Daily Prayer for April 23
I look for your deliverance, Lord. Genesis 49:18, NIV Lord our God, help us in these days that are so difficult for us. Help us never to lose our expectation of the time that is to come, the time of Jesus Christ, Lord of heaven and earth. Strengthen us, we pray, and strengthen those all over the world who have to endure great suffering, especially the destitute and the dying. May your heavenly hosts come down to the many who are in misery, so that your name is praised in life and in death, in whatever we have to go through. For we shall praise you, no matter what happens now or in the days ahead. May your glory remain in our hearts, with the joy that you, O God, are the Father of all. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Breakwater Rhys Laverty In the Channel Islands, a crumbling jetty protects a way of life. Read now Hoverfly Heaven Christopher Hart Britain’s hedges are home to a remarkable and important insect. Read now Fight Wealth Not Poverty Claudio Oliver After decades serving the poor, I’ve realized that the problem and the solution lie closer to home. Read now Reading the Book of Nature Lilias Trotter, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Augustine of Hippo and George MacDonald Four writers study the divine as revealed in the natural world. Read now A Wilderness God Timothy J. Keiderling In the Holy Land, the desert is a place of hope. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 22
Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. Luke 12:35–36, NIV Lord our God, we wait in expectation. Even in the great distress on earth, we wait in longing for your day to come, for the pangs of death to pass, so that your kingdom may arise and the reign of Jesus Christ may spread over the whole world in power and glory. May your promise be fulfilled and your will be done on earth. May there always be people who believe and who pray in faith, “Lord God, come! Come, Lord God. Humankind does not understand how to live. Send us Jesus Christ, the Savior, Lord, and Judge of the dead and the living. Put an end to sin and death!” We thank you for giving us this faith and for letting us pray at all times, “Come, Lord Jesus. Yes, come soon, Lord Jesus!” We ask you to protect us in this faith. Bring this faith to fulfillment for the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Hoverfly Heaven Christopher Hart Britain’s hedges are home to a remarkable and important insect. Read now Fight Wealth Not Poverty Claudio Oliver After decades serving the poor, I’ve realized that the problem and the solution lie closer to home. Read now Reading the Book of Nature Lilias Trotter, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Augustine of Hippo and George MacDonald Four writers study the divine as revealed in the natural world. Read now A Wilderness God Timothy J. Keiderling In the Holy Land, the desert is a place of hope. Read now Indecent Exposure Maria Baer A proven therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is the opposite of “safetyism.” Read now
Daily Prayer for April 21
He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. Psalm 55:18, NIV Dear Father in heaven, grant that we may come into your presence as your children. Give to us all that we need each day, so that we are no longer caught in the turmoil of life but can receive your peace. For you care for us as your children, and we are allowed to go confidently through all the troubles of these times because our way leads to you, the eternal Father in heaven. Keep us from going astray and from spending our efforts on what is temporal and cannot last. Let your light strengthen us in what is of heaven, in what is eternally true for our lives. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Fight Wealth Not Poverty Claudio Oliver After decades serving the poor, I’ve realized that the problem and the solution lie closer to home. Read now Reading the Book of Nature Lilias Trotter, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Augustine of Hippo and George MacDonald Four writers study the divine as revealed in the natural world. Read now A Wilderness God Timothy J. Keiderling In the Holy Land, the desert is a place of hope. Read now Indecent Exposure Maria Baer A proven therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is the opposite of “safetyism.” Read now A Child’s Right to Play Johann Christoph Arnold Children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy and contentment. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 20
