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The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. — Zephaniah 3:17 Thoughts on Today's Verse... I still remember trying to learn to affirm my son's value to him. I didn't know exactly what that looked like or what I was supposed to do or say. Then, the Holy Spirit gently reminded me of what God the Father did to affirm Jesus the Son at his baptism. "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" ( Luke 3:21 ). God affirmed his relationship with Jesus, "You are my Son..." God affirmed his love and affection for Jesus, "...my Son, whom I love..." God affirmed his delight in Jesus, "...with you I am well pleased." Zephaniah reminds us that the Father feels much the same about us as his children: "He will take great delight in you..." On top of that, he calms us with his love and rejoices over us in singin...

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. — Ecclesiastes 11:5 Thoughts on Today's Verse... "I don't know!" This sure seems to be one of the hardest phrases for us to say. When thinking about God and his ways, especially his work on us and plans for us made when we were in the womb, that's really all we can say. "I don't know!" The truths we know about God and his ways with us when we were in the womb are only what he has chosen to reveal to us. He is the Mystery of mysteries. He is the supreme unknowable Knowable. Yet what we do know of him, what he has revealed to us in Jesus, is not only mighty and awesome, but loving, tender, and merciful. We know his love is willing to sacrifice for us, so we could seek after him and find his grace. So in reverence, we kneel to pray to the Father we cannot fully know - at least not yet, but will one...

You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. — Psalm 139:13-14 Thoughts on Today's Verse... You are made by God. Just as surely as ANYone has been made by God, we have been made by God. He knew us before anyone knew we were in the womb. He knew us before our mother had even felt our flutter inside of her. God had plans for us before anyone even planned our arrival. He fashioned us for his purpose with plans for our lives. He made us purposely, faithfully, and he made us wonderfully. We are wonderfully made by a loving Creator! My Prayer... God Almighty, my Savior and Redeemer, thank you for knowing me before I was able to know. Thank you for choosing my life and giving it to me. Thank you for giving me the gifts, abilities, and talents that you have given me. Now, dear Father, please help me to live with a reverential awareness that you fashioned ...

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. — Proverbs 31:30 Thoughts on Today's Verse... So many things we honor and exalt in our culture are shallow and temporary. The one thing that lasts in a beautiful woman is not her charm or her external beauty, but her godliness. Let's make sure that our church families and our physical families value godly women and give them the praise they deserve. Then, we will recognize true beauty and true charm, because they reflect the beauty and charm of God! (See also the related thoughts from May 9 .) My Prayer... Holy God, please give us better eyes and more faithful hearts that we may see value in all people, especially those godly women whose character reflects your holiness, goodness, and grace. Please bless us as we raise our children, that we may instill in them a sense of proper values as they choose their life partners. And dear Father, please help us in our churches to value and praise ...

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death. — Romans 8:1-2 Thoughts on Today's Verse... We can join the apostle Paul in thanking God for his grace and use the famous words of Dr. Martin Luther King, as he quoted the old spiritual song: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" Becoming a Christian means we have been liberated from law-keeping as the basis of our salvation. We now have God living in us through the Holy Spirit, empowering us. The Spirit helps us to know God's will and then live it ( 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 ; Galatians 5:22-23 ). Through the Spirit's power, we can do what no law could make us do: live up to God's standards of righteousness by the power of the Spirit ( Romans 8:1-4 ). We are set free from law-keeping - not just Old Testament Law, but any law ( Galatians 3:21-22 ) - and e...

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. — Ephesians 4:32 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Be kind and compassionate? These two qualities seem to be in short supply these days as we look at social media, politics, and people's personal agendas. Maybe it's because we hold up the wrong heroes? Maybe it is because we haven't let the Holy Spirit rule in our hearts? Unfortunately, kindness and compassion are two qualities often seen as signs of weakness rather than strength. To forgive as God forgave us requires great courage and great strength, two resources the Holy Spirit can supply if we pray for that strength, and pray for that strength in our brothers and sisters ( Ephesians 3:14-21 ). So, let's pray for each other to be strong and courageous, and display those qualities through our kindness and compassion! Let's forgive each other, as God in Christ has forgiven us. My Prayer... Holy God, there is no way I c...