Aug 18 2024

Today's Bible Verse

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

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In this verse from 1 John, we learn that Christians (who are born of God) have overcome the world. Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world once and for all. We were once slaves to sin and shame, and we have been set free from both through Jesus. We are no longer victims of worldly desires—we have power through Him once and for all.

We are victorious! Nothing can come against us that the Lord will not work for good. Even when the news seems to only be more and more depressing, we can take heart that we know how the story ends: with Jesus Christ on the throne in Heaven. Even if we struggle with sin, we can cling to the truth that the Lord is sanctifying us day by day, making us more and more into His image. One day we will be in Heaven with Him and no longer battle against sin.

Here on Earth, nothing could ever separate us from the Lord. No matter what kind of trials we face, He will help us overcome through faith.

Sometimes, however, it seems like we're anything but victorious. We might get discouraged when we fall into temptation again and again or get upset when it seems like yet another battle feels lost. When other people hurt or disappoint us, the feelings can compound, and we can feel like anything but the overcomers this verse says we are.

When a downward spiral begins, it can be hard to remember that we are overcomers through Him.

When those feelings come over you, repeat this verse. When something hits hard, remember that the Lord sees you right where you are—and He has given you the power and ability to be victorious through Him. There is no battle that He cannot win for you, no struggle that is stronger than the blood of Jesus. Lean into the truth of this verse, and ask the Lord to help you believe its promise.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for overcoming the world. Sometimes, I feel like I will never be able to overcome it, but today's verse reminds me that through you all things are possible. Thank you for winning every battle and overcoming everything that comes against me. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Aug 17 2024

Yesterday's Bible Verse

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. :

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Yesterday's Bible study

In this verse from Mark, Jesus responds to someone who asks what the most important commandment is. He says that loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is the most important act of obedience a Christian can ever do. At the same time, this is sometimes the hardest thing for a Christian to do. Let's think about how Jesus' words affect the way we live today.

The reason loving God is so important is that it reflects our understanding of the Gospel. When we realize that the Lord decided to make a way for us to have a relationship with Him even though it cost Him His own son, the only natural response is to love Him. How could we not? The Lord made a huge sacrifice so we could know Him; when we experience His love for us, we naturally want to love Him back.

Loving the Lord changes the way we live. Indeed, Jesus says that the second most important commandment is to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Mark 12:31). When we love the Lord, we love the things He loves and hate the things He hates. He loves other people just as He loved us, so it follows that we should also embrace His love for other people.

He loved us, so it follows that we should also embrace His love for other people.

Yet it can be difficult to love the Lord, as well as other people. Our life circumstances are sometimes very challenging, making us question whether or not the Lord is good to us, and people sometimes hurt us deeply. In those cases, we should go back to the Gospel.

Think about the number of times you have wounded the Lord by sinning against Him, and recall that he still never rejected you. He took your actions seriously—so seriously that He sent His son to die and atone for them—but on the other side of them was grace. If the Lord never did another good thing for us, we have plenty of reason to rejoice in Him for all eternity.

Today, think about how you can express love to the Lord. It might be through spending time in the Bible, praying, worshipping in church, or showing love to another person. Think about what you can do to touch another person's life with the same love of the Lord that changed yours.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for loving me before I ever knew you. Thank you for being so good to me and for caring about me more than I will ever understand. Help me to love other people well, honoring them with your goodness and love always. In Jesus' name, amen.
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