Daily Prayer for March 3
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” Luke 9:23–24, NIV Dear Father in heaven, you have sent us the Lord Jesus to bear our guilt and our misery. To this day we rejoice that he came, he who can free us from all evil. Teach us to understand the way of the Cross, the way Jesus went. Grant that we may always follow him, even if we also suffer and have a cross to bear. Then we can joyfully go the way he went to the glory of your name, O Father in heaven. We are your children whether we understand it or not. You protect and care for us, until your glory comes and everything is completed that was begun through Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Bless us in his Word, and help us to become his true followers. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Quest to Emancipate Labor Peter Mommsen Why do we work? The dream of a truly human economy goes back millennia, from Genesis to Marx to Martin Luther King. Read now The Backbone of a Country Evelyn Mow Luo Zhongli’s 1980 painting Father portrayed an aging farmer in a format usually reserved for deifying China’s political leaders. Read now The Forgiveness Project Marina Cantacuzino In London, an unconventional project shares stories of forgiveness. Read now Confessions of a Former Hack Shelby Kearns An aspiring journalist finds her work assignments at odds with her conscience. Read now Willing What God Wills J. Heinrich Arnold God needs nothing more than this: that we give him a quiet heart. Read now
Daily Prayer for March 1
O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8, RSV Dear Father in heaven, we come to you. With thanks we come to you, for again and again you have helped us. Again and again you have let your light shine out on us so that we could be glad and know that our lives are in your hands. Protect us on this earth, where it is so necessary. Protect us, that the light of true life may shine more and more brightly and we may praise your name with our whole heart. Be with us this night, O God, and touch our hearts with your Spirit. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Forgiveness Project Marina Cantacuzino In London, an unconventional project shares stories of forgiveness. Read now Confessions of a Former Hack Shelby Kearns An aspiring journalist finds her work assignments at odds with her conscience. Read now Willing What God Wills J. Heinrich Arnold God needs nothing more than this: that we give him a quiet heart. Read now The Third Act of Work John Fechtel Work was centered on the home for much of history. Now it’s back. Read now Rednecks and Barbarians of France Vincent Lloyd Houria Bouteldja’s latest book marks a turn from racial politics to solidarity. Read now
Daily Prayer for February 27
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Revelation 2:10, NIV Lord our God, we come into your presence. Hear our prayers, we entreat you. Let your will be done among us; let your will be done for each one of us individually, and for our time. Let everything go according to your will, even if the way leads through tribulation, fear, and need. For in the end your goal will be reached. In the end you will fulfill your purpose, and your kingdom will come. Your kingdom will come to the honor of your name and for the redemption of all people still suffering on earth. Let your Word bring us blessing. May we go forward joyfully in the patience of Jesus Christ until times change, until a new day dawns and we are allowed to see your glory and your peace. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Confessions of a Former Hack Shelby Kearns An aspiring journalist finds her work assignments at odds with her conscience. Read now Willing What God Wills J. Heinrich Arnold God needs nothing more than this: that we give him a quiet heart. Read now The Third Act of Work John Fechtel Work was centered on the home for much of history. Now it’s back. Read now Rednecks and Barbarians of France Vincent Lloyd Houria Bouteldja’s latest book marks a turn from racial politics to solidarity. Read now 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
Daily Prayer for February 26
I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1–2, NIV Lord God Almighty, Lord our God, our refuge for ever and ever, bless us as we gather in your presence and turn to you. May we be your children, who can simply believe and stand firm in our lives and in our calling. We thank you for giving us your grace and constant help. In your grace we can be joyful, praising and honoring you. You are our father. You never forsake us. May your name be praised by us all. May your name be praised above and in the whole world so that all people may acknowledge you and receive what they need from you. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Willing What God Wills J. Heinrich Arnold God needs nothing more than this: that we give him a quiet heart. Read now The Third Act of Work John Fechtel Work was centered on the home for much of history. Now it’s back. Read now Rednecks and Barbarians of France Vincent Lloyd Houria Bouteldja’s latest book marks a turn from racial politics to solidarity. Read now 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
Daily Prayer for February 25
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1, NIV Dear Father in heaven, grant that we may stand in your grace. Grant that the light of your grace may come to us through your Word. Keep us firm in faith until the promised time when your redemption shall come to all the nations on earth. We are often anxious and ask ourselves if people can bear it. Will they learn to listen to your Word? Will they remain steadfast when hard times come? Will they turn to you alone, to you who know the hour and appoint the time when we may see the promised day? Let the might of your hand prevail over the whole world. You are the only power that can help us out of our great affliction, you our only Lord. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Third Act of Work John Fechtel Work was centered on the home for much of history. Now it’s back. Read now Rednecks and Barbarians of France Vincent Lloyd Houria Bouteldja’s latest book marks a turn from racial politics to solidarity. Read now 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
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