Daily Prayer for April 27
You answered me when I called to you; with your strength you strengthened me. Psalm 138:3, TEV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that we are your children and that your eyes watch over us and see all that is in our hearts. You hear the request of each heart, and you will answer at the right time. Stretch out your strong hand to us, for we are weak and often heavy-hearted, not knowing what to do nor how to find you. But you are with us in every need in spite of all our faults and shortcomings. You are with us; you lead us through everything to our life’s true goal, until each of us can rejoice over all you have done, to the praise of your name, our Father. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Finding Peace of Mind Rufus Jones What fortress is there in which the soul is safe from fear and trouble? Read now Inside Nyansa Classical Community Angel Adams Parham Nyansa cultivates knowledge and wisdom, merging classics and culture to reach the next generation. Read now Ancient Songs in the Desert Tessa Carman For Ephrem the Syrian, nature shows us truths about the Creator. Read now Life or Death The Didache It’s an either/or choice in this teaching from the early church. Read now Breakwater Rhys Laverty In the Channel Islands, a crumbling jetty protects a way of life. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 26
How good it is to give thanks to you, O Lord, to sing in your honor, O Most High God, to proclaim your constant love every morning, and your faithfulness every night. Psalm 92:1-2, TEV We thank you, Lord our God. How much good you have poured out on us throughout our lives! And how much we should thank you every day! We thank you that again and again we feel your help and know that you can fill our earthly life with what is of heaven. May your kingdom come over the whole world, for all people are longing for faith and for mercy and are to be gathered into your house under the staff of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Watch over us during the night. May your help go far and wide into the whole world. Stand by those who call upon you, even when they do not understand how they should pray. Help us and grant that the Savior may come, to the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Ancient Songs in the Desert Tessa Carman For Ephrem the Syrian, nature shows us truths about the Creator. Read now Life or Death The Didache It’s an either/or choice in this teaching from the early church. Read now Breakwater Rhys Laverty In the Channel Islands, a crumbling jetty protects a way of life. Read now Hoverfly Heaven Christopher Hart Britain’s hedges are home to a remarkable and important insect. Read now Fight Wealth Not Poverty Claudio Oliver After decades serving the poor, I’ve realized that the problem and the solution lie closer to home. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 24
And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19, NIV Lord God, we thank you for giving us light here on earth, where it is so often completely dark. But in the darkness the name of Jesus Christ shines out as the prophetic Word: “Be comforted. After darkness comes light, after night comes day!” We thank you for this light. In joy we thank you, for we have experienced that Jesus lives and comes to meet each one, bringing victory over enemy powers. In the name of Jesus Christ and in his name alone we ask you to remember the needs of our time. We do not want anything that comes from ourselves. We do not want any earthly peace. We want your peace, Lord God, the peace in which everything becomes new, born anew even in suffering, to the eternal glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Life or Death The Didache It’s an either/or choice in this teaching from the early church. Read now Breakwater Rhys Laverty In the Channel Islands, a crumbling jetty protects a way of life. Read now Hoverfly Heaven Christopher Hart Britain’s hedges are home to a remarkable and important insect. Read now Fight Wealth Not Poverty Claudio Oliver After decades serving the poor, I’ve realized that the problem and the solution lie closer to home. Read now Reading the Book of Nature Lilias Trotter, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Augustine of Hippo and George MacDonald Four writers study the divine as revealed in the natural world. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 23
