Daily Prayer for April 1
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5, RSV Lord God, our Father, we thank you for all the light you give us and for all your loving help in outward things as well. We come into your presence and ask you to give us your light and your constant guidance for the path we must follow. Grant that what is of heaven may be revealed on earth, that we may rejoice in the good and beautiful things you give to all people. Our Father, reveal what is of heaven, and free people from their sin and darkness so that at last they recognize your glory. Strengthen our hope for this goal. Rule and work in the hearts of many people, that through them your glory may be proclaimed to all. Amen. Recent articles on Plough An Octopus, a Septuagenarian, and a Millennial Amy Parilee Rickards Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures portrays how rich life can be when we nurture meaningful connections with one another. Read now The First Need of the Church John Stott On the evening of the first Easter day, the disciples heard a word of promise. Read now Christ Is Victorious Johann Christoph Arnold May the miracle of Easter fill us with hope and love. Read now The Path from Death to Life Cardinal Kurt Koch Our Christian faith stands or falls on the belief that Christ destroyed death and brought about new life. Read now Calling Upon the Vanished God George MacDonald On Good Friday God withdrew, that the perfect will of the Son might arise and go forth to find the will of the Father. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 31
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20, NIV Lord our God, we turn our faces to you and plead with you to come to us earthly and often tormented people. May we find strength in the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom redemption is promised to us all. May your kingdom at last be revealed and everything change for the better even though we do not see it yet. May we always honor your name above all others, for you are our Father and we want to hold fast to your grace that lets us call you Father. In our troubled times we want to have enduring faith that you can bring a new time when good shall at last emerge from all the distress. Grant that every broken and needy person may experience your help, your grace, and your salvation, and may know that these always surround us, if only our eyes are open to see and recognize them. So we want to thank and praise you at all times, and at last know the joy of eternity, to your glory and honor. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The First Need of the Church John Stott On the evening of the first Easter day, the disciples heard a word of promise. Read now Christ Is Victorious Johann Christoph Arnold May the miracle of Easter fill us with hope and love. Read now The Path from Death to Life Cardinal Kurt Koch Our Christian faith stands or falls on the belief that Christ destroyed death and brought about new life. Read now Calling Upon the Vanished God George MacDonald On Good Friday God withdrew, that the perfect will of the Son might arise and go forth to find the will of the Father. Read now Turning Henry Drummond There is something much greater than Peter’s sin: few of us grasp the wonder of his repentance. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 30
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:20–22, NIV Lord God, we thank you for having revealed yourself on this earth in the midst of sin, need, and oppression. We thank you that we can have joy in all you have done both before and since the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior in everything. To you be praise and thanks. Our hearts leap up with joy in you and in your deeds. Grant that we may be faithful to the end, victorious in all things through your Spirit, who helps and blesses us on our way. Grant your help to all who call to you and who long to rejoice in you. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Path from Death to Life Cardinal Kurt Koch Our Christian faith stands or falls on the belief that Christ destroyed death and brought about new life. Read now Calling Upon the Vanished God George MacDonald On Good Friday God withdrew, that the perfect will of the Son might arise and go forth to find the will of the Father. Read now Turning Henry Drummond There is something much greater than Peter’s sin: few of us grasp the wonder of his repentance. Read now Serving in the Spirit of Christ François Caudwell Are we serving Jesus as a slave, as a mercenary, or as a friend? Read now Holy Saturday and the Journey to Emmaus Joel Clarkson Josef Rheinberger’s motet “Abendlied” juxtaposes sorrow and joy. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 29
