My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. – Proverbs 8:7 (NIV)

I always hated getting in trouble as a kid. I never wanted to do the wrong thing, but when I did, I’d often stretch the truth a bit to get out of trouble. Perhaps I’d say I didn’t know or understand the rules when I did, hoping to avoid punishment.

God’s word really brought light to me when I began reading this verse. It challenged me to always speak what is true.

If I was stretching the truth a bit to get out of trouble, I was really lying. I determined to do a better job of speaking truth.

Speaking truth isn’t easy, especially when it’s easier to lie and avoid punishment. However, in the long run, choosing to speak the truth will set you up for success.

When you’re known as a person who is truthful and honest, people will be able to depend and count on you. That’s what you want. You want to be a person that others can count on and a person who is showing others what Jesus really looks like.

Today, challenge yourself to speak truth at all costs. Even if it means getting into trouble.

My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. – Proverbs 6:20

Parents can be embarrassing, weird, and sometimes hard to get. I remember always struggling with embarrassment from the things my parents did. I wished at times I wasn’t related to them and that they’d just leave me alone and let me do my own thing.

However, the Bible verse today says that we are to keep our father’s commands and not to forsake our mother’s teaching. It can be easy to want to forsake what our parents taught us in the face of peer pressure, and it can be easy to want to ignore what our parents tell us to do and the limits that they set.

However, God put our parents in our lives for a purpose. He wants us to listen to the wisdom that they offer and to hear what they have to say. Often, your parents can give you the input you need to make a good decision and save you from heartache.

Our part is to be humble enough to receive what they have to say. They aren’t perfect and they’re going to do things that are going to drive you crazy and that you don’t agree with, but they are put in your life for a purpose. So be willing to learn what you can from them and get their input. In the long run, you’ll be glad that you made the decision to honor your parents.

Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. – Hebrews 11:2 (NLT)

Have you ever secretly wished to be famous? Maybe you wished you had all the riches that follow fame and could buy anything you ever wanted. Or maybe you just like the idea of everyone knowing who you are and listening to what you have to say. Regardless of the reason, fame can be appealing. And while you might not reach superstardom in your lifetime, there is something similar that you can achieve.

The Bible talks in Hebrews 11 about all the great things that the people in the Old Testament did by faith. These guys trusted God and believed that what God said would come to pass. They weren’t swayed by feelings and emotions, but rather held on tight to the things that God had promised them.

Today’s Truth: Trust God and hold on tight to the things He has promised you!

So while it might be unlikely that you will become famous, you can be noticed in heaven by your faith. When you trust God and the things that he’s spoken to you, you can have earn a good reputation just like the people in the Old Testament did when they trusted God.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: – 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)

Are there parts of the Bible that are hard to believe? Maybe you wonder about some of the crazy stories in the Old Testament. It can make you think, maybe God didn’t really do the things described there.

Perhaps you read verses that talk about your value to God, but you have a hard time believing that God really loves you as the Bible describes.

When you read the Bible, you’ve got to believe that it is true. Every word of it. Even if your mind can’t understand the fact that God loves you, you’ve got to determine in your heart that if it’s in the Bible, it’s true.

That’s important because unbelief in any area of God’s word will impact your relationship with God. You’ve got to read the word, act like it’s true regardless of what you see and what you experience.

So today, read your Bible. As you do, realize that everything that is in there is true. It applies to your life and it’s powerful. Don’t pull back from the truths found in there. They have power to change your life.

But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

Every day you make lots of choices. You choose what to wear, what to eat, and lots of other things. In all the choices we make each day, sometimes not a lot of thought is put into who we are serving.

Today’s Bible verse tells us to choose today who we will serve. If you’re not actively choosing God, then who or what are you choosing?

Today’s Truth: Choose to serve God, it’s the best decision you can make.

Ultimately, you are responsible for where you are in life and your relationship with God. You have to make the choice to choose God and to go after Him wholeheartedly. So make the decision today to run after God. Choose to serve Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. That’s the most important decision you can make.

Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress – 1 Timothy 4:15 (NLT)

God has given you a purpose. You are vital to God’s plan on the earth. However, often it’s easy to let the opinions of others stop you from believing your value to God. For example, the harsh words of a student in your math class can sink in and make you doubt your importance.

One good way to overcome the doubts is to begin to throw yourself into God. When you become focused on what God says about you, it becomes more important than the opinions of others. So when possible, throw yourself into things that God has for you. Focus on making yourself better and getting to know God more.

Today’s Truth: When you become focused on what God says about you, it becomes more important than the opinion of others.]

You’ll be surprised at how much you grow when you do this. It might not feel like you’re making big strides, but over time, you’ll see good results. So today, choose to spend time focusing on God. Focus on what He says about you and what He’s called you to do. As you do that and develop your gifts, you’ll be amazed at the progress you make!

I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You. – Psalm 119:11

Lots of times in the craziness of life, we don’t take time to treasure God’s word. We think that if we aren’t too tired before bed we will read the Bible. Or if life gets less busy we will read the Bible. What we’re actually in essence saying is that we don’t treasure the Bible. We don’t make it really important in our lives.

When you treasure something you act like its important or valuable. In many cases, that’s not how we treat our Bibles. We often overlook the value that is at our fingertips if we would just open the book. The solutions to our problems are there. The answer to our questions is there. The peace that we are searching for is there. It’s all there, it’s just up to us to do like this daily Bible verse encourages us to do and treasure it.

When we treasure something we make time for it, and it is important to us. Today, don’t forget to set aside some time to read the treasure God gave to us, the Bible.