VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 27, 2012

VERSE:
Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can
explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a
God in heaven who reveals mysteries."
-- Daniel 2:27-28


THOUGHT:
What is the bedrock of your faith in uncertain times? Who knows
where all the upheaval, tumult, and uncertainty are truly heading?
In whom can you find the solution to your most perplexing problems?
For Daniel and his friends, there was one solid and true answer:
the Lord God of Israel. It wasn't in the so-called wise teachers of
the day. It wasn't in the religions of the East. It wasn't in the
super-spiritualists . It was in God alone.


PRAYER:
Dear Father, you are the One True and Living God! There is no
one or no thing that can compare to you in splendor, righteousness,
and majesty. To you, Father, belongs all praise, honor, and glory.
I trust you to lead my life and guide me into the understanding I
need to do your will. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 26, 2012

VERSE:
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds
is dead.
-- James 2:26


THOUGHT:
By this definition, a whole lot of people claiming to be
believers are really spiritual corpses. For faith to be real, it
must express itself in service. Faith not only moves mountains; it
moves believers to act in ways that honor God and bless others,
demonstrating their thankfulness for God's incredible grace.


PRAYER:
Holy and Faithful Father, please forgive me for the times I've
been lazy in my spiritual walk. Help me see the many opportunities
for service you give to me each day, and then empower me to act in
those opportunities in ways that bless others. In Jesus' holy name
I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 25, 2012

VERSE:
Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He
did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a
man.
-- John 2:24-25


THOUGHT:
If we've spent a bunch of time reading the Gospels (Matthew,
Mark, Luke, & John in the New Testament), we probably have already
come to the conclusion stated in our verses. So, if we want to know
how to better live as a person, the place to start is Jesus. We
need to follow his example and follow his teachings. It is not an
easy path, but it is an authentic and transformational journey. As
we learn that we can trust him because he knows us, we see our
lives take on a greater depth and richer meaning.


PRAYER:
Thank you, Father, for sending your Son to show me how to live
and to teach me your truth. In the name of your precious Son,
Jesus, I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 24, 2012

VERSE:
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be
united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
-- Genesis 2:24


THOUGHT:
We are different! God makes us male and female so we can be
complements of each other. Each is made in God's image. God's
intention is that a husband and wife find their primary human
relationship with the other. They still honor their parents, but
their home is with each other. Their two lives become one. In this
context of lifetime security, they share in the intimate knowledge
of each other sexually -- becoming "one flesh." This relationship
is to be enjoyed (Proverbs 5), protected (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8),
and celebrated (Song of Solomon) for life (Matthew 19:6).


PRAYER:
Holy and Almighty Father, please bless me with strength to live
with integrity and purity in today's sexually charged world. Please
use your Spirit and your Word to instruct, correct, and convict me
as I seek to discover your truth for my relationships and celebrate
your will for my sexuality. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 23, 2012

VERSE:
"[Jesus] was handed over to you by God's set purpose and
foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to
death by nailing him to the cross."
-- Acts 2:23


THOUGHT:
When we think of the Cross, two words we must never associate
with it are the words "tragic accident." Peter makes very clear
that two separate streams of power converged at the cross. Evil had
its way and brought the Son of God to the Cross. God had his plan
and he allowed the cross to happen to redeem us. The Cross was no
accident. What hell had intended as our ultimate defeat, God used
to bring us redemption and triumph. The best and worst of all
things collided. Of course the Cross wasn't the ultimate answer in
this battle; the empty tomb and the resurrected Lord are. We are
the victorious recipients of this grace, paid at such an agonizing
cost, administered in such a cruel manner by our greatest
adversary, and secured by Jesus' triumph over the grave.


