Today's Verse: Matthew 13:22

Friday, September 22, 2023

[Jesus continued explaining his parable of the soils, saying,] "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful."
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

All sorts of things can distract us from Kingdom matters. The wear and tear of everyday life can make it hard to keep our spiritual focus. In an affluence-driven society, our desire for riches, our pursuit of material things, and our selfishness with wealth can entangle us. The worries of this life can stifle our faith. Eventually, the fruitfulness of the Gospel is choked out, and we lose our spiritual vitality. Our most valuable riches are found in Jesus, not in stuff that decays or can be stolen from us. If he is our priceless treasure, so his Kingdom must be our highest priority, then we can handle the other things that come our way (Matthew 6:33).

My Prayer...

Gracious Father, please help me faithfully use the blessings you have lavishly poured upon me. Please, Holy Spirit, don't let me be deceived or owned by the things I possess, nor do I want to covet what I do not have. Give me an undivided heart, Lord Jesus, about the matters of your Kingdom. Please bring to life the fruitfulness of a heart full of your grace. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

5 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 13:22 — [Jesus continued explaining his parable of the soils, saying,] "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Friday, September 22, 2023

Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, the God who never lies, Grant that my life will further the faith of your chosen people and increase their knowledge of the truth that....."
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
"The Lord made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in..."
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
"Think about the Israelites: Do not those who eat the sacrifices share in the altar? I do not mean that the food sacrificed to an idol is important. I...."
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
"But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. The believers..."

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.