Daily Prayer for September 20
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty – and I will meditate on your wonderful works. Psalm 145:3–5, NIV Lord God, our Helper, we thank you for walking among us and for letting many experience your protection. Even when we are dying, you protect and help us so that we need not pass into death but may enter into life. So may our hearts be lifted up to you. Grant that the light in us remains undimmed, and that we may come before you in sincerity. Lord God, create good out of evil. Let light dawn in the darkness. Fulfill your promise, for our hearts are not concerned with human desires but with your promise. You will carry it out, and we will be able to say, “Our faith was not in vain, our hope was not in vain. Lord our God, you have blest us a thousandfold.” Amen. Recent articles on Plough Preaching with Power Fleming Rutledge When you set out to proclaim the gospel, spare us your personal anecdotes and opinions. Read now The Politics of Pagan Christianity James R. Wood Today’s nationalist Christians should heed the message of the anti-Nazi theologian Henri de Lubac. Read now Is Anything Supernatural? Andrew Davison What earthworms, humans, and angels have in common. Read now Meeting the Man in White Rachel Pieh Jones In the Horn of Africa, the world is alive with mischievous jinn, shining angels, and unexpected dreams of a good shepherd. Read now The Matter of Angels Alison Milbank How do angels fit into the Christian cosmos – and how do they relate to us? Read now
Today’s Verse – Romans 8:19
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. —Romans 8:19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Eagerly waits! Don’t you love that phrase! Sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s not. Think of a groom waiting for his bride to come down the aisle. Eagerly waits! Imagine the parents of a child who is due to be born. Eagerly waits! Remember what it was like as a child waiting for Christmas morning. Eagerly waits! Yes, we know that experience and emotion, and that is what all creation – the cosmos so caught up with decay, disaster, and death – is doing right now! Eagerly awaits! And what is creation waiting for so eagerly? Our transformation and revelation as God’s triumphant and glorious children when Jesus returns in all of his glory. Sounds pretty wonderful for a time and world like ours, doesn’t it! So, on those bad days, disillusioning days, days of painful waiting, let’s retrain our hearts to eagerly await the LORD’s return, the healing of our broken cosmos, and our celebration of Jesus’ victory. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… O LORD, God of all creation and source of all redemption, we long for the day that every tear is dried and our long bondage to decay is over. Please keep our hearts set on the glory that is to be revealed in us when Jesus returns. In the name of our LORD and Christ, we 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.
19 Sep 2025
Is there one thing in your life you can thank God for? Are there two things you can be grateful to God for? Has He been good to you in any way? Why are you angry at Him? Why do you feel let down by Him? Do a stock take of your life and see what God has done for you? May His peace fill your heart. May He heal you? May He speak to you concerning the anger you have. May your perspective of God change. Trials are meant to shape us, not break us. May the Lord help us see beyond the trials. James 2:2-18.
Today’s Verse – Matthew 18:20
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. —Matthew 18:20 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When are friends more than friends? When they gather in the name of Jesus, and he meets with them there. Matthew 18:6-25 is a powerful description of the kind of fellowship that exists when we truly follow Jesus and love our brothers and sisters as Jesus does. Forgiveness, discipline, restoration, rescue, and welcome mark such fellowship. They are also signs of Jesus’ presence, because he is our great example and the power behind such fellowship. When two or three who share this kind of fellowship gather, Jesus IS present! My Prayer… Father, thank you for sending your Son, not just to minister on earth during his incarnation, but also to bless us with his presence during our fellowship while he is now at home with you in glory. Open our hearts to rejoice in Jesus’ presence as we meet with brothers and sisters who share our faith and live in commitment to seek the best in each other’s lives in fellowship and love. In the name of the LORD Jesus, 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.
18 Sep 2025
A lot of the time, the odds are stacked up against us. We face challenges that look insurmountable. May these cause our faith in God to grow. May our default setting be how great our God is. May He show Himself faithful every time. John 8:32.
Today’s Verse – Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. —Psalm 23:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Death is the ultimate profanity in today’s world. We don’t like to think about it, much less talk about it. However, death is the one reality that will not leave us alone. We must all address it! We lose friends and family members to death. At one point in our lives, we, too, will face this inevitability unless Jesus comes before our passing. So what is our assurance as we face the inescapable? Our Shepherd! The LORD, who is our Good Shepherd, will walk us through the fears and dangers of death, guiding and protecting and comforting us in our journey. And as followers of Jesus, this promise is only intensified because we know Jesus as our Good Shepherd. He has taken the walk through death’s dark valley ahead of us to assure us that our walk through death’s valley doesn’t end in death, but in glory. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. My Prayer… Dear Heavenly Father, my Shepherd and Savior, thank you that I do not have to face death alone. I look for your guidance and listen for your voice to lead me through death’s dark valley and bring me to your holy and glorious presence in victory and with great joy. I can say this, and believe this, and pray this confidently, in Jesus’ name. 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.
17 Sep 2025
The fact that victory for the Christian is guaranteed does not mean our lives will be 100% peaceful. The enemy wants to derail us so that we do not attain God’s purpose. We ought to dedicate our lives and the lives of our children to God to ensure our divine purposes are not destroyed. 1 Samuel 1:26-28.
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 16:16
How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! —Proverbs 16:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What are the greatest riches in life? Well, surely they are not silver and gold. Of infinitely greater value is wisdom, which helps us understand what is valuable, what is true, what is worthy of our hearts, and what is not. Silver and gold can buy a lot of things, but they can’t buy us favor with God, or wisdom and understanding. These only come when we seek God and rely on the gift of the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom that is spiritual and lasting, not something that is fleeting and selfish. My Prayer… Heavenly Father, God of the Ages and giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), please bless me with holy and practical wisdom so that I can more fully know how you have blessed me and so that I can be the blessing to others in the ways that you want me to be. Please give me wisdom and understanding. In Jesus’ name, I ask this. 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.
16 Sep 2025
Jehovah is gracious and mighty. He saves us and makes His salvation known. Let us praise Him for with Him, victory is guaranteed. Let everything that has breath praise and adore Him. Psalm 98:1-9.
Today’s Verse – Romans 6:15
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! —Romans 6:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… This matching verse to Romans 6:1-2 serves as a great reminder that sin is no longer our master and no longer our choice (Romans 6:14). We choose to live for God with every fiber of our being and loathe the life of sin that once held us in bondage to defeat. So, with the Holy Spirit’s power at work in us, our lives are being transformed to become like Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). My Prayer… Dear God, my Father; precious Jesus my LORD; Holy Spirit, my inner companion and holy fire; please stir in me a holy passion to be the person of righteous grace you have created me and redeemed me to be in Jesus. I refuse to go back to the old way of sin. I choose to live in grace, by faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I rejoice in grace. 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.