Today's Verse: Joel 2:13

Friday, February 13, 2004

[The Lord declares,] "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."
— Joel 2:13
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

One of the most amazing things about our God, the Lord God, is that he is so gracious and compassionate. This is true even when we've "blown it big time." He longs to forgive and cleanse when we sin, not condemn and punish us. His grace rushes to greet our genuine heartbreak and heart change with forgiveness, cleansing, and redemption. But God is not about playing religious games or practicing empty religious rituals that are not heartfelt. Our repentance must come from a heart genuinely committed to turn back to the Lord and live for him!

My Prayer...

Dear Father, when I sin, please help me see my sin as you see it. I want my heart to break over my sin when I've rebelled against you. I don't want to ever become callused or cold to your graciousness. I always want to appreciate the high cost you paid to redeem, forgive, and cleanse me with your grace in Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Merciful and Compassionate
Devo: Passion for Praise
"Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love."
Spurgeon AM Devo for Dec. 18th
Devo: Morning & Evening
"GARMENT-RENDING and other outward signs of religious emotion, are easily manifested and are frequently hypocritical; but to feel true repentance is..."
Rend your hearts.
Illustration of Joel 2:13
Inspirational illustration of Joel 2:13 -- Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Return to Me!
Devo: Together in Christ
"That is why the Lord says, "Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don't tear your..."

Illustration

Illustration of Joel 2:13 — [The Lord declares,] "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, February 13, 2004

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Fields and Crops Burst Out with Joy'
"Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! Tell all the nations, "The Lord reigns!" Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'A Long Gaze into Glory' (Ac. 7:55)
"[Just before Stephen was stoned:] But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Psalms 66:20
"In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it honestly, we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered them. There may be...."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'My Life, God's Message' (2 Co. 3:3-6)
"Dear Father, all-sufficient God, Let me be a letter from Christ written to people who need to hear the Good News, written not on paper with ink but....."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

More Today's Verse