Nov 09 2024

Today's Bible Verse

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

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In this morning's verse, Jesus tells His disciple Peter about the importance of forgiving other people, especially when he is praying. Jesus underscores the importance of this by suggesting that forgiving other people makes it possible for God to forgive us. Today, let's think about how it is possible to forgive people and why expressing forgiveness is a vital part of the Christian life.

Jesus acknowledges that we will have to forgive people in our lives. We may sometimes feel like we're the only ones who are in dire need of forgiveness, but everyone around us needs it too. At the same time, we have to make the conscious decision to forgive other people. We can't expect the Lord to forgive us if we hoard unforgiveness toward others in our own hearts.

What we need to constantly keep in mind is the grace that God has already shown us. We were all helpless in sin, unable to unlock the chains that bound us to it relentlessly. We were unable to have a relationship with a holy God… but Jesus made a way. He atoned for our sins once and for all. Now, to be in good standing with the Lord, we can call upon His name and surrender to Him. Because of Jesus, our salvation is an act of grace. We never have to question our standing with the Lord … we know that we are His children.

The natural response to our salvation is to show grace to other people. Because Jesus lives in us, we are able to forgive others. When we forgive other people, we are mirroring what Jesus did for us when He saved us. We are living by grace alone, assured that it is enough. We are also recognizing the all-encompassing power of the cross to cover every sin and every hurt, reminding us that God sees about and cares for every wound and every flaw.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you so much for forgiving me for all that I've done wrong. I would be nowhere if I did not have your grace in my life, and I am so grateful for it. Please help me to forgive and show me areas of my life where I have not forgiven those who have harmed me. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Nov 08 2024

Yesterday's Bible Verse

And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.:

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Yesterday's Bible study

In this verse from 2 Kings, the prophet Elisha comforts his servant, who was afraid of an approaching army. While the army of the enemy nation may seem strong, it was no comparison for the heavenly army—consisting of horses and chariots of fire—surrounding Elisha and his servant. Today, we'll talk about how the Lord is with us, fighting for us and giving us strength in ways that we do not even know.

Have you ever felt like you were in an impossible situation? Elisha and his servant certainly did. They knew that if the army attacked, they would be dead. The natural response to this feeling is fear, which is what Elisha's servant felt. He knew that without intervention from God Himself, they would soon meet their end.

But God was already intervening on their behalf. Even as the enemy army approached, a heavenly army was preparing to meet them. Elisha and his servant were surrounded by a host of divine warriors; their enemies could not even get close to them. Indeed, as they approached, Elisha prayed that the army would be struck with blindness, upon which they abandoned their conquest.

This verse teaches us that God is fighting for us in ways that we often cannot see. Elisha knew about the heavenly army before he saw them—he believed without seeing, whereas the servant needed to see in order to believe that God was protecting them. We can choose to be like Elisha: relying on faith even in situations that seem impossible. Even when we cannot see how God is working on our behalf, we can have faith that He is.

The next time you become fearful about something, think back to this verse. Remember that God is always working behind the scenes. If you are struggling to believe, take a moment to pray as Elisha did for his servant, asking God to help you see. Make the decision to lean into faith instead of fear, submitting to God and knowing that He loves you and is fighting for you always.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for being my strength. When I feel as though I cannot go on, you sustain me. Your name is more powerful than my fears. Help me to rest in you and to remember you always. In Jesus' name, amen.
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