Daily Prayer for April 9
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. John 14:18-21, NIV Lord our God, dear Father in heaven, we are gathered in your presence through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Reveal to us our Savior Jesus Christ. May the Savior be revealed to us; otherwise in our need we will never come through. Grant that at this late hour for the world we may see him as he is, and through him and through the kingdom that he brings we may be lifted above the troubles of our time. Strengthen our hearts every day, and fill us with joy because you guide everything on earth as in heaven; in the end you will give us the victory that belongs to the kingdom you have founded. May we be comforted through all eternity in this kingdom, a kingdom far greater and more glorious than all the kingdoms of the world. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Why Self-Denial? Dietrich Bonhoeffer Self-denial is not individual acts of self-torment or asceticism. Read now Ora et Labora: The Benedictine Work Ethic William P. Hyland Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism, teaches us to fuse prayer and work. Read now Comfort for the Godforsaken Cameron Coombe Jürgen Moltmann knew where to point those feeling abandoned by God, not least a student in a mental health crisis at the other end of the earth. Read now Dancing with Neighbors Tessa Carman Saying no to certain kinds of tech makes more room for living. Read now An Easter Letter Heinrich Arnold A Bruderhof pastor’s message to his communities calls each of us to wake up to what God is doing in our world. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 4
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him…I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.” John 1:32, 34, NIV Our Father in heaven, as your children may we truly receive something from you to bring our lives into a living bond with you. Grant that we may overcome everything harmful and evil. May it be given to us to help that your kingdom may come closer and closer, that your will may be done, and Jesus Christ, your Son, may be recognized as the light of the world for the salvation of all people and their deliverance from all evil. Protect us and grant that your Spirit may remain with us. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Kim Min-Ki’s Songs for Everyone Chungyon Won A legendary Korean songwriter gave his people a common language of resistance and hope. Read now What I Learned Tagging Along to My Parents’ Work Stephen G. Adubato As a child, observing my parents on the job demystified their work and, I see now, shaped me in several beneficial ways. Read now The Coming of the King Laura E. Richards In this short Easter story, some children prepare for the arrival of a king and receive someone quite different. Read now Rediscovering Pope John Paul II Nathan Beacom Twenty years after his death, it’s a good time to take a fresh look at the legacy of a remarkable man. Read now The Thin Brown Line Steve Guthrie Can the police ensure public safety? G. K. Chesterton’s Father Brown suggests the responsibility might lie elsewhere. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 23
This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances.” Isaiah 49:8, NIV Lord our God, protect us in your Spirit. Strengthen our hearts especially when we often have to bear suffering, that we may be steadfast in hope and may again and again experience a day of salvation. Protect us in every way. Accept our praise and thanks, and let our hearts rejoice in what you have already done for us. We want to discern your ways more and more so that we may please you as your servants. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Its Just Stuff What Estate Sales Reveal About Us Sherry Shenoda An estate sale is a sort of liminal space – a passing on of the accumulated flotsam of a life. Read now Can You Find Jesus in This Painting? Sr. Carino Hodder, OP Art often portrays Christ larger than life, but works where he isn’t might tell us more about our spiritual lives. Read now The Rewards of Elder Care Maureen Swinger At the Bruderhof, I’ve learned that caregiving can be draining – and also immensely enriching. Read now She’s Dead! Kate Susong Be forewarned: This story contains death and a dead body. And even worse, you will laugh. Read now Advice from a Senior Demon C. S. Lewis How best to corrupt a human from C. S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 14
Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. Isaiah 4:5-6, NIV Dear Father in heaven, our refuge for this day and for each day to come, touch us with the finger of your power. Be our protection and strong defense against all attacks of darkness. Where people look to you out of the darkness, let their eyes grow shining bright with the light from your eyes. Let your light shine within us and around us. Let your light bring your cause to victory, to the final great day of Jesus Christ. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Workism Trap Bobby Jamieson No, your career is not your path to fulfillment. Read now Building Solidarity in Europe’s Gig Economy Ben Wray Food-delivery bike riders in London, Berlin, and Copenhagen are pushing back against their algorithmic bosses. Read now The First Task of the Church Stanley Hauerwas The most creative political solutions Christians have to offer our troubled society are not new laws, advice to policymakers, or social programs. Read now The Flamingo Loophole Alice Pistolesi How a climbing gym in the war-scarred Balkans brought residents and migrants together. Read now Why Watch The Brutalist? Chris Zimmerman Brady Corbet’s Oscar-winning film may be long and bleak, but it won’t disappoint the intrepid viewer. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 13
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6, NIV Dear Father in heaven, may our hearts find words to praise you together, to ask you with one accord that we may be brought into community with you. We come to you with our whole selves, with all that we have experienced, with all that has been given to us through your leading. For to this day you have shown us the way, guiding us through right and wrong, through the perfect and the imperfect. You have led us all to know that we belong to you. We are yours. You are working in us to bring about what you have in mind for each one of us and for the many, many who hunger and thirst for justice and truth. Be with us through your Spirit. Touch us through the hand of Jesus Christ. He is our Savior, and we hold fast to him so that we can praise you in his name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Building Solidarity in Europe’s Gig Economy Ben Wray Food-delivery bike riders in London, Berlin, and Copenhagen are pushing back against their algorithmic bosses. Read now The First Task of the Church Stanley Hauerwas The most creative political solutions Christians have to offer our troubled society are not new laws, advice to policymakers, or social programs. Read now The Flamingo Loophole Alice Pistolesi How a climbing gym in the war-scarred Balkans brought residents and migrants together. Read now Why Watch The Brutalist? Chris Zimmerman Brady Corbet’s Oscar-winning film may be long and bleak, but it won’t disappoint the intrepid viewer. Read now Can Hobbies Bridge Political Divides Aryana Petrosky Bonding over shared passions can help dissipate political divisions, but only if we don’t let our hobbies become politicized. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 12
But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:1-2, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for the gift of your light in our hearts, allowing us to have faith in you. We thank you for your light, which shows us the many ways you save us from need, darkness, and death. In the midst of this darkness you keep our hearts safe so that we can be faithful until your time comes, the time when you will reveal yourself to the world, and when all voices will cry out as one, “Yes, Father in heaven, we thank you. You have redeemed us all.” Amen. Recent articles on Plough The First Task of the Church Stanley Hauerwas The most creative political solutions Christians have to offer our troubled society are not new laws, advice to policymakers, or social programs. Read now The Flamingo Loophole Alice Pistolesi How a climbing gym in the war-scarred Balkans brought residents and migrants together. Read now Why Watch The Brutalist? Chris Zimmerman Brady Corbet’s Oscar-winning film may be long and bleak, but it won’t disappoint the intrepid viewer. Read now Can Hobbies Bridge Political Divides Aryana Petrosky Bonding over shared passions can help dissipate political divisions, but only if we don’t let our hobbies become politicized. Read now The Divine Rhythm of Work and Sabbath Alastair Roberts The Bible’s story of labor begins in Eden – and its ending is still to come. A journey from Genesis to the Apocalypse. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 11
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1–2, NIV Dear Father in heaven, grant that we may share in the community of your Holy Spirit. In community with you our earthly troubles fall away and we remain in your peace in spite of all our failures and shortcomings, in spite of all the toil we must gladly take upon ourselves. Watch over us. Keep our hearts unshaken, clear, and steady. Keep us in the certainty that your kingdom is coming, is already beginning and can be plainly seen, so that all people can receive the good you have planned for them. Be with us this night. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Flamingo Loophole Alice Pistolesi How a climbing gym in the war-scarred Balkans brought residents and migrants together. Read now Why Watch The Brutalist? Chris Zimmerman Brady Corbet’s Oscar-winning film may be long and bleak, but it won’t disappoint the intrepid viewer. Read now Can Hobbies Bridge Political Divides Aryana Petrosky Bonding over shared passions can help dissipate political divisions, but only if we don’t let our hobbies become politicized. Read now The Divine Rhythm of Work and Sabbath Alastair Roberts The Bible’s story of labor begins in Eden – and its ending is still to come. A journey from Genesis to the Apocalypse. Read now Sailing with the Greeks Adam Nicolson Setting out to sea in a small sailboat, I taste the liquid freedom that Homer extolled. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 10
