Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 6:9‭-‬12.

Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.

Paul expresses his hope and concern for those to whom he writes, and his teaching applies to us today as well. He reminds us of God’s righteousness and justice. God is aware of our mistakes but He is always willing to forgive us when we are truly repentant.

British pastor Nicky Gumbel wrote “holiness is linked to wholeness”. We can only be complete with God as a part of our lives. Philosopher and scientist Blaise Pascal tells us “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”

We must be willing to give up the way we have lived before and move on to the lives God has planned for us. Knowing Jesus and accepting the blessing He brings is the only way we can receive forgiveness. Our hope is in You, Lord and we press on in faith.

Heavenly Father, we are saddened by our failure to love one another as You intend. Bless us to go in faith to share Your love with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 2:14‭-‬18. 

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Jesus came to be one of us so we might better understand and follow God’s plan for us. It was necessary for the remission of our sin that He became human, suffered and died. Now we can turn to Him as the one who has “been there, done that”, knowing He understands what we face as human beings.

This was all for us! Jesus has always known our human frailty, but by coming among us He made us see that God is not just the distant Almighty but a loving Father involved in the lives of His children. This is His promise, that God loved us so much He sent Jesus to show us.

Knowing that He has done this for us, we can now live in the joy of God’s mercy and forgiveness, carrying on the ministry Jesus has given us. We are called to share the Good News of His coming. Death has no hold on those who put their faith in the risen Christ!

Gracious God, we are sorry for our failure to love You and each other as You love us. Bless us to be faithful followers, sharing the message Jesus brought us with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1:1-4.

“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.”

Paul opens this letter by reminding us that Jesus was present at and responsible for the creation of all things. In John 1:1-3 we are told “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.” This testifies to God’s power and love and His plan for our salvation through Christ.

Jesus was there with God always, just as His spirit is with us always. Paul says God has “spoken to us through his Son” (v. 2), as Jesus is the Word described in John’s gospel. God has been speaking to us since we were created, but we often miss or dismiss the message of love He sends.

We must hear and obey the word of God if we are to be cleansed and redeemed. Only by following the path Jesus showed us can we be made right with God. Through Christ’s sacrifice we have been offered a chance to share the blessings of eternity with Him.

Loving Lord, we are amazed at Your grace and mercy, given to us through Your only Son. May we accept the forgiveness You offer and be restored in Your love to be part of the kingdom work. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:1-7.

“Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone. Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

Paul writes sound advice in this letter to his friend Titus. He reminds us that “once we, too, were foolish and disobedient” (v. 3). Every believer was separated from God at one time, but through the work of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of the faithful, we have been brought back to Him.

God has sought us since the beginning and placed His messengers in our lives to speak the truth. We too are called to witness to others that all people may hear the Good News. This sacred task is a mark of God’s confidence in us, to send us to the world in His name.

Paul speaks of God’s grace that “made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life” (v. 7). The promise of salvation is given to all who put their trust in Jesus and His sacrifice for us. In God’s love we can stand together against evil and await Christ coming again.

Loving Lord, we are amazed that You include us in the work of Your kingdom. Help us to be faithful representatives of Your mercy to all people. Amen.

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.