Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Ephesians 5:1-2.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Paul encourages us to “imitate God in everything you do.” Many seem to want to imitate God by trying to be in control, but that is not the point of this statement! We are called to receive His love and share it with the world in thanks and obedience.

God has given us His love and guidance throughout human history. We know that Jesus came to teach us and “offered Himself as a sacrifice for us.” Unfortunately, we have often chosen our own way rather than the example He has shown us.

Following the way of Jesus is not always easy and He told us we would encounter resistance to His message of love. We must remain strong in our faith and our connection to Him. God is present with us in all we say and do. May we lean on His wisdom, strength and love always.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus to love and lead us. Help us to follow the example He has given, sharing the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Peter 4:16-17.

But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?

Peter reminds us “it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian”, that there will always be resistance to Christ’s message and those who share it. However, this doesn’t prevent the spread of the Good News. Even though there are obstacles, we are to continue in faith.

We are “called by His name”, expected to live by His teachings and share His love with the world. He has passed His ministry to us because He loves and trusts us. Now it is our turn to do the work that has passed through generations of the faithful, to share “God’s Good News.”

We know that judgement will come, but we are confident that by His love and our repentance we can be forgiven and washed clean of our sins. Jesus came for this very purpose. We share in His sacrifice and His glory when we share His love with everyone.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You sent Your son to save us. Forgive us when we fall and send us in Your name that all may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 5:10-12.

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

This passage from the Beatitudes reminds us that the world is not always open to the message God sends through us. There was resistance when Jesus came to be with us and that resistance continues today. However, we know God is with us through the obstacles and opposition we face.

Jesus says that when we are “persecuted for doing right” we are following Him and the lessons we have learned. Standing for what is right is never easy, it requires us to hold firm to our faith even when we know there will be retribution. There are still places that physical punishment and even death are in store for Christians.

While most of us don’t risk death for our faith, Jesus also told us “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.” This happens daily, and we must remember that evil only needs to distract or silence us to win. Through His love we can persevere and continue to share the Gospel with everyone. 

Loving Lord, bless and strengthen us when we are timid in our discipleship. Remind us that we are Yours and You are with us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 5:3-5.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Paul was trained as a Pharisee, so he often writes in a way that is complex. He leads us to his point like a lawyer building a case. This passage is not one of those that rolls off your tongue easily but it is important to our understanding of how God uses our experiences to teach us.

These words can also strengthen us when we encounter trouble, knowing that God can use even our difficulty to help us learn. The important part is that He is with us always, no matter what we face. God sent the Holy Spirit to guide us, that we might never be alone.

Paul sums it up saying “He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love”, a reminder that God is love (1 John 4:8). God wants this love to be first and foremost in our hearts, the key to our relationship with Him and each other. This is “our confident hope of salvation” as Paul puts it, knowing God’s love and going to share it with the world.

Gracious God, You have given us everything, but most importantly our savior, Jesus Christ. May we go in Your name to tell everyone what You have done for us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts 3:19-21.

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.

After Christ’s Ascension the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples and they are inspired and empowered to tell the story of Jesus to everyone. They heal in His name and share their testimony fearlessly. The men who hid in a locked room after Jesus was crucified now speak boldly.

Peter shares the message in this passage, telling the people “times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord”. Jesus gave us this promise in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” We can give Him our sins in repentance and be forgiven.

Jesus tells us in Luke 24:47 “It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’” Not only Jerusalem and the Jews, but “all the nations” can receive this blessing of forgiveness. God wants all His children everywhere to return to Him in love.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for our disobedience and disbelief. Help us to be the disciples of today, going to all our brothers and sisters in Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 6:31-34.

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

This guidance from Jesus is part of the Sermon on the Mount, His first lessons to the crowds in Matthew. He teaches differently than the religious leaders of the time, emphasizing our relationship with God and one another. He preaches against the worry most people suffer in their lives, telling them that if they are connected to God, He will provide for them.

It is hard for us to understand the concept even today. Jesus isn’t saying “sit around and do nothing and what you need will drop into your lap”, but rather “give your worries to God and believe and He will make things happen.” Jesus and the disciples did the work God had laid out for them and by their faith they were provided with what they required.

It comes down to the statement “your Heavenly Father already knows your needs.” God is aware of every issue we face and knows what we really need, rather than what we think we need. We still have work to do, but God is with us always.

Gracious God, You have gifted us with skills and resources, but we need Your love to fuel our efforts. Bless us to be energetic disciples, telling everyone of the blessing of salvation. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Joel 2:12-13.

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

The prophet Joel’s message is short but packed with meaning. He opens this passage with words from God Himself – “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts.” He wants us all back as part of His family, regardless of our failures. He calls us to give up the things that lead us astray and accept His forgiveness.

The Lord says “Tear your hearts instead”, not just an outward show of sorrow but true grief at our sin and true repentance as we return to Him. Joel writes “He is eager to relent and not punish.” God’s justice is more about redemption than penalty.

We need to learn that the Covenant is not a one sided promise but an agreement between God and His people, an eternal relationship. We have responsibilities to Him and to each other. Through this connection we can use His gifts to reach all our brothers and sisters with His love.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we ignore Your call to care for one another. Bless us to go in Your name to make disciples of all nations. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Paul warns the Corinthians (and us) against pride in ourselves, thinking we are standing strong. Self confidence can become over confidence and that can lead to the fall we often experience. We need a strong connection to the Lord to avoid all this.

God knows the visible, tangible things that attract us – He created them all. They all have a purpose but when we overuse or misuse them, they become stumbling blocks in our relationship with Him. However, Paul writes “When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure”, the fact that He is with us through any temptation we face.

Sometimes this is hard for us to understand. Peter tells us “So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you” (1 Peter 4:19). God is faithful to us, we must put our faith in Him.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we have trusted in ourselves rather than Your strength and mercy. Help us to be Your face and hands in the world that everyone may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 9:23-24.

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Earlier in Mark 9 three of the disciples saw Jesus in all His glory, transfigured on a mountaintop. Immediately after this, Jesus deals with an unclean spirit possessing a boy down in the village. This illustrates the difference between what Jesus offers us and what the world can do to us: we could be on the mountaintop if we believe instead of trapped in sin down below.

The story tells us the other disciples had tried unsuccessfully to help the boy on their own (Mark 9:18). Later, they ask why they failed and Jesus replies “This kind can be cast out only by prayer” (Mark 9:29). This means both prayer and a living relationship with God. 

“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) could be our confession, not only when confronted by huge issues, but in everyday things. Merely believing in God is very different than having a relationship and allowing Him to work in our lives that we may work for His kingdom. We may indeed believe but we must listen, learn and do in order to live in full belief.

Loving Lord, we need Your help to live through the valleys of life. We want to live for You and share the joy of the mountaintop with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Jude 1:22-23.

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

This is a hard passage to hear and harder still to live out. It tells us we are responsible to do everything we can to keep our brothers and sisters from falling into sin. It requires us to make an active effort, as individuals and Christ’s church, to save others.

This is difficult for us because it means we have to learn about the lives of others and care enough to become involved. It also means we have to speak to them in faith and love when needed. Jesus calls us to do this even as we are told “judge not”. 

Jude, who gets right to the point in his one chapter letter might ask “is it judging when you warn someone to leave their burning house?” Judging means using our own earthly standard; Jesus has given us a new standard of love for one another. When we accept His forgiveness we become part of His plan to save all God’s children.

Gracious God, we are thankful for the blessing of our savior, Jesus Christ. Help us to live and love as He did, caring for our brothers and sisters and all of Your creation. Amen.