Daily Prayer for June 21
Father! You have given them to me, and I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory you gave me; for you loved me before the world was made. John 17:24, TEV Lord our God, we thank you that you have revealed your glory in your Son Jesus Christ. We thank you that today we can still see and feel the glorious grace which streams out from Jesus Christ in his victory over the world, the powerful help which benefits all those who find faith. Grant that a further glory may be revealed, faith dwelling in the hearts of all people, faith that can conquer all the need and suffering on earth, faith that is the power to look to you, to become inwardly quiet in you, and to hope in you at all times. Then your help will come quickly, more quickly than we can imagine. It will come on us unawares, for the Savior has said, “See, I shall come quickly.” We want to hope and believe and trust till the end. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Truth About Liars Adrienne von Speyr Wait, is that a mote, speck, splinter, or sawdust in your eye? A Swiss mystic learns to get past the obvious faults in others. Read now The Abyss of Beauty Ian Marcus Corbin Why do we shy from paying attention to nature’s beauty? Read now Home Is Not Just a Place Edwidge Danticat With words we build homes no separation can take away. Read now Community Is Born Emmy Arnold A founding member recalls turmoil and searching that led to the start of the Bruderhof community. Read now How the Opioid Epidemic Changed My Life Tom Andrew and Reuben Zimmerman Disturbed by the number of young bodies showing up in his morgue, New Hampshire’s Chief Medical Examiner decided to do something about it. Read now
Today’s Verse – Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. —Luke 6:38 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Our God is the God of all grace (1 Peter 5:10). He loves giving, blessing, and empowering! One of God’s chosen ways to do these three things is through us. Our Father in Heaven wants us to be conduits of his blessings. Like the faithful stewards in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), when we are faithful and generous in using what he has given us to administer, he blesses us with more to use to help others and bring him glory. As we provide, share, and encourage others, God continues supplying us with more than we can imagine to bless even more (2 Corinthians 9:6-11 & Ephesians 3:20-21). Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, please open my heart and help me be a more generous person. I want to use the many blessings and resources you have entrusted to me to bless others and bring you glory. Please give me the courage to use what you have given me in bold and extravagant ways in your service, to benefit others. I know that as my heart is pure and cheerful, I can keep sharing your grace, because I will never be able to outdo your extravagance! In Jesus’ name, I praise and thank 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.
Heart Surgery
Note from Jesus Dear Disciple, I’ve been sharing some reasons that the Scriptures, including the teaching of the apostles and others in the New Testament, are important to you. The Scriptures are alive because We — Father, Son, and Spirit — are all active as you read the Scriptures. The Father examines you as you read. The Spirit opens your heart to receive Our truth. The goal of the Scriptures is to transform you to be like Me in righteous character and gracious compassion. The Holy Spirit breathed out My message through human writing partners (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Spirit is also active in helping you understand the Father’s message (1 Corinthians 2:6-16). The Spirit reminds you of My words, helps you to remember My deeds, and conforms you to the Father’s will (John 15:26-27; John 16:12-15; Romans 8:1-4; 2 Corinthians 3:18). In the hands of the Spirit, the message of the Scriptures has the power to reach into your heart. As a tool of the Spirit, the Scriptures can do the delicate and drastic surgery necessary to help you understand the truth, receive correction, accept instruction, and understand Our will for your life. The Scriptures speak to your inner being (“soul and spirit”), to your physical being (“joints and marrow”), and to your mind and heart (“thoughts and will of the heart”). Just as you are to love Us heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), We work on you in each area of your being through the Spirit and using the word. So open your Bible and read it. Open your hearts to Our message. Offer yourselves to the Father. Invite the Spirit to work in you. Read the Scriptures to seek My truth and to follow Me as My disciple. Verses to Live In the two passages below, you will find the word of God described as a “sword”, even a “double-edged sword” or very sharp dagger or scalpel. The word of God is alive because this scalpel is used by the Spirit as the Father looks into and works on every area of your being to bring it into conformity to Our will. You need to understand these Scriptures. In order to understand how to apply Our word to your life, ask the Holy Spirit to help and look at the things I taught and the way I lived and treated people. The word of God, you see, is alive and moving; sharper than a double-edged sword; piercing the divide between soul and spirit, joints and marrow; able to judge the thoughts and will of the heart. No creature can hide from God: God sees all. Everyone and everything is exposed, opened for His inspection; and He’s the One we will have to explain ourselves to. (Hebrews 4:12-13) Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17) Response in Prayer Father in heaven, I open my heart to You and ask that the Spirit work to bring every area of my being — soul, spirit, joints, marrow, thoughts, and heart — into conformity with Your will. My petition, dear Father, is that Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians will be true for me: May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify [me] through and through. May [my] whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [I believe that the] one who calls [me] is faithful, and he will do it. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Part of this prayer is adapted from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV). ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2025, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
20 Jun 2025
One thing I know is that God will work it out. I don’t know how, but I have seen Him come through for us many times. Things may not work out the way I expect them to, but He will work it out. 1 Corinthians 15:57.
