Daily Prayer for October 26
I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name – the name you gave me – so that they may be one as we are one. John 17:11, NIV Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, stand at our side and protect us in all our days on earth. Grant us an understanding of the honor that belongs to God. Help us see that you are sent so that heaven and earth shall one day bow down before God’s almighty will. Stand by us so that we may hear, understand, and accept your Word. Stand by us all our lives. Be with us in suffering and in our last hour when death comes to us. May your grace be with us. Help us at all times to be firmly rooted in the will of our God and Father in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 Harmonizing Silence Joel Clarkson Estonian composer Arvo Pärt understands the space between sounds. Read now
Daily Prayer for October 25
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12, RSV Lord our God, grant that our spirit may recognize your Spirit and your love, so that our lives cannot be swallowed up by passing concerns but are lifted to something higher. Help us hold fast to all the blessings you have allowed us to experience, the blessings you will certainly continue to give, even though new battles and new troubles are all around us. Send a great light to shine among the many people whose task is to lead the way so that your kingdom may come. Send light so that your name may be honored through our human deeds and you may be known as life for all. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 Harmonizing Silence Joel Clarkson Estonian composer Arvo Pärt understands the space between sounds. Read now Duty Trumps Freedom in Shogun Adam Fleming Petty A streaming series set in seventeenth-century Japan explores the claims of duty on individual freedom. Read now
Daily Prayer for October 24
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father. John 16:27, RSV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that with our poor, faulty, sinful, and death-ridden lives we may find shelter in your love. We thank you that we are your children. We thank you that whatever we are, however depressed we are about ourselves and the inadequacy of our own nature, we are still your children. Give us your Spirit, we pray. Give us your Holy Spirit, penetrating our whole nature, our flesh and blood, keeping us firm in faith under all temptation and distress. Give us your Spirit to fill us with hope as we look to the future, to fill us with certainty in our Lord Jesus Christ, who was, and is, and is to come, whose victory is before our eyes so that we never waver or become afraid. Give us your Spirit so that we may live in this certainty and prepare ourselves more and more for your coming into the world. May we come to know that your loving-kindness is at work today, that in the end your deliverance will come quickly, to the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 Harmonizing Silence Joel Clarkson Estonian composer Arvo Pärt understands the space between sounds. Read now Duty Trumps Freedom in Shogun Adam Fleming Petty A streaming series set in seventeenth-century Japan explores the claims of duty on individual freedom. Read now You’re Probably Not the Good Samaritan Catharine Grainge If you’re a professional do-gooder like me, you’re more likely the priest or Levite, whom everyone expects to do good. Read now
Daily Prayer for October 23
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3–5, NIV Lord our God, Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who encourages and strengthens us in all distress, we thank you for turning our suffering into a pathway to life, so that we may be thankful and trusting through everything. You can change what we find hardest into what is best for us. Praise to your name that a way through sin and death is given to us. Praise to your name that you have shown us a way through all evil, a way that is blest. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 Harmonizing Silence Joel Clarkson Estonian composer Arvo Pärt understands the space between sounds. Read now Duty Trumps Freedom in Shogun Adam Fleming Petty A streaming series set in seventeenth-century Japan explores the claims of duty on individual freedom. Read now You’re Probably Not the Good Samaritan Catharine Grainge If you’re a professional do-gooder like me, you’re more likely the priest or Levite, whom everyone expects to do good. Read now Made for Immortality Alice von Hildebrand Gratitude is the secret to experiencing pleasure that truly satisfies. Read now
Daily Prayer for October 22
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul? Deuteronomy 10:12, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven, be with us as we are gathered here. Through your Spirit let our hearts grow in understanding of how we can serve you rightly and live as you want us to live. Help us hold fast to all that is good. Free us more and more from everything that hinders us, from all that is evil. Show your loving-kindness to us and to our loved ones, wherever they may be. Hear every human heart that sighs to you, pleading that what is of heaven may overcome what is of earth. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Duty Trumps Freedom in Shogun Adam Fleming Petty A streaming series set in seventeenth-century Japan explores the claims of duty on individual freedom. Read now You’re Probably Not the Good Samaritan Catharine Grainge If you’re a professional do-gooder like me, you’re more likely the priest or Levite, whom everyone expects to do good. Read now Made for Immortality Alice von Hildebrand Gratitude is the secret to experiencing pleasure that truly satisfies. Read now Cracking Open the Rock of Language Alan Rubenstein A student recalls lessons from an old teacher and fellow word detective. Read now Listening to Broomsedge Adam Whipple In East Tennessee, broomsedge is a herald of woe, or maybe a divine joke. Read now
Daily Prayer for October 21
