Today's Verse from Heartlight

Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 1:10

Thu, 21 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

—1 Corinthians 1:10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

If people in our congregations are ever going to get along, the leaders of those churches must remind God's people of the importance of unity. Shortly before facing his passion, Jesus' prayer was that we would be one (John 17:1-26). Why? If the world knows we are Christians because of our love for one another (John 13:34-35), then the world needs to see our loving unity so that the lost can know that the Father has sent Jesus to save them (John 17:20-21, 23). When we are divided, we tell the world we're not offering them something the world doesn't have on its own. All we have is just a religious message that doesn't produce consequential changes. So, unity is not only important; it is also essential. It's not just a theory or a test of theology, but a daily practice among the people who claim Jesus as LORD. If we love Jesus and move closer to him, we'll be brought closer to each other (1 John 1:1-4). We are called to be "perfectly united in mind and thought" because we love Jesus and the people he died to save.

My Prayer...

LORD Jesus, I believe you have presented all of my prayers to our Father. And Father, I thank you for the grace of Jesus, who lives to make intercession for me at this moment (Hebrews 7:25). I promise, dear Father, to do all I can to bring you glory, and to live at peace with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and to serve in unity with those who belong to you. Please bless our church family with more passion for the unity that you desire as we focus more on leading those who do not know Jesus into a saving relationship with him. In Jesus' name, and through the blessed Holy Spirit, I pray. Amen.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

Today's Verse - Romans 15:5-6

Wed, 20 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

—Romans 15:5-6

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Unity comes from God's Spirit as we all draw closer to Jesus (John 17:20-21). As we are drawn to Jesus through the Spirit, we immediately find ourselves drawn closer to one another (1 John 1:1-4). Unity also has a purpose much deeper than our getting along with each other. Jesus prayed we would be one so that the world would know that God sent him into the world as the Son to save the world (John 3:16-17, 17:21, 23). We want to be united so that our praise can bring glory to God and lead others to him. Unity is far more than a goal; it is a process through which the world learns of Jesus. At the same time, we glorify the Father who sent Jesus to save us when we live together in unity. Leading others to Jesus and glorifying God are what living for Jesus is all about! Let's make unity one of our deepest passions.

My Prayer...

Great and Almighty God, you are the eternal strength for all who call on your name. I apologize and ask your forgiveness for everything I've done and every word I've spoken that has hurt others in your family. I do not want to cause a wound to the unity of your Body, the church. So please, bless my efforts as I seek less of my will, long to live for your glory, and seek to draw close and encourage others. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - James 3:17-18

Tue, 19 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

—James 3:17-18

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Now I know why righteousness is so hard to find these days. We don't have many in our world who are full of heavenly wisdom - if that means being considerate, submitting to others' needs, living with mercy toward those who are different, bearing good fruit, treating others with impartiality, and demonstrating genuine concern for our neighbors. These traits of wisdom are hard to find in our world, probably because they are often associated with weakness. And, while many claim to love peace, so few are willing to make peace and to sow peace into the lives of others. Heavenly wisdom is full of sacrificial earthly action. That's a powerful reminder to me that wisdom is not what we know but what we sow! We don't produce "a harvest of righteousness" by spewing hate and seeking our own way at the expense of others.

My Prayer...

Holy and Wise Father, thank you for demonstrating purity, peace-making, impartiality, submissiveness, mercy, good fruit, and sincerity in the life of Jesus. I ask for the power and courage to demonstrate these Christlike qualities as I seek to live a more JESUShaped life. In the name of Christ Jesus, my LORD, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Hebrews 6:10

Mon, 18 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

—Hebrews 6:10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The Holy Spirit offers us great assurance in today's verse! God is not unjust. Oh, that is such an understatement: God furnished the atoning sacrifice for our sins by sending Jesus (1 John 2:1-2). When we seek after him, Jesus promised we could find him (Matthew 7:7-8; Acts 17:27). God will not forget the work and love we share with others. God has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:10-12). He chooses to keep an eternal record of the good we have done. We are his people. He claims us. He is gracious and loving, remembering the good we have done to others while forgiving and forgetting our sins. Wow! What great motivation for us to keep maturing into the likeness of Jesus Christ as we become more JESUShaped (2 Corinthians 3:18).

