Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:7-10‬.

For thus says the Lord: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’ Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’

The prophet Jeremiah tells the people that their sorrows will not last forever and that God calls them back to His love and care. This passage speaks words of comfort to those who have strayed from God’s plan. God promises to heal them and keep them “as a shepherd keeps his flock” (v. 10).

God has offered us this relationship since the very beginning. When we fell into sin, God was hurt by our unfaithfulness but His love is so great He has made a way for us to be reconnected through the life, death and resurrection of His son, Jesus Christ. This promise is given to all His children, regardless of who we are and where or when we live.

Those who return in repentance are forgiven and renewed. We are given a responsibility to care for His people as He cares for us. God has a plan for each of us individually and together as His people; may we go into the world in His strength.

Gracious God, we are thankful to be reunited with You and to be called to share Your love. Help us to be the people You intend, and may we spread the Good News to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:44-50‬.

Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?”

This passage is part of Stephen the martyr’s testimony before he is stoned by the mob outside Jerusalem. He recounts the history of the tabernacle or tent of meeting which was the place of worship and the building of the temple as God’s dwelling place. However, he reminds them that “the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says” (v. 48), quoting Isaiah 66.

We need to be reminded that everything we have, right down to the subatomic particles that all matter contains, is made by God, not us. Sometimes we get wrapped up in how amazing our technology is and feel we’ve accomplished something wonderful. We have done great things, but only through the providence of God.

Our own strength and knowledge is feeble without God. Nothing we make or do exists outside His creation. Let’s give thanks for everything we have been given, realizing these gifts are to be used wisely for the good of all His children.

Loving Lord, we are ashamed of our foolish pride, thinking we can do anything without You. Bless us to use what we have been given well, sharing Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalm 72.

Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.

This prayer asks God to give the king wisdom and mercy to rule the people. King Saul and King David were appointed by God to be in charge of all things in Israel and they literally had the power of life and death. God’s intent was that these chosen leaders would rule as God does, in love and justice. It didn’t always work out that way.

Most of the nations on earth have chosen a form of representative government, which we feel is better than imperial rule by one or a few. However, they are still human, capable of failure and in need of our prayers. We still need the Lord’s blessing on our leaders that we may be fair and honest in our political systems.

If you chuckled or shook your head in dismay at the last statement, you’re probably not alone. Many people are not satisfied with the actions of their representatives. It is said that we get the government we deserve. Starting today, let’s pray for our officials, that God would give them the wisdom and guidance they need.

Gracious God, be with those in positions of responsibility. Lead them that they may govern wisely, with justice and mercy. May we be supportive even when we disagree and work together to do Your will. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 1:10‭-‬18.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

This passage is a description of the wonderful blessing we have received in Christ. It speaks of the joy of His coming and how He reconnects us to God. It also shares the sorrow that not everyone accepted Him, that “the world did not recognize Him” (v. 10).

Jesus reaches out with God’s love to everyone, but it is up to us individually to make this gift part of our lives and share it with the world. This is where our responsibility in salvation begins. We certainly cannot save ourselves, but we must recognize Jesus and what He comes to do for us.

During this time that we evaluate our lives and make plans for the future, we need to examine our relationship with God and how Jesus has opened the door to a renewed connection for us. We must be intentional in our faith and steadfast in our actions. Through our witness in the world, others may come to know Him and accept God’s love for themselves.

Wise and wonderful God, You love us so much it is hard for us to grasp. Help us to be the disciples of today, sharing the joy of Christ and the blessings of Your kingdom with everyone. Amen.

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

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

How inspiring and comforting to hear “Since you are His child, God has made you also an heir”. To put it in more common terms, we are written into the will to receive an inheritance from God. As if He hasn’t already blessed us richly enough through our very existence and all the gifts of creation, God still has more to give us.

While a will is a legally binding document in our society, God’s inheritance for us is eternal. There are requirements and responsibilities we must fulfill under God’s law in order to be part of the inheritance as well. God loves us so much He has made a way for us to be redeemed from our sin and claim the promised gifts.

