Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Jeremiah‬ ‭17:7-10‬.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.

The prophet Jeremiah writes words of warning and comfort to the nation of Israel. Earlier in this passage he speaks of the sin of the people, but then contrasts here the joy of trusting the Lord. Much like them, we need to be reminded of our sin, not singling anyone out but remembering that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). God calls us to be blessed in Him, being strengthened and refreshed by His spirit.

We know that God waits for our return to Him, wanting to give us His love and forgiveness. Why do we find it so difficult to admit our failings and accept the reconciliation He holds for us? Our own feelings of guilt and the pain of confessing them are usually the cause.

We must remember that God already knows everything about us, including our sin. Our thoughts and actions cannot be hidden from God. The joy is that He still waits to restore us, to make us whole and ready to be His people.

Loving Lord, we regret the things we do that separate us from You. Help us to trust You and accept the blessing of forgiveness. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Peter 1:20‭-‬25. 

He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.

Peter, the rough and often impulsive disciple, has become a leader and a gentle teacher. Jesus forgave Peter’s failures and called him to feed His sheep (John 21:15-19), appointing him to care for the new Christian community. In this passage Peter reminds us that mortal life is temporary but “the word of the Lord endures forever” (v. 25).

Like Peter, we have all done things for which we are sorry, and we know we can go to Jesus, asking forgiveness and healing. Jesus restores us and teaches us to follow in His path. Our sins are forgotten when we repent and return to the Lord (Hebrews 8:12).

We are reminded that we have been born again in Jesus (v. 23) and washed clean by His sacrifice for us. Now in renewed relationship with God through Christ, we are called to feed His sheep as the disciples of today. May we go in His strength to share the Good News everywhere. 

Loving Lord, we are sorry for our disobedience and pursuit of earthly things. Help us to use the gifts You have blessed us with for the good of all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 1:1‭-‬6.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

This Psalm reminds us that we are responsible for our choices. God gave us free will, the capability to decide our thoughts and actions for ourselves. No one is “accidentally evil”, we make a conscious effort to follow the Lord or not.

While we are responsible for our behavior, God is willing to forgive our sin when we return to Him in repentance. The difference between Peter denying Christ and Judas betraying Him is that Peter repented, accepting forgiveness from Jesus and returning to the path. While Judas apparently regretted his action, he did not repent.

The Psalm teaches us that with the Lord we are blessed but on our own we are easy prey for the enemy. Proverbs 3:5 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” If we give our lives to Him and for Him, our salvation is assured. 

Gracious God, we are sorry for our failures but grateful for Your forgiveness. Help us to avoid our own selfish thoughts and actions, living as Jesus showed, in relationship with You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts 13:26‭-‬33. 

Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’

In this passage Paul is speaking to a mixed gathering of believers, some Jewish and some Gentile. However, his message is the same to both groups. He recounts the death and resurrection of Christ, and God’s promise of adoption to all who believe in Him.

This promise is eternal and unchanging. God made us all and He wants us all to be connected to Him as children, and to each other as brothers and sisters. He is so concerned about our souls that He was willing to come as a human in Jesus and die a mortal death to save us from our sins.

Our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior is the fulfillment of that promise. He calls us to share the Good News just as Paul and the others are in this scripture. May we be the disciples of today, sharing God’s love with everyone. 

Heavenly Father, we are humbled by how much You love us, even in our fallen state. Bless us to be good stewards of all Your gifts, and go in Your name to all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 5:27‭-‬32.

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus continues choosing His disciples, calling Levi (also known as Matthew) to follow Him. The religious leaders were dismayed by this, asking Jesus why He would associate with such people, much less include them in His inner circle. Jesus answers them, saying “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (v. 32).

This statement must have surprised and confused them because sinners and others deemed “unclean” were shunned in that culture. Jesus teaches us to care for those who are left behind by society, sharing God’s love with them and using our gifts to heal and include them. We show our love for Him by tending to the last, the least and the lost.

How is God calling us to continue this today? We must ask for guidance and work individually as His servants as well as together as His church. We need to remember we are all sinners forgiven by His mercy and saved by His sacrifice for us.

Gracious God, we are sorry for our selfishness and petty exclusion of our brothers and sisters. Help us to be Your love and light in a dark time. Amen. 

