Daily Prayer for October 2
In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Psalm 31:1–2, NIV Lord our God, give us your Spirit, we beseech you, that we may find your paths on earth and live in the hope and certainty that everything is in your hands, even when we see much that is unjust and evil. May we remain under your protection, living by your commandments and in your Spirit. For your Spirit witnesses to the truth and longs to change and lift up our lives. Your Spirit longs to reach all people who have felt your touch, longs that they may come to you and have life. Amen. Recent articles on Plough What Are Prophets For Abraham Joshua Heschel God is raging in the prophets’ words. Read now An Exodus From China Pan Yongguang A persecuted house church chooses to flee together as a community. Read now Jane Eyre Holds Her Own Karen Swallow Prior Charlotte Bronte’s character still has much to teach us about free will. Read now The Autonomy Trap James R. Wood Is commitment just for suckers? A conversion story. Read now Yearning for Freedom Augustine of Hippo, Dorothee Soelle, Hans Scholl and Oscar Romero Four thinkers across the centuries reckon with Christian freedom. Read now
Daily Prayer for October 1
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer…Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:12,15, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for your gospel, the great, good tidings we may carry in our hearts to give us joy in this present time, even though on all sides people are in anguish and agony. We thank you that your gospel fills our hearts with compassion, enabling us to help carry what many have to suffer. Show us our need of you so that we can receive your help. If we must be the first to suffer all kinds of pain and distress, may we do so joyfully because we have been promised blessing in the midst of all the pain. May we continually honor your name, praising you for the good news of your kingdom, for the promise that everything must work together for good through Jesus Christ the Savior. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Jane Eyre Holds Her Own Karen Swallow Prior Charlotte Bronte’s character still has much to teach us about free will. Read now The Autonomy Trap James R. Wood Is commitment just for suckers? A conversion story. Read now Yearning for Freedom Augustine of Hippo, Dorothee Soelle, Hans Scholl and Oscar Romero Four thinkers across the centuries reckon with Christian freedom. Read now Taking Lifelong Vows Dori Moody Poverty, chastity, and obedience bring a different kind of freedom. Read now Become Slaves to One Another John M. G. Barclay Paul’s letters probe the paradox of freedom through love. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 30
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33, NIV Dear Father in heaven, in the world we are full of fear; in you we have peace. We pray that your Spirit may give us the joy of your heavenly kingdom and the strength to live in your service. Remember those who suffer pain, who still have to walk paths of fear and distress. Grant them help, to the glory of your name. May we be united in hope and in expectation of what you will give through your great goodness and faithfulness. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Autonomy Trap James R. Wood Is commitment just for suckers? A conversion story. Read now Yearning for Freedom Augustine of Hippo, Dorothee Soelle, Hans Scholl and Oscar Romero Four thinkers across the centuries reckon with Christian freedom. Read now Taking Lifelong Vows Dori Moody Poverty, chastity, and obedience bring a different kind of freedom. Read now Become Slaves to One Another John M. G. Barclay Paul’s letters probe the paradox of freedom through love. Read now Militant Peacemaking Stanley Hauerwas Pacifism is unrealistic – unless it’s conformed to Christ. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 28
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Psalm 107:1–3, NIV Lord our God and our Father, we thank you for all the blessings you have brought into our lives and for everything we still hope to receive from your goodness. We thank you that through your Spirit you will work more and more in us and in all people, so that we are not held back by any human considerations but can go toward a higher goal. Keep us in your care. In all our special concerns may each of us experience your comfort and help, so that we may rejoice with the praise of your name always in our hearts. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Taking Lifelong Vows Dori Moody Poverty, chastity, and obedience bring a different kind of freedom. Read now Become Slaves to One Another John M. G. Barclay Paul’s letters probe the paradox of freedom through love. Read now Militant Peacemaking Stanley Hauerwas Pacifism is unrealistic – unless it’s conformed to Christ. Read now We Are All Fiddlers on the Roof Joy Marie Clarkson Sixty years on, what can a classic musical teach us about tradition? Read now Caught in the Crossfire Tommy Greenan These excerpts from a priest’s diary vividly recount his encounters with villagers during the war in El Salvador. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 26
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20, RSV Lord our God, we are your children, who come before you and stand in your presence. Be with us and be our light in all situations of life, in all hardships and grief. Be our light, as you have always been. Reveal your power so that the world may know you as we have come to know you. Give us joyful readiness to persevere until your day comes, for the brightness of your day will shine through all darkness and will end all evil, to the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Become Slaves to One Another John M. G. Barclay Paul’s letters probe the paradox of freedom through love. Read now Militant Peacemaking Stanley Hauerwas Pacifism is unrealistic – unless it’s conformed to Christ. Read now We Are All Fiddlers on the Roof Joy Marie Clarkson Sixty years on, what can a classic musical teach us about tradition? Read now Caught in the Crossfire Tommy Greenan These excerpts from a priest’s diary vividly recount his encounters with villagers during the war in El Salvador. Read now The Stay-at-Home Intellectual Mom Beatrice Scudeler Can a stay-at-home parent still pursue the intellectual life? Read now
Daily Prayer for September 25