PRAYER:
Holy God, thank you for having a plan in place that insures that
my sins can be forgiven and my future with you is secured. Thank
you for paying the price for that plan to work. Thank you for
triumphing over the wickedness of hell and the work of evil people.
I love you so much for all you are and all you have done for me. In
Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 22, 2012
VERSE:
Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of
what account is he?
-- Isaiah 2:22


THOUGHT:
God will humble the arrogant. He has a day designated to do
this. But, until that day dawns, God's Kingdom people must live
knowing that even the apparently powerful but ungodly will be
brought to ruin. We shouldn't trust in human power; it can
evaporate like dew in the morning sunshine. Human power is limited
by death. When the breath of a tyrant is gone, so is his power.
Once the life of an evil person is over, all that is left is the
evil. Our trust must be in Yahweh Sabbaoth, the Lord God of
heaven's armies. Anything else is a dim, small, and distorted
reflection of the real thing.


PRAYER:
Abba Father, forgive me for those times that I have relied on my
own savvy, my own wits, and my own insight to life. Forgive me for
not trusting in your deliverance and for relying on underhanded
ways and improper partners. Please cleanse me and create in me a
pure heart and an unquenchable passion for you. In Jesus' name I
pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 21, 2012
VERSE:
Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. Surely the LORD has
done great things.
-- Joel 2:21

THOUGHT:
This reassurance from God is given to a people facing desperate
times, which were brought on by God to lead them to repent. Their
land lies desolate and decimated from drought, plagues, and poor
harvests. God, however, is now promising to bless them if they will
return to him with all their hearts. The LORD, the covenant God of
Israel, will do great things to bring his people to deliverance
through their repentance and his gracious power. The land can
rejoice and be glad. So should his people! So should we! Because of
Jesus, we know that "the LORD has done great things" for us!


PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your incredible work in our
world. Thank you for your incredible work in my little part of that
world. Thank you for your deliverance in Jesus. Thank you for the
victory over death. Thank you for the incredible outpouring of your
grace and mercy. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. Thank
you for the Scriptures which your Spirit inspired and uses to teach
us. Thank you for a family of friends in your Church. Thank you ...
in Jesus' name. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 20, 2012

VERSE:
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
-- Galatians 2:20


THOUGHT:
We are dead, but more alive than ever before. We are crucified
and humiliated, yet glorified as never before. You see, Christ
lives in us. He works through us to bless others. So the life we
live now in our limited bodies is not limited -- it is the work of
Christ. The life we live now is lived by faith in the one and only
Savior, who has shown his love by giving himself to redeem us.

PRAYER:
Almighty and Holy God, thank you for sharing your life and power
with me and through me. Thank you for joining my life to Christ.
Thank you for joining Christ to my life! May his love, grace, and
power be seen in my actions and character. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 19, 2012

VERSE:
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in
righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth
you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.
-- Hosea 2:19-20


THOUGHT:
God longed for Israel to be faithful to him. Despite the
unfaithfulness in the past, God offered his people forgiveness and
hope that they could be restored to relationship with him again.
If God was willing to pay such an incredibly high price to do this,
shouldn't we do the same with each other? But, let's go one step
further; let's be faithful to each other and to God in the first
place!


PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, God of compassion, please give me a more
forgiving and sensitive heart. In addition, dear Father, please
give me a faithful heart that will not stray from the pledges and
vows I have made to you and to others. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.


TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 18, 2012

VERSE:
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I
will make a helper suitable for him."
-- Genesis 2:18


THOUGHT:
Two powerful principles are presented here. First, God looks out
for us and blesses us with what we need most. Second, God made us
for relationship: relationship with him and with a life partner.
Yes, Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 both emphasize that some are
gifted to be single, but most of us are made to be complete with
another. Marriage and a marriage partner are a gift from God. Let's
live like they are!


