Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 43:1-4.

Now this is what the Lord says — the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel  — “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior. I have given Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place. Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you, I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life.”

The prophet Isaiah wrote much about God’s love for His people and how even their sin couldn’t change that. He warned them of the consequences of their disobedience, but with the promise that God corrects those He loves. Paul would later write about this in His letter to the Hebrews, saying “for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives” (Hebrews 12:6).

God hasn’t changed, His love for us now is the same as it has always been. Unfortunately, we haven’t really changed either. It is sad to realize we still make the same mistakes as they did, choosing our own way rather than God’s loving plan for us.

However, we can change our behavior as individuals and we can be blessed as part of His plan of salvation to go to the world in His name. God still wants us back! Through prayer, His word and joining together with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we can make a difference.

Gracious God, we are ashamed of the way we often treat each other and the mistakes we repeat. May we turn to You in repentance and accept Your forgiveness. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 15:9-13.

“As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.”

Today in the United States and some other nations it is Memorial Day, a time to remember those who have died defending others for their shared beliefs. I retired after 20 years in the Air Force and while Memorial Day is for those who died in uniform, if anyone tells me “thank you for your service” today, I’ll say “you’re welcome” and remember all those who as Abraham Lincoln said “gave the last full measure of devotion” that we might live in peace.

In this passage, Jesus says His command for us is to “love one another as I have loved you”. He follows that immediately with “no one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends”. Jesus is telling them what He is going to do for us, and what those who follow Him may be called to do as well.

We know that many of the disciples were martyred for their faith, the sad continuation of a long line of persecution for God’s people that still happens today. We may not be asked to go into physical combat, but spiritual warfare is all around us. God calls us to be ready through His word and His love.

Gracious God, thank You for a love that will not let us go. Bless us to stand firm in our faith, loving one another and ready to lay down our lives for Christ. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts 4:27-31.

“For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

Today we celebrate Pentecost, the coming of of the Holy Spirit to be with God’s people. When I think of this, Acts 2 usually comes to mind and reading it today would be a good thing! However, the Bible application I use pointed me to Acts 4 today, which continues the story of Peter and the other disciples sharing the truth of Christ. 

They are no longer hiding behind the locked doors of the upper room, now they are preaching boldly in the name of Jesus. They have received the presence of the Holy Spirit and they are on fire for God. Peter who once denied he even knew Jesus now suffers punishment for Him and even after a stern warning from the authorities, he proclaims “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

May we be as faithful as they were, today and always, to go boldly in His name. The Holy Spirit is with us to instruct and inspire. May we share the Good News of salvation with the world!

Loving Lord, the lessons You teach and the tasks You have for us are not always easy. Bless us  to accept the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we may tell others of the joy we have found in You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 28:16-20.

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

After His resurrection, Jesus meets the disciples for a final blessing and encouragement for what is yet to come. He tells them to “go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations”. We call this the Great Commission, our work here in His name. We are called to carry on sharing His love with everyone.

Jesus loves us and trusts us to continue what He came to teach us. He has given us a mission. This means we are tasked and empowered to bring the Good News to the world. We can also see this as a co-mission: we are individually responsible, but we also must work together as the body of Christ.

God has made us part of His plan of salvation. With His help, we are the disciples of today with the same charge Jesus gave long ago. It is not an easy thing but we know we don’t go alone. Jesus has promised “I am with you always, to the end of the age”.

Heavenly Father, we are humbled and grateful for Your forgiveness. Help us to be energetic and joyful workers for Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture today is Ephesians 6:11-18.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit  — which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

Paul uses the example of putting on armor for battle as encouragement for us to be prepared for what the enemy has in store. He reminds us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens”. Sin entered our world through deceit and disobedience but God did not abandon us, giving us the tools we need to resist evil.

We must choose to accept the strength God sends through His love and His word to stand against those who oppose Him. In order to be ready, we must understand what God wants for us – eternal life with Him. Jesus came to show us how to live in connection with God and one another and that this relationship is more important than any temporary earthly thing.

We may feel “the presence of evil” is a thing of the past, from a time when people didn’t know as much as we do now. That’s exactly what the enemy wants us to think! Evil wears modern clothes and speaks to us with sweet words in order to distract us from the gift of salvation we have been offered. We must recognize this trap and “stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints”, trusting that God stands with us.

