Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this week is John 3:1-17.

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
John 3:4-8

John the Baptist told us if we truly want to enter the kingdom of God we must change our hearts and lives. Jesus indicates the level of change required in order to follow Him as being born again. This sounds difficult, more than breaking bad habits and old patterns of behavior. This is changing how we live.

Jesus compares the movement of the Spirit to the movement of the wind in an attempt to help Nicodemus (and us) better understand. People whose lives have been changed by Jesus can share their experience and God’s love, but each of us must make the choice for ourselves to follow Him. When we realize the depth of His blessings for us and accept His call, it is like being born again.

Jesus knows this is hard for us, but He doesn’t lessen the requirement or soften the obligation. Living for God and others first is what is asked of us. If we want to live in His light, we must be born again.

Loving Lord, we are weak by ourselves but strong in You. Help us to be new creatures through Your loving Spirit. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 3:1-17.

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:1-3

This passage sets the stage for Jesus to share an important lesson with an unlikely listener. Nicodemus is not only a Pharisee but a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council that would later try Jesus for the accusations people leveled against Him. Nicodemus comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness, apparently to avoid being seen contacting Him.

We are blessed to be able to come to Jesus openly and unafraid. While we sometimes feel the pressure that displaying our faith causes, we are rarely in danger for doing so. How sad is it that we are afraid of what people will think of us or say to others because of our faith practice! There are still places in the world where people face death daily due to their faith in Christ but do not let that deter them from believing.

Displaying our faith in public means more than just praying at restaurants or wearing a visible cross. If we want to be Christ’s disciples we must live as He did, born to a new life and sharing God’s love where we are led. It happened to Nicodemus later – in John 19 we read that he and Joseph of Arimathia claimed Jesus’ body following the crucifixion and performed His burial. Don’t let the whims of society dictate the practice of your faith, live each day for the Lord!

Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of our Savior and the way He taught us to live. Help us to follow the lessons we have received, to love You and others and to go make disciples of all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 3:1-17.

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:1-17

This week’s Gospel lesson contains what may be the best known and most quoted scripture verse of all, John 3:16. I’ll bet you repeated it in your head as you read that! It is a testimony about Christ from Christ Himself, about God’s love for the world and the salvation He sent us.

Now, without looking back at the included scripture above, how many know “the rest of the story”? I’m sure many of you do, but we are less likely to know the context of this lesson than the verse so often quoted. I will tell you, if you only know one verse from scripture, this is an important one to know!

However, this is exactly what Jesus is trying to teach Nicodemus in this passage. Knowing that God loves us and sends His salvation is essential, but we must begin from that point to learn about His love and share that joy with everyone. During this season of Lent, let us look into ourselves to discover the gifts God has provided us, and then go into the world to use them in His name.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of being born again to new life in You. Help us to show the world the joy of Your love and the assurance a relationship with You brings. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 4:1-11.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11

In the desert, Jesus was tested by God and tempted by Satan. There is a huge difference here. Testing and tempting are not the same at all!

God tests us to strengthen us, to teach us to give up even our greatest wants and needs, that we may learn to trust in Him for everything. As the children of Israel wandered in the desert, they learned to rely on God. Conversely, the devil is often known as the tempter, deceiving us into thinking something other than God is the easy way to fulfill our desires.

Temptation leads us away from God; God’s testing makes our relationship stronger as we learn to trust Him to guide and provide. Whenever you feel tempted to take the easy way out, to put your own plan in action, stop and do as Jesus did – rebuke temptation with God’s word and rely on His unfailing grace and mercy for all you need.

Loving Lord, we give thanks for all Your care for us. Teach us Your word and Your way that we may be strong and faithful in our work for Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 4:1-11.

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:8-11

Satan has tried a variety of things in order to lead Jesus astray – appealing to human hunger, the love we have for fame and attention, and the quest for money and power. Evil works deceptively, telling us God said it was alright, that we deserve the things it offers, that people are in our way. All this is an attempt to sabotage our relationship with God and others.

Jesus was as human as we are and susceptible to all our human wants and fears, but He never wavered in His faith or connection to the Father. He responded to every scriptural misquote the devil offered with a correct reading of God’s word. He didn’t let Satan win because He didn’t let him in!

We might think “Sure, it was easy for Him, the Chosen One” but it was not! If anything, it was harder. Jesus could have reasoned that as the Son of God the world owed Him something, that people should respect Him and that suffering was beneath Him – but instead He chose to obey God’s will for His ministry, even unto death. We need His strength and love in our lives to resist evil as He did.

Loving Lord, we ask for Your power to do right in our world, to prevent harm to others and live as You have taught us. Help us to see the path You have planned for our lives that we may be willing and energetic servants in Your kingdom. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 4:1-11.

