Verse of the day
Mark 16:15
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Mark 16:15
Lord, help me to do this better. Help me to step out of my comfort zone in my physical life rather than just virtually.
' “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.'
Matthew 6:1-4
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.1-4
Amen. The reward is greater when the Lord is the only one who knows because we can be sure that our motives are pure and that we are only doing it for Him. I would much rather do my good deeds in secret to build up heavenly rewards and to please my Father.
' “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.'
Matthew 6:5-15
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.5-15
Amen! Just like our acts of righteousness, our prayers are more powerful when the Lord is our only audience. I love my private times of prayer. Those are the most important as well as my favorite times of the day. That intimacy with the Father and Lord is like oxygen to me. Lord, thank You for teaching us the right way to pray!
' “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.'
Matthew 6:16-18
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.16-18
Amen! Same idea with fasting. Fasting is most powerful when done in secret. In fact it is the way that the Lord teaches us to fast. The Lord rewards what is done in secret only for Him.
' “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.'
Matthew 6:19-24
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.19-24
Amen! When we are doing all of the above in secret, we are storing up treasures in Heaven and those are the best. The things we do in secret show where are hearts are. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.” This verse is describing motives. When our motives are pure and healthy, our hearts will be pure, but if our motives are impure, we will be full of wickedness and unrepentance.
' “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.'
Matthew 6:25-34
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.25-34
Lord, thank You so much for being such a good and loving Father who takes care of those who love Him and seek Him first. There is noone like You. You ensure that we never have to worry about those things. If we do have issues, we pray and as long as we seek You first, trust You, and are truly Yours, You will provide.
I received this encouraging passage in an email this morning. Thank You, Jesus:
'Listen to my words, Lord , consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, , you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, , detest. But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, , in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies. Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, , you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.'
Psalms 5:1-12
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PSA.5.1-12
I received this passage in an email this morning and it is exactly what I needed.This encourages my heart greatly!! It is also an answer to prayer! Thank You, Jesus!! You are amazing! There is none like You!! In You I put my trust and hope!! Thank You for leading me in righteousness and for You favor that is a shield around me.
Mark 16:15
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Mark 16:15
Lord, help me to do this better. Help me to step out of my comfort zone in my physical life rather than just virtually.
' “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.'
Matthew 6:1-4
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.1-4
Amen. The reward is greater when the Lord is the only one who knows because we can be sure that our motives are pure and that we are only doing it for Him. I would much rather do my good deeds in secret to build up heavenly rewards and to please my Father.
' “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.'
Matthew 6:5-15
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.5-15
Amen! Just like our acts of righteousness, our prayers are more powerful when the Lord is our only audience. I love my private times of prayer. Those are the most important as well as my favorite times of the day. That intimacy with the Father and Lord is like oxygen to me. Lord, thank You for teaching us the right way to pray!
' “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.'
Matthew 6:16-18
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.16-18
Amen! Same idea with fasting. Fasting is most powerful when done in secret. In fact it is the way that the Lord teaches us to fast. The Lord rewards what is done in secret only for Him.
' “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.'
Matthew 6:19-24
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.19-24
Amen! When we are doing all of the above in secret, we are storing up treasures in Heaven and those are the best. The things we do in secret show where are hearts are. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.” This verse is describing motives. When our motives are pure and healthy, our hearts will be pure, but if our motives are impure, we will be full of wickedness and unrepentance.
' “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.'
Matthew 6:25-34
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.6.25-34
Lord, thank You so much for being such a good and loving Father who takes care of those who love Him and seek Him first. There is noone like You. You ensure that we never have to worry about those things. If we do have issues, we pray and as long as we seek You first, trust You, and are truly Yours, You will provide.
I received this encouraging passage in an email this morning. Thank You, Jesus:
'Listen to my words, Lord , consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, , you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, , detest. But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, , in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies. Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, , you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.'
Psalms 5:1-12
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PSA.5.1-12
I received this passage in an email this morning and it is exactly what I needed.This encourages my heart greatly!! It is also an answer to prayer! Thank You, Jesus!! You are amazing! There is none like You!! In You I put my trust and hope!! Thank You for leading me in righteousness and for You favor that is a shield around me.