Today's Verse
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
— Psalm 112:4 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What a powerful promise! Just as night passes into dawn, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous, dawn comes even in the worst nights of deep spiritual darkness. The Holy Spirit is reminding us that even in those worst times of cultural decay and decadence, Satan's darkness will not rule forever. His darkness cannot stay where Jesus' disciples reflect the character of the Light of the world.

My Prayer...

Holy and loving God, help me to shine your light of holiness and Jesus' light of hope to those trapped in darkness. O God, please forgive my sinful failures. Please cleanse me and create a pure heart in me. I don't want to dim or to diminish your light as it shines through me. Help me so that I can more perfectly shine your light to those around me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Please read a letter from Phil Ware about Verse of the Day's plans for 2012.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.

Today's Verse

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.
— John 3:20-21 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What's the power behind your life? One clear way to find out is to come to Jesus and ask him to search you and reveal anything spiritually unhealthy, anything unholy, in you. Opening ourselves up to the light of his scrutiny, to the truth of his Light, gives us a remarkable sense of freedom. We don't have anything to hide. Then God can do some truly remarkable things in us and through us because there are no distorted motives.

My Prayer...

Thank you God, for shining your light into my heart through your Son, the Light of the world. Please gently reveal to me the areas of my weakness, my sinfulness, my duplicity, and my deception. I want to live purely before you and purely for you. I humbly request this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Please read a letter from Phil Ware about Verse of the Day's plans for 2012.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.

Today's Verse

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.
— John 1:4-5 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Life! Not just living, but true, genuine life. Life that gives us light that darkness cannot steal away. That's why God sent Jesus! Thankfully that light still shines and all of Satan's horses and all of Satan's men cannot put their deepest darkest darkness together again! Hallelujah!

My Prayer...

For every good and perfect gift, for the light I have even in my moments of deepest darkness, for the hope I have of living with you in glorious and unapproachable light, I thank you and praise you with eternal joy, now and forevermore. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Please read a letter from Phil Ware about Verse of the Day's plans for 2012.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.

Today's Verse

Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes.
— Psalm 69:17-18 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus came to show God's face and rescue us from our enemies. But today, in difficult parts of the world and in the places many would least expect it, Christians are under attack. God sent Jesus to save us ultimately and totally from sin and its power. Let's pray that our mighty God will work mightily in our world today to deliver his children from the clutches of tyranny, poverty, violence, abuse, and ridicule. Let's also pray that God is praised for doing so!

My Prayer...

Holy and righteous Father, please strengthen all your beloved children who find themselves under attack. Make your deliverance for them known and shown in the display of your mighty power. You are our Redeemer and Savior. In the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Please read a letter from Phil Ware about Verse of the Day's plans for 2012.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.

Today's Verse

When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
— Deuteronomy 24:19 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

This is clearly a passage old Scrooge hadn't seen! God has always set aside a provision for the poor. In this time of the year when many people world over take special time to look after those who are less fortunate, let's open our date books and schedule a week to dedicate time for special generosity in May and in August to go with a heart committed to be generous all the time. Let's not let generosity and concern for those less fortunate be a once a year thing!

My Prayer...

For all of your wonderful gifts of kindness and grace, I thank you, dear Father and God. Please stir my heart to care for others as you do. Please help me keep that spirit of concern alive all year long and not just around Christmas time. In Jesus' name I ask this. Amen.

Please read a letter from Phil Ware about Verse of the Day's plans for 2012.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.

Today's Verse

I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. The poor will see and be glad -- you who seek God, may your hearts live!
— Psalm 69:30-32 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Our praise should not only please God, it should also produce joy and gladness in the streets among the poor! Why? Because praise invites us to not only applaud God for what he does, but to also join him in partnership as he does it. God's generosity, which evokes our praise, should stir our generosity, which in turn blesses others and leads them to praise God!

My Prayer...

Holy God, Almighty and majestic King, you are worthy of all honor and praise. You have done wonderful and mighty things. You have poured out your blessings upon me. You have kept your promises and provided me with the way of salvation. Please empower and strengthen me as I commit myself to bless, serve, and encourage others for your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Please read a letter from Phil Ware about Verse of the Day's plans for 2012.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.

Today's Verse

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
— Hebrews 2:18 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus was tempted like we are! He suffered like we do! God in his grace made sure that we have someone in heaven who knows what it is like to face suffering and mortality. This knowledge is not only omniscient wisdom. Jesus also guarantees that heaven's knowledge includes human experience. Aren't you thankful that Jesus knew suffering and mortality and that he now lives to redeem, to bless, and to ultimately help us mortals?

My Prayer...

Loving and Almighty God, I know you know me and what is best for me. But Father, I'm even more confident in your care and understanding because Jesus shared in our wrestling match with suffering and mortality. Thank you, Jesus, for pleading my cause at the Father's right hand. I ask for the Father's continued grace in your name, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Please read a letter from Phil Ware about Verse of the Day's plans for 2012.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.

Today's Verse

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age...
— Galatians 1:3-4 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus comes to our rescue! Why? Because he knows the times in which we live aren't easy. He knows that the world in which we live is caught up in wickedness. That, however, is not the only reality. He gives us great victory through his Cross. No wonder we can greet each other with grace and peace. He purchased them for us.

My Prayer...

Father, please help me distinguish between good and evil as I confront them daily in my life. Make evil repulsive to me despite the many ways that Satan tries to make it look seductive. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to my rescue when I was a sinner, unable to save myself. Thank you for sharing your grace and giving me peace. Through the blessed Holy Spirit I offer my thanks and praise in Jesus' name. Amen.

Please read a letter from Phil Ware about Verse of the Day's plans for 2012.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.

Today's Verse

God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
— Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God sent his Son. No one else would do. He had sent prophets, priests, and preachers. Religion remained earthbound, legalistic, and doomed. So God sent what is most precious to him, his Son. Why? So measly human beings such as you and I could be adopted into his family and have the same rights as the Savior, God's Son and our brother in the faith!

My Prayer...

Thank you, Holy God, for bringing me back into your family through your Son. Thank you for not treating me as my sins deserve. Thank you for not leaving me under Law, but redeeming me through your grace into a dynamic love relationship as your child. Thank you for your plan of redemption that wound its way through Old Testament history until the time came to fulfill all your promises. Thank you for sending your Son. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I thank you. Amen.

Please read a letter from Phil Ware about Verse of the Day's plans for 2012.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
You can email questions or comments to phil@heartlight.org.