Daily Prayer for February 24
For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar – the Lord Almighty is his name. I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand – I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, “You are my people.” Isaiah 51:15-16, NIV Lord God Almighty, your eyes watch over the whole world. We come before you with the evils that surround us still clinging to us. Shelter our lives in your hands. Give us your strength to win through, even in suffering and need. For we are yours, O Lord our God. You have chosen your people to strengthen them and to free them from all evil. We beseech you to help us. May we feel your presence among us. May your Word bear fruit in us to the everlasting honor of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Finding Playmates in a Country with Few Children Gaetano Masciullo In a country with plummeting birth rates, an Italian father seeks the simple joy of children playing together. Read now Is It Possible to Rejoice Continually? John Chrysostom Paul’s exhortation to “rejoice always” seems a pretty tall order. Read now The Music on Mount Sinai Meir Soloveichik As students enter adulthood, how can they learn to hear the voice of God beneath the noise of life? Read now The Gold Rush for Lithium in the Argentine Puna Fernando Krapp and Javier Corbalán Multinational mining companies have descended on the salt flats to extract lithium for batteries. They’ve generated new jobs, but at what cost? Read now We Will Not Be Silent Andrea Grosso Ciponte With an entire nation blindly following an evil leader, where did a handful of students find the courage to resist? Read now
Daily Prayer for February 22
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ Exodus 34:6-7, NIV Dear Father in heaven, how great are your goodness and mercy to us all on earth, who are subject to misery and death! May our hearts be strengthened through your goodness and through the saving power of your nature, revealed to us in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Protect and bless us this night. May your Spirit help us find your ever-present kindness and mercy. Praised be your name forever! Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Music on Mount Sinai Meir Soloveichik As students enter adulthood, how can they learn to hear the voice of God beneath the noise of life? Read now The Gold Rush for Lithium in the Argentine Puna Fernando Krapp and Javier Corbalán Multinational mining companies have descended on the salt flats to extract lithium for batteries. They’ve generated new jobs, but at what cost? Read now We Will Not Be Silent Andrea Grosso Ciponte With an entire nation blindly following an evil leader, where did a handful of students find the courage to resist? Read now What Is a University For? Three academics reflect on the purpose of university education. Read now Poem: “On Raphael’s La Disputa del Sacramento” Claude Wilkinson The first of my umbrages is how utterly humdrum eternity seems. Read now
Daily Prayer for February 20
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12, NIV Lord our God, we thank you that in spite of all the evil, we may look toward the good and toward a change for the better. For your love, your Spirit of love, can be with us. In spite of all that has gone wrong, we can change. Through genuine faith we can become worthy in your sight. Everything can turn to the good. The nations can become glad, rejoicing in life because you are working among them to help them change. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Gold Rush for Lithium in the Argentine Puna Fernando Krapp and Javier Corbalán Multinational mining companies have descended on the salt flats to extract lithium for batteries. They’ve generated new jobs, but at what cost? Read now We Will Not Be Silent Andrea Grosso Ciponte With an entire nation blindly following an evil leader, where did a handful of students find the courage to resist? Read now What Is a University For? Three academics reflect on the purpose of university education. Read now Poem: “On Raphael’s La Disputa del Sacramento” Claude Wilkinson The first of my umbrages is how utterly humdrum eternity seems. Read now Gentleness in Academia Elizabeth Hoare In a cutthroat environment, is it naive to approach one’s critics, or even one’s students, with virtues such as gentleness, patience, and humility? Read now
Daily Prayer for February 19
