Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT).

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Paul tells the Corinthians that winning people for Christ is much different than fighting human battles. We use God’s love and His word to reach people, showing the world that there is a better way as he wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:31. While Paul is a little agitated in this passage, he is still on point: the objective is to bring people to the Lord.

Paul speaks against the “strongholds of human reasoning”, our ability to rationalize virtually any human behavior as acceptable in spite of what we have been taught about how to treat each other. He also warns against those false arguments that lead to the conclusion that sin is all right if we put it in proper terms. We need to listen to what God has taught us over anything the world tries to push on us.

He speaks of “every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God”. While the world’s false ways are an example, another is our own pride. We need to humble ourselves before the Lord and ask forgiveness. God in His mercy made a way for us to be redeemed through Christ’s sacrifice for us, now we must go in His name to share that blessing.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we turn away from Your wisdom and Your love. Help us to see the path You have set for us and help others find their way back to You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NLT).

That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

Scholars tell us the Book of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon, who asked God for wisdom: “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong” (1 Kings 3:9). In this book he points to the fact that our connection with the Lord is the most important thing in our lives and only through a relationship with Him can we be made whole.

He wraps it up fairly specifically – “fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” It doesn’t matter who we are, when in history we live or what resources we have, we all need God’s love and care, and we all need to share that love with everyone. This is our real purpose, no matter what other things we add to our lives.

God wants us all back as part of His loving family, regardless of how we have failed before. He sent Jesus to teach us this and show very plainly how He loves us and how we are to love one another. If we get this right, everything else becomes much easier.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You made a way for us to be saved. Bless us to go in Your name to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Galatians 6:8-10 (NLT).

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Paul warns against living only for ourselves. When we choose selfish actions we turn away from others and the plan God has for us. However, “those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” Living to please God and help others is how we are intended to live.

Jesus warned that we would face opposition. Paul writes “let’s not get tired of doing good”, even when it is hard. The world wants to control our thoughts and actions; God wants us to follow His guidance to love each other. We can’t do both.

Paul mentions specifically our “family of faith” and that fellow believers need our care as well. We are outwardly focused but always aware of the needs of those closest to us.  Everyone deserves God’s love and care, demonstrated by faithful disciples.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for Your Spirit, with us to guide us. Bless us to go in Your name to the world that all may know Your love. Amen.

Friends, I’m celebrating my 50th high school class reunion this weekend. Greetings to the Burke High School Class of 1974!

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 16:24-26 (NLT).

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

Jesus gives us three important instructions as part of this passage – “give up your own way, take up your cross,and follow Me”. These aren’t easy to obey, but they are essential. First, we must let go of our selfish desires and and the schemes we often use to obtain them. Next we accept Christ’s cross as our own, both acknowledging Him as our Savior and being ready to carry the burden He has carried for us already. Finally, we must live into the life He showed us, ready to go in His name to share the Good News. The alternative to this is separation from Him and God’s plan for us. We have a choice to make and Jesus waits for our answer.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we choose our own way instead of the path to life Jesus showed us. Forgive us and help us to show the world Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Timothy 4:11-12 (NLT).

Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

This passage has encouraged countless young pastors and missionaries as they set out on their first faith assignments. I read these verses to the members of mission trips as we departed. It tells us our task to teach the world about Jesus and not to let the fact that we are young or inexperienced hinder us.

I want to widen your view here – don’t let anyone think less of you because you are (insert your insecurity here). Don’t let your lack of education, wealth, position, heritage or any other thing get in the way of your ministry. What people think of us is far less important than what we have to share with them.

Paul doesn’t say it specifically but I think I hear him tell Timothy not to think less of himself. Often what we think people think about us is only in our heads and evil can use this distraction. Don’t let you bring you down! Encourage yourself in your discipleship just as you encourage others.

Loving Lord, thank You for every gift. Help us to hear Your call to use these gifts for the good of Your children everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 3:16-17 (NLT).

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

This passage may be the best known piece of scripture in the world, and for good reason. Jesus makes this statement about Himself as an explanation to Nicodemus the Pharisee, telling us how much God loves us and why He has come. God has made a way for us to be saved through the gift of His Son.

Jesus wants us to see how much we are loved by what He has to teach us and what He will do for us. His lessons and His sacrifice for us show what God is willing to do in order to bring us back from sin. Later in the Gospel of John Jesus tells us “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

We may not be called to die for one another, but we are all called to give our lives to Christ and share the love He brought us with everyone. Jesus didn’t come to condemn us, but when He returns there will be judgement based on how we loved the world and Him. Through His strength, we can all be saved.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we ignore Your love and fail to share it with Your children. Forgive us and send us to tell everyone the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 139:9-10 (NLT).

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

Omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent are big words but they describe the character of God well. He is all seeing, everywhere at once and all powerful. David speaks of these attributes and what they mean for us in this psalm.

In Psalms 139:16 we read the beautiful truth “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” God made every part of our being, and He knows everything we do. Nothing is a surprise to our Heavenly Father.

God is ready to forgive us and welcome us back to the kingdom work He has set for us. Paul tells us “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). God is with us no matter what and nothing can ever change that.

Loving Lord, sometimes we think we need to hide from Your justice when we are only avoiding Your love. Help us to trust the blessings You give and use them for the good of all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 3:23-24 (NLT).

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

It is a fact we can’t deny – we have all sinned. Our sins are as different as we are, and all sin separates us from God. We all know our sin, and evil uses that self-knowledge to deepen our guilt and further separate us from the Father.

God knows when we are apart and has made a way for us to be reconnected to Him through the gift of His Son. When we come to Him in honest repentance and accept His forgiveness, we can be restored in His grace, ready to continue the work He has given us.

Sin doesn’t get the final word in our lives and certainly not in the kingdom of God. In John 21 we read of Jesus appearing to His disciples and forgiving Peter his denial. He is always ready to take us back and send us to the mission field to share His love.

Gracious God, You have forgiven us when we don’t deserve it and brought us back into Your plan for all things. May we be the disciples of today, going to everyone to share the Gospel. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 12:39-40 (NLT).

Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

This warning from Jesus to always be ready for His return is repeated in Matthew 24:42 and Acts 1:7. He also tells us not to spend time trying to figure out when that will be, simply because that takes time away from our assigned kingdom work. What happens if He returns while we are “figuring” instead of serving?

Loving God and one another, and going to make disciples are the tasks He left for us. If the time of His return were important to our salvation, He would have taught us. Instead, He specifically told us not to worry about it but to continue our work to be ready.

We can get wrapped up in details and then essential things like evangelism take a back seat until we figure them out. Distraction is one of evil’s most insidious weapons. We don’t need to be defeated if we can be diverted. May we focus on our purpose!

Loving Lord, we are sorry when we go off Your path, seeking our own answers. Forgive us and reorient us to the goal You have set for us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 41:13 (NLT).

For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.”

The prophet Isaiah had a wide variety of lessons and warnings for the people of Israel who had fallen away from their connection to the Lord. They were trying to conduct their lives based on their own strength, forgetting that God had brought them out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Moses had warned them about this in Deuteronomy 8:12-14.

God has always been for us and with us. We must remember His promise: “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” It is up to us to accept the forgiveness He offers and live new lives in His love. 

This passage tells us that God speaks to each of us individually and personally. He is here for you whether you are beginning a relationship with Him or continuing a lifelong story together. We can’t do it alone but “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13).

Gracious God, we are sorry when we forget Your law and Your love. Forgive us, lift us up in Your Spirit and send us to share the Gospel with all people. Amen.