Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 34:12-14 (NIV).

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Peace, harmony and order are the hallmarks of God’s original creation. We fractured this beauty when we listened to the lie of evil and chose our own way, instead of believing the truth of God. However, in His love for us, God made a way for us to be reconciled and saved.

Earlier in this Psalm passage we read “oh taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34:8), inviting us to enjoy the blessings of a connection with Him. In order to do that we must “turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” 1 Peter 3:10-12 quotes this directly, telling followers of Jesus that this is still the way.

Jesus warned that we would face opposition when we share God’s love, but that the way to salvation is through His peace. We must be active peacemakers, taking Christ’s message to everyone. God is at work in the world through us!

Loving Lord, we are sorry when we hurt others with our words and actions. Make us aware of the needs You would have us fulfill and send us in Your love to spread the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV).

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul writes to the Philippians with guidance and reassurance about their situation. He reminds them (and us) to “present your requests to God.” By remaining in contact with Him “by prayer and petition”, we can have His peace, regardless of worldly opposition.

In Isaiah 26:3 we read “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” From the beginning God has offered us His love and peace, but it is up to us to accept this gift. The world is a chaotic place that challenges God’s good order.  We are called to help bring order and peace by sharing God’s love.

Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). We will face resistance from the selfish ways of the world, but we are assured of His presence through the Holy Spirit. Our task is to patiently love the world until Jesus returns to restore order to all things.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the mess we have made of Your beautiful creation. Forgive us and send us to show Your love to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 16:31-33 (NLT).

Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

This passage is part of what theologians term the Farewell Discourse. It is the last lesson Jesus will share with His disciples, preparing them for what is to come – His Crucifixion, death, and Resurrection. By telling them this ahead of time, it will help them to see it as the fulfillment of prophecy when it occurs and rely on what Jesus taught.

Jesus says that even though we face persecution in the world, we must remain faithful, that He has overcome the world through His sacrifice for us. He tells us “I am not alone because the Father is with me” and we can rely on His promise to send the Holy Spirit (John 16:13) so that we are never alone.

He asks each one of us, as He did His disciples “do you finally believe?” Our faith is what allows us to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and the guidance it provides. Through this connection we are made whole and sent to share God’s love with the world.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the the gift of Your mercy, and the saving work of Your Son. Forgive us for our selfish thoughts and actions. Still us and fill us, mend us and send us to bring the Good News to everyone. Amen.

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

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 this praise psalm the Lord Himself calls us to stop, still our voices and minds, and know that He is God. It is the essence of Sabbath, to pause what we are usually doing and join in worship and connection with our Creator. He is a place of refuge for all His children. When He says “I will be honored throughout the world” it is a statement of fact, not a boast.

Martin Luther paraphrased this psalm for his hymn A Mighty Fortress is Our God. It reminds us that He is in control, and “He must win the battle”, regardless of what we see here. Our temporary existence on earth will give way to living in our eternal home.

In this passage we hear “the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us.” Since the very beginning God has promised to be with us and guide us through the work of His Son and His Holy Spirit. We are never alone, and we can trust that He will do as He has said.

Gracious God, we offer You our thanks and praise. Bless us to be eager disciples, anxious to share Your love with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT).

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Saul the Pharisee came from a place of power. He was given authority to arrest Christians and bring them to Jerusalem to face trial for their faith in Jesus. On the way to Damascus he encountered the risen Christ (Acts 9:1-19) and was forever changed. Now as the apostle Paul, he shares the Good News over a huge territory.

Relying on our own power comes from pride, in ourselves or our organization. Paul came face to face with real power – the love of Jesus poured out for us. In this passage God tells him “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Being outside our comfort zone can make us uneasy, but it allows us to rely on God and not ourselves.  

Christian author John Ortberg wrote a book entitled If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. It teaches about our need to let go of what we think makes us strong and trust what God has for us. Like Paul, we need a reminder of our human weakness that will keep us humble and focused on the power and love God has for every one of us.

