Daily Prayer for February 15
For this is what the high and exalted One says – he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that even in need and misery we may feel and know that you are with the weak, for you are mighty in helping your children. You give the weak strength to serve you in spite of all their faults and weaknesses. Make us glad at heart for everything we are allowed to do and experience, because it serves you, your glory, and your kingdom until the day when others also are given eyes to see. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Humbled in the Presence of Daisies Friedrich von Hügel A philosopher ponders the limits of human knowledge. Read now For the Love of Public School Teaching Anthony Garces-Foley An immigrant educator tells why he chose to teach underprivileged children. Read now Things Literature and Art Help Us See Joshua Hren As Dostoyevsky learned firsthand, a firing squad can make you think about what really matters. Can a novel or a painting? Read now With the Zabbaleens of Mokattam Village Martin Mosebach and Alta L. Price A visitor finds Christianity thriving on a garbage dump outside of Cairo. Read now Feeding a Community Using Regenerative Agriculture Jeff King A Bruderhof farmer grows vegetables using sustainable practices. Read now
Today’s Verse – Philippians 1:3
I thank my God every time I remember you. —Philippians 1:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Certain people are such special blessings. It doesn’t matter if we visit with them on the phone, receive an encouraging email, receive a handwritten letter, or see them face to face. Any time we remember these kinds of people, we thank God for them. So, let’s follow Paul’s example and let them know they give us reasons to give thanks! I thank my God every time I remember you. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Loving LORD, thank you for the following precious people you have brought into my life… (Place the names of several people who have blessed your life here). They have blessed my life and done it in so many ways. Please bless their lives with your grace, power, and Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I thank you for these precious people. 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.
14 Feb 2025
There must be a better version of me. I am not perfect. Am I willing to trust God to make me better? Am I brave enough to see the better version of myself and not dwell in remorse. Do I have the patience to allow God to work on me? 1 Corinthians 15:45-49.
Daily Prayer for February 14
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5, NIV Lord our God, keep us in the grace that is ours through Jesus Christ. Uphold others also in this grace. Reveal yourself everywhere to those who trust in you and who await your kingdom. May your blessing be on our household. We thank you for helping us, and with your help we want to be faithful to you. Then when hardships come, we can be certain of your presence. We know and trust you. We know and trust the Savior, and we know and trust the Holy Spirit, in whom we can have community and be strengthened to serve your glory. Amen. Recent articles on Plough For the Love of Public School Teaching Anthony Garces-Foley An immigrant educator tells why he chose to teach underprivileged children. Read now Things Literature and Art Help Us See Joshua Hren As Dostoyevsky learned firsthand, a firing squad can make you think about what really matters. Can a novel or a painting? Read now With the Zabbaleens of Mokattam Village Martin Mosebach and Alta L. Price A visitor finds Christianity thriving on a garbage dump outside of Cairo. Read now Feeding a Community Using Regenerative Agriculture Jeff King A Bruderhof farmer grows vegetables using sustainable practices. Read now Edward Hicks: Pacifist Patriot Cody Cook An early American artist reconciled his Quaker convictions with the promising ideals of a new nation. Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 John 4:20
If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. —1 John 4:20 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Singing “O how I love Jesus!” and “I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you, O my soul rejoice…” sounds great. However, Jesus responds to us singing these words by asking us a simple and clear question: How well are you doing with loving your brothers and sisters? We can’t love God, we can’t appreciate Jesus, and we can’t be filled with the Holy Spirit if we won’t love those around us. My Prayer… Forgive me, dear Father, for the times I have harbored pettiness in my heart or been unforgiving to those who needed my grace. I recognize that when I am unloving to my brothers and sisters in Christ or even unloving to my neighbors, I am unloving to you. Please bless me as I work to reconcile some recent unresolved Christian relationships, remove long-held bitterness, and offered genuine love toward those who have wounded me. Help these mended friendships bring glory to you and vitality to your Church. 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.
