Daily Prayer for August 18
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Psalm 73:23–24, NIV Thank you, great God and Father, for filling our hearts with trust so that we are of good hope, also for those who have not yet found trust. Thank you for giving us courage to face all the questions that arise in human life and for accepting us again and again when we come to you. You know what lies before us. You know the mountains that have to be moved. You know all the things that frustrate us and try to wear us out, and you will take them away. At last your light will shine into all the darkness. This certainty fills us with gladness and thanksgiving. In this faith we are determined to remain steadfast and to press on to victory. Amen. Recent articles on Plough In Defense of Democratic Capitalism A reader critiques Plough’s Summer 2023 issue on money. Read now On Inner Detachment Meister Eckhart We deafen God day and night with our words, “Lord, thy will be done.” But then when God’s will does happen, we are furious and don’t like it a bit. Read now Poem “Fingered Forgiveness” Laura R. Eckman The poet tells a story of forgiveness. Read now When Older Is Better Jonathan Coppage There’s a reason vinyl records and photographic film are making a comeback. Read now Better than Success Johann Christoph Arnold Success in parenting is helping your child find a purpose in life. Read now
Daily Prayer for August 17
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for holding open the way into our hearts and for bringing us the peace of Jesus Christ. Help us to keep this way open. Grant us peace in this tempest-torn world. Grant us peace when many struggles and uncertainties try to occupy our hearts. We have no strength in ourselves, only in him who is standing at our side and who will never forsake us, who lives and gives strength. His light will always break in anew among us. His light will shine on many people and lead them to the promised day, the day that will bring all our hopes to fulfillment. Amen. Recent articles on Plough On Inner Detachment Meister Eckhart We deafen God day and night with our words, “Lord, thy will be done.” But then when God’s will does happen, we are furious and don’t like it a bit. Read now Poem “Fingered Forgiveness” Laura R. Eckman The poet tells a story of forgiveness. Read now When Older Is Better Jonathan Coppage There’s a reason vinyl records and photographic film are making a comeback. Read now Better than Success Johann Christoph Arnold Success in parenting is helping your child find a purpose in life. Read now The Essence of Everything Daniel Stewart A distiller muses on alchemy, monasticism, and the Philosopher’s Stone. Read now
Daily Prayer for August 16
Believe God, and he will recover thee: and direct thy way, and trust in him. Keep his fear, and grow old therein. Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy: and go not aside from him, lest ye fall. Ye that fear the Lord, believe him: and your reward shall not be made void. Sirach 2:6-8 Douay-Rheims Dear Father in heaven, we come before you to receive what we need as your children who cannot find help and guidance on our own, but only through your Spirit. Enlighten us by your Word, which you alone can give. You will give us your Word so that we can know with absolute certainty and clarity how to serve you. Your Word will show us the truth that is to be revealed on earth in Jesus Christ. Shelter us in your hands. Strengthen us especially during suffering, and free us from fear and trembling. Fill our hearts with patience and joy. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Poem “Fingered Forgiveness” Laura R. Eckman The poet tells a story of forgiveness. Read now When Older Is Better Jonathan Coppage There’s a reason vinyl records and photographic film are making a comeback. Read now Better than Success Johann Christoph Arnold Success in parenting is helping your child find a purpose in life. Read now The Essence of Everything Daniel Stewart A distiller muses on alchemy, monasticism, and the Philosopher’s Stone. Read now Disability in The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store Sara Nović As a deaf reader, I was drawn toward the portrayals of disability in James McBride’s blockbuster novel, though, as in life, the results are an uneven weave. Read now
Daily Prayer for August 15
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people – the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. Colossians 1:3–5, NIV Lord our God, we praise your name because we are allowed to bear witness to what we see and hear, to all the good you have given us. May we become firmly and faithfully united, awaiting the glorious day when your almighty hand will be victorious and will bring an end to the many evils among us. On that day you will be praised throughout all nations and everything will be clothed anew, to the glory of your great name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough When Older Is Better Jonathan Coppage There’s a reason vinyl records and photographic film are making a comeback. Read now Better than Success Johann Christoph Arnold Success in parenting is helping your child find a purpose in life. Read now The Essence of Everything Daniel Stewart A distiller muses on alchemy, monasticism, and the Philosopher’s Stone. Read now Disability in The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store Sara Nović As a deaf reader, I was drawn toward the portrayals of disability in James McBride’s blockbuster novel, though, as in life, the results are an uneven weave. Read now Sit There and Shut Up Zac Koons What is the best way to support someone who is suffering? Read now
Daily Prayer for August 14
If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18, NIV Lord our God, grant that we may heed your commandments, that our peace may be like a river and our righteousness like the waves of the sea. Be with us through your Spirit, we pray. Speak with us and tell us what we need to hear so that we can understand what draws us always nearer to you. Show the might of your hand to help us and all people. Even under judgment we shall not despair, we shall not lose courage because of troubles and distress. Come with your strength, that we may grow strong to overcome the world through Jesus Christ the Savior. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Better than Success Johann Christoph Arnold Success in parenting is helping your child find a purpose in life. Read now The Essence of Everything Daniel Stewart A distiller muses on alchemy, monasticism, and the Philosopher’s Stone. Read now Disability in The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store Sara Nović As a deaf reader, I was drawn toward the portrayals of disability in James McBride’s blockbuster novel, though, as in life, the results are an uneven weave. Read now 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
Daily Prayer for August 13
Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. “I, even I, am he who comforts you.” Isaiah 51:11–12a, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for the trust you have put into our hearts. We thank you for all the signs of your goodness that comfort us when we are in great need and when many deaths take place around us and touch each of us. We thank you for comforting us, for always giving us fresh courage wherever we may be, and for giving us hope for other people, who also struggle hard to find what is good. O Lord God, bless our world with power from on high, with your gifts that bring good to many people. Bless our world. Save it from sin, from ruin, from every kind of despair. Give your blessing, O Lord our God! As you bless us, so bless all the world, to the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Essence of Everything Daniel Stewart A distiller muses on alchemy, monasticism, and the Philosopher’s Stone. Read now Disability in The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store Sara Nović As a deaf reader, I was drawn toward the portrayals of disability in James McBride’s blockbuster novel, though, as in life, the results are an uneven weave. Read now 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
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