Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Mark 2:23-28.

One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?” Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

How do you define Sabbath? Is it going to church on Sunday? I have heard it said that God rested on the seventh day in order to spend time with what was important to Him – His creation, which includes us. Sabbath should mean that for us as well, being together in Christian community with God and those we love.

During the Exodus God had given some rules for living to protect His people and teach them to be a community. Sabbath was a time for them to remember who and whose they were. The Pharisees of Jesus’ time had attempted to come up with a rule to answer every question and were watchful that others followed their instructions.

When they accused the disciples of breaking Sabbath, Jesus beat them at their own game. He asks “Haven’t you ever read” referring to 1 Sam. 21:1–6 when David and his men ate the Bread of Presence from the Tabernacle. The lesson He teaches is that Sabbath was made for us, not the other way around.

Loving Lord, help us not to focus on trivial things that distract us from the joy of our relationship with You. May our Sabbath celebrations honor You and bring us all together in Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Exodus 33:12-14.

Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Ever since we chose our own way and fell into sin God has been working to be part of our lives again. God chose faithful people to carry out His plan, emphasizing our relationship with Him. Connection to Him and one another is our very reason for existing.

While all His children are important to Him, Moses held a special position of trust with the Lord. The verse prior to this passage tells us “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11). This is why God promises “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

We can all rest in His presence. God has sent His spirit to be with us as a constant companion and guide. Jesus told us “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever” (John 14:16). God wants to be a part of our lives in everything we do.

Loving Lord, we are amazed that You want us back. Forgive our selfish ways and help us to see that our connection to You is the most important thing of all. Amen. 

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 4:5-8.

Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the Lord. Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us. Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

This psalm calls us to remain faithful, trusting that God knows and cares about us and our situations. When we are anxious, we must put our hope in Him and not ourselves or human leaders. The apostle Paul writes “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31), reminding us that God is in control.

The psalmist sings “Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound”, a reference to the celebration of harvest. We must remember that while we may labor for our sustenance, it is a gift from God and not our own doing. We rejoice in all He has done for us.

The closing line of this evening psalm reminds us that true peace is only found in our relationship with God, “for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” God has promised us salvation through Jesus and we must accept the blessing He offers if we want to be saved. Only our Heavenly Father can give us eternal life.

Gracious God, we are sorry for our selfish disobedience and the pain it causes You and others. Help us to see the only way to peace is in You and to share that joy with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Micah 6:6-8.

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

In this passage the prophet Micah engages the people with a question regarding sacrifice and sin. Sacrifice was intended to be an outward sign of devotion to God, instead the people used it as a “get out of jail free” card. This is works salvation rather than faith salvation, “if we just do this God will forgive us.” Faith and a loving connection to God should energize our work as a response to what He has done for us.

In 1 Samuel 15:22 King Saul is told “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” God wants a relationship with us and wants to forgive our sins because of who He is, but we must repent sincerely and strive to do better. 

Our faith and our works are intricately connected, but there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. Christ’s sacrifice for us is the final word, now we are to give our lives to God, acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with Him.

Loving Lord, in Your mercy You made a way for us to be saved from our sin. Bless us to share Your love with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 3 John 1:11.

Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

John doesn’t mince words in this short letter. He is concerned about a church leader who apparently follows his own guidance rather than God’s. John warns his friend Gaius, also a church leader, regarding this behavior.

Our actions are important for what they accomplish but also for the example they set for others. When we behave in ways contrary to God’s law we not only separate ourselves from God but may also cause others to fall into sin as well. I remember growing up on more than one occasion being told “that’s not what Jesus taught us.”

We are told “Do not judge others and you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1) but we are also called to watch over each other in love. When we see others falling away, Jesus instructs us to go to them in love, not judgement (Matthew 18:15-17). We are responsible for our own actions but also to guide our brothers and sisters on the path Jesus has shown us.

Gracious God, You sent us Your son to make Your love real to us. Help us to share Your love with all your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 8:5-7.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will.

