1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Something to deeply ponder when saying "I Love you."

Love is patient

Love is kind

Love is not jealous

Love is not boastful

Love is not proud

Love is not rude

Love is not demanding

Love is not irritable

Love does not keep record of being wronged

Love does not rejoice about injustice

Love does rejoice when truth wins out

Love never gives up

Love never loses faith

Love is always hopeful

Love endures 

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.

Proverbs‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

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Galatians 4:4 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"This is a lesson we sorely need to take to heart, for it is of great practical importance. It might be tersely expressed thus: the Lord has a reason for all His delays. God not only does that which is right and best but He always acts at the right and best time."

Arthur W. Pink (1886-1952)

Pastor, theologian and author

Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

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Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Stand back.

Take some time.

Read God’s Word.

Think.

Pray.

And obey the revealed will of God."

R. Kent Hughes

Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭7‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

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Proverbs 15:13 (NIV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“Cheerfulness sharpens the edge and removes the rust from the mind. A joyous heart supplies oil to our inward machinery, and makes the whole of our powers work with ease and efficiency; hence it is of the utmost importance that we maintain a contented, cheerful, genial disposition.” 

James H. Aughey  (1828-1911)

Proverbs‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

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Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

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Galatians 6:9 (MEV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."

Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931)

American inventor & businessman 

Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭(MEV‬‬) And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.

 ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬ ‭(ESV‬‬) But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.

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Proverbs 4:25-27 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"If you focus on the obstacles all you will see are obstacles. If you focus on the path all you will see is the path."

Simon Sinek

Author and inspirational speaker 

Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you...The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.”

Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭105‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

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Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"We are not primarily put on this earth to see through one another, but to see one another through."

Peter De Vires (1910-1993)

American editor and novelist

Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

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Matthew 25:34-40 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“The church is not a select circle of the immaculate, but a home where the outcast may come in. It is not a palace with gate attendants and challenging sentinels along the entrance-ways holding off at arm's-length the stranger, but rather a hospital where the broken-hearted may be healed, and where all the weary and troubled may find rest and take counsel together.”

James H. Aughey  (1828-1911)

Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭34‬-‭40‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me."

Then these righteous ones will reply, "Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?"

And the King will say, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"

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2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

If you think you’re beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don’t.

If you’d like to win,

But you think you can’t,

It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,

For out in the world you’ll find

Success begins with a fellow’s will,

It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you’re outclassed, you are. You’ve got to think high to rise.

You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go

To the stronger or faster man,

But soon or late, the man who wins,

Is the one who thinks he can.

Walter D. Wintle

2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Complainers change their complaints, but they never reduce the amount of time spent in complaining. Complaining not only ruins everybody else's day, it ruins the complainer's day, too. The more we complain, the more unhappy we get."

Dennis Prager 

Host of The Dennis Prager Show and PragerU

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬) Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

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John 3:16-17 (NIV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Happy Valentine's Day

John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“First, I would like to just thank God for even being here. Every day, I am amazed that my experiences could encourage so many others across the country and even across the world. Encourage to pray, encourage to spread love and encouraged to keep fighting no matter the circumstances. Sudden cardiac arrest is nothing I would’ve ever chosen to be a part of my story but that’s because our own visions are too small even when we think we are seeing the bigger picture."

Damar Hamlin

NFL Buffalo Bills safety

Quote taken from 2023 NFL Honors speech

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

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Proverbs 9:9 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“A failure is not a loss. It’s a gain. You learn. You change. You grow.”

Michael Barata

Life Coach

Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.

Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.

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Galatians 1:10 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"So often those who have been stellar in adversity are derailed by success. Their behavior changes in order to take advantage of their fame. Faith in God reverts to faith in self. They begin to believe the good press. And so weakened, they succumb to temptations they had easily resisted before."

R. Kent Hughes

Genesis-Beginning and Blessing

Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. 

Apostle Paul

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1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

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Ephesians 6:7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"There are two things you are in control of in your life, your attitude and your effort."

Billy Cox

Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

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2 Timothy 2:23-25 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Criticism is the cost of influence. As long as you don’t influence anybody, nobody is going to say a peep about you. But the greater your influence... the more critics you are going to have."

Pastor Rick Warren

2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

James‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭24‬-‭25‬a (NLT‬‬) Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded. So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him...

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Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"War fighting never goes according to plan. You will fail. It's about picking yourself up and going again. Only the people that can bounce back from failures will pass this course."

Jason Fox

UK Special Forces soldier 

Host on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

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Genesis 13:5-9 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"It is best to preserve the peace, that it be not broken; but the next best is, if differences do happen, with all speed to accommodate them, and quench the fire that has broken out."

Matthew Henry (1662-1714)

Pastor and commentator 

 Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents. But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot...

Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

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Job 23:10-12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"As we look at Job’s life, we see that strength grows through struggles, courage develops in challenges and wisdom matures from wounds. When God tested Job, his faith emerged as pure gold. As we look at Job’s life, we see that strength grows through struggles, courage develops in challenges and wisdom matures from wounds."

Nicky Gumbel

Pastor, author and evangelical leader

Job‬ ‭23‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But [God] knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.

James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

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James 4:13-16 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"The old school teacher always closed her letters to ex-students with 'd.v.' Finally one asked her what the initials meant. The answer was, “dio volente”-if God wills.

That’s what James was saying here. Be sure to add d.v. to every plan you make, every intention you express. Arrogance looks ahead and assumes that the future is secure; that the business will prosper, that the body will remain healthy, that loved ones will always be there. The humble person lives with an awareness of man’s frailty, and d.v. is the postscript wisely added to every plan."

Lawrence O. Richards (1931-2016)

The 365 Day Devotional Commentary 

James‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

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