1 John 3:13-18

1 Passage: 1 John 3:13-18

1 Verse: Verse 17. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

1 Prayer: Thank You, Father, for helping me put on a heart of compassion yesterday. I trusted You to do it, and You did, and now not only am I thankful, but those with whom I was able to share Your compassion are thankful, too. And this morning, it is all about the heart once again. This time, You tell me not to close my heart against my brothers and sisters in need. Father, help me to have an open heart toward others. Help me to be for them and not against them. Help me to show Your heart through my sincere effort and energy on behalf of others today, and not just in the words of this prayer.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's passage: Romans 12:9-13

Colossians 3:12-17

1 Passage: Colossians 3:12-17

1 Verse: Verse 12. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

1 Prayer: Thank You, Father, for welcoming me to live as one whom You chose -- as if I were holy and beloved. Thank You for loving me enough to replace my unholiness with the holiness of Jesus, Your Son. And now, You ask me to put on a heart to match. I'm not always sure how to do that. I know how to put on a mask, put on a show, put on a put-on . . . but those are all external, surface, cosmetic applications. Putting on a heart is another thing entirely. Putting on a heart is internal, and spiritual. And I already have one, and the one I have isn't always very cooperative. It can be cold and stubborn and hard as a rock. So please, Father, help me today to wear a new one. Help me to be kind and compassionate from the heart -- not as an outward show, but as a deep abiding reality. I know You can do it, and I trust You to. Thank You, Father.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's Passage: 1 John 3:13-18

John 15:9-14

1 Passage: John 15:9-14

1 Verse: Verse 9. "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love."

1 Prayer: Lord, You know there is nothing I want more than to abide in Your love. But You say that abiding in Your love comes from loving one another as You love us. That doesn't always come easy -- especially not this morning. So I'm left feeling far outside Your love. I guess the only solution is for You to help me learn to love others better. Please help me today. I feel like I'm already off to a pretty bad start. But I trust You to lead me out. Thanks.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's Passage: Colossians 3:12-17

Romans 8:31-39

1 Passage: Romans 8:31-39

1 Verse: Verse 32. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

1 Prayer: Father, forgive me for forgetting that You are for me, not against me. Life gets so contentious. Everything seems to conspire against me. Every day feels like a battle against forces I can't control and can't overcome. I feel more often like the conquered than the conqueror. But here is hard evidence, living proof, incontrovertible fact that You are on my side -- You gave up Jesus for me. How can I doubt Your love in the face of that truth. Well, I'll tell You how: I'm still waiting for You to freely give us all things. There is a real existential gap between the gift of salvation and the gift of all things, and I get stuck there. I take the non-existence of the latter as evidence for the non-existence of the former. But Your word says that is backwards. Help me to think the right way about this, Father. Help me to remember when I am missing the "all things" that I am not in any way missing the salvation that comes from Your deep love for me - and that guarantees the all things to me, even in my non-possession of them. On the basis of Your gift to me in Jesus, I will continue to trust You to freely give the rest in Your wisdom and kindness. Thank You, Father.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's Passage: John 15:9-14

Galatians 5:16-26

1 Passage: Galatians 5:16-26

1 Verse: Verse 25. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

1 Prayer: Thank You, Father, for giving me life by Your Spirit. I'm grateful that Your Spirit is greater than my flesh. But You know sometimes I do not walk by the Spirit. Sometimes I walk in my own powers and perceptions. Sometimes I live by my own lights and not Yours. Forgive me, Father, for allowing old things to hold me back. Help me today to walk in newness of life with You, by Your Spirit.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's Passage: Romans 8:31-39

1 John 4:7-12

1 Passage: 1 John 4:7-12

1 Verse: Verse 10. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 Prayer: Thank You, Father, for loving us so much that You freely allowed Your Son Jesus to give His life for our sins. You know how many sins separate me from You, and yet none of them are enough that they can't be covered by Jesus' love. Love covers a multitude of sins. There can't be too many sins to keep me from You, for where sins increase, grace abounds all the more. And Father I confess that I am often painfully aware of how little I love You in return. I obsess over what looks to me like my lack of love for You. But here in Your word You tell me that love is not to be found in me toward You, but in You toward me. Forgive me not only for my lack of love, but for thinking it is up to me to manufacture it. Love is from You and You alone. You are love. Thank You for loving me and allowing some of that love to be directed through me to others and thereby back to You.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's Passage: Galatians 5:16-26

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1 Passage: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

1 Verse: Verse 5. [Love] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.

1 Prayer: Father, today Your people gather together to do Your will. We will sing and pray. We will speak to one another and we'll listen to one another. We'll eat together. And, Lord, I know from having done this before so many times that it might require a little patience and kindness. I might be tempted to act unbecomingly. I will probably be provoked. Maybe I'll even suffer a wrong. But whatever happens, Father, please help me to love Your people. Help me to seek Your will and not my own.

1 Person: Now, it's your turn! Please click "COMMENTS" below to add your own favorite verse and to share your own personal prayer from today's passage. (Your favorite verse and prayer might even be the same as mine, but we'd still love to hear from you. Feel free to just drop us a note so we know you stopped by.) Thanks!

Tomorrow's Passage: 1 John 4:7-12