Daily Prayer for April 11
Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:26, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for this day and for the protection you have given us. Grant that we may find our joy in your grace and in your love. Help us to become truer followers of Jesus, who came in your love. Be merciful to us and help all those who belong to you. You know them all and the thoughts of their hearts. You know their struggle on earth and the temptations that surround them. Help each one, also those who are still far away from you. Give them hearts open to your Word and to all you have promised. We entrust ourselves to your care this night. Help us and bless us. May your will be done in all things, also in the midst of all the sin and misery in the world. May your will be done on earth as in heaven, and may your kingdom come. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Plants Can Talk William Thomas Okie The flowers have a language. Are we listening? Read now How Far Does Forgiveness Reach? Denise Uwimana Emmanuel and Cancilde, neighbors on opposite sides of the Rwandan genocide, tell their story. Read now Fred and the Convict Dan Grote There’s a certain something in the air at USP Canaan this morning. Read now Book Tour: Flights of Fact or Fiction Phil Christman What’s the actual deal with UFOs and mystics who flew? Read now Why I Went Cold Turkey on Political Theology Alastair Roberts Reading the Gospels out of delight in them, rather than as fodder for political argument, was like breathing fresh air. Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 John 4:10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. —1 John 4:10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Love is demonstrated, not just communicated verbally. When the Scriptures tell us that God loves us, they always show God’s actions that demonstrate that love. Here, John wants us to realize that God’s love goes first. God demonstrates and shares his love with us before we demonstrate our love for him. He doesn’t wait till it is safe to love us. He doesn’t wait until he will get something in return. Instead, he goes first and defines his love in this way so that we can know that genuine love redeems when all hope seems lost — when we are not worthy, and when we are not ready. God is love, and we know this because of what his love does, had done, and will give to us even before we choose to love him. My Prayer… Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, for loving me so extravagantly. Please help me see the opportunities to love others you place in my path every day. Use me, please, dear Father, to demonstrate your love to someone today and the following days of my life. Help me go first with love in my life. 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.
Daily Prayer for April 10
For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. Romans 14:7-9, NIV Lord God, unite us with Jesus Christ, the risen and living One. Unite us so that our lives are completely submerged in your will through Jesus Christ. Tear us loose from all that tries to bind us to earth. Make us free people who always lift their heads and look up because their redemption is approaching. Almighty God, we trust in you, however difficult the times may be. Remember all peoples, for it is your will to gather them into your kingdom. You, O God, are our refuge and our help. In you we trust until the end. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Fred and the Convict Dan Grote There’s a certain something in the air at USP Canaan this morning. Read now Book Tour: Flights of Fact or Fiction Phil Christman What’s the actual deal with UFOs and mystics who flew? Read now Why I Went Cold Turkey on Political Theology Alastair Roberts Reading the Gospels out of delight in them, rather than as fodder for political argument, was like breathing fresh air. Read now Fidelity in Little Things François Fénelon True love to God thinks nothing small. It acts with simplicity. Read now Year of Wonder Paul J. Pastor Two poems listen keenly to the language of nature’s seasons. Read now
Today’s Verse – Philippians 4:9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. —Philippians 4:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I don’t know about you, but I genuinely hope my life reflects what I say and teach. What a great statement to be able to make to those we lead, whether in the classroom, with our families, while at work, or serving in the church: Put into practice the actions you have seen in my life and heard me instruct you to do. Wow. Paul’s statement shows great confidence in how he has lived his life as an investment in living a holy life in partnership with others. Paul’s example in saying these words becomes a good definition of good leaders: Do what they say because they back it up with the character and quality of their lives to show it is true! My Prayer… Almighty and Most High God, please bless me with the integrity that comes when my convictions, words, and actions are consistent and righteous as I live in genuine partnership with others. 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.
09 Apr 2024
Let us praise the Lord because He lives and watches over us. He blesses those who fear Him. He helps us to grow. He has given us life and breath. He protects us and preserves us. Psalm 115:1-18.