What’s the Goal Here?
Why are we on this trip? Many years ago, my dad bought a small camper trailer and we set out from Texas to go to Michigan on a family vacation — three boys, two of them teenagers, my mom and my dad whose health was in serious decline. He wanted us to have a family bonding experience and see sights off the Interstate. We were in a camper that would have been great for a newlywed couple, but was seriously undersized for a small family — and way too crowded for three boys! Plus, dad snored loudly and vibrated our little tin can hooked to the trailer hitch behind our “wide-track” Pontiac Bonneville. Mom couldn’t sleep because of the noise, my bed was too short for me, and my brothers tried to sleep in the same bed. The only up side to all of this was that most everybody could sleep during the day during our long trips on backwoods “scenic” roads. Don’t even get me started about forever adventure in the mountains following the Trail of Tears or losing one side mirror in rush hour traffic in Indianapolis or the other one on a small bridge outside of Memphis. One night after over 480 miles on the road, we set up the trailer, had supper, and about the time we were finally asleep, we were awakened with the trailer shaking violently in the whipping winds. Jagged bolts of lightning and the crackle of thunder with blinding streaks of light transformed our discomfort into terror. When the hail started, one of my brothers shot up in bed and “crowned” himself on the roof of the camper above his top bunk, setting off waves of laughter and streams of tears. By the time we arrived at our Michigan destination, we were never so glad to sleep in a motel with two adjoining rooms and a bed for each one of us. We hated the camper trailer and had long ago lost sight of why we went on this family vacation in the first place. Whatever the opposite of bonding might be, we arrived there pulling our camper behind us. Life in many of our churches is eerily similar to our camper trip to Michigan. We fuss and fight among ourselves, end up on detours and winding roads, and all too frequently forget why we are on the journey in the first place. We lose sight of our goal and frequently just try to survive by keeping everybody happy. So let me remind you of Jesus’ last words: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20). Many of us have simply forgotten the three-fold call to “make disciples,” even though they were empowered by His authority as the Son of God and fueled by the knowledge these were the Lord’s last words on earth. So here is a three-point reminder of the Jesus call to us: Cross cultures to reach all peoples and nations Baptize everyone in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Train my followers, old and new, to obey what I have taught Others of us pay lip service to this call, but get caught up in “churchland” with all of its stuff and fuss, finding so many of Jesus’ harsh words directed at the religious of His day applicable to ourselves. Others of us have tried to personalize Jesus’ “Great Commission” into a mission or vision statement for our own churches or for our own personal lives. This usually occurs with complaints — “Isn’t the Bible enough, why do we need something else?” or “Don’t forget about keeping our folks happy, too!” Clearly, Scripture and the will of God must be our defining call with Jesus as our Lord. Certainly we must care for Jesus’ sheep, binding up the hurting and caring for the wounded. However, as we look at Christianity’s shrinking influence in our culture and the little difference in morality lived by those claiming to be Christians and those who are not, we have to admit the harsh reality. We have too frequently forgotten why we are on the journey. So when I came across Paul’s words to the new believers in the small town of Colossae and heard in them the echo of Jesus’ last words, I was stopped in my tracks: