Daily Prayer for June 28

All of creation waits with eager longing for God to reveal his sons. For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope that creation itself would one day be set free from its slavery to decay and would share the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:19–21, TEV Lord God, we thank you for all you reveal in your creation so that our lives may be fruitful. Reveal your wisdom and strength among people everywhere so that death and destruction do not have their way, but your will, your love, your mercy shall prevail. Let our age learn that power belongs to you and not to men, and that you will at last fulfill all your promises of good. Your day of justice and holiness will break in, and all misery will be removed through your great mercy. Watch over us as you have done till this hour, and keep us safe during the night. Be present and carry out your will wherever there is misfortune. May your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough In Pursuit of Homefulness John Swinton The biblical understanding of health is not biomedical. Read now What Is Health? Peter Mommsen My grandfather’s best summer was the one he spent dying. Read now The Myth of the Nature Cure Polly Atkin In the English Lake District I found companionship in nature, not a cure. Read now The Strange Love of a Strange God Esther Maria Magnis When my father got cancer, we prayed desperately. No answer came. Or did it? Read now Community of Sourdough Bakers Kendall Vanderslice Sourdough microbakeries are strengthening local neighborhood bonds one loaf at a time, though it’s not always as delightful as it looks on Instagram. Read now

Keeping My Eyes on the Prize

We have to follow the Lord, and Jesus promises to empower our becoming like him through the Holy Spirit. Politicians talk about change as if it is some precious metal not easily mined or the holy grail to be recovered. They tout their ability to bring change. They may even talk about the quality of change they hope to bring. They all seem to ignore one fundamental truth. Change is easy. Please understand me. The experience of that change may not be easy. However, change is as predictable as the sunrise. Change is everywhere. Change happens whether we do anything or not. Whether we want it or not. Change is the constant that interrupts, redirects, and enlivens each of our lives. Change happening is redundant! However, the transformational change we desire is hard, complex, and challenging. Transformation is a change with a focused goal and a clear outcome. Transformation removes the steady, mundane, and predictable and replaces it with a whole new way of being. Transformative change, the process of genuine transformation, is radical. Going through it is challenging. Most importantly, transformation is life-altering. So, what kind of change, what kind of real transformation does God want to see in each of us? Throughout the New Testament, God has a clear destination for our transformation. God wants us to become like Jesus: A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone, when he is fully trained, will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40 ESV). My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you (Galatians 4:19). To [his people,] God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end, I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me (Colossians 1:27-29). Because of the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the freedom to be transformed, “with ever-increasing glory,” to become more and more like Jesus: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). In a previous post on Mark 1:17, Jesus invited disciples into the journey of transformation. Jesus described three stages to this journey: Come, now!We have to decide to begin the process of transformation as an immediate priority. Follow me.We have to spend time with Jesus and learning from him daily if true transformation is going to take place. I will help you become.Jesus has promised to help us in this journey of transformation; in fact, his job is helping us become and be transformed. A key part of stages two and three is re-emphasized in Paul’s words to the Corinthians. We have to follow, and Jesus empowers the becoming through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul is more specific with the Corinthians. He’s basically saying, “Keep your eyes on the prize! Focus on and contemplate Jesus — focus on what he taught, rejoice in who he is, and notice how he did it. As you focus on Jesus, reflect on who he is and how he lived among others. As you do, the Holy Spirit will transform you to be like him!” Our goal, our prize, is to become like Jesus. We want to be “transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” as we “fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2). This transformation may not happen quickly. However, like water running consistently over limestone, the nature of Jesus wears its way into our demeanor, our character, and our compassion. The Holy Spirit transforms us because we make Jesus our all-consuming passion. If we want to become more like Jesus, we must realize that the goal of our lives is not changing, but Jesus. He is the prize we hope to become. We cannot attain this prize on our own. Incredibly, as we focus more and more on Jesus, we find ourselves transformed by the Holy Spirit. As Paul emphasized, mature disciples realize they haven’t yet attained their goal of full Christ-likeness (Philippians 3:12-14). God, through the Holy Spirit, is still working on each of us (Philippians 2:13; Romans 8:28). As Jesus becomes our focus, our all-consuming passion, the Holy Spirit continues the work, doing what we cannot: he transforms us to be more like Jesus. The Spirit is responsible for handling stage three: “I will help you become.” Does this take a while? Yes, a lifetime. Will I get impatient with my setbacks and the long wait to become all I want to be? Yes, but you will find life so much richer and Jesus so much more than you ever imagined as you see yourself becoming what he wants you to be. So, where do I start with this focus? How do I keep my eyes on the prize? You can find a more detailed explanation below, but the bottom line is really pretty simple to understand. Focus on Jesus each day. Read some of his story daily from one of the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Memorize some of his words regularly. Consciously react to a situation NOT as you are tempted to react, but as you believe Jesus would try to act in that situation. Thank him for the good things that happen — not necessarily in a specific prayer, but as the companion who walks with you. Share with him the things that make you struggle. Is transformation really that simple? We will add a tweak or two to the process, but remember, we supply the focus — we come to Jesus, and we follow — he promises to use the Spirit to help us become!

