Category: Daily Prayer

Our call to worship this week is Psalm 22:25-31.

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows. The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him— may your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

This psalm tells us God is bigger and better than anything we can possibly achieve or imagine for ourselves. Praising Him as our Creator is not just our duty, it should also be our joy. It speaks of the need to share His wonders with “a people yet unborn” (v. 31), not just our descendants but everyone, everywhere.

From the beginning it was His plan to bring us together to be His beloved children. God wants all people to know His love and care, and to be part of His plan for salvation. This is the reason for offering our praise and worship!

Connecting to Him individually is our personal responsibility. Helping others find and rejoice in that connection is our responsibility too. Let us all praise the Lord for His wonderful gifts to us and His everlasting love which unites us.

Gracious God, we are Your people and to You we offer our thanks for life itself. Bless us to continue sharing Your love always and everywhere. Amen.

Our gospel is Mark 9:14-29, taken today from the New International Version (NIV).

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Jesus tells us in this passage that “everything is possible for one who believes” (v. 23). He reminds us that our faith is important to God and essential to our relationship with Him. If we don’t believe, how can we be saved?

This doesn’t mean God needs our help for anything, merely that He made us to be in connection with Him and nothing else can fill our needs. We can try our best, as the disciples did in this story, but it seems they were expecting to be successful on their own. Jesus later instructs them “this kind can come out only by prayer” (v. 29), an indication that we must be counting on God to work through us.

Why would we want to do it on our own? Something stubborn exists within us, our free will telling us we are in charge. God made us this way for a reason, so that we could choose to be part of His work. He calls us but we must each say “I believe, help me overcome my unbelief”.

Gracious God, we are thankful to be made in Your image and invited to participate in Your creation. Help us to always be faithful, to turn to You in prayer and to share our faith with all Your children. Amen.

Our Gospel lesson is Mark 9:14-29, taken today from the English Standard Version (ESV).

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

In this passage the disciples were unable to cast out the evil spirit within the boy and later they ask Jesus why. He replies “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (v. 29). He is telling us we can’t do it alone.

Jesus wants us to be confident in our faith journey, but to understand that without God’s help, we are lost. Like the disciples, our strength alone is no match for the power of evil. We must ask the Lord to be with us and work through us.

Jesus taught that prayer is a necessary part of all we do. Asking for God’s help in everything gives us the connection we so desperately need and the assurance that we are following the path He has for us. Seek His love and guidance every day in prayer to face the challenge of the world and the promise of eternity.

Loving Lord, we are grateful that we may come to You in prayer to be connected and strengthened. Help us to be the people You intend, sharing Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our gospel this week is Mark 9:14-29, taken today from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

And when they came back to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. And He asked them, “What are you disputing with them?” And one person from the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, because he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not do it.” And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” But Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again!” And after crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him, and he got up. When He came into the house, His disciples began asking Him privately, “ Why is it that we could not cast it out?” And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything except prayer.”

In this passage, Jesus finds His disciples locked in a battle with an evil spirit and an argument with the religious leaders. This speaks to us of the things we face here as His followers and the danger of being distracted by unbelievers. Satan only needs a small opportunity to prevent us from doing the Lord’s work.

The boy’s father asks if Jesus “can do anything” and Jesus answers that everything is possible for those who have faith. The man pleads for help, saying “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (v. 24). This is the cry that we should all raise to Jesus on a regular basis.

Jesus has pity on them and heals the boy because the father has admitted our human weakness – our faith must always be growing, it is never enough without God’s help. The disciples prove this point when they question why they were unsuccessful and Jesus tells them “This kind cannot come out by anything except prayer.” (v. 29). Only by our connection to God through Christ can we stand against the evil of the world.

Gracious God, we are blessed to be part of Your work and the call to share Your love. We know we can do all things through Your strength. Amen.

Our epistle for this week is 1 Peter 3:18-22.

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you— not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Peter is a first-person resource for the subject of forgiveness. This brash disciple who claimed he would follow Jesus to death didn’t even make it past the challenge of those who recognized him as one of Jesus’ followers, denying that he even knew Him. This failure was crushing, but Peter was repentant and Christ forgave him.

This is what Jesus came to teach us and do for us. He is well aware of our human frailty and our tendency to put ourselves first. Through His love and lessons we see that He always put others first, being willing to die that we may live eternally.

Jesus understands when we are embarrassed, pressured and afraid. Peter experienced all of these and although his first response was failure, it was not his final response. Jesus teaches us that even though we fail, through repentance we can be forgiven and restored.

Loving Lord, we bring our brokenness to You for relief and release. Help us to see that You came to overcome our wrongdoing and lead us to reconciliation with God. Amen.

Our scripture today is Psalm 51:1-12.

Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness; According to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings. Wash me thoroughly from my guilt And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my wrongdoings, And my sin is constantly before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in guilt, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in secret You will make wisdom known to me. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Cleanse me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness, Let the bones You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins And wipe out all my guilty deeds. Create in me a clean heart, God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the church season of Lent. It is a time when we are called to examine our lives and ask forgiveness for our failings. Confessing our sins is never pleasant, but it is the only way to get back on the path God intends for us.

Over the next 40 days we will have a chance to explore our relationship with God and renew our commitment to the tasks He has given us. If you check the calendar, it’s still more than 40 days until Easter – Sundays aren’t part of the count. Martin Luther said “every Sunday is a little Easter”. It reminds us that while we are called to look at things we have done wrong, there is hope.

With the assurance of pardon when we admit our faults, we can live in the love God sends and do our part to share that love in a hurting and often difficult world. Confession is a hard thing but it heals the separation between us and our Creator. Ask Him to forgive you and He will welcome you back to the connection for which we were made.

Loving Lord, renew our spirits and give us loving hearts to minister to all your children. Make us the people You want to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our Old Testament lesson is Genesis 9:8-17.

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

God makes a covenant with Noah and all living things when they have come out of the ark, sealed with the sign of the rainbow. It is His promise to never again destroy the world by flood. God is giving His creation another chance.

God has made covenants with us many times during our history, calling us into a relationship with Him. As with Noah, many of these were with individuals (Abraham, Moses, David) but God has also made covenants with His people as a whole, promising Israel a place and offering us eternal life through the New Covenant in Christ.

God makes a covenant with us that we might better understand His love and our responsibility to share that love in the world. A covenant reminds us that God is in control and regardless of earthly events, His promise is unchanging. When we put our trust in Him, we are empowered to be His representatives, sent out under His covenant to minister to everyone.

Loving Lord, we are thankful for Your gifts and Your promise given that we might share the blessing with all Your children. Help us remember our promise to live under Your covenant forever. Amen.

Our call to worship is Psalm 25:1-5.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

The Psalms are full of the depth of human emotion and experience. We hear praise to God, cries for help, confession and prayers for forgiveness. While there are common themes among the Psalms, each expresses a unique situation of connecting with our Heavenly Father.

This Psalm speaks of trust in the Lord, following His paths and the hope of salvation in Him. Jesus was intimately familiar with all Scripture and according to Matthew 27:46 was praying Psalm 22 as He died for us on the cross. Jesus knew that even in His suffering, God was there.

As we enter the season of Lent, we are called to a time of self examination and repentance, preparing us for the joy of His resurrection on Easter. I invite you to join us in studying the Penitential Psalms, a group of scriptures that deal with repentance and reconciliation. Each Monday in Lent we will read one of these Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 & 138), and explore how they lead us to a deeper relationship with God through Christ.

Wise and wonderful God, we often encounter difficult situations and our actions toward each other don’t always reflect Your love and Your image in each of us. Hear our prayer and lead us to see the face of Jesus in all of Your children. Amen.

Our Gospel this week is Mark 9:2-9, taken today from the New International Version (NIV).

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Transfigured is a word we don’t encounter often in everyday conversation. The dictionary tells us it means “transformed into something more beautiful or elevated”. While this definition gives us an idea about the word, it doesn’t fit the context of what is happening in our scripture passage.

Jesus wasn’t changed, the disciples were finally able to see Him as He is. It is a wonderful but frightening experience for them, seeing Jesus in His glory, conversing with Moses, who had brought them God’s law, and Elijah, the greatest of their prophets. This connection is important for Jesus has told them “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).

The disciples may see Jesus differently after this lesson. He shared this experience to help us understand who He is and what God has asked of Him. Jesus is unchanging but He has come to change us, that we might all have eternal life with Him.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Your Son that we might be saved. Help us to accept the change needed in our lives, to go and tell the world what You have done for us. Amen.

Our Gospel lesson is Mark 9:2-9, taken today from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

And six days later Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here; let’s make three tabernacles, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” For he did not know how to reply; for they became terrified. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!” And suddenly they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.

Jesus took Peter, James and John up to the mountaintop and they experienced something no one else had. Jesus shared something special with them for His purpose, but they were overwhelmed by what they saw. Then “He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead” (v. 9).

Why wouldn’t He want them to say anything about this? Because at that time, it was for them alone and no one else would see the meaning of the experience. Jesus gives us lessons and gifts that we may not understand immediately, but there is a purpose behind each thing we are taught.

One of our blessings from Christ is the things He shares with us and we respond through our obedience to His instructions. Jesus knows us each individually and all of us as a whole. While we may not see the benefit of His lessons and gifts right now, we can be sure He has given us what we need to carry on His ministry.

Loving Lord, we are humbled that You want us to be part of Your plan. Help us to receive Your gifts, accept the call You place on our lives and go to share Your love with everyone. Amen.