To them [the Lord’s people] God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me (Colossians 1:27-29). Compare Paul’s words in Colossians 1:27-29 to Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20. And please note that the highlighted words “nations” in Jesus’ statement and “Gentiles” in Paul’s statement are the same word. If you look carefully, Paul’s words are a personalization of Jesus’ Great Commission. They are his personal mission statement: his vision of what he must do to fulfill Jesus’ call in his life. What about you? How would you verbalize your life’s mission? More than worrying about what your church should be doing, what should you be doing? How are you going to live out the life of Jesus in the sphere of influence the Lord has placed you? Now to keep this from being merely a rhetorical question, I want to challenge you to prayerfully take some time and write out your own statement and go live it. Of course I’d love for you to share it with us on my blog, but most importantly,
Daily Prayer for June 20
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:8–9, NIV Lord God Almighty, bring in the day, the day of Jesus Christ, through whom we shall be united. Then we shall recognize each other as fellow citizens, as brothers and sisters, and we shall have peace on earth. Give your Spirit anew, O Lord our God. Free and enlighten every heart so that each person can acknowledge the Word you have given and hold fast to all your promises, even in dark and troubled times. Be with us. Be with our people. Help us in our times, O Lord God. We wait for you. We await your peace, a new peace – not the old peace, not a return to comfort and selfish desires, but your peace – which shall bring us into the life of heaven, where we find Jesus Christ, the Living One, our Shepherd and Leader. Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Abyss of Beauty Ian Marcus Corbin Why do we shy from paying attention to nature’s beauty? Read now Home Is Not Just a Place Edwidge Danticat With words we build homes no separation can take away. Read now Community Is Born Emmy Arnold A founding member recalls turmoil and searching that led to the start of the Bruderhof community. Read now How the Opioid Epidemic Changed My Life Tom Andrew and Reuben Zimmerman Disturbed by the number of young bodies showing up in his morgue, New Hampshire’s Chief Medical Examiner decided to do something about it. Read now Be a Light in the Darkness David Toole A young woman finds her vocation amidst the atrocities of Burundi’s ethnic conflict. Read now
Today’s Verse – Psalm 31:19
How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. —Psalm 31:19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… This psalm begins with God’s people in desperation, but as it progresses, it crescendos with faith. While things may seem bleak, God will not abandon his children. Those who reverence God — fear him with awe and love — will not be forgotten. Far from ignoring his children, God has stored up his goodness, which he will generously pour out on them to show that they are his. Those who take refuge in him will be protected and blessed. For those on this side of Jesus’ resurrection, this promise of blessing and vindication takes on added depth, meaning, and assurance because of Jesus’ empty tomb and his promise to return to take us home with him in glory! My Prayer… O LORD, God of Abraham, Moses, Ruth, David, and Esther, I praise you for your proven faithfulness through the centuries. Thank you for the great heritage of faith that shows me I can trust you to remember me with your grace. So, please protect me by your power, and bless me with your goodness. As I approach you with reverent awe and loving respect, please give me the courage to hang on to my faith no matter my trials and temptations. In Jesus’ name, I pray and place my trust in 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.
