26 Mar 2025
The command that instructs us to love God with all our hearts is repeated severally in the Old and New Testament. That shows its importance to God. Let us ask God through the Holy Spirit and reflect on what it means to us. Joshua 22:5.
Today’s Verse – Psalm 37:16-17
Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. —Psalm 37:16-17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What do we want to be the basis of our security? Will it be what we can do, accomplish, achieve, earn, protect, and hoard? Or will it be our God who has shown himself faithful throughout generations upon generations? We get to choose! We do that every day with our choices — what we do with our investment of time, money, and influence. So, in what will you find your security? What will you invest your life in? I choose to invest it in the LORD! How about you? My Prayer… Almighty God, you are the Father of Israel, God of the nations, and my Abba Father. I place my trust, my future, and my hopes in you. I know that my money, possessions, achievements, and abilities are not my own. You have blessed me with these to honor you and bring your grace to others. Please keep my heart pure and focused on you. Gently purge my heart of pride and selfishness. Please pour your blessing out on me — not so I can have them but so that I might bring you greater glory and share your gracious blessings with those who need them. 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.
25 Mar 2025
God’s plan for mankind is relationship. He created us to relate with Him. The worst thing we can do is move away from Him. May we purpose to be close to Him and to grow in our relationship with Him. Matthew 22:36-40.
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 10:7
The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. —Proverbs 10:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sometimes, the wisdom of God is short, succinct, and sweet for those who seek to do his will. I want my children and grandchildren to remember me with sweet thoughts because their dad, their granddad, and their great-granddad sought to be righteous and love the LORD with all his heart. I refuse to live the kind of life that poisons the lives of those I touch and leaves a wicked rot in the heritage of my descendants. Let’s encourage each other to bless those who come after us with a legacy of faith that brings them many blessings. My Prayer… O Holy and Righteous Father, I want my character and kindness to bless my children, children’s children, and grandchildren’s children. Please give me wisdom, discernment, tact, honor, integrity, love, and compassionate holiness in all my actions, words, demeanor, and influence. May I provide a godly influence and a righteous memory for those in both my physical and spiritual families. 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.
24 Mar 2025
When David was at war with Aram in the north, Edom attacked him from the south. Faced with this crisis, he cried out to God. Turn to God when you feel overwhelmed. Psalm 60:1-5.
Today’s Verse – Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! … For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. —Romans 11:33-36 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The apostle Paul wrote these words after concluding his presentation of salvation by grace through faith and God’s plan of redemption for all people, found in his letter to the Romans. These words move me every time I read them. They remind me that some things in Scripture don’t need commentary, explanations, or elaboration; they just need to be spoken and believed. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! … For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. I encourage you to memorize this short passage of praise and keep it close to your heart, and let it come from your lips during all your times of difficulty as well as times of bounty and blessing and worship. My Prayer… Oh, the depth of the riches of your wisdom and knowledge, O God! All things have come from you and through your grace. For your glory, O God, all things proclaim your creative genius and reflect your majesty. To you be the glory forever! 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 March 23
This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances.” Isaiah 49:8, NIV Lord our God, protect us in your Spirit. Strengthen our hearts especially when we often have to bear suffering, that we may be steadfast in hope and may again and again experience a day of salvation. Protect us in every way. Accept our praise and thanks, and let our hearts rejoice in what you have already done for us. We want to discern your ways more and more so that we may please you as your servants. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Its Just Stuff What Estate Sales Reveal About Us Sherry Shenoda An estate sale is a sort of liminal space – a passing on of the accumulated flotsam of a life. Read now Can You Find Jesus in This Painting? Sr. Carino Hodder, OP Art often portrays Christ larger than life, but works where he isn’t might tell us more about our spiritual lives. Read now The Rewards of Elder Care Maureen Swinger At the Bruderhof, I’ve learned that caregiving can be draining – and also immensely enriching. Read now She’s Dead! Kate Susong Be forewarned: This story contains death and a dead body. And even worse, you will laugh. Read now Advice from a Senior Demon C. S. Lewis How best to corrupt a human from C. S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters. Read now
Today’s Verse – Psalm 37:6-7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. —Psalm 37:6-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… If you listen to these words carefully, heaven says, “Have a holy chill-out moment.” I’m not making light of this invitation. Heaven says, “Come into God’s presence with dependent yet confident patience and silence.” But how can we when our world is frantic, noise is everywhere, and evil seems to abound? We know God will do what is right for us over the passage of time and eternal time. The Bible is God’s story. More than history, it is HIS-story. It is our great reminder that God is always faithful to his promises, gracious in his power to redeem, and generous with his love shared with his children. So come into God’s presence and be willing to be still, patient, trusting, and hopeful! God is on his throne. We can have a holy chill-out rest in his grace as we trust in his faithfulness. My Prayer… Father, in the quietness of this moment, I consciously relax into your presence as I place the concerns and cares of my heart before you. I trust, dear Father, that you will act redemptively in my life. You will give me peace and I can confidently put my soul, future, and hope in your hands. In Jesus’ name, I rest myself 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.
21 Mar 2025
Our circumstances may not look good. We may be going through a difficult season, but let us not give up. May our hope in God not be crushed. May His grace sustain us and may He attain what He desires in this season. May we experience His presence in the storm. Romans 5:3-5.
Today’s Verse – Isaiah 41:4
Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD — with the first of them and with the last — I am he. —Isaiah 41:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 1:8). This should be a great comfort for us. We don’t have to worry about our God leaving us as prey for other gods. We don’t have to worry about his truth becoming obsolete or outdated. We don’t have to worry about him abandoning us. His love is faithful. He will be with us always. He is always I Am (Exodus 3:13-14), the LORD from first to last. Our end will not be a lasting end, because it will be life with him forever. My Prayer… Eternal Father, the great I Am, God of mercy and grace, thank you for your faithfulness. You were faithful to your promises to Israel. You were faithful in your promises to send a Messiah. You are faithful to lead and guide me by your Spirit. You will faithfully bring me into your presence at the return of the LORD Jesus. Thank you for being my stable Rock and Refuge in unstable, transient, and fickle times. 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.