01 Sep 2025
What is the condition of your heart? What is making you anxious? Is there any offensive thing in you? May the Lord help us in this regard and rid us of anything that would offend Him as He leads us in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24.
Daily Prayer for August 31
You should think of us as Christ’s servants, who have been put in charge of God’s secret truths. The one thing required of such a servant is that he be faithful to his master. 1 Corinthians 4:1–2, TEV Dear Father in heaven, open our hearts to see and feel how our lives have been blest. Open our hearts to your blessings so that we may look forward in thankfulness and joy to what lies ahead. Grant that we may be faithful to what we have received from you and never again lose ourselves in the passing moment. May we hold to all you have brought to our hearts from eternity, that your name may be honored and our lives shaped anew in Jesus Christ. Give us courage to overcome the evils in life and to look with joy and confident expectation to the future, when the powers of your kingdom will be ever more clearly revealed. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Defeating the Noonday Devil Ladislaus Boros Sloth, or acedia, is not idleness or laziness. According to classical writers, it’s most likely to strike midlife. Read now Saint Galgano’s Sword Logan Messenger A knight, instead of drawing a sword from a stone, thrusts his in and leaves it there. Read now The Killer in Our Choir Daylan Woodall My hometown’s hidden history of violence has left wounds that only divine justice could heal. Read now Tights Narine Abgaryan If only I had grabbed warm tights for her. During a lull between explosions, she darted out to grab warm clothes, and her daughter chased after her. Read now Forgiving the Unforgivable? Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz Did forgiveness die in the concentration camps? Read now
Today’s Verse – Mark 12:30-31
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” —Mark 12:30-31 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sometimes the most important things are not hard to understand. However, we must not treat these clear commands as simple. They challenge us to honor God with all we have, are, and dream. God wants us to love him with every fiber of our being and also to love those around us. All of his demands on our character boil down to honoring these two great principles that transcend law and bring the character of God to hearts. It all comes down to loving God and others with love that has hands and feet – it’s something we not only feel, but we actively and sacrificially live in our daily lives. My Prayer… Almighty God, my heavenly Father, I love you. I love you for your plan to send your Messiah as a descendant of Abraham and David. I love you for your unfailing love. I love you for your listening grace that hears my humble prayers. I love you for sending Jesus and for starting your church. I love you, Almighty God, for your steadfast presence and love in my life. Now I ask the Holy Spirit to show my love for you by loving my neighbors. I love you, dear God, in the name of Jesus. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly. —Proverbs 14:29 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Responding to aggravation, threat, insult, irritation, and difficulty requires patience – great patience. Responding hastily out of anger is foolish. A hasty, unfiltered response seldom produces our desired long-term effect. This quick-tempered kind of response nearly always compounds the problems that need to be addressed. Patiently dealing with frustrating and painful situations shows our understanding and is nearly always more fruitful in the long run. Plus, the patient and wise approach can prevent the unnecessary loss of friendships, integrity, and respect. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, I ask for patience and self-control. I know these virtues are part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s presence in my life. I am inviting the Holy Spirit to have more impact on my heart as I look to how Jesus handled difficult situations in his life and ministry. Please give me the understanding and wisdom to keep my mouth shut until I have had an opportunity to pray and think about the issues and people involved, and only answer then. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
29 Aug 2025
As we pray without ceasing motivated by love and with a clear conscience, having forgiven those who have offended us, may we have faith that God will answer our prayers. He honours the prayer made in faith and with noble intentions. Hebrews 11:6, Mark 11:24-25.
Unhinderedly!
God will get us where we need to be when we need to be there! I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6 ESV). While these may be easy words to say, they are much harder words to live. Yet the people who first heard these words knew that Paul shared them with conviction and passion. He wrote from prison.*note He was under house arrest awaiting trial before Caesar and was chained to a Roman soldier (Acts 28:20; Philippians 1:7; Ephesians 6:20; Colossians 4:12). When Paul had first set foot on the shores of Italy, he had been welcomed by believers from Rome. Even though he was a prisoner of Rome, they were not ashamed to be identified with him and accompanied him on his journey to Rome (Acts 28:11-16). While under house arrest, Paul had spoken to Jews and non-Jews about Jesus. Some had listened and became followers of the Lord (Acts 28:17-31). In fact, some who guarded Paul became his brothers in Christ (Philippians 1:17). Paul knew he could be executed because of his current imprisonment. Yet he was confident that he would be released. Through the prayers of believers and the power of the Holy Spirit, he was confident that he would again serve his brothers and sisters in Macedonia (Philippians 1:18-26). Paul was under a God-ordained calling to go to Rome. He had written to the believers in Rome that God was leading him to come to Rome (Romans 1:15). Even while enjoying a great victory over demons, sorcery, and witchcraft in Ephesus, he didn’t hesitate to move forward. Paul told the Ephesians that he had to move on to Rome (Acts 19:21). After Paul’s arrest, assassination plots were planned by his enemies. When everything and everyone seemed to be against him, God revealed that he would go to Rome (Acts 23:11). This was important to him, because Paul was compelled by the love of Christ. His call was to share the message of Jesus to those who had never heard it (Acts 20:24; Romans 15:20-29). He was also committed to encouraging the believers in Rome (Romans 1:11-13). Getting to