Verse of the Day

Verse of the Day - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

While Paul's exhortation here is excellent, it is the style of the exhortation we should especially notice. We live in an age where we are constantly pressured to emphasize the novel, new, or improved versions of things. But in our lives as Christians, our knowledge always exceeds our obedience - we very seldom live up to the truth we know, even though it is old truth and established truth. So, more often than we like to think, we need to remind each other of what we are doing that is right, good, obedient, and holy. Our words of affirmation and encouragement don't need to be elaborate or profound or novel or new. We can say, "Hey, you're doing well; just keep doing what you're doing! I know your Father in heaven is pleased with you!" Let's encourage each other and build each other up, as in fact some of us are already doing, and need to do so more and more.

Video Commentary...

ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos

My Prayer...

Faithful Father, thank you for noticing and keeping record of the things I've done that are good and pleasing to you. Thank you for choosing to forget those things you have forgiven me. Please help me to keep doing those things that please you, only help me do them better, more completely, so that you may be pleased and glorified. And, dear Father, help me see the good things others do, and encourage and affirm their goodness. I want to be the kind of disciple who catches people doing good things, then lets them know I appreciate them. In Jesus name and to become more JESUShaped, I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. Questions or comments can be sent to help@verseoftheday.com.

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Verse of the Day - 1 Chronicles 29:11

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

—1 Chronicles 29:11

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Praise is the direct address of God that lets him know we recognize him for who he is, what he has done, and what he is doing. But more than informing God of his greatness, praise is rejoicing before him in his greatness, while recognizing that not only is his grace without comparison, his majesty and might and holiness and faithfulness and righteousness and mercy and love and forgiveness and justice... are all without comparison. The LORD God is God. My praise is my thankful celebration and recognition of him as God, my God, the one and only true God, and let's him know I rejoice in him!

My Prayer...

Great and gracious God, the Holy One who is without anyone to compare. You and you alone are truly worthy of my best words, deepest thoughts, and greatest imaginings. I not only worship and submit to you, but I also rejoice that you are who you are, and that you have revealed yourself to us, your creations. I celebrate what you have done. I long for what you are yet to do. You are magnificent, my Father and my God. In the name of Jesus, and because of your matchless love, I praise you for all you are to me, and what more of you I have yet to discover. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. Questions or comments can be sent to help@verseoftheday.com.

Verse of the Day - Proverbs 15:1

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

—Proverbs 15:1

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Why is it so hard to endure unjust and unfair criticism? Why do we feel that we have to defend ourselves regardless of how ridiculous or unfair the accusations against us are? Why do we have to have the last word in any argument, or look to get even if we don't?
Often, the problems we have with others in an argument escalate because we do not choose "a gentle answer."
So, why do we not choose "a gentle answer"? These are the excuses I hear from others, and sometimes I make them myself:

"I don't want to appear to be weak!"
"I don't like to lose at anything!"
"I don't want that person to have the last word!"
"I resent the unfair things, the demeaning things, that person called me!"

When I look at these excuses - some of them are my excuses - the same pronoun appears again and again: the pronoun, "I." And what is in the middle of all sin? A great big ol' "I," always - sIn! We lose sight of saying what is in "the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4) and poison our influence on others because of our selfish, "I"-infected speech. In place of the "I" problem, let's focus on saying "only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29). To do that means that we use "a gentle answer"!

My Prayer...

Precious and Holy God, please help me more carefully guard my speech from things you despise, especially gossip, slander, rage, malice, and meanness. I know that those ways of speaking and treating my brothers and sisters grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). I open my heart and close my mouth, inviting the Holy Spirit to produce the holy fruit of the Spirit in me. May this fruit be evident in me, especially when I speak and give "a gentle answer." Thank you. In Jesus name and by Jesus' grace, I pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. Questions or comments can be sent to help@verseoftheday.com.

Verse of the Day - Hebrews 9:28

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

—Hebrews 9:28

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Can you think of anything more exciting than waiting for Jesus to come take us home to share with him in his glory?!
Ours isn't a passive wait. Jesus gave us a commission to take his story to the whole world and invite others to prepare and join with us in awaiting his glorious return. We worship and praise our great God as we anticipate this great day - as we eagerly await him. We joyfully anticipate our salvation, trusting that it is nearer now than when we first believed (Romans 13:11). We stand on spiritual tiptoe, eagerly awaiting our Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). We not only believe, we anticipate his return to bring the full experience of salvation promised to "those who are waiting for him." But until then, we work on mission so that others will join us in our anticipation, and say with us, "Maranatha! Come, O LORD (1 Corinthians 16:22).

