Daily Prayer for May 19
I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2, NIV Lord our God, we thank you that we have often felt you close to us. We thank you that you are near us and that you strengthen the weak. Remember us and give each one the help he needs to be true to his calling. Remember all humankind and grant that we may go forward in spirit and in truth. Give new light to the peoples who are still in great darkness. Let your kingdom and your reign be revealed and your name at last be honored by all. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Nature Is Obsessed with Me Annemarie Konzelman Spiders, wasps, and mold – they’re my neighbors, but can I love them? Read now The Mystery of the Early Church Eberhard Arnold An early Plough article looks at the implications of what happened at Pentecost. Read now Earthworks Urban Farm Casey Kleczek At a community garden in Detroit, kids grow food to supply a soup kitchen. Read now Hummingbirds Are Wondrous Zito Madu Everyone who has admired the hummingbird has one particular bird in mind. My hummingbird came to me in Los Angeles four years ago. Read now Refugee Letters Emmy Barth Maendel At the height of World War II, three women flee Europe with their community for a pioneer life in South America. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 18
And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:15b–17, NIV Lord our God, Father of us all, grant that we may know something of you in our hearts. Each one of us is different, with his own particular needs, but we are all your children and should all become children of your Spirit. Then even in the difficulties of life, in the many struggles, temptations, and sorrows, we can keep up our courage and remain in the Spirit, who is victorious in every aspect of life. Protect and strengthen us on all our ways. We praise you for all you have done and for all the help you have given us. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Mystery of the Early Church Eberhard Arnold An early Plough article looks at the implications of what happened at Pentecost. Read now Earthworks Urban Farm Casey Kleczek At a community garden in Detroit, kids grow food to supply a soup kitchen. Read now Hummingbirds Are Wondrous Zito Madu Everyone who has admired the hummingbird has one particular bird in mind. My hummingbird came to me in Los Angeles four years ago. Read now Refugee Letters Emmy Barth Maendel At the height of World War II, three women flee Europe with their community for a pioneer life in South America. Read now Tim Keller: New York’s Pastor Susannah Black Roberts The quintessential Manhattan pastor held the door open to everyone. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 17
Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God – Jesus, the Son of God. Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Hebrews 4:14-15, TEV Dear Father in heaven, we look to Jesus Christ, who is at your right hand, through whom you have promised help for the whole world. Unite us with him so that we may receive authority to help all people according to your will. May your name be kept holy among us, for your children have every reason to rejoice in the Savior you have given them. We thank you for everything you have shown to those who believe in you. We pray to you, hasten the time when your day shall come with glory, the day when you will give the glory to Jesus Christ, when he will reign and triumph over all evil and bring the peace you have always wanted to give the world. We wait and long for this. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Earthworks Urban Farm Casey Kleczek At a community garden in Detroit, kids grow food to supply a soup kitchen. Read now Hummingbirds Are Wondrous Zito Madu Everyone who has admired the hummingbird has one particular bird in mind. My hummingbird came to me in Los Angeles four years ago. Read now Refugee Letters Emmy Barth Maendel At the height of World War II, three women flee Europe with their community for a pioneer life in South America. Read now Tim Keller: New York’s Pastor Susannah Black Roberts The quintessential Manhattan pastor held the door open to everyone. Read now Sell Me Marriage Daniel N. Gullotta Brad Wilcox makes the case for marriage in his new book Get Married. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 16
