Thought for Thursday December 1

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his mercy endures forever.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD

than to trust in princes.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Matthew 7: 21 – 27 Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.

What is my house built on? What kind of foundation would be necessary for me to live up to my full potential?

Action: If there are in soft/sandy spots in your foundation, make a plan for shoring them up.

Thought for Wednesday November 30

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

They are more precious than gold,

than a heap of purest gold;

Sweeter also than syrup

or honey from the comb.

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Matthew 4: 18 – 22 As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.

What job do I want Jesus to see me doing? Am I doing it?

Action: Find 3 ways you can help to bring about the Kingdom of God through the day-to-day work that you do.

Thought for Tuesday November 29

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Justice shall flower in his days,

and profound peace, till the moon be no more.

May he rule from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Luke 10: 21 – 24 No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

What has Jesus revealed to me about the Father? Do I look to Jesus to learn the mind and heart of God?

Action: Look around today and see if you can find one small thing you know God would want changed and change it.

Thought for Monday November 28

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Because of my relatives and friends

I will say, "Peace be within you!"

Because of the house of the LORD, our God,

I will pray for your good.

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Matthew 8: 5 – 11 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, "I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

Can I do anything to become worthy of Jesus entering under my roof? If I were the servant would I have wanted to meet Jesus or would I have just been happy about being cured?

Action: Do one thing this week to make your house or office more prepared for Jesus.

Thought for Thanksgiving Day November 24

1 Corinthians 1: 3 – 9 I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Be thankful.

Thought for Wednesday November 23

Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Let the sea and what fills it resound,

the world and those who dwell in it;

Let the rivers clap their hands,

the mountains shout with them for joy.

Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Luke 21: 12 - 19 For I [Jesus] myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking.

Has Jesus ever helped me find just the right words when I didn’t know what to say? Have I ever heard Jesus speak to me through someone else?

Action: Trust Jesus to help you speak to all of the annoying relatives and acquaintances you will run into for the next month or so.

Thought for Tuesday November 22

Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,

praise and exalt him above all forever.”

Give glory and eternal praise to him.

Luke 21: 5 – 11 Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”

Wouldn’t it be nice to know when something bad is about to happen? Do I spend much time preparing myself for disasters – natural, personal or spiritual?

Action: Make a list of five things you need to do to prepare yourself for the worst — and then start working on them.

Thought for Monday November 21

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;

the world and those who dwell in it.

For he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Luke 21: 1 – 4 He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

What have I given in the last year? What do I plan to give in the year ahead?

Action: Give thanks for what you have and give what you can.

Thought for Friday November 18

We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,

majesty, splendor, and glory.

For all in heaven and on earth is yours."

We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.

Luke 19: 43 – 45 Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, "It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves."

What do I want Jesus to drive out of my church? Is selling things at church necessarily bad?

Action: Go to church this weekend and focus on prayer.

Thought for Thursday November 17

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice

and fulfill your vows to the Most High;

Then call upon me in time of distress;

I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Luke 19: 41 – 44 If this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.

If I did know what “makes for peace” would I have the courage to stand up and push for it? What do I see people courageously pushing for today?

Action: Be peacefully courageous.

Thought for Wednesday November 16

Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.

My steps have been steadfast in your paths,

my feet have not faltered.

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;

incline your ear to me; hear my word.

Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.

Luke 19: 11 – 28 Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,’

Is there anything God has given me that he wants me to keep hidden away? Has God given me anything that I am hiding?

Action: Invest your talents in changing the world, or at least the part of it that is around you.

Thought for Tuesday November 15

I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

He who walks blamelessly and does justice;

who thinks the truth in his heart

and slanders not with his tongue.

I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

Luke 19: 1 – 10 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.

Have I ever gone out on a limb to see or know Jesus better? How important is convenience in my practice of faith?
Action: Start now making a plan for getting to know Jesus better during Advent.

Thought fro Monday November 14

Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.

Indignation seizes me because of the wicked

who forsake your law.

Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands.

Luke 18: 35 – 43 Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He replied, "Lord, please let me see."

Why did Jesus ask the blind man what he wanted; wouldn’t it be obvious he wanted to see? Can I clearly articulate what I want Jesus to do for me?

Action: Ask Jesus to do one specific thing for you today.

Thought for Friday November 11

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Within my heart I treasure your promise,

that I may not sin against you.

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Luke 17: 26 – 37 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.

Who do I know who was willing to lose his life to save others? What am I willing to lose my life for?

Action: Thank someone who has given up something in his or her life for you.

Thought for Thursday November 10

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.

The LORD gives sight to the blind.

The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;

the LORD loves the just.

The LORD protects strangers.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.

Luke 17: 20 – 25 For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

Do I see the Son of Man lighting up the world? Have I ever had the experience of bringing new light to some situation?

Action: Storm into the gloomiest situation you encounter on a frequent basis and do something to light it up, even if it only lasts for a second.

Thought for Wednesday November 9

The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,

the holy dwelling of the Most High.

God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;

God will help it at the break of dawn.

The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

1st Corinthians 3: 9 – 11, 16 – 17 Brothers and sisters: You are God's building.


Do I spend more time and energy on my exterior or my interior? What do I want to experience when I walk into a church?


Action: Next time you go to church be aware that your presence, attitude, and actions can have as much impact on other people’s experience as all of the art, architecture and decorations.

Thought for Tuesday November 8

I will bless the Lord at all times.

I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be ever in my mouth.

Let my soul glory in the LORD;

the lowly will hear me and be glad.

I will bless the Lord at all times.

Luke 17: 7 – 10 When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’

Do I think I am special because I do some good things? Do I expect to do all I have been commanded to do?
Action: Do what God has commanded you to do.

Thought for Monday November 7

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;

the world and those who dwell in it.

For he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Luke 17: 1 – 6 And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”

Would greater faith make my life easier or harder? Do I want to grow in faith?
Action: Launch in to some project that will require greater faith than you actually have.

Thought for Friday November 4

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

break into song; sing praise.

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Luke 16: 1 – 8 Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property.

Have I squandered anything? Am I squandering any of the gifts God has given me?

Action: Make a conscious effort to use your gifts today.

Thought for Thursday November 3

I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

One thing I ask of the LORD;

this I seek:

To dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD

and contemplate his temple.

I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

Luke 15: 1 – 10 So Jesus addressed this parable to them. “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?

Would I leave the 99 and go after the one? Does this sound like a good business decision?

Action: Work on a lost cause.

Thought for Wednesday November 2

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

In verdant pastures he gives me repose;

beside restful waters he leads me;

he refreshes my soul.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

John 6: 37 – 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.


Do I really believe the Son will raise me up on the last day? How would I like to spend me last day?


Action: Do something today that you would like to do on your last day.