Daily Prayer for May 5
I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Genesis 32:10, NIV Lord our God, we are not worthy of all the mercy and faithfulness you show to us. We thank you for your love and ask you to keep our hearts united in the hope we have together for all things. Keep our hearts united, that again and again we can receive something new from your mighty hand. Keep us true to the calling you have given us. Let light shine out into the world, right into the dark places. Remember those all over the world who are sighing to you, longing that in your great and wonderful goodness light may come to the peoples and to the nations through some deed from your hand. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Intentional Community: The Fantasy and the Reality Ben Cribbin I hoped to find meaning, purpose, and relationship in an intentional community. The strongest impediment, I discovered, was myself. Read now Get Ready to Be Changed Dietrich von Hildebrand Saint or sinner, all of us must be changed by Christ. Read now Watching the Geminids Maureen Swinger Sky-watchers have a chance to think about time differently. Read now In Defense of Chastity Erik Varden Is the church’s teaching on sex unnatural? Read now Even in Hell, Jesus Is There Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt There is nowhere he cannot reach with his healing and liberating power. Read now
Today’s Verse – Micah 5:4
[The LORD’s Messiah] will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. —Micah 5:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The prophet, Micah, looked into God’s future and anticipated, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Messiah’s presence as Israel’s Shepherd. This future one born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-6) would be Israel’s Shepherd, King, and Messiah. We know Jesus, our Messiah, Shepherd, and LORD, has come! We find our hope in him. He is our Good Shepherd, who will return for us, call us each by name, and bring us securely into his fold forever. There, we will share in his protective care and eternal peace. O LORD, please hasten that day to come, soon! My Prayer… Our LORD God, thank you for sending Jesus as the sacrificial lamb for my sins and the Good Shepherd of your sheep. Thank you for the promise of rest, protection, and peace that are part of my present and my future with your Son as my shepherd. In his 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.
A Turnaround
Note from Jesus Dear Seeker of truth, For several days, I will continue talking to you about restoring Peter back to ministry after his three denials on the night of My arrest. Peter over-promised what he would do to stand with Me. I warned him that he would deny Me three times, which is exactly what happened. I told Peter that I was praying for him: I have prayed that your faith will hold firm and that you will recover from your failure and become a source of strength for your brothers here. (Luke 22:32) Although initially Peter was willing to defend Me using force when the Temple guards came to arrest Me, I told him to put away the sword. I then allowed the Temple soldiers to arrest Me. This situation left Peter confused. In the aftermath of My arrest and during the early stages of My illegal trial by the Jewish religious leaders, Peter denied he knew Me. He insisted he was not associated with Me. He protested and spoke an oath declaring that he did not know Me. Then, I looked at him across the courtyard; the rooster crowed, and Peter was deeply grieved when he realized what he had done and how he had failed. Peter, the rock, one of My future leaders among My apostles and in the early church, stumbled miserably. His failure was not a secret. His agony over his actions was genuine. So before I share with you how I restored Peter, I want to remind you of a story I told. I was in the middle of a confrontation with the religious leaders when I told them the story about two sons (see the verses below). The story is primarily about repentance. I want you to think of repentance in terms of the word “turnaround.” That’s what Peter needed — a major turnaround. He was prone to over-promising and reaching to grab the spotlight. Peter was always wanting to go first, be best, and say the right thing at the right time. This trait was true of Peter whether he was walking on the water then sinking, confessing Me as Lord yet then denying I would suffer, or not wanting Me to wash his feet then wanting Me to wash him all over. On each of these occasions, Peter failed. He over-promised and under-delivered! At times, Peter was like each son in the story below. He over-promised what he would do and didn’t keep his word; this is like the second son. However, like the first son, he was sorrowful and wanted to get his life back on track when he had time to think through his flawed actions. Somewhere along the way, Peter needed to own both his overstatements and his failures. He needed a turnaround. He needed to leave the past failures behind and walk a new direction, My direction, the direction of faithful obedience. You, like Peter, will stumble and fall. You will fail to live up to what you want to be. You don’t want to stumble. I don’t want you to stumble. But it will happen. Your decision at that point is very simple: Will you choose to stay in the place where you’ve faltered