Nov 20 2024

Today's Bible Verse

For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

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Today's verse comes from Jesus' final discourse, which happened the night of the crucifixion. Jesus says that the day is coming when the disciples will be able to talk to God themselves. Because they have loved Jesus, God loves them. Jesus is explaining that loving Him and loving God are the same thing because Jesus and God are the same being … the great and mighty God from the very beginning of the world. When we pray to the Lord, we are praying to both the Father and Son. Sometimes, I get overwhelmed when I think about praying to God—the very one who created the universe! To some extent, being overwhelmed is expected; God is much bigger and more powerful and holier than we will ever understand. But His overwhelming magnificence is matched by His tender, merciful love, which we see most clearly through Jesus. So whenever we want to know what God is like, we need only look at Jesus. Jesus was tender to people. He cared for their needs and was not quick to judge. He listened to others when they spoke to Him and sought to help them. His greatest concern was for their spiritual state, and He was willing to do what was necessary for them to experience the love and truth of the Gospel.

We see this most clearly when He gave up His life for us on the cross. He was willing to be physically broken, openly despised, and separated from God so that we might come to know Him. As He told the disciples the night before, there is no greater love than giving up your life for your friends (John 17:17). Jesus exhibited this kind of love, and in doing so displayed the love of God—the same God who spoke the universe into existence—for all eternity. We can remember this in our prayers. We do not pray to an indifferent savior but instead a mighty, loving God who loves us more than we will ever comprehend. His power and glory and might are matched by His love for us, which will endure forever.

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you so much for answering my prayers. Thank you for listening to me and caring for me. I am so grateful for your love, Lord. Please help me to share it with other people, and to always remember that you loved me before I ever knew you. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Nov 19 2024

Yesterday's Bible Verse

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.:

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Yesterday's Bible study

Psalm 42 was written by a Hebrew who longed to worship in the sanctuary but could not because enemies of Israel prevented him. Even though he was discouraged by the situation, he reminded himself that his hope was not in worshipping in a particular place, but in God Himself. Today, we will consider the hope that comes from God. The psalmist takes a step back from his situation to confront himself and his emotions. He reminds himself of truths about God that are deeper than feelings. When his circumstances cause him suffering and pain, he has something deeper to hold onto: truths about a loving and gracious God who sees him right where he is. Like the psalmist, when we begin to feel hopeless, we should take a step back from the world around us and remind ourselves of who God is.

Why does thinking about God bring the psalmist relief? He knows that God is faithful, loving, and true. He has not abandoned him. The character of God gives the psalmist hope because he knows that God has not changed and that His promises are never broken. Because of this, the psalmist can make the decision to praise God. He has not yet gotten what he wants in his heart—relief from his enemies—but he no longer needs it to praise God because he remembers who God is. Even though he cannot worship in his emotions at first, he can worship in truth. This verse is a reminder that God is our source of hope. Truths about Jesus can break through every circumstance and every pain. They give us a reason to praise Him regardless of what we are facing day by day. When the Lord is our source of hope, our joy is unshakable because it is no longer found in the world, but in the eternal love of God.

Yesterday's Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you so much for being my perfect source of hope. There is none like you, and you are the source of all of my strength and my salvation. Thank you for filling me up with truths that comfort and encourage me. I love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.
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