My Prayer...

Majestic King of the Ages, may your Kingdom come in all its fullness as every knee bows to your Savior, and our King, the LORD Jesus Christ. We anticipate this day when every knee will bow (Philippians 2:9-10)! Please grant that this glorious day may come to pass in our generation as we work to bring others to know Jesus and anticipate his coming with us. Through Jesus, I expectantly pray. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. Questions or comments can be sent to help@verseoftheday.com.

Verse of the Day - Revelation 21:2-4

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 02:00:00 -0500

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

—Revelation 21:2-4

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

I don't know about you, but I'm kind of ready for that old order stuff to go away. The end of tears, death, mourning, crying, violence, abuse, suffering, war, divisive politics, and pain sounds pretty good to me! No wonder the early Christians would say, "Maranatha. Come, O LORD" (1 Corinthians 16:22). They couldn't wait. How about us? How about you? What is keeping you from saying, "LORD Jesus, please come, and come soon? I urge you to put it aside, or put it under the lordship of Jesus, and use those moves to make you ready to receive the glory yet to be revealed in us (Romans 8:18; Colossians 3:3-4). Let's make ourselves ready for the time when:

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Hallelujah!

My Prayer...

Holy God, please help me as I try to serve you faithfully and yearn for Jesus' return. I desire to be steadfast in my love, living for you until the glorious day that so many of your children have longed to experience over the centuries. I long to see you in your glory, to share in your presence, and to join with the saints of all ages praising you around your glorious throne. And yes, dear Father, I long for you to wipe away all my tears and welcome me home. Because of Jesus' victory, and by his authority, I offer my prayer in holy expectation. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. Questions or comments can be sent to help@verseoftheday.com.

Verse of the Day - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Sun, 31 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

—1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What do you have that is forever?
Most of what we have in this world falls apart, breaks, or wears out quickly. But we have three things that last forever: God (Father, Son, Spirit), our Christian friends, and our praise of God. These are eternal. The glorious truth is that Jesus is going to return, the dead who died in him will be raised to receive their eternal bodies, and those living at his return will have their bodies changed into their immortal bodies. The best part of all of this is we will be reunited with all the faithful of all the centuries, and we all will be with the Lord forever. As the old hymn says it, "One day He's coming, O glorious day."

My Prayer...

God, I look forward to the day of your next great surprise, the return of Jesus in glory. I join the angels in standing on tiptoe as I look to the clouds to see my LORD and your Son return in glory and receive the welcome and honor he deserves. I praise you for that day now, even though I only see it by faith. Until I see you on that day, please know my heart's desire is to serve you, even when my weakness gets in the way of showing it as fully as I should, and my heart loses touch with the promise of Jesus' return. I offer you my sincerest thanks and praise in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. Questions or comments can be sent to help@verseoftheday.com.

Verse of the Day - Psalm 56:4

Sat, 30 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

In God, whose word I praise — in God I trust, and I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

—Psalm 56:4

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

One of the powerful things about having a Bible as a repository of God's words is that its age and influence across diverse countries and cultures remind us how enduring God's truth is. Still, we remember that it is God in whom we put our trust! His enduring presence across cultures, centuries, and countries reminds us that eternity is beyond our grasp. Still, the Eternal One holds us in his hands as we journey toward the destination he has for us. Our lives, with our future secured, are hidden with Christ in God and are destined for his glory (Colossians 3:1-4). Our worst days, months, and years of suffering, hardship, difficulty, and challenges cannot compare to the glory that is yet to be revealed in us (Romans 8:18-21). Our trust is in our eternal Savior, so let's keep our eyes focused and our hopes centered on him and the glory that awaits us (Colossians 3:2; Hebrews 12:1-2). In God I trust, and I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me if God is my God!

My Prayer...

O Great and Eternal God, thank you that you are more stable than the ground on which I stand, more enduring than the mountain peaks I admire, and more constant than the waves upon the oceans that I love. I trust my life, future, and soul with you. I want to please you in the way I live. I want my life to be marked by consistent faithfulness to you, for in you I trust. In the name of Jesus, I ask for the Spirit's help to keep my focus on you. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware. Questions or comments can be sent to help@verseoftheday.com.