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
Daily Prayer for April 13
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10, NIV Lord our God, O great and almighty One, whose Spirit fills heaven and earth! We thank you that you are our Father and that in you we have a refuge wherever we must go as we serve you on earth. We thank you that your life can be revealed in us and can flow through us so that the world may be blest by you, our loving and caring Father. Protect us and strengthen us in times of trouble and sorrow. When we travel on new paths, give us your Spirit to show us the way, that everything may lead to the good and to your honor. Father, through your Spirit unite us in the unshakable hope that your will shall at last be done on earth as in heaven. Grant that we may rejoice in the certainty that whatever happens, our paths are made level and firm by your love and your faithfulness. 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
Daily Prayer for April 12
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20-21, NIV Lord our God, draw us to yourself. Draw us into the quiet that you give, where something can happen to us and to our hearts. Help us to discern your kingdom surrounding us and in our spirits to live in this kingdom. Then our life will be as if in heaven, where we need not worry or torment ourselves, where your power is everything to us, penetrating our earthly life, which so often weighs us down. We thank you that you have made a way of strength, full of power to hold us firmly, so that even when we stumble, we cannot be turned from the goal. We thank you for all the good that comes from you, which we cannot see in earthly things but which can invade our hearts with such mighty and uplifting power. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 Book Tour: Flights of Fact or Fiction Phil Christman What’s the actual deal with UFOs and mystics who flew? Read now
Daily Prayer for April 11
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:26, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for this day and for the protection you have given us. Grant that we may find our joy in your grace and in your love. Help us to become truer followers of Jesus, who came in your love. Be merciful to us and help all those who belong to you. You know them all and the thoughts of their hearts. You know their struggle on earth and the temptations that surround them. Help each one, also those who are still far away from you. Give them hearts open to your Word and to all you have promised. We entrust ourselves to your care this night. Help us and bless us. May your will be done in all things, also in the midst of all the sin and misery in the world. May your will be done on earth as in heaven, and may your kingdom come. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 Book Tour: Flights of Fact or Fiction Phil Christman What’s the actual deal with UFOs and mystics who flew? Read now Why I Went Cold Turkey on Political Theology Alastair Roberts Reading the Gospels out of delight in them, rather than as fodder for political argument, was like breathing fresh air. Read now