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3, NIV Lord God, we thank you that you have revealed life in Jesus Christ. Grant that we may enter this life through the grace you have given us to recognize Jesus Christ as our Lord, to believe in him, and to hope for all the good still to come as the fruit of his suffering and resurrection. May the glory of the Living One be revealed to the dead throughout the whole world so that even the dead and the unbelieving may be awakened and see his life. Keep us true to what you have given us. Strengthen our faith and endurance in all our trials. Let your name soon be honored among all people so that hatred may cease and the coming of your great day may be foretold in changed hearts and changed thoughts. Protect us this night. Bless us and help us again and again as you have promised. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Hummingbirds Are Wondrous Zito Madu Everyone who has admired the hummingbird has one particular bird in mind. My hummingbird came to me in Los Angeles four years ago. Read now Refugee Letters Emmy Barth Maendel At the height of World War II, three women flee Europe with their community for a pioneer life in South America. Read now Tim Keller: New York’s Pastor Susannah Black Roberts The quintessential Manhattan pastor held the door open to everyone. Read now Sell Me Marriage Daniel N. Gullotta Brad Wilcox makes the case for marriage in his new book Get Married. Read now When Our Walls Fall Dwight Lindley We hide our true selves from the world. But sometimes the façade collapses. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 15
Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3, NIV Father in heaven, may we recognize and acknowledge that you are God. You have made us, and not we ourselves, to be your people and the sheep of your pasture. Baptize us with the truth we need throughout our lives. Give us the gift to discern who we are and what we should become. Free our eyes from all deception so that we can no longer delude ourselves with short-lived, earthly things. Clear our eyes to see what is eternal in and around us. Make us children, true children, who awake to exult and rejoice in what is childlike and who give thanks to you, O God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Refugee Letters Emmy Barth Maendel At the height of World War II, three women flee Europe with their community for a pioneer life in South America. Read now Tim Keller: New York’s Pastor Susannah Black Roberts The quintessential Manhattan pastor held the door open to everyone. Read now Sell Me Marriage Daniel N. Gullotta Brad Wilcox makes the case for marriage in his new book Get Married. Read now When Our Walls Fall Dwight Lindley We hide our true selves from the world. But sometimes the façade collapses. Read now The Chocolate Ice Cream Clarice Lispector In two vignettes, a mother delights in her son’s joy and remembers her own childhood happiness. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 14
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 Lord our God, almighty and holy One, whose glory shines upon the earth so that we may find joy in you and may live rejoicing in all your loving-kindness, spread out your hands in blessing over all people. Spread your blessing over the happy and the sad, over the courageous and the weak. Shepherd them in your love, in the great grace you have given through Jesus Christ, confirmed in us through the Holy Spirit. Do not let us remain degraded and worthless. Lift our hearts above what is transitory, for you have given us something eternal to live by. Help us every day so that we can reach the goal you have set for us, for many others, and finally for all peoples of the earth. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Sell Me Marriage Daniel N. Gullotta Brad Wilcox makes the case for marriage in his new book Get Married. Read now When Our Walls Fall Dwight Lindley We hide our true selves from the world. But sometimes the façade collapses. Read now The Chocolate Ice Cream Clarice Lispector In two vignettes, a mother delights in her son’s joy and remembers her own childhood happiness. Read now GEDs for Myanmar Migrants Rebecca Newton Partners Relief & Development is working to establish a new educational program in Thailand. Read now The Wardens and the Poachers Kevin LaTorre A shared love of North Carolina’s wild places and game animals unites hunters and law enforcement, leading to successful conservation. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 12
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23, NIV Lord our God, we thank you that we can be children of your Spirit. We thank you that because you have called us, we receive eternal gifts that enable us to stand firm even when many sorrows and burdens weigh us down. For you are our life, and in all the darkness, even that of death, you give us light and strength and joyful hope. Keep these alive in us. May an ever brighter light shine on all that you have already put into our hearts, on all that draws us daily to you. Amen. Recent articles on Plough When Our Walls Fall Dwight Lindley We hide our true selves from the world. But sometimes the façade collapses. Read now The Chocolate Ice Cream Clarice Lispector In two vignettes, a mother delights in her son’s joy and remembers her own childhood happiness. Read now GEDs for Myanmar Migrants Rebecca Newton Partners Relief & Development is working to establish a new educational program in Thailand. Read now The Wardens and the Poachers Kevin LaTorre A shared love of North Carolina’s wild places and game animals unites hunters and law enforcement, leading to successful conservation. Read now When the Lord Ascends Adrienne von Speyr With the Ascension, a connection is torn asunder and our souls are freed – a freedom whose source is the ascending Son, a freedom toward God. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 11
