Blog Archives

Daily Devotion

4/30/2015

Telling the Truth Ministries
Jill Briscoe

"Taming My Tongue"

"A time to be quiet and a time to speak up."
Ecclesiastes 3:7

I have a problem. I often open my mouth simply to change feet! I'm always saying the wrong thing!

I remember once going to hear a visiting preacher at our church. I was delighted to see two unfamiliar ladies in "my pew." Our church was small, and visitors were a rarity. I hoped the preacher would be good, and they would like the service and come again. The visiting preacher was not bad--he was terrible!

I watched the visitors carefully. The younger lady, looking embarrassed, glanced at the older one. As soon as the service was over, they rose to leave. I leaped around the pew, welcomed them profusely, and said I hoped they wouldn't judge the fellowship by this one visit.

"The preacher is usually very good," I said as quietly as I could. "I don't know where this man came from."

"I do," said the older lady icily. "He's my husband."

"And he's my dad," added the younger woman balefully.

This was definitely a time I should have kept quiet. Other times, I have kept quiet when I knew I should speak up!

"Who makes mouths?" God asked Moses (Exodus 4:11), when he was busy telling God he wouldn't be a good speaker. God told Moses to go, for God would help him speak.

My tongue needs teaching, too. I need the Lord God to instruct it when to speak and when to stay silent. I need to use it, to ask Him to touch it, tame it, and turn it into an instrument of blessing!

For further study: Ecclesiastes 3:1-7

Daily Devotion

4/29/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Amy Carroll

"How to Sleep Worry Free"

"But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’"
Luke 18:16 (NIV)

A friend looked deep into my eyes and asked, "What do you miss about being a child?"

In the middle of playing a silly game of questions with a group, the room faded away and memories of my childhood popped into my mind like bubbles surfacing from deep waters.

Playing with my brother in our treehouse.

Fun Fridays with my favorite teacher at school.

Riding my banana-seat bike down the street with friends.

Most precious … moments snuggled between my parents while our family read together at night.

Although it sounds idyllic, it wasn’t perfect. Just like I’m an imperfect parent, my parents weren’t perfect either. But as a child I felt loved, encouraged and most importantly, safe and carefree. As I longed for the feeling of safety that blanketed my childhood, I looked at my friend and answered, "I miss having no worries."

Being an adult is fraught with pits of peril — financial shortfalls, job instability, parenting challenges, marriage conflict and the general stress of being responsible for yourself and others. For me, childhood was free of all those things. But that day, as I faced my friend’s question, adulthood felt like a heavy weight.

The next day as I sat in the quiet of early morning, God whispered a single word into my heart … trust. He gently showed me the weight of adulthood I had shouldered. He nudged me to consider the hours I’d spent awake staring into the dark ruminating, with no resolution. He refreshed the sense of deep longing I’d felt the day before when I’d expressed my desire for childhood. The good old days of no worries.

And He called me back.

Trust is the mark of a child. Of course I had little girl concerns when I was young, but why didn’t I feel the weight of worry? It was because I trusted my parents. They took the weight of responsibility to shelter me — allowing me to feel safe and worry-free.

Although not all parents do this well, protecting our children from adult problems is still part of a parent’s job description.

The funny thing is my trust was partially based on illusion. As parents, my husband and I have tried to do exactly what my parents did for me. We don’t tell our kids about adult problems because we don’t want them to worry about things they can’t fix.

It’s not that we don’t have problems or that we’re completely in control. The truth is, we’re not in control. But there’s good news for those who are faking control while lying awake at night and for those who have never felt safe.

God is a Father who is entirely trustworthy because He is truly in control.

As God’s children, we have a heavenly Father who is worthy of trust. All our obsessive worry over our responsibilities and concerns doesn’t change a thing, so let’s resolve to try something different. Let’s give up our illusion of control and rest peacefully like children in Jesus’ unfailing care.

Now, instead of letting worry consume my nighttime thoughts, I’m learning to pray childlike prayers. I lay in the dark handing over my worries one by one to my faithful Father instead of grasping them in my powerless hands. I’m still in the process of training myself to trust, but I’m sleeping well at night while the One who never slumbers carries it all.

Lord, I’ve shouldered my cares as if I’m the one in control. Help me become like a child, handing all my stresses, worries and responsibilities to You, my faithful Father. I trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

I Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (NIV)

Philippians 4:6-7, "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." (MSG)

Daily Devotion

4/28/2015

Telling the Truth Ministries
Jill Briscoe

"The Grateful Shelf"

"A time to keep and a time to throw away."
Ecclesiastes 3:6

I like to keep everything--tied up with pretty string, filed away in colored folders, or packed in boxes. I'm like my mother. When my mother died, I did not relish going through her house and disposing of her goods.

