Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"We first make our habits, then our habits make us."

John Dryden

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) ...Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Apostle Paul

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Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Look back and thank God. Look forward and trust God. Look around and serve God. Look within and invite God."

Leomenza

Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! 

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

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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Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"You can't rewind your life."

Unknown 

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

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Psalm 37 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

According to Psalm 37, what is the active nature of sincere faith in God? Consider the following...

1. You trust in the Lord and do good (3).
2. You delight in the Lord (4).
3. You commit everything you do to the Lord (5).
4. You do not worry about evil people who prosper and scheme (7).
5. You stop being angry and losing your temper (8).
6. You are satisfied with being godly and having little (16).
7. You are generous (21).
8. You turn from evil and do good (27).
9. You make God's Law your own (31).
10. You put your hope in the Lord (34).
11. You faithfully travel the Lord's path (34).
12. You find shelter in the Lord (40).

Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭1‬-‭40‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 1 Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. 2 For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. 

3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. 4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. 6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. 

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. 

8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. 9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

10 Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. 11 The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity. 

12 The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance. 13 But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming. 

14 The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right. 15 But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. 

16 It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. 17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly. 

18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. 19 They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough. 

20 But the wicked will die. The Lord’s enemies are like flowers in a field— they will disappear like smoke. 

21 The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.

22 Those the Lord blesses will possess the land, but those he curses will die. 

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. 

25 Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. 26 The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing. 

27 Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever. 28 For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will die. 29 The godly will possess the land and will live there forever. 

30 The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. 31 They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path. 

32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them. 33 But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial. 

34 Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed. 

35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil. 36 But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them! 

37 Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace. 38 But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future. 

39 The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. 40 The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.

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James 1:2-4 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"The same boiling water that softens the potato, hardens the egg. It is about what you are made of, not the circumstances."

James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭(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.

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better....We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

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Matthew 5:10-12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Henry David Thoreau once went to jail rather than pay his poll tax to a state that supported slavery. His good friend Ralph Waldo Emerson hurried to visit him in jail and, peering through the bars, exclaimed: “Why, Henry, what are you doing in there?"

Thoreau replied, “No, Ralph, the question is, what are you doing out there?"

1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

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James‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

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Hebrews 13:14-16 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Do not wait to do a great thing. The opportunity may never come. But since little things are constantly claiming your attention, do them for a great motive—for the glory of God, and to do good to others.”

F.B. Meyer (1847-1929)

Baptist pastor and evangelist 

Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

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Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"What will it mean in practice for me to put God first? This much at least. The 101 things I have to do each day and the 101 demands on me which I know I must try to meet will all be approached as ventures of loving service to Him, and I shall do the best I can in everything for His sake.”

J.I. Packer (1926-2020)

Anglican theologian, cleric and writer

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬) And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

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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.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬, ‭33‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do...I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

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Titus2:12-14 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"The truth of the second coming of Christ transformed my whole idea of life; it broke the power of the world and its ambition over me, and filled my life with the most radiant optimism even under the most discouraging of circumstances.

R.A. Torrey (1856-1928)

American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer

Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

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Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"The power of individual choice is the secret of human responsibility. I can choose which line I will go on, but I have no power to alter the destination of that line once I have taken it—yet I always have the power to get off one line on to the other.”Oswald Chambers

Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭(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...For the honor of your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins. Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.

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Job‬ ‭34‬:‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.

Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

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John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“I believe that the reason of life is for each of us to simply grow in love. I believe that this growth in love will contribute more than any other force to establish the kingdom of God on earth."

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)

Russian author

John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

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

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.

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Psalm 40:1-4 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“When I think upon my God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap from my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.”

Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809)

Austrian composer of the Classical period

Psalms‬ ‭40‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Our spiritual clothing can become dirty, our attitudes unChristlike, our words tainted with unkindness, our actions stained with wrong motives, our thoughts dusty with selfishness.  Have we allowed the sin of the world to cling to us?  Are we wearing the dirty clothes of dark, hidden deeds? If so, let’s take them off (confess this to God) and put on the shining armor of right living (turn back to Him)."

Susan Smart (creativebiblestudy.com)

Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

 ‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

Image: "PERSONS WEARING SOILED OR DIRTY CLOTHING ARE NOT WELCOME" by Leo Reynolds is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.