Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:1-5.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

‬Are we living in the last days? It is easy to see many of the things Paul warns about happening now. It is a scary world out there and rather than trying to make a difference, sometimes we throw up our hands in despair and cry “Come Lord Jesus!”

Jesus wants us to be ready for His return, but He doesn’t want us to give up. Every generation has faced trials and opposition from the world. Ever since we turned from God to selfish disobedience, sin has been a presence in our world. 

Jesus knows this and came to be with us to show us the way back to an eternal connection to God. Our joy is that we can have this relationship every day, and share the love we know in Him with everyone. The old hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” tells us we can have “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow”. Instead of living as if the end is upon us, we must live in Christ and know our salvation is assured.

Loving Lord, we are often frightened and confused about the future. Help us to see the blessing we have in our Savior and live secure in that promise. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:3-10.

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

Paul writes to Timothy to remind him of the duty we have in Christ. He uses examples to show how our focus must be on pleasing God and not letting outside things interfere with our efforts. Even when we are treated unjustly (as Paul is, imprisoned for preaching the Gospel), we are called to continue to the best of our ability.

How are we holding up in difficult circumstances? It is hard to share joyfully when we are oppressed by the actions of the world and beset by illness. Paul experienced both of these but continued in his ministry and he exhorts us to do the same.

We will always face difficult times and situations due to the sin that entered the world through our disobedience. However, God calls us back into a relationship with Him through our repentance and His forgiveness. The Good News of Jesus Christ is our gift from God and He is the only way we can be saved.

Gracious God, we are humbled that even though we have fallen You are willing to raise us with Your son into eternal life. Help us to love others as You first loved us, bearing the things of the world until that day You call us home. Amen.

Our scripture today is Colossians 3:1-4. 

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

Paul writes that our lives have been changed by Christ’s teaching and presence. We must not be drawn to the temporary things of earth, but instead focus our hearts and minds on what He has promised. God wants our full obedience and our full attention. 

As humans, our thoughts often wander to places and things not even remotely connected to what we are doing. This ability to imagine is a gift from God that allows us to discover new things and new ways of doing them. However, selfish imaginings can lead us astray.  

Paul reminds us to “seek things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (v. 1), so that our energy is used wisely, for the good of the kingdom. We have been given a wonderful intelligence to share with others, according to God’s plan. Then when Jesus returns we may “appear with Him in glory”, (v. 4) having been good stewards of our intellectual gifts. 

Loving Lord, You gave us minds that we might seek solutions to the problems we face. Help us to see that all wisdom comes from You and to use it for the good of all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture today is 1 Thessalonians 4:14‭-‬18.

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Paul gives us his vision of Christ’s return in this passage. It is both a statement of belief – Jesus died and rose again – and our hope for future redemption through our faith in Him. Paul tells us to encourage each other with these words, that all may come to know that Jesus will return for us.

Paul wants us to understand that our faith both calls us and enables us to bear the trials Jesus said would occur while we are here. We pray that we may be faithful followers, sharing His love with the world until the day of His coming. Then, we will all be together with Him.

What a wonderful blessing and promise! However, we must be careful to make our faith in Him the center of our belief and not what we think His return will be like. No one knows when He is coming or the specifics, but we do know He will come in glory to take us home.

Loving Lord, we are thankful for Your redeeming power and we know You will return for us. Help us to be strong in our faith and patient as we wait for that day. Amen.

Our scripture today is Philippians 2:14-18.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Paul tells us that we need to act “without grumbling or disputing” (v. 14). We certainly need to hear and heed this today. We are surrounded by negative communication it seems, and we must ensure it doesn’t become part of our lives. God wants us to perform our tasks with energy and joy.

While our labor is necessary for our needs and those of others, we should see our work in the world as a gift from God. It is a chance to participate in His plan, to be part of the advancement of the kingdom. We are called to use our skills to be good stewards of all the resources we have been given.

In addition to the things our work may produce, doing it cheerfully sends a message to those around us. Attitudes are contagious. God has things for all of us to do and we can accomplish them together with gladness.

