My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:20-27 NIV Listen (MP3)

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:19-26 NIV Listen (MP3)

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:19-26 NIV Listen (MP3)

Morning

“Thus says the Lord GOD: This also I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them.”

You do not have, because you do not ask.—“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”—And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.—If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.—Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.—And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.—The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.—“In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me. . . . Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Ezek. 36:37; Jas. 4:2; Matt. 7:7, 8; 1 John 5:14, 15; Jas. 1:5; Ps. 81:10; Luke 18:1; Ps. 34:15, 17; John 16:26, 27, 24 (Read full verses…)

Evening

“Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”

I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.—But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.—“It is the LORD. Let him do what seems good to him.”

Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you.—He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.—“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”—“It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”—Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.—But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.—“These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Job 2:10; Ps. 119:75; Isa. 64:8; 1 Sam. 3:18; Jer. 12:1; Mal. 3:3; Heb. 12:6; Matt. 10:25; Heb. 5:8; 1 Pet. 4:13; Rev. 7:14 (Read full verses…)

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Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, ‘Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.’ Zephaniah 3:14-17 NIV Listen (MP3)