Today’s Verse – Matthew 5:28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. —Matthew 5:28 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Living in a sexually supercharged world and facing the prevalence of pornography on the Internet and in today’s media, how are you doing with this issue? Jesus challenges us to recognize that sin starts in our hearts and begins when we longingly seek what is not ours to have. While the world may think such rigorous guarding of our hearts as impossible or ridiculous, Jesus wants us to know he takes sexual sin — and the place it begins, the lust of our hearts — seriously. My Prayer… Loving Father, give me the strength to resist sexual temptation, the wisdom to stay away from it, and the character to triumph over it. Purify my heart, O God, and make it yearn for what is holy and life-giving. In the mighty name of 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.
28 May 2024
Trusting in the Lord lifts up our spirits. It encourages our hearts. It also pleases Him. We need that positive energy. It rekindles our hope and gives us the strength to soldier on. Psalm 40:1-5.
Daily Prayer for May 28
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:5–6, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that we may be your children. We thank you that through your Spirit our hearts may know that we are your children. Even when everything around us becomes difficult and we are hemmed in by darkness, we remain your children. Even when we often do not see how we are to go on and everything seems to be taken from us, we remain your children. Even when sin and death surround us and accuse us of being in the wrong, we still remain your children. As your children we entrust ourselves to your hands. In our whole life, in all our work and activity, we dwell in what has come from you, and we rejoice in Christ our Savior. Amen. Recent articles on Plough In Pursuit of Pure Northernness Daniel Whyte IV Iceland’s vastness, perilousness, and barrenness haunt me. I wasn’t searching for God on that poetic island, but I found him. Read now Salvaging Beauty from the Ruins Elizabeth Genovise Danielle Chapman’s Holler tells a story that in a way belongs to all of us. Read now A World Full of Signs Susannah Black Roberts Maximus the Confessor saw the natural world as charged with symbolic meaning. Read now Pray for Those Annoying People William Law It’s hard to despise someone after interceding for them in prayer. Read now Pray Like a Cicada Matthew J. Milliner This summer trillions of cicadas are serenading parts of the American Midwest. What can we learn from them? Read now
Today’s Verse – Luke 5:27
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. —Luke 5:27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… After capturing the hearts of the crowd, Jesus now calls another disciple, Levi — also known as Matthew. Two things are significant about this calling. Jesus called someone no other religious leader would have chosen, a tax collector and Roman sympathizer — to any Jew of Jesus’ era, Matthew would have seemed very much like a traitor to his heritage and to his faith. Levi, this tax collector, followed Jesus, leaving behind his livelihood and his fortune. Jesus’ call of Matthew and Matthew’s definitive and immediate response to follow Jesus provide us a powerful reminder that we should write off no one as unreachable with the Gospel or unusable by our LORD. My Prayer… Father of all people, help us recognize the people you place in our paths today who are ready to know more about Jesus. Please give us the wisdom and the awareness to know when and how to speak with them about our Savior. We also ask, dear Father, for you to forgive us for the times we have come to a snap judgment about the unworthiness of some people who seem least likely to become disciples. We know that Jesus came to seek and save all who are lost, so please use the Holy Spirit to fashion our hearts to reflect the heart of our LORD and Savior, in whose name 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.
27 May 2024
It may sound cliché to say we ought to trust in the Lord and not in man. But it is better to trust in Jehovah. May we practice this more and more and may the outcomes confirm what Jeremiah 17:5-8 says.
