Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.
—Amos 5:14

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Isn't it amazing how many people claim God is on their side. God has been "claimed" by those seeking to enforce slavery, practice prejudice, lie, bribe officials, practice hypocrisy, force injustice on the powerless, and practice "ethnic cleansing." But God makes the test pretty simple: do what is good, seek after the good, or you're not related to me! In the words of the prophet Amos, that meant equity for all peoples in court, in the marketplace, and in the place of worship. If we're claiming God is on our side, then we'd better draw close to the side of God, the side of good, justice, and mercy as God defines them!

My Prayer...
Precious and Almighty God, full of mercy and lover of justice and fairness, I praise you for your concern for those who are often forgotten. By the presence of your Holy Spirit within me, convict me when I side with evil and oppression and stir me to work for the salvation of others, of my culture, and of my world — not just eternal salvation, but salvation from evil and hatred that are so prevalent. May your Kingdom dawn more brightly in our world as it does in your heart and will for us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.
—Romans 15:30

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
God's people and God's ministries are constantly under attack. Satan does not sit idly by while his kingdom is plundered. But those on the front lines of ministry do not need to fight alone. You can help them. You can "join the struggle" by praying to God for them. I know at HEARTLIGHT we truly need your prayers for protection, for power, and for wisdom. Others you know need similar prayers. More than money, more than pats on the back, more than notoriety or success, God's servants and God's work need your prayerful support.

My Prayer...
Almighty and Sovereign God, please bless and protect and empower these servants who are on my heart today... LORD, please bless the ministries, ministers, and missionaries of your Church and please dear God, deliver your children who are under oppression and persecution for the name of Jesus. To you, O God, belongs all power and honor and glory. In the name of my conquering King, your Lamb who was slain, I pray. Amen.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!
—Romans 7:24-25

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
While marred by sin and death, human beings are still created in God's image and fashioned in our mother's womb by his Sovereign care. But we bump up against the hard reality of our weakness and failure. We cannot be like God in his most defining attribute, holiness. We sin. We rebel. We fail. We do what we know we should not do. We neglect the important matters of God's will and nit-pick at nothing. With our words, we hurt and injure those we love. Who can save us from these bitter and limiting realities that we find in ourselves? Praise and hallelujahs go to Jesus when we trust him as our Messiah and Lord, since he can then save us from these evils and make us ready to live a life of blessing to others and to God.

My Prayer...
Worthy of praise and honor are you God Most High. You are mighty, holy, and beyond compare. You have also chosen to be loving, generous, merciful, forgiving, and tender with us, your children. Thank you for being God, just the way you have chosen to be God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
—Psalm 63:3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Sounds like the words to some modern love song, doesn't it: "Your love is better than life." Well, it is a love song; it's just not modern. While in the desert, David spoke of his longing for the LORD. He recognized that life would be worthless if he had to live it without the love of God. When is the last time you've told God you loved him? When was the last time you sang a love song to Jesus? No matter how long or short that time has been, today is THE perfect time to let God know how precious his mercy is to you, how liberating his grace is for you, and how his love is more important to you than life itself.

My Prayer...
Loving Father, you have sacrificed so much for me and you have given so much to me. I do not have adequate words to express my thanks, my appreciation, and most importantly, my love for you. But please receive my words knowing the commitment and passion of my heart when I say, "Dear God, I love you." In Jesus' name I praise and thank you. Amen.

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
—Proverbs 15:4

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Words are powerful. Communicators know this. Negotiators know this. Deep down, you know this. Words have blessed you and words have devastated you. The healing that comes from a kind and tender word is precious. The destruction of a cruel taunt or a well-told deception is crushing. To have such power is amazing. To use this awesome power found in our speech is an awesome responsibility. Words do have the power to give life, hope, and peace when offered in love to honor Jesus. Let's speak that word today!

My Prayer...
O Father, I want my words to be a blessing today. I want them to reflect your grace. I want them to bring healing to the hurting and comfort to the grieving. I want them to be tender with the broken. I want them to be honorable and truthful in difficult circumstances. I want them to be upright when the language around me is crude. Through your Spirit, use my speech to bless others and bring you praise. In the name of Jesus, your ultimate Word, I pray. Amen.

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.
– Proverbs 16:2

One of the metaphors for the Scripture is that of a mirror; when we look at God’s word, we are able to see our reflection more clearly. This proverb reminds us of what happens when we stop looking at that mirror, we forget what we really look like and can even deceive ourselves toward our actions! Pride, lust, and apathy can feel normal and unless we allow the Scripture to expose our ways, we will justify our behavior. We need more than a Bible study, we need our hearts to be transformed by the power of God’s word.

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

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
We can use our words to be cute. We can use our words to appear impressive. We can use our words to win arguments. We can use our words to defend ourselves. We can use our words to lie and distort. We can use our words to do many things, but God wants us to use our words to bless. So when we speak, if our words do not bless and benefit those to whom we direct them, then we are to simply not say anything. Grandma was right. "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all."

My Prayer...
Give me wisdom today, dear God, to speak words that bless my family, my co-workers, and those I meet. I want to be truthful, loving, kind, and merciful when I open my mouth and speak. May the words of my mouth be used in your service and to your glory today, dear LORD. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
—Ephesians 4:15

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Truthful words are accurate. Words spoken in love can be a blessing. But truth spoken in love is redemptive: this kind of speech blesses those hear it and matures those who speak it. While speaking the truth in love is often not easy, it's worth it! Look at God and see how painful it was to speak his Word in love by sending Jesus. But in the process of that one sacrificial Word, he has saved us and revealed his heart of grace, mercy, and love.

My Prayer...
Holy God, may the words I speak be truthful and loving. Please forgive me when I have told the "painful truth" to win arguments, to hurt feelings, or to impress others. Please forgive me for the times I exaggerated, distorted, or lied. I want my words to be simple and tender, truthful and loving. I want others to see your grace in the way I speak to them. In the name of my Savior, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
—Ephesians 5:21

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Worship on Sunday can be inspiring and uplifting. Worship in everyday life can be exhilarating. Worship in our relationships can be transformational. But such worship always requires that we give up our own ways, our own wills, and our own wants and learn to live for another. If we truly live with Christ Jesus as our Lord, we will live as he did; we will submit to others to serve them for their good and to meet their needs. Sometimes that means being tender. Other times that means being tough. But it always means living for them to God's glory.

My Prayer...
O LORD God Almighty, I find it hard to submit myself and my desires to anyone else. I find it so easy to see things only from my point of view. I catch myself looking out for my own self-interest and not the welfare of others. Please fill me with your Spirit more mightily so that my life displays your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. In Jesus' name I ask for your divine help so that my life displays more of Jesus' character. Amen.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
—Romans 12:9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Genuine love involves hate. Genuine loves means that we hate evil. We detest it creeping into our hearts and ruining our relationships. We abhor its effects on those we love. We are repelled by the eternal destruction it causes in those whose lives are tender, or weak, or wavering. So the very best thing we can do for those we love is to cling to what is good and stay far away from evil and wickedness.

My Prayer...
Loving Father, may my life be a source of goodness and joy in my family and with my friends. Please give me wisdom to see what is good and the courage to pursue it with passion. Please protect me from the evil one and forgive me when I have followed his temptations. Please protect those I love from the fallout of my own selfish and evil decisions. Please purify and cleanse me so that my life may be lived holy, and wholly, to you. In the name of your Holy Son, Jesus. Amen.