PRAYER:
Holy God, I want to thank you for looking out for my needs. So
many times I ask you for what I want, not what I need. Thank you
for doing what is best for me and not what I want! Now, dear
Father, please help me treat the significant people in my life as
gifts from you. In the name of Jesus, your ultimate gift, I pray.
Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

February 17, 2012

VERSE:
The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men
humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols
will totally disappear.
-- Isaiah 2:17-18


THOUGHT:
Sometimes when we get "too big for our britches," we find
ourselves humbled by a natural disaster, world war, incurable
disease, economic depression, or widespread social disorder. Our
arrogance can be a predictor of our own impending disasters. Is
there a general principle of our universe at work here? ("Pride
goes before a fall.") Or is this the active discipline of God at
work? I guess the answer is "Yes!" to both of these questions. Both
God and his world remind us that there is so much about our lives
we can't control. This passage, however, goes beyond the general
principles and it promises an ultimate day when human arrogance
will be eliminated and all false gods disappear. On that day, God's
children will rejoice and be glad! Until then, let's walk humbly
with our God.


PRAYER:
Dear Father in heaven, please humble me gently. I don't want to
lose my keen sense of your presence by becoming too full of myself.
Neither do I want to bring disaster upon myself or those I love.
Give me an undivided heart of devotion to you out of appreciation
for your grace. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 16, 2012
VERSE:
"I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, ... "So guard
yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith."
-- Malachi 2:16

THOUGHT:
In a throw-away world, God wants us to know that he hates it
when we throw away people. Let's call each other to God's standard,
to God's holiness. Let's not let our spirits be corrupted by
selfishness and resentment. Let's not break faith with God by
treating those closest to us with contempt. And in a world where
people get broken by divorce, let's go find them, include them, and
bring them home to God's family for healing.


PRAYER:
Almighty God, please make our words strong, our commitments
lasting, and our lives faithful to the promises we make to you and
to each other. Thank you for the great example of so many of your
people who have had incredibly strong marriages. Bless me and my
house with a legacy of faithfulness that lasts for generations to
come. In addition, dear Father, please use me to bring home to you
those who have been broken and disheartened in marriages that
failed. In Jesus' name. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 15, 2012
VERSE:
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may
become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a
crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in
the universe.
-- Philippians 2:14-15


THOUGHT:
We shouldn't be surprised that unbelievers around us have a
different set of values than we do. After all, a star isn't
surprised to find that it shines in the great expanse of darkness
surrounding it. You see, a star and a disciple of Jesus share one
basic purpose: shining our light in the darkness, no matter how
great that darkness!


PRAYER:
Holy and righteous LORD, I can only anticipate the day I see
your glory and stand in your presence. Please give me the courage
and integrity to be a light to those around me overwhelmed by the
darkness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

February 14, 2012

VERSE:
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of
the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
-- Habakkuk 2:14


THOUGHT:
What a glorious day when this promise is fully realized! Let's
make every effort and commit ourselves to the task of making our
glorious God known to every nation, tribe, language, and people.


PRAYER:
Almighty God, please lead me to someone who needs to know your
salvation. Please bless your servants all around the world as they
share your message with others. Please give them success and hasten
the day when this glorious promise becomes fully realized. In
Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 13, 2012

VERSE:
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your
God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and
abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
-- Joel 2:13


THOUGHT:
One of the most amazing things about our God is that he is so
gracious and compassionate. This is true even when we've "blown it
big time." In fact, when we sin, he longs to forgive and cleanse,
not condemn and punish. His grace rushes to greet our genuine
heartbreak and heart-change with forgiveness, cleansing, and
redemption.


PRAYER:
Dear Father, when I sin, please help me see my sin as you do.
Help my heart break over my sin when I've rebelled against you. I
don't want to ever become callused or cold to your grace. I want to
always appreciate the great cost you paid to redeem, to forgive,
and to cleanse me with you grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

February 12, 2012

VERSE:
"Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror,"
declares the LORD. "My people have committed two sins: They have
forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own
cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
-- Jeremiah 2:12-13


THOUGHT:
Where do you turn to have the thirst of your soul slaked? I
firmly believe that many addictive habits and sins are the result
of pursuing things to satisfy this thirst in our soul by some means
other than seeking God. He is the only source of true and lasting
refreshment, satisfaction, and fulfillment. Let's pursue God,
knowing that only he can satisfy the desire of our souls.


