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Weekly Verses from Crosswalk.com http://link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.27306.1.1698058 October 11, 2004 These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware http://link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.27306.2.1698058 ~~~~~~~~~ MONDAY The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. --Proverbs 9:10 New International Version THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE... We pursue so many things, but only one pursuit brings wisdom. Paul reminded the Athenians that God made us to seek after him and find him (Acts 17). The wisdom of Proverbs keeps leading us back to "knowing God" and having a deep and reverential awe toward him as the source of wisdom. Understanding of priorities, needs, purposes, goals, problems, and issues can occur only when we first recognize who the Lord is and know him in our day-to-day lives. MY PRAYER... Holy, Majestic, Righteous, and Eternal God. I confess that I know you so much less than you know me. But your faithfulness in my life, your power displayed in history, your grace shared with so many through the cross of Christ, and your promise to bring me home to you one day sustain me. I want to know you so that my life can be lost in your will. Not for my glory or gain, but for your praise, I ask that you make yourself known to me in the things I do today. Through Jesus I ask it. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~ TUESDAY Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. --Ephesians 5:19-20 New International Version THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE... Hearts full of thanks -- that's what makes for good singing! With Jesus as the source of our salvation and center of our future, how can we not sing! But singing is not just for us and God. God wants our songs to bless others. It is our ultimate spiritual talk. MY PRAYER... O Lord, my God, you are Awesome and wondrous. Your works are magnificent and your deeds are beyond comprehension. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart ever declare your praises. May my heart be filled with thanksgiving for all that you have done to save us from sin, shame, law, and death. You alone are worthy of my praise, my songs, and my life. Through Jesus I pray. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~ WEDNESDAY All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. --2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE... God wants us to be prepared to do good works. Thankfully he gave us the Scriptures. Today we have the Bible translated into many different languages, dialects, and versions. Rather than a threat, this is a great blessing. But we must remember that the goal of Scripture is not to be learned but to be lived. God intended his Word to be practical truth -- a gift that prepares us to do every good work. MY PRAYER... Holy God, it still amazes me that you chose to speak to us, your finite creatures, in our own words. May I never take for granted the great gift of being able to read your Word and learn your Truth. But Father, please give me the character and the courage to put it into practical use and let it train me to do your will. Through Jesus I pray. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~ THURSDAY The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. --Hebrews 4:12 New International Version THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE... How often do you let God do major surgery on your spirit as his Spirit uses the Word to encourage, judge, motivate, convict, instruct, and inspire? With such a great tool so readily at hand for most of us, let's not let a day go by that we don't let God use his word on hearts. MY PRAYER... Almighty God, your will is my heart's desire. But I realize that I need to be fed more consistently by your Word revealed in Scripture. Give me strength and consistency in my walk with you through your Word. Through your Spirit, inspire me to change what needs to be changed and to be blessed and encouraged in the areas that I need it most. I turn to you and trust in your Word to point me in the way of life. Through Jesus I pray. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~ FRIDAY 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. ~~~~~~~~~ SATURDAY 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. ~~~~~~~~~ SUNDAY 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. >>> Share the good news <<< Please forward this message to a friend! FREE Christian Book http://l.salemweb.net/swnoffer0203/ ____________________SUBSCRIPTION INFO_______________________ * This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. To unsubscribe from this newsletter immediately, simply click on the link below. 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