Daily Prayer for December 10
But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Malachi 4:2, NIV Lord our God, we think of all the people who have trusted in you. We remember all the signs and wonders you have shown to establish your name among us. We belong to those who hold to you today; may our hearts be kept faithful through your Spirit. Even if there are great hardships in our times and everything seems on the verge of collapse, even if the world perishes, you, O God, are our stronghold. This truth remains forever. In you we want to hold true until your great day comes, until the power of the Savior is revealed in many people so that in their misery they can believe and find help and comfort. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Book Tour: Of Gods and Ghosts Phil Christman Reviewing Lake of Darkness by Adam Roberts, All Things Are Full of Gods by David Bentley Hart, and Concerning the Future of Souls by Joy Williams. Read now Not Enough Christmas Music Terence Sweeney We barely have any Christmas music at all. We have too much Advent music. Read now A Sky Full of Children Madeleine L’Engle Don’t try to explain the Incarnation to me! It is further from being explainable than the furthest star in the furthest galaxy. Read now The School that Escaped to the Alps Marianne Wright Faced with a Nazi takeover, the first Bruderhof school took refuge in Liechtenstein. Read now Should I Read Scary Fairy Tales to My Child? Stephanie Ebert My kids already know the world is not safe. Will dragons and goblins make it worse? Read now
Daily Prayer for December 9
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29, NIV Lord our God, we seek your face and long to find you. May we find you as your people found you in times past when you drew near with many signs and miracles. May our hearts come before you in awe and trust and draw their strength from you. May many in our time seek you and receive your comfort and help, for you provide strength and courage for the poor and destitute, for the suffering and the dying. Do not let our age pass by in vain, O great and almighty God. A new time must surely come, a new day must be born from this present age. This is your will, and in your will we trust. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Not Enough Christmas Music Terence Sweeney We barely have any Christmas music at all. We have too much Advent music. Read now A Sky Full of Children Madeleine L’Engle Don’t try to explain the Incarnation to me! It is further from being explainable than the furthest star in the furthest galaxy. Read now The School that Escaped to the Alps Marianne Wright Faced with a Nazi takeover, the first Bruderhof school took refuge in Liechtenstein. Read now Should I Read Scary Fairy Tales to My Child? Stephanie Ebert My kids already know the world is not safe. Will dragons and goblins make it worse? Read now Why I Became a Firefighter Brit Frazier A priest joins her local volunteer fire department. Read now
Daily Prayer for December 7
In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Micah 4:1–2, NIV Lord our God, we gather in your presence, coming from this world so full of suffering, grief, and misfortune that we could well be afraid. But we do not have to rely on this world. We can come to you, the almighty God. You are our Father, and no matter what may come, we remain your children and receive your blessing. So protect us in this present time. Even if a flood of evil seems about to break over us and our hearts are heavy, you will uphold us. You will strengthen us so that we can bear this time patiently, hoping in you and in what you do for all people, who are your people just as we are. May the praise of your name be in our hearts for ever and ever. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The School that Escaped to the Alps Marianne Wright Faced with a Nazi takeover, the first Bruderhof school took refuge in Liechtenstein. Read now Should I Read Scary Fairy Tales to My Child? Stephanie Ebert My kids already know the world is not safe. Will dragons and goblins make it worse? Read now Why I Became a Firefighter Brit Frazier A priest joins her local volunteer fire department. Read now Why We’re Failing to Pass on Christianity Benjamin Crosby How do you teach Christian basics to those who think they know all about it? Read now Schools for Philosopher-Carpenters Alex Sosler A new crop of innovative schools encourages all students to use their minds and their hands. Read now
Daily Prayer for December 6