Daily Prayer for June 25

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13, NIV Lord our God, grant us courageous hearts, we pray. Grant that we may always find our strength and support in you and may bear with joy whatever the present days bring us. No matter how much evil occurs, we know that your peace is already prepared. We await your peace, and we are allowed to believe that everything will turn out according to your will and according to the good you have prepared for your people on earth. For in faith your people overcome the world, and at last through their faith others too may receive something from you and may lift their eyes to you, the God of truth, of justice, of salvation, and of peace. Be with us every day, Lord God. Help us. Bless us, and bless all who try to bring help where it is needed. Let us praise your name forevermore! Amen.   Recent articles on Plough The Strange Love of a Strange God Esther Maria Magnis When my father got cancer, we prayed desperately. No answer came. Or did it? Read now Community of Sourdough Bakers Kendall Vanderslice Sourdough microbakeries are strengthening local neighborhood bonds one loaf at a time, though it’s not always as delightful as it looks on Instagram. Read now Beholding the Ordinary Arthur Aghajanian By depicting quotidian scenes of workers, neighbors, and strangers at heroic scale, photorealism invites us to reconsider what’s worthy of attention. Read now Food Is Not Magic Garth Brown You may not be able to eat your way to immortality or manliness, but food is something we can make and enjoy together. Read now The Truth About Liars Adrienne von Speyr Wait, is that a mote, speck, splinter, or sawdust in your eye? A Swiss mystic learns to get past the obvious faults in others. Read now

Daily Prayer for June 24

I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy. Psalm 123:1–2, NIV Lord our God, we lift our hearts to you, our help in every need. You do so much for us even in difficult times, letting us always see your light and giving us your help in the many things you want us to bear in your strength, O Almighty God. In the end you will help our age come to your light. Through your great mercy let us receive your Word. Bless it within our hearts, and help us to serve you everywhere we go and in everything we are allowed to do. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Community of Sourdough Bakers Kendall Vanderslice Sourdough microbakeries are strengthening local neighborhood bonds one loaf at a time, though it’s not always as delightful as it looks on Instagram. Read now Beholding the Ordinary Arthur Aghajanian By depicting quotidian scenes of workers, neighbors, and strangers at heroic scale, photorealism invites us to reconsider what’s worthy of attention. Read now Food Is Not Magic Garth Brown You may not be able to eat your way to immortality or manliness, but food is something we can make and enjoy together. Read now The Truth About Liars Adrienne von Speyr Wait, is that a mote, speck, splinter, or sawdust in your eye? A Swiss mystic learns to get past the obvious faults in others. Read now The Abyss of Beauty Ian Marcus Corbin Why do we shy from paying attention to nature’s beauty? Read now

Daily Prayer for June 23

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:14–l5, NIV Lord our God, grant your peace in our hearts. Grant that we may be your children, allowed to serve you in true peace through the forgiveness of sins. Turn your eyes to the world and its sin, that something new may come for all who are deeply unhappy, groaning under the anguish of their lives. Your mercy is great, your compassion is beyond measure. For Jesus Christ’s sake you will bring into the world the salvation that is promised. You will bring the great day of Jesus Christ the Savior, who has shed his blood for us. He can come to those now in need and misery, bringing his peace and his power into their hearts so that even death turns into life and everything serves your praise and glory, Lord our God and Father in heaven. Bless us and bless our nation. May life from heaven grow in those who understand you and who are to be your people. May your will be done, Lord God, until your kingdom comes in its fullness and all the world may see that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to your glory, O God our Father. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Beholding the Ordinary Arthur Aghajanian By depicting quotidian scenes of workers, neighbors, and strangers at heroic scale, photorealism invites us to reconsider what’s worthy of attention. Read now Food Is Not Magic Garth Brown You may not be able to eat your way to immortality or manliness, but food is something we can make and enjoy together. Read now The Truth About Liars Adrienne von Speyr Wait, is that a mote, speck, splinter, or sawdust in your eye? A Swiss mystic learns to get past the obvious faults in others. Read now The Abyss of Beauty Ian Marcus Corbin Why do we shy from paying attention to nature’s beauty? Read now Home Is Not Just a Place Edwidge Danticat With words we build homes no separation can take away. Read now

