Daily Prayer for November 8

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for giving us Jesus Christ, whose words remain living to this very day. You will make his words continually alive so that in the name of Jesus Christ joyful praises are sung to you, Almighty God and Father in heaven. Remember us all. Remember the particular needs of each one of us. Come to the world through the words of Jesus Christ. May his words come as your strong angels to the hearts of many to comfort and restore, to help and do miracles for those in need. May your name be praised through the great and mighty Word, Jesus Christ! Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Why We’re Still Atheists Katja Hoyer Thirty-five years after the Berlin Wall fell, few places are as secular as the former East Germany. A German asks why. Read now Love the Person You See Søren Kierkegaard Love people despite their imperfections and weaknesses, no matter how they change. Read now The Absurdity of Trying to Capture Childhood on Your Phone Bonnie Nichols Scott A mother grapples with the desire to document her daughter’s every smile and giggle. Read now The Problem of Christ in The Master and Margarita Alexander Raikin When the Soviet Union declared Christ a fairy tale, a censored novel daringly challenged the idea. The new film adaptation proves controversial too. Read now Why I Hunt Tim Maendel In the woods, being a predator connects me to our species’ natural history. Read now

Daily Prayer for November 6

On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. Isaiah 25:7–8, NIV Lord our God, your kingdom is coming. Your help reaches us. However much we must suffer, we look to you, for you have given us your promise. You have promised that all shall go well with us. You have promised that while still on earth your people may have strength to trust in you and wait for you in patience and joy. So lay your hands upon us, O Lord our God, and let your redeeming strength be revealed in us. You know all our needs. You see into each heart and know how to help, as you have promised. Bless us and help us, and may your name be honored among us. May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Love the Person You See Søren Kierkegaard Love despite imperfections and weaknesses, no matter how that person changes. Read now The Absurdity of Trying to Capture Childhood on Your Phone Bonnie Nichols Scott A mother grapples with the desire to document her daughter’s every smile and giggle. Read now The Problem of Christ in The Master and Margarita Alexander Raikin When the Soviet Union declared Christ a fairy tale, a censored novel daringly challenged the idea. The new film adaptation proves controversial too. Read now Why I Hunt Tim Maendel In the woods, being a predator connects me to our species’ natural history. Read now Jesus and the Future of the Earth Eberhard Arnold To the first Christians, the age to come was anything but otherworldly. Read now

Daily Prayer for November 5

The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him, a mighty shield and strong support, a shelter from scorching wind and a shade from noonday sun, a guard against stumbling and a help against falling. Sirach 34:19, NRSV Lord God Almighty, whose eyes keep watch over the whole world, we come before you with the evil from our surroundings still clinging to us. Grant that our lives may be in your hands. Give us your strength to find the way, even through suffering and distress. For we are yours, O Lord our God, and you have chosen your people to be strong and to be freed from all evils. Help us, we beseech you. May we know that you are with us and may your Word bring us blessing, to the glory of your name forever. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough The Absurdity of Trying to Capture Childhood on Your Phone Bonnie Nichols Scott A mother grapples with the desire to document her daughter’s every smile and giggle. Read now The Problem of Christ in The Master and Margarita Alexander Raikin When the Soviet Union declared Christ a fairy tale, a censored novel daringly challenged the idea. The new film adaptation proves controversial too. Read now Why I Hunt Tim Maendel In the woods, being a predator connects me to our species’ natural history. Read now Jesus and the Future of the Earth Eberhard Arnold To the first Christians, the age to come was anything but otherworldly. Read now The Bruderhof and the State John Huleatt A lawyer reflects on how his Christian community interacts with government. Read now