I was prepared for tears but not for the things that triggered them. I thought when I saw her favorite worn chair, or her beloved teakettle, or her walking cane, it would get to me. But it was the sight of dozens of little unimportant things wrapped up in plastic bags and sealed with rubber bands that finished me off. Even as I write this, I am crying. But that's all right--there's a time to remember!

My sister and I felt like reluctant thieves, rummaging through someone's personal belongings. But it had to be done. There's a time to keep, but there's a time to throw away--and that time had come.

As we went about our necessary work, closed up in the silence of our deep sorrow, I realized how precious a time this was for both my sister and me. This was a time we could take "mother memories" and wrap them up more carefully than even the little plastic packets we found, tie them with the strings of love, and place them safely on the grateful shelf of our hearts. It was a time to throw away, but it was a time to keep as well, and we held each other, my sister and I, and thanked God for motherhood and daughterhood, sisterhood and family!

For further study: Ecclesiastes 3:1-6

Daily Devotion

4/27/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Wendy Pope

"Give Yourself Permission to Slow Down"

"Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made."
Genesis 2:3 (NASB)

During my son’s basketball practice, I made my grocery list, returned text messages, checked work emails, read an online devotion and scrolled through Facebook. In the midst of my frenzy, a photo of my friend’s vacation stopped me in my tracks. I could almost feel the warm sun and hear the clear water lapping the shore.

My shoulders relaxed and my mind rested for just a moment before the referee blew the whistle, and I was off again. Though tired, after the practice I headed to the grocery store, post office and garage for an oil change. I tucked the picture of the beach in the back of my mind and reminded myself that I needed to take a Sabbath — a full day of rest.

Does taking one whole day off sound foreign to you? I struggle with it, too. That’s because we have lost the rhythm of life, which includes a day of rest. As a result, we are tired, overworked, disorganized, confused and sleep-deprived.

What has happened to the Sabbath? Where did the ideals of a day of rest go?

With bills to pay, broken things to fix, kids to care for and work deadlines to meet, it’s difficult to give ourselves permission to slow down. Celebrating the work we’ve done seems like a waste of time. But God said to rest and celebrate. He even modeled it for us.

We are given an example of the Sabbath in Genesis 2:3: "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." The word “blessed” means praise, salute, kneel or bless oneself. The Lord gave Himself permission to rest and to celebrate the work He had done on the other six days of the week.

Pausing once a week helps to clear our hearts and minds. This "white space" enables us to focus on praising and worshiping the Lord. We find room to rejoice in the work He has enabled us to complete, which balances discouragement over unfinished jobs. It aligns our perspective with what is important and reminds us that these tasks will still be there when we return to work.

Make plans to schedule a Sabbath rest for yourself. Mark your calendar now and set that day aside for praise and worship, prayer and Scripture reading, naps and knitting (or whatever is restful for you). Most importantly, set your Sabbath state of mind on the Lord and honor Him with a day of rest and celebration.

Dear Lord, it seems I rarely press pause. Thank You for this reminder to set aside a day of rest and reflection. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Exodus 20:8, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." (ESV)

Daily Devotion

4/24/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Leah DiPascal

"Breaking the Cycle of Toxic Thoughts"

"This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)

I saw the blue flashing lights in my rear view mirror, and knew it was not a good sign. A quick glance at the speedometer revealed I was going faster than intended.

I quickly began to build my case as I pulled over to the side of the road. With my two toddlers in the back seat, I was sure this would be an easy fix. After all, once the police officer heard my reasons for being distracted, he would certainly let me off the hook with a simple warning, a gentle smile and a cheerful, "Have a good day, ma’am!"

That’s not exactly how it went down.

Despite my attempts to explain, the police officer didn’t budge. It didn’t matter that I was lost in an unfamiliar section of town. It didn’t matter that my friend had just given birth to her second child, or that I’d spent hours preparing a meal for her family.

I was secretly hoping the lingering aroma of chicken fettuccini would prove my point. But despite all my good intentions and lengthy explanations, the officer proceeded with four words no one wants to hear: "License and registration, please."

Five minutes later, I was back on the road with a nasty speeding ticket sitting on my dashboard. It might as well have been a neon sign flashing the words: loser, busted, cursed.

