Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Luke 6:37-38.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

This passage from the Sermon on the Plain is Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching which is also recorded in the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew. There we read “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged” (Matthew 7:1-2). Again we see that even though different authors have shared this in slightly different ways, the core of Christ’s lesson remains the same.

God wants us focused on sharing His love, not using it as a weapon. Yes, He has set standards for us but our task is not to berate others for failing to reach these but to help all to know God’s love and His law. Jesus taught what is expected of us but we are each individually responsible to accept His guidance.

Generosity comes from trusting God, knowing that our gifts are from Him and we merely share what we have been given. God has a plan for every one of us and we must follow the path Jesus has shown us. The only way we can be saved is through living in love and service to our savior and each other.

Gracious God, You have given us everything we have. Bless us to be generous with Your gifts that all may come to know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 31:28-30.

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

Proverbs begins and ends with instruction on connecting with God (1:7, 31:30). When we “fear the Lord” we are in relationship with Him, obeying His commandments and caring for one another as Jesus taught. His love for us compels us to love one another.

The last section of this chapter (verses 10-31) praises a righteous woman. She does it all because she loves God and God loves her, caring for home and family, engaging in the community and helping others. God gives her strength and skill for the work she is called to accomplish.

While this is written in praise of godly women, we can all receive the blessing God has for those who care for His children and His creation. We are all in need of His love and care. Everyone who goes to the Lord in repentance can be saved and live a new life in Him. 

Loving Lord, You have blessed us with many gifts, none more important than our savior, Jesus Christ. Send us in Your name that the world may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 10:11-13.

The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The last phrase in this reading comes from Joel 2:32, a prophecy that everyone can be saved through a relationship with God. Paul uses this to show that Jews and Gentiles all have a place in God’s kingdom. If these two disparate groups could come together, there is still hope for us today.

Paul worked very hard to show that all were welcome in the New Covenant Jesus brought to us. Peter states this in Acts 10:34-35 – “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Jesus has invited everyone to be reconnected with the Father, it is up to each individual to accept and follow Him.

God made a way for all to be forgiven and restored through Christ’s sacrifice for us. All who repent and accept this love can be part of the work to share the message with the world. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You reached out to save us. Help us to share that love with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 40:1-3.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

Waiting patiently can be very hard. In our fast paced society, even a minute of delay can cause us irritation. This psalm of David encourages us not to impose our timing and our solutions on things immediately, but rather to seek God’s will in all things.

God has called us to act boldly in His name, but also to wait on His timing and His answer. Isaiah 40:31 tells us “those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”. When we are worn out by trying to solve things ourselves, God invites us to rest in Him and see His strength where ours has failed.

God has gifted us with reason and free will to make decisions. However, when we ask for His help we bring the only real power there is into the equation. God wants so much to be a part of our lives and help us with our issues, but only when we ask. We must choose to give our lives to Him each day.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for all Your gifts and Your mercy to us. Help us to be patient when we face difficult things, waiting for Your love and guidance. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Paul’s lesson on love has much to tell us about ourselves and others. Notice there are no exceptions, no modifiers to let us out of our obligation to love one another. There’s no escape clause just as there is no escaping God’s love. Christ’s command to love one another (John 13:34-35) applies to every one of us equally. There are people who are hard to love and times when we find it difficult to love. Jesus’ answer is as constant as He is constant: love one another.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we fail to love as You intend. Help us to see the joy of loving through stressful times and reaching out to those we find hard to love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Continuing the lesson on love, Paul emphasizes “it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth”. We know that as humans we have a problem with the truth. Pilate asked Jesus “what is truth?” (John 18:37). We know that everything Jesus said and did reflects the truth of God, and this demonstrates love in its purest form. I saw something posted on Facebook the other day with a warning that said “this statement could be misleading”. This is an unfortunate part of our history, beginning with the Fall – Satan used half truths and some whoppers to tempt us into disobedience (Genesis 3:1-4). We must remember that love needs only the truth, not innuendo or allegation or flat out lies. At a time in our world when truth is at a premium, we are called to share God’s love through truthful living.

Patient God, we are sorry for the way we deal loosely with the truth. Forgive our false words and acts and make us part of Your plan, going to the world in Your name. Amen.

I’m traveling for family reunion the next few days so posts will be in compact mode until Tuesday. Have a great weekend!

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 13:4-5.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

I know you’re thinking “didn’t we do this passage yesterday?” Indeed we did, the app I use as a tool (bible.com) has started a weekend pattern of covering different verses of the same lesson on consecutive days. It helps us to focus more on the teaching, and I always try to post from a different translation or version each day. This morning I’m struck by Paul’s statement “it keeps no record of wrongs” and how freeing it would be to live that way. It doesn’t mean we won’t be wronged but if we give the pain to God and go on as Jesus taught us, we can live without the burden of remembering the hurt. This may not make sense in our “eye for an eye” world, but it is the only way to follow Jesus to salvation.

Loving Lord, You warned that we would meet opposition as Your children in the world. Help us to live as Christ has shown us, forgiving as You first forgave us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I have probably read Paul’s lesson on love from Corinthians 13 at most of the weddings I’ve officiated. It is a wonderful statement of how real love works, as opposed to selfishness. This kind of love is necessary for a deep and sustaining relationship.

John writes “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8), reminding us we only know what love is because God gave it to us first. We were created in and through His love and it should infuse everything we do. Love is the fuel for all our efforts in His name.

God wants us to know and share His love in our world. It was the example Jesus gave us and the call He places on our lives. Using the gifts we have been given and the energy His love provides, we can share the Good News everywhere.

Gracious God, You sent Your son to save us from our sin. Help us to help others find their way to You for healing and restoration. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Timothy 3:15-17.

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.

Paul writes to his friend and pupil Timothy, reminding him (and us) that the Scriptures are more than just good words. He says “they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.” Scripture has been given to us by our loving Lord that we might know Him and His plan for us.

God has breathed life into us and His word. The English term “inspiration” means both mental stimulation and to breathe in. This is a wonderful definition that speaks to both our thoughts and our lives. When we breathe in God’s word we make it part of our lives and our lives can become part of His plan for creation.

Paul tells us that Scripture “is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives”. It is a record of God’s interaction with His people. Scripture allows us to learn what God intends for us and what is necessary to follow the example Jesus has set.

Gracious God, You created us in love and gave us Your word that we might know You and live in harmony with one another. Bless us to share Your word with all Your children. Amen. 

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 31:23-24.

Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

We continue our study of the command to “be strong and courageous”, this time in a psalm of King David. He faced many personal challenges and as God’s chosen ruler for Israel he had to deal with much more. While he was not perfect, he was repentant of his sin and continued to follow the Lord in faith.

Later Paul would write to his friend and helper Timothy “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). Here is encouragement for the faithful and strength to carry on the work Jesus has given us. He told us it wouldn’t be easy and there would be worldly opposition, but He promised to always be with us as we go.

Things won’t always go our way, but we need to be aware that God is always in control no matter what a mess we make in the world He has given us. He sends us to share His love with everyone regardless of the situation. May we be strong and courageous in his service.

Gracious God, You have called us to be part of what You are doing in creation. Help us to go in faith to spread the Good News everywhere. Amen.