Daily Prayer for September 11
After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven, we thank you for letting our failures and sins come before you and for giving us One who steps in to help us just as we are, with the right help for the good and the evil things in our lives. We thank you that our whole age can be comforted, and even the terrors of our days can be turned to the good because everything has already come before your holy eyes. Salvation will come out of disaster, life out of death. Praise to your glorious and almighty name! Protect our faith in your Servant. May we always find strength and courage, even when we are in pain. The time is coming when your loving-kindness will be revealed among all nations on earth. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Children at Play Friedrich Froebel The inventor of kindergarten explains the importance of free play for a child’s development. Read now American Freedom and Christian Freedom Benjamin Crosby Freedom is central to American ideals and to the Christian faith, but there is danger in confusing the two. Read now In Praise of Excess Alan Koppschall In All Things Are Too Small, Becca Rothfeld makes the case for a more infinite view of the world and rejects the smallness and minimalism of the current age. Read now Bad Faith or Perfect Freedom King-Ho Leung Sartre and Augustine reflect on what it takes to be free. Read now Speaking of Joy Ladislaus Boros Wherever we experience true joy, we also experience mystery. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 10
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105, NIV Lord our God, we stand before your presence. Look in mercy upon us poor, weak children, who do not know where to turn unless you help us with your mighty hand. We trust in you. You will help us, you will always be with us, and even in hard times you will accomplish your will for what is good. Bless us today as we gather to hear your Word. May your Word always be our strength and joy. Your Word gives victory in us and in the whole world so that your will may be done on earth as in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough American Freedom and Christian Freedom Benjamin Crosby Freedom is central to American ideals and to the Christian faith, but there is danger in confusing the two. Read now In Praise of Excess Alan Koppschall In All Things Are Too Small, Becca Rothfeld makes the case for a more infinite view of the world and rejects the smallness and minimalism of the current age. Read now Bad Faith or Perfect Freedom King-Ho Leung Sartre and Augustine reflect on what it takes to be free. Read now Speaking of Joy Ladislaus Boros Wherever we experience true joy, we also experience mystery. Read now Poem: “Let Them Grow” Robert W. Crawford The poet shares his hopes for his grandsons. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 9
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10–11, NIV Lord God, we thank you that it is your will to strengthen us through your presence, through Jesus Christ, the leader of your cause, who is and remains victor among all on earth. Our souls need strength and our hearts need confidence so that in our time we can draw near to you and to your kingdom. Bless us with the Holy Spirit whenever we begin to grow weary. Your Holy Spirit can give us the strength to believe and hope, the strength to see the salvation that is coming to give joy to all the world. Amen. Recent articles on Plough In Praise of Excess Alan Koppschall In All Things Are Too Small, Becca Rothfeld makes the case for a more infinite view of the world and rejects the smallness and minimalism of the current age. Read now Bad Faith or Perfect Freedom King-Ho Leung Sartre and Augustine reflect on what it takes to be free. Read now Speaking of Joy Ladislaus Boros Wherever we experience true joy, we also experience mystery. Read now Poem: “Let Them Grow” Robert W. Crawford The poet shares his hopes for his grandsons. Read now The Word within the World James Matthew Wilson Poetry, the oldest and most universal of arts, is increasingly underappreciated. These four poets hope to reverse that. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 8
Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion? Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:9–12, NIV Lord God, our Father in heaven, we turn to you in these times when we are under so much stress and temptation. Let your light glow in our hearts to give us firmness, patience, and perseverance throughout the time of testing, no matter how long it lasts. Your hand can change everything. Your hand can shorten the time we must wait until your light shines out of the darkness of death and evil, until your light reveals your life to your children and to the whole world. You are our God and Father as you have promised, and remaining at your side, we look to you in faith and trust. You will bring about goodness, justice, and mercy as you have promised, and so fulfill your will. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Speaking of Joy Ladislaus Boros Wherever we experience true joy, we also experience mystery. Read now Poem: “Let Them Grow” Robert W. Crawford The poet shares his hopes for his grandsons. Read now The Word within the World James Matthew Wilson Poetry, the oldest and most universal of arts, is increasingly underappreciated. These four poets hope to reverse that. Read now Arvo Pärt’s Journey Joonas Sildre In this excerpt from Between Two Sounds, we see the moment when the Estonian composer begins to run afoul of the Soviet regime. Read now How Do You Know a Christian? Cody Cook Here’s a quick test from the early church. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 7
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:3–4, NIV Lord our God, remind us again and again of what you have done in our hearts and lives to make us certain of the resurrection. Help us to live in this certainty and to hold fast to everything good and great which you bring into our lives. Grant us the assurance that we are gaining ground in the battle for the redemption of those who are still in darkness and in the shadow of death. May we find joy in what we have here and now. Give us patience in our struggles. Give us hope for all that has gone wrong, because even what is in darkness is still in your hands. In the end everything must be brought to the light so that all humankind may glorify your great name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Poem: “Let Them Grow” Robert W. Crawford The poet shares his hopes for his grandsons. Read now The Word within the World James Matthew Wilson Poetry, the oldest and most universal of arts, is increasingly underappreciated. These four poets hope to reverse that. Read now Arvo Pärt’s Journey Joonas Sildre In this excerpt from Between Two Sounds, we see the moment when the Estonian composer begins to run afoul of the Soviet regime. Read now How Do You Know a Christian? Cody Cook Here’s a quick test from the early church. Read now A Deft Poet of Grief Nick Ripatrazone A review of Stephen Sexton’s melancholy and gentle book of poems, If All the World and Love Were Young. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 5