Are you ready to be an heir of God’s kingdom? It isn’t always easy but it is always worth it! God has instructed us and blessed us to follow the example of Jesus, and to join with Him in life everlasting.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for Your love given to us to share with the world. May we reach out to others that all may be heirs in Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 8:12‭-‬19.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

Jesus gives the Pharisees (and us) a lesson on truth and judgement. The Pharisees were big on judgement but not so much on truth. They were the teachers of the law but they often failed to obey what they taught.

Notice their questions to Jesus. They aren’t interested in understanding what He teaches, only in challenging His right to speak these things. How often are we like this? Even when we disagree it’s important to listen and understand.

As we begin a new year, may we honestly listen to the concerns of our brothers and sisters, and if we disagree, at least make the effort to understand their side of the situation. We may still disagree, but listening and discussing rationally rather than rejecting and dismissing as the Pharisees did will allow us to move forward as Jesus taught. Let us ask for God’s guidance to better understand and care for one another.

Loving Lord, forgive us for ignoring the fears and needs of others. Help us to share Your love in the world, using the gifts You have given us wisely. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 147:12‭-‬20.

Extol the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion. He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the Lord.

How often do we praise the Lord “just because”? We offer thanks and praise when our loved ones are healed, when we are saved from a bad situation and many others after the fact, but God deserves our praise all the time, simply because He is our loving creator. This psalm reminds us of the blessings Israel enjoyed and that we continue to receive today.

God does this because He loves us and wants good things for us. We are called to be in relationship with Him and the only thing that prevents that is our own pride and selfishness. We are the primary obstacle to our own salvation!

However, God continues to reach out to us, even in our sin. He made a way for us to return to a faith connection to Him through the gift of Jesus. God wants all of us back and that is a reason for thanks and praise.

Heavenly Father, we are ashamed of our failures and sorry for disobeying Your commandments. Forgive our mistakes and lead us to eternal life through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 3:10‭-‬17.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Paul uses the illustration of how a building is constructed to teach us about the foundation of our faith, Jesus Christ. He warns that building our lives on any other foundation is foolish and will fail in the end. He tells us that what we make of our lives – what we build – will be examined and judged by God at the last day.

There are many other reminders of this building process. Jesus Himself teaches us “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). There are hymns such as “My Hope is Built On Nothing Less” and “How Firm a Foundation” that share this truth.

Only by carefully following the plan Jesus gave can we hope to build our lives into something pleasing to God. He wants to live in us but He can’t if our building is substandard. We must trust the foundation Christ laid for us and build our lives confidently in Him.

Patient God, we are thankful for the model of our faith, Jesus Christ and the example for building He gave us. Help us to be strong in a difficult world and share Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:1-7‬.

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”

John, the author of Revelation, gives us this testimony of the vision God sent him. It beautifully expresses God’s promise fulfilled, that He is “making everything new” (v. 5) and we will live in His presence eternally. It is the blessing of a new existence in continued relationship with Him.

The things we know – the possessions and status and wealth that many thought important – will all be gone. God replaces these with His gift of life everlasting, that “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (v. 4). All the curses that sin brought to human life will cease.

The images John shares in Revelation can be confusing and frightening, but only for those who oppose the will of God. He is ready to welcome into the new Heaven and earth all who truly love Him and obey His commandments. He tells us plainly “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”

Gracious God, through the gift of Christ our Lord You made a way for us to be reconciled and redeemed. May we share the joy of our faith with the world, that all may look forward to eternal life in You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalm 148.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!

The Psalms are the songbook of scripture, bringing our praise and our prayers to the Lord. This psalm from the New Revised Standard Version uses the word “praise” twelve times in fourteen verses. History tells us these were sung as part of worship, especially during temple services.

When we lift our voices together, we are all strengthened and encouraged to share the joy of the Lord with the world. I know some who say “I can’t sing” but it’s not about beautiful music – the song of a lark and the raucous call of a crow are both pleasing to God. It’s about our connection to Him and offering our thanks and praise.

A director once told me “God asks us to make a “joyful noise” (Psalm 100), and that’s all that matters.” Don’t be afraid to lift your voice to God for fear of “what others will say” – it’s not about them, it’s between you and God. Jesus told us “if they are silent, the very stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40). All creation sings to the Lord, and you are a beloved part of that heavenly choir.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for Your many gifts to us and we bring our thanks and praise. Let us go into Your world with joy and tell everyone of Your love. Amen.