Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Acts 28:23‭-‬31.

They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: “ ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

This passage tells us how Paul lived out the last days before his execution, doing what he had done every day since the Lord appeared to him and changed his life. While he is a prisoner of the Roman Empire, he is still advancing the kingdom of God. Paul is our example for faithful witnessing, even when we face difficult trials in our lives.

It is unlikely that many of us will be in such circumstances for our faith. How much more then should we be active messengers of the love of God to all! We have the ability to go and do as we wish in most cases, so we have no excuse not to share the Good News.

We may think that the task of spreading the Gospel falls only to a select few, but Jesus called everyone to be active in the work of the kingdom, that we may make disciples of all the world. Each of us are created in God’s image, and charged with sharing that connection. As children of the Living God it is our blessing to tell others about His plan of salvation for us all.

Loving Lord, we are amazed and humbled that You make us part of Your work. Bless us to be faithful followers and examples, that all the world may hear Your word. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 12:2‭-‬6.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

The prophet Isaiah had much to say to the people of Israel, warning them of the consequences of sin and falling away, but also the joy of a connection to God. He reminds them that God is there for us and in Him we can “trust and not be afraid” (v. 2). This relationship with Him is the only way we can be saved.

God’s intent is that we all be connected to Him as His children, caring for each other as He cares for us. God created us as a family and wants us to live together in peace, sharing His love and the gifts He has provided us. We acknowledge Him as our Lord and Father when we give Him praise and worship.

What gifts has God given you to be used to care for His creation? We are all called to be responsible members of His family, sharing the Good News with everyone. God has blessed each one of us with abilities and resources to be used wisely.

Gracious God, we give You praise for all Your wonderful works. Thank You for calling us to be part of Your plan for salvation. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:7-18.

John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

John the Baptist is plain spoken about the coming Messiah and our reaction to that gift. We must recognize Him, change our hearts and lives and be responsible members of our human community and God’s kingdom. There will be a reckoning for all and He will judge who has obeyed His commandments.

John isn’t out to scare anyone into behaving, he is merely telling us the truth about Christ’s coming to be with us for a time and His return in power and glory at the last day. He answers the people honestly when they ask what they should do – share with those in need, don’t cheat, don’t bully. John doesn’t go into deep theological concepts, he just tells it like it is.

Jesus came to show us God’s love and how we are to live for Him. John tells us how we can be faithful followers of Jesus and help to change the lives of others by testifying to our faith. We have received an invitation to salvation, we must accept that gift and share it with the world.

Loving Lord, thank You for our savior, Jesus Christ. Help us to follow His example, and be eager witnesses to Your coming kingdom. Amen.

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Our scripture this morning is Philippians 4:4‭-‬7.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul encourages the congregation at Philippi to rejoice in all circumstances. He tells them “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (v. 6). Paul knows from experience that prayer and praise are the best way to handle any situation, joyful or sad.

It is often difficult for us to put on a happy face when times are hard. The scriptures don’t tell us to be falsely pleasant. We have heard in Paul’s letter to the Romans “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). However, God wants us to know that no matter what we experience He is there.

When we face tough situations we can count on the support of God and our brothers and sisters in Christ. No one ever needs to be alone in joy or grief. We have “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (v. 7) to guide and protect us always.

Loving Lord, we are thankful for Your love, given to us without measure. Strengthen us through adversity and let us share the Gospel everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 9:6‭-‬15.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

God has provided us with a variety of gifts and he expects us to share them generously. Our purpose is to love God and love our neighbor. God needs nothing from us, but our neighbors often do and He intends us to use our gifts to meet that need.

Paul writes that “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (v. 7). We are asked to help those in need not because we have to give but because we want to give. God wants us to love each other so much that we would rather share than see another suffer.

That’s the first step though, seeing the needs of our brothers and sisters. God wants us to be aware of other’s situations, and stand ready to help when needed. We follow Jesus’ example and commandment when we help (love) one another.

Gracious God, we are thankful for the many gifts You have given us. Help us to be good stewards of all You provide, that none are left in need. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 12:2‭-‬6.