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24, NIV Our great God, still hidden and yet so evident and near, we thank you that you are at work in us before we think of asking. We thank you that you hold us by the hand and lead us before we are aware of it. Stay with us in this way and awaken our hearts at the right moment, that we are not surprised by the painful things we experience but can be prepared at all times to watch and pray, trusting that we are not forsaken in the constant strife on this earth. Grant us hope, O God, that the time is coming when all people will hear the proclamation, “See, a new heaven and a new earth, because you have learned to see God’s honor in everything.” Amen. Recent articles on Plough Reading the Book of Nature Lilias Trotter, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Augustine of Hippo and George MacDonald Four writers study the divine as revealed in the natural world. Read now A Wilderness God Timothy J. Keiderling In the Holy Land, the desert is a place of hope. Read now Indecent Exposure Maria Baer A proven therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is the opposite of “safetyism.” Read now A Child’s Right to Play Johann Christoph Arnold Children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy and contentment. Read now PloughCast 81: Can Metaphors Help Us Live Well? Joy Marie Clarkson and Susannah Black Roberts Joy Marie Clarkson discusses her new book, and the importance of metaphor. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 19
And in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ give thanks every day for everything to our God and Father. Ephesians 5:20, NEB Dear Father in heaven, accept our thanks today for all you allow us to learn and to receive from you. Help us, your children, to follow the Savior with a right spirit and with true understanding. Protect us from evil, from all the works of Satan. In our generation may we experience your rulership and your wonders. In the name of Jesus we pray, reveal yourself with power. May your will be done on earth as in heaven, that all may realize they are in your hands and that it is your will to set everything right. Be with us this night. Bless and strengthen us for all the work entrusted to us. Amen. Recent articles on Plough A Wilderness God Timothy J. Keiderling In the Holy Land, the desert is a place of hope. Read now Indecent Exposure Maria Baer A proven therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is the opposite of “safetyism.” Read now A Child’s Right to Play Johann Christoph Arnold Children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy and contentment. Read now PloughCast 81: Can Metaphors Help Us Live Well? Joy Marie Clarkson and Susannah Black Roberts Joy Marie Clarkson discusses her new book, and the importance of metaphor. Read now A Debut Novel Revisits Ukraine’s Past Nadya Williams Sasha Vasilyuk’s Your Presence Is Mandatory calls us to honesty and openness with ourselves and our loved ones. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 18
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Revelation 3:8, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that you know us all and that you look deep into our hearts, watching over us in everything we go through, whether easy or difficult. We thank you that we do not stand alone but that you hear the smallest sigh of each of your children. We thank you that darkness must give way to light, distress to joy, and fear to strength and courage. For you lead us through everything; it is what you bring about from your future world, not anything within our sight, that gives us strength and courage and that endures through everything. We thank you from our hearts for your unending gifts, and we are amazed that it was possible for us to receive all this from you. Protect us and keep us childlike, so that we remain in the fellowship that the Lord Jesus has given us, singing praise to him and to the glory and honor of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Indecent Exposure Maria Baer A proven therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder is the opposite of “safetyism.” Read now A Child’s Right to Play Johann Christoph Arnold Children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy and contentment. Read now PloughCast 81: Can Metaphors Help Us Live Well? Joy Marie Clarkson and Susannah Black Roberts Joy Marie Clarkson discusses her new book, and the importance of metaphor. Read now A Debut Novel Revisits Ukraine’s Past Nadya Williams Sasha Vasilyuk’s Your Presence Is Mandatory calls us to honesty and openness with ourselves and our loved ones. Read now Can Masculinity Be Good? Samuel Helyar Or is it a problem to be eradicated? Read now
Daily Prayer for April 17