My Prayer...

God, you are so gracious. Thank you. Words cannot express my joy at hearing such a simple and profound statement describing your virtues:

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

I am so glad, dear Father, that I am your child. Through my gracious brother, Jesus, I thank you. Amen.

Today's Verse - Romans 11:33

Sun, 17 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Oh, the depth and riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out.

—Romans 11:33

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God's plan to save us is incredible. His blueprints for the creation of our universe are beyond our imagining. He is so rich in wisdom and knowledge that we cannot even imagine his greatness. What else can we do but go to him and ask him to open our minds to his work, will, and presence in our lives? God is far greater than our minds can comprehend. His judgments are not fully comprehensible to us, and ways beyond us, but we do know this:

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)

"Oh, the depth and riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!" And on top of his greatness, he loves us and has great plans for us. Oh, yes; God is gracious and good.

My Prayer...

Precious and Almighty Father, thank you for reawakening me each spring to the power of your sustaining presence in the world and in my life. I see the beauty of creation reemerge, and it reminds me of your goodness, creativity, colorfulness, and grace. As I seek to put you first in all I do, please use me to bring you glory, and please, bless others through my thoughts, words, and deeds. In Jesus name, I thank you and praise you. Amen.

Today's Verse - Zephaniah 3:17

Sat, 16 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

—Zephaniah 3:17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

I still remember trying to learn to affirm my son's value to him. I didn't know exactly what that looked like or what I was supposed to do or say. Then, the Holy Spirit gently reminded me of what God the Father did to affirm Jesus the Son at his baptism.

"You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" (Luke 3:21).

God affirmed his relationship with Jesus, "You are my Son..." God affirmed his love and affection for Jesus, "...my Son, whom I love..." God affirmed his delight in Jesus, "...with you I am well pleased."
Zephaniah reminds us that the Father feels much the same about us as his children: "He will take great delight in you..." On top of that, he calms us with his love and rejoices over us in singing! God sees and values us as his children. He calms us in our fears and sings lullabies over us in his joy. We are his children whom he loves and in whom he takes delight!

My Prayer...

O God, I pray that when the storms of life rage against me, I will remember these precious words and find my refuge, comfort, identity, acceptance, and peace in your sheltering care. Please, dear Father, make me more aware of your singing over me and your delight in me. Through my Savior Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Ecclesiastes 11:5

Fri, 15 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

—Ecclesiastes 11:5

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"I don't know!"
This sure seems to be one of the hardest phrases for us to say. When thinking about God and his ways, especially his work on us and plans for us made when we were in the womb, that's really all we can say. "I don't know!" The truths we know about God and his ways with us when we were in the womb are only what he has chosen to reveal to us. He is the Mystery of mysteries. He is the supreme unknowable Knowable. Yet what we do know of him, what he has revealed to us in Jesus, is not only mighty and awesome, but loving, tender, and merciful. We know his love is willing to sacrifice for us, so we could seek after him and find his grace. So in reverence, we kneel to pray to the Father we cannot fully know - at least not yet, but will one day (1 John 3:1-3) - but can be fully assured that he loves us and wants us near to him.

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My Prayer...

To you, O LORD God, I offer my wonder and awe. When I consider the vastness of the universe in which our tiny blue planet spins through its existence, I am humbled by your wonderfully complex and expansive sovereignty, often expressed in tender mercy. As I ponder your greatness, dear Abba Father, I also treasure your nearness. You are the good Father who transcends space and time, yet you also are the almighty God who is ever near. Thank you for being accessible while being sovereign, available while not controllable. I thank you and praise you in the name of Jesus as I draw near to experience you more fully. Amen.