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
Daily Prayer for December 31
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end. Psalm 102:25–27, NIV Lord our God, thank you for letting your light shine every day of every year. Thank you that we may always lift our eyes to you, whose right hand will bring true order to everything, even in difficult times. Give our hearts the strength to be faithful in this age, the strength to glorify you. For you remain, no matter what happens on earth. You are our God. You have sent us the Savior and we can draw close to you. Your promise to us stands firm, the promise that your day with its truth and justice shall come, to the honor of your name. May many people turn their hearts to you; may they worship you and call to you for help, to the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 2024’s Most Popular Articles Shana Goodwin In case you missed them: here are the most popular Plough articles published in 2024. Read now
Daily Prayer for December 30
And Mary said: “My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name.” Luke 1:46–49, NIV O Lord God, in exultation our hearts go out to you and your revelation of heaven, your revelation of the Spirit, who can fill our hearts so that we remain steadfast throughout our earthly life. It is still dark on earth. Sin and death hold sway, but we stand unafraid and seek repentance. In spite of all our failures we look to you and know you are our Savior. You send us Jesus Christ in your own glory. The world will be filled with light. Everywhere on earth, even among those who do not know you, the sincere-hearted will come to acknowledge that you, the Father of Jesus Christ and our Father, are God over all the world. You will show your glory to all people so that they may come to you, worship you, and walk in the light, to the everlasting glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 2024’s Most Popular Articles Shana Goodwin In case you missed them: here are the most popular Plough articles published in 2024. Read now Freedom of Speech Under Threat Paul Coleman and Elyssa Koren From Nicaragua to Finland, bold speech is a Christian’s right and duty. Read now
Daily Prayer for December 29
Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1, NIV Dear Father in heaven, whose might is over all the earth, we thank you for all the love you show us. We also thank you for everything that seems hard, but which you change into help and strength. We want to thank you in life and in death, in joy and in sorrow, for you are the great and mighty God, who calls us to life again and again, who leads us to fuller life. You have given us great love in Jesus Christ, our Savior. He shall always be before our eyes and remain in our hearts. Through him we can cry out in joy, “Abba, dear Father!” Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 2024’s Most Popular Articles Shana Goodwin In case you missed them: here are the most popular Plough articles published in 2024. Read now Freedom of Speech Under Threat Paul Coleman and Elyssa Koren From Nicaragua to Finland, bold speech is a Christian’s right and duty. Read now In Dulci Jubilo Marianne Wright Hear the story behind a popular Christmas carol so angelic it made a fourteenth-century monk stop self-flagellating. Read now
Daily Prayer for December 28
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Galatians 4:4–5, NIV O Lord God, we thank you for everything you allow us to see and hear. May our hearts become awake and alive through all we receive so that we await your final revelation and recognize your ultimate will for all people, for all nations and races on earth. Hear us in these days, for we know your kingdom is coming. Your kingdom is before our eyes. Your Word, your help, is coming, and in Jesus Christ light will dawn for all the world. Praise and honor to you for all you do! May we see it all before our eyes so that our expectation of the last days is a living expectation, full of joy and blessing. We want to wait in joy, in love, and in longing for the day that is coming to your glory. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 2024’s Most Popular Articles Shana Goodwin In case you missed them: here are the most popular Plough articles published in 2024. Read now Freedom of Speech Under Threat Paul Coleman and Elyssa Koren From Nicaragua to Finland, bold speech is a Christian’s right and duty. Read now In Dulci Jubilo Marianne Wright Hear the story behind a popular Christmas carol so angelic it made a fourteenth-century monk stop self-flagellating. Read now Joy of Christmas Emmy Arnold My most beautiful childhood memories are of celebrating Christmas. Not surprising, perhaps, for a girl born on Christmas Day. Read now Keeping Christmas Henry van Dyke There is something better than observing Christmas for a day or twelve days, and that is keeping Christmas. Read now
Daily Prayer for December 27
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David. Luke 1:68–69, NIV Lord our God, dear Father in heaven, we come into your presence and ask you to show yourself to us as the true, great, and almighty God, who can shed light into our misery and change it all, letting us find reconciliation and redemption in Jesus Christ. Protect and help us with your mighty hand. Let every country and nation see your grace and see the victory over all sin and injustice. Let your justice come on earth, and let peace fill every heart and show in every life. May all that happens to us serve the good. Help us always look to you, our Lord and God, for you have power to rule everything and to turn everything to its right purpose. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Freedom of Speech Under Threat Paul Coleman and Elyssa Koren From Nicaragua to Finland, bold speech is a Christian’s right and duty. Read now In Dulci Jubilo Marianne Wright Hear the story behind a popular Christmas carol so angelic it made a fourteenth-century monk stop self-flagellating. Read now Joy of Christmas Emmy Arnold My most beautiful childhood memories are of celebrating Christmas. Not surprising, perhaps, for a girl born on Christmas Day. Read now Keeping Christmas Henry van Dyke There is something better than observing Christmas for a day or twelve days, and that is keeping Christmas. Read now Where God Enters Meister Eckhart If the eternal birth does not happen in me, what does it profit me? Read now