Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is 2 Peter 1:3-4.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Peter writes words of hope, explaining that through Christ’s coming to be with us we can know God in ways that make sense to us. We have always been awed and somewhat confused by “the presence of God”, so in His love and mercy He became one of us. Jesus the Son is the best representation of God the Father for us.

Author Ronald Rohlheiser tells the story of a little girl who was frightened at night. Her mother said “you know God is here with you” to which she replied, “I need someone with skin on!” While this is amusing, it is a good analogy for our human condition. We weren’t getting God’s message, we needed someone with skin on to walk with us in faith.

During the Last Supper Jesus tells His disciples ”The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me“ (John 14:10). We are best shown what God is like through the life of Christ. We can be like Him, part of God’s plan and perfected in faith.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of Your son who came to love and save and free us. Bless us to be the bearers of the Gospel everywhere. Amen

Our scripture this morning is Zephaniah 3:17.

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

We read much about God’s love for His children, but this verse gives us an example of the true emotion our Father feels for us. It speaks of Him being with us, His protection and the boundless joy He expresses when we are connected to Him. The prophet Zephaniah tells us “He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

It seems we expect a different connection with God then we do with one another. While we see it in different ways, God’s love is the basis for all human relationships. We love Him as our creator and each other as brothers and sisters. Our love for one another is shown by caring for their human needs and sharing the joy of the Lord. This is also how we show our love for God.

We can’t love God fully without loving each other and we can’t love each other fully without God in our lives. Turning to Him in prayer and repentance allows Him to speak into our lives and send us to share His love with the world. Love God, love neighbor, make disciples – this is what Jesus came to teach us. God has made a way for us to be saved, let us tell everyone the Good News.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we fail to love You and Your creation as we should. Forgive us and strengthen us to go to the world in Your name. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 3:13-15.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

James continues his lesson on demonstrating God’s love through how we live our lives. The Filament Study Bible says “Only in humility can we receive God’s true word.” This also applies to sharing God’s word. James focuses on Christian wisdom in action, not just words.

Do our lives reflect what God has taught us? Earthly “wisdom”, marked by envy and strife is always inferior to God’s wisdom. It celebrates “our” knowledge and skill, rather than the gift from God that allows us to come to Him.

Godly wisdom in us is humble, sharing with love and giving the glory to Him, not ourselves. James says the way to eternal life is by “doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.” This combination of faith and works is essential to living the life Christ has taught us.

Gracious God, You have given us a wonderful world and the wisdom to live in it well. Help us to act wisely and lovingly toward our brothers and sisters and all that You have created for us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 9:9-11.

Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.

This passage focuses on the fact that those who are wise and righteous will accept instruction. Christians should be grateful for loving input into their lives, knowing the source is God Himself, working through those who care about others. We are to offer and accept corrections because of our love for God and one another.

How do we react when someone corrects us? We need to listen and determine if their statement is God-given and offered in love. Temptation often poses as “good advice”. Those who follow Jesus will never put others down to make themselves look smarter nor will they advocate evil against others.

Paul writes ”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“ (Galatians 6:1). We are all charged to watch over each other in love, not to be superior to anyone, but caring for our brothers and sisters as Jesus taught us.

Loving Lord, You have given us the greatest gift, our savior Jesus Christ. Help us to follow in faith, bringing the Good News to the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 3:5-7.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

I can never read this passage without thinking of the joke about a creating contest between a scientist and God. The scientist says “now we have the knowledge and can make things just as you can.” God suggests a creating contest and picks up a handful of dirt. The scientist reaches down and grabs a handful as well. God slaps the dirt out of his hand and says “that’s my dirt, you go make your own!”

While I hope this brings you a smile, it should also make us think. We are often so proud of ourselves and the things we can make and do. We forget that everything is a gift from God – the raw materials the earth provides, our skills and knowledge, our lives.

Proverbs might be called the book of wisdom because of the wonderful lessons it gives us. However, it is not about our knowledge but the Lord’s. It encourages us to seek God’s will in all things as the source of wisdom. If we “fear the Lord and turn away from evil” we can be connected to Him and go to share His love with the world.