and live in your failure? Or will you choose to own your failures by confessing them and then turn your life around to live faithfully for Me? A life of discipleship is not about pretending you are perfect, not about saying the right thing just to make yourself look good, and not about hiding or excusing your sin. I’m not looking for a person who fakes holiness to look righteous. What matters to Me is that you are cut to the heart when you falter, and you are willing to own that stumble, then turn around and get back on track living for Me. My righteousness covers those who repent. My forgiveness covers those who choose to turn their lives around. So if you have let Me down and disappointed yourself because of your sin, remember that your failure isn’t fatal unless you choose for it to be final. I always welcome a turnaround. Verses to Live Which of the two sons below are you most like? Do you push back against what I call you to do, but after thinking about it, get your life back on track like the first son? Or do you over-promise trying to make yourself look good to the folks around you and then fail to deliver like the second son? For Me, the appearance of being religious means nothing. What I AM after is your heart and your obedience. Even if you find yourself in the shoes of the second son, please realize that you can change. You can turn around, and you can get your life back on track and live for Me. Just remember My apostle Peter. He started out as the second son, then ended up turning things around like the first son. Jesus: I will tell you a story, and you can tell Me what you make of it: There was a man who had two sons. He said to his first son: Father: Go and work in the vineyard today. First Son: No, I will not. But later the first son changed his mind and went. Then the father went to his second son. Father: Go and work in the vineyard today. Second Son: Of course, Father. But then he did not go. So which of the sons did what the father wanted? Chief Priests and Elders (answering at once): The first. Jesus: I tell you this: the tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you. John came to show you the straight path, the path to righteousness. You did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. Even as you saw the prostitutes and the tax collectors forgiven and washed clean, finding their footing on the straight path to
Daily Prayer for May 4
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14, RSV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for guiding us on all our ways with power from on high. We thank you that again and again you have led us through the darkness on a path of light. Looking back, we cannot be thankful enough. May our hearts turn to you and be filled with quiet certainty in all we are still awaiting. Remember us and remember the many who lie under heavy bondage. Let the time come when you will bring a great deliverance to those who are in darkness. Then we can find meaning for our lives in all that happens, knowing that you have been faithful in everything. You have done more than we asked, more than we can understand. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Watching the Geminids Maureen Swinger Sky-watchers have a chance to think about time differently. Read now In Defense of Chastity Erik Varden Is the church’s teaching on sex unnatural? Read now Even in Hell, Jesus Is There Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt There is nowhere he cannot reach with his healing and liberating power. Read now What Would Jesus Pay Workers? C. Don Jones Jesus clearly says workers deserve a living wage. Read now The Mystery of Father-Son Relationships Benjamin P. Myers The poems in B. H. Fairchild’s An Ordinary Life explore the unresolvable, undefinable relationship between fathers and sons. Read now
Today’s Verse – Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. —Psalm 5:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When I read this verse, I remember Richard Melton, a beloved elder in a church where I once preached and a dedicated prayer warrior. He would quote this verse every morning before he entered into prayer. He often quoted this verse with tears in his eyes because he did expectantly wait for the LORD to join him and to answer! Why the tears? Because prayer is so much more — more than we realize and more than we can explain. It is more than making requests. It is more than offering praise. It is more than giving thanks. It is more than interceding for others. It is more than the positions we use to pray — kneeling, prostrating, or bowing before God. Prayer is us knowing God wants us there and loves when we “wait in expectation” for him and his answers to our prayers. Prayer is expecting God to act and bring his redemption in response to our prayers. It is eagerly expecting that God will meet us in our prayer time and do what is best for us, and those for whom we pray. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Loving Father and Eternal God, thank you for meeting me in this prayer time. I know you hear me and care about what I share with you. Thank you for paying attention to someone like me and accepting me as your precious child. Thank you! O LORD, I wait in expectation to see you move in the lives of people for whom I pray. In Jesus’ mighty 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.