Daily Prayer for May 27
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14, RSV Lord our God, our Father in heaven, we thank you for letting us receive so much that is good in all circumstances on earth. We thank you that we can have joy in life in spite of our shortcomings, mistakes, and worries. You bless us with heavenly gifts, so that rejoicing, we can walk on earth as if in heaven. Keep the gifts of your Spirit alive in us. Keep alive in us everything that Jesus Christ was, everything he is, and everything he will be on earth for all people. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Salvaging Beauty from the Ruins Elizabeth Genovise Danielle Chapman’s Holler tells a story that in a way belongs to all of us. Read now A World Full of Signs Susannah Black Roberts Maximus the Confessor saw the natural world as charged with symbolic meaning. Read now Pray for Those Annoying People William Law It’s hard to despise someone after interceding for them in prayer. Read now Pray Like a Cicada Matthew J. Milliner This summer trillions of cicadas are serenading parts of the American Midwest. What can we learn from them? Read now Conservation Is for Conservatives John Murdock Francis Schaeffer wouldn’t recognize the religious right he helped create, not least when it comes to environmentalism. Read now
Today’s Verse – Luke 5:26
Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” —Luke 5:26 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus forgave a man who was lame and then showed he had the authority to forgive by healing him. As exciting and vital as this healing was, the most important thing was the reaction of those who witnessed it; they praised God out of amazement and awe. They recognized that Jesus had come to minister as God’s very presence. When we understand who Jesus is and what he has done and will continue to do for us, we must do the same thing today — offer our praises with amazement and awe. My Prayer… Almighty God and Heavenly Father, I glorify your name and thank you for the grace you so lavishly poured out on me through your Son and my Savior, Jesus, in whose name I offer this praise out of a heart filled with amazement and awe. 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.
Daily Prayer for May 26
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for wanting to give us happiness and for holding our earthly life firmly in your hands. May we have the confidence that we are in your hands. Grant us the light of faith. Let this light of faith guide us in material things and help us to wait in patience until the doors open for us to pass through according to your pleasure. So bless us all. Bless our life. May we grow joyful and free of heart through all that Jesus Christ gives. On the foundation he establishes for us may your divine working, your fatherly love, lift and support us throughout our lives. Amen. Recent articles on Plough A World Full of Signs Susannah Black Roberts Maximus the Confessor saw the natural world as charged with symbolic meaning. Read now Pray for Those Annoying People William Law It’s hard to despise someone after interceding for them in prayer. Read now Pray Like a Cicada Matthew J. Milliner This summer trillions of cicadas are serenading parts of the American Midwest. What can we learn from them? Read now Conservation Is for Conservatives John Murdock Francis Schaeffer wouldn’t recognize the religious right he helped create, not least when it comes to environmentalism. Read now Everyone Belongs to God Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove The hope of the world does not rest on our ability to recruit others into a religion. Read now
Today’s Verse – John 5:25
I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. —John 5:25 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Aren’t you glad that not even death can stop us from hearing Jesus’ promised word to us: “RISE!”? We will hear his voice and live with him forever. Like Lazarus, we will come out of the grave and be free (John 11:32-44). Like the little girl Jesus took by the hand raised from the dead (Mark 5:35-42), we too will rise to life. Unlike Lazarus and the little girl, we will be free of death forever, alive to share in the LORD’s presence and glory! Such hope lifts my spirit as I await our LORD’s coming; how about you? My Prayer… Thank you, Almighty God, that Jesus’ resurrection demonstrated your power to destroy death. I have confidence in your Son’s promises to return, to raise me from the dead if I die before his return, and to take me home to be with you. In the Savior’s name and authority, 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.
Daily Prayer for May 25
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:9, NIV Lord our God, we stand before you and rejoice that we may have fellowship with you through the Lord Jesus Christ. Grant us the light of your Spirit. Grant our hearts strength for life. Open for us the paths of life, that we may find joy and hope in spite of all the suffering we must go through on earth. Let all humankind be entrusted to your care. Rule over them with your power, whether they are aware of it or not, and take world history into your hands so that all people may receive your mercy. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Pray for Those Annoying People William Law It’s hard to despise someone after interceding for them in prayer. Read now Pray Like a Cicada Matthew J. Milliner This summer trillions of cicadas are serenading parts of the American Midwest. What can we learn from them? Read now Conservation Is for Conservatives John Murdock Francis Schaeffer wouldn’t recognize the religious right he helped create, not least when it comes to environmentalism. Read now Everyone Belongs to God Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove The hope of the world does not rest on our ability to recruit others into a religion. Read now PloughCast 82: Regenerative Agriculture in the Lake District James Rebanks, Helen Rebanks, Peter Mommsen and Susannah Black Roberts Bestselling authors James and Helen Rebanks talk about raising sheep and cattle – and a family – in the Lake District. Read now