Daily Prayer for August 12

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7, NIV Lord our God, you are our strength and shield. Our hearts hope in you and we are helped. Accept us from among all the nations as a people who want to serve you. Strengthen our hearts, especially when we must be tested in every way and must face the many hardships that will come when we take up our task of proclaiming your name and witnessing to you. For you are strong and can protect us. You can fill us with light and with joy to proclaim again and again the salvation that is coming through your all-powerful goodness and mercy, salvation in Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Sit There and Shut Up Zac Koons What is the best way to support someone who is suffering? Read now Resolutions Are Not Enough Élisabeth Leseur Two journal entries from Élisabeth Leseur encourage Christians to action. Read now Okello’s Story Simeon Wiehler An orphan’s act of courage saved my life. Read now A Shared Path to Healing Scott Kellermann In Uganda, a Christian doctor from the United States must learn to cooperate with traditional healers. Read now Christians Refuse to Fight Ian M. Randall When Britain introduced military conscription in 1939, tens of thousands of Christians declared they were conscientious objectors. Read now

Daily Prayer for August 10

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:35, 37, NIV Lord our God! What can separate us from your love? Can trouble or fear or persecution or hunger or nakedness or peril or the sword? In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Dear Father in heaven, we long for courage. You will answer our prayers and again and again grant us strength, the power of your Spirit, the only power that can strengthen us. We thank you for all you have done for us. Help us onward from victory to victory until everything on earth is won for the good, to your honor among all humankind. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Resolutions Are Not Enough Élisabeth Leseur Two journal entries from Élisabeth Leseur encourage Christians to action. Read now Okello’s Story Simeon Wiehler An orphan’s act of courage saved my life. Read now A Shared Path to Healing Scott Kellermann In Uganda, a Christian doctor from the United States must learn to cooperate with traditional healers. Read now Christians Refuse to Fight Ian M. Randall When Britain introduced military conscription in 1939, tens of thousands of Christians declared they were conscientious objectors. Read now Confessions of a Music User Peter Biles When we use music as a background mood enhancer or distraction, it negates its greater power. Read now

Daily Prayer for August 9

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20, NIV Lord our God and our Father, we praise you because we are allowed to have community together in the name of Jesus, who has opened our eyes to see you and who has promised to be among us when we are gathered in his name. May our hearts remain unshadowed, even when our lives seem to grow difficult and the future looks dark. Protect us whenever we are tempted and have battles to fight. Deliver us. Make us free people who know we belong to you and who are allowed while still on earth to have a share in eternal life. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Okello’s Story Simeon Wiehler An orphan’s act of courage saved my life. Read now A Shared Path to Healing Scott Kellermann In Uganda, a Christian doctor from the United States must learn to cooperate with traditional healers. Read now Christians Refuse to Fight Ian M. Randall When Britain introduced military conscription in 1939, tens of thousands of Christians declared they were conscientious objectors. Read now Confessions of a Music User Peter Biles When we use music as a background mood enhancer or distraction, it negates its greater power. Read now Birding Can Change You Ragan Sutterfield In Birding to Change the World, Trish O’Kane describes how birding changed her life following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Read now

Daily Prayer for August 8

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:3–5, NIV Lord our God, we come before you in the great name of Jesus Christ. We thank you that while we are still living on earth you give us hope and joy in this great name. May something be born in us through your Spirit to make us of one mind with Jesus Christ. In all our relationships with others may we learn that it is better to submit in patience than to dominate, better to serve than to rule, better to be the weakest than to bring pressure to bear on others. Give us this attitude. Let this attitude arise in many so that they may be Christians not only in their words and thoughts, but Christians at heart, loving their neighbors and at one with the Savior on every step of the way. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough A Shared Path to Healing Scott Kellermann In Uganda, a Christian doctor from the United States must learn to cooperate with traditional healers. Read now Christians Refuse to Fight Ian M. Randall When Britain introduced military conscription in 1939, tens of thousands of Christians declared they were conscientious objectors. Read now Confessions of a Music User Peter Biles When we use music as a background mood enhancer or distraction, it negates its greater power. Read now Birding Can Change You Ragan Sutterfield In Birding to Change the World, Trish O’Kane describes how birding changed her life following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Read now Tethering Parental Ambition Michelle Van Loon Healthy ambition and competition can motivate, but how can one avoid their darker side? Read now

Daily Prayer for August 7

Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light. John 12:36, NIV Dear Father in heaven, as your children we come into your presence so that you may lead us with the light that streams out from you. We come to your light seeking an inner birth to make us what your children ought to be. Bless us as we thank you for all your goodness and for the powerful help you have given many among us. Accept the thanks we offer you, and grant that we never forget the good you are doing for us. Help us to go forward, always forward, until your kingdom is completed. May it not be in vain that we live in the Lord Jesus and in love to you, the God and Father of all. May it not be in vain that we bring you our requests and prayers for your kingdom to come soon. Yes, Lord Jesus, come! Come soon to this earth so that all people may acknowledge the true God and may love you. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Christians Refuse to Fight Ian M. Randall When Britain introduced military conscription in 1939, tens of thousands of Christians declared they were conscientious objectors. Read now Confessions of a Music User Peter Biles When we use music as a background mood enhancer or distraction, it negates its greater power. Read now Birding Can Change You Ragan Sutterfield In Birding to Change the World, Trish O’Kane describes how birding changed her life following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Read now Tethering Parental Ambition Michelle Van Loon Healthy ambition and competition can motivate, but how can one avoid their darker side? Read now A Cat Spoke to Me of God Martin Buber In this passage from his classic work I and Thou, a philosopher shares a transcendent moment of communication with another of God’s creatures. Read now

