Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 60:1 (NASB1995).

Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

In the Old Testament we find several references to the coming of Jesus. We learn from this that God sending the Messiah to us was never Plan B. In John 1:4-5 we read “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” He came as a light in a dark world to save us from our sin and show us the way to share God’s love. Later Jesus tells us “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). When we come in repentance and accept Him as our Savior, we become part of that light, called to carry the Good News of salvation everywhere.

Gracious God, we are humbled and amazed that You welcome us back in forgiveness, and send us to bring Your light everywhere. May we shine bright for You in all we do. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 12:2 (NIV).

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God’s perfect creation was marred by our choice to go our own way. When He brought His people out of Egypt He gave them a set of guidelines to be able to live together in the land He had promised. However, we found ways to create loopholes in order to do what we want and eventually used the laws as weapons to control each other. Once again we subverted God’s will for us. When Jesus came He taught that we must change internally, not restrained by a system of rules and punishments, but motivated by our love for God and one another. Paul says we must be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” In Philippians 2:5 he gives similar instruction, saying “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” Thinking like Jesus leads to acting like Jesus, with the promise that someday we can be with Him eternally.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we have gone our own way in disobedience. Forgive us and keep us focused on the example of our Savior, that we may share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalm 27:4 (NLT).

The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

This Psalm speaks of our longing to be with the Lord always. It is our desire “to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” However, while God wants us with Him constantly we don’t have set up housekeeping in the church to do that! He has sent His spirit to be with us so we can do the things He has asked of us. Jesus taught that we need time alone with God in prayer, Sabbath community worship with other believers, and then going to tell the world. He gave us the model of being with people where they are to share God’s love. While being in His presence in worship is a mountaintop experience, we are called to do the work He has given us in the world until Jesus returns for us.

Gracious God, You created us in Your image and gave us responsibility to take care of things in Your world, most importantly each other. Bless us to be energetic disciples, going everywhere in Your name. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 2:27-28 (ESV).

And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

I was reminiscing over the holidays about how most businesses used to be closed on Sundays. Part of me was nostalgic for a slower, simpler time (or so it seemed), but when I read today’s scripture it brought me up short. Jesus is talking about this very thing. The Sabbath is God’s gift to us, and there is a commandment to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). However, while God gave us this guidance, He wants us to obey out of love, not coercion. I remember a pastor during my teen years saying no one will be saved against their will, we must choose to follow Jesus into eternity. Observing the Sabbath and all of God’s instruction willingly, not out of fear of punishment is what He wants for us.

Gracious God, we want to worship You in spirit and in truth. You have given us laws to follow for our own good. Help us to see that You want all Your children back safe as part of the eternal family. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV).

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Paul reminds us that while our physical bodies will decline during our earthly existence, our spirits are eternal and God will add to our spiritual growth, renewing us with His love. We need to focus on His promise of eternal life with Him when we repent and accept the gift of salvation. Jesus came to show us this through His life, death and resurrection. We can be like Christ, sharing God’s love with the world and blessed with a new connection to our Father. While there will always be earthly opposition to God’s plan, we can be part of renewing creation with Him. 

Gracious God, we are humbled and amazed that You have made us in Your image, and called us to be representatives of the Gospel in the world. Show us how we can best use Your gifts to reach all Your children with the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV).

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah has spent most of his life warning the people of the consequences of their disobedience. However, he also brings a message of hope. God still loves His children and wants them all back. While the prophet tells us not to “consider the things of old”, we need to remember how God has saved us, rather than the mistakes we have made. God wants us to focus on what we are doing now. Hope for the future is assured through Christ’s sacrifice for us. Now is when God can use us. While we are making longer range plans for the year, let us always ask what God would have us do today!

Loving Lord, in Your mercy You sent Jesus as our Savior, guide and example. Bless us to be more like Him in our words and actions, bringing Your love to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 1:4-5 (ESV).

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

You won’t find any example of opposites more stark than light and darkness. When God began to create, He said “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3) before anything else. Later He sent His Son to earth to be the light of His love to us. John calls Him “the light of men”, our hope in an often dark world. While many thought His crucifixion was the end of that light, Jesus trusted God and knew He had a better plan for all people. As we end this year and begin a new one, let us look to the promise of salvation Jesus came to bring us. No one can save themselves but no one is beyond His mercy. All we need to do is turn to God in repentance, accepting the freedom Christ offers us and the responsibility to share His love with the world.

Heavenly Father, at a time when we often think of doing better things for ourselves, let us see that the best thing we can ever do is confess our sin and return to Your love. Bless us to carry the Good News to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV).

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Paul writes often of the new life we are offered through Christ’s sacrifice for us. In Romans 8:10 he says “But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” This is what Jesus means when He tells us “You must be born again” (John 3:7). The old hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” sings a similar story: “Finish then Thy new creation, pure and spotless let us be. Let us see Thy great salvation perfectly restored in Thee.” We must confess our sin, accept the love and forgiveness Jesus has brought us, and go in His name to help others to know His blessing for us.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You made a way for us to reconnect to You and the world You intend for us. Strengthen us in faith and send us to tell all Your children the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Kings 8:61 (ESV).

Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.

King Solomon closes his dedication of the temple with these words. He prays that Israel would be faithful “walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments.” Sadly, they did not. Later they split into separate nations and both fell to invaders. Solomon’s beautiful temple was destroyed. Jesus says of Herod’s temple in Matthew 24:2 “Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” This temple too was destroyed and the people scattered. It doesn’t work to walk with the Lord on the Sabbath and walk with the world the rest of the week. These lessons teach that nothing man made will last and it can’t save us. Only by repenting and accepting the forgiveness Jesus bought for us with His blood can we be redeemed.

Loving Lord, You sent Your only Son as the sacrifice to save us. Bless us to go in Your name to share the joy of salvation with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 9:6 (ESV).

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

In this passage Paul thanks the Corinthians for their gift. He says that those who “sow bountifully will also reap bountifully” but he isn’t talking about being “paid back” for what we give. While in this case the gift was financial, giving means more than that. Don’t get me wrong, financial gifts are important but so are time and talent. Jesus tells us in Matthew 9:37 “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Many of us have reached a point where our physical help is not as effective as it once was. Now is the time to offer wisdom and encouragement. No matter what our gift or resources, the Lord has work for us to do.

Gracious God, You have given each of each gifts to be used for the work of Your kingdom. Bless us to be enthusiastic bearers of Your word everywhere. Amen.