My word is like the snow and the rain that come down from the sky to water the earth. They make the crops grow and provide seed for planting and food to eat. So also will be the word that I speak – it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do. Isaiah 55:10–11, TEV Lord our God, light of the world and light of our human life, we thank you for sending your Word into our hearts. Your Word works within us and allows us to rejoice. Even if we often experience hard and bitter times here on earth, we can rejoice already, as the world shall rejoice when your will and your Word are fulfilled. Protect us, and keep us pure and free in spirit, that we may be your servants, that we may sometimes be allowed to say a little word in harmony with the great, powerful Word which you have sent into the world. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Can Hobbies Bridge Political Divides Aryana Petrosky Bonding over shared passions can help dissipate political divisions, but only if we don’t let our hobbies become politicized. Read now The Divine Rhythm of Work and Sabbath Alastair Roberts The Bible’s story of labor begins in Eden – and its ending is still to come. A journey from Genesis to the Apocalypse. Read now Sailing with the Greeks Adam Nicolson Setting out to sea in a small sailboat, I taste the liquid freedom that Homer extolled. Read now The Improbable Revival of the Cloister Shira Telushkin Why are so many young Catholic women choosing radical seclusion as cloistered nuns? Read now Warehouse Workers of Paris Find Their Voice Benoît Gautier In de-industrializing France, a shuttle bus is workers’ last link to stability. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 8
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9–11, NIV Lord Jesus, we bow before you, before you to whom all power is given. We will love you, O Lord. We will treasure you. Your thoughts shall be our thoughts, that we may learn how you are named in heaven, on earth, and below the earth. Watch over us and be with us until you can come, until the time is fulfilled when you will appear among us and establish God’s kingdom. Then the whole world will rejoice and all people will bend their knees before you, the one Lord and Savior. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Divine Rhythm of Work and Sabbath Alastair Roberts The Bible’s story of labor begins in Eden – and its ending is still to come. A journey from Genesis to the Apocalypse. Read now Sailing with the Greeks Adam Nicolson Setting out to sea in a small sailboat, I taste the liquid freedom that Homer extolled. Read now The Improbable Revival of the Cloister Shira Telushkin Why are so many young Catholic women choosing radical seclusion as cloistered nuns? Read now Warehouse Workers of Paris Find Their Voice Benoît Gautier In de-industrializing France, a shuttle bus is workers’ last link to stability. Read now Stanley Hauerwas’s Provocations Tish Harrison Warren America’s theologian isn’t worried about the death of cultural Christianity. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 7
The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” Psalm 118:14-16, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we are your children, and we look to you and to your help at every turn of our lives. Remember us, especially when we want to serve you. Stay with us with your Spirit so that everything may work out to further your kingdom and the victory of Jesus Christ, which is to be proclaimed on earth. Through his victory all people shall find in him their Savior and look to you, our Father in heaven. Yes, Father in heaven, have mercy on the world, on the many who are unfortunate and who suffer from the widespread evil around them. Remember them. Have mercy on us through the strong and mighty Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Sailing with the Greeks Adam Nicolson Setting out to sea in a small sailboat, I taste the liquid freedom that Homer extolled. Read now The Improbable Revival of the Cloister Shira Telushkin Why are so many young Catholic women choosing radical seclusion as cloistered nuns? Read now Warehouse Workers of Paris Find Their Voice Benoît Gautier In de-industrializing France, a shuttle bus is workers’ last link to stability. Read now Stanley Hauerwas’s Provocations Tish Harrison Warren America’s theologian isn’t worried about the death of cultural Christianity. Read now Passing On the Farm to My Daughter James Rebanks A record-breaking bull showed that my seventeen-year-old is ready to start taking my place. Read now