08 Jul 2025
In the most difficult moments of our journey on earth, we should learn to believe that it is well. The situation may look dire, but let us remember to trust in God. That takes humility and faith. The next step is casting all our anxiety on Him. 1 Peter 5:6-7.
Daily Prayer for July 8
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:17–18, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven and on earth, we are thankful that you have a people to whom you say, “You are mine.” Grant that we too may belong to this people. Strengthen us in the faith that we belong to you, so that we can come to know your rule and your justice. Protect us on all the paths we follow during our time on earth. The times are evil, but come what may, every single one of us has in his heart the certainty, “We are yours.” You have long watched over us and kept us safe. Again and again we affirm, “We are yours, Lord our God, through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Amen. Recent articles on Plough What My First Psychiatric Patient Taught Me Abraham M. Nussbaum Sharon could hardly leave the house. She showed me the wonder and limits of therapy. Read now An Animated Film That Asks Questions Casey Kleczek Gints Zilbalodis’s film Flow is a work of art my young family could wrestle with as well as enjoy. Read now Desire, Use, Repeat James Mumford An addict looks for a way out. Read now A Disabled Savior Devan Stahl The wounds of a resurrected God help us live with ours. Read now What Families with Autistic Children Know Sam Tomlin For parents of neurodiverse children, church and school can be another hurdle. Read now
Today’s Verse – Ezekiel 38:23
And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD. —Ezekiel 38:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “They will know that I am the LORD,” is a familiar refrain in Ezekiel’s prophecies. In today’s verse, this promise should have been horrifying for his people because of their rebellious, sinful, and wicked behaviors. God is holy. The people who claim him as their God have always been called to reflect his character. Their lives must magnify God! If not, God will make sure it is done at their expense. God will be known as God, the I AM, the great LORD and Creator. In our day, when so many profane the name of God and use it so glibly in their reactions and frustration, God’s message should be a sober reminder that even the name of God is holy (Exodus 20:7), and he will act to ensure the nations know he is LORD, awesome in holiness! My Prayer… Please forgive us, God, for not reverencing you as we ought and as you deserve. We bow in humble anguish at how the people of our time and culture disregard the holiness of your name. Please send a wave of renewal among your people that stirs us to honor you and respect your holiness with greater passion and a more profound sense of awe. You are holy, righteous, majestic, mighty, and gracious. Help us display our allegiance to you and reverence for you. In Jesus’ name, we pray you receive the honor you deserve among us so the nations can know that you are LORD. 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.
07 Jul 2025
If you are unsure, trust in God. If you are worried, talk to God. If you are scared, believe in God. If you are at peace, thank God. Proverbs 3:3-8.
Daily Prayer for July 7
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for all you have done for us, for all you are doing for us, for deliverance from need and death. We thank you for all the signs you give us that you hear our prayer when, without wavering or weakening, we set our hopes on you. We thank you that we can be without fear of sin and death, for you stand by us in everything. In spite of our imperfections you show us your goodness again and again. May the light in our hearts never be extinguished, the light that enables us to look into heaven and earth and see the good that is on its way to us today. May joy remain with us, and may we have the strength to be a community that follows the paths of life which bring praise and honor to you. Amen. Recent articles on Plough An Animated Film That Asks Questions Casey Kleczek Gints Zilbalodis’s film Flow is a work of art my young family could wrestle with as well as enjoy. Read now Desire, Use, Repeat James Mumford An addict looks for a way out. Read now A Disabled Savior Devan Stahl The wounds of a resurrected God help us live with ours. Read now What Families with Autistic Children Know Sam Tomlin For parents of neurodiverse children, church and school can be another hurdle. Read now Abraham’s Warring Children Kelsey Osgood After October 7, can a Muslim-Christian-Jewish center in Abu Dhabi make any difference? Read now
Today’s Verse – James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. —James 4:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Let’s admit it: most of us would like spiritual growth to be easy. We want our ability to withstand temptation to require little effort. We want the Holy Spirit to do the work and God to protect us from too much stress and strain. Unfortunately, our battle against the evil one and his minions is challenging and hard spiritually (Ephesians 6:10-12). Thankfully, God empowers us through his Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:17-20) and provides us with spiritual armor to resist the evil one (Ephesians 6:13-20). However, for the Spirit to work powerfully, we must intentionally submit ourselves and our wills to God as we resist the evil one. If we put up a fight against him and his temptations, he will flee from us. Let’s do our part, trusting that God will more than uphold his promises and provide his power! My Prayer… Father, thank you for your presence and power in me through your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the Scriptures, which reveal to me your will. Now, dear Father, I gladly submit my will to yours, asking you to do your will in me. Please use your people and your Spirit to motivate and inspire me to resist the devil and recognize his attempts to derail my commitment to you. I ask this in the powerful name of Jesus, my LORD. 