Daily Prayer for November 4

You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant. Hebrews 12:22–24a, NIV Lord our God, we thank you that you have redeemed us and that we may feel united with your holy ones, those in heaven and those on earth who are gathered around Jesus Christ, a people growing in number and strength from year to year. We thank you that we too belong to them, and we ask you to keep our hearts aware of this unity so that we may be joyful, redeemed people who find ever greater deliverance, full of praise and thanks, full of certainty and joy. Grant this to us, for we are your people, born out of your power as Savior and gathered for the sake of your kingdom. Guard your gifts and your powers within us. Continue your redemption of the whole world until joy floods through our whole being and we can praise you for the life you have already given us here on earth. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough The Problem of Christ in The Master and Margarita Alexander Raikin When the Soviet Union declared Christ a fairy tale, a censored novel daringly challenged the idea. The new film adaptation proves controversial too. Read now Why I Hunt Tim Maendel In the woods, being a predator connects me to our species’ natural history. Read now Jesus and the Future of the Earth Eberhard Arnold To the first Christians, the age to come was anything but otherworldly. Read now The Bruderhof and the State John Huleatt A lawyer reflects on how his Christian community interacts with government. Read now All the Saints, and the Ones They Leave Behind Logan Hoffman Logan Hoffman learns lessons about eternity from Eugene Vodolazkin’s novel Laurus. Read now

Daily Prayer for November 3

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5, NIV Lord our God, rule over us in strength, and grant us your light. Let your Spirit be with us to confirm what has already taken place in our hearts, so that we have joy and trust even under all the strain and stress of this life. Shine into the darkness of the world. Shine for all people. May we be shown more and more clearly what we have been created for. Strengthen our faith for the future, our faith in everything good, for however hidden the good may be, it must at last come to the light. May we and all the world bring praise and honor to you. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Why I Hunt Tim Maendel In the woods, being a predator connects me to our species’ natural history. Read now Jesus and the Future of the Earth Eberhard Arnold To the first Christians, the age to come was anything but otherworldly. Read now The Bruderhof and the State John Huleatt A lawyer reflects on how his Christian community interacts with government. Read now All the Saints, and the Ones They Leave Behind Logan Hoffman Logan Hoffman learns lessons about eternity from Eugene Vodolazkin’s novel Laurus. Read now The Renegade Monk Andrea Grosso Ciponte and Dacia Palmerino Over five hundred years ago, Martin Luther battled for freedom of faith. Read now

Daily Prayer for November 2

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1–2, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for sending into our lives so much that turns our thoughts to things above and enables us always to look to you. Through Jesus Christ send us what is of heaven. Send what is of heaven into every single life and into the lives of the nations, so that something good may arise and the glory does not go to the Devil but to your Spirit, your heavenly Spirit alone. In their stubbornness people intend to do evil, but you can turn it all to the good. You can change everything. This is our faith. We hope in you, and we want to put our lives in your hands. Bless us with heavenly riches and power. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Jesus and the Future of the Earth Eberhard Arnold To the first Christians, the age to come was anything but otherworldly. Read now The Bruderhof and the State John Huleatt A lawyer reflects on how his Christian community interacts with government. Read now All the Saints, and the Ones They Leave Behind Logan Hoffman Logan Hoffman learns lessons about eternity from Eugene Vodolazkin’s novel Laurus. Read now The Renegade Monk Andrea Grosso Ciponte and Dacia Palmerino Over five hundred years ago, Martin Luther battled for freedom of faith. Read now Should ER Doctors Treat Bodies or People? Abraham M. Nussbaum A first-year medical student takes time to find out who her trauma patients really are, or were. Read now

Daily Prayer for November 1

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we seek you and your kingdom. We gather to hear your Word so that we may receive strength for our own lives and for all our relationships with others. We want to stand firm, believing that in everything great and small your will is being done and that we may yet experience a new coming of your glory on earth. Then earthly concerns will no longer torment us and wear us out, but heavenly things may surround us and everything become new in accordance with your good, merciful, and perfect will. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough All the Saints, and the Ones They Leave Behind Logan Hoffman Logan Hoffman learns lessons about eternity from Eugene Vodolazkin’s novel Laurus. Read now The Renegade Monk Andrea Grosso Ciponte and Dacia Palmerino Over five hundred years ago, Martin Luther battled for freedom of faith. Read now Should ER Doctors Treat Bodies or People? Abraham M. Nussbaum A first-year medical student takes time to find out who her trauma patients really are, or were. Read now Can Making Art Make You a Better Mother? Jess Sweeney A mother of toddlers finds fellow travelers in Catherine Ricketts’s The Mother Artist: Portraits of Ambition, Limitation, and Creativity. Read now Is Tolerance Still a Virtue? Jake Meador When it comes to politics, sometimes you must patiently endure people you disagree with. Read now

