Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 16:7-9.

When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them. Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

These are individual proverbs, but they fit together well to give us good guidance. They speak of our connection to God, that making Him part of our lives is essential. By ourselves we are weak, but together in the Lord our faith makes us strong.

We read “better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest.” We need to see that the dishonest part is the sin, that whether we have little or much is not the issue. God loves the poor and the rich who put their trust in Him and follow His commands.

Our plans can lead us astray, but if we ask God for direction He will always point us toward salvation. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have hopes and dreams, but they must align with God’s plan for us. When we allow Him to direct our lives, we can be forgiven and redeemed by His love.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You have called us back to You with a plan to save us from our sin. Bless us to be Your servants here on earth, bringing the Good News to all. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 1:2-4.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James gives us encouragement for facing the adversity we are called to endure as Christians. Jesus told us we would be challenged by a world in need of God’s love and that there would be resistance to the Gospel. In John 15:18 He teaches us “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.”

Finding “an opportunity for great joy” when we are challenged seems backward. We don’t normally think of being happy through hard times, but Jesus says it is the way to follow Him. The world wants things its own way rather than God’s and this produces conflict.

This unexpected response confuses the world because it is not the way they react. Other translations of this passage say “count it all joy” when our faith is tested. It means that we are experiencing the same challenges Christ did and with His help we can overcome them.

Loving Lord, we are weak but You are strong. Help us to help others see that through Your strength and love we can all be saved. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Peter 5:6-7.

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

This passage from Peter reminds us that giving ourselves to the Lord is the only way to be truly happy, and the only way to be saved from our sin. We have proved time and again that we can’t do it alone, we need God’s forgiveness and love. Without these we fail.

Listening for God’s voice in our lives is important, but in order to hear Him we must humble ourselves to His power rather than blindly going our own way. Our pride resists submitting to His will but salvation comes only from accepting that we are sinners who require His mercy. God alone can offer us the reconciliation we so desperately need.

When we turn to Him in repentance we can be washed clean and become part of the kingdom work He has for each of us. God has given each of us specific gifts to be used for the good of all His children. Peter tells us to “give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.” Letting go of our earthly concerns allow Him to show us heavenly blessings and send us to share His love with everyone.

Gracious God, You have called us to be Your light in an often dark world. Help us to seek the last, the least and the lost that all may come to know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 105:1-4.

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

This Psalm passage contains much encouragement for our faith in just a few verses. First and foremost it tells us to thank God, proclaim His greatness and “let the whole world know what He has done.” We thank God for our very being and everything we have, and go to tell others of what He has done for us.

We need God’s strength as our own is not sufficient. By relying on Him rather than ourselves we build a relationship of trust. He will always be there for comfort and guidance through prayer and His word. 

We are to “continually seek Him”, not that He leaves us but to focus our attention on Him always. Paul writes “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). By keeping God’s love and His plan for us at the top of our task list, we can share that love no matter what situation we face.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for all Your many blessings, none more wonderful than our Savior. We go to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 2:12-13.

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

These words from Paul to his friends at Philippi could be from Jesus Himself. He commends them that they were faithful while they were together, and encourages them to continue in faith while he is away. This is the mark of faith, that we wait in obedience to Christ until His return.

Paul writes that we are to “work hard to show the results of our salvation.” If we are truly following Jesus, people ought to see it in how we live and care for each other. Sharing the joy of our relationship with Him allows others to know Him as well.

This is God working in each one of us, that we have “the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” We are His representatives and called to go in His name. May we fulfill our task well, telling the world of His love.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful to be a part of Your work here on earth. Help us to be energetic workers for Your kingdom, that all may come to You in faith. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Timothy 4:7-8.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

2 Timothy is widely considered Paul’s last letter, written shortly before his death in Rome. He sends final instructions to his pupil Timothy, but he is not in despair. He looks forward to the “prize that awaits” him, knowing he has been faithful to the call Christ placed on his life.

Paul’s mission was to plant churches and raise up leaders in communities far from Israel, and ensure that the Good News is preached everywhere. He corresponded with these churches and leaders, writing many letters of encouragement and sometimes reprimand when needed. His words still apply to us today.

The key statement in this passage tells us “the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.” Paul is an example of one who formerly persecuted Christ’s church who was completely transformed by His love. God is waiting to welcome all of His children, no matter how far we have strayed.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we have chosen our own selfish ways rather than the path to salvation. Forgive us and send us to share Your love with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 19:23-26.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Jesus speaks here about those who have much and how hard it is for some of them to let go. He doesn’t say that wealth is evil, but that some become more attached to their possessions than to the promise of eternal life God offers. Everything is a gift from Him and we are meant to use it wisely for the good of everyone.

When we rely on our “own” resources we often miss the lesson and the task God has for us. We must realize that nothing is really ours, all we have is made by His hand, we are merely the grateful recipients. We are given skills and resources to carry out the mission God has for each of us. 

Part of that mission is discovering and meeting the needs of others, and that involves relationship. We can’t know the needs of others unless we know them! Jesus teaches that  “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Our relationship with God enables us to relate to each other in love, and to share the gifts we have been given.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times that things are more important to us than our connection to You and Your children. Forgive us and give us new energy to care for Your creation and each other. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 1:12-14.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

God made us in His own image but gave us the right to decide our thoughts and actions for ourselves. Anything else would be slavery and God is the ultimate freedom. He wants us to choose the right things for the right reasons.

God has spoken to some personally and to all of us through His word. We must learn the lessons He teaches and embrace the love He offers us. We can’t do it on our own, only a connection to Him can save us.

Sin came into the world because we chose badly. God has a plan to remedy that but we must be the ones to turn from evil and ask forgiveness. God is waiting patiently for our return to Him.

Gracious God, we are sorry for our failure to love and act as You intend. Wash us clean and send us to share Your love and light everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Colossians 3:23-25.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

Paul writes this instruction for all of us, no matter what our occupation or social status. It is encouragement for our relationship with God and a warning that no one is above His judgement. Regardless of our position in society, we are all God’s children – no more and no less.

Brother Lawrence, a 17th century friar wrote down his experience of “practicing the presence of God”, his simple way of being in constant connection with the Lord, no matter what he was doing. Paul tells us “Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). In this way our work can become worship.

We must remember that our true inheritance is from the Lord and nothing we have here will follow us to eternity but our faith. God has things for us to do to help others find their way to Him. If we are working for His glory rather than our own earthly enrichment, we can be truly blessed.

Loving Lord, we are humbled that You call us to be part of Your kingdom work. Still us and fill us, mend us and send us that all may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 11:1-3.

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Everything that exists was created by and according to God’s word. Nothing is out there that God didn’t make. Sadly, we have misused many of His gifts. Genesis records the original sin of people and all the further disobedience that came afterward.

However, this passage speaks of a confident faith, that the God who created everything made us for a reason. We must stay connected to Him and one another in order to discover and fulfill the purpose He has for each of us. It has never been an easy thing, it requires us to trust Him when we don’t see the reason or the way.

God is there for us and He responds, not always in the manner or on the schedule we expect. We don’t have the whole picture as He does and it requires us to live for the “things we cannot see.” Faith is something we are called to live out and can then share with our brothers and sisters through the love God first gave us.

Loving Lord, we ask Your forgiveness for our failings. Help us to be Your people, aware of our gifts and the needs of the world. Bless us to go in Your name to spread the Gospel. Amen.