11 Feb 2025
Jesus put everything under His feet. He conquered everything, even death. Hence, the hope every Christian should cling to. Now I see why those without this hope live recklessly. Let us avoid anything that would lead us away from this hope. 1 Corinthians 15:25-34.
Daily Prayer for February 11
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13, NIV Dear Father in heaven, grant your Spirit to us, your children. May something from you be revealed on earth so that divine strength and divine truth, not what is only human, are with us in all we do. Keep courage alive in our hearts even when things look dark. May powers of peace and healing be revealed through us because you are near and your kingdom is all around us. You can do all things, also things beyond our understanding. With your help we do what we are able, but we cannot do what you do. We trust in you, and we believe that through your power and your Spirit you will take possession of our whole lives and the lives of the many who sigh in their hearts for absolute truth. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Feeding a Community Using Regenerative Agricultural 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 Timber Framing with Teenagers Clem Robertshaw Why a history teacher believes in training students to use hand tools. Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 John 4:17
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. —1 John 4:17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When we live lovingly toward others as Jesus did, we can have the same confidence in the face of death our Savior did. We can place our spirits in the hands of God. We can trust our future to his grace. We don’t have to worry about standing before God in judgment. However, our confidence is not in our personal achievements, religious efforts, or good deeds. Our confidence on the day of judgment is based on the work of our Savior and being joined to him and safeguarded with him in glory (Colossians 2:12-15; 3:1-4). His love has not only redeemed us from sin; it has changed us to trust him and live in his love. His love is not only a gift to us but also given through us. We can be confident because we know that Jesus’ life is present in us until we stand with him in the presence of our Father. My Prayer… Holy Father, thank you for the power to love others. Thank you for the confidence your love gives me. You have done so much to save me. Thank you for your loving grace and my confidence in 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.
Daily Prayer for February 10
In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts…Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:1-4, NIV Lord our God, help us find the path that we may walk with confidence because you are our Father. Banish all thoughts that try to depress us. Let your Spirit drive them away. May our hearts become quiet before you, because you, the Almighty, guide everything for the good of people on earth. Everything will lead to thanksgiving, to your praise and glory. Be with us at all times, day and night. May our hearts always exult afresh, rejoicing in you, our God and our Savior. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 Timber Framing with Teenagers Clem Robertshaw Why a history teacher believes in training students to use hand tools. Read now Brother Roger of Taizé Ben Cribbin He devoted his life to reconciliation and drew in thousands who otherwise might have abandoned church. His journals show it wasn’t always easy. Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. —1 John 4:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We can rely on God’s love because he demonstrated it by sending Jesus to save us (John 3:16-17). The Father wants us to live in and be blessed by his love. That love is more than just the grace that reached us when God saved us. We experience God’s love when he extends it through us to others who need it. His love is redemptive and manifest — shown through our loving behaviors toward others. His presence is demonstrated and experienced through our loving attitudes, words, and deeds expressed to our brothers and sisters in Christ, our neighbors, and even our enemies. As we share God’s love with others, his love blesses us as we experience the presence of the Father, Son, and Spirit, making their home in us (John 14:21, 23, 25). My Prayer… Father in heaven, I rely on your love. I cannot imagine my life without it; I would be lost entirely. However, I know you love me, Father. I am confident about my future because of that love. I am full of joy as I stand on tiptoe in my heart, looking over my life’s horizon to the time I experience your love in its full glory at Jesus’ coming and I see you face-to-face. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus’ name, I thank and 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.