Daily Prayer for August 6

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:22, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for establishing us on the firm foundation of your Word and your promise, your promise that expresses the great longing and hope in so many people’s hearts. For they do not want their lives to remain base and petty but want to look toward something higher, rejoicing that the promise can be fulfilled for them. So today we too stand ready for the coming time you are bringing, and we exult in our expectation of the future. We rejoice in the expectation of the time when you will give your Spirit to us and to all those who answer your call and become your helpers. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Confessions of a Music User Peter Biles When we use music as a background mood enhancer or distraction, it negates its greater power. Read now Birding Can Change You Ragan Sutterfield In Birding to Change the World, Trish O’Kane describes how birding changed her life following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Read now Tethering Parental Ambition Michelle Van Loon Healthy ambition and competition can motivate, but how can one avoid their darker side? Read now A Cat Spoke to Me of God Martin Buber In this passage from his classic work I and Thou, a philosopher shares a transcendent moment of communication with another of God’s creatures. Read now Peter Waldo, the First Protestant? Coretta Thomson Several centuries before Luther, a reformer and his band of itinerant preachers rattled the church. Read now

Daily Prayer for August 5

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68–69, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we come to you and seek communion with you because we know that all life comes from you, all progress among us depends on you, and our innermost being can be strengthened through your Spirit. Protect us and renew our strength time and again so that your will may be done among us and we may all find courage for our lives, even when many difficulties loom up around us. Grant that we may remain your servants and go joyfully to meet what is to come. Bless us today and every day according to your promises. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Birding Can Change You Ragan Sutterfield In Birding to Change the World, Trish O’Kane describes how birding changed her life following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Read now Tethering Parental Ambition Michelle Van Loon Healthy ambition and competition can motivate, but how can one avoid their darker side? Read now A Cat Spoke to Me of God Martin Buber In this passage from his classic work I and Thou, a philosopher shares a transcendent moment of communication with another of God’s creatures. Read now Peter Waldo, the First Protestant? Coretta Thomson Several centuries before Luther, a reformer and his band of itinerant preachers rattled the church. Read now Naming Creatures Hadden Turner Naming is an act of love, because knowing the names of the creatures around us enables us to see them. Read now

Daily Prayer for August 4

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1–3, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for the blessings you give us on earth, for it is through your gifts and work, and through the work of your children, that we can believe and be saved. Protect us here in our household. Let us make allowances for one another in love and spare no effort to maintain unity in the Spirit through the bond of peace. Grant us new strength and new gifts whenever we need them on the path you have set for us. Grant that we may rejoice and trust in you until we reach the goal. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Tethering Parental Ambition Michelle Van Loon Healthy ambition and competition can motivate, but how can one avoid their darker side? Read now A Cat Spoke to Me of God Martin Buber In this passage from his classic work I and Thou, a philosopher shares a transcendent moment of communication with another of God’s creatures. Read now Peter Waldo, the First Protestant? Coretta Thomson Several centuries before Luther, a reformer and his band of itinerant preachers rattled the church. Read now Naming Creatures Hadden Turner Naming is an act of love, because knowing the names of the creatures around us enables us to see them. Read now In Search of Eternity Eugene Vodolazkin Why learn to play music if we’re all going to die? Read now

Daily Prayer for August 3

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:9–12, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that we may be your children. We thank you for giving us your Spirit so that we may truly be your children. Gather us into community with you so that our minds and hearts and all that is in us may realize what joy can come to us through your gifts. Though the world today is in turmoil, in doubt, lost in material things, grant us inner quiet to receive from you the power of faith. For through faith we can learn to know what you are and what you will be to all humankind one day, through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough A Cat Spoke to Me of God Martin Buber In this passage from his classic work I and Thou, a philosopher shares a transcendent moment of communication with another of God’s creatures. Read now Peter Waldo, the First Protestant? Coretta Thomson Several centuries before Luther, a reformer and his band of itinerant preachers rattled the church. Read now Naming Creatures Hadden Turner Naming is an act of love, because knowing the names of the creatures around us enables us to see them. Read now In Search of Eternity Eugene Vodolazkin Why learn to play music if we’re all going to die? Read now Voice Exploitation Daniel Walden The expectations placed on professional singers, and on young choristers, can do real damage. How can we make singing more human? Read now

Daily Prayer for August 2

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, NIV Father in heaven, we thank you that we may feel your leading, your lordship, for you have blessed us with every spiritual and heavenly gift in Christ. We thank you that we may be among those who receive true life always anew, who praise and glorify you, exulting even in difficult days. For it is just in the difficult days that we need to belong to those who are thankful and joyful, who always find new certainty in their lives. With them may we experience the good you give on earth so that humankind may be blest and come at last into your hands. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Peter Waldo, the First Protestant? Coretta Thomson Several centuries before Luther, a reformer and his band of itinerant preachers rattled the church. Read now Naming Creatures Hadden Turner Naming is an act of love, because knowing the names of the creatures around us enables us to see them. Read now In Search of Eternity Eugene Vodolazkin Why learn to play music if we’re all going to die? Read now Voice Exploitation Daniel Walden The expectations placed on professional singers, and on young choristers, can do real damage. How can we make singing more human? Read now Make Christianity Strange Again Sheluyang Peng Nijay K. Gupta’s new book Strange Religion depicts the early Christians as weird yet compelling. Read now