Silent Stones

Today’s Verse – Psalm 32:7

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. —Psalm 32:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Out of the attacks of evil one come the victories of God and the victory chants of God’s people. Let us make God our refuge, our hiding place, and our source of security. The LORD Almighty is our hope in times of trouble. He protects us from trials, troubles, temptations, and gives us songs of glorious deliverance! My Prayer… Father, thank you for the confidence we can have in your power and might to deliver us from every attack of the evil one. You are worthy of all glory, honor, power, and praise. In the name of your Son and our LORD Jesus Christ, we thank you for deliverance and praise you because of your might and our deliverance. 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.

30 Oct 2025

Helplessness was not on Naaman’s mind, when he saw an opportunity to get help. He had not given up despite being sick for a long time. May we see the move of God and respond appropriately. May we avoid distractions and see or hear God clearly. May we be convicted to do what He desires. 2 Kings 5:2-5.

29 Oct 2025

In 2 Kings 5:1, there is a brave soldier who was a captain in the army. He was dependable and a great soldier and leader, but he had leprosy. This disease did not stop him from doing what he needed to do. He excelled in his career despite his illness. What’s your challenge? Does it define you or stop you from being who you are supposed to be? Are you able to excel despite this challenge?

Daily Prayer for October 29

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness. Psalm 89:15–16, NIV Dear Father in heaven, how lovingly you have thought of us! How much good you let us experience again and again! So our hearts are happy, and we go to rest this night full of joy and thanks because we are your children. Our thanks and joy shall be our service to you day and night. More than this you do not ask, and in this we will be faithful. We want to be joyful and to be glad for our lives. Even when we face dark hours, O Lord our God, we are filled with hope that brings us joy for the future as well as for the present, with assurance that your salvation is coming. We rejoice in what you give us already today. Amen.   Recent articles on Plough The Gift of Repentence Johann Christoph Arnold The goal of church discipline should never be punishment, but rather restoration. Read now What the Weeds Are Telling Us Ragan Sutterfield In Arkansas, farmers are fighting and dying over pigweed. Are weeds just an ancient curse on humankind, or can they teach us something? Read now Why Are People Returning to Church? Andrew Davison and Joy Marie Clarkson We are seeing an unexpected resurgence of openness to God and spiritual matters, and an uptick in religious participation. What’s behind it? Read now Choose the Cashier Midge Goldberg Here’s one simple thing we can all do to stay human, love our neighbor, and build community. Read now The Dazzling Light of God Madeleine Delbrêl To have living faith is to be blinded by it, in order to be led by it. Read now

Today’s Verse – Ephesians 6:11

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. —Ephesians 6:11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We often focus only on the things we like, are good at doing, or are interested in accomplishing. God wants us to use every piece of his spiritual armor for every situation where it is needed. He wants us to be disciplined and grow in areas of our spiritual weakness, as well as in those we do not find particularly exciting or interesting. Our evil opponent is crafty and will attack us in the areas of our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, the areas we neglect to bring under the Lordship of Christ. So let’s not just commit to being diligent in the areas of our interests and strengths, but especially hone in those areas where we are not strong and don’t usually pay attention. Let’s put on the FULL armor of God and take our stand against the evil one and his schemes. My Prayer… Father, strengthen me in the areas where I am most vulnerable to sin because of my lethargy and neglect. Please open my eyes to see my areas of weakness and vulnerability. Rekindle my heart to passionately seek after your holiness as I strive to bring all of my life under the lordship of my Savior, Jesus, in whose 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.

28 Oct 2025

I may be mortal and fallible, but I serve the Lord God almighty. He is my ever present help, a resource that is always available to me. I choose to depend on Him, not on my own strength. I purpose to fear and honour Him. May I find favour in His sight. Psalm 103:15-18.

27 Oct 2025

I purpose to invoke faith continuously as I journey through life. I have decided to make the Lord’s presence my dwelling place. I am tired of looking over my shoulder in fear. I will rest in the shadow of His wings and depend on Him. I will trust in His help. Psalm 91:1-16.

Today’s Verse – Ephesians 6:10

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. —Ephesians 6:10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Some of our strength in fighting evil comes from the spiritual experiences in our past, the encouragement of other believers, and our knowledge of the truth from Scripture. Ultimately, however, our power comes from God’s mighty power, the Holy Spirit. Paul uses his letter to the Ephesians to remind Christians that the power of the Holy Spirit, which raised Jesus from the dead, is at work in us now (Ephesians 1:17-20, 3:14-16). Through the Spirit’s power at work in us, God can do much more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21). As we put on our spiritual armor and dedicate ourselves to spiritual discipline, God blesses us with his power and his might to live holy lives of courage and grace. God enables us to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power”! My Prayer… O LORD God Almighty, my Abba Father and loving Shepherd, strengthen me with your might and grace so that I can withstand the attacks and temptations of the evil one. In Jesus’ name, I ask for the might of the Holy Spirit to be at work in me for your glory. 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 October 27

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:8–10, NIV Lord God, we thank you for your voice even when it is stern and we must go through hardship and suffering. Your voice speaks to us, and in your voice we can be glad and victorious in our life on earth. Come into our lives. May each of us realize that all we have gone through has been for the good. Be God and Lord over the nations. Be a refuge for all people. Grant that the sin and distress of this terrible time may soon pass and that we may hear your words, “Be comforted. I will come soon. All these terrors must pass by. My will is being done. My name must be honored. My kingdom and my rule are coming. So take heart and at all times look to your God and Father in heaven.” Amen.   Recent articles on Plough Choose the Cashier Midge Goldberg Here’s one simple thing we can all do to stay human, love our neighbor, and build community. Read now The Dazzling Light of God Madeleine Delbrêl To have living faith is to be blinded by it, in order to be led by it. Read now Poem: “After Helping My Father Rake the Leaves” Jean L. Kreiling A daughter remembers raking leaves with her father, an effort he made despite battling depression. Read now Two Millennia of Christian Community Alden Bass Christians throughout history have found new ways to emulate the communal ideal of the early church. Read now A Book to End All Walls Uk-Bae Lee and Chungyon Won Korea’s demilitarized zone has become an accidental nature preserve that gives hope for a brighter future. Read now

Today’s Verse – Ephesians 5:15-16

Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. —Ephesians 5:15-16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Even though we are God’s holy children, we also need to be aware of the time it is in our world. The evil one still exercises his control over the hearts of many people. Temptations abound. Evil people seek to distort the truth and malign the way of God. Our Father in heaven wants us to “make most of every opportunity” – literally, “redeem the time” – making the most of every opportunity we have to touch the lives of others with God’s grace, resist worldly temptations, and overcome the opposition of the evil one by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:17-20, 3:14-16). My Prayer… Give me wisdom, O LORD, to discern the best ways to use my time and my influence to honor you and bless others. Please open my eyes to see the temptations the evil one puts in my path. Please grow my courage so I can boldly stand for you in the face of our often perverse world. In addition, dear Father, please grant me the spiritual sensitivity to discern the best ways to bless others according to their needs. In Jesus’ name, I pray, asking for your gracious help to make this so. 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.