Daily Prayer for January 26
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:18-19, NIV Dear Father in heaven, Almighty God, your children look to you in prayer. Hold us always by the hand. Reveal to us that you hear us, that you are among us providing what is best for us, to the glory of your name. In this hour let us experience something from you, the good and merciful One. May we always be glad and thankful for all we have already received from you and for all we are still to receive in our lives. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Leaves of the Tree Jesse Zink The Bible describes a tree with leaves for the healing of the nations. We could sure use such leaves now. Or do we have them already? Read now Where Is God When We Doubt? Edward Bouverie Pusey Anglican theologian Edward Pusey’s letters offer hope for those plagued by unwanted whisperings of doubt. Read now Poem: “The Hum of Light” Robert W. Crawford The power lines are down. We’re in the dark, / the victims of a wet, cement-like snow. Read now Religious Persecution in the World’s Largest Democracy Jetti A. Oliver Attacks on churches and mosques are only one symptom of the Hindu nationalism gripping India. Read now Life without Magic James Smoker In H. G. Parry’s novel The Magician’s Daughter, a sixteen-year-old chooses to leave a magical island for the the wider world. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 25
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16, NIV Lord our God, O God of righteousness, let your light shine out. Go with us on our way. May we have clear eyes and hearts through your Word and your Spirit. Through temptations and struggles be always with us, lighting our way to what is right and good. Protect and bless us. Move our hearts from their very depths to thank you for all you have done for us, to praise you, and to glorify you. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Where Is God When We Doubt? Edward Bouverie Pusey Anglican theologian Edward Pusey’s letters offer hope for those plagued by unwanted whisperings of doubt. Read now Poem: “The Hum of Light” Robert W. Crawford The power lines are down. We’re in the dark, / the victims of a wet, cement-like snow. Read now Religious Persecution in the World’s Largest Democracy Jetti A. Oliver Attacks on churches and mosques are only one symptom of the Hindu nationalism gripping India. Read now Life without Magic James Smoker In H. G. Parry’s novel The Magician’s Daughter, a sixteen-year-old chooses to leave a magical island for the the wider world. Read now Sobriety Mountain Jaime N. Green Mind the false summit: when you think you’ve all but conquered, you’ve only just begun. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 24
I have not spoken in secret or kept my purpose hidden. I did not require the people of Israel to look for me in a desolate waste. I am the Lord, and I speak the truth; I make known what is right. Isaiah 45:19, TEV Lord our God, we thank you for giving us your love, for letting us draw nearer to what is right and good. May your Spirit penetrate everywhere, overcoming what is false and helping people everywhere to understand the true nature of your justice. Guard us on all our ways. Protect us when our bodies and our lives are worn down by sickness and distress of every kind. Grant us your help according to your truth and righteousness. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Poem: “The Hum of Light” Robert W. Crawford The power lines are down. We’re in the dark, / the victims of a wet, cement-like snow. Read now Religious Persecution in the World’s Largest Democracy Jetti A. Oliver Attacks on churches and mosques are only one symptom of the Hindu nationalism gripping India. Read now Life without Magic James Smoker In H. G. Parry’s novel The Magician’s Daughter, a sixteen-year-old chooses to leave a magical island for the the wider world. Read now Sobriety Mountain Jaime N. Green Mind the false summit: when you think you’ve all but conquered, you’ve only just begun. Read now The Jakob Hutter Story Jason Landsel, Sankha Banerjee and Richard Mommsen In this excerpt from By Fire, a radical reformer risks everything for a cause. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 23
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all…Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul. Psalm 103:19, 22, NIV Dear Father in heaven,we thank you for giving our hearts hope for your kingdom, the kingdom of God. We thank you that again and again we may draw strength from this hope, find new youthfulness and courage, and discover how powerfully, though hidden, your kingdom is already approaching. Protect this vision and help us when we fail. All will come right. Whatever happens, we are in your hands, and no one shall snatch this joy from our hearts. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Life Without Magic James Smoker In H. G. Parry’s novel The Magician’s Daughter, a sixteen-year-old chooses to leave a magical island for the the wider world. Read now Sobriety Mountain Jaime N. Green Mind the false summit: when you think you’ve all but conquered, you’ve only just begun. Read now The Jakob Hutter Story Jason Landsel, Sankha Banerjee and Richard Mommsen In this excerpt from By Fire, a radical reformer risks everything for a cause. Read now Iron Sharpens Iron Johann H. Huleatt Real friendship is the most powerful education. Read now Where Is the Kingdom of Heaven? Dorothy L. Sayers Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is among us, or even within us. Why, then, does it remain so elusive? Read now
Daily Prayer for January 22
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and l will give you rest. Matthew 11:28, RSV Dear Father in heaven, grant us the inner quiet we need so that we may come into your presence and hear you speak, forgetting all the things that try to force themselves upon us. May we experience your true and living support. Keep our hearts glad and thankful for everything, even in grief, anxiety, and suffering. In this thankfulness we can remain with you, and Jesus Christ can help us, Jesus, whom you have given as our support and helper in all that most deeply concerns us. We entrust ourselves to you. Keep us in your Spirit. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Sobriety Mountain Jaime N. Green Mind the false summit: when you think you’ve all but conquered, you’ve only just begun. Read now The Jakob Hutter Story Jason Landsel, Sankha Banerjee and Richard Mommsen In this excerpt from By Fire, a radical reformer risks everything for a cause. Read now Iron Sharpens Iron Johann H. Huleatt Real friendship is the most powerful education. Read now Where Is the Kingdom of Heaven? Dorothy L. Sayers Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is among us, or even within us. Why, then, does it remain so elusive? Read now Lernvergnügenstag: A Day for the Joy of Learning Patrick Tomassi Once a year, I get to teach my students whatever inspires me. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 20
Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10, RSV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that you are our Father and that we may have you with us. We thank you that we can know you are leading us by your hand. Give us your Spirit of understanding so that we may always see your mighty and powerful hand guiding us on all our ways. Help us where we fall short. Help us, for we are weak and are often in situations where we cannot help ourselves. But you are strong. You give light to our hearts. Through the Savior, Jesus Christ, we can direct our lives cheerfully, joyfully, and patiently toward the great goal set before us your children, and before the whole world. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Jakob Hutter Story Jason Landsel, Sankha Banerjee and Richard Mommsen In this excerpt from By Fire, a radical reformer risks everything for a cause. Read now Iron Sharpens Iron Johann H. Huleatt Real friendship is the most powerful education. Read now Where Is the Kingdom of Heaven? Dorothy L. Sayers Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is among us, or even within us. Why, then, does it remain so elusive? Read now Lernvergnügenstag: A Day for the Joy of Learning Patrick Tomassi Once a year, I get to teach my students whatever inspires me. Read now The Catholic Worker Pushes the Limits Laurie M. Johnson Still going strong after nine decades, a radical movement of sharing and caring proves it’s possible to escape and resist capitalism, to a point. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 19
But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. Isaiah 63:16, NIV Lord God, we thank you as we look back to the times throughout the ages when your servants lifted a voice to witness that you are our Father, that you lead the peoples to their true goal. However long it may take, we thank you for allowing us to be part of this witness. We thank you that so much love and goodness still shine into our time as a light to the nations. Watch over us. May your Spirit grow stronger and stronger within us. Bring the redemption proclaimed by your servants, and let your light dawn over all lands to the honor of your name. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Iron Sharpens Iron Johann H. Huleatt Real friendship is the most powerful education. Read now Where Is the Kingdom of Heaven? Dorothy L. Sayers Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is among us, or even within us. Why, then, does it remain so elusive? Read now Lernvergnügenstag: A Day for the Joy of Learning Patrick Tomassi Once a year, I get to teach my students whatever inspires me. Read now The Catholic Worker Pushes the Limits Laurie M. Johnson Still going strong after nine decades, a radical movement of sharing and caring proves it’s possible to escape and resist capitalism, to a point. Read now The Three Questions Leo Tolstoy What is the right time, who are the right people, and what is the most important thing to do? Read now
Daily Prayer for January 18
Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials…Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:2,12, RSV Lord our God, be with us. Touch us with your Spirit so that our hearts may receive something from you. Let us find joy even in a life of struggle and temptation. Let us find joy in every need we face, even in the agony of death. Protect us through your Word, and let it always be a light to us so that we can follow you and do your will. Be with us on all our ways. Guide everything with your hand until the goal for all humankind is reached and we may rejoice over all the trials and testing because in the end the glorious prize can be won. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Where Is the Kingdom of Heaven? Dorothy L. Sayers Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is among us, or even within us. Why, then, does it remain so elusive? Read now Lernvergnügenstag: A Day for the Joy of Learning Patrick Tomassi Once a year, I get to teach my students whatever inspires me. Read now The Catholic Worker Pushes the Limits Laurie M. Johnson Still going strong after nine decades, a radical movement of sharing and caring proves it’s possible to escape and resist capitalism, to a point. Read now The Three Questions Leo Tolstoy What is the right time, who are the right people, and what is the most important thing to do? Read now Deerassic Park Tim Maendel A high-school science teacher and his students practice conservation in the woods and ponds of upstate New York. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 17
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that we need never feel forsaken. We thank you that we are led and guided by your hand. We thank you for all we have received from you, your care for our bodies, for our material needs, and for our inner life. We praise you, O God! Continue to lead us, we pray. Continue to work among us so that we can all see and come to know that the Good Shepherd is leading us. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Lernvergnügenstag: A Day for the Joy of Learning Patrick Tomassi Once a year, I get to teach my students whatever inspires me. Read now The Catholic Worker Pushes the Limits Laurie M. Johnson Still going strong after nine decades, a radical movement of sharing and caring proves it’s possible to escape and resist capitalism, to a point. Read now The Three Questions Leo Tolstoy What is the right time, who are the right people, and what is the most important thing to do? Read now Deerassic Park Tim Maendel A high-school science teacher and his students practice conservation in the woods and ponds of upstate New York. Read now Disagreeing Respectfully Joseph Holmes John Inazu’s Learning to Disagree aims to improve civil discourse by showing readers how to navigate differences more gracefully. Read now
Daily Prayer for January 16
I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Psalm 145:1-2, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we come before you and thank you with all our hearts. You know all that we are thankful for. Continue to sustain us, we pray, and give us strength for the paths on which you lead us. Even when we must suffer and fight long, hard battles, we know that everything has its right purpose and will still lead us to your goal. For all this we praise and thank you. Protect us in mind, heart, and spirit. Keep us courageous, and lift us above all discouragement through your Spirit, who will renew our lives forevermore. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Catholic Worker Pushes the Limits Laurie M. Johnson Still going strong after nine decades, a radical movement of sharing and caring proves it’s possible to escape and resist capitalism, to a point. Read now The Three Questions Leo Tolstoy What is the right time, who are the right people, and what is the most important thing to do? Read now Deerassic Park Tim Maendel A high-school science teacher and his students practice conservation in the woods and ponds of upstate New York. Read now Disagreeing Respectfully Joseph Holmes John Inazu’s Learning to Disagree aims to improve civil discourse by showing readers how to navigate differences more gracefully. Read now What Do You Say to a Grieving Friend? Midge Goldberg When someone is grieving and you don’t know how to help, almost anything is better than doing nothing. Read now