Daily Prayer for July 19
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, NIV Lord our God, we rejoice that we may be called your children. In our weakness we ask you to shelter us in your hands. Strengthen us in the hope and faith that our lives will surely go the right way, not through our strength but through your protection. Grant that through your Spirit we may come to know more and more that you are with us. Help us to be alert in our daily life and to listen whenever you want to say something to us. Reveal the power and glory of your kingdom in many people, to the glory of your name, and hasten the coming on earth of all that is good and true. Amen. Recent articles on Plough When a Bruderhof Is Born Maureen Swinger What’s it like to be a young person in a young community? Read now My Neck of the Woods Felix James Miller The Adirondack Park, a mixture of strongly protected public and private lands, is a great example of how humans can dwell in the natural world in a way that benefits both. Read now Violence Is Counterproductive Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, Hans Denck and Menno Simons Early Anabaptist writers make the case against a Christian’s use of violence. Read now Toward a Gift Economy Simon Oliver Some goods and services have value beyond their market price. Read now When the Bees Lose Their Way Nick Ripatrazone A review of Liquid, Fragile, Perishable by Carolyn Kuebler. Read now
Daily Prayer for July 18
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. John 4:23–24, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for being among us as our Father, for letting us be your children on earth. We thank you that as your children we can find life in spirit and in truth. Grant that each of us may find how our lives on earth can be lifted up by your Spirit. Your Spirit can bring us what we do not possess, so that our daily work, all our striving and struggling for the outward things of life, may be pervaded by what is higher and greater. Your Spirit can keep us from falling into base and petty ways, from getting lost in earthly experiences which do not last, no matter how much they demand our attention. We thank you for all you have done for your children. Continue to help us, that we may serve you every day in gladness and gratitude. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Violence Is Counterproductive Conrad Grebel, Felix Manz, Hans Denck and Menno Simons Early Anabaptist writers make the case against a Christian’s use of violence. Read now Toward a Gift Economy Simon Oliver Some goods and services have value beyond their market price. Read now When the Bees Lose Their Way Nick Ripatrazone A review of Liquid, Fragile, Perishable by Carolyn Kuebler. Read now The Home, a Monastery? Evan B. Howard To what extent can an ordinary nuclear family live a fully consecrated life? Read now Let Yourself Be Eaten Chiara Lubich Put yourself at the service of your neighbors. Read now
Daily Prayer for July 16
But as for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:7–8, RSV Dear Father in heaven, as your children we stand before you and lift our eyes to you. We are poor, needy people, often wretched and tormented. Let your eyes rest upon us. Grant us the help we need. Bless us when we gather in the name of Jesus Christ, that we may be a people who learn to serve you on all the paths we follow, even if it proves bitterly hard. Give us true faith for every moment. May we have joy and confidence that you are with your children, that you remain with them forever, until the great time of redemption when we will rejoice with all past generations and with all who are living today. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Toward a Gift Economy Simon Oliver Some goods and services have value beyond their market price. Read now When the Bees Lose Their Way Nick Ripatrazone A review of Liquid, Fragile, Perishable by Carolyn Kuebler. Read now The Home, a Monastery? Evan B. Howard To what extent can an ordinary nuclear family live a fully consecrated life? Read now Let Yourself Be Eaten Chiara Lubich Put yourself at the service of your neighbors. Read now Why Grow Tomatoes Laura Trimble Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s tomato plot. Read now
Daily Prayer for July 15
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10, RSV Lord our God, grant that we may find the power of your Spirit so that we may live on a higher level, no longer controlled by our lower natures but strengthened to take up the battle of life. May we be children of the Spirit and may we walk in the Spirit. Guard us against carelessness and keep us joyful and courageous. Help us and counsel us on all our ways so that we may honor you and testify that you are our God, our true help. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Home, a Monastery? Evan B. Howard To what extent can an ordinary nuclear family live a fully consecrated life? Read now Let Yourself Be Eaten Chiara Lubich Put yourself at the service of your neighbors. Read now Why Grow Tomatoes Laura Trimble Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s tomato plot. Read now A Wooden Headstone Greg Logan An unusual memorial can help us reflect on our impermanence. Read now Why We Hope Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt The future we long for is already here. Read now
Daily Prayer for July 13
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2, NIV Lord our mighty God, look upon us in our poverty, for you call us your children and give us of your Spirit. From your fullness we constantly need to receive strength for the struggle meant for us in life. Grant that light may come wherever darkness still reigns, especially where it is so black that we do not know which way to turn. Hear our prayer for all people, and let your justice and your truth alone be victorious. Let all people receive what you have promised them, and let them realize that no matter what happens, they remain your children. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Why Grow Tomatoes Laura Trimble Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s tomato plot. Read now A Wooden Headstone Greg Logan An unusual memorial can help us reflect on our impermanence. Read now Why We Hope Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt The future we long for is already here. Read now Pillars of Our Communities Terence Sweeney In my parish, Fran was one of those unheralded saints who quietly and determinedly make the world better. Who will step up? Read now Can Social Media Be Tamed? Joshua Sander Tobias Rose-Stockwell’s Outrage Machine details how algorithms promote fear and outrage. Can the monster be tamed? Read now
Daily Prayer for July 6