Today’s Verse – James 4:7-8
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. —James 4:7-8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… James always packs a lot of truth into short messages. Let’s focus on the center of this call to holiness: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. … Come near to God…” Let’s draw our hearts closer to God. When we come into God’s presence and draw close to him, we know our thoughts, motives, and behaviors will be seen for what they are in the light of his holiness, righteousness, and grace. At the same time, we know that the devil is forced out of our presence by the radiance of our Father’s holy and righteous character. Let’s seek God — his righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful love and justice. Let’s draw near to God, yearning to be in his presence so we can be more like him in our daily lives. Let’s ask God to cleanse us, make us holy, and wholly his! My Prayer… Righteous Father, thank you for your love and forgiveness. Now, dear Father, help me as I yearn to draw closer to you, know you better, and reflect you more fully in my daily life. Purify my heart of any duplicity or secret sin. Cleanse my conscience and empower me to exemplify your grace and holiness. 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.
08 Apr 2024
The Lord is worthy of praise. He deserves honour and gratitude. He has also done so much for us and continues to sustain us. David praised Him because He gave him victory over his enemies. What are you grateful for today? 2 Samuel 22:47-51.
Daily Prayer for April 8
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for revealing your rulership, which is for the good of each of us. Each one of us will become what we ought to be when our faith is united with your divine power. Protect this faith in us through every temptation and through all we have yet to endure in this earthly life. Free us again and again for one thing alone, that your kingdom may come into being within us and around us, to the praise and glory of the everlasting truth you have given us in Jesus Christ. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Book Tour: Flights of Fact or Fiction Phil Christman What’s the actual deal with UFOs and mystics who flew? Read now Why I Went Cold Turkey on Political Theology Alastair Roberts Reading the Gospels out of delight in them, rather than as fodder for political argument, was like breathing fresh air. Read now Fidelity in Little Things François Fénelon True love to God thinks nothing small. It acts with simplicity. Read now Year of Wonder Paul J. Pastor Two poems listen keenly to the language of nature’s seasons. Read now Experiencing Bach Zito Madu I had little appreciation for classical music until 2022, when a series of Bach performances changed the course of my life. Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. —1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The call to holiness is easy to ignore in a world that lives by very different standards than God’s will revealed in the Scriptures. Satan gets us to compare our lifestyle with those around us, deluding us into devaluing our sins. However, the issue is not comparing our sins with others. The goal is to have a thankful heart, cleansed through Jesus’ work, being made holy more and more each day through the work of the Holy Spirit, and all because of God’s grace. Ignoring or toning down the Spirit’s call for our holiness is rejecting God, demeaning grace, and making light of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Let’s be passionate about holiness in our lives because it is what God wants and what we should seek if our hearts recognize the gracious love God has given us in Jesus. My Prayer… Father, forgive us for trying to water down the significance of our sins and how they hurt your heart and displease you. We invite the Holy Spirit to kindle your passion for holiness in our hearts as the Spirit empowers us to live holy lives that honor you for all you have done to save me. 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.
Daily Prayer for April 7
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16–17, NIV Lord our God and our Father, we thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit, who binds us to you. Give us continually afresh something of this Spirit so that we can go forward with light shining on the paths we must follow on earth. Grant us your Spirit, grant that light may break into our whole life and we can rejoice because we experience so much of what you are doing. For through the power of your Spirit you can help us toward your future and all that is to come, that we may live not only in time but in eternity. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Why I Went Cold Turkey on Political Theology Alastair Roberts Reading the Gospels out of delight in them, rather than as fodder for political argument, was like breathing fresh air. Read now Fidelity in Little Things François Fénelon True love to God thinks nothing small. It acts with simplicity. Read now Year of Wonder Paul J. Pastor Two poems listen keenly to the language of nature’s seasons. Read now Experiencing Bach Zito Madu I had little appreciation for classical music until 2022, when a series of Bach performances changed the course of my life. Read now Gripped by the Infinite Annemarie Wächter How did a young woman who once rejected all claims of absolute truth find her way to faith and a meaningful vocation? Read now