message from Phil Ware contains this week's compilation
of weekly verses, thoughts, and prayers. I find myself, in my
own private thoughts, prayers and scripture reading, to have to
continually surrender my thoughts over to God.
Some days are better than others. There are times when prayerful
conversation, thankful attitude, and spending time with God come
easier than others. Ironically enough, those aren't always the
moments of greatest surrender and growth.
For me, anyway, the times of greatest growth (and change) come
when I have to admit that I am powerless and helpless without God
- and quite likely that I have tried to do things on my own and
miserably failed.
Honesty in admitting such things and returning to God can
sometimes be a springboard for renewal and growth. I feel like
that a lot these days, it seems. As long as I don't retreat from
such times and hide from God, but instead bring my struggles, my
failures, my anger and disappointment before Him, confessing my
sin, seeking to be cleansed and renewed, those seemingly low
moments can become great moments.
So as I share my own thoughts and offer the verses, thoughts and
prayers this week, my personal prayer, both for you and me, is
that each one of us will take personal inventory, read God's Word
regularly, especially clinging to the Word when we're struggling,
keep short accounts with God and one another, love God with all
of our heart, and love others as we love God.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
____________________________
Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.18825.1.293748
February 9, 2004
These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.18825.2.293748
~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY
All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers
of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the
word of the Lord stands forever.
--1 Peter 1:24-25
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
As the seasons change, the leaves fall, and the grass dies,
we are reminded once again of how short our lives are. Despite
the rapid advancements of technology, our deepest needs are
addressed only by the eternal and proven will of God in
Scripture. Whether you get your Scripture off the Bible on
disk or from an old family Bible, access it today. Don't you
need a dose of the eternal today?
MY PRAYER...
As I age, I am constantly reminded, O God, of my transitory
stay on earth and your eternal reign in heaven. Give me a
sense of my place before you as I seek your will in your Word.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
TUESDAY
I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this
is your spiritual act of worship.
--Romans 12:1
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Because God went first and sacrificed what is most precious
to him to save us, he can ask us to surrender ourselves to him.
Only one problem: The sacrifice wants to keep crawling off
the altar. But, since we are that sacrifice, let's offer
ourselves fully to God!
MY PRAYER...
Holy and Righteous Savior, I want to surrender my life, my
body, and will to you. But I confess, there are little things
(and maybe some big things), that I keep from ever placing on
that altar. Things I don't want to give up. To the best of my
ability, I pledge today to live for you in a way that leaves
nothing outside your Lordship and control. I offer you me --
all that I have and am -- to be yours today. Through Jesus.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
WEDNESDAY
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
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Don't you love gifts! When they're truly given, with no
strings attached, all we have to do is receive them. The
greatest gift we've ever received has nothing to do with our
efforts. It is a gift from God. We didn't earn it, deserve
it, or purchase it. God gave it through his sacrificial gift
so our salvation would not be our boast, but his kindness.
MY PRAYER...
Holy God, I can never thank you enough for sending Jesus and
paying the debt for my sin. May I never presume on your grace
or take the cost of your gift lightly. At the same time,
Father, I want to live confidently, knowing that my salvation
is not dependent on my mistakes but upon your grace. Because
of such a lavish gift, I pledge to live for you today in a way
that reflects the joy I have at receiving such an awesome gift.
Through Jesus, my Grace, I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
THURSDAY
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that
your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind
of sufferings.
--1 Peter 5:8-9
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Satan is real. He and his power are intended to harm. But
rather than spending our time worrying about him, let's resist
him when we are tempted and focus on Jesus. He's the one who
won the big showdown at Calvary, triumphing over Satan. He
took Satan's greatest tool and disarmed it. Now we can resist
and Satan will flee.
MY PRAYER...
Thank you, Almighty God, for sending Jesus to break Satan's
stranglehold over us. Through the Savior's death you have
assured me that mine won't be the end of our relationship, but
the beginning of life with you. Today, however, I ask that you
help me especially resist Satan's power over my life in the
following ways... Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
FRIDAY
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in
order that you may know the hope to which he has called you,
the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.
--Ephesians 1:18
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Heaven is something we see with our heart. When we are
discouraged, doubtful, and depressed, we need to have the eyes
of our hearts "enlightened." The dawn needs to rise in our
darkness, and then we will see the dawn of hope and the riches
of our inheritance. But when things look bad, the only way to
remember these things is to sing them, pray them, and read
God's promises of them.
MY PRAYER...
O God, you are my Hope. I trust in you and your promises.
But I admit that at times, like even right now, I struggle with
the confidence that you will act in response to my prayers and
do what I've trusted you with my life to do. Please fill me
with your Spirit, comfort my doubts, and kindle my passion so
that I may serve you with boldness and share your grace with
others. Through my Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SATURDAY
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of
him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
--1 Peter 2:9
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
We've been picked to be on God's team, and we were picked
first! We have an important role to play in the unfolding of
the world's history. We're here to declare God's praises to
those who don't know him so they can find his marvelous light
and leave their world of darkness.
MY PRAYER...
O Great Light of Eternal Hope, I praise you and thank you
for including me in your people. Now move me and empower me to
share your Gospel with others so the world might truly know
that Jesus is Lord. Through him I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SUNDAY
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for
there is no authority except that which God has established.
The authorities that exist have been established by God.
--Romans 13:1
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Yes, there are things we don't like about our government.
But God has truly blessed us to enjoy the protection of the
authorities. But we also live in the time of some of the
greatest persecution ever known in the Christian era. So as we
pray for our leaders and thank God for our freedoms, let's not
forget the persecuted church all over the world.
MY PRAYER...
O Great Deliverer, God of the Exodus, as you have shown your
power and deliverance in the past, we ask that you act today
and bless every believer who is persecuted for your sake. Show
them tenderness, healing, and protection on this day. Through
Jesus we ask it. Amen.
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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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