PRAYER:
Thank you, O God, that you care that my soul thirsts with
superhuman thirst. Thank you for providing your Living Water
through the Holy Spirit to satisfy this longing deep within my
soul. Help me see the deceptiveness of every false source of
satisfaction so that I can find my thirst properly and fully
satisfied in you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 11, 2012

VERSE:
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
-- Proverbs 2:11


THOUGHT:
My greatest mistakes have been made in haste, when I didn't
allow a little prayer time to consider what I was going to do or
say. While discretion and understanding are acquired through
learning and experience, they are also a gift from God. But this
gift doesn't come on demand. It comes from patiently seeking,
trusting, and waiting on the Lord's guidance and from longing to
live for him as a person of character.


PRAYER:
Forgive me Father, for I fear that I am more often a "character"
than I am a person of character. Forgive my selfish desire to play
to the crowd. I confess that I sometimes try to be witty and
popular, rather than being a person of discretion, understanding,
and integrity. Help me please, dear LORD, to see through the
temptation of haste and find your path to integrity. In Jesus' name
I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 10, 2012

VERSE:
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
-- Ephesians 2:10


THOUGHT:
Did you know that God is an artisan? Even more importantly, did
you know that you are one of his masterpieces? God has designed us
to be beautifully useful for doing good things! So let's not let
anyone, especially not the evil one, convince us that we are not
worth anything to others or to God. His grace has made our lives
canvases upon which he will provide the world more masterpiece
works of his artistry! Let's live up to God's high opinion of us.


PRAYER:
Thank you, dear Father, for knowing me and re-making me by your
grace in Jesus. Use me to do your will and lead me to the
appropriate people so that I can most effectively minister to them.
In Jesus' grace-filled name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 9, 2012

VERSE:
"Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest
on high, to escape the clutches of ruin!"
-- Habakkuk 2:9


THOUGHT:
In our "dog eat dog" world, in our race to get to the top and
leave all our rivals in a heap at the bottom, God tells us both
"Whoa!" and "Woe!" He tells us to stop and realize that Kingdom
values are different from worldly values -- that there is no
success without service. He also warns us that he will bring us to
ruin if we ignore his values by placing ourselves above the
well-being of others or pursuing our own success at the cost of our
ethics.


PRAYER:
Gracious, almighty, and righteous God, please strengthen me so
that I can resist the temptation to exploit, cheat, and lie to get
ahead. Dear Father, I truly want to be a person of integrity,
character, and blessing. Please help me to see any duplicity in my
own heart and to treat others graciously, just as you have so
graciously treated me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

February 8, 2012

VERSE:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and
this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so
that no one can boast.
-- Ephesians 2:8-9


THOUGHT:
As a child, I loved to receive gifts. In such a simple time of
life, a gift meant I was loved. I didn't worry about the
significance or hidden message in a gift. I wasn't concerned about
the "strings attached" to the gift. It was just a gift -- a free
expression of love I didn't deserve, given to me by someone who
truly cared for me. Isn't it great to get to be God's child and
receive his gift and know we can receive it as a child?!


PRAYER:
Thank you, generous Father, for the gift of grace, the gift of
faith, the gift of salvation, and most of all, the gift of Jesus. I
know I can never repay these gifts, but I look forward to saying
"Thank you!" through my lifestyle now and I look forward to
continuing to say "Thank you!" through all eternity. In Jesus' name
I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 7, 2012

VERSE:
... the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a
living being.
-- Genesis 2:7


THOUGHT:
We are God's creation. He fashioned and formed our original
ancestors out of the dust of the ground. He molded each of us and
created each of us in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-16). Like
Adam, God fills us with his breath and blesses us with life. We are
his workmanship, his artistry, made to experience life in all its
fullness (John 10:10) and created to do his work in our world
(Ephesians 2:10).