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

The Book of Isaiah has lots of familiar and comforting verses. The prophet has many warnings for us, but it’s not all gloom and doom. Isaiah has much to tell us about God’s Messiah and the joy we know in Him.

In this passage we hear the assurance “the Lord himself is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation” (v. 2). God promises His eternal love and protection for those who obey His commandments. The Lord is always close to His people, but we’ve got to choose to be close to Him as well.

Praise and worship is one way to draw near to God, prayer is another. We have a variety of ways to reach out to Him. God is always listening to us, we just have to initiate a meaningful conversation and be ready to listen too.

Loving Lord, thank You for the gift of Jesus, our savior and example. Help us to be the bearers of the Good News to all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:8-15‬.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Peter encourages us to continue our growth in faith and in our knowledge and love of Jesus. He warns that those who do not are “nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins” (v. 9). God has given us a wonderful gift – Jesus is our savior and our example.

Peter also reminds us through his own example that this life is temporary and that we must be preparing for life eternal. He had difficulty growing in faith, even with Jesus as his teacher. This is why he tells us “I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body”, (v. 13), that faith is something we must grow in continually.

Who are the examples of faith in your life? Who looks to you as a faith example? Like Peter, we must ensure that the faith Christ leads us to is passed to everyone around us, that all may know God’s love.

Gracious God, thank You for our example and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we celebrate His coming to be one of us, may we follow where He leads, sharing the joy of salvation and our connection to You with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:2-7‬.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

Peter, the fisherman from Capernaum, has come a long way. From his time as the brash follower of Jesus, when he sometimes succeeded but more often failed, he has become a respected leader in the faith community. In this passage he offers sound guidance on making Christ part of our lives.

He mentions the promises we have received from Jesus, but tells us we have responsibilities in their fulfillment as well. He shares a process by which we may grow in faith through rejecting the ways of the world and living as Jesus taught us. This path of Christian growth may be slightly different, as we are each different, but the goal is the same: eternal life in the kingdom of God.

If Peter was able to change his life, we can and must as well. Our previous position and knowledge are not enough to save us, we must accept God’s offer of forgiveness for sin and salvation through Christ’s sacrifice for us. “No one comes to the father except by me” Jesus taught us, and it is the only way we can be made whole again.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our Savior. We are sorry for the times we have failed. Forgive us and may our new lives testify to Your truth and love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 126.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

This psalm reminds the people of Israel of the great things God has done for them throughout their history. He brought them out of slavery in Egypt, He returned them from captivity in Babylon and He has promised His son, the Messiah will come to save us all from sin and death. God has had a plan for us all along.

The psalmist speaks of the rains that come to water the desert and how God’s streams of mercy will restore our lives. The psalm ends with “Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them” (v. 6). God will provide for our needs when we obey, becoming part of the process.

God needs no help from us, but wants us to partner with Him and all the faithful to spread His love. Sharing the joy we know in Him and the gift of salvation He offers is our calling in this life. May we be good stewards of the Gospel until Christ returns for us.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for all Your gifts to us. Bless us to be a blessing to others, showing the world the way You would have us live together. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:1-6‬.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight. Every ravine will be filled, And every mountain and hill will be brought low; The crooked will become straight, And the rough roads smooth; And all flesh will see the salvation of God.’ ”

The Gospel of Luke gives us insight into the ministry of John the Baptist and how his call to service is the same for us all. His objective is to tell everyone of the coming Messiah and our need to repent. He teaches us “all flesh will see the salvation of God” (v. 6), the promise from the Father that all may be saved.

John the Baptist is often considered the last prophet to the children of Israel. He issues a call for them to seek God’s forgiveness and live new lives in the light of His love. He tells those gathered that he will baptize them with water but the Messiah will “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭3:16).

He also humbles himself, telling everyone he is only the messenger, and the message is that the kingdom of God has come near to us. We are all called to be messengers like John, to spread the Gospel to the world. God’s love for us has come to be with us as one of us, Christ the Lord.

Gracious God, You have offered us forgiveness and salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Your son, Jesus. Make us strong in our faith and send us to share Your love everywhere. Amen.