I look for your deliverance, Lord. Genesis 49:18, NIV Lord our God, help us in these days that are so difficult for us. Help us never to lose our expectation of the time that is to come, the time of Jesus Christ, Lord of heaven and earth. Strengthen us, we pray, and strengthen those all over the world who have to endure great suffering, especially the destitute and the dying. May your heavenly hosts come down to the many who are in misery, so that your name is praised in life and in death, in whatever we have to go through. For we shall praise you, no matter what happens now or in the days ahead. May your glory remain in our hearts, with the joy that you, O God, are the Father of all. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Breakwater Rhys Laverty In the Channel Islands, a crumbling jetty protects a way of life. Read now Hoverfly Heaven Christopher Hart Britain’s hedges are home to a remarkable and important insect. Read now Fight Wealth Not Poverty Claudio Oliver After decades serving the poor, I’ve realized that the problem and the solution lie closer to home. Read now Reading the Book of Nature Lilias Trotter, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Augustine of Hippo and George MacDonald Four writers study the divine as revealed in the natural world. Read now A Wilderness God Timothy J. Keiderling In the Holy Land, the desert is a place of hope. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 22
Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. Luke 12:35–36, NIV Lord our God, we wait in expectation. Even in the great distress on earth, we wait in longing for your day to come, for the pangs of death to pass, so that your kingdom may arise and the reign of Jesus Christ may spread over the whole world in power and glory. May your promise be fulfilled and your will be done on earth. May there always be people who believe and who pray in faith, “Lord God, come! Come, Lord God. Humankind does not understand how to live. Send us Jesus Christ, the Savior, Lord, and Judge of the dead and the living. Put an end to sin and death!” We thank you for giving us this faith and for letting us pray at all times, “Come, Lord Jesus. Yes, come soon, Lord Jesus!” We ask you to protect us in this faith. Bring this faith to fulfillment for the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Hoverfly Heaven Christopher Hart Britain’s hedges are home to a remarkable and important insect. Read now Fight Wealth Not Poverty Claudio Oliver After decades serving the poor, I’ve realized that the problem and the solution lie closer to home. Read now Reading the Book of Nature Lilias Trotter, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Augustine of Hippo and George MacDonald Four writers study the divine as revealed in the natural world. Read now A Wilderness God Timothy J. Keiderling In the Holy Land, the desert is a place of hope. Read now Indecent Exposure Maria Baer A proven therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is the opposite of “safetyism.” Read now
Daily Prayer for April 21
He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. Psalm 55:18, NIV Dear Father in heaven, grant that we may come into your presence as your children. Give to us all that we need each day, so that we are no longer caught in the turmoil of life but can receive your peace. For you care for us as your children, and we are allowed to go confidently through all the troubles of these times because our way leads to you, the eternal Father in heaven. Keep us from going astray and from spending our efforts on what is temporal and cannot last. Let your light strengthen us in what is of heaven, in what is eternally true for our lives. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Fight Wealth Not Poverty Claudio Oliver After decades serving the poor, I’ve realized that the problem and the solution lie closer to home. Read now Reading the Book of Nature Lilias Trotter, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Augustine of Hippo and George MacDonald Four writers study the divine as revealed in the natural world. Read now A Wilderness God Timothy J. Keiderling In the Holy Land, the desert is a place of hope. Read now Indecent Exposure Maria Baer A proven therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is the opposite of “safetyism.” Read now A Child’s Right to Play Johann Christoph Arnold Children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy and contentment. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 20
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24, NIV Our great God, still hidden and yet so evident and near, we thank you that you are at work in us before we think of asking. We thank you that you hold us by the hand and lead us before we are aware of it. Stay with us in this way and awaken our hearts at the right moment, that we are not surprised by the painful things we experience but can be prepared at all times to watch and pray, trusting that we are not forsaken in the constant strife on this earth. Grant us hope, O God, that the time is coming when all people will hear the proclamation, “See, a new heaven and a new earth, because you have learned to see God’s honor in everything.” Amen. Recent articles on Plough Reading the Book of Nature Lilias Trotter, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Augustine of Hippo and George MacDonald Four writers study the divine as revealed in the natural world. Read now A Wilderness God Timothy J. Keiderling In the Holy Land, the desert is a place of hope. Read now Indecent Exposure Maria Baer A proven therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is the opposite of “safetyism.” Read now A Child’s Right to Play Johann Christoph Arnold Children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy and contentment. Read now PloughCast 81: Can Metaphors Help Us Live Well? Joy Marie Clarkson and Susannah Black Roberts Joy Marie Clarkson discusses her new book, and the importance of metaphor. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 19