Gracious God, in Your wisdom You have given us work in our world, that we might help make it a better place for all. May we do all things for You and each other. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 4:14-16.

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Paul reminds us that Jesus was fully human and knows everything we feel. He came to be one of us, so we could see that with God’s help we could also enter His kingdom. He taught that we must remain connected in faith to be saved.

He showed that even when life is difficult we have a refuge in God. Through prayer and thanksgiving we share with Him, and through spreading the Good News we share with others. This “up to the Lord and out to people” pattern is what makes us His children.

Jesus shows through His humanness that this is possible for us as well. We are called to follow and bring others with us, sharing the joy we have found in Christ. Our Savior shows us the only way to the Father is through Him.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for Your example of faith and work. Help us to share our faith through the work of Your kingdom with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture today is Luke 16:13-15.

“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Jesus warned against placing undue value on the accumulation of wealth. It was a problem then; it remains a problem today. Jesus said “you cannot serve God and money” (v. 13).

This doesn’t mean money is bad, it’s only a tool. How we obtain money, what we use it for and what actions we are willing to undertake for it is what makes money an issue in our lives. Jesus warned that when we place more value on money than the lives of God’s children, we fall into sin.

Jesus wants us to see that we are God’s greatest treasure, far more valuable than anything else in creation. We must treat each other as God intends, using our wealth for the good of all. He has untrusted us with all the earth’s riches and calls us to use it wisely to care for each other.

Loving Lord, in our selfishness we often place our petty “wants” above the real needs of our brothers and sisters. Forgive us and bless us to bless others, being generous with the gifts You have given. Amen.
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Our scripture today is 1 Peter 2:9-12.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

Peter is my “poster boy” for following Jesus. He is an example of our humanness in faith. In his life we see some of the worst that could happen, denying Christ before His crucifixion, but also the inspired speaker in the second chapter of Acts.

Peter reminds us that we have all fallen, but that through God’s mercy we can repent and be forgiven. Even at our lowest point, God is there and He’s not finished with us yet. Just as God had a plan for Peter and a call to service, He has plans and work for all of us.

Peter writes that we are “a chosen people”, not that we should be proud but rather to go humbly as God’s representatives in the world. Jesus said we were to make disciples of all nations and Peter reminds us of that call. Let others see God’s light through You and share His love with everyone.

Dear Father, thank You for blessing us to be part of Your plan. Help us to spread the Good News around the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Galatians 3:23-29.

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Paul writes in this letter that in accepting Christ we have accepted responsibility for our faith. No longer can we rely on a long set of rules to decide for us, we are to use what Jesus taught us and act accordingly. This doesn’t mean we can make our own rules, just that He trusts us to choose in faith.

Paul emphasizes that now there is no difference in believers, that our race, social position or education have no bearing on our status as children of God. Our faith makes us equal, our faith makes us one. In this way we are called to use our individual gifts for the good of His kingdom.

Jesus said He came to fulfill the law, and through His teaching and example we can understand and apply those truths in our own lives. God’s Word is eternal, always applicable and always available to us through Scripture and prayer. Hear what He has said and make it part of what you do every day.

Loving Lord, we often seek our own ways instead of Yours, selfish in the things we do. Forgive us and write Your Word on our hearts that we may go to make disciples of all the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Matthew 18:15‭-‬17.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

Jesus knows that as humans we will always have to deal with conflict, even among brothers and sisters in the church. Sadly, our feelings about issues can separate us from even those closest to us. Disagreement about things is not necessarily sin, but how we treat each other while disagreeing can be.

Jesus gives us some specific steps to resolve these situations. In all of these, communication with each other is essential. While Jesus didn’t mention it, the assumption is that we ask God for discernment first. He urges us then to speak privately with each other before we involve those outside the situation.

His final words “and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” sound harsh – are we really instructed to cut them out of our lives? Think about how Jesus treated Gentiles and tax collectors and you have your answer. We are never to give up on resolving our differences and being an active part of God’s family.

Loving Lord, we often let our opinions divide us and fail to love each other as You first loved us. Forgive us and lead us back to a connection with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.