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. Romans 8:14–15a, NIV Dear Father in heaven, open our hearts to the wonder of being able to call you Father, the wonder of being united with you. You are the source of all life and strength. In you is redemption, and we need to be redeemed before we can live rightly. Take from us the pressures forced on us by the flood of events. Make us completely free as people led by your hand, people who may be joyful because everything will be overcome through the power you grant us in Jesus Christ. Protect us from fear and from all evil. Show more and more clearly your good and wonderful goal for all people on earth, so that in expectation they may find happiness even in all the stress of today. Amen. Recent articles on Plough How to Not Live a Boring Life Henri J. M. Nouwen Without the story that guides all other stories, the many events of each day remain a series of random incidents and accidents. Read now Poem: “A Lindisfarne Cross” Michael Manning It begins with what is broken, cast off, abandoned… Read now Disciplines for Freedom Bill Gardner A doctor learning how to die of cancer finds guides in Simone Weil, Iris Murdoch, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Pedro Arrupe. Read now The Lion Tamer’s Son Eloise Jarvis McGraw Joe Lang finds himself an orphan in the opening chapter of the classic children’s novel Sawdust in His Shoes. Read now Simple Steps to Combat Smartphone Addiction Tara Isabella Burton Finding technology and habits that make life better, not worse. Read now
Daily Prayer for July 4
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31–32, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven and on earth, we ask you to bless us, your children, for we want to be your children and nothing else. We want to have our joy and delight in knowing that we belong to you, the almighty God, who began and who will complete redemption on earth through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Bless your Word in us. Give us courage in suffering and distress, for we are allowed to serve you in all circumstances, even when we find it bitterly hard. Your name shall be honored in us, your kingdom shall come. As surely as the earth endures, everything shall happen in accordance with your will, on earth as in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Disciplines for Freedom Bill Gardner A doctor learning how to die of cancer finds guides in Simone Weil, Iris Murdoch, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Pedro Arrupe. Read now The Lion Tamer’s Son Eloise Jarvis McGraw Joe Lang finds himself an orphan in the opening chapter of the classic children’s novel Sawdust in His Shoes. Read now Simple Steps to Combat Smartphone Addiction Tara Isabella Burton Finding technology and habits that make life better, not worse. Read now Taking a Tech Sabbath Elizabeth Oldfield Weekend digital detoxes, even half-arsed ones like mine, are a modern iteration of one of the oldest ideas in civilization – and an act of resistance. Read now Is Your Life Worth More than a Pig’s? Joshua L. Sohn Supporting animal welfare is one of the best ways to demonstrate human exceptionalism. Read now
Daily Prayer for June 27
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15–16, NIV Lord God, help us to be holy as you are holy, and free us from all the earthly things that try to torment us. Grant us your Spirit so that we do what is right. May we always hold your hand confidently. Protect your children everywhere on earth, and help them do what is right even if the whole world does what is wrong. Help us, so that all we do becomes holy and pleasing in your sight. Let your grace grow among us and among the nations, and let your hand be strong to bring in your day, your day when everything is made new. May your name be kept holy, your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Will There Be an AI Apocalypse? Peter Berkman Marshall McLuhan and Romano Guardini say it’s already here. Read now Charles Dickens Writes to His Son Charles Dickens Dust off some 150-year-old advice for teens leaving home from the author of Great Expectations. Read now Taming Tech in Community Andrew Zimmerman How the Bruderhof community tries to be intentional about personal technology. Read now The Kids Aren’t Alright Abraham M. Nussbaum A psychiatrist reviews Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier and The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Read now It’s Getting Harder to Die Lydia S. Dugdale When medical tech can keep us alive, families face tough choices. Read now
Daily Prayer for June 26
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3, NIV O Lord our God, grant that we may have fellowship with you every day. May our hearts be ready to fulfill your commandments and to do what you want in all things. Hear our prayer. Hear and answer when we pray for the nations, for the whole world, and let your holy will be done. Remember all who are in distress, and lead them on the right way. May we go with joyful hearts wherever you lead us. Your name will be our help, your glory will come, and the world will be full of your love, your power, and your splendor. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Charles Dickens Writes to His Son Charles Dickens Dust off some 150-year-old advice for teens leaving home from the author of Great Expectations. Read now Taming Tech in Community Andrew Zimmerman How the Bruderhof community tries to be intentional about personal technology. Read now The Kids Aren’t Alright Abraham M. Nussbaum A psychiatrist reviews Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier and The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Read now It’s Getting Harder to Die Lydia S. Dugdale When medical tech can keep us alive, families face tough choices. Read now The Body of Believers Ulrich Stadler An early Anabaptist reflects on Paul’s metaphor of the church as the body of Christ. Read now
Daily Prayer for June 18
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 Timothy 1:8–9, NIV Lord our God, radiant, light giving, and almighty God through all the ages, be with us in our time too. Strengthen the grace we have received from Jesus Christ, and let it be known over all the world so that your name may be honored everywhere. Bless us, we pray, and let your blessing spread from us to others, to the glory of your name. Grant that the good may be strengthened in us, the good you have let us hear about for so many years. May everything that belongs to your Word come alive in us and in the world. May your blessing be on our actions, for we want to remain under your blessing, to the glory of your righteousness and truth. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Send Us Your Surplus Matthew Loftus South Sudan’s kids thank you for that shipment of hip-joint ball bearings. Read now Practicing Christianity Andrew Prevot In Christianity as a Way of Life, Kevin W. Hector says faith is about what we do, not just what we believe. Read now The Case for Not Sanitizing Fairy Tales Haley Stewart Fairy tales are the best way for children to learn that the world contains evil, violence, and danger. Read now A Father’s Final Gift Klaus Bonhoeffer Days before his execution by the Nazis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s brother sent his children this letter. Read now The Mysterious Barricades between Fathers and Sons Joel Clarkson Filmmaker Terrence Malick finds a musical expression of the father-son dynamic in François Couperin’s rondeau “Les Barricades Mystérieuses.” Read now