Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 107:11-14.

They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High. That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one was there to help them. “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains.

We have heard time and again that there are consequences for our actions, but we never seem to learn the lesson completely. This passage tells us “they rebelled against the words of God”. We may see this as rejecting God completely and doing evil things (which is rebellion of course) but what about the smaller, constant everyday things we think and do that are not in line with God’s will? You don’t have to be burning bibles or closing churches to be in rebellion against the Lord, merely not doing His will makes us rebels. We must see that like the people this psalm was written for there will be a response to our rebellion where and when God decides to act. Pray that we don’t get to the point of ancient Israel who saw their society destroyed before they obeyed. We must start with ourselves and the thousands of small daily rebellions we wage, wanting our own way rather than the Lord’s. Going to God in repentance and accepting the sacrifice Christ made for us is the only way we can be saved.

Loving Lord, You have given us everything and we are sorry for the way we respond. Forgive us and bless us to be Your people who go to the world in Your name. Amen. 

Our scripture this morning is James 1:26-27.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James warns us about the most devastating human weapon of all – human speech. Our words can wound each other and once they are said they can’t be unsaid. In the next chapter of this letter we read “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be” (James 3:9-10). Especially in today’s world of instant and often anonymous communication we must “keep a tight rein on our tongues”. Our endless arguments do nothing to advance the cause Jesus gave us of loving and caring for one another. James reiterates the Lord’s call for us to “look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Our charge is to be the loving face and hands of Christ to all and speak His truth.

Gracious God, You have gifted us with everything and given us the responsibility to care for Your creation. Bless us to go in Your name and bring Your love to all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Friends, I’m traveling again this week so my morning posts may be posted at different times as I and the internet are able to connect.

Our scripture this morning is 2 John 1:6-8.

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.

Most theological scholars agree that the three letters of John were written by the Apostle John, who also authored the Gospel of John and Revelation. What is most important is that the message of all these writings is consistent – Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came as a human, died for our sins, rose and ascended to Heaven and will return when the Father sends Him. In this passage we hear of the love Jesus taught in all He said or did, and our responsibility to share this love with the world. John warns believers that there are those who deny these facts and will try to convince us to stop or change the work we have been assigned by Christ Himself. In our world today we see and hear many of these same deceptions. It is up to us to prevent these from diverting us from our mission to bring God’s love to a world that is in desperate need.

Loving Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to show us the way to be saved. Help us to help others find Your love and peace. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 23:23-24.

Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well. The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

The Book of Proverbs has much to offer in the way of practical wisdom, especially about our relationship with God and each other. It also speaks of the wisdom we receive from Him and our families, specifically our parents. This advice on honoring our parents mirrors the 5th Commandment (Exodus 20:12).

As we celebrate Father’s Day in the US, we need to remember our own fathers and those who have acted as fathers to us. Some have not had fathers in their lives and we as the body of Christ are called to stand in the gap, providing instruction and guidance to the next generation of believers.

God is our ultimate father figure, the example for all parents and the source of all love and wisdom. When we honor earthly fathers, we also honor God who has given us the blessing of those who have gone before. May we remember all who have shaped our lives.

Heavenly Father, we need shepherds and protectors to help us continue on the path Jesus has shown us. Help us to obey and honor those who lead and mold us into the people You want us to be. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Exodus 20:8-11.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Jesus was asked what is the most important commandment and He replied “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). When we remember the Sabbath as today’s passage from the Ten Commandments instructs, we show our love and respect for God. 

God gave us a day of rest using His creation cycle as our example. He certainly didn’t need to rest from exertion, but He set the example for our lives: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.” It is not just so we can rest, but that we may rest in Him, remembering how we were created.

God’s love is built in to us, and everything we see is a gift of love from Him. We return that love through our worship and by executing the responsibility He has given us for His creation, which includes one another. We show our love for God best when we share His love with our brothers and sisters.