Daily Prayer for June 22

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21, NIV Lord our God, in the name of Jesus Christ, who is close at our side as the risen and living One, we lift our eyes to you in prayer. Bless us. Bless us through your Word, and let our hearts become quiet in you. Free us from all restlessness and from the turmoil of the present age, for we belong to you, not to the world. We want to find peace in you and remain in you. You will care for us as your children, whom you will never forget in all eternity. Bless us and renew the riches of your grace in us every day, for you, O Lord our God, remain our Father. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Food Is Not Magic Garth Brown You may not be able to eat your way to immortality or manliness, but food is something we can make and enjoy together. Read now The Truth About Liars Adrienne von Speyr Wait, is that a mote, speck, splinter, or sawdust in your eye? A Swiss mystic learns to get past the obvious faults in others. Read now The Abyss of Beauty Ian Marcus Corbin Why do we shy from paying attention to nature’s beauty? Read now Home Is Not Just a Place Edwidge Danticat With words we build homes no separation can take away. Read now Community Is Born Emmy Arnold A founding member recalls turmoil and searching that led to the start of the Bruderhof community. Read now

Daily Prayer for June 21

Father! You have given them to me, and I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory you gave me; for you loved me before the world was made. John 17:24, TEV Lord our God, we thank you that you have revealed your glory in your Son Jesus Christ. We thank you that today we can still see and feel the glorious grace which streams out from Jesus Christ in his victory over the world, the powerful help which benefits all those who find faith. Grant that a further glory may be revealed, faith dwelling in the hearts of all people, faith that can conquer all the need and suffering on earth, faith that is the power to look to you, to become inwardly quiet in you, and to hope in you at all times. Then your help will come quickly, more quickly than we can imagine. It will come on us unawares, for the Savior has said, “See, I shall come quickly.” We want to hope and believe and trust till the end. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough The Truth About Liars Adrienne von Speyr Wait, is that a mote, speck, splinter, or sawdust in your eye? A Swiss mystic learns to get past the obvious faults in others. Read now The Abyss of Beauty Ian Marcus Corbin Why do we shy from paying attention to nature’s beauty? Read now Home Is Not Just a Place Edwidge Danticat With words we build homes no separation can take away. Read now Community Is Born Emmy Arnold A founding member recalls turmoil and searching that led to the start of the Bruderhof community. Read now How the Opioid Epidemic Changed My Life Tom Andrew and Reuben Zimmerman Disturbed by the number of young bodies showing up in his morgue, New Hampshire’s Chief Medical Examiner decided to do something about it. Read now

What’s the Goal Here?

Why are we on this trip? Many years ago, my dad bought a small camper trailer and we set out from Texas to go to Michigan on a family vacation — three boys, two of them teenagers, my mom and my dad whose health was in serious decline. He wanted us to have a family bonding experience and see sights off the Interstate. We were in a camper that would have been great for a newlywed couple, but was seriously undersized for a small family — and way too crowded for three boys! Plus, dad snored loudly and vibrated our little tin can hooked to the trailer hitch behind our “wide-track” Pontiac Bonneville. Mom couldn’t sleep because of the noise, my bed was too short for me, and my brothers tried to sleep in the same bed. The only up side to all of this was that most everybody could sleep during the day during our long trips on backwoods “scenic” roads. Don’t even get me started about forever adventure in the mountains following the Trail of Tears or losing one side mirror in rush hour traffic in Indianapolis or the other one on a small bridge outside of Memphis. One night after over 480 miles on the road, we set up the trailer, had supper, and about the time we were finally asleep, we were awakened with the trailer shaking violently in the whipping winds. Jagged bolts of lightning and the crackle of thunder with blinding streaks of light transformed our discomfort into terror. When the hail started, one of my brothers shot up in bed and “crowned” himself on the roof of the camper above his top bunk, setting off waves of laughter and streams of tears. By the time we arrived at our Michigan destination, we were never so glad to sleep in a motel with two adjoining rooms and a bed for each one of us. We hated the camper trailer and had long ago lost sight of why we went on this family vacation in the first place. Whatever the opposite of bonding might be, we arrived there pulling our camper behind us. Life in many of our churches is eerily similar to our camper trip to Michigan. We fuss and fight among ourselves, end up on detours and winding roads, and all too frequently forget why we are on the journey in the first place. We lose sight of our goal and frequently just try to survive by keeping everybody happy. So let me remind you of Jesus’ last words: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20). Many of us have simply forgotten the three-fold call to “make disciples,” even though they were empowered by His authority as the Son of God and fueled by the knowledge these were the Lord’s last words on earth. So here is a three-point reminder of the Jesus call to us: Cross cultures to reach all peoples and nations Baptize everyone in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Train my followers, old and new, to obey what I have taught Others of us pay lip service to this call, but get caught up in “churchland” with all of its stuff and fuss, finding so many of Jesus’ harsh words directed at the religious of His day applicable to ourselves. Others of us have tried to personalize Jesus’ “Great Commission” into a mission or vision statement for our own churches or for our own personal lives. This usually occurs with complaints — “Isn’t the Bible enough, why do we need something else?” or “Don’t forget about keeping our folks happy, too!” Clearly, Scripture and the will of God must be our defining call with Jesus as our Lord. Certainly we must care for Jesus’ sheep, binding up the hurting and caring for the wounded. However, as we look at Christianity’s shrinking influence in our culture and the little difference in morality lived by those claiming to be Christians and those who are not, we have to admit the harsh reality. We have too frequently forgotten why we are on the journey. So when I came across Paul’s words to the new believers in the small town of Colossae and heard in them the echo of Jesus’ last words, I was stopped in my tracks: To them [the Lord’s people] God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me (Colossians 1:27-29). Compare Paul’s words in  Colossians 1:27-29 to Jesus’ words in  Matthew 28:18-20. And please note that the highlighted words “nations” in Jesus’ statement and “Gentiles” in Paul’s statement are the same word. If you look carefully, Paul’s words are a personalization of Jesus’ Great Commission. They are his personal mission statement: his vision of what he must do to fulfill Jesus’ call in his life. What about you? How would you verbalize your life’s mission? More than worrying about what your church should be doing, what should you be doing? How are you going to live out the life of Jesus in the sphere of influence the Lord has placed you? Now to keep this from being merely a rhetorical question, I want to challenge you to prayerfully take some time and write out your own statement and go live it. Of course I’d love for you to share it with us on my blog, but most importantly,