Then another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all God’s people upon the golden altar in front of the throne. And from the angel’s hand the smoke of the incense went up before God with the prayers of his people. Revelation 8:3–4, NEB Lord God, we come before you and ask you to turn our hearts and minds to you alone, to you who have power over the whole world and who can do everything in our hearts according to your will. Let there be light in our time. Hear and answer the many prayers that have already come to you, rising for centuries before your throne, prayers for your kingdom and for your will on earth. This earth has become the prey of evil. We are poor and needy, and you alone can help us. Help us, O Lord, our God and Father. After this misery let your day come, your great day over all the world and over all peoples. Amen. Recent articles on Plough You’re Probably Not the Good Samaritan Catharine Grainge If you’re a professional do-gooder like me, you’re more likely the priest or Levite, whom everyone expects to do good. Read now Made for Immortality Alice von Hildebrand Gratitude is the secret to experiencing pleasure that truly satisfies. Read now Cracking Open the Rock of Language Alan Rubenstein A student recalls lessons from an old teacher and fellow word detective. Read now Listening to Broomsedge Adam Whipple In East Tennessee, broomsedge is a herald of woe, or maybe a divine joke. Read now Talks with an Old Friend of God Fyodor Dostoyevsky In this excerpt from the novel The Adolescent, an old and wise peasant shares his worldview with a young man. Read now
Daily Prayer for October 19
Then the peace of God, which is beyond our utmost understanding, will keep guard over your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7, NEB O Lord God, grant us your Spirit, that we may comprehend your peace. As we pray, help us to recognize what must come from you alone, for you are mighty and holy and your will is peace on earth. Your will is peace beyond all understanding, your peace in heaven and on earth and under the earth, your peace that opposes all sin and death and takes away every evil that can be named. We await you, O Lord our God, and you will hear us. No matter how long the battle lasts, we hold out in patience, for we are your children. We shall never lose the faith that your name shall be honored and that all things shall come into harmony with your will of peace on earth, your peace. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Made for Immortality Alice von Hildebrand Gratitude is the secret to experiencing pleasure that truly satisfies. Read now Cracking Open the Rock of Language Alan Rubenstein A student recalls lessons from an old teacher and fellow word detective. Read now Listening to Broomsedge Adam Whipple In East Tennessee, broomsedge is a herald of woe, or maybe a divine joke. Read now Talks with an Old Friend of God Fyodor Dostoyevsky In this excerpt from the novel The Adolescent, an old and wise peasant shares his worldview with a young man. Read now Dwelling in Fragility J. L. Wall The greatest strain on our marriage, my wife and I agree, is building our sukkah. Read now
Daily Prayer for October 18
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37–39, NIV Lord our God, through your Spirit help us to live in love to you. Open our eyes to see your goodness and truth surrounding us your children, even in this troubled world. We look to you, Almighty Father. Protect us in these difficult times. We plead for our country, entrusting it to your care so that love to you may be awakened. Where shall we turn except to you? Where shall we find help except in Jesus Christ, whom you have sent to us to win the victory, to subdue and end all evil in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and to become Lord, to the glory of your name? Amen. Recent articles on Plough Listening to Broomsedge Adam Whipple In East Tennessee, broomsedge is a herald of woe, or maybe a divine joke. Read now Talks with an Old Friend of God Fyodor Dostoyevsky In this excerpt from the novel The Adolescent, an old and wise peasant shares his worldview with a young man. Read now Dwelling in Fragility J. L. Wall The greatest strain on our marriage, my wife and I agree, is building our sukkah. Read now The Plight of Widows Nadya Williams Jesus paid attention to people whom others considered useless or a burden. Read now Searching for Solitude Jack Nicholson I found myself having tomato soup with an aged Northumbrian hermit in a Thomas the Tank Engine bobble hat. Read now
Daily Prayer for October 17
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12, NIV Father in heaven, we thank you for giving us light. We thank you for the great hope for a day whose light is not of our making, whose source is in you, a day to come that can touch our lives already today. Keep our hearts steadfast, free of all human wavering. May we always hold to the love you have given through your grace, and may we find joy in your love, which is full of light and understanding. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Talks with an Old Friend of God Fyodor Dostoyevsky In this excerpt from the novel The Adolescent, an old and wise peasant shares his worldview with a young man. Read now Dwelling in Fragility J. L. Wall The greatest strain on our marriage, my wife and I agree, is building our sukkah. Read now The Plight of Widows Nadya Williams Jesus paid attention to people whom others considered useless or a burden. Read now Searching for Solitude Jack Nicholson I found myself having tomato soup with an aged Northumbrian hermit in a Thomas the Tank Engine bobble hat. Read now A Life beyond Self George Eliot In her novel Middlemarch, George Eliot describes the “epic life” of Saint Teresa of Ávila. Read now
Daily Prayer for October 15
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:12–13, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we come into your presence as imperfect, sinful children, who do many foolish things and who are involved in much that is evil and corrupt. We come to you, Father, knowing that your fatherly love is with us through all eternity. Be gracious to us and free us from all the harm and injury we are bound to suffer in this earthly life. May the grace your kingdom brings on earth finally blot out the sins of all people, so that as your children they may rejoice because you have helped them. May your name be praised among all people. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Dwelling in Fragility J. L. Wall The greatest strain on our marriage, my wife and I agree, is building our sukkah. Read now The Plight of Widows Nadya Williams Jesus paid attention to people whom others considered useless or a burden. Read now Searching for Solitude Jack Nicholson I found myself having tomato soup with an aged Northumbrian hermit in a Thomas the Tank Engine bobble hat. Read now A Life beyond Self George Eliot In her novel Middlemarch, George Eliot describes the “epic life” of Saint Teresa of Ávila. Read now The Wonderland Trail Morf Morford The only thing that seemed to matter was the wind and the rock and every living thing. Read now