We cried the whole way home. My kids cried because they knew Mommy was very upset. I cried — not because I was sad or embarrassed — but because I was angry.

What kind of officer gives a ticket to a good person who prepares a meal for a friend in her time of need? Sure, I was guilty of going a tad over the speed limit, but the consequences seemed harsh and I felt completely justified.

As the day went on, my anger mounted and my invisible stress barometer climbed to new heights. I couldn’t stop thinking about our brief and aloof conversation. Over and over, I mentally replayed alternative dialogues: I should have said this … What if he’d said that? …

By the end of the day, I had a fierce headache, a knot in my stomach and a "don’t-go-near-her attitude." All the over-analyzing, replaying and mental back talk created a toxic mess in my mind and body, making an unfortunate situation worse.

My choice to speed produced the hefty consequence of a ticket and a marked driving record. But choosing to fixate my thoughts on the problem was like dousing gasoline on a tiny spark. That spark had become a consuming fire, distracting me from the real blessings God had for me that day — like the little ones in the back seat of my car and getting home safely.

In today’s key verse, Moses challenges the people of Israel to choose between life and death, a blessing and a curse. How? By choosing wisely. To love God, obey His commands and place Him above all else in their lives.

Today, we’re faced with the same challenge. Will we love God and choose His way to experience life and blessings, or will we choose our way and set ourselves up for some potentially explosive consequences?

Our words, actions and reactions are a direct result of our thought life. Left to our own sinful nature, we can easily find ourselves in a cycle of toxic thinking, choosing and reacting.

To be women who choose wisely, we have to go to the Source of all wisdom. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (NIV).

Freedom doesn’t come in making our own choices. Freedom comes by seeking God’s perfect wisdom to choose wisely in every area of our lives.

Friend, where are your choices taking you today? Are your thoughts, words, actions and reactions reflecting who you are in Christ? Let’s encourage one another to choose wisely and live in the blessed freedom that God has already made available to us.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many blessings You’ve given me today. Help me to choose wisely so I can live in freedom for Your Glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

James 1:25, "But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do." (NIV)

Romans 8:6, "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." (NIV)

Daily Devotion

4/23/2015

Telling the Truth Ministries
Jill Briscoe

"A Time to Cry and a Time to Laugh"

Listening to some people talk, you get the impression that tear ducts are supposed to dry up the moment you become a Christian. Looking at some people's faces, you get the impression that at the moment they are born again, Christians' mouths are frozen into a line of disapproval. But there is a time to laugh. We laugh when we celebrate life. I believe Jesus laughed, too.

There is a balance in life. The Bible says that there is a time for everything: "A time to cry and a time to laugh" (Ecclesiastes 3:4). There is a time when it is perfectly permissible for Christians to weep. There is far too much injustice in our world to stay a dry-eyed disciple. On the other hand, you love Jesus no less if you enjoy a season of celebration. There is a time to laugh; thank God for that!

As we build our bridges of friendship with unbelievers, we can build them under sunny skies. The time will come when the clouds gather and the rain falls. Then, after sharing laughter with them, we can also share their tears. Christian compassion doesn't begin only when tears fall; it begins as we laugh and rejoice when things are good. Then, when others face times of struggle, we weep as they weep. When we've shared both the joy and the tears with our unbelieving friends, we can introduce them to our friend, Jesus, who can give them the comfort they need.

For further study: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Daily Devotion

4/22/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Renee Swope

"When Concern Consumes Me"

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

As we drove home from a weekend away in the mountains, I felt a heavy sense of dread and sadness. Laying my head back on my seat, I told my husband, JJ, "I don’t want to go home."

The stress and strain of countless commitments at home and at work were taking a toll on me. If only I could return to that little mountain town where no one knew me or needed me.

JJ asked some clarifying questions, and then he suggested I make a list of everything on my plate so I could ask God what needed to be cut back.

Honestly, at first I resented the fact that he was adding one more thing "to do" on my already long list of things I’d never get done.

But later that week I took his advice and wrote out all my commitments and concerns. I made a list of deadlines and dates on my calendar with every appointment, event, conference call and meeting I could think of for the next six months.

And I prayed: Please God, show me where I need to make changes.

I assumed the Holy Spirit would suggest adjustments in my schedule, but that’s not what happened. God didn’t tell me to make cut backs at work or in ministry. He didn’t show me our family had too many activities. He didn’t challenge me to take a sabbatical, although I was hoping He would.

Jesus showed me it was worry — not my workload — that was making me weary.

