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Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. —Proverbs 3:5-6 Thoughts on Today's Verse... When things are tough, I call on the LORD and lean on his mercy and grace. Deep in my heart, however, I fear I may have made him into my rip-cord Savior - the one I go to only in times of trouble. When I'm reveling in my blessings and things are going well, I am much like the Israelites. I forget to acknowledge that all my [...]

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. —Psalm 62:8 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Most of us find it very difficult to share the innermost secrets of our hearts with anyone. We want to keep our secret failings, worst embarrassments, and hidden sins unknown to those who know us. We fear others might reject us if they know, or think we are evil or hypocritical. We worry that we could disgrace ourselves and our families if anyone knew the secret sludge in our hearts. The truth is clear, however: Hidden [...]

Listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. —Proverbs 19:20-21 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Long ago, Thomas à Kempis declared, "Man proposes, heaven disposes." Most of us rush to give advice and make grandiose plans. The Wiseman of Proverbs, likely Solomon, reminds us that wisdom comes from submitting to instruction and good advice - that requires discernment! Then, after a significant time of listening and considering, we can begin to align our hearts to the LORD's purposes. If you [...]

It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. —Deuteronomy 13:4 Thoughts on Today's Verse... So many people want us to follow their lead, validate their choices, approve of their opinions, and follow their voice. Only God alone has proved himself faithful and loving through the ages, worthy of our devotion as we follow and obey him. In his might, he is to be revered. But rather than seeing reverence only as a "church thing," Moses reminds us that reverence is also a [...]

"I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed — I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God." —Isaiah 43:11-12 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Peter reminded us that we are here as God's chosen people, his witnesses, to "declare the praises of him who has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). We have experienced God's saving work in our lives. We have experienced God's saving work in our lives. We know he [...]

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. —Psalm 63:1 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Addiction has sometimes been defined as "God-hunger directed to the wrong source of soul satisfaction." Psalm 63:1 reminds us this is true. Deep in us is a desire to seek after God because he is not far from us and longs to be known by us (Acts 17:26-28). Unfortunately, far too often when our souls crave God deeply, he is the last place we [...]

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, theLORD is the Rock Eternal. —Isaiah 26:4 Thoughts on Today's Verse... When we see mountains, we can feel small and insignificant by comparison. We know they are not only much more massive than we are, but also have existed much longer than we have. The LORD, however, was and is and will be present far longer than any mountain (Revelation 1:8; Isaiah 41:4). The LORD is the only true rock of security and stability, our fortress in the middle of life's chaos (2 Samuel 22:2). All the forevers we have in our existence [...]

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. —Isaiah 55:6 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Isaiah declares that God is always close to those who genuinely seek after him and call on him as their God. In fact, God is fully present as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in us, with us, and making his home in us when we obey him (John 14:15-17, 18, 23). The real problem is that we can drift away from him, lose interest in him, and leave his presence (Hebrews 2:1, 3:12). So let's seek God and receive his [...]