Today's Verse: Malachi 2:16

Thursday, February 16, 1956

"I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel, ..."So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith."
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

My heart breaks for those who hear these words of this verse and feel a shattering in their souls because of what they have endured. God hates the pain, damage, loss, sorrow, and physical damage you carry. We mourn with those who had to leave their marriage to find spiritual, emotional, and physical protection. In our throw-away world, God hates when people are abandoned and we break our lives and others' through unrighteous behaviors. We want our spirits to be holy. We don't want our hearts corrupted by selfishness and resentment. We choose NOT to break faith: we refuse to treat those closest to us with contempt, neglect, or abuse. When people are broken by what causes divorce and the consequences of it, let's find them, include them, and bring them home to God's family for healing. Let's especially be sensitive and supportive of children caught between divorcing parents. Let's remember that God hates divorce and what causes it, but he does not say, "I hate the divorced." All sin is forgivable when we genuinely repent and reorient our lives to God (1 John 1:5-10, 2:1-2).

My Prayer...

Almighty God, please make our words strong, our commitments lasting, and our lives faithful to our promises to you and each other. Bless those whose hearts have been shattered by spouses who have treated them unfairly, abusively, and unfaithfully. Thank you for the beautiful examples of many who have had strong marriages. Thank you for those who have stumbled but come back to you, confessed their sins, and gone on to build godly relationships and marriages. Please bless me and my house with a legacy of faithfulness that lasts generations after us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

6 Related Resources by Heartlight

Illustration

Illustration of Malachi 2:16 — "I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel, ..."So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, February 16, 1956

Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, Thank you, my God, that you utter Yes to me. You establish and affirm my very being through Christ, and not only me but all your elect....."
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
"Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has..."
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
"It was a remarkable thing that the man who was never to die, for whom God had ordained an infinitely better lot, the man who should be carried to..."
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"[Peter and the apostles before the Sanhedrin:] "The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put..."

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.