You see, during the weeks leading up to my "meltdown," I let my thoughts dwell on the possible negative outcome of several different circumstances and decisions, all at the same time. And without realizing it, I had spent as much time thinking and worrying about concerns, commitments, circumstances and deadlines as I did working on them.

It was not only how I spent my time, but how I spent my thoughts that left me depleted. It wasn’t until I brought it all to God, and wrote it all out, that I recognized what was happening.

Instead of escaping to the mountains where no one knows us or needs us, in today’s key verse from Matthew 11:28 above, Jesus invites us to come to Him so He can give us:

Rest for our weary hearts and minds.

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’" (Psalm 91:1-2, NIV).

Freedom from the captivity of our concerns.

"‘Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and will bring you back from captivity’" (Jeremiah 29:12-14a, NIV).

Maybe there are worries making you weary. Do you hear Jesus gently inviting you to come to Him, seeking and trusting that His heart is big enough to care and strong enough to carry all that concerns you?

Dear Lord, when concerns consume me, help me remember You are there inviting me to come to You and talk about all I’m thinking and doing. Show me if my workload or my worries are making me weary and help me trust You more with both. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

1 Peter 5:7, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." (NLT)

Daily Devotion

4/21/2015

Telling the Truth Ministries
Jill Briscoe

"Prince"

We bought a dog and named him Prince. By the time he had belonged to the family two weeks, the family belonged to him! He was a beautiful golden retriever and was supposed to be kept in the backyard. But he made himself at home wherever he would, and we settled down to sixteen marvelous "dog years." He was probably the most obedient dog in the neighborhood and useless as a watchdog, but we loved him. He was something of a legend by the time we arrived in America. I could write a book about him! Then he got heartworm. I had never imagined there would be a time in my life when I must kill. Was this it?

Being a Christian makes a difference in attitude, even toward animals. After all, God made the animals and gave people dominion over them (Genesis 1:28). We should show respect to all of God's divine creation by the way we treat it--and that includes animals.

Prince survived his heartworm. It was a time to heal. Years later, when he was old and decrepit, our friends advised us to have him put to sleep. Was this the time to kill?

"We must make sure we don't just get rid of him because he's inconvenient," my husband said to me. "He's been a marvelous family friend."

In the end, we knew it was time--time to kill. It was very hard. Animal lovers will understand! But Jesus understood, too! "Nothing exists that He didn't make" (John 1:3), and that included Prince!

For further study: Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

Daily Devotion

4/20/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministry
Glynnis Whitwer

"Is There Room for Me?"

"Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’"
Matthew 9:37-38 (NIV)

Standing on the outside looking in hurts. So many times I’ve looked at others on the "inside," hoping someone would notice and invite me in.

I still remember standing on the sidelines in 7th grade, while the "fast" kids played speedaway. Somehow the teams always got filled before I could get on one.

I’ve stood on the sidelines of other sports and music tryouts, watching the real athletes get chosen and the highly talented musicians get the parts. I’ve even stood on the sidelines watching friends hang out together, wishing I’d been invited.

Perhaps the most difficult sideline times are when I’ve looked at my personal gifts and talents and believed no one wanted — or needed — what I had to offer.

Feeling left out stinks. But feeling like there’s no room left for us in our careers or callings can be downright scary. What if all the good spots are already taken? Then what?

For years I struggled, fearing what I had to offer just wasn’t good enough. All these fears and questions collided when I sensed God was calling me to write.

I held out my meager gift in faith, doubting anything would ever really come of it. After all, there were so many really talented authors already. And they were much better than I was at connecting with important people and marketing themselves. For heaven’s sake, I consistently show up at conferences without my business card!

Believing all the spots were already taken by much more qualified people, made me want to quit before I’d even started.

But then God gave me a picture of what His kingdom is really like. Previously, I had this image of a slice of "pie" that was reserved for people with my calling, and only the best got in.

But God showed me He isn’t in the business of dividing a sliver of opportunity among His children: He’s in the business of making a bigger pie!

What hope this has planted in my heart. There is room for me! And more than enough of it.

When we answer God’s call on our lives, there is unlimited opportunity to serve Him. Whether it’s teaching, dancing, singing, serving, leading, organizing, public speaking or writing, there is room for each of us to do His Kingdom work.

God isn’t limited by market trends or economic downturns. Nothing is too hard for Him. So if He’s called you, there is room for you, too.

Satan wants us to believe opportunities are scarce or that we’re not really necessary in God’s plans. He’d much rather have us allow the sense of competition to simmer so we never truly celebrate each other’s successes.