Heavenly Father, You have given us everything in love. Help us to be good stewards of all Your gifts, bringing the Good News of salvation to the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Lamentations 3:24-26.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

The prophet Jeremiah was called to warn Israel of the impending destruction of their way of life by the army of Babylon. The Book of Lamentations tells of the grief they experienced as their country was destroyed. It is an emotional cry to God as a reaction to this calamity.

Even though the temple and the city no longer exist, God gives His people hope for the future. This is another desert experience for them where they have no resources of their own and must turn to God for relief. The Lord says “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number” (Jeremiah 23:3).

In this passage Jeremiah expresses the faith of Israel, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The people who had drifted away from trusting God now see He is the only way to salvation. We can experience His saving grace in our world today, even in the seemingly “modern” trials we face. We are still His people and He is our eternal God.

Gracious God, we often bring evil on ourselves when we forget who and whose we are. Help us to see that our strength is no match for sin but through Christ’s sacrifice for us we are made whole. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 6:31-32.

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

This small passage occurs in between some big happenings. In Mark 6:7 Jesus sends out the disciples to heal and share the Good News. Their evangelism makes King Herod recall the work and death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14). After this comes Feeding the Five Thousand in Mark 6:33. There is much activity in this chapter!

Because of this, Jesus calls the disciples to “come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” This call is important for us as well. Jesus knows that it is essential for each of us to spend time alone in prayer with God to be ready for the next task.

I don’t know where the saying “you can’t fill others if you’re empty” came from but it is certainly true. Jesus knew this and didn’t want the disciples to “burn out” as we call it today. When we feel empty, we must stop and allow God’s strength to renew us in order to continue the work He has for us.

Loving Lord, we know our capabilities are a gift from You and we must use them wisely. When we are weary, refresh us in body and spirit that we may go in Your name to share Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Galatians 6:1-2.

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Paul speaks of the physical, emotional, and spiritual load we all carry as humans. These all weigh on us and all of us need help sometimes. We need to understand that accepting help is as important as giving help.

Temptation is always near and as Jesus taught, His way is the narrow way and it is not easy. We must continually be aware of God’s love and His plan for us in order to avoid falling. We know we can come to Him in repentance and be forgiven.

Instead of condemnation, we offer to “share each other’s burdens and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Jesus came to help us see our sin and be freed from it through His sacrifice. We can’t save ourselves but we can help others come to Him in order to be saved.

Loving Lord, in Your mercy You made a way for us to be redeemed and reconciled to You. Help us to share the joy we find in You with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 26:1-4.

In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song: Our city is strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

The prophet Isaiah was sent to minister to a people in crisis. Stronger, aggressive nations surround Israel, they had forgotten their faith and things looked grim. This portion of his warning is often called the Isaiah Apocalypse, predicting judgement for those who have turned against God.

We can see a sad parallel in our world today. It seems that God’s love and the call to obedience in Him have been replaced by whatever people decide is right at the time. Like the situation Israel faced during the time of Isaiah, we are in need of saving.

In Isaiah 6:8 we read “Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”” This is still the call God places on our lives, to go in His name to His people that they might be saved. It is never to late to turn our lives around and to accept the peace He offers us, “for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”

Patient God, even when we are disobedient and follow our own way, You still love and want to redeem us. Bless us to carry the Good News to all Your children everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 7:24-27.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Jesus, the master teacher always gave people examples to think about. He used nature, family and society as things people were familiar with to lead them to God’s plan for us. In this lesson we hear about foolish and wise decisions and the result of those actions.

He tells them of two different situations – a house built on sand which falls in the storm and a house with a firm foundation that stands strong.  This illustrates the difference between relying on human wisdom or relying on the word of God. Jesus patiently gives us the knowledge needed to see the difference.

It is our choice to listen and obey or suffer the consequences of our decision. This isn’t a threat or coercion, merely the truth. Jesus doesn’t deal in misleading statements or false promises as humans do. We know that He is the Word, sent from the Father to save us and His love will bring all who follow Him into eternal life.

Gracious God, we are humbled that You want us as part of Your plan. We go in Your name and Your strength to bring the Good News to the world. Amen.