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Hebrews 11:1-7 Dear Father, trustworthy God, You alone are worthy of faith, for you alone have the power to keep promises. Increase my faith, Lord. May I have the full assurance of what I hope for, the firm conviction of the reality of what I do not yet see. Give me faith in your creation and...

"Accepted in the beloved." —Ephesians 1:6 Morning Thought What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God, but the term "acceptance" in the Greek means more than that. It signifies that we are the objects of divine complacence, nay, even of divine delight. How marvellous...

[Jesus continued,] "But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit." —Mark 13:11 NLT Key Thought Our witness will not be our wisdom, but our courage...

Hebrews 10:26-39 Holy God, who has promised to return, How foolish I would be to keep on sinning after coming to the knowledge of your truth. Give me the strength to forsake whatever sin I become aware of in my life. I submit myself to your examination and ask to see myself as you see me. In...

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. —1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NLT Key Thought I love the...

"I will rejoice over them to do them good." —Jeremiah 32:41 Morning Thought How heart-cheering to the believer is the delight which God has in his saints! We cannot see any reason in ourselves why the Lord should take pleasure in us; we cannot take delight in ourselves, for we often have to...

[Jesus continued,] "For the Good News must first be preached to all nations." —Mark 13:10 NLT Key Thought Before the return of Jesus, the Gospel — the Good News about Jesus and his Kingdom — will be preached to every nation. We can do that better today than ever before. So let's make sure we...

Hebrews 10:19-25 Dear Father, Thank you for the confidence I can have to enter your sanctuary. May I draw near to you in faith, full of assurance, with my heart cleansed from a guilty conscience and with my body washed with pure water. Grant that I may hold fast to the confession of my faith...

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it...

[Jesus continued,] "When [wars, earthquakes, and famines] begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about...

"The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon." —Judges 7:20 Morning Thought Gideon ordered his men to do two things: covering up a torch in an earthen pitcher, he bade them, at an appointed signal, break the pitcher and let the light shine, and then sound with the trumpet, crying, "The sword of the...

Hebrews 9:11-14 Dear Father, Thank you that when Christ appeared as a High Priest, he entered into the Holy Place and took not the blood of bulls and goats, but his own blood, thus securing eternal redemption for us. How much more perfect and pleasing to you was his sacrifice than that of...

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God...

"For this child I prayed." —1 Samuel 1:27 Evening Thought Devout souls delight to look upon those mercies which they have obtained in answer to supplication, for they can see God's especial love in them. When we can name our blessings Samuel, that is, "asked of God," they will be as dear to...

Hebrews 8:1-13 Dear Father, the Majesty of heaven, Thank you that in Jesus we have a totally understanding and merciful High Priest. He has your authority, seated at the right hand of the throne of your majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and true tabernacle which was set up by...

The Spirit lifted me [Ezekiel] up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God. —Ezekiel 11:24 NIV Key Thought Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God will get his messengers to the places they need to be — both physically and spiritually. He will give...

Hebrews 6:13-7:28 Dear Father, King above all rule and authority on earth, Thank you for your holy and sure promises. Your oath is immutable. In these things in which it is impossible for you to prove false, we who have fled to you for refuge find strong encouragement to seize the hope set...

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ... —Ephesians 5:18 NIV Key Thought Being drunk is sometimes called being "under the influence." While we certainly are not to be under the influence of wine or other intoxicating or addictive...

"And they follow me." —John 10:27 Evening Thought We should follow our Lord as unhesitatingly as sheep follow their shepherd, for he has a right to lead us wherever he pleases. We are not our own, we are bought with a price-let us recognize the rights of the redeeming blood. The soldier...

Jesus replied, "Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!" Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, "Tell us...