Gracious God, You blessed us with Your Son who came in love to save us from ourselves. Help us to know that Your power is all we need to share that love with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 3 John 1:11 (NLT).

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.

In addition to Revelation and a Gospel, the apostle John wrote three letters emphasizing the need for accepting Christ and living out His love in the world. While the letters are written for different people and situations of that time, they contain timeless lessons regarding our relationship with God and each other.

In this passage he warns about not allowing “this bad example to influence you.” While the letter is addressed to his fellow worker Gaius, he repeats teaching to all of us from his first letter: “And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin” (1 John 3:5-6).

We may face opposition in bringing Christ’s message of love to the world, but we are not to use worldly methods to fight the good fight. Only by following the example Jesus gave us can we accomplish the work He has set for us – to make disciples of all the world.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we let worldly ways interfere with our call to share Your love. Bless us to go in Your name to proclaim the good news everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 16:15 (NLT).

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”

The Gospel of Mark begins with the declaration “This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” Later we hear Jesus begin His public ministry, saying “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (Mark 1:15). This is the call to return to God and believe in the One sent to save us.

After His Resurrection Jesus appears to His disciples and tells them “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” The instruction is repeated in Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:47, and Acts 1:8. It is our Great Commission to carry on the ministry Jesus began.

Many people have a hard time understanding the Gospel message but it really comes down to the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission: Love God, love neighbor, make disciples. Jesus calls us to be part of the Kingdom work, giving glory and thanks to our Creator and sharing His love with everyone.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You sent Jesus to save us from our sin. Bless us to be the disciples of today, and send us to proclaim the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT).

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.

The prophet Zephaniah ministered to Judah in the days before the Babylonian invasion that destroyed Jerusalem. The first two chapters speak of God’s sadness at His people falling away and the cleansing He plans. However, the third and final chapter of this prophecy tells them there is hope for those who repent and return to God.

In this verse we read “the Lord your God is living among you.” His presence with us has always been assured, as Jesus promised in John 14:17. No matter how far we may have wandered away from Him, God is always near to us.

When we recognize our wrongdoing and ask to be forgiven, God stands ready to restore us in His love. Zephaniah writes “He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” We can’t save ourselves, but when we admit the failure of our own strength and wisdom, and allow His ways to become ours, we can be His redeemed children.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times our selfishness and anger have grieved You. Forgive us and bless us to go in Your name to all people. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 17:17 (NLT).

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

Proverbs are short but wise sayings that point us to a better understanding of our relationship with God and each other. Many of these sound like plain common sense, offering practical advice, but we often miss the deeper spiritual meaning. 

In this verse we hear about who we can count on when things are tough. Friends and family are our support system and we must be ready to give help. We must also remember Jesus’ instruction on who is our neighbor (Luke 10:25-37). We must be aware of the needs of those around us and offer our care.

We must also get past the selfish pride we sometimes have toward accepting help. It is a good thing to be self-sufficient, but everyone needs assistance at some point. We have all been given gifts that are useful and opportunities to share that blessing. God’s love is shown in the way we look after one another.

Loving Lord, help us to see all people as our brothers and sisters, worthy of our love and care. Bless us to go in Your name to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 4:9-11 (NLT).

So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

The author of this letter is not identified in it, leading many to believe it was not written by Paul, who always greeted his readers personally. It is also addressed to the Hebrews and while Paul spoke often with fellow Jews, his ministry was directed to the Gentiles. Regardless of its origin, it tells of God’s love for all His children, regardless of their heritage.

This passage speaks of a celebration of the Sabbath, the joy we feel through our connection to God. This special rest is the ultimate Sabbath, being with Him forever. God set the pattern of work and rest for us here, and promises eternal rest for those who repent and accept His love.

God loves us immeasurably but sin cannot exist in His presence. In Psalm 95 we read about His sorrow when His chosen people disobeyed and He was angry with them. However, God always offers us the opportunity to repent and return to Him. By admitting our sin and asking His forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice for us, we can enter His promised rest.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we disobey Your word and refuse Your love. Bless us to be obedient disciples, going in Your name to all the world. Amen.