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16, NIV Lord our God, dear Father in heaven, we turn our hearts to you, for you know all our need. We turn to you, for you are ready with your help when we are at our wit’s end. You have paths we can follow joyfully because we have a Lord who rules and who reigns over us to make us glad. May we praise your name at all times. May your help be always before our eyes so that we can be your true children, to the glory of your name on earth. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Path from Death to Life Cardinal Kurt Koch Our Christian faith stands or falls on the belief that Christ destroyed death and brought about new life. Read now Calling Upon the Vanished God George MacDonald On Good Friday God withdrew, that the perfect will of the Son might arise and go forth to find the will of the Father. Read now Turning Henry Drummond There is something much greater than Peter’s sin: few of us grasp the wonder of his repentance. Read now Serving in the Spirit of Christ François Caudwell Are we serving Jesus as a slave, as a mercenary, or as a friend? Read now Holy Saturday and the Journey to Emmaus Joel Clarkson Josef Rheinberger’s motet “Abendlied” juxtaposes sorrow and joy. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 28
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1–2, NIV Lord God, we thank you that you have given us atonement, an atonement that delivers us from all evil, from all that is temporal and perishable, and that allows us even now to live in eternity. Grant that many people become aware of the greatness and freeing power of the redemption you have offered us. May a people be born to you, serving you with light in their hearts as they look to the future coming of Jesus Christ. Be with us, strengthen us, and protect us from all the deception on earth. For we want to be your children and nothing else; with our whole hearts we want to look always to you. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Calling Upon the Vanished God George MacDonald On Good Friday God withdrew, that the perfect will of the Son might arise and go forth to find the will of the Father. Read now Turning Henry Drummond There is something much greater than Peter’s sin: few of us grasp the wonder of his repentance. Read now Serving in the Spirit of Christ François Caudwell Are we serving Jesus as a slave, as a mercenary, or as a friend? Read now Holy Saturday and the Journey to Emmaus Joel Clarkson Josef Rheinberger’s motet “Abendlied” juxtaposes sorrow and joy. Read now Beauty for the Least of These Ellie DuHadway A unique depiction of the stations of the cross welcomes guests at the Lamb Center, a ministry to people experiencing homelessness. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 27
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22, NIV Lord our God, from whom great promises are given for all humankind and especially for your people, we gather in your presence. We rejoice before you, for your promise is sure and your works will be revealed to the glory of your name. Grant us steadfast faith in the grace of Jesus Christ. Grant us faith to hold firm, and in spite of all evil to trust that you are ruling and will set everything right. Lord our God, our Father, we cry to you. As the deer pants for refreshing water, so in our time our souls cry out to you, “Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as in heaven.” Amen. Recent articles on Plough Turning Henry Drummond There is something much greater than Peter’s sin: few of us grasp the wonder of his repentance. Read now Serving in the Spirit of Christ François Caudwell Are we serving Jesus as a slave, as a mercenary, or as a friend? Read now Holy Saturday and the Journey to Emmaus Joel Clarkson Josef Rheinberger’s motet “Abendlied” juxtaposes sorrow and joy. Read now Beauty for the Least of These Ellie DuHadway A unique depiction of the stations of the cross welcomes guests at the Lamb Center, a ministry to people experiencing homelessness. Read now Waiting for Judas Madeleine L’Engle Jesus offers a love that is too strong for many of us to accept. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 26
It is not that the Lord is slow in fulfilling his promise, as some suppose, but that he is very patient with you, because it is not his will for any to be lost, but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9, NEB Dear Father in heaven, we thank you with all our hearts that you have given us your living promise. We thank you that again and again our faith can receive a clearer vision through this promise. For you have promised that at last the greatest day of all will come, will conquer the whole world, and bring salvation to all people to the glory of your name as Father throughout all nations. Strengthen us in every way, especially when we are in need and distress. Strengthen the sick and those who are tempted. May they wait in expectation for fulfillment of the promise, and may they see help come. May your name, Lord God, be honored among us. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Serving in the Spirit of Christ François Caudwell Are we serving Jesus as a slave, as a mercenary, or as a friend? Read now Holy Saturday and the Journey to Emmaus Joel Clarkson Josef Rheinberger’s motet “Abendlied” juxtaposes sorrow and joy. Read now Beauty for the Least of These Ellie DuHadway A unique depiction of the stations of the cross welcomes guests at the Lamb Center, a ministry to people experiencing homelessness. Read now Waiting for Judas Madeleine L’Engle Jesus offers a love that is too strong for many of us to accept. Read now Clean House, Clean Heart Mary Grace Mangano Spring cleaning is an ancient tradition. It has spiritual roots, and might offer spiritual benefit. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 25