Rome, however, was quite a challenge. Yet God was faithful and Paul could say: I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6 ESV). Paul passionate lived convinced that these words were true. His journey to Rome was filled with all sorts of twists and turns. Luke’s account of Paul’s journey by sea to Rome in chapters 27 and 28 of Acts are as exciting as any young adult adventure novel. Plots to assassinate him were followed by trials and intrigue – read Acts chapters 21-26. Then Paul boarded a ship under arrest headed to Rome where he would appeal to Caesar for his deliverance. Slow sailing in the early part of the trip meant that the owner of the ship and the captain had to decide whether to try to make it to Rome in the dangerous late October weather. Paul warned them to wait, but they set sail. Things went from boring in the early part of the trip, to bad winds, to worse winds, to terror filled storms, to plots to kill the prisoners including Paul to keep them from escaping, to schemes by some sailors to steal a lifeboat and get away, to tossing out all the tackle, to throwing overboard all the supplies, to holding the ship together with ropes, and finally to running aground in a storm. When the ship broke up in the crashing waves driven by the storm, all prisoners escaped to the island of Malta. On shore, this mixed group of sailors, prisoners, and soldiers was warmly greeted. As the nearly 300 men tried to warm themselves by fire, a viper came out of the burning wood and fastened itself to the hand of Paul. Paul shook it off and was unharmed by the venom. This incident opened the door for Paul to minister to the people there. When winter passed, the group sailed to Italy, and Paul was accompanied by believers as they walked him from the coast to the imperial city of Rome. I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6 ESV). Luke ends Paul’s story in the book of Acts a triumphant, yet ungrammatical ending. In the original language, Luke’s last word is an adverb often translated “without hindrance.” Literally, the word could be translated in its adverbial form as “unhinderedly”! Led by the Spirit, Luke wanted this last word of the book of Acts to ring in the ears of disciples of every generation until Jesus returned: “Unhinderedly”! Despite hardship, opposition, and near death experiences, God brought Paul to Rome as he had promised. Paul shared the message of Jesus to both Jews and non-Jews while under house arrest. He wrote several of his most powerful letters to churches – Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians. *note Paul’s story was the living example of the assurance he offered to his beloved brothers and sisters in Philippi. Today, in a world growing more hostile toward those who believe Scripture and who follow Jesus, we must remember these powerful words of Paul to the Philippians. Our struggles are not forgotten. Our cause is not going to fail. Our impact on the world will not pass into non-existence even under the assault of time and culture. The Holy Spirit will empower us to bring grace to the lost and encouragement to the fainting. The Lord Jesus will continue as head of his body, the church. The question is whether we – whether you and whether I – will be faithful to the Lord Jesus who has called us. Because… I
28 Aug 2025
Those who always pray have a testimony because the Lord is always with them. Seeking the Lord always is never in vain. He never forsakes those who do it. He is more than a faithful friend and there is nothing too difficult for Him. Psalm 9:10.
Daily Prayer for August 28
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure. Psalm 93:1, NIV Lord our God, you are king, founding a kingdom that reaches to the ends of the earth, establishing it to endure forever. We thank you that we may be sheltered in your hands and that no sickness of body or soul can do us lasting harm. We thank you for lifting us again and again to true life with the light and power to overcome what is earthly, true life with the flexibility to remain trusting and confident no matter what happens, true life directed to the great goal of God’s kingdom, promised to us in Jesus Christ. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Killer in Our Choir Daylan Woodall My hometown’s hidden history of violence has left wounds that only divine justice could heal. Read now Tights Narine Abgaryan If only I had grabbed warm tights for her. During a lull between explosions, she darted out to grab warm clothes, and her daughter chased after her. Read now Forgiving the Unforgivable? Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz Did forgiveness die in the concentration camps? Read now The Fantasy World of John Masefield Boze Herrington Masefield’s novels are a glorious hodgepodge of boat voyages, witch covens, flying cars, gun battles with gangsters, talking cats, and time travel. Read now Climbing Through the Ropes Elisha James Jones As I consider how to guide my son in what it means to be a man, I turn to boxing. Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 John 2:27
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him. —1 John 2:27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When we became Christians, we were not only cleansed by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), but the Holy Spirit filled and indwelled us (Acts 2:38-39; Romans 8:9). John speaks of receiving and having the Holy Spirit as “his anointing” – Jesus poured the Holy Spirit out on and into us, when we came to Christ (Titus 3:3-7). The Spirit helps us hear the truth about Jesus (1 John 2:20-21). Our anointing keeps us from surrendering that truth to false teaching that would diminish (1 John 2:23) either side of Jesus’ identity – Jesus as God with us and God like us. We remain in Jesus when we hold on to both of these incredible truths. As we remain in Jesus, the Spirit – “his anointing” – we have all that we need to know about Jesus as our Savior, LORD, and Messiah (1 John 2:24, 27). My Prayer… Holy and Righteous Father, thank you for sending Jesus to save me. May I never surrender my sense of wonder or my deep feelings of appreciation for all who Jesus was, is, and will be. Thank you for sending me your Spirit as your anointing to help me safeguard the truth about your Son and my Savior, in whose name I pray and give you thanks. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
27 Aug 2025
As we pray, may we be motivated by love, love for God, and for each other. Genuine love moves the heart of God. The greatest commandment is to love one another just as Christ loved us and gave His life for us. May the Lord our God move in our midst as we love Him and love one another. Ephesians 3:19-21.