Daily Prayer for October 31

Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.” When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 118:4–6, NIV Lord our God, dear Father in heaven, we thank you. How often you rescue us from all fear and distress! How often you hear and answer us! Grant that our hearts may always be eager and joyful because you answer us. There is nothing else for us in this world; you are our one hope, our only hope. You alone can help our times, help the nations, help each person. Nothing else matters to us. Lord our God, for the rest of our life on earth you alone are our help, our comfort, and our strength. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough The Renegade Monk Andrea Grosso Ciponte and Dacia Palmerino Over five hundred years ago, Martin Luther battled for freedom of faith. Read now Should ER Doctors Treat Bodies or People? Abraham M. Nussbaum A first-year medical student takes time to find out who her trauma patients really are, or were. Read now Can Making Art Make You a Better Mother? Jess Sweeney A mother of toddlers finds fellow travelers in Catherine Ricketts’s The Mother Artist: Portraits of Ambition, Limitation, and Creativity. Read now Is Tolerance Still a Virtue? Jake Meador When it comes to politics, sometimes you must patiently endure people you disagree with. Read now When God Intervenes in History Gustavo Gutiérrez The pivotal moment in human history happened in obscurity among people of little importance. Read now

Daily Prayer for October 30

Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord. Psalm 117, NIV Lord our God, we thank you that we may come to you and that our spirits can reach out for your help and your comfort. May we draw strength from communion with you, our Father. May we realize more fully that we are your children, truly your children, who throughout our pilgrimage are allowed to know you as our refuge and our help. Remember our world, and grant that many hearts awaken and turn to you, looking to you in all the fear and need which sweep over many people in our time. Let your Spirit be revealed to our hearts in quiet, bringing many experiences from you, O Lord our God, and from your kingdom. Protect us every day in the many lands throughout the earth. For the nations are yours; they shall receive life and blessing from you, and at last your kingdom will be revealed in all the world, to the eternal glory of your name. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Should ER Doctors Treat Bodies or People? Abraham M. Nussbaum A first-year medical student takes time to find out who her trauma patients really are, or were. Read now Can Making Art Make You a Better Mother? Jess Sweeney A mother of toddlers finds fellow travelers in Catherine Ricketts’s The Mother Artist: Portraits of Ambition, Limitation, and Creativity. Read now Is Tolerance Still a Virtue? Jake Meador When it comes to politics, sometimes you must patiently endure people you disagree with. Read now When God Intervenes in History Gustavo Gutiérrez The pivotal moment in human history happened in obscurity among people of little importance. Read now When Roads Are Washed Away Amanda Held Opelt After Hurricane Helene, the people of rural North Carolina are finding that a road is so much more than gravel and asphalt. Read now

Daily Prayer for October 28

Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. Psalm 50:14–15, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we want to praise you together and to thank you with all our hearts for your goodness and your deliverance from our many needs. Accept our thanks, and help us go on our way with ever joyful hearts. Make us ready for whatever you have prepared for us, your children. Bless us in our individual lives and bless us in our community. Let your Spirit shed its rays into all places to comfort people’s hearts and to restore and strengthen their faith. May your name be praised forevermore. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Is Tolerance Still a Virtue? Jake Meador When it comes to politics, sometimes you must patiently endure people you disagree with. Read now When God Intervenes in History Gustavo Gutiérrez The pivotal moment in human history happened in obscurity among people of little importance. Read now When Roads Are Washed Away Amanda Held Opelt After Hurricane Helene, the people of rural North Carolina are finding that a road is so much more than gravel and asphalt. Read now Becoming a Free Person Sr. Carino Hodder, OP Lying face down on the stone-cold floor was the first step to freedom. Read now Those Baffling Beatitudes Charles E. Moore Are Jesus’ blessings within reach of ordinary people like me, who aren’t particularly poor, meek, or pure in heart? Read now