There are six things the Lord hates…. and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.—Proverbs 6:16, 19 (NIV)
Heavenly Father, guide me to see the positive in others, to mend relationships and build strong and loving friendships.
“Everything is possible for one who believes.”—Mark 9:23 (NIV)
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “How you live your life is directly proportional to how greatly you believe. Believe little, and you will have a little life. If your belief is weak, you will get a weak life. If your faith is fear-based, you will live a life of fear. But when you believe big, you get a big life!”
Almighty God, God of possibilities, I believe Your plans surpass my deepest dreams.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”—John 11:25-26 (NIV)
This verse is a comforting reminder for those that have loved ones in heaven—those who die in the Lord live with Him, and so they live with us as He does. Christianity has tremendous power; the resurrection of life over all defeat, over death itself.
Our Heavenly Father, thank You for this great truth that life and love are everlasting.
Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’—Luke 19:20-21 (NIV)
In the above parable, one of the servants was afraid to take a risk. He let insecurity and fear of failure guide his actions. The next time an opportunity comes your way instead of hesitating because of doubts, trust that it will all work perfectly.
Dear Lord, guide me to trust and leap toward blessings that come my way.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?—Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
God wants you to fully experience the world, to notice and enjoy His wonders of creation. When you break out of your daily routine and make an effort to try something new, you gain a fresh perspective, see new possibilities and discover amazing things!
Dear Lord, today I will seek out the unfamiliar and embrace new experiences.
“Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.”—Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV)
This verse is a reminder of how life can sift or shake you until you feel as if your world is falling apart. Scripture reminds us that when you are at your lowest Jesus is by your side, walking with you, praying for you and guiding you.
Lord Jesus, thank You for defending me and praying for me. Because of You my faith will not fail.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.—Romans 15:13 (ESV)
God intended you to live a life filled with hope. If fear has taken control and stolen your optimism, release your worries to God. Open your heart and allow a strong, fresh current of hope to enter back into your life.
Heavenly Father, replace my despair with Your bright light that shines on all the good that You are doing in my life.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.—Acts 16:25 (NIV)
It’s easy to be happy when everything is going your way, but how you respond to dark and difficult times is a test of true character. In the above verse, despite their suffering, Paul and Silas praise God. They worship in the worst circumstances and inspire others by their actions.
Dear Lord, how I hold on to faith when in pain or encountering the worst, can be a testimony to Your glory.
Be holy because I am holy.—Leviticus 11:44 (GW)
The most important way to spend your day is to model your actions after Jesus. Every day brings new opportunities to become more like Him. To offer compassion, understanding and love, to be a blessing to those around you.
Lord, You have given me the greatest example to follow. I long to live a life of purpose. A life that serves You.
How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.—Job 36:26 (NIV)
Job tried desperately to understand God’s actions. And although God responded to Job with a flurry of questions, He never directly answered him. God’s response shows that His actions, His reasons cannot be reduced to human understanding.
Heavenly Father, when I get frustrated and try to understand Your plan, lead me back to accepting that it is not for me to know all the answers right now.
We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.—Romans 8:26 (NIV)
Twenty years ago we experienced the heart-wrenching tragedy of September 11th. How comforting to know that God was with us on that day. He was helping us through the devastation and destruction and guiding us to be good to one another.
Dear Lord, on this solemn anniversary, we give thanks for Your presence in our time of need and remember all those affected by this tragedy. We pray for healing, harmony, peace and serenity.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”—Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Reflect on “immeasurably more,” in the above verse. God is capable of more than you can imagine. His plans reach far beyond what you can see in your mind’s eye. Even when you are facing circumstances that may not change, God will change you!
Dear God, You are bigger than the universe and Your love showers infinite blessings upon me.
Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly…—1 CORINTHIANS 9:26 (NIV)
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.—PROVERBS 12:25 (NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— this is your true and proper worship.—Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, 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)
Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.—1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”—John 9:5 (ESV)
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.—Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.—John 15:12 (NIV)
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.—Matthew 6:17–18 (NIV)
The Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.—Romans 8:26 (NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.—Romans 12:2 (NIV)
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.—Matthew 5:44 (NIV)
We love because he first loved us.—1 John 4:19 (NIV)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.—Revelation 22:13 (NIV)
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.—Luke 2:14 (NIV)
And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.—Luke 2:7 (NIV)
As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.—1 Samuel 18:1 (ESV)
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Galatians 5:14 (NIV)
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.—John 15:12 (ESV)
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.—2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