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matthew 4:5-7

Satan tries again to tempt Jesus with a test of God’s love for Him. An important thing to note is that the devil quotes scripture from Psalm 91:11 to Jesus in the effort to lead Him astray. Satan most certainly knows what God has said and has no qualms twisting its meaning to fit his evil purpose.

Jesus knows God’s will and word better than anyone and He knows that Satan is using it wrongly. The devil and the world will try to confuse us, misquoting what God has said to convince us wrong is right. Jesus rebukes Satan with scripture from Deuteronomy 6:16 used in truth, warning us not to put God to the test.

When we are tested by evil, use the word of God for strength and support. Being familiar with God’s word will help you refute the lies the world tells us. He is there with love, grace and mercy for those that call on His name.

Gracious God, We are weak and easily influenced by the things we see and hear. Help us to be strong in Your word to be able to withstand the worldly challenges we face and share Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 4:1-11.

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:3-4

The devil uses Jesus’ present situation (hunger after a forty day fast) to tempt Him. Satan often does the same to us, using our current trouble to lead us astray. We forget that most often our difficulties are temporary and turning to God for help and comfort first is always the best solution.

Not only is Satan tempting Jesus about His hunger, he is questioning His status as the Son of God. The devil is very good at these things. Like a playground bully, he goads us into action we know is wrong. Jesus knows that using His power to turn stones to bread to prove Himself is not what God intended, and He uses scripture (Deuteronomy 8:3) to rebuke the devil’s challenge.

We can have the same strength and confidence in God’s word to protect us from the temptations we face, knowing we do “not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”. We can endure the trials of the world because we know the Lord is with us.

Loving Lord, we know You want only good for Your children, but that we must sometimes endure hard times because of the sin of the world. Help us to be strong in the face of adversity, fighting temptation with Your true word. Amen.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent and forty days of self-examination. Our scripture is Psalm 51:10-12.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51:10-12

“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”, Paul writes in Romans 3:23. In these verses from Psalm 51 we hear a plea to God for forgiveness, to be cleansed and made right with Him again. It is this awareness of our sin that can bring us back to God.

We have chosen sin time and again for a variety of reasons, but they all have a common root – selfishness. We chase what we believe will make us happy. Instead of putting God and others first, as we have been commanded, we choose our desires over what is good for us, God’s plan for our lives.

God calls us back into a relationship, willing to forgive the hurt we have caused if we earnestly repent and ask Him to help us do better. When we acknowledge our errors and seek His face, God will always bless and restore us.

Loving Lord, we know we have wronged You and others through our actions. Forgive us and strengthen us, that we may be the people You intend us to be. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 4:1-11.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Matthew 4:1-2

Jesus had to be able to withstand the same earthly circumstances we encounter in order to be our example. He was fully divine but also fully human, something we find difficult to understand, but because of His humanity He was subject to the same wants, desires and frailties as are we.

As the Spirit led Him into the wilderness, He was likely apprehensive about the trials He would face. As He did with every challenge, Jesus shared this with God in prayer. This was His confidence, that no problem was too large or small for Him to bring to our Heavenly Father. Jesus chose to rely on God rather than His own strength.

We have the same gift and can enjoy the same confidence, that God will hear our prayers and be with us in every situation. We sometimes forget that while Jesus was special, we have been blessed in the same way as He was, to approach God and share everything with Him whenever we want. Use your birthright as a child of God to go to Him!

Gracious God, You have called us to be Your representatives here on earth, but also members of Your own family. Thank You for Your presence with us, that we may come to You in prayer. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Matthew 4:1-11.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus was human, just as we are, and was subject to every emotion and want that we face. This is the reason we can trust Him, knowing He has endured everything we do and more. Jesus doesn’t ask us to do anything He wouldn’t do Himself.

Reading the story of His temptation in the wilderness this week as we begin the observance of Lent (Ash Wednesday, February 26) should make us think about what Jesus was willing to give up for us. He came to earth to be one of us, knowing our joys and our sorrows. Jesus was willing to give up His glory in order that we might be saved.

What are we willing to give up for Him? During Lent people often deny themselves something they enjoy, a food or an activity. When this helps us focus on what Christ gave up for us, it is a good thing, but here is another thought – pick up something for Lent. Begin a new faith practice, such as an hour reading scripture at lunch or helping with dinner once a week at the local shelter, and think about making it a permanent habit. Jesus didn’t call us just to avoid evil, He called us to do good.

Gracious God, we are blessed by the gift of Jesus, taught by His example and called to go out in His name. Help us to resist temptation and work for the good of our neighbors. Amen.