Verse for Today

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Verse for Today

May 5th, 2024

May 5, 2024 • 1 Peter 5:7

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‭1 Peter 5:7 CSB‬

[7] casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

https://bible.com/bible/1713/1pe.5.7.CSB

How to Combat Pride

“I’m fine.” “I’ve got this.” “It’s my problem—not yours.”

We all want to be known, but sometimes it feels easier to hide behind masks of self-sufficiency. We might tell ourselves that we don’t want to burden others with our problems, but what we’re really saying is that we believe we can (and should) handle everything alone. This may feel self-protective, but it’s a form of pride that isolates and weakens us.

Pride is simply having a view of ourselves and our abilities that doesn’t align with reality. It’s one of the most effective methods the devil uses to isolate us because it makes us believe we’re better off alone.

So how do we combat it? The apostle Peter advises us to “clothe” ourselves in humility (1 Peter 5:5). We do this by caring for others, watching over others, and accepting the authority and wisdom that others offer us (1 Peter 5:1-4). This requires mutual vulnerability, trust, and authenticity.

Treating others with humility teaches us how to respond to Jesus.

Jesus knows what we need, and God wants us to cast our anxieties onto Him—but giving Him our concerns, hurts, hardships, and heartbreaks is an act of vulnerable surrender. We cannot do this unless we first acknowledge our need for Him.

When Peter says to “cast our cares” on God, he’s telling his readers to come openly and honestly to God so that at the proper time, He can deliver them. God opposes anyone who thinks they don’t need Him, but He shows endless grace and love to those who seek Him (1 Peter 5:5).

So take a few moments right now, and reflect on your current concerns. What do you need to bring to God? Visualize handing Him all of your worries, and envision receiving His peace in return.

Verse for Today

August 18, 2024 • Galatians 5:16

Mark 9:24 ESV [24] Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” https://bible.com/bible/59/mrk.9.24.esv Wrestling with Unbelief Have you ever believed that God could do something, but wrestled with doubt at the same time? In Mark 9, we discover a story of a desperate father seeking healing for his son. The boy had been possessed by an evil spirit, causing him great suffering. The father, filled with both faith and doubt, approached Jesus to heal his son. In the midst of his plea, he cried out, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). The reminder is a powerful one: it's okay to acknowledge our doubts and bring them before the Lord. It doesn't mean we have no faith. The father's declaration, "I do believe," reveals his faith in Jesus' power to heal. He also recognizes the presence of doubt within him. He humbly asks Jesus to strengthen his faith and help him overcome his unbelief. In this simple yet profound statement, the father shows a willingness to surrender his doubts to the One who can provide the answers and the assurance he seeks. Like the father in this story, you too may experience moments of doubt and uncertainty. You may question God's plans, struggle to understand His ways, or feel overwhelmed by the challenges you face. In those moments, remember that your doubts do not disqualify you from God's love and grace. Instead, they provide an opportunity for you to draw closer to Him, seeking His guidance and strength. Ultimately, Jesus commanded the evil spirits to leave the man’s son (Mark 9:25-26). The son received healing and even in his wrestling, the father’s prayer was answered. If you find yourself facing a difficult situation and you believe God can act but are also wrestling with doubt, remember that you are not alone. Bring your uncertainties to Jesus, just as the father did. Cry out, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Trust that He will meet you in your doubts, providing the reassurance and guidance you seek.

Verse for Today

August 15, 2024 • Galatians 5:16

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV [7] Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.9.7.esv The Urgency of Giving Have you ever waited to do something you knew was the right thing to do? When Paul wrote his second letter to the Corinthians, the church in Corinth needed correction. In the ninth chapter, Paul focused on a promise the Corinthians had made a year before to help struggling Christians in Jerusalem. Not only had the Corinthians made this promise—to collect an offering and send it to Jerusalem—but they were so eager in their pledge, they had inspired other churches to follow their lead. However, the Corinthians were taking a long time to follow through on their promise, and in the meantime, their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem were suffering. Not only that, their eagerness to give had waned, and they were no longer setting the generous example they had before. So Paul wrote: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV When we are reluctant to give, we miss out on the chance to bless others. Disobedience can harden our hearts toward others. We can hold on to what we have because we think we know best. Instead, when you give with urgency, Paul says, “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). He will bless you “so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11). Now, that may not always mean God will enrich you financially. But it does mean that God will always provide you with the means to be generous—with your time, energy, and money. And because God does not wait to provide for us, we shouldn’t wait to provide for others. Today, look for opportunities to show your generosity and share the good gifts God has given you—and when you see one, don’t wait to act! Instead, give with a cheerful spirit.

Verse for Today

August 14, 2024 • Galatians 5:16

Galatians 5:16 ESV [16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. https://bible.com/bible/59/gal.5.16.esv A Worthy Guide Is it possible to live a life that honors God? Is it achievable to train our minds and bodies to do what we know is right—instead of feeling powerless against temptation? Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia is a guide for such questions: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Galatians 5:16 Without surrendering and submitting to God’s lead, our sinful nature is at war with what God has for us. Left to ourselves, we crave what the world desires. And the more we give into our unique shades of temptation, the more we crave (like craving sweets for the sugar, or craving pornography for the dopamine rush). But with the help of the Holy Spirit, who softens and molds and reshapes our hearts, we can learn to crave what God’s deemed best. To put it simply, the secret to living a godly life is the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit just so happens to be God—one of the three persons of the Trinity: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Jesus has already done the hard and beautiful work of salvation—by living, dying, and rising again for the sake of His children—but now He wants to continue His mighty work in us and through us. If it sounds impossible, it is impossible—if you’re fighting by yourself. But, as Jesus told His disciples, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27 NIV) The psalmist also brought another valuable perspective, writing, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” (Psalms‬ ‭119:9‬ ‭NIV)‬‬ When we cling to His Word, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live a life that honors Him.