“Come!” say the Spirit and the bride. “Come!” let each hearer reply. Come forward, you who are thirsty; accept the water of life, a free gift to all who desire it. Revelation 22:17, NEB Lord our God and Father in heaven, be with us and let your face shine upon us, for we are your children. In the midst of all human planning we are your children who seek you alone, who seek your will, your kingdom, and everything you have promised to humankind. Fill our thoughts and feelings with your power so that our lives on earth may belong to you, so that with our whole will we may put every thing we have and are into your hands. For we want to be your children, to have one will with you, Almighty God. We want your kingdom. This is our will, O Lord our God, and it is your will too. Therefore it must come to pass, to the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Should I Read Scary Fairy Tales to My Child? Stephanie Ebert My kids already know the world is not safe. Will dragons and goblins make it worse? Read now Why I Became a Firefighter Brit Frazier A priest joins her local volunteer fire department. Read now Why We’re Failing to Pass on Christianity Benjamin Crosby How do you teach Christian basics to those who think they know all about it? Read now Schools for Philosopher-Carpenters Alex Sosler A new crop of innovative schools encourages all students to use their minds and their hands. Read now Educating for Freedom Peter Mommsen Has our society lost sight of how to raise young humans? Read now
Daily Prayer for December 5
Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him. Daniel 7:27, NIV Lord our God, dear Father, you have made yourself known on earth so that we may love you and be loved by you. Give us your Spirit, we pray. Give us your Spirit to strengthen us in the life and work you offer us. Watch over us on all our ways. Wherever your children are sighing and calling for you, protect and guide them with your mighty hand. Let your kingdom spread over the whole world, over all people, over all races and nations, that we may become united as servants of Jesus Christ to your honor. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Why I Became a Firefighter Brit Frazier A priest joins her local volunteer fire department. Read now Why We’re Failing to Pass on Christianity Benjamin Crosby How do you teach Christian basics to those who think they know all about it? Read now Schools for Philosopher-Carpenters Alex Sosler A new crop of innovative schools encourages all students to use their minds and their hands. Read now Educating for Freedom Peter Mommsen Has our society lost sight of how to raise young humans? Read now Divine Light in the O Antiphons Joel Clarkson Resplendent Advent music that casts away the gathered dark. Read now
Daily Prayer for December 3
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace. Luke 1:76–79, NIV Lord our God, we thank you that you let light shine out every day and every year. Thank you that we may always look to you, whose right hand will bring order into everything and set all things right, even in difficult times. May our hearts receive strength to persevere and go on praising you, for you remain, no matter what happens on earth. You are our God, you have sent us the Savior, and we can draw close to you. You have made us the firm promise that your day is coming when truth and justice will arise on earth to the glory of your name. May the hearts of many people turn to you so that they worship you and call to you for help, to the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Schools for Philosopher-Carpenters Alex Sosler A new crop of innovative schools encourages all students to use their minds and their hands. Read now Educating for Freedom Peter Mommsen Has our society lost sight of how to raise young humans? Read now Divine Light in the O Antiphons Joel Clarkson Resplendent Advent music that casts away the gathered dark. Read now Covering the Cover: Educating Humans Rosalind Stevenson Our designer unveils the next Plough Quarterly cover. Read now The Homeschooling Option Casey Kleczek Homeschooling in America has never been more widespread – or more diverse. We checked in on several parents in Detroit. Read now
Daily Prayer for December 1
Say to Daughter of Zion, “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Matthew 21:5, 9, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for letting hosannas rise from people’s hearts and for letting us cry out to you all the more fervently in dark times. Help us, O Almighty God, and help your king, Jesus Christ, to his final victory. For he shall be victor, bringing grace, peace, life, and victory for all that is good, on earth as in heaven. He shall be victor at all times in our lives, enabling us to keep faith in trouble, fear, and need, yes, even in death. Hosanna to the victor, Jesus Christ, the victor you have chosen! O Almighty God, proclaim him on earth. Let all the people know he is on his way, to the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Educating for Freedom Peter Mommsen Has our society lost sight of how to raise young humans? Read now Divine Light in the O Antiphons Joel Clarkson Resplendent Advent music that casts away the gathered dark. Read now Covering the Cover: Educating Humans Rosalind Stevenson Our designer unveils the next Plough Quarterly cover. Read now The Homeschooling Option Casey Kleczek Homeschooling in America has never been more widespread – or more diverse. We checked in on several parents in Detroit. Read now Grand Canyon Classroom Betsy K. Brown A hiking club is a natural extension of a classical education. Read now