Jesus said “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). We have been freed from sin to live in obedience to God’s plan for us. However, we must make the choice to think and act as God intends.

We struggle with our sinful nature, “doing what we want”. While this may seem like a relatively modern failing, it has been with us since humans first chose their way instead of God’s. We are not forced, but our options are eternal life or eternal separation from God.

We have been promised God’s presence with us always in order to share His love. Jesus called us all, saying “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). May the Holy Spirit guard and guide us in our task always.

Loving Lord, You made us in Your image and commissioned us to carry Your love everywhere. Bless us to be strong in the Spirit, bringing the Good News to the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Ephesians 1:5-8.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Paul tells us God was eager to bring us back into His family after we separated ourselves through sin. He writes that this was God’s plan and gift to us, that He never intended to abandon us even when we turned away. However, we are so stubborn, we needed an example to live by and a sacrifice never to be forgotten.

In verse 7 here we read “He purchased our freedom”. Other translations say “He redeemed us”. This is a reference to releasing us from slavery to sin. The original Greek term “apolytrosis” literally means paying to free a slave. Jesus paid the price for our freedom.

God was and continues to be willing to do so much to bring us back. How can we thank Him for a blessing we don’t deserve? Our thanks are shown through loving one another and sharing the Good News everywhere.

Loving Lord, we are amazed that You call us to be a part of Your plan for creation. Bless us to go in Your name, telling the world of Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Genesis 2:1-3.

So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

God pauses to rest on the seventh day, declaring it holy. We are blessed and encouraged to follow a pattern of work and rest in our lives as well. God wasn’t worn out from His creating work, but we tire physically and spiritually, and need to rest in Him to be refreshed.

The Sabbath is important to us because we are called to stop and pay attention to what God has done for us. We are invited to be in His presence constantly but remembering the Sabbath goes back to the very act of Creation. Through this conscious pause we can express our wonder and thanks for our very existence.

This rhythm is part of our relationship with God. He has given us the responsibility to care for His creation, and that includes one another. Sabbath is a return to Him, a time of reflecting on our relationship and what else we still have to accomplish. The work must continue, but we celebrate Sabbath to give thanks to God for His love and care.

Loving Lord, You created us in Your image and gave us a beautiful world to live in and manage in Your name. Help us to see the needs of others that they may receive the blessing of Sabbath and rest in Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 46:10-11.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.

In today’s reading we hear the Lord’s word, “be still and know I am God.” Why do we need this reminder? Humans are so focused on what we want we often forget the ultimate good God wants for us. We must listen in order to hear Him.

In our loud world it is difficult to experience the peace God intends for each of us. So many different things clamor for our attention, some justly, some a mere distraction. God calls us to resist the constant lure of busyness and spend time considering our relationship with Him and one another.

We are promised His presence, but it is up to us to accept Him in our lives. God wants to be a part of everything we do. By giving Him our hearts and minds, we can share His presence with others who desperately need the peace only He can provide.

Gracious God, we are amazed that You want to be with us always. Bless us to know Your presence and abide in You, that all the world may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 26:2-4.

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.

This passage from the prophet Isaiah gives us a clue to God’s inclusive love. We read “allow the faithful to enter”, with no mention of their origin or background. This points to God calling all His children to live faithfully no matter where or when we live.

We have God’s promise to “keep in perfect peace all who trust in you”. 14th century cleric Thomas a Kempis writes “those who are peaceful bring peace to others”. This is part of our call to bring the peace of God to everyone by sharing our faith.

Thomas a Kempis also writes “Without the Way, there is no going, without the Truth, there is no knowing, without the Life, there is no living.” Jesus tells us He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and without Him there is indeed no living. Trust in God above all else is the only way we can be saved.

Loving Lord, in Your mercy You sent Jesus to love and save and free us. Bless us to go in Your name to share the joy we have in You with all the world. Amen.