13 Feb 2025
I’m sure the Lord is pleased when we die to self. It takes a decision, commitment, and His power. It causes His name to be glorified and, therefore, causes Him to delight in us. May He show us how we can bring glory to His name. And may He increase in us as we die to self. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44.
Daily Prayer for February 13
Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy sorrow endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience. For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. Sirach 2:4-5, DRA Lord our God, we thank you for helping us again and again. Praised be your name for all you do for us and for all your help in many dangers and hardships! We trust you completely and have faith in you through Jesus Christ, the Savior. He reveals your grace everywhere, in every hardship, giving us the courage and freedom to look toward your kingdom. Help us remain courageous when we have to face suffering, for we want to be your disciples in Jesus Christ, the Crucified One. He has made suffering holy, that our suffering too may bear fruit for you in time and in eternity. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Things Literature and Art Help Us See Joshua Hren As Dostoyevsky learned firsthand, a firing squad can make you think about what really matters. Can a novel or a painting? Read now With the Zabbaleens of Mokattam Village Martin Mosebach and Alta L. Price A visitor finds Christianity thriving on a garbage dump outside of Cairo. Read now Feeding a Community Using Regenerative Agriculture Jeff King A Bruderhof farmer grows vegetables using sustainable practices. Read now Edward Hicks: Pacifist Patriot Cody Cook An early American artist reconciled his Quaker convictions with the promising ideals of a new nation. Read now My Own Personal Desert Jeannie Rose Barksdale Should I pull an Antony: drop my kids off with the nuns and head to a desert to seek sanctification in solitude? Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us. —1 John 4:19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As human beings, we like to think of ourselves as the center of our universe. We determine the greatness or validity of most things around us based on their impact on us. Some of us even consider ourselves great adventurers, inventors, and investigators. However, in our most important quest, we did not act first; God did. He loved us sacrificially. He loved us personally. God loved us first. Our love is a response to his grace of going first with love. Our love is simply sharing with others what has been lavished upon us. We love because he loved us first. My Prayer… Almighty God and Abba Father, I know that I don’t fully understand the fullness of your love, but I know that you have blessed me with it in ways I could not have imagined. So please, dear Father, help me remember your great love for me when I am faced with temptation, led to doubt your grace, or wonder about my worthiness. I want your love to be reflected in my daily life. Thank you for loving me so completely. Thank you for loving me sacrificially. Thank you for loving me when I was a sinner and alienated from you. Most of all, thanks for loving first! In Jesus’ name, I praise you. 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.
12 Feb 2025
The glory of our inheritance in Christ is awesome. When we die to self in Christ, He raises us better. May we entrust our lives to Him and may He keep blessing us so that we shine brighter and brighter ✨️ for His glory. 1 Corinthians 15:35-38.
Daily Prayer for February 12
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20, RSV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you with all our hearts for showing your power in us and for overcoming so much that is hostile and that threatens to harm our life. We thank you for the countless wonders you do for our sake. We rejoice and thank you most of all for allowing us to know that you are writing our names in heaven. Where our names are, there we are too. Where our Lord Jesus Christ is, there we want to be too, and our words and our actions should come from him. Keep us faithful in this, and let us serve you with gladness on every path we tread. Amen. Recent articles on Plough With the Zabbaleens of Mokattam Village Martin Mosebach A visitor finds Christianity thriving on a garbage dump outside of Cairo. Read now Feeding a Community Using Regenerative Agriculture Jeff King A Bruderhof farmer grows vegetables using sustainable practices. Read now Edward Hicks: Pacifist Patriot Cody Cook An early American artist reconciled his Quaker convictions with the promising ideals of a new nation. Read now My Own Personal Desert Jeannie Rose Barksdale Should I pull an Antony: drop my kids off with the nuns and head to a desert to seek sanctification in solitude? Read now The End of the World Is Joy Nikolai Berdyaev The thought of the end must be grasped not in a passive and negative attitude of mind but creatively and positively. Read now