God-breathed Scripture
Note from Jesus Dear Beloved, One of the great blessings that you have received from Us — Father, Son, and Spirit — is the Bible, the “holy Scriptures.” Many people have died over the centuries because of their commitment to translate, protect, and preserve these Scriptures so that you could have them in your own language. We want you to appreciate the incredible blessings of having Our message to you written in human words. We used human partners to pass on Our message to you. The Spirit gave them Our message to convey the truth. To help you understand the message of these Scriptures, we have given you two great gifts. First, I came to you incarnate — God’s greatest message and ultimate Word to you (John 1:1-18 NIV; Hebrews 1:1-3). My witnesses, whose words you read in your New Testament, emphasize that everything you know about the Scriptures needs to be filtered through Who I AM, what I taught, and how I lived God’s truth: …the holy Scriptures, which enable you to be wise and lead to salvation through faith in Jesus the Anointed. (2 Timothy 3:15) …in these last days, it [God’s message] has come to us through His Son… (Hebrews 1:2) No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, Who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John 1:18 NIV) In Jesus we hear a resounding “yes” to all of God’s many promises. (2 Corinthians 1:20) Listen again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than what you have accepted, may he find himself cursed! (Galatians 1:9) “Here you are scouring through the Scriptures, hoping that you will find eternal life among a pile of scrolls. What you don’t seem to understand is that the Scriptures point to Me [Jesus].” (John 5:39) “I [Jesus] AM the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV) Second, We breathed Our message into inspired and authoritative human partners to write words of truth for you to understand, apply, and live. Before the New Testament was written and the various parts were put into an authoritative collection, the term “holy Scriptures” referred to what many of you call the Old Testament — the books of Moses, the Prophets, and the Writings. These writings were authoritative because they came from Us: But notice first that no prophecy found in Scripture is a matter of the prophet’s own interpretation. Prophecy has never been a product of human initiative, but it comes when men and women are moved to speak on behalf of God by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21) Verses to Live During the first century of the church, the writings of the apostles were also being recognized as the “holy Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:15-16 NIV). So as you read the two passages below, remember two additional truths. First, the message of these New Testament witnesses should be regarded as Scripture. It carries the authority of the Holy Spirit speaking through them. Second, these words come to you through the partnership of the Divine — the Father’s will, My example, and the Holy Spirit’s action — and those who are human — those We used to transmit that message and to be a great example of that message. Please, take the Scriptures seriously. Use them to help you grow as My disciple. Offer yourself to the study of the Scriptures so that you can become someone trained to do My work and live My will in your world. Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17) So surely you ought to stick to what you know is certain. All you have learned comes from people you know and trust because since childhood you have known the holy Scriptures, which enable you to be wise and lead to salvation through faith in Jesus the Anointed. All of Scripture is God-breathed; in its inspired voice, we hear useful teaching, rebuke, correction, instruction, and training for a life that is right so that God’s people may be up to the task ahead and have all they need to accomplish every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17) Response in Prayer Father, words cannot describe how blessed we are to have received Your message in human words. It is indeed a blessing to know Jesus, the living Word, as our great example and teacher to help us know how to live Your truth. Thank You as well for the Holy Spirit, Who inspired and breathed out Your message through human partners. Thank You! I commit to use Your Word and your inspired Scriptures to change my life as you transform me to be like Jesus, in Whose name I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2025, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
19 Jun 2025
Every Christian needs help to navigate this life with all its complexities. The spiritual warfare, the wickedness of the world, the weakness of the flesh, and the tendency to lose focus. We cannot do it on our own. John 14:15-18 & 26.
Daily Prayer for June 19
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10, NIV Lord, O great and almighty God, we thank you that you have given us the Savior, in whom we can become united and have peace on earth. May he, the Savior, work powerfully among us. May your Spirit come into people’s hearts so that they learn to acknowledge you as their leader and their God and to rejoice in their lives, which are intended for eternal life. Bless us through your Word and through all the good you do for us. Constantly renew and strengthen us in faith and in patience through the grace you send us. Remember all the peoples who should become yours in the name of Jesus Christ. May they all confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the honor of God the Father. We praise you for the promise you have given us of a wonderful new day of help for all. We praise you that you have created all people to recognize their true calling and their way to salvation. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Home Is Not Just a Place Edwidge Danticat With words we build homes no separation can take away. Read now Community Is Born Emmy Arnold A founding member recalls turmoil and searching that led to the start of the Bruderhof community. Read now How the Opioid Epidemic Changed My Life Tom Andrew and Reuben Zimmerman Disturbed by the number of young bodies showing up in his morgue, New Hampshire’s Chief Medical Examiner decided to do something about it. Read now Be a Light in the Darkness David Toole A young woman finds her vocation amidst the atrocities of Burundi’s ethnic conflict. Read now The Temptation of the Good Andy Rasmussen Satan tempts Christ with the power to do good. John Milton’s Paradise Regained holds lessons for those trying to reject tyrants and reform nations. Read now