For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” —Romans 8:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… These simple words, “by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father,’” are revolutionary! Just as Jesus prayed to God, addressing him as…

Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD — with the first of them and with the last — I am he. —Isaiah 41:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 1:8). This should be a…

The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment. —Proverbs 10:21 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Righteous people have a way of blessing others with their words. They may be words of encouragement, carefully chosen speech, advice full of wisdom, messages of comfort, truth in teaching, or faithfulness to their promises.…

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. —Psalm 37:5-6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How much do we trust the LORD? How much of ourselves have we entrusted to the LORD?…

…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. —Romans 8:14 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Over the last two weeks, we have been blessed to read a number of Scriptures that speak of the Spirit’s work in our lives. Over the last several days, we’ve celebrated being God’s beloved children, with…

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. —Galatians 3:26-27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Paul’s words are radical. When he wrote them, women didn’t have the rights of honor and heirship that sons did. This verse, however, declares…

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. —Isaiah 41:10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God’s story through the history of his people, Israel, in the Old Testament is one…

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. —Proverbs 29:25 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus told us not to fear our human adversaries (Luke 12:4-5). When we try to please others and fear what others may say or do to us, we place ourselves in…

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. —Romans 8:11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… If we belong to Christ, we know the Spirit of God…

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 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When we tune our hearts to…

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. —Psalm 37:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Be careful not to misread this promise as saying that God will give us whatever we want. Notice that first emphatic phrase that qualifies this promise: “Delight yourself in the LORD…” As my heart…

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. —Galatians 5:22-23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When the Holy Spirit is alive in our hearts, the character of God comes to life in us as the Spirit conforms us and transforms…

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully…

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. —John 14:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… This chapter, John 14, begins with Jesus’ promise to return to heaven and prepare a place for us with God (John 14:1-3). In…

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. —Acts 5:32 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Of all the many gifts God gives us, the gift of his presence in us through his Holy Spirit is among the most precious. The Spirit’s presence makes…

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. —Psalm 119:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As Christians, we hear this passage a little differently than those who lived under the Torah, the Law of Moses. We recognize that our blamelessness comes as a gift because of Jesus’ sacrificial…

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. —Romans 8:1-2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The law of Spirit and life is built on the work of our great liberator,…

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God…

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. —Psalm 37:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Having a place to live amid life’s uncertainties and having assurance of God’s protection and care are based on two essential principles: Trusting in the LORD. Doing good to others. When we live by…

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. —Psalm 37:1-2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Aren’t frustration and envy sometimes our reaction to those who are evil and yet seem to prosper? We’re…

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. —Psalm 143:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… A time of loneliness and doubt slips into almost every believer’s heart at some point in…

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. —1 John 4:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The world can often be a hostile place for believers. God wants us, his spiritual children, to know they are never…

For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. —Isaiah 41:13 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Life crashes in, and we wish we could be children again. Then, maybe, we would have someone to take care of us and protect…

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.…

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. —Numbers 6:24-26 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How would you like to place the mighty name of the LORD on people you love? God promised…

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever — do not abandon the works of your hands. —Psalm 138:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Notice the powerful beauty of this verse from the psalm. First is conviction: “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me.” (See also Philippians 1:6.)…

“Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy. “ —Exodus 15:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… One of the great images of the Old Testament is God stretching out his right hand with power and doing mighty things for his people. So often, Israel faced a larger…

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. —Hebrews 10:24-25 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We…

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! —Isaiah 30:18 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God is slow to exercise his justice when that justice demands his people’s punishment. “Gracious and slow to anger”…

A person of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother or sister. —Proverbs 18:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Close spiritual friends are rare — especially friends who will hold us accountable when we need it most, build us up when we’re down, and celebrate with…