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13–14, NIV Lord our God, merciful God and almighty Father in heaven, we beseech you, look upon us as your children. For in spite of everything, all of us are allowed to be your children and to praise you for all the good you are doing and for all you still want to do for us. Hear our prayer as we come to you with particular concerns, asking for your will to be done in us, for everything to be carried out according to your good purpose, that we may be joyful even in hard and serious times and may hold fast to what you have promised. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Holy Saturday and the Journey to Emmaus Joel Clarkson Josef Rheinberger’s motet “Abendlied” sets to music the disciples’ words from the day after Jesus’ death, juxtaposing sorrow and joy. Read now Beauty for the Least of These Ellie DuHadway A unique depiction of the stations of the cross welcomes guests at the Lamb Center, a ministry to people experiencing homelessness. Read now Waiting for Judas Madeleine L’Engle Jesus offers a love that is too strong for many of us to accept. Read now Clean House, Clean Heart Mary Grace Mangano Spring cleaning is an ancient tradition. It has spiritual roots, and might offer spiritual benefit. Read now To Mend a Farm Adam Nicolson A restored landscape will be more than it was before, bearing the marks of damage and repair. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 24
For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3, NIV Dear Father in heaven, in quietness we come to you and ask you for your Spirit. We ask this especially for the time of waiting still required of us as we hope and strive for light to come into all hearts, for light to shine where there is so much death. We must not despair of our inner life even when life around us rages as if it would suck us down into its whirlpool with no way out. But you will guard us. Watch over us, we pray, also in hours of temptation, so that we may remain under your care. Watch over us so that we have hope and joy in you, assured that your goal for us all is true life from above, a life of resurrection. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Waiting for Judas Madeleine L’Engle Jesus offers a love that is too strong for many of us to accept. Read now Clean House, Clean Heart Mary Grace Mangano Spring cleaning is an ancient tradition. It has spiritual roots, and might offer spiritual benefit. Read now To Mend a Farm Adam Nicolson A restored landscape will be more than it was before, bearing the marks of damage and repair. Read now A Dust Rag for Easter Eggs Clare Huchet Bishop Paris, under Nazi occupation: Little Zezette is sick and malnourished. Her friends want to help her get well again, but how? Louise has an idea. Read now PloughCast 79: According to the Scriptures – Resurrection in the Old Testament Alastair Roberts and Susannah Black Roberts Alastair Roberts revisits the resurrection stories of the Old Testament. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 22
He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:5-6, NIV Dear Father in heaven, grant that we may come to you as your children. Grant that we may come to your Spirit, that something of trust and perseverance may be born in us for our life on earth. May we always be loyal and full of hope, working and striving not only for what is earthly, but for the tasks that have been laid on us for your kingdom and its righteousness. Let new light shine out among us again and again. Let many understand when your voice is speaking to them, so that they may gain courage. Let your voice be heard so that the great gospel that makes us your children may be proclaimed to people of all circles. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Clean House, Clean Heart Mary Grace Mangano Spring cleaning is an ancient tradition. It has spiritual roots, and might offer spiritual benefit. Read now To Mend a Farm Adam Nicolson A restored landscape will be more than it was before, bearing the marks of damage and repair. Read now A Dust Rag for Easter Eggs Clare Huchet Bishop Paris, under Nazi occupation: Little Zezette is sick and malnourished. Her friends want to help her get well again, but how? Louise has an idea. Read now PloughCast 79: According to the Scriptures – Resurrection in the Old Testament Alastair Roberts and Susannah Black Roberts Alastair Roberts revisits the resurrection stories of the Old Testament. Read now Dandelions: An Apology Clare Coffey Why sweat lawn care when you could have a meadow, green and gold, by working a little less? Read now