Beyond Failure
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, Over the next several days, I will take you on a journey with My apostle, Simon Peter. Before his denial of even knowing Me, I warned him about this upcoming sin. While he stumbled and fell, his faith didn’t completely fail. The verses below remind you of My warning to Peter. Later in the evening when I was arrested, Peter used a sword to try to defend me (John 18:10). He was trying to live up to his promise of being willing to die for Me. He was confused when I told him to put away the sword and that I must fulfill what the Scriptures had said about Me (John 18:11; Matthew 26:50-54). Later that same evening, Peter denied Me three times (John 18:16-27) — just as I had told him he would. After his third denial, I looked straight at him across the courtyard, and he went away devastated by his failure when he heard the rooster crow (Luke 22:61-62). What should I do with those who claim to follow Me and then deny, betray, or abandon Me in a moment of weakness? What if they renounce Me in their confusion or fear or concern for their family or…? Even many of the so-called best and bravest have failed at one point or another. Does that disqualify them from My grace? Does that mean that I abandon them as they have abandoned Me? Are they to be cast out or distrusted forever? Definitely not! Watch these next few days closely. See how I restored Peter. I didn’t just lovingly confront him and forgive him, but I restored him to leadership among the apostles! But for today, notice the seeds of grace I planted in Peter’s heart and the hearts of the other disciples. Know that as you face your trials, My words are equally true for you: “I have prayed that your faith will hold firm and that you will recover from your failure and become a source of strength for your brothers …” My grace not only can sustain you, but it can also reclaim you when you have failed yet are still clinging — be it tenaciously or tenuously — to the hope that I will never leave you or forsake you! Verses to Live Over the next several days, I want to show you how I approach forgiveness and cleansing — the promise I made you yesterday using John’s words about My atoning sacrifice and My ongoing role as your advocate before the Father (1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:1-2). So read the words carefully and you will see how I was already preparing Peter to overcome his failure and sin and to be restored as My leader. Did his faith fail? No, it didn’t, not permanently. You will see that his failure — unlike Judas’ failure — wasn’t final. Was he confused? Yes! Was he overconfident? Absolutely! Did he deny me three times? Yes! Did he quit in his failure, or did he hold out hope beyond it? He held out hope. And so should you! Simon Peter: Lord, where are You going? Jesus: Peter, you cannot come with Me now, but later you will join Me. Peter: Why can’t I go now? I’ll give my life for You! (John 13:36-37) Jesus: Simon, Simon, how Satan has pursued you, that he might make you part of his harvest. But I have prayed for you. I have prayed that your faith will hold firm and that you will recover from your failure and become a source of strength for your brothers here. Peter: Lord, what are You talking about? I’m going all the way to the end with You — to prison, to execution — I’m prepared to do anything for You. Jesus: No, Peter, the truth is that before the rooster crows at dawn, you will have denied that you even know Me, not just once, but three times. Remember when I sent you out with no money, no pack, not even sandals? Did you lack anything? Disciples: Not a thing. Jesus: It’s different now. If you have some savings, take them with you. If you have a pack, fill it and bring it. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one. Here’s the truth: what the Hebrew Scriptures said, “And He was taken as one of the criminals,” must come to fruition in Me. These words must come true. Disciples: Look, Lord, we have two swords here. Jesus: That’s enough. (Luke 22:31-38) Response in Prayer Lord Jesus, I live today confidently. I am not confident in my abilities to never fail, forsake or disappoint you, but confident in Your grace to reclaim and restore me. I promise never to take sin lightly. I will do my best never to presume on the generosity of Your grace. But for those times when I sin — I fail, forsake or deny you — I will not believe the lies of Satan that I am worthless and irreclaimable. I will remember Your grace and how You reclaimed and restored Peter, so I trust You can do the same with me. Thank You. And thank You Father for such redemptive love. In Jesus’ grace, I rest my hope and give You thanks. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
03 May 2024
The eternal nature of God gives us the assurance that even if circumstances change, He remains the same. And due to His love, He restores us and will do so again. His years never end. His love endures forever. Psalm 102:12-28.
