Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 5:1‭-‬12 (NIV).

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus continues His teaching on how to live in harmony with God and each other. In verse 6 He tells us “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled”. This can mean both an individual desire to live righteously and the hope for all people to live righteously with each other.

Jesus always showed us that our individual faith is essential. Those who follow Him have confessed Him as Lord, accepted forgiveness for their sins, and go to share the Good News everywhere. It is up to each one of us personally to demonstrate what Jesus teaches.

No matter what the world says or does, we continue to live as He showed us, loving God and one another in all we do. It is our task to make disciples of all the world (Matthew 28:19-20). May our hunger and thirst for righteousness energize us to go in His name.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the gift of Your Son who came to love and save and free us. Help us to share the blessing we have received with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 5:1‭-‬12 (CSB).

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus teaches in verse 5 “blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth”. This might sound strange to our strength based society, but it is an important lesson to learn. Jesus speaks of the confidence we are given when we submit to God’s will.

In some translations this verse reads “blessed are the meek’. Meekness isn’t weakness, it is the realization that we can’t accomplish our purpose without God’s help. We are meant to draw our strength from Him. Philippians 4:13 tells us “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me”.

Confidence in Christ, a humble heart and a life surrendered to God is the way to salvation. Jesus says “no one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6). When we humble ourselves before the Lord we are blessed to be His children, and called to share His love with the world.

Gracious God, in You we find our example, our energy and our peace. Bless us to go in Your name to make disciples of all nations. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV).

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Jesus continues His lesson on blessings saying “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (v. 4), teaching that there is healing for those who grieve over any earthly condition. No matter what the cause of our sorrow, God can bring us peace. Often this comfort comes through other believers and reminds us that we must be ready to offer comfort to each other.

Jesus said that loving God is the most important thing we can do and loving each other “is like unto it” (Matthew 22:39). We are called to share His love, bringing peace and joy to the world. Those who are sad and hurting can be made whole again by receiving God’s love through our care.

Paul reminds us to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15), that we are called to be in fellowship with each other no matter what our condition. God has blessed us with spiritual gifts and we can be His heart and hands to those who need His love. God is always there for us and we must be there for each other.

Gracious God, we are thankful that You send Your love to all of us. Help us to spread Your love and the promise of salvation everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 5:1-12 (NASB 2020).

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

I’ve been using the verse of the day in the Bible app (bible.com) as the morning devotional. If I understand correctly they are beginning a series on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) today. It is one of my favorite passages because it has so much to teach us about our relationship to God and one another. I’m going to try to post the passage in a different translation or version each day.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” I used to think this was teaching us to join “in spirit” with those who are poor. While it is certainly not a bad thing to be aware of the needs of others and want to help, this verse encourages us to go further, to realize that WE are poor in spirit and need God’s strength and guidance in all things.

Self reliance sounds good but it can also lead to selfishness. We think we can do it all and we forget that we need help from others as well. We must come to God humbly, asking His forgiveness and honestly desiring to be part of the work of His kingdom.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Help us to see Him in the eyes of all Your children and go in Your name to spread the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 34:1-5.

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

The Psalms are songs that tell of our relationship with God and each other. In this passage King David offers praise for God’s protection and calls others to join him to “exalt His name together”. Individual and corporate praise are both essential to our faith.

We hear that “those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy”. God is there for us always, but we must choose to ask for His assistance. Sometimes we have trouble admitting we need help, but He is always aware of our needs. We must give up our foolish pride and the idea that we are self sufficient in all situations.

As the psalm tells us, we should “boast only in the Lord” because it is only through His love that we exist. Jesus taught that “without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). May we look to Him for strength and comfort always.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of salvation through Christ our Lord. Send us to carry Your praises everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 8:24-27

We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

Jesus promised us “another comforter” (John 14:16), who is our advocate and intercessor. Paul writes “the Holy Spirit prays for us in groanings that cannot be expressed in words”. This teaches that even when we don’t know what to pray for, “the Spirit pleads for us”.

Paul explains that the hope we have in God is much more than wishful thinking. God’s promise gives us the confidence to wait patiently for salvation. The presence of the Holy Spirit encourages us and gives us the strength to follow the path set for us.

In Romans 8:18 Paul tells us that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”. It reminds us that we aren’t promised easy lives here, but rather eternal life to come. When we live as Christ taught us, loving God and one another, our hope is assured.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the Holy Spirit, Your presence with us always. Bless us to share the joy and confidence we have in You with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 22:1-4.

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold. The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both. A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.

Proverbs are little gems of wisdom, given by God to inspired people for our benefit. Many of these are from King Solomon who was known for asking God for wisdom over earthly riches or power (2 Chronicles 1; 1 Kings 3). These wise sayings help us to see potential problems and by following God’s word, avoid them.

This set of proverbs speaks of the fact that our relationship with God and each other is worth far more than any earthly wealth. It tells us that God made all of us and in His eyes we are all the same. Only we divide ourselves by the human standards of wealth, class or heritage.

It teaches us that “true humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life”, not scrambling for wealth or seeking to be the center of attention. When we are in a right relationship with our Creator, we can accomplish wonderful things using the gifts we have been given. God wants us to be wise in His ways and love each other as He loves us.

Heavenly Father, we are blessed to receive Your wisdom. Help us to follow the guidance You give us and go in Your name to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalm 31:22-24.

In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord!” But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help. Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

This psalm speaks to our fear of being separated from God. Sometimes our circumstances make us feel that we are abandoned and alone, but God is always there for us. The old saying reminds us “if you feel far from God, guess who moved!”

The psalmist speaks of God’s mercy and protection for those who keep their faith in Him. When we stand with God, He will stand with us. We read that those who are arrogant and count on their own strength and knowledge will fail. Only the Creator is able to stand alone against evil.

This psalm tells us to “be strong and courageous”, as God encouraged His people in Joshua 1:9 and at other times. We must have faith not just through adversity, but every day. God has a purpose and the gifts to accomplish it for each of us. We are called to live in His love and share it with everyone. 

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we have turned away from Your love and care. Forgive us and show us the kingdom work You have for us all. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 5:22-24.

For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Jesus explains the relationship He has with God and the responsibility God has given Him. We are called to the same relationship and a similar set of responsibilities. Just as He was gifted to accomplish the purpose set for Him, so we too have unique gifts to do the work God has for us.

We must honor Jesus as we do God in order to reconnect with Him. The promise made to us is that by believing in Christ and the Father who sent Him, our sins can be forgiven and we may have eternal life with Him. This is the New Covenant from our Creator.

God will always keep His promise. We may choose selfishly and fail, but when we come to Him honestly in repentance, we can be made new through that promise. God has never given up on us and He never will.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for Your abiding love and grace to us. Refresh our spirits and send us to share Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 12:2-5.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

This passage offers valuable guidance on how to live a life that is pleasing to God and harmonious with fellow believers. This act of dedication implies a complete surrender of one’s life and will to God, emphasizing the transformative power of faith. When we say yes to God we are able to understand the purpose He has for us.

We have a responsibility to use the gifts we are given individually and as part of the body of Christ. Paul highlights the importance of each of our unique gifts and contributions within the larger community of believers. This underscores the idea that no one should think of themselves as more important than others, promoting humility and unity among believers.

Paul encourages us to use our spiritual gifts for the life of the church and the world. It stresses the idea that we are not meant to live in isolation but to work together, using our diverse talents to support and strengthen one another. When we avoid behaving as the world does and allow God to change our hearts and minds, we can serve Him and one another.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for our different gifts that enable us to unite in Your love. Send us to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.