Gracious God, You created everything there is and gave it to us to use well. Help us to see Your plan for us and to bring the Good News of salvation to all. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 4:7-8.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Paul closes this letter, telling the Philippians that God’s peace can be with them always and that “His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” This is the most important part of any lesson, that living in and for Jesus will give us peace. Nothing on earth can ever satisfy our souls like our connection to Him.

Our relationship with Jesus allows us to show the world how important is to know Him. Paul writes “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” This will keep us mindful of Jesus and thankful to Him in all we do.

If we focus on Christ’s love and sacrifice for us, we can’t help but share that joy with the world. Jesus promised us the presence of the Holy Spirit when He returned to the Father. This is the fuel for our Great Commission, to go and make disciples of all nations.

Loving Lord, thank You for giving us Your peace, helping us to remain faithful in the world. Bless us to share Your gift with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 9:21-24.

“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

In this story we hear of a boy possessed by a demon and his father’s efforts to have him healed. Earlier in this chapter the disciples were unable to help the boy, and they are in consternation as Jesus arrives. The boy’s father asks Jesus to help “if You can”.

Jesus tells him “anything is possible if a person believes.” This is not a question of His power, but of our faith. The father showed faith by coming to Jesus in the first place but now he cries to Him “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Author Philip Yancey writes “Sometimes we ask God for things we should be doing ourselves” but this is not one of those instances. Only our faith that Jesus can do anything will suffice here. We must be willing to do the things assigned to us in faith and leave the things we cannot change ourselves to His keeping.

Heavenly Father, we are thankful for Your many blessings to us, none more important than the gift of Your son. Help us to go in faith, sharing the love You first gave us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Colossians 3:1-4.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

In this passage Paul teaches that we “have been raised to new life with Christ.” He says that by placing our faith in Jesus our old sinful habits can be overcome. Those who believe  know “though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day“ (2 Corinthians 4:16).

The FaithLife Study Bible says of these verses “Jesus is not peripheral to life, He is life.” Jesus told us this when He said “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Our faith allows us to live in this world with the knowledge that our connection to God through Christ will lead to eternal life. 

It may be difficult to live for Jesus here and He told us it would not be easy. He taught us “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:14). We must be ready to face these worldly challenges knowing His strength and the support of our brothers and sisters will sustain us here and in the life to come.

Gracious God, thank You for making a way back for us. Through the gift of Your son we can be saved! Bless us to go to the world in Your name to share Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts of the Apostles 4:11-12.

For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.  

In this chapter of Acts Peter and John are brought before the ruling council. They had healed a man in Jesus’ name and were teaching salvation through Him in the temple court when they were arrested. Peter is no longer the sword wielding adversary from the garden where Jesus was arrested but now he speaks with the fire of the Holy Spirit they have received.

He tells them ”The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone“, a quote from Psalms 118:22. The council is amazed that these common men speak with knowledge and authority, but recognize them as followers of Jesus. They thought that Jesus’ death would end the movement He began.

The council is unsure of what to do with them, as the healed man is there for all to see. They forbid the disciples to preach in His name, to which they reply “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard”(Acts 4:19-20). May we have this strength and confidence as we witness to the world.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our savior and the way You have made for us to be saved. Bless us to be energetic bearers of the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 1:2-4.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

It seems our faith is tested on a daily basis anymore. It’s easy to think that things have never been worse, but if we are honest with ourselves we know every generation has struggled against the challenges of their time. The followers of Jesus must have felt this way when He was crucified, but their faith was strengthened by His resurrection and the task He gave them.

Jesus has called us to continue His ministry until He returns for us. When that will be we don’t know but we have His promise that it will occur (Acts 1:8). Until then we are His representatives here and commissioned to share the Good News everywhere.

Jesus told us because the world hated Him we too will face opposition (John 15:18). Our faith may be tested in a variety of ways but it doesn’t change what Jesus has asked of us. We are to remain steadfast, knowing that when things are difficult we can turn to Him and receive strength.

Gracious God, thank You for the gift of Jesus as our savior and example. Help us to go into the world in Your name that all may know Your love. Amen.