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 – John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. —John 17:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Eternal life begins now! That is one of Jesus’ messages in the Gospel of John (John 5:24). Sure, we don’t get to enjoy all of the blessings that await us when we go home to the Father quite yet, but Jesus wants us to know and to experience his love and the Father’s presence in our lives, NOW! He even prayed this for us in today’s verse! So let’s seek the Father, not just to know about him, but to authentically know and experience him! He longs to draw near to us, make his home in us, and reveal himself to us (John 14:21, 23). He promises to do so as we draw near to him (James 4:8). He is at work in us, so the real issue isn’t his nearness, but our awareness of his presence and work. So, let’s open our eyes and hearts to our Father and ask him to reveal his presence to us as he makes his home in us and we experience the beginnings of eternal life now! My Prayer… It amazes me, Heavenly Father, that you let me approach you, the Almighty and Holy God. I am humbled by your promise to be at work in my life. Forgive me for the times I have been so full of myself that I have not acknowledged your presence and grace. Make me more aware of your providential care and your daily presence in me through your Holy Spirit. Open my eyes and heart, dear LORD, that I may know you more fully. In the name of Jesus, I pray. 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 July 5
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Romans 8:22–24a, NIV Lord our God, we thank you for the great calling you have given us. We thank you that in all the evils of today’s world you give us the hope and faith that you are leading us to a goal that is good, and you make us free. You make your children free so that throughout humankind a new spirit may come, a new life and a new power to serve you in time and eternity. Praise to your name that we can always have hope; nothing can discourage us, but everything must work together for good in accordance with your great purpose. Grant that your compassion may come to all the world, to all peoples, whom you have looked upon with mercy in sending Jesus Christ as Savior. Amen. Recent articles on Plough A Disabled Savior Devan Stahl The wounds of a resurrected God help us live with ours. Read now What Families with Autistic Children Know Sam Tomlin For parents of neurodiverse children, church and school can be another hurdle. Read now Abraham’s Warring Children Kelsey Osgood After October 7, can a Muslim-Christian-Jewish center in Abu Dhabi make any difference? Read now Merelots: Armenia’s Day of the Dead Narine Abgaryan “What use do the departed have for liturgy?” an Armenian mother reflects on a visit to the grave of her stepson, in this short story. Read now The Exploitation of Immigrant Care Workers Hazel Thompson Hidden in plain sight, foreign health aides in UK care homes face exploitation. Read now
Today’s Verse – Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. —Galatians 5:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Paul wrote to help the new believers keep their true freedom in Christ. Their faith in Jesus had liberated them from trying to earn their righteousness through law-keeping (Galatians 3:1-29, 4:1-20). No law could justify them before God. Only faith in the finished work of Jesus as LORD and Savior offered them freedom to be all Christ had re-created them to be (Galatians 2:14-16; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, 5:17). They were God’s children through faith, now led by the Holy Spirit to take on the character of Jesus (Galatians 5:16-27). We, too, must realize that as God’s children, we have been freed from law-keeping and sin because of our faith in Jesus and our participation with him in baptism through faith in the power of God (Galatians 3:26-29; Romans 6:3-14; Colossians 2:12-15). We must never return to justifying ourselves through works of any law, set of rules, or someone’s religious expectations for us. To do so is to give up our freedom and return to bondage by trying to keep on trying to earn our salvation. Paul begs us to rely on what Jesus did for us, not our adherence to any law. It is our faith in the work of Christ on the cross and the empty tomb that liberates us from sin, death, and slavery to what cannot save us. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Holy and Righteous God, my Abba Father, thank you for freeing me from the guilt and power of sin! Thank you for liberating me from trying to earn my salvation through law-keeping. I trust that you will empower and transform me by your Holy Spirit. By the Spirit’s power, I know I can now leave my sinful past behind. I want to honor your grace by living a life of character and blessing in my family, in my work, and in your world. In the name of Jesus, I pray 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.
04 Jul 2025
Belonging to a family of believers is important if we desire to experience God fully. Other people’s experiences will enrich our lives. He ministers to His people individually and corporately. This will help us grasp how much He loves us. There is also no limit to what He can do amongst us. Ephesians 3:14-21.