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for everything you have done for us, everything we think of when we are quiet for a moment and look back. May all that you have done remain alive in us, so that we can look forward with open, clear-seeing eyes, aware that our lives are in your hands and that you always lead us to something new, great, and glorious. Again and again you will give your Sabbath rest to your people, to all who acknowledge you and whose task is to work for you among the people. Again and again you will bring them your rest, until the coming of the last and glorious Sabbath on which your kingdom can be established. Amen. Recent articles on Plough A Child’s Right to Play Johann Christoph Arnold We know children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy, contentment, and detachment from the troubles of the day. In our frantically over-scheduled culture, every child should have a right to play. Read now PloughCast 81: Can Metaphors Help Us Live Well? Joy Marie Clarkson and Susannah Black Roberts Joy Marie Clarkson discusses her new book, and the importance of metaphor. Read now A Debut Novel Revisits Ukraine’s Past Nadya Williams Sasha Vasilyuk’s Your Presence Is Mandatory calls us to honesty and openness with ourselves and our loved ones. Read now Can Masculinity Be Good? Samuel Helyar Or is it a problem to be eradicated? Read now The Desert Fathers on Freedom from Worry What did the Desert Fathers have to say about wellbeing and happiness? Read now
Daily Prayer for April 16
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7, NIV Lord our God, we come seeking to find community with you and ask you to keep us in your truth throughout all that occupies us in our daily lives. Keep us from growing confused about truths we have already found through the witness of your Spirit in our hearts. Keep us in your truth so that we can hold firmly to our course on earth under the many hardships and burdens that try to drag us down. Help us to remain steady and to find the path that goes straight ahead, leading us on and on to your final goal. Amen. Recent articles on Plough PloughCast 81: Can Metaphors Help Us Live Well? Joy Marie Clarkson and Susannah Black Roberts Joy Marie Clarkson discusses her new book, and the importance of metaphor. Read now A Debut Novel Revisits Ukraine’s Past Nadya Williams Sasha Vasilyuk’s Your Presence Is Mandatory calls us to honesty and openness with ourselves and our loved ones. Read now Can Masculinity Be Good? Samuel Helyar Or is it a problem to be eradicated? Read now The Desert Fathers on Freedom from Worry What did the Desert Fathers have to say about wellbeing and happiness? Read now Lambing Season Norann Voll I learned some of life’s most important lessons from my father while caring for sheep. Read now
Daily Prayer for April 15
But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. Psalm 31:14–16, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we turn to you. Hear our longing, hear our hopes, hear our faith! Our future lies in your hands. Free each heart from discouragement and sadness over the many evils of the world. Make us free from earthly things, free yet bound in spirit with you, O God. Help us on our pilgrimage toward eternity. As we walk with you, fill us with hope that the whole world will see the light, for in your light alone can we find fullness of life. Protect us and bless us through your Spirit. Amen. Recent articles on Plough A Debut Novel Revisits Ukraine’s Past Nadya Williams Sasha Vasilyuk’s Your Presence Is Mandatory calls us to honesty and openness with ourselves and our loved ones. Read now Can Masculinity Be Good? Samuel Helyar Or is it a problem to be eradicated? Read now The Desert Fathers on Freedom from Worry What did the Desert Fathers have to say about wellbeing and happiness? Read now Lambing Season Norann Voll I learned some of life’s most important lessons from my father while caring for sheep. Read now The Plants Can Talk William Thomas Okie The flowers have a language. Are we listening? Read now
Daily Prayer for April 14
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25–26, NIV Dear Father in heaven, to you we entrust everything, for you have given us life and will call us to resurrection. You will help your children, your people, to reach what you have called them to. Protect your church on earth. Let her soon see your glory. Let her see Jesus Christ intervening in people’s lives and destinies until, shaken and trembling, they have to recognize that they should love and honor Jesus alone, to your honor, O Father in heaven. We thank you for all you have given us in your Word, which enables us to become your children and to find your way for us on earth. Bless us and give us the Holy Spirit. Protect us this night. Protect us so that nothing evil can harm us. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Desert Fathers on Freedom from Worry What did the Desert Fathers have to say about wellbeing and happiness? Read now Lambing Season Norann Voll I learned some of life’s most important lessons from my father while caring for sheep. Read now The Plants Can Talk William Thomas Okie The flowers have a language. Are we listening? Read now How Far Does Forgiveness Reach? Denise Uwimana Emmanuel and Cancilde, neighbors on opposite sides of the Rwandan genocide, tell their story. Read now Fred and the Convict Dan Grote There’s a certain something in the air at USP Canaan this morning. Read now