Author: londavis@hotmail.com

Our verse for today is Hebrews 10:24:
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

There’s a sacred kind of friendship that doesn’t just offer a shoulder—it offers a spark. The kind that doesn’t just sit with you in the valley but nudges you up the hill. That’s what the writer of Hebrews had in mind.

“Let us consider…” The word consider means to pause, to ponder, to think carefully. This isn’t a drive-by encouragement. It’s intentional and thoughtful. We’re to ask ourselves, “How can I help my brother, my sister, grow in love? How can I inspire them to step out in kindness, in courage, in compassion?”

Then comes that little word: spur. A gentle word? Not exactly. Spurs are sharp. They get a horse moving when it would rather stand still. And sometimes, we’re like that horse. Tired. Discouraged. Stalled. That’s when we need someone who will kindly and prayerfully stir us up again.

Not to shame us. Not to scold. But to say, “There’s more in you. Let’s go after it together.”

Maybe you know someone who’s been sitting still too long—spiritually, emotionally, even creatively. God may be inviting you to be their spark. A phone call. A kind word. A nudge in the right direction.

Encouragement is holy work. Do it with love. Do it with grace. And watch what God can do through it.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

James 5:16 whispers a truth that tugs at our hearts: 

“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” 

It’s a simple invitation, yet it feels like stepping off a cliff. Our instincts scream to keep our failures tucked away, safe from prying eyes. Confession? That’s risky. What if they judge me? What if they turn away?

But James, with a shepherd’s gentleness, points us to a promise: confession isn’t a trap—it’s a doorway to healing. Not just for our souls, but for our relationships. When we lay bare our struggles, we shatter shame’s grip. We trade isolation for fellowship, secrecy for support. In that sacred moment of honesty, we find prayers that lift us and hands that hold us steady.

This isn’t about reckless confession. Confession calls for wisdom. Find a proven and trustworthy friend, someone seasoned in grace, not judgment. Done right, it can change your life. It knits hearts together. It carves a path for growth. Jesus never meant for us to wear masks. He beckons us into the light, where love outshines fear.

Is there a burden you’ve carried alone? A sin or a struggle, weighing heavy? 

Share it with someone who’ll pray, not punish. Healing waits on the other side. Ask God for courage and a safe soul to trust. Remember: “A burden shared is a burden halved.”

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our scripture for today is Ephesians 4:32.

“Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”

What a great call: be kind to one another.

Kindness may not seem like much. A soft word. A gentle tone. A small act of thoughtfulness. But in a world that often runs on noise and sharp edges, kindness is a sacred interruption. It stops the rush. It softens the blow. It reminds us that we are still human, still seen, still loved.

In today’s verse, Paul ties kindness to tenderheartedness—compassion that comes from deep within. It’s more than manners. It’s more than smiling at strangers. It’s treating others the way Jesus treated us—gently, patiently, without rushing to judgment.

Think of how kind Jesus was. To children who interrupted. To lepers who cried out. To a woman at a well. To a thief on a cross. His kindness wasn’t weakness—it was power under control. It was love choosing to speak gently when it could have spoken with force.

Being kind doesn’t cost much, but it means a lot. A kind word can hold back a flood of despair. A kind gesture can remind someone that they matter. And when that kindness comes from a heart touched by God, it carries His fingerprints.

So today, look for someone who needs that kindness. Maybe they won’t say so. Maybe they’ve forgotten how to ask. But they’re out there. Your kindness may be the clearest glimpse of Jesus they’ll see all day.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

The verse for today is James 5:16 — “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

Prayer. It’s not a performance, not a formula, and not a speech to impress heaven. It’s simply a heart leaning into God. James doesn’t just tell us to pray—he tells us why: so that we may be healed. He doesn’t mean only physical healing, though God surely does that. He means the kind of healing that reaches beneath the skin—where guilt festers, shame lingers, and loneliness echoes.

I love the way he adds that last line. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power.” There’s no mention of volume or vocabulary. God isn’t moved by polished phrases or lofty words. He listens for honesty. He responds to sincerity. When we pray with open hearts, something holy happens—Heaven leans in.

That’s the beauty of prayer. It changes things, yes. But more often, it changes us. It’s not about how loud we shout or how long we stay on our knees. It’s about where we turn when life overwhelms us. James invites us to turn to each other and, more importantly, to God.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” — Ephesians 5:21

Submission isn’t a word we tend to celebrate. It doesn’t sell books or make headlines. In our world, we’re told to stand our ground, fight for our rights, look out for number one. But Paul points us in a different direction: submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

This kind of submission isn’t about weakness—it’s about strength that chooses gentleness. It’s not losing your voice—it’s learning to listen. It’s the posture of a servant in a world obsessed with thrones.

Jesus lived it perfectly. Though He had all authority, He chose a manger. Though He had the power to command angels, He chose a cross. He submitted—not because He was less—but because He loved more.

To submit to one another means we give up being the center. We consider others first. In a disagreement, we seek peace instead of victory. In a relationship, we yield the right to always be right.

This isn’t about letting others walk all over us. It’s about walking like Jesus did—steadily, humbly, with a heart that values others above self.

Imagine a church, a marriage, a friendship where this verse was lived out. Imagine what might heal. What might grow.

Maybe today’s step is simple: letting someone else speak first, choosing quiet over control, offering grace instead of argument.

Not because they deserve it. But because Christ does.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text today is Colossians 3:13:

“Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Some people are easy to love. Others require an extra measure of grace.