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7–8, NIV We thank you, Father in heaven, that you concern yourself with us and that you bind us to yourself through all your deeds and all your help. We thank you for showing us a way of hope, a way that becomes always clearer, always firmer under our feet. On this way we can defy every evil of this world and time, knowing for sure that everything will come out right and we will all be brought to the great, eternal goal, even though we have to deny ourselves and go through much suffering. Your kingdom must come to the glory of your name, so that all people may live on a higher plane and follow you, the only true help and true life. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Word within the World James Matthew Wilson Poetry, the oldest and most universal of arts, is increasingly underappreciated. These four poets hope to reverse that. Read now Arvo Pärt’s Journey Joonas Sildre In this excerpt from Between Two Sounds, we see the moment when the Estonian composer begins to run afoul of the Soviet regime. Read now How Do You Know a Christian? Cody Cook Here’s a quick test from the early church. Read now A Deft Poet of Grief Nick Ripatrazone A review of Stephen Sexton’s melancholy and gentle book of poems, If All the World and Love Were Young. Read now The Joy of Watching Football Annie J. E. Reed Does watching sports together fulfill a deep and significant longing? Or is it just plain fun? Read now
Daily Prayer for September 4
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5–7, NIV Lord our God, let your light shine in our hearts, the light that can gladden us and lead us until all our longing is stilled. May the higher nature born in us become ever stronger so that the lower and perishable nature does not rule over us. Grant that we may overcome and that our hearts may rejoice in being allowed to strive for the highest good because we are your children who can share in what is eternal. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Arvo Pärt’s Journey Joonas Sildre In this excerpt from Between Two Sounds, we see the moment when the Estonian composer begins to run afoul of the Soviet regime. Read now How Do You Know a Christian? Cody Cook Here’s a quick test from the early church. Read now A Deft Poet of Grief Nick Ripatrazone A review of Stephen Sexton’s melancholy and gentle book of poems, If All the World and Love Were Young. Read now The Joy of Watching Football Annie J. E. Reed Does watching sports together fulfill a deep and significant longing? Or is it just plain fun? Read now Jesus Is Coming – Plant a Tree! N. T. Wright In the new creation, the ancient human mandate to look after the garden is dramatically reaffirmed. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 3
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18, NIV Lord our God, we thank you that you come to help us with your power and might. We thank you that you come to us in our suffering and strengthen us in all we must endure on earth. You help us so that what is good and full of light comes more and more to us and to all people. We thank you and pray that your power, coming from the invisible world into the visible, may continue its quiet working in us until the day when everyone can see Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and into all eternity. Amen. Recent articles on Plough How Do You Know a Christian? Cody Cook Here’s a quick test from the early church. Read now A Deft Poet of Grief Nick Ripatrazone A review of Stephen Sexton’s melancholy and gentle book of poems, If All the World and Love Were Young. Read now The Joy of Watching Football Annie J. E. Reed Does watching sports together fulfill a deep and significant longing? Or is it just plain fun? Read now Jesus Is Coming – Plant a Tree! N. T. Wright In the new creation, the ancient human mandate to look after the garden is dramatically reaffirmed. Read now God’s Grandeur: A Poetry Comic Gerard Manley Hopkins and Julian Peters A comic artist illustrates Gerard Manly Hopkin’s classic poem. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 2
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger…through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:4–5, 8b–10, NIV Dear Father in heaven, you are always near to us on earth, and we thank you for all the love you put into our lives so that we can be joyful, even in all kinds of temptations and struggles. How much you have given us and how often you have rescued us from distress! Again and again you have let the light of life shine out. You give us light not only for the moment but also for the future, enabling us to draw strength and assurance from the present, the past, and the future, to the glory of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough A Deft Poet of Grief Nick Ripatrazone A review of Stephen Sexton’s melancholy and gentle book of poems, If All the World and Love Were Young. Read now The Joy of Watching Football Annie J. E. Reed Does watching sports together fulfill a deep and significant longing? Or is it just plain fun? Read now Jesus Is Coming – Plant a Tree! N. T. Wright In the new creation, the ancient human mandate to look after the garden is dramatically reaffirmed. Read now God’s Grandeur: A Poetry Comic Gerard Manley Hopkins and Julian Peters A comic artist illustrates Gerard Manly Hopkin’s classic poem. Read now Farming in Chicago Nathan Beacom Like many cities, Chicago lost its connection to local food cultivation. But the tide is already turning. Read now
Daily Prayer for September 1
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV Dear Father in heaven, open our hearts to see what is good in our lives. May the light in our hearts shine clearly so that we see, recognize, and live in accordance with what comes from eternity and belongs to our true nature, brought to us through Christ. Keep us from being blinded and deafened by experiences that will pass by. Help us to rise above them even in suffering and to wait patiently for what is becoming new and perfect. Praise to your name that we too can say, “The old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” Amen. Recent articles on Plough Jesus Is Coming – Plant a Tree! N. T. Wright In the new creation, the ancient human mandate to look after the garden is dramatically reaffirmed. Read now God’s Grandeur: A Poetry Comic Gerard Manley Hopkins and Julian Peters A comic artist illustrates Gerard Manly Hopkin’s classic poem. Read now Farming in Chicago Nathan Beacom Like many cities, Chicago lost its connection to local food cultivation. But the tide is already turning. Read now The Terrible Truth Melissa Ohden The survivor of a botched abortion searches for her mother. Read now Enjoy the Moment Daniel Whyte IV What are we missing when we try to record every experience digitally? Read now