Daily Prayer for January 13
Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, RSV Dear Father in heaven, give us childlike hearts so that we may understand everything in the right way. Grant us work that bears fruit in spite of our faults and weaknesses, because we want to work with the understanding given by love. Father in heaven, you know that we are faced day and night with many difficulties and setbacks. But you see us, and you will help us so that your name may be honored, your kingdom may come, and your will may be done on earth as in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Disagreeing Respectfully Joseph Holmes John Inazu’s Learning to Disagree aims to improve civil discourse by showing readers how to navigate differences more gracefully. Read now What Do You Say to a Grieving Friend? Midge Goldberg When someone is grieving and you don’t know how to help, almost anything is better than doing nothing. Read now Reverence for the Child Eberhard Arnold, Maria Montessori, James Baldwin and John Chrysostom Four thinkers prepare us to come into the presence of children. Read now The Most Valuable Joads Tom Huleatt Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath inspires a small-engines project in the English classroom. Read now Does Teaching Literature and Writing Have a Future? Phil Christman Learning that one’s job might soon be eliminated by the emergence of an overhyped new technology puts one in good company. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 12
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22, NIV Dear Father in heaven, you let us see and feel your great goodness toward us. Grant us the inner help to be victorious in the Savior, rejoicing to be by his side with faith and loyalty, and with the strength of soul that frees us from all burdens by laying them in your hands. Hear us as together we pray to you. All we ask and long for, all our concerns down to the very smallest, we lay in your hands in the one great request that your name be glorified on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough What Do You Say to a Grieving Friend? Midge Goldberg When someone is grieving and you don’t know how to help, almost anything is better than doing nothing. Read now Reverence for the Child Eberhard Arnold, Maria Montessori, James Baldwin and John Chrysostom Four thinkers prepare us to come into the presence of children. Read now The Most Valuable Joads Tom Huleatt Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath inspires a small-engines project in the English classroom. Read now Does Teaching Literature and Writing Have a Future? Phil Christman Learning that one’s job might soon be eliminated by the emergence of an overhyped new technology puts one in good company. Read now Life Is Eternal Eberhard Arnold When we know that our souls live forever, everything we experience is understandable; when we see ourselves as mortal, it all becomes dark and futile. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 11
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1, RSV Our dear Father, we ask you to come to us from heaven and surround us with your goodness and mercy, with your light and life. We are weak, poor, and lost just when we need to stand firm and hold on. But you are faithful. You stay by us and help us. Continue to help and sustain us, we pray. Do not let our lives be lived in vain. May something of eternity be with us in all we have to face in life, so that over and over again we may find courage to start anew. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Reverence for the Child Eberhard Arnold, Maria Montessori, James Baldwin and John Chrysostom Four thinkers prepare us to come into the presence of children. Read now The Most Valuable Joads Tom Huleatt Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath inspires a small-engines project in the English classroom. Read now Does Teaching Literature and Writing Have a Future? Phil Christman Learning that one’s job might soon be eliminated by the emergence of an overhyped new technology puts one in good company. Read now Life Is Eternal Eberhard Arnold When we know that our souls live forever, everything we experience is understandable; when we see ourselves as mortal, it all becomes dark and futile. Read now The Green Paint Incident Toby Payne There’s no room for irony in a second-grade classroom. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 10
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. Isaiah 40:1-2, NIV Lord our God, how great is your love, and how great is your help! May each one of us feel sheltered in your hand, knowing that our faults and shortcomings no longer matter. We can go straight toward the goal you have set, for you will help us through the forgiveness of sins and through all the good you can put into our hearts. And so we ask you to be with us. May we be faithful, believing firmly in your great mercy, so that your name may be glorified among us. May each heart be given the comfort of knowing that everything will yet turn to the good, to the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Does Teaching Literature and Writing Have a Future? Phil Christman Learning that one’s job might soon be eliminated by the emergence of an overhyped new technology puts one in good company. Read now Life Is Eternal Eberhard Arnold When we know that our souls live forever, everything we experience is understandable; when we see ourselves as mortal, it all becomes dark and futile. Read now The Green Paint Incident Toby Payne There’s no room for irony in a second-grade classroom. Read now The Glory of God Is a Human Being Fully Alive Elizabeth Wainwright In Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times, Elizabeth Oldfield uses the seven deadly sins to point towards the seven heavenly virtues. Read now Christians Should Be Successful Justin Hawkins The self-abasing person needs a virtue that complements humility and prevents it from devolving into the mediocrity and smallness of soul. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 9
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, NIV Lord our God, we thank you that we are allowed to live in your love. We thank you for your promise that all the suffering on earth shall come to an end. Hear us when we turn to you with all we have on our hearts. We are weak, but you are strong. May we hope and trust in your strength. May our life, with all its practical concerns, remain in your hands until the day when you will act in might and the whole world will know the forgiveness of sins and will praise and thank you evermore. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Life Is Eternal Eberhard Arnold When we know that our souls live forever, everything we experience is understandable; when we see ourselves as mortal, it all becomes dark and futile. Read now The Green Paint Incident Toby Payne There’s no room for irony in a second-grade classroom. Read now The Glory of God Is a Human Being Fully Alive Elizabeth Wainwright In Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times, Elizabeth Oldfield uses the seven deadly sins to point towards the seven heavenly virtues. Read now Christians Should Be Successful Justin Hawkins The self-abasing person needs a virtue that complements humility and prevents it from devolving into the mediocrity and smallness of soul. Read now Two Ways to Look to Eternity Matthew P. Schneider, LC Life is short, and there’s so much good work to do. Does knowing Jesus has saved you change that? Read now