Paul’s words—”bear with one another”—don’t dazzle like “rejoice” or thunder like “proclaim.” But they are steadfast, calling us to stick together when personalities clash and patience wears thin.

To bear with someone is to make room for their flaws. It’s choosing compassion over criticism. It’s remembering that the person who irritates you carries burdens you cannot see.

We all need someone to bear with us. We have our blind spots. Our difficult days. Our habits that test others’ endurance. Yet God, in His infinite mercy, bears with us—again and again.

Consider Jesus with His disciples. They misunderstood Him, doubted Him, argued over status and position… yet He remained. He corrected them but never abandoned them. He bore with them, because love isn’t easily broken.

This is our invitation. When walking away seems easier, stay. When someone tests your patience, pray. When relationships stretch thin, remember how far Christ stretched for you.

It may not be glamorous, but it is sacred ground.

These quiet acts of forbearance might just be the holiest work we do today.

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our Bible text for today is Galatians 5:13:

“Serve one another humbly in love.”

Jesus never wrote a book. He never built a home or held a seat in government. But He did something far more lasting—He washed feet.

On the night before the cross, when fear could have ruled and power could have been displayed, Jesus knelt. In a room full of weary men with dusty feet, no one moved—except Him. He picked up a towel, not to prove a point, but to show a heart. He served, not for applause, but because love stoops low.

Paul captures this heart in Galatians when he writes, “Serve one another humbly in love.” Notice that word—humbly. Service without humility is just performance. But humble service? That’s the touch of heaven in an ordinary moment.

The world pushes us to rise, to climb, to be noticed. But Jesus knelt. He reached not for a crown, but for a basin and towel. True service isn’t about making headlines—it’s about making a difference in someone’s day.

Right now, someone near you needs what you can give: a kind word, a quiet presence, a simple act of care. Maybe it’s fixing a meal or folding someone else’s laundry. Maybe it’s sitting with a hurting friend, saying nothing at all. These aren’t small things in God’s eyes. They’re sacred.

Want to walk in Jesus’ steps? Pick up a towel. Bend low. Serve quietly. Love deeply.

The hands that washed feet are still at work today—through your hands.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Encourage One Another

Our verse for today is 1 Thessalonians 5:11.  

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are already doing.”

I love this verse. It tells us what to do when you don’t know what to do. Some days, all it takes is a kind word to turn the tide.

Paul wrote these words to a young, fragile church. They were tired from waiting, worn down by hardship, clinging to hope. He didn’t tell them to fight harder or shout louder. He told them to encourage one another.

That’s no small thing. Encouragement isn’t just a compliment—it’s fuel for the weary. It says, “You matter. I see you. God isn’t finished with you yet.”

Even Paul needed that. After his conversion, many Christians didn’t trust him. Who could blame them? But Barnabas—whose name means “Son of Encouragement”—stepped in. He saw what others couldn’t yet see. He believed in Paul before anyone else did. Without Barnabas, Paul might never have found a welcome place in the early church.

We all need a Barnabas. And we all can be one. That’s the call in today’s verse: encourage one another.

Encouragement doesn’t need to be eloquent. Sometimes, it’s just a short note, a whispered prayer, or a quiet hand on someone’s back that says, “You’re not alone.”

Who knows how many battles have been won because someone dared to speak a word of hope?

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

“Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32

Forgiveness is a strange gift. We give it, and yet it frees us.

Paul knew the human heart well. He didn’t say *forgive if you feel like it*. He didn’t say *forgive when it’s easy*. He pointed us straight to the cross: *forgive as God forgave you*.

That’s the hard part, isn’t it? Forgiving like He did. Not halfway. Not with strings. Not only after an apology. Just grace—grace that keeps no record, grace that lets go even when it still hurts a little.

But here’s the thing: when we carry bitterness, we’re the ones who feel the weight. It poisons joy, sours conversations, and keeps our hearts chained to the past. Forgiveness? It’s not saying what they did was okay. It’s saying we won’t let it define us anymore.

God didn’t wait for us to deserve it. He didn’t bargain or demand payment first. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That’s our example.

Maybe you’re holding on to something today—a wound, a word, a wrong that still stings. Don’t wait for perfect closure. Forgiveness is the beginning of freedom, not the end of pain.

So take a quiet moment. Bring it to the cross. Whisper the name. Release the weight. And feel the gentle joy that comes when forgiveness finally gets the last word.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our text for today is John 13:34.

“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.”

Listen to those opening words again, “A new command I give you.” It wasn’t a suggestion. It wasn’t a gentle nudge or a passing thought. It was a command.

Jesus could have said anything that night. He was hours away from the cross. Every word He spoke carried the weight of final things. And this is what He chose: love one another.

Not talk about love, not feel warm inside, not like the people who are easy to like. No, He said to love as I have loved you.

This is a new command because we are not commanded to love, but to love as Jesus loves us! That changes everything.

Jesus loved people who were hard to love. He loved the disciple who doubted Him, the friend who denied Him, and the one who would betray Him with a kiss.

We don’t get to choose who’s worthy. Love makes the first move. It steps over the line. It lets go of grudges. Love takes off the robe, ties the towel, and kneels at the feet of the very ones who will run when things get hard. Love serves!

Start there. Ask Him to help you love like He does—recklessly, relentlessly, and undeservedly.

Someone near you needs that kind of love. Let them find it in you.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.