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more…And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:1, 5, RSV Lord our God, our Father, we look deep into your mighty Word and see the glory of the new world you will create according to your justice and truth. We thank you for giving us this joy on earth in the midst of all our toil and striving. We look deep into your Word. You make all things new. To this hope our lives are directed, to this hope you have called us, and we want to be faithful forever. Praise to your name, for you have already done great things for us! Keep us in your Word. Let many find the light, for in this light they may look to you in simple faith and constancy until the end, when throughout the world we may see your glory and your grace. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Caught in the Crossfire Tommy Greenan These excerpts from a priest’s diary vividly recount his encounters with villagers during the war in El Salvador. Read now The Stay-at-Home Intellectual Mom Beatrice Scudeler Can a stay-at-home parent still pursue the intellectual life? Read now The Bible’s Story of Freedom Heinrich Arnold Scripture tells an unfinished history of liberation. Read now Form and Freedom Hannah Rose Thomas, C. M. Howell and Malcolm Guite A visual artist, an architect, and a poet celebrate the freedom of coloring within the lines. Read now A Lion in Phnom Penh J. Daniel Sims An insider reckons with complicity and compromise in Cambodia’s aid industry. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 23
Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” Ephesians 4:8, RSV Our dear Father in heaven, we thank you that you have given us the Lord Jesus on high and that we are allowed to be with him and find joy even while still surrounded by all that must fade and perish. For in Jesus Christ you hold us by the hand through anxiety, need, and death. Grant that he may be with us as we continue our pilgrimage. Grant us your Spirit, for we are poor in spirit and in soul. Give us your Holy Spirit from on high. Just in our weakness we come to know what strength and victory you bring through the Lord Jesus, our Savior. The Lord Jesus is our Savior for body, soul, and spirit for ever and ever. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Caught in the Crossfire Tommy Greenan These excerpts from a priest’s diary vividly recount his encounters with villagers during the war in El Salvador. Read now The Stay-at-Home-Intellectual Mom Beatrice Scudeler Can stay-at-home parents still pursue the intellectual life? Read now The Bible’s Story of Freedom Heinrich Arnold Scripture tells an unfinished history of liberation. Read now Form and Freedom Hannah Rose Thomas, C. M. Howell and Malcolm Guite A visual artist, an architect, and a poet celebrate the freedom of coloring within the lines. Read now A Lion in Phnom Penh J. Daniel Sims An insider reckons with complicity and compromise in Cambodia’s aid industry. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 22
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:10–12, NIV Lord our God, we lift our hearts to you, for you have given great promises to those who fear you. Let your Word strengthen us in faith, patience, and hope. Be with all those who call upon you, pleading for help in our time. For these times must work for our good, and in spite of sin, death, and all evil we can find joy in what you are doing. We call to you, O Lord our God. Let your hand be revealed, that something may be seen besides human striving and the efforts of human hands. Let the work of your hand be visible to many, to all peoples on this earth. May your name be honored, O Lord our God, your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Stay-at-Home-Intellectual Mom Beatrice Scudeler Can stay-at-home parents still pursue the intellectual life? Read now The Bible’s Story of Freedom Heinrich Arnold Scripture tells an unfinished history of liberation. Read now Form and Freedom Hannah Rose Thomas, C. M. Howell and Malcolm Guite A visual artist, an architect, and a poet celebrate the freedom of coloring within the lines. Read now A Lion in Phnom Penh J. Daniel Sims An insider reckons with complicity and compromise in Cambodia’s aid industry. Read now The Workers and the Church Sohrab Ahmari What happened to the Christian tradition of supporting workers’ rights? Read now
Daily Prayer for September 21
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37–38, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for sending down powers from on high into our earthly life. We thank you for sending us a higher nature in which we can live for others because we are living by what we receive from you. May we be simple, childlike, and trusting. When anyone despairs of himself, show him the way to the Savior so that he can find trust. Show to us the way of trust, trust for ourselves and for all people, because it is your will for all to receive help. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Form and Freedom Hannah Rose Thomas, C. M. Howell and Malcolm Guite A visual artist, an architect, and a poet celebrate the freedom of coloring within the lines. Read now A Lion in Phnom Penh J. Daniel Sims An insider reckons with complicity and compromise in Cambodia’s aid industry. Read now The Workers and the Church Sohrab Ahmari What happened to the Christian tradition of supporting workers’ rights? Read now The Body She Had Rosemarie Garland-Thomson If only her parents had been spared the terrible freedom of having to choose whether to have a child with a disability. Read now Recovering from Heroin and Fiction Jordan Castro I sought freedom in drugs and novels. They couldn’t save me. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 19
You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Exodus 19:4–6 Lord our God and our Father, we thank you for all the light you let shine on earth to gladden our hearts. Your light shows us how to live in your creation with open eyes and open hearts, accepting in a childlike way all the good gifts from your hand. How much good you send to many sorrowful hearts, and how much strengthening to those in weakness, poverty, and sickness! Grant that we may recognize what comes from you, that we are not cast down in spirit but mount up again and again on wings like eagles. May we learn to say at all times, “Through how much need has not our merciful God spread out his wings to protect us!” Amen. Recent articles on Plough A Lion in Phnom Penh J. Daniel Sims An insider reckons with complicity and compromise in Cambodia’s aid industry. Read now The Workers and the Church Sohrab Ahmari What happened to the Christian tradition of supporting workers’ rights? Read now The Body She Had Rosemarie Garland-Thomson If only her parents had been spared the terrible freedom of having to choose whether to have a child with a disability. Read now Recovering from Heroin and Fiction Jordan Castro I sought freedom in drugs and novels. They couldn’t save me. Read now In Defiance of All Powers Peter Mommsen What’s the point of freedom? Which kinds of freedom might be worth dying for? Read now