Thus we have come to know and believe the love which God has for us. God is love; he who dwells in love is dwelling in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16, NEB Lord our God, we come to you as poor, heavily burdened people who often do not know where to turn. But we have trust in you, for you are love. Your love penetrates deep into our lives, righting what is wrong and making amends for our blundering. And so we are joyful and await your grace and your help on all our ways. Bless us, and help us find what is right in every situation, to your praise and your honor. Amen. Recent articles on Plough We Will Not Be Silent Andrea Grosso Ciponte With an entire nation blindly following an evil leader, where did a handful of students find the courage to resist? Read now What Is a University For? Three academics reflect on the purpose of university education. Read now Poem: “On Raphael’s La Disputa del Sacramento” Claude Wilkinson The first of my umbrages is how utterly humdrum eternity seems. Read now Gentleness in Academia Elizabeth Hoare In a cutthroat environment, is it naive to approach one’s critics, or even one’s students, with virtues such as gentleness, patience, and humility? Read now Humbled in the Presence of Daisies Friedrich von Hügel A philosopher ponders the limits of human knowledge. Read now
Daily Prayer for February 18
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29–31, NIV Lord our God, our loving Father, we thank you for all that our hearts and spirits are allowed to receive from you. We thank you for the community you give us, strengthening us to face life even through toil, struggle, and privation. Grant that your powers flow out to give us strength and courage. May we see and recognize you in your deeds ever more clearly. Do not let us faint or grow weary, no matter what we have to suffer. Grant that your Spirit may penetrate us ever more deeply to bring peace to us and those around us, and finally to bring blessing for all peoples of the earth. Amen. Recent articles on Plough What Is a University For? Three academics reflect on the purpose of university education. Read now Poem: “On Raphael’s La Disputa del Sacramento” Claude Wilkinson The first of my umbrages is how utterly humdrum eternity seems. Read now Gentleness in Academia Elizabeth Hoare In a cutthroat environment, is it naive to approach one’s critics, or even one’s students, with virtues such as gentleness, patience, and humility? Read now Humbled in the Presence of Daisies Friedrich von Hügel A philosopher ponders the limits of human knowledge. Read now For the Love of Public School Teaching Anthony Garces-Foley An immigrant educator tells why he chose to teach underprivileged children. Read now
Daily Prayer for February 17
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Psalm 98:1-3, NIV Lord our God, we thank you from our hearts, from the bottom of our hearts, that you consider us worthy to work with you so that redemption may come to the world in Jesus Christ. Already today many are rejoicing in their Redeemer. They are full of hope and comfort because the end is approaching – that evening when your glory shall be revealed, when the whole world and all nations shall glorify you, O great God and Father in heaven. Come into our time, we pray. Help us, Lord our God. Day and night we look to you in the hope of beholding the time of your glory, in the hope of receiving the peace that is beyond all understanding and of finding redemption, the great redemption from heaven, through you, the God over all flesh. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Gentleness in Academia Elizabeth Hoare In a cutthroat environment, is it naive to approach one’s critics, or even one’s students, with virtues such as gentleness, patience, and humility? Read now Humbled in the Presence of Daisies Friedrich von Hügel A philosopher ponders the limits of human knowledge. Read now For the Love of Public School Teaching Anthony Garces-Foley An immigrant educator tells why he chose to teach underprivileged children. Read now Things Literature and Art Help Us See Joshua Hren As Dostoyevsky learned firsthand, a firing squad can make you think about what really matters. Can a novel or a painting? Read now With the Zabbaleens of Mokattam Village Martin Mosebach and Alta L. Price A visitor finds Christianity thriving on a garbage dump outside of Cairo. Read now
Daily Prayer for February 15
For this is what the high and exalted One says – he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that even in need and misery we may feel and know that you are with the weak, for you are mighty in helping your children. You give the weak strength to serve you in spite of all their faults and weaknesses. Make us glad at heart for everything we are allowed to do and experience, because it serves you, your glory, and your kingdom until the day when others also are given eyes to see. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Humbled in the Presence of Daisies Friedrich von Hügel A philosopher ponders the limits of human knowledge. Read now For the Love of Public School Teaching Anthony Garces-Foley An immigrant educator tells why he chose to teach underprivileged children. Read now Things Literature and Art Help Us See Joshua Hren As Dostoyevsky learned firsthand, a firing squad can make you think about what really matters. Can a novel or a painting? Read now With the Zabbaleens of Mokattam Village Martin Mosebach and Alta L. Price A visitor finds Christianity thriving on a garbage dump outside of Cairo. Read now Feeding a Community Using Regenerative Agriculture Jeff King A Bruderhof farmer grows vegetables using sustainable practices. Read now
