Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV).

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Paul writes to remind all of us that God has gifted us with things to be used to care for His creation and to spread His love. Timothy has studied under Paul, traveled with Him, and now carries on the ministry while Paul is in prison. Sometimes we confuse the instruction to be humble with being timid. Paul tells us this is not the case, that we can share the Good News boldly while giving the glory to God. Power, love and self-discipline are tools for us to use in the kingdom work which we are assigned. This points out the old phrase God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Heavenly Father, we are amazed that You ask us to be part of what You are doing in the world. Bless us to share Your word with energy and love. Amen. 

Our scripture this morning is Mark 10:14-15 (NIV).

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Have you heard someone say “childlike faith”? It is likely they are referring to this story. As a pastor I have experienced this where a well meaning parent tells an excited child “don’t bother the pastor, he’s busy”. Well, yes I am…but if I ever cared more about the hands on a clock than the hands of a child reaching out, I hope the Spirit would convict me quickly! Jesus says in John 3:3 “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” It is this change in our lives and a new way of looking at the world that Jesus wants us to experience. May we all have this childlike faith that leads us to Him and to share His love with everyone.

Loving Lord, You came as a child to be one of us. Help us to be Your faithful children, using the wonderful gifts You have given to care for Your creation. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 4:12 (NASB1995).

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Letter to the Hebrews is attributed to Paul but he does not identify himself as in his other letters. Paul was known as the apostle to the Gentiles, but he was a Jew by birth and by practice. It doesn’t matter who the author is as long as it expresses the love and teachings of Jesus. In this verse we hear about the probing nature of God’s word, “living and active”, inviting us to look deeper into ourselves. Nothing is hidden from Him, but if we examine our thoughts and behavior with Him, we can be forgiven and live in his love. The study of His word and ongoing conversation with God is His presence to reassure us and guide us in His way.

Gracious God, You have given us Your word that we might understand our connection to You and all of creation. Help us to care for what You have given us, especially each other, and to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 1:37 (NASB1995).

For nothing will be impossible with God.

The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and explains the call God is asking her to fulfill, to be the mother of our Savior. Mary has reasonable questions and Gabriel answers “nothing will be impossible with God.” This is the part we seem to forget, even when we are faithful. Jesus came to be one of us as a child, so that we could see our humanity in Him, but also His divinity. We have that same spark, the very breath of God breathed into us as we are created in His image. We need both of these sides to be able to share the Good News with the world. God has called us to be part of what He is doing in creation, and when it is hard we must remember “nothing will be impossible with God.”

Loving Lord, You sent Jesus to be the way for us to be saved. Bless us to share this precious gift with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Friends, I’m back home and testing a new tablet. Please bear with me.🙂

Our scripture today is John 3:16 (NASB1995).For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

This passage comes from Jesus Himself, explaining why He has come. Faith in Him is the only way for us to be saved. Later in this Gospel He tells us that“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). He also said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the only sacrifice that can save us, but we must choose to follow Him. Doing it our own way is not an option.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the gift of Jesus our Savior. Bless us to be energetic in our kingdom work, sharing Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 4:4 (ESV).

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Paul sends encouragement to the Philippians that God is there for us no matter what we face. Our earthly situations may cause us to worry, but we can rejoice always in His promise of salvation through faith in Christ. If Paul can write this from prison, how much more can we rejoice in our everyday lives?

Jesus tells us “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). This means everyone and Jesus is ready for us to bring Him any issue, no matter how heavy laden we may be. We may stumble under what we deal with, but as the song Jesus Loves Me says “they are weak but He is strong.”

Trying to accomplish things our own way rarely works out, even when we have good intentions. We need to ask God to be in everything we do. He is there and ready, but we must choose to include Him in our lives. 

Loving Lord, You are our reason to rejoice always. Bless us to share that joy with all Your children everywhere. Amen.

Friends, I’m traveling this week, posting may be a bit erratic.

Our scripture today is Isaiah 40:3 (NASB1995).

A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”

The prophet Isaiah points to the coming of the Messiah, with encouragement to “Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.” This refers to our call to share the Gospel with the world. It is our job to ensure that all hear the Good News.

In Luke 1 we read of the birth of John the Baptist and the promised coming of Jesus Himself. Luke quotes this verse from Isaiah in chapter 3 explaining John’s role in preparing the way of the Lord. Like John, we are to make things ready for the coming of the kingdom.

In ancient times people called heralds went ahead of important leaders, getting people’s attention and readying them for the message that was coming. Jesus gave us a message of love to share and a choice: rather than going our own way we can be saved from our sins by believing in Him. May we all see the light of His love and walk in His way.

Heavenly Father, thank You for making us part of what You are doing in creation. Bless us to be bold in our sharing of the Word everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 139:23-24 (NASB1995).

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

God knows every intimate detail of our existence, so nothing we can share surprises Him and likewise, nothing is hidden from Him. Earlier in this psalm David writes “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb” (Psalms 139:13). He asks God to search him and know his heart that God might help him identify any issues.

In Jeremiah 1:5 God reminds the prophet (and us) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves because He made us. If we listen to His guidance we can use the gifts we are given according to His plan.

David asks God to lead him “in the everlasting way.” God wants all His children to be saved, but we must choose His way for ourselves. By accepting the forgiveness Christ brought us we can be part of what God is doing in the world.

Loving Lord, we are grateful You made a way for us to be saved and wait for us to choose to follow Jesus. Send us to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Peter 2:24 (NASB1995).

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Peter quotes from the prophet Isaiah to remind us “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus accepted a punishment that was not His own, in order that we might be made right with the Father.

Peter could be the poster boy for all of us – a mixture of belief and doubt, confidence and confusion. He went from the high of proclaiming “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16) to the low of “I don’t know him!” (Luke 22:60). Yet Jesus forgave him and made him a leader of the early church.

It is easy for us to ignore our sin, or to despair that it could never be forgiven. God says both are the wrong way to handle it. Jesus came to be the way to the Father, and when we believe in Him, “by His wounds we are healed.”

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we have gone our own way instead of the path we have been shown. Forgive us and send us in Your strength to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is 2 Timothy 4:7 (NASB1995).

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

Paul sends what were likely final greetings to his protégée Timothy from a Roman jail cell. He sounds confident even though his words speak of the end of his life. Paul shows us the joy of putting our trust in the Lord and not worrying about the future.

Jesus spoke of His death in much the same manner, not defiantly or fearfully, but with the confidence of faith. He taught us that we can have this same assurance from God the Father. Then, by following His example we can share God’s love with the world.

Paul had certainly “fought the good fight”, bringing the Gospel to many places and people who then further shared the Good News. We have the same call today and God offers the same promise of salvation to those who like Paul have kept the faith.

Gracious God, we are amazed that You love us so much, even when we fail. Bless us to carry Your love to everyone. Amen.