Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:14-17.

“But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

Scripture is our guide to what God wants us to know about His love for us. Paul writes “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives” (v. 16). More than just stories, the lessons we learn from God’s word are instructions for living and growing toward salvation.

From the beginning God has wanted to communicate with us about His love. When we chose our own desires over His will, it changed our relationship but not His everlasting love for us. Through His spirit people were inspired to record the message of love He sends us all.

Are you listening to all God has to share with you? Prayer and scripture study are both important ways to hear from Him. God is still reaching out to every one of us with love and forgiveness, wanting us back in the relationship for which we were created.

Loving Lord, thank You for the mercy You offer when we fail. Help us to turn from sin and return to Your love, to be made new through our reconnection. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:1-5.

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”

It is sad to think that Paul’s words from the first century could be so accurate in our world two thousand years later. It shows us that we are no different as a society than those who lived long ago. It also shows how much we need God’s love and forgiveness.

When God created us, there was a risk in giving us free will. God knew that we would choose poorly and had already planned for our salvation from the very beginning. He loves us too much to leave us in the sin that causes us to turn away from Him.

Forced love and worship is meaningless, and thus God gave us a choice. We must make a conscious decision to accept Christ’s sacrifice for us, repent and return willingly to a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Only through faith in Him can we be saved.

Gracious God, we are sorry for choosing ourselves over the blessing You offer us. Help us to walk in Your light and share Your love with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:8-14.

“Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.”

Paul reminds us that Christ came as a sacrifice for us, and that God raised Him from the dead to break the power of sin forever. Jesus has opened the way for us, but it is up to each of us to choose to follow in faith. Paul writes that he is “willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen” (v. 10). We too must be willing to do what is necessary to spread the Good News around the world.

Jesus told us that we could face opposition from the world. He said “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:11-12). We must be ready to endure as Jesus taught, as Paul writes about in this passage.

We are told “If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is” (v. 12-13). Paul knew this and lived this, sharing his experience with everyone through his preaching and writing. We are called to share our faith and the joy we have found in our connection to Christ no matter what we face.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of our savior and the path to salvation He has shown us. Bless us to go to all Your children with the Good News of His coming. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:1-6.

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”

Paul tells Timothy (and us) to pray for all people (v. 1). We are called to lift up our brothers and sisters in positions of authority so we may “live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity” (v. 2). Likewise, we must remember those in need and even those we do not know. God wants us to focus on the good of all His children.

Praying for each other doesn’t reveal anything to God, He is already aware of everything. However, prayer can help us be connected to God and each other. This is why Jesus taught us to pray regularly and seek God’s encouragement in our lives.

While the Lord gave us a template for prayer (Luke 11:1-13), He wants us to be open and honest in our personal prayers. He warned against praying just for show (Luke 18:9-14), that we must be sincere in our prayers. Think about how and when you pray, and look for a deeper relationship with God and others. 

Gracious God, we know that You hear our prayers and that being in touch with You is important. Help us to be aware of the needs of the world and to pray for everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1:12-17.

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.”

Scripture contains two letters Paul wrote to Timothy, who accompanied him on several missionary trips and represented him on occasion when Paul was at other places. Paul gives guidance to Timothy which is applicable to all of us who walk in faith with Christ. He uses himself as an example of how God’s redeeming love can turn our lives from sin and disbelief.

Paul was once a persecutor of the early church, arresting those who followed Jesus and bringing them to trial. After his conversion he became the primary voice to believers all over the Roman Empire. We can experience the same life giving transformation when we accept Jesus and repent.

Will we be called to go to minister in far flung places like Paul? Perhaps, God has a plan and work for each one of us when we say “yes Lord”. The important part is knowing we are saved and sharing that joy with the world.

Gracious God, thank You for always loving us and making us part of Your kingdom. Bless us to go in Your name, telling everyone the Good News of Your salvation. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:2-4.

“Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.”