Or better yet, have us fight amongst ourselves, scratching and clawing to climb higher on the ladder of success by stepping on each other.

When we realize there is more than enough room, and that we are all invited to "play," our hearts should change. Rather than worry about our place and position, we should lace our fingers together, offering a firm place to step, and give our sisters and brothers a boost.

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples in Matthew 9:37-38, "Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’"

In this verse, Jesus encourages us to pray for more people to step up and serve Him.

Can you imagine the world acting like this? What a radical way to think. Rather than worrying if there’s a place for me to serve God with my specific gifts and talents, I should be praying for more women and men to start doing exactly what I’m called to do. And then do whatever I can to help them succeed.

I’m so thankful God changed my heart. It frees me to fully be myself and truly celebrate others’ successes.

Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." So … what’s stopping you? Come join me in the harvest. There’s lots of room!

Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me just as I am and calling me to serve You with my gifts and talents. I believe You have a place for me and accept Your invitation. Please call more of our sisters and brothers to serve You in the harvest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

James 4:1, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?" (NIV)

Philippians 2:3-4, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (NIV)

Daily Devotion

4/17/2015

Proverbs 31 Ministries
Liz Curtis Higgs

"The Cure for Envy"

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."
Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

I was a member of a professional association for just two weeks when I attended their national convention. Since my name badge didn’t sport a single special ribbon, people barely glanced at me.

Alone in my hotel room, I ended each day in tears, feeling inadequate and overwhelmed. I told myself I wasn’t envious. Simply, uh … discouraged.

Years passed, and doors began to swing open. Ribbons dangled from my name badge, and people smiled in my direction.

Soon I found myself dealing with a new set of feelings. How come she’s moving ahead faster than I am, Lord? Why did they honor her instead of me? I wasn’t jealous, of course. Merely, uh … competitive.

The awful truth revealed itself one rainy morning when I received an announcement from a colleague who’d been blessed with an opportunity I was convinced should have been mine. I tossed her letter across the room in an angry huff. "It’s not fair, Lord!"

His response was swift. "Have I called you to succeed or to surrender, Liz?"

Clearly, jealousy and envy were alive and well in my jade-green heart. When I reached out to my writing and speaking sisters — women who love and serve the Lord — I discovered they, too, wrestled with this issue. One said, "I understand competition in the secular marketplace. But I grieve over it in the body of Christ.

What are we doing, setting one person’s work above another, if not absorbing the world’s way of doing things?"

Her words echo the Apostle Paul’s: " … For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?" (1 Corinthians 3:3b, NIV). Sadly, we are.

Today’s verse reminds us that envy takes a toll: "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones" (Proverbs 14:30). For all of us who struggle, here’s the way out:

Confess. Healing begins when we acknowledge that envy is a sin: "But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth" (James 3:14, NIV). Humble admission is the single best antidote for prideful ambition.

Avoid comparison. Consider the words of Jesus, when Peter fretted over John’s place in Jesus’ ministry, and asked, "‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘ … what is that to you? You must follow me’" (John 21:21b, 22b, NIV).

Rejoice. Feeling overlooked? Look up and celebrate with others. Send an email or text on the spot, and chase away those negative feelings. "Rejoice with those who rejoice" (Romans 12:15a, NIV).

Be patient. Many a career or ministry has collapsed under too much, too soon. Embrace the tasks you’ve been given, rather than longing for something bigger, better or faster. Success isn’t money or fame — it’s love for one another. By definition, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud" (1 Corinthians 13:4, NIV).

Befriend your rival. As one of our sisters explained, "A woman was brought in on a fast track executive management program at my corporation. At our first meeting, I thought, ‘Well, here’s my rival.’ Then I heard God say, ‘She is smart, energetic and sharp — just like you. You could become best buddies.’" And, they did.

Count the cost. Behind every successful woman is a host of sacrifices we never see.
The truth? We’re seldom jealous of all the work a person does — just the outcome. Whether building a tower or building a career, the Bible cautions us, " … Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money" — or time or energy -- "to complete it" (Luke 14:28b, NIV).

Lean on the Lord. He stands ready, willing and able to overcome our weaknesses through the power of His Spirit. "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always" (1 Chronicles 16:11, NIV).

Heavenly Father, we know envy and jealousy are no match for Your mercy and grace. Forgive us when we grumble over how You bless others, and help us be grateful for all the ways You have kindly blessed us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Romans 12:10, "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." (NIV)

1 Peter 5:6, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." NIV)