Daily Prayer for February 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. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5, NIV Lord our God, keep us in the grace that is ours through Jesus Christ. Uphold others also in this grace. Reveal yourself everywhere to those who trust in you and who await your kingdom. May your blessing be on our household. We thank you for helping us, and with your help we want to be faithful to you. Then when hardships come, we can be certain of your presence. We know and trust you. We know and trust the Savior, and we know and trust the Holy Spirit, in whom we can have community and be strengthened to serve your glory. Amen. Recent articles on Plough For the Love of Public School Teaching Anthony Garces-Foley An immigrant educator tells why he chose to teach underprivileged children. Read now Things Literature and Art Help Us See Joshua Hren As Dostoyevsky learned firsthand, a firing squad can make you think about what really matters. Can a novel or a painting? Read now With the Zabbaleens of Mokattam Village Martin Mosebach and Alta L. Price A visitor finds Christianity thriving on a garbage dump outside of Cairo. Read now Feeding a Community Using Regenerative Agriculture Jeff King A Bruderhof farmer grows vegetables using sustainable practices. Read now Edward Hicks: Pacifist Patriot Cody Cook An early American artist reconciled his Quaker convictions with the promising ideals of a new nation. Read now
Daily Prayer for February 13
Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy sorrow endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience. For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. Sirach 2:4-5, DRA Lord our God, we thank you for helping us again and again. Praised be your name for all you do for us and for all your help in many dangers and hardships! We trust you completely and have faith in you through Jesus Christ, the Savior. He reveals your grace everywhere, in every hardship, giving us the courage and freedom to look toward your kingdom. Help us remain courageous when we have to face suffering, for we want to be your disciples in Jesus Christ, the Crucified One. He has made suffering holy, that our suffering too may bear fruit for you in time and in eternity. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Things Literature and Art Help Us See Joshua Hren As Dostoyevsky learned firsthand, a firing squad can make you think about what really matters. Can a novel or a painting? Read now With the Zabbaleens of Mokattam Village Martin Mosebach and Alta L. Price A visitor finds Christianity thriving on a garbage dump outside of Cairo. Read now Feeding a Community Using Regenerative Agriculture Jeff King A Bruderhof farmer grows vegetables using sustainable practices. Read now Edward Hicks: Pacifist Patriot Cody Cook An early American artist reconciled his Quaker convictions with the promising ideals of a new nation. Read now My Own Personal Desert Jeannie Rose Barksdale Should I pull an Antony: drop my kids off with the nuns and head to a desert to seek sanctification in solitude? Read now
Daily Prayer for February 12
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20, RSV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you with all our hearts for showing your power in us and for overcoming so much that is hostile and that threatens to harm our life. We thank you for the countless wonders you do for our sake. We rejoice and thank you most of all for allowing us to know that you are writing our names in heaven. Where our names are, there we are too. Where our Lord Jesus Christ is, there we want to be too, and our words and our actions should come from him. Keep us faithful in this, and let us serve you with gladness on every path we tread. Amen. Recent articles on Plough With the Zabbaleens of Mokattam Village Martin Mosebach A visitor finds Christianity thriving on a garbage dump outside of Cairo. Read now Feeding a Community Using Regenerative Agriculture Jeff King A Bruderhof farmer grows vegetables using sustainable practices. Read now Edward Hicks: Pacifist Patriot Cody Cook An early American artist reconciled his Quaker convictions with the promising ideals of a new nation. Read now My Own Personal Desert Jeannie Rose Barksdale Should I pull an Antony: drop my kids off with the nuns and head to a desert to seek sanctification in solitude? Read now The End of the World Is Joy Nikolai Berdyaev The thought of the end must be grasped not in a passive and negative attitude of mind but creatively and positively. Read now