We have been told that we will not know the time that the Lord will return. The disciples asked Jesus after the resurrection if it was time and He told them “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know” (‭‭Acts ‭1:7‬). While it may be easy to think we are living in the last days, Jesus tells us to be strong in our faith and persevere.

The dissent and discontent we are experiencing is not new or unique to our time. God’s people have suffered oppression and disagreement since the first days of the church. We are called to find ways to live together in peace despite our differences.

If we can listen to each other’s concerns honestly, intending to understand rather than contend, we can begin the healing process. We may never be in complete agreement but we can certainly treat each other with love. Jesus showed us how to be in connection with God and our brothers and sisters eternally.

Heavenly Father, we are thankful for all Your blessings. Help us to live in the light of Your love, sharing the joy we have found in You with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:12-22.

“Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.”

Paul shares a wide variety of sound teaching in this passage, speaking of our relationships with each other and God. All of this instruction is intended to make us aware of our responsibility to care for one another. You can’t love God and hate His children.

Jesus came to show us God’s love in action. The result of real love is acting as Christ would in all situations. Sadly, we are not perfect in our love yet, but we can continue to grow. God is ready to forgive us when we repent and return to Him.

This guidance from God through Paul sounds simple; why then do we find it so hard to obey and practice it? Our world encourages us to do whatever we feel like, regardless of its effect on others. God created us to love Him and one another, caring about their needs above our own. If we continue to “hold on to what is good” and “stay away from every kind of evil” (v. 22), we can joyfully obey.

Loving Lord, it is hard to see Your children mistreated and suffering. Forgive us and show us how we can live and love each other as You intend. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:14-18.

“For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Paul speaks of the Day of the Lord and our joyful reunion with Him. We have read of the Last Days and troubles that will occur, but those who have put their faith in Him have nothing to fear. Jesus was raised to destroy the power of death forever.

We are told that the dead in Christ will rise and we will all be together. This is God’s plan for us and His love in action, that those who believe and obey will be united with Him. Scripture states “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:4).

Are you ready to be with Him forever? Sometimes we pray “Come Lord Jesus!” because of the things we see happening here, but we must be prepared. God calls us to live in His love, sharing the Good News and waiting patiently until the time He determines.

Gracious God, we are thankful for the gift of Your son who came to save us. Help us to be steadfast workers of Your coming kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:7-12.

“God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more. Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.”

Paul begins this passage with an important point: “anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God” (v. 8). He writes this as part of the instruction to love one another. Watching over each other in love means we do our best to keep each other from being harmed by sin.

This is a hard concept for us. Are we meddling in each other’s lives when we mention sin? In Matthew 18:15 Jesus says “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” I feel this is the same as making sure someone takes their medication or avoids things that will injure them.

However, it is up to each individual to accept this. When the rich young ruler turned away after being asked to sell all he owned and follow Jesus (Matthew 19:21-24), Jesus didn’t chase him down the hill to force him to obey. God has given us free will to choose for ourselves. We can invite others to follow Jesus, but only they can choose to do so.

Heavenly Father, we are saddened when others turn away from Your love. Help us to continue to share the Good News no matter what circumstances or responses we encounter. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:13-17.

“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.”

Paul has a way of teaching that exposes our failures, but then points us to the redemption we have received in Christ. He writes “He canceled the record of the charges against us” (v. 14) and “disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities” (v. 15). He explains that Jesus came as an example of love and forgiveness to us, and as a warning to the powers of this world that God will prevail. 

Jesus told us that the world would oppose God’s will and oppress the faithful, but that through His love we are made strong to stand with Him against evil. Now as the body of Christ, we are called to carry on His ministry, empowered by the Holy Spirit to go in His name. The world is in desperate need of His forgiveness.

Are you sometimes embarrassed or afraid to share your faith? That is the world resisting the change that is to come. Don’t let it prevent you from proclaiming the risen savior! As Paul wrote in this passage, “Christ himself is that reality”.

Loving Lord, thank You for forgiving us and calling us back into connection with You. Help us to be faithful servants of Your kingdom, sharing Your love with everyone. Amen.