Daily Prayer for June 20

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:8–9, NIV Lord God Almighty, bring in the day, the day of Jesus Christ, through whom we shall be united. Then we shall recognize each other as fellow citizens, as brothers and sisters, and we shall have peace on earth. Give your Spirit anew, O Lord our God. Free and enlighten every heart so that each person can acknowledge the Word you have given and hold fast to all your promises, even in dark and troubled times. Be with us. Be with our people. Help us in our times, O Lord God. We wait for you. We await your peace, a new peace – not the old peace, not a return to comfort and selfish desires, but your peace – which shall bring us into the life of heaven, where we find Jesus Christ, the Living One, our Shepherd and Leader. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough The Abyss of Beauty Ian Marcus Corbin Why do we shy from paying attention to nature’s beauty? Read now Home Is Not Just a Place Edwidge Danticat With words we build homes no separation can take away. Read now Community Is Born Emmy Arnold A founding member recalls turmoil and searching that led to the start of the Bruderhof community. Read now How the Opioid Epidemic Changed My Life Tom Andrew and Reuben Zimmerman Disturbed by the number of young bodies showing up in his morgue, New Hampshire’s Chief Medical Examiner decided to do something about it. Read now Be a Light in the Darkness David Toole A young woman finds her vocation amidst the atrocities of Burundi’s ethnic conflict. Read now

Daily Prayer for June 19

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10, NIV Lord, O great and almighty God, we thank you that you have given us the Savior, in whom we can become united and have peace on earth. May he, the Savior, work powerfully among us. May your Spirit come into people’s hearts so that they learn to acknowledge you as their leader and their God and to rejoice in their lives, which are intended for eternal life. Bless us through your Word and through all the good you do for us. Constantly renew and strengthen us in faith and in patience through the grace you send us. Remember all the peoples who should become yours in the name of Jesus Christ. May they all confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the honor of God the Father. We praise you for the promise you have given us of a wonderful new day of help for all. We praise you that you have created all people to recognize their true calling and their way to salvation. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Home Is Not Just a Place Edwidge Danticat With words we build homes no separation can take away. Read now Community Is Born Emmy Arnold A founding member recalls turmoil and searching that led to the start of the Bruderhof community. Read now How the Opioid Epidemic Changed My Life Tom Andrew and Reuben Zimmerman Disturbed by the number of young bodies showing up in his morgue, New Hampshire’s Chief Medical Examiner decided to do something about it. Read now Be a Light in the Darkness David Toole A young woman finds her vocation amidst the atrocities of Burundi’s ethnic conflict. Read now The Temptation of the Good Andy Rasmussen Satan tempts Christ with the power to do good. John Milton’s Paradise Regained holds lessons for those trying to reject tyrants and reform nations. Read now