Daily Prayer for February 9
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1–2, RSV Lord our God, we come into your presence, for you are our certainty, our refuge, especially in these times when so much is happening to grieve and trouble us. You are our God and our Savior today and for all time. You have always been our Savior and helper, and you will remain our Savior and helper forever. We praise you and glorify your name. Give a new spirit in our day, we pray, new help through the gospel brought by Jesus Christ. May your name be kept holy, your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 Timber Framing with Teenagers Clem Robertshaw Why a history teacher believes in training students to use hand tools. Read now Brother Roger of Taizé Ben Cribbin He devoted his life to reconciliation and drew in thousands who otherwise might have abandoned church. His journals show it wasn’t always easy. Read now Obstacles to Christian Community Eberhard Arnold What are the biggest obstacles to community? And how can they be overcome? Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 John 4:15
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. —1 John 4:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “Jesus is the Son of God.” Six simple words. However, they are much more than simple words when we believe them! They are the doorway that opens our hearts to God. So, today, as you confess Jesus as God’s Son, consciously and intentionally welcome God into your heart. He longs to live with you and in you. And as you pursue Jesus by knowing more about him, the Holy Spirit is at work transforming you to become like your LORD (2 Corinthians 3:18). As you listen to Jesus and obey him, he promises us that he and the Father will join the Holy Spirit (our Comforter and helper) and make their home in us (John 14:21, 23, 26) because we have confessed the Son and are seeking to live for him! My Prayer… Father, I want to live my life in and center my heart on your Son. I gladly confess that Jesus is the Son of God. He is also my LORD and my Savior. I praise and thank you in the name of Jesus Christ, trusting in the intercession of the Holy Spirit who lives in me. 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 February 8
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:14-16, NIV Dear Father in heaven, you are among us and we can call you Abba, dear Father. In the joy of being your children we want to lay our lives into your hands to be made good and happy. Care for us like a shepherd pasturing his flock so that we can have community with one another. Help us to realize that you have many children here and everywhere, and that again and again you take a child by the hand saying, “You are mine. I am caring for you.” We thank you that your eyes watch over all the world. We thank you that your rule is over all humankind and will bring good to all people, wherever they may live. May this happen soon through our Savior. We call to him, “Lord Jesus, come. Come soon! May your hand keep us all close to the Father in heaven.” Amen. Recent articles on Plough 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 Timber Framing with Teenagers Clem Robertshaw Why a history teacher believes in training students to use hand tools. Read now Brother Roger of Taizé Ben Cribbin He devoted his life to reconciliation and drew in thousands who otherwise might have abandoned church. His journals show it wasn’t always easy. Read now Obstacles to Christian Community Eberhard Arnold What are the biggest obstacles to community? And how can they be overcome? Read now God Made Us Curious Sally Clarkson As a precocious child, I vowed that when I became a teacher I would never stifle my students’ curiosity and enthusiasm. Read now
Today’s Verse – 1 John 4:13
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. —1 John 4:13 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Our sign of authenticity, showing we are truly God’s children, is the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Spirit helps bring forth the character of God in our lives (Galatians 5:22). The Spirit helps us when we pray (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit empowers us to overcome sin (Romans 8:13) and gives us the strength to do things we never imagined possible (Ephesians 3:20-21). The Spirit comforts us in our brokenness and makes God’s presence real in us (John 14:15-26). The Spirit continually pours God’s love into our hearts (Romans 8:5). The Spirit is the most accurate sign that we are God’s children (Romans 8:9) because the Spirit helps us display what helps others know that we are God’s children — our love for each other (John 13:34-35). Thank God for the blessed Holy Spirit! [As God’s children, the Holy Spirit does many other vital things in our lives. Check out God’s Holy Fire, our free daily devotional on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, available online and by email.] Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, I praise you for your holiness, majesty, and power. I thank you for your loving grace. I am humbled by your sacrificial love that has saved me. But today, dear Father, I thank you most for your Holy Spirit, who lives in me and empowers, cleanses, and comforts me as the Spirit makes your fatherhood accessible and real to me. Thank you, in the name of Jesus, from the bottom of my heart, for the gift of the Holy Spirit! 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 Feb 2025
The Lord is pleased with a genuine sacrifice of praise. A sincere heart attracts His mercy. May we never get tired of adoring and praising God. May those around us also do the same. May we not idolize our possessions. He has simply made us custodians of them. 1 Chronicles 29:10-20.