Daily Prayer for January 7
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 60:1–3, NIV Dear Father in heaven, accept us as your children, whose lives are under your protection and who turn to you for strength. In the midst of all the struggles and temptations in this world keep us certain of your love and goodness. Grant that we may help your name to be honored on earth and your salvation to spread over all the world. May we help that the hope you have given us brings light and strength for our own lives and for all whom you love in Jesus Christ. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Green Paint Incident Toby Payne There’s no room for irony in a second-grade classroom. Read now The Glory of God Is a Human Being Fully Alive Elizabeth Wainwright In Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times, Elizabeth Oldfield uses the seven deadly sins to point towards the seven heavenly virtues. Read now Christians Should Be Successful Justin Hawkins The self-abasing person needs a virtue that complements humility and prevents it from devolving into the mediocrity and smallness of soul. Read now Two Ways to Look to Eternity Matthew P. Schneider, LC Life is short, and there’s so much good work to do. Does knowing Jesus has saved you change that? Read now The Hundred-Dollar Pen Pal Dan Grote Where does a convicted bank robber find a friend in the free world? Read now
Daily Prayer for January 6
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1–2, RSV Lord our God, we thank you that you have come to this earth. Let a light shine out again and again among those who hear your gospel, also among those with sincere hearts, whether or not they are Christians. May they come to know your light and receive salvation in Jesus Christ. May your light shine for us and may you appear to us ever more clearly. Remember all who call to you. Remember your people. May your people gather and become a light in your name, serving you wherever they go. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Christians Should Be Successful Justin Hawkins The self-abasing person needs a virtue that complements humility and prevents it from devolving into the mediocrity and smallness of soul. Read now Two Ways to Look to Eternity Matthew P. Schneider, LC Life is short, and there’s so much good work to do. Does knowing Jesus has saved you change that? Read now The Hundred-Dollar Pen Pal Dan Grote Where does a convicted bank robber find a friend in the free world? Read now Stark Perry and Me Chelsea Boes A self-published memoir I found in a trash can helped me visualize a future for my own child with disabilities. Read now Living in the Promise Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt God does not want us to be swallowed up in what is transitory, but calls us to what is eternal. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 4
He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.” But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God.” Isaiah 49:3–4, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for the help you have given us over and over again so that we can stand before you, rejoicing in the certainty of faith. We thank you for guiding and leading our lives and for letting us see a goal ahead, a goal to be revealed to all people. Be with us in times of silence when we seem to be alone. Keep us strong and steadfast through temptation and through all the turmoil of life. Help us to remain unshaken, for you walk with us holding us by the hand, and you can lift us above all that does not endure. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Two Ways to Look to Eternity Matthew P. Schneider, LC Life is short, and there’s so much good work to do. Does knowing Jesus has saved you change that? Read now The Hundred-Dollar Pen Pal Dan Grote Where does a convicted bank robber find a friend in the free world? Read now Stark Perry and Me Chelsea Boes A self-published memoir I found in a trash can helped me visualize a future for my own child with disabilities. Read now Living in the Promise Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt God does not want us to be swallowed up in what is transitory, but calls us to what is eternal. Read now Learning from the Family Cow Goodie Bell What Rosie, the family milk cow, taught me about being a creature – and a mother. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 3
The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.’” Isaiah 62:11, NIV Lord our God, we thank you that we may go to meet you with open hearts, with jubilant faith, and with this joyful shout, “God’s salvation is coming! Through Jesus Christ day is dawning on earth for all nations.” Stay with us and help us. Send us your Spirit to strengthen us, especially in times of trouble. Let all nations come before you. Let us tell all peoples, “Be comforted. The salvation of our God, who is also your God, is coming. In this salvation we will rejoice together forevermore to the glory of our God.” Amen. Recent articles on Plough Stark Perry and Me Chelsea Boes A self-published memoir I found in a trash can helped me visualize a future for my own child with disabilities. Read now Living in the Promise Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt God does not want us to be swallowed up in what is transitory, but calls us to what is eternal. Read now Learning from the Family Cow Goodie Bell What Rosie, the family milk cow, taught me about being a creature – and a mother. Read now Editors’ Favorites 2024 Our editors choose their favorite Plough articles published in 2024. Read now Best Articles of 2024 in Small Magazines Plough’s editors pick their favorite articles from the past year that appeared in other small magazines. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 1
This, then, is how you should pray:“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9–10, NIV Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as in heaven. May this continue to be our prayer in the new year, and may we find fellowship with one another in what is eternal and holy. Bless us on our way. Bless us on our earthly pilgrimage so that we may remain free from all bondage, able to thank you day and night for all the good you do, even when things look very dark. We praise your name and we pray as the Savior has taught us. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Living in the Promise Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt God does not want us to be swallowed up in what is transitory, but calls us to what is eternal. Read now Learning from the Family Cow Goodie Bell What Rosie, the family milk cow, taught me about being a creature – and a mother. Read now Editors’ Favorites 2024 Our editors choose their favorite Plough articles published in 2024. Read now Best Articles of 2024 in Small Magazines Plough’s editors pick their favorite articles from the past year that appeared in other small magazines. Read now Waiting for the Second Christmas Dwight Blough The present misery, need, and decay must pass away and the new day of the Son of Man must dawn. Read now