Our scripture this morning is Luke 5:1‭-‬11. 

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Simon, later called Peter, exhibits doubt and faith at the same time, something we all have likely felt. This traveling teacher asks to use his boat as a speaking platform, then tells him how to do his job. He is reluctant, but something about the presence of Jesus and His words convince him to let down the nets. They are immediately overwhelmed with a huge catch.

At this point Simon Peter exclaims “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (v. 8). Instead, Jesus calls him and his partners to a new mission of fishing for people. Scripture says they left everything and followed Jesus, overcoming their doubt and believing in Him.

Jesus calls us to the same ministry, sometimes where we are and with those familiar to us, sometimes far away and ministering to strangers. God has blessed us each with unique gifts to be used for the good of all His children. It is up to us to go in His strength to accomplish our mission.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of Your son, our Savior Jesus Christ and the call He placed on our lives to be disciples. Help us to go in faith as did those long ago, following the path Jesus has set for us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 20:1‭-‬16. 

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Jesus uses the illustration of a landowner hiring workers to teach us about God’s blessings for us. In this story there are workers who have been in the vineyard all day and some who have come late to the job. The landowner makes an agreement with each for a single specified wage. When all the workers are paid the same, those who worked longer are disappointed. 

This is a lesson on God’s love for all of us and the huge difference between human standards and eternal blessings. In our economy, when you work longer, you generally receive more compensation. In God’s economy there is only one level of “payment” – everlasting life. All who claim Jesus as their Savior are promised this. 

Do we sometimes think there are levels of blessing from God as there are different repayments on earth? This is the mistake that Jesus points out to us in His parable. God can’t love us any more than He already does! His love fills all creation and is given to all of us without measure, no matter how long we have been faithful.

Loving Lord, we are sorry when we squabble among ourselves, seeking more than others receive. Help us to see the joy of a relationship with You that knows no limit. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts 19:1‭-‬6.

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

In yesterday’s scripture we heard of Peter bringing the Good News to those who had not yet heard it. Today we read of Paul visiting a community of believers who aren’t quite there yet. He encourages them and when he lays hands on them, they receive the Holy Spirit.

These Ephesians had been baptized for repentance but had not heard the story of Jesus and accepted Him. When they did, they were blessed to become part of His ministry. Turning from our sin is necessary, but there is more to a life in Christ.

Church father John Wesley said first, do no harm, then do good. Not sinning is obviously important but doing good is the next step. God wants us to be active in the kingdom work He has for us, using His gifts for the good of the world. 

Heavenly Father, we are humbled and grateful to be part of Your eternal plan. Bless us to go in Your name, spreading the Gospel everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts 10:44‭-‬48.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Peter was called by God to go to a Gentile community and minister to them (Acts 10:9-23). While the Hebrews knew God’s promise to Abraham that all nations were blessed through him, they were not an evangelical faith, in that they did not reach out to those who were not Jewish. Converts were accepted but they had no missionary activity.

We know that Paul was called as the apostle to the Gentiles but in this passage it is Peter that learns God’s plan is for everyone to receive the Holy Spirit as the disciples have (Acts 2). Through a vision from God and the request of the Gentile group, he goes to their community to teach them. Some of the Jewish believers accompany him and during their visit the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles. 

We should never be surprised at anyone receiving God’s Spirit, it is a free gift offered to all His children. It is our task to share our faith and rejoice with those who accept God’s promise. May we be the disciples of today, reaching out to all the world.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for Your blessing and the call You place on our lives. Help us to reach those who do not yet know You and make them part of the faithful. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 4:40‭-‬44.

Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Jesus shows us God’s love by healing the sick. He demonstrates His devotion to God through His prayer practice. He models obedience to God by going from town to town, telling the people “I was sent for this purpose” (v. 44).

Jesus does all this because He has been called to do so by the Father. By being faithful to His given task, He teaches us about the nature of God and our connection to Him. God has kingdom work for us as well.

Sharing God’s love by loving others, a relationship with Him through prayer, and obedience to the call He places on our lives all build our faith and help others see the blessing of being part of God’s plan. Our discipleship has an effect on our world. Ask Him to strengthen and bless your efforts in His name.

Wise and wonderful God, thank You for choosing us to be Your children. May we follow Christ’s example to bring our brothers and sisters to You. Amen.