Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 20:7-8.

Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.

In the days of King David, “nations boast of their chariots and horses” as a way of expressing pride in their society. It was to tell others how powerful they were and where they put their faith. It is a sad statement that we still do this two thousand years later.

The psalmist sings “we boast in the name of the Lord our God”. This statement is echoed in Jeremiah 9:24 and 1 Corinthians 1:31. Scripture repeatedly tells us we are nothing without God’s strength and if there is any boast, it should be only about His love for us.

We haven’t gotten to this point yet unfortunately. We still raise our voices against one another, using God’s gifts to hurt rather than help. The psalmist foretells what awaits those who do not revere God: “Those nations will fall down and collapse”. It doesn’t have to be this way. God is patiently waiting for each of us to return to His love and go share it with the world.

Gracious God, we are sorry for our pride and disobedience. Help us to see Your plan for all creation and be part of what You are doing. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Jeremiah 17:7-8.

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

Jeremiah is sometimes called the “Weeping Prophet” because He was tasked to bring Israel warnings from God about their disobedience. However, this passage brings a message of hope, that those who make God the center of their lives will be equipped and prepared for the things we face here. 

God is the one who made everything we experience, down to our own physical bodies and our very existence. With His help we are able to continue what we have been called to do. Trying to do it alone is almost always a recipe for failure. God has gifted us with many skills and talents but they are fueled (as are we) by His love.

When we make “the Lord our hope and confidence” we are part of a larger system, connected with Him and our brothers and sisters. This is the joy of how we are made, intended to be in relationship. These are the roots Jeremiah teaches us, trusting that God has a plan for each of us individually and all of us as His children.

Gracious God, You have given us wonderful things to be used for the benefit of Your people. Help us to care for Your creation, but especially one another. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Paul uses the same techniques Jesus did to help people understand God’s plan and our call to be part of it. He explains the value of the eternal prize we are promised versus temporary pleasures here on earth. He uses the analogy of discipline as an athlete and faithful obedience as a Christian. We are not just going through the motions, we are fully engaged mentally, physically and spiritually.

It takes practice to participate in athletic competition and it requires the same level of daily dedication to follow Jesus. We stretch ourselves through prayer and the word, join with our team of fellow Christians in worship and go into the world we have been given to share God’s love. Unlike sporting events, we are all on the same team even if we have different skills and assignments.

Paul encourages us to “fight the good fight” (1 Timothy 6:12), with the reminder it is not each other we are opposing. We must use the gifts we have been given to stand with Christ against evil. We have a responsibility to learn and grow in His love and to reach out to the world that all may know Him.

Loving Lord, You have blessed us with a wonderful world. Forgive us for our selfish actions and help us to be Your hands and Your face to all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Ephesians 3:19-21.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

In this passage Paul prays for the spiritual growth of his congregation. He wants us to feel Christ’s love for us “though it is too great to understand fully.” Just because we don’t know everything about it doesn’t mean we aren’t blessed by it. Sometimes our desire to “know” is a desire to control. Paul tells us to let God work in us and through us, not worrying if we know everything about how it works.

God sent His love to us in human form through Jesus. He wanted us to know that love in person, to experience it and live it, not just “know” about it. We miss the full blessing when we turn it into an academic exercise rather than a relationship.

God has given us His word and His presence from the very beginning. When Jesus came to be with us, that love took human form that we might not just hear the teaching, but see it through His actions. We are called to share His lessons and His love, that all may be made whole through Him.

Gracious God, You sent Your love to us in Your son, Jesus Christ. Help us to share that love with all Your children everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Joshua 1:7-8.

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

The opening of Joshua finds the children of Israel at the edge of the Promised Land. Moses is very old and God has chosen a new leader to replace him. They face the next task uncertainly, concerned for what lies ahead and untested human leadership.

It’s easy for us to shake our heads and ask why were they worried? God had brought them out of captivity, through forty years in the desert and now they were on the brink of their goal. All this time God had been teaching them to trust Him, and as soon as human leadership changes they are in disarray again.

We are still the same unfortunately. We look in all directions for someone to solve our problems when the One who can help and save us is always present. God has given us the “Book of Instruction” to teach us our relationship with Him and our responsibility to one another. We need God in our lives as individuals and to be together as His people.

Heavenly Father, help us to see that in spite of our own selfish ways, You are in control. We are sorry for our disobedience and ask Your forgiveness. Bless us to be Your light and love in our world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 12:1-2.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

While scholars debate whether this letter was actually written by Paul, we can see his lessons in what is written here. Paul used the example of a runner in 2 Timothy 4:7, saying “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” This agrees completely with the first verse of this passage, reminding us to look to our ancestors of the faith and to be an example for those who come after us.

The