Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 8:3-4 (NKJV).

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

In this psalm David describes God’s creation and its immensity, and then asks “what is man that You are mindful of him?” It’s a question we should ask ourselves more often. Why does God bother with such quarrelsome children who want things their own way when He has a much better plan for us? It can only be because His love for us is as immense as His creation. We were made in His image for a reason. God gives us both the greatest gift and the greatest responsibility when He calls us to partner with Him in caring for all things. This includes sharing the blessing of salvation He offers to all who will repent and accept His forgiveness. Oh Lord, how excellent is Your name indeed!

Gracious God, we are amazed that You forgive, restore and send us to be part of what You are doing in the world. Help us to be good stewards of Your gifts, and go to share Your love with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 John 4:15-16 (NET).

If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God. And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him.

From the very beginning God has been within us. As part of our creation story we read “The Lord God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). Paul tells us “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Jesus promised that after He returned to the Father, we would be comforted and guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17). We can choose to ignore God’s presence and will for us, but we can’t escape it. When we repent and accept His forgiveness we find He is right there within us, as He has always been.

Loving Lord, You made us in Your image to be Your partners in creation. We marred that image when we chose our own way instead of Your love. Forgive us and strengthen us in faith that we may share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Lamentations 3:25-26 (NET).

The Lord is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him. It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord.

Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, warned God’s people of the coming end of their society. Some scholars consider him the author of Lamentations as well. Regardless of its author, Lamentations expresses sorrow for the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple, but also offers hope for the future. God is still with them, but as in the desert experience of Exodus, He wants them to trust in Him and not in their own strength and wisdom. This passage reminds us that we must seek Him and “wait patiently for deliverance from the Lord.” He is the source of all good things and we go to use our gifts in His service.

Gracious God, even in our sin You have not abandoned us. In Your mercy You made a way for us to be saved through Christ our Lord. Help us to wait patiently for deliverance, while actively sharing Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 8:1-2 (NLT).

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

Jesus promised to send us “another Advocate” (John 14:16) who would be His presence with us always. In the second chapter of Acts the Holy Spirit is given to the apostles and then to all who are baptized into Christ. His crucifixion and resurrection broke the power of sin and death for all who will repent and accept His forgiveness. A spirit filled life leads us toward salvation and away from the sinful actions of the world that separate us from God. We belong to Him and by His mercy we are saved.

Gracious God, You reach out to us in our brokenness, calling us to repent and return to You. Forgive us and fill us with Your Spirit that we may be energetic workers for Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philemon 1:6 (NET).

I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.

Paul’s letter to his friend Philemon is only one chapter long, but it packs a lot of guidance in a small space. Onesimus, a runaway slave from Philemon’s household has encountered Paul and become a Christian. Paul sends him back home and encourages Philemon to forgive Onesimus, seeing him in a new way – as a brother in Christ. Paul’s teaching reminds us that we are all one in Jesus and all the same. There are no “levels” in Christian faith. We may have different callings, but God sees us only as His beloved children. Paul wants Philemon (and us) to see everyone in the same way God does.

Loving Lord, You have made us all in Your image and given us responsibility for creation. Bless us to be good stewards of all Your gifts, and send us to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 18:10 (NRSV).

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.

Proverbs often use comparisons to help us understand the meaning of the guidance they give. Here the name of the Lord is likened to a strong tower. In those days fortifications were the protection against physical attack. This verse tells us God is our spiritual tower, our defense against evil. Just as people run to a place of safety when there is physical danger, we must run to the Lord when there is spiritual danger – and unfortunately, that is all the time! Jesus tells us “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). There’s the solution: if we abide in Him, we are always in the strong tower! 

Gracious God, we are grateful for Your love and protection. Help us to be the voice of the Gospel to all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NET).

See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

This scripture and other guidance like it has always been difficult for me. I worked security in a number of different places and was a County Corrections Officer. I spent 20 years in the Air Force because I wanted to protect our country and people all over. I wasn’t interested in hurting anyone but rather defending those who needed it. My last working years as a pastor taught me there is more to protecting and defending than just being ready to fight. In another letter Paul writes “Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people” (Romans 12:17). 1 Peter 3:9 tells us “Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.” Jesus teaches “But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well” (Matthew 5:39). Friends, I don’t have the answer. I’m still asking for guidance. However, I can guarantee that violence will not bring us into Christ’s kingdom.

Loving Lord, we are emotional beings and we allow these feelings of anger and revenge to overrule what Jesus taught us. Forgive us and bless us to forgive as You do, seeing Your image in all people. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 133:1 (NLT).

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

I’ve shared the story of taking youth confirmation classes to other churches to learn about their worship and traditions. In almost every case I found that the youth noticed and discussed how things were the same, while the adults who came with us focused on our differences. It’s sad that we lose this view of unity. This is an issue we face every day and we need to be aware how our various gifts strengthen the body of Christ. I read a quote that said unity doesn’t mean we are all the same, but we acknowledge and accept how all our variety allows us to reach people for Jesus. Look at the example of the apostle Paul: a Roman citizen, a faithful Pharisee until he met the risen Savior, and then a bold voice for the Gospel. We all have differences but it is essential that we see them not as walls to separate us but tools to share the Good News everywhere.

Heavenly Father, You have made us each unique individuals, but You call us all to be part of what You are doing in creation. Help us to see each other as partners rather than competitors as we work together for Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NET).

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.

Paul’s message for the Corinthians still echoes in our world today. He calls us to remember that Jesus came for all people and we are to put Him first in all things. Unfortunately, evil has interfered from the very beginning, enticing us to believe and say things that are not true and do things that are not in line with God’s plan. He still loves us and when we come in repentance we can be forgiven. It can be a scary world if we let it. The political, religious and social unrest during the time Jesus was with us was intense. Jesus said the world was not our home and there would be opposition to His message. Later on Paul writes “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). The world can harm our bodies but our souls have been saved through the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the forgiveness He offers.

Loving Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Son and the blessing of salvation. May we be calm voices of hope in our world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 4:9-10 (NET).

Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God. For the one who enters God’s rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works.

In Genesis 2:3 we read “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he ceased all the work that he had been doing in creation.” God rested not because He was tired but as a celebration of His completion of creation. God has called us to “remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy” (Exodus 20:8), not only to rest from our human labor, but to honor His gift of all things to us. The writer of Hebrews tells us that thanks to Christ’s saving work for us, we can enter His eternal rest, the promise Jesus gave that He has prepared a place for us all.

Gracious God, You have given us everything as a gift to use for Your glory and the good of Your children. Bless us to be productive disciples who rest on the Sabbath to celebrate the joy of Your creation and our connection to You. Amen.