Verse for the Day

THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1 AMP)

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Verse of the Day

"No weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!" Isaiah 54:17

Verse of the Day

Notice the "do not fret" phrase—three times in eight verses. When the Lord repeats something, we need to pay attention and obey.

Do not fret. . . . Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it. . . . Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Do not fret. . . . Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret, it leads only to evildoing. Psalm 37:1–8

Dr. David Jeremiah, in What Are You Afraid Of?, says: "The English word fret comes from the Old English fretan, meaning "to devour,  to eat, to gnaw into something." The Hebrew word David used is charah, which has at its root the idea of "growing warm" and "blazing up." . . .

"In the first metaphor, fretting is seen as a rat inside your soul, gnawing away at your joy and peace. . . . 

"The fire metaphor pictures Satan as the arsonist of hellfire, setting blazes of distress inside your heart. Both pictures illustrate the destructiveness of fretting. . . . Fretting will kill you from the inside out."

Verse of the Day

God, teach me lessons for living
    so I can stay the course.
Give me insight so I can do what you tell me—
    my whole life one long, obedient response.
Guide me down the road of your commandments;
    I love traveling this freeway!
Give me a bent for your words of wisdom,
    and not for piling up loot.
Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,
    invigorate me on the pilgrim way.
Affirm your promises to me—
    promises made to all who fear you.
Deflect the harsh words of my critics—
    but what you say is always so good.
See how hungry I am for your counsel;
    preserve my life through your righteous ways! Psalm 119:33–40 msg

Verse of the Day

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:1–4)

Let the godly sing with joy to the LORD, for it is fitting to praise him. Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing new songs of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy. For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust. . . . We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone. (Psalm 33:1–4, 20–22 NLT)

Good people, cheer GOD! Right-living people sound best when praising. Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs! Play his praise on a grand piano! Invent your own new song to him; give him a trumpet fanfare. For GOD's Word is solid to the core; everything he makes is sound inside and out. . . . We're depending on GOD; he's everything we need. What's more, our hearts brim with joy since we've taken for our own his holy name. Love us, GOD, with all you've got—that's what we're depending on. (Psalm 33:1–4, 20–22 MSG)

Verse of the Day

For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory. . . . The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."  (Psalm 32:7–8 NLT)

Verse of the Day

Jesus . . . didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus! (Romans 15:3–6 MSG)

Verse of the Day

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 ESV

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes before you. . . . Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:6–8 ESV

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:6 ESV

He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5–6 ESV

Verse of the Day

Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. (Psalm 26:1–3 ESV)

Verse of the Day

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of [deep darkness], I fear no [harm], for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You [anoint] my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and [mercy] shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23 nasb

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. Philippians 4:6

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV