Exploring Scripture

Today's thought: here’s an interesting thought: Jesus promised that the things he did would be possible, not only to elders and leaders, but to all who believed in him. That means both you and me!

Today's thought: to those who worry about whether healing is for today, I heard the late John Wimber once say that those who pray for the sick see far more people healed than those who don’t.

Today's thought: our reactions to the ups and downs of life tell more about us than our words and actions. The work that God does in us is always tested, and it is our responses to those tests that are measured in heaven.

Today's thought: the name of God and the name of Jesus are not meant to be used as expletives. They are to be loved and revered. Can our conversations and action drag these wonderful names into the mud?

Today's thought: A.W. Tozer once wrote, “We want to be saved but we insist that Christ do all the dying.”

Today's thought: I may not express my disapproval in words, but how often do I let out an exasperated sigh or a disgruntled grunt? Can I do something about that?

Today's thought: patience is not a gift to be received; it is a virtue to nourish and grow.

Today's thought: Jesus said, “Life is not measured by how much you own." (Luke 12:15) How do you measure yours?

Today's thought: we humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but GOD’s purpose prevails. Do we want God to follow us, and bless our plans? Or is it that we are meant to be following him?

Today's thought: see who is around you today, and determine to speak words of encouragement to them.

Today's thought: when life revolves around me, somehow I am out of sync with heaven.

Today's thought: God has not left us to ourselves to muddle through as best as we can. Within us, and around us, and therefore available to us, are the unbelievably boundless stores of grace.

Today's thought: Jesus talked about the possibility of the seed of God that has been planted in us being “choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life...” (Luke 8:14) Are there any weeds and thorns in the garden of your soul that need pulling out? Would you let the Lord show them to you?

Today's thought: who or what has the greatest tug on your heartstrings? Remember, God is a jealous lover.

Today's thought: unconquered and ungoverned areas within us are the source of much distress and defeat. Maybe we need to ask the Holy Spirit to do a deep cleansing and to bring under his, and our, control certain troublesome areas of our lives.

Today's thought: we do not want the wisdom of God for ourselves only; that is spiritually selfish. We seek the wisdom of God also to be a blessing to others, creatively beautifying their worlds.

Today's thought: what will we leave in our trail today? At the end of the day, will people be thanking God for the influence that we have had upon them, or will they be in pain?

Today's thought: it is a good thing to think about the character of wisdom. Sharpness in our words of wisdom will cut and fragment things, whereas the pure, gentle and peaceful wisdom of God will cleanse, reassure and settle things.

Today's thought: the eternal wisdom of God is always relevant simply because it issues from a divine perspective. Don’t be earthbound in your thinking.

Today's thought: the proverb says that “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver”. (Prov.25:11) A ‘fitly spoken word’ is a word that constructs and moves thing along, adding to and inspiring any conversation. Do my words do that, or do they deconstruct and bring the conversation to a jarring stop?

Today's thought: an ambition that climbs over, disregards and hurts other individuals is totally incongruent with the ways of the kingdom of heaven. We are either serving Christ and each other, or we are serving ourselves.

Today's thought: in Hebrew thought, God himself was to be sought after. After that, wisdom was the one thing to be chased after, and with a holy passion! The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Today's thought: Jesus epitomized the beautiful life, not so much by the things he said and the things he did, but the way in which he spoke and acted. It was with gentle compassion. It was with profound love.

Today's thought: in relationships, consistency breeds confidence and trust; incon- sistency results in lack of confidence and distrust. Can we be trusted?

Today's thought: today, I am going to leash my tongue, and I am going to look for someone to whom I can bring a word of restorative grace.