Daily Prayer for November 30
Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious…Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! Psalm 66:1–2, 5, NIV Lord our God, let your miracles be done among us, and bless us through your deeds. Bless us in Jesus Christ, the Savior of so many people. May your kingdom come to us and at last bring the great miracles that carry out your will and that do what is pleasing to you. Lord God, Father in heaven, we praise you! In you we live, in you we believe, in you we hope, in you we want to live day by day and hour by hour. May your name be honored among us, for you are our God and the God of all the world. Let your light shine among all people so that many millions and whole nations may glorify your name, for in the last days the nations shall come and worship you. So protect and bless us today and in the coming time, and again and again let something happen to bring us new life and strength. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Covering the Cover: Educating Humans Rosalind Stevenson Our designer unveils the next Plough Quarterly cover. Read now The Homeschooling Option Casey Kleczek Homeschooling in America has never been more widespread – or more diverse. We checked in on several parents in Detroit. Read now Grand Canyon Classroom Betsy K. Brown A hiking club is a natural extension of a classical education. Read now What Religion Is Black Friday? Anthony Lusvardi, SJ Plastic Christmas trees in Singapore got me thinking about the globalization of our worst holiday customs. Read now On Motherhood and Climate Change Elizabeth Wainwright Without glorifying community or motherhood, Elizabeth Rush’s The Quickening brings these things into the conversation on climate change. Read now
Daily Prayer for November 28
Watch, then, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming – it might be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or at sunrise. If he comes suddenly, he must not find you asleep. What I say to you, then, I say to all: Watch! Mark 13:35–37, TEV Lord Jesus, our Savior, we look upward to heaven, for you will come from heaven in the glory of the Father. May we remain true to our calling, watching and praying every day and every hour, waiting for you, who will bring into order everything on earth. Bless us and bless our land. Grant us the joy to see you working through your servants toward the salvation of the peoples. Be with us and bless us. May your living Word work in our hearts so that every Sunday, every festival, and every day from now on may be a day of joy. Protect us. Bless us. May your name be praised in our hearts! Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Homeschooling Option Casey Kleczek Homeschooling in America has never been more widespread – or more diverse. We checked in on several parents in Detroit. Read now Grand Canyon Classroom Betsy K. Brown A hiking club is a natural extension of a classical education. Read now What Religion Is Black Friday? Anthony Lusvardi, SJ Plastic Christmas trees in Singapore got me thinking about the globalization of our worst holiday customs. Read now On Motherhood and Climate Change Elizabeth Wainwright Without glorifying community or motherhood, Elizabeth Rush’s The Quickening brings these things into the conversation on climate change. Read now Teaching the One Percent Dhananjay Jagannathan A Columbia professor defends the spiritual worth of liberal education. Read now
Daily Prayer for November 27
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 25:8–9, NIV Lord our God, dear Father in heaven, we thank you that we may be your children, led by you. We thank you for guiding us in times of grief and never forsaking us. Now, as of old, you are with us, Lord our God, and you show us the way in every situation. Protect us in this present time, and grant us strength to go on patiently even when our lives hold much suffering and distress. We thank you for your guidance and rejoice in your help for our time. Reveal your hand in power, for soon, very soon, your right hand will change everything. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Grand Canyon Classroom Betsy K. Brown A hiking club is a natural extension of a classical education. Read now What Religion Is Black Friday? Anthony Lusvardi, SJ Plastic Christmas trees in Singapore got me thinking about the globalization of our worst holiday customs. Read now On Motherhood and Climate Change Elizabeth Wainwright Without glorifying community or motherhood, Elizabeth Rush’s The Quickening brings these things into the conversation on climate change. Read now Teaching the One Percent Dhananjay Jagannathan A Columbia professor defends the spiritual worth of liberal education. Read now The Critical Moment of the Day John Burroughs A naturalist witnesses the birth of a new day in the Catskills. Read now