Gracious God, we have failed to love one another as You intend, but in Your mercy You made a way for us to be saved. Bless us to stand with You that we may resist sin and go in Your name with the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 16:12-16.

“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you. In a little while, you will no longer see me; again in a little while, you will see me.”

Jesus is preparing His disciples for His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. After that, they will receive the Holy Spirit, which will enable them to be His representatives. We are all called to be part of what God is doing in the world.

He tells them “everything the Father has is mine”, a statement He will repeat before He returns to heaven. In Matthew 28:18 Jesus says  “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth”. Then He gives us the Great Commission to go in His name, making disciples of all the world.

With the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered and inspired to share the joy we have found in a relationship with God. While Jesus has gone to be with the Father, His lessons and His love remain in us. Now it is up to us to ensure that everyone knows what He has done, that our sins are forgiven when we come to Him in repentance.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of Your son who came to love and save and free us. Bless us to be energetic workers for Your kingdom, sharing our faith with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Colossians 3:12-17.

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Paul writes here of attributes and attitudes that God wants in our lives. He gives us a longer list of these fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22. Jesus showed us how to be in perfect love with our brothers and sisters. While we are not perfect, we can try to love one another as He commanded.

This is a wonderful instruction but one we often find hard to apply in the world today. We are in disagreement and conflict over so many issues. Our problem is that we often want our own solutions rather than God’s, and we rationalize ways to believe that our answer is His.

The way around this is prayer, asking God to speak into our hearts and lives that we may act as He intends as we work toward His goals. Humans sometimes say “the end justifies the means” but God is both the end and the means. May we remember all the gifts we have been given and use them for the purpose He has for us.

Gracious God, we are a stubborn and contentious people, but we know we are Your people. Forgive us for our disobedient thoughts and actions and bless us to bring the Good News to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 8:35-39.

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul asks “who can separate us from the love of Christ?” and then proceeds to name the things that can’t affect Christ’s love for us. It’s a pretty extensive list. If none of these will separate us, what can?

The sad truth is the only thing that can separate us from the love of Christ is US! We must make the decision to follow Him, asking forgiveness for the times we have failed. Jesus is always ready to offer His mercy to those who earnestly repent.

This is the covenant God has made with us, sending Jesus that all the world might be saved. We can’t earn this blessing through any human action, we are not worthy to receive it, but God’s love for us is more powerful than anything the world can throw at us. The promise we have from Him is that no “other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

Gracious God, we are sorry for our disobedient human actions. We ask Your forgiveness and that we may be strengthened in faith to bring Your love to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 3:10-17.

According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder, and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience loss, but he himself will be saved  — but only as through fire. Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.

Paul writes that we are all to build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. He tells us that whatever we do, “one’s work will become obvious”, and the quality of our work will be tested. We know that our work should be aimed at pleasing God and not ourselves.

This passage asks us “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” This means that every one of us is precious to Him. Ever since Jesus returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit has been present, working in us and through us that His kingdom may come on earth.

By His presence with us, God shows His love for the world. We hear that because He lives in us we are declared holy. He loves us individually and collectively as His children and wants only the best for all of His creation.

Loving Lord, thank You for always being with us. Help us to acknowledge Your presence in us and share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Revelation 21:1-4.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

The vision of our eternal home given to John in Revelation is both wonderful and confusing. We can’t grasp the wonder of Heaven as humans, but inspired writers and Jesus Himself have tried to give us a glimpse. Regardless of “what it will be like”, we know that God will be with us and we will be His people.

Being together with God eternally is His promise to those who love and obey Him. We read this in scripture and see it in the example of our Lord Jesus. When we have His word in our hearts and love one another as He first loved us, we are on the path to the Holy City.

John writes “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away”. The sin that we brought into the world will be gone, erased by God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice for us. If we live for Him here, we can live with Him in the place He has prepared for us.

Loving Lord, we are ashamed of the times we have failed to live as You intend, following our own desires instead of Your will for us. Bless us to be the people we were created to be, sharing Your love with the world. Amen.