Category: Daily Prayer

On our way home today. I hope to be back in normal posting mode tomorrow. I’m a little surprised at today’s reading from my bible app – I’m used to Psalm 51 as the Ash Wednesday reading to begin the season of Lent, which is tomorrow. However, it doesn’t matter when we read a particular scripture passage as long as we learn the lesson the Lord has for us in it.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 51:7‭-‬12.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

This psalm is attributed to King David, likely after his disobedience recorded in 2 Samuel 12. David has seen his sin and goes to God in repentance. When we have sin to deal with, this psalm is a good place to start. It asks “Create in me a clean heart, oh God”, a plea not just to be forgiven, but a clean heart to obey and serve Him. Like David, we can be reconnected to God through taking responsibility for our selfish actions and sincerely wanting to do better.

Gracious God, we regret the times we have failed and fallen. Forgive us we pray and restore us with Your spirit, that we may carry the Good News of Jesus everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 10:16‭-‬20.

Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Jesus tells us plainly that the world will oppose us when we share His message. He warns us to be “as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves”. We must be aware of the resistance evil will put up against His love, but we must continue to speak the Good News everywhere. It is our calling to go in His name, supported by the Holy Spirit we have been given.

Gracious God, we are amazed that You choose us as Your representatives to carry the Gospel to all. Strengthen us by faith and help us to use our gifts wisely. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 4:11‭-‬13.

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Paul talks about being content with what we have. He doesn’t say we shouldn’t want better for ourselves and others, or escape from a bad situation, but rather that we must not become obsessed by chasing “more”. His relationship with God is the most important thing and he urges us not to let earthly desires hinder our connection with the Lord. We are indeed empowered to do everything through Christ.

Heavenly Father, we ask for strength to accomplish what must be done and wisdom to see the right path. Send us to share the Good News of salvation with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 42:1‭-‬2.

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

Often we find that the things of the world leave us weary and sad. Our problem is that the world was never meant to fulfill us. While the world was made for us, we were made for God. Blaise Pascal, 17th mathematician and religious scholar wrote “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God”. Created things will never fill our souls sufficiently, only God can make us whole.

Loving Lord, when we are worn out and unhappy help us to find our rest in You. Refresh us and send us into the world to share Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Galatians 5:16‭-‬18.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

Paul explains our dual nature and the battle we fight against evil. From the very beginning our free will, given as a gift from God, has allowed us to disobey Him. The very thing that marks us as creatures made in God’s image also enables us to embrace our own desires rather than His. We must be aware of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, God’s presence with us always, and ask for the help we need. God stands ready to strengthen us in our conflict, to choose what is right and not merely what makes us feel good.

Loving Lord, we are weak and prone to stray from the path You have laid out for us. Thank You for being with us to guide us back to Your saving grace. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Jeremiah 31:23‭-‬25.

This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people of Judah and its towns will again say, ‘The Lord bless you, O righteous home, O holy mountain!’ Townspeople and farmers and shepherds alike will live together in peace and happiness. For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”

Jeremiah is sometimes known as the “weeping prophet” due to his sorrow over Israel not obeying God’s law. He told them of the coming wrath – an invasion from Babylon – which would destroy the Temple and their way of life. However, he also prophesied about God’s love and forgiveness for those who repent and their joyous return to their homeland to rebuild their society. We could learn much from Jeremiah’s teaching about life today. If we don’t heed the warnings we are given and turn to the Lord, Israel’s fate then could also be ours.

Heavenly Father, You hold all things in Your mighty hand. Help us to see the error of our ways and follow the path to salvation through Jesus Christ our savior. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 139:23‭-‬24.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

This plea from the psalmist asks God to be aware of the failings and challenges he faces and guide him through them. We all have issues in our lives that we must deal with, and God knows every single one. Asking Him to be mindful of us is unnecessary, He always has been. Everything that we do and everything that occurs in creation is known to Him, but when we ask for His help, He draws us closer and makes us part of His loving work.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings You send, none more wonderful than our savior, Jesus Christ. Help us to see Your hand and Your plan in our lives every day. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 12:9‭-‬13.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Paul writes to Christians in Rome with guidance on following Jesus and sharing the love He brings us. We are encouraged to “Honor one another above yourselves”, in order to honor our Father in heaven, who made us each in His image. By seeing the face of God in each other, we can serve Him. Our savior has called us to be His representatives, telling all the world the joy we have found in Him.

Gracious God, You need no help from anyone but You include us in Your plan to reach out to everyone with Your love. Help us to be joyful, patient and faithful as we go in Your name. Amen.

Friends, we are traveling for our daughter’s wedding this week, and while I do have a tablet with me, my posts will likely be shorter (and possibly later) than usual.  

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 16:1-3.

The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Proverbs bring us practical wisdom from God through faithful writers. Many of these are said to be from King Solomon, who asked God not for riches or power, but wisdom. In 1 Kings 3:9 we read “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?” Solomon knew that wisdom and an understanding of the truth of God was necessary to be able to be the king the people needed. He committed his work to the Lord and God blessed his efforts.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the wisdom handed down to us through faithful followers. May we be wise and kind in our dealings with each other, looking to You for guidance. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Galatians 1:10-12.

Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul reminds us that it is God we strive to please, not other people. There is a difference in sharing God’s love and caring for others, rather than just giving them what they think they want. Our own human desires can lead us away from the relationship with God that is intended for us.

Pleasing God can often turn the world against us. Jesus warned that we would face opposition when we follow him. It isn’t easy being a disciple but that is the call He has placed on our lives. Rather than giving people what they want, we must share the love of God that is so desperately needed in our world.

Adam and Eve made a wrong choice in the very beginning (Genesis 3). The crowd at the trial of Jesus made a wrong choice in rejecting Him, crying “Give us Barabbas!” (John 18:40). We must guard against choosing human things over eternal things, and risking the salvation Jesus came to give us.

Heavenly Father, we come humbly to You, sorry for our sin and wanting the forgiveness You offer us. May we go in Your name to share the joy of Christ with everyone. Amen.