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:3–4, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for making us into a community whose refuge and certainty is Jesus Christ. We thank you that he will not remain hidden from us forever; his life will be revealed, perhaps soon, in our times. Lord God, how long, how long have your children waited! Now a new time is coming, the end of this age, and we rejoice in this even if you must also judge and punish. No matter what happens, we are at peace. We live in your future, in the future of Jesus Christ, in the great day when humankind will receive the Spirit and their old works will come to an end. Be with us. Bless us this night and help us in what we have most on our hearts. We have so much on our hearts, but you see everything and you know our needs. Lord God, your grace will overcome all earthly troubles, and your name will be glorified on earth if only there is a church that believes and truly awaits your help. Praise to your name! You have done immeasurably much for us and you will do even more. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Chocolate Ice Cream Clarice Lispector In two vignettes, a mother delights in her son’s joy and remembers her own childhood happiness. Read now GEDs for Myanmar Migrants Rebecca Newton Partners Relief & Development is working to establish a new educational program in Thailand. Read now The Wardens and the Poachers Kevin LaTorre A shared love of North Carolina’s wild places and game animals unites hunters and law enforcement, leading to successful conservation. Read now When the Lord Ascends Adrienne von Speyr With the Ascension, a connection is torn asunder and our souls are freed – a freedom whose source is the ascending Son, a freedom toward God. Read now The Sparrow Jane Tyson Clement In this short story, a drunken husband finds he is not beyond redemption. Read now
Daily Prayer for May 10
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! Psalm 14:7, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven, bless us who have become united in our hope in you and in our expectation of your help on this earth, where people live in all kinds of foolish ways. Bless your Word within us. Grant us your Holy Spirit to restore life and gladness to our hearts, even in grief and suffering. Grant this not only in the distress of the whole world, but also in our own lives as long as we remain on this earth. Let signs be seen on every hand that you help us and give us a strength we can rely on. You help us in all circumstances every day, every year, ever anew. For this we thank you and praise your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough GEDs for Myanmar Migrants Rebecca Newton Partners Relief & Development is working to establish a new educational program in Thailand. Read now The Wardens and the Poachers Kevin LaTorre A shared love of North Carolina’s wild places and game animals unites hunters and law enforcement, leading to successful conservation. Read now When the Lord Ascends Adrienne von Speyr With the Ascension, a connection is torn asunder and our souls are freed – a freedom whose source is the ascending Son, a freedom toward God. Read now The Sparrow Jane Tyson Clement In this short story, a drunken husband finds he is not beyond redemption. Read now Are You a Tree? Joy Marie Clarkson Or are you a potted plant? Read now
Daily Prayer for May 9
The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Isaiah 60:19, NIV Lord, our God and Father, we thank you that in all the misery and night on earth you have let your hope dawn as a light shining for all your people – all who honor your name, all who dwell in Jesus Christ through forgiveness of sins and through resurrection to a new life. Praise to your name. Praise to Jesus Christ. Praise to the Holy Spirit, who can comfort, teach, and guide our hearts. O Father in heaven, we can never thank you enough that we are allowed to be a people full of grace, full of hope, and full of confidence that your kingdom is coming at last to bring salvation and peace for the whole world. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Wardens and the Poachers Kevin LaTorre A shared love of North Carolina’s wild places and game animals unites hunters and law enforcement, leading to successful conservation. Read now When the Lord Ascends Adrienne von Speyr With the Ascension, a connection is torn asunder and our souls are freed – a freedom whose source is the ascending Son, a freedom toward God. Read now The Sparrow Jane Tyson Clement In this short story, a drunken husband finds he is not beyond redemption. Read now Are You a Tree? Joy Marie Clarkson Or are you a potted plant? Read now Intentional Community: The Fantasy and the Reality Ben Cribbin I hoped to find meaning, purpose, and relationship in an intentional community. The strongest impediment, I discovered, was myself. Read now