PRAYER:
Thank you for my life, dear God. Please don't let anyone, or
anything, distract my heart from honoring you. Please do not let
the evil one distort my sense of being your creation. In Jesus'
name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 6, 2012

VERSE:
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to
live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith
as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
-- Colossians 2:6-7


THOUGHT:
Jesus is our center! He is the hub around which we turn. Rather
than trying to add on to the truth of Jesus, we must learn to
accept it and trust it in child-like faith. But that child-like
faith must be nourished and grown. As Jesus remains our central
focus and our hearts remain thankful to God for his grace, we will
that our faith is strengthened and that Jesus is more real than
ever.


PRAYER:
Holy and Righteous God, please give me eyes to see evil and
avoid it. Please give me wisdom to know deceptive and false
teaching when it is placed before me. Empower me to live a thankful
life of holiness so that I can live in Jesus to your honor and
glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 5, 2012

VERSE:
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who,
being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped...
-- Philippians 2:5-6


THOUGHT:
What a glorious thought! What a lofty aspiration! What an
incredible challenge! I am to have the same attitude as Jesus had.
It's almost unthinkable. But just almost! You see, God calls us to
this glorious, lofty, and unthinkable height because he calls us
his children. He wants us to be humble and to be a servant just as
Jesus was.


PRAYER:
Almighty and Eternal Father, thank you for your unfathomable
grace displayed in Jesus. Help his attitude of service, obedience,
and sacrifice to pervade my soul and to influence my daily life. In
the name of Jesus, Lord of lords I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT
February 4, 2012

VERSE:
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions
-- it is by grace you have been saved.
-- Ephesians 2:4-5


THOUGHT:
We have no claim to bring to God! We have no right to demand
salvation! We have no power within us that can hold on to life!
Only God's love can bring us life, hope, and grace. Only God's
mercy can bring us salvation. Only God's gift of Christ can awaken
us from the death-slumber of sin.


PRAYER:
Your love, mercy, and grace have saved me, dear Father. What can
I do to praise you? You have shown your might, holiness, and
majesty in redeeming me, dear God. What can I do to repay your
grace? Your patience, perseverance, and faithfulness have touched
my heart and brought me life. How can I ever find the words to say
how much I love you? Thank you, dear Father, thank you for all you
have done for me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -
February 3, 2012

VERSE:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves.
-- Philippians 2:3


THOUGHT:
Humility is recognizing who God has made us to be and using that
recognition to serve and redeem others. Living in humility as Jesus
did, we don't just practice the golden rule, but we go one step
better -- we treat others better than we would treat ourselves. Are
we instructed to do this because we're unworthy or unfit? No! Jesus
was worthy and glorious, but he counted others better than himself
when he sacrificially gave himself to redeem them. It's a high
standard. It's a hard standard. It is not for wimps. But it is
ultimately glorious. (Hint: Read down through verse 10 and remember
that the same type of reward will be given to the faithful!)


PRAYER:
Almighty God, thank you for adopting me as your child and making
me holy and precious to you. Please help me to see myself as you
do, and then, as one of your precious children, empower me to serve
others in ways that help them see your glory. In Jesus' name I
pray. Amen.

TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT

February 2, 2012

VERSE:
From inside the fish Jonah prayed ... "In my distress I called
to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I
called for help, and you listened to my cry."
-- Jonah 2:1-2


THOUGHT:
Jonah was disobedient, rebellious, and selfish. He had run from
the Lord. He had shunned the Lord's command. He had endangered the
lives of those on the ship where he had tried to hide. Yet even in
the middle of his rebellion, God heard his cry and delivered him.
If you are in rebellion, if you are seeking to hide some secret and
all-consuming sin, please know the Lord wants to ransom and redeem
you! Things won't be easy, but coming back to the Lord means
ultimate redemption and deliverance.


PRAYER:
Holy and righteous Father, please forgive me for the times that
I am in rebellion to your will. Help me to recognize those times
and give me the strength to avoid those temptations. In your grace,
dear Father, please not only help me to live as you want me to live
but also lead me to someone else who needs to know of your grace
and redemption. Please use me to help them escape from their
bondage to sin and shame. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.