And in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ give thanks every day for everything to our God and Father. Ephesians 5:20, NEB Dear Father in heaven, accept our thanks today for all you allow us to learn and to receive from you. Help us, your children, to follow the Savior with a right spirit and with true understanding. Protect us from evil, from all the works of Satan. In our generation may we experience your rulership and your wonders. In the name of Jesus we pray, reveal yourself with power. May your will be done on earth as in heaven, that all may realize they are in your hands and that it is your will to set everything right. Be with us this night. Bless and strengthen us for all the work entrusted to us. Amen. Recent articles on Plough A Wilderness God Timothy J. Keiderling In the Holy Land, the desert is a place of hope. Read now Indecent Exposure Maria Baer A proven therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is the opposite of “safetyism.” Read now A Child’s Right to Play Johann Christoph Arnold Children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy and contentment. Read now PloughCast 81: Can Metaphors Help Us Live Well? Joy Marie Clarkson and Susannah Black Roberts Joy Marie Clarkson discusses her new book, and the importance of metaphor. Read now A Debut Novel Revisits Ukraine’s Past Nadya Williams Sasha Vasilyuk’s Your Presence Is Mandatory calls us to honesty and openness with ourselves and our loved ones. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 18
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Revelation 3:8, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that you know us all and that you look deep into our hearts, watching over us in everything we go through, whether easy or difficult. We thank you that we do not stand alone but that you hear the smallest sigh of each of your children. We thank you that darkness must give way to light, distress to joy, and fear to strength and courage. For you lead us through everything; it is what you bring about from your future world, not anything within our sight, that gives us strength and courage and that endures through everything. We thank you from our hearts for your unending gifts, and we are amazed that it was possible for us to receive all this from you. Protect us and keep us childlike, so that we remain in the fellowship that the Lord Jesus has given us, singing praise to him and to the glory and honor of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Indecent Exposure Maria Baer A proven therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is the opposite of “safetyism.” Read now A Child’s Right to Play Johann Christoph Arnold Children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy and contentment. Read now PloughCast 81: Can Metaphors Help Us Live Well? Joy Marie Clarkson and Susannah Black Roberts Joy Marie Clarkson discusses her new book, and the importance of metaphor. Read now A Debut Novel Revisits Ukraine’s Past Nadya Williams Sasha Vasilyuk’s Your Presence Is Mandatory calls us to honesty and openness with ourselves and our loved ones. Read now Can Masculinity Be Good? Samuel Helyar Or is it a problem to be eradicated? Read now
Daily Prayer for April 17
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for everything you have done for us, everything we think of when we are quiet for a moment and look back. May all that you have done remain alive in us, so that we can look forward with open, clear-seeing eyes, aware that our lives are in your hands and that you always lead us to something new, great, and glorious. Again and again you will give your Sabbath rest to your people, to all who acknowledge you and whose task is to work for you among the people. Again and again you will bring them your rest, until the coming of the last and glorious Sabbath on which your kingdom can be established. Amen. Recent articles on Plough A Child’s Right to Play Johann Christoph Arnold We know children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy, contentment, and detachment from the troubles of the day. In our frantically over-scheduled culture, every child should have a right to play. Read now PloughCast 81: Can Metaphors Help Us Live Well? Joy Marie Clarkson and Susannah Black Roberts Joy Marie Clarkson discusses her new book, and the importance of metaphor. Read now A Debut Novel Revisits Ukraine’s Past Nadya Williams Sasha Vasilyuk’s Your Presence Is Mandatory calls us to honesty and openness with ourselves and our loved ones. Read now Can Masculinity Be Good? Samuel Helyar Or is it a problem to be eradicated? Read now The Desert Fathers on Freedom from Worry What did the Desert Fathers have to say about wellbeing and happiness? Read now