Today’s Verse – Ecclesiastes 5:2
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. —Ecclesiastes 5:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Even in our TikTok®, short sound-byte world, far too often, many words are spoken in pledge to God that go unfulfilled. We are also tempted to pray long prayers, thinking God will hear us because of our many words (Matthew 6:7). Instead, let’s thank him, praise him, and make our requests to him. But let’s also realize that while our prayers need to be persistent, our words don’t need to be elaborate, refined, and many in number. My Prayer… Almighty God, thank you for the Holy Spirit interceding with you for us as we pray (Romans 8:26-27). Thank you for reminding us in your Scriptures that we don’t have to use articulate prayers for you to hear our hearts. Thank you for not expecting grandiose promises or dazzling words from us when we pray. We come to you as your children, your humble servants, who long to live for you and praise you with our lives and our words. In Jesus’ name, dear Father, we seek your grace as 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.
Walking in the Light of Grace
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, I came to your world to be God among you and die as the atoning sacrifice for your sins. However, My ministry for you did not end with My death. After I was raised from the dead and ascended to the Father, I began My role as a heavenly intercessor for you and all others who truly follow Me. My atoning death was the last sacrifice needed. My presence at the Father’s side ensures that I am your holy advocate forever (Hebrews 7:25). My sacrifice still covers your sin. That sacrifice assures you of both your forgiveness and your cleansing. You can be forgiven and also be made pure. It is as if you had never sinned! We — Father, Son, and Spirit — do not want you to sin. Some sin is rebellion, some is weakness, some is immaturity, and some is missing your intended target for the character you desire in your life. I want you to be open with the Father about your sin. I want you to confess your sin to at least one other brother or sister in your spiritual family (James 5:16). Be honest about your sin and your struggle with that sin. Come clean about your sin, rebellion, moral failure, and shortcomings. You are not going to do everything perfectly. Only the self-deluded would claim to have never sinned (1 John 1:8). Only someone who does not understand the nature of sin would try to cling to his or her own supposed sinlessness: “You see, all have sinned, and all their futile attempts to reach God in His glory fail” (Romans 3:23). However, if you walk with Me in the open fellowship of My grace, you will confess your sin for what it is. You will want it gone, forgiven, and cleansed so that your sin is purged from any record of wrongs and you are purified from any stain of sin. Here is what I ask of you. Realize the love and blessings of the grace you have received. Realize this grace came at a very high price. Realize that My sacrifice was given for you, but not just for you: It is for every person in the world! Please, pass this good news of My atoning sacrifice and My gift of new life, overwhelming grace, complete forgiveness, and total cleansing on to those who are lost. So walk with Me… be honest with Me… and share My grace because others need this same forgiveness and cleansing that you have received. Verses to Live Read the following verses several times. They are from My beloved disciple John, who wrote them to encourage those who were discouraged with their sin. These verses contain great promises to you about what I am doing right now in the presence of the Father to bless you and bless all who choose to follow Me as their Lord and Savior: What we are telling you now is the very message we heard from Him [Jesus]: God is pure light, undimmed by darkness of any kind. If we say we have an intimate connection with the Father but we continue stumbling around in darkness, then we are lying because we do not live according to truth. If we walk step by step in the light, where the Father is, then we are ultimately connected to each other through the sacrifice of Jesus His Son. His blood purifies us from all our sins. If we go around bragging, “We have no sin,” then we are fooling ourselves and are strangers to the truth. But if we own up to our sins, God shows that He is faithful and just by forgiving us of our sins and purifying us from the pollution of all the bad things we have done. If we say, “We have not sinned,” then we depict God as a liar and show that we have not let His word find its way into our hearts. You are my little children, so I am writing these things to help you avoid sin. If, however, any believer does sin, we have a high-powered defense lawyer — Jesus the Anointed, the righteous — arguing on our behalf before the Father. It was through His sacrificial death that our sins were atoned. But He did not stop there — He died for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:1-2) Response in Prayer O Father, I know that I have sinned and fallen short of Your plan for Me. Thank You Lord Jesus for Your sacrifice. You sacrificed Your comfort, Your security, Your dignity, and Your life to give me grace. Your sacrifice gave me the way to receive the Father’s mercy through forgiveness and cleansing. Thank You Holy Spirit for Your work to transform me to be more and more like Jesus. I commit to living for Him as You empower and transform me. I promise to share His grace with others so that they can share in these blessings. In Jesus’ name, I offer You my thanks, commitment, and praise. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
02 May 2024
And as we experience God’s love, may we also share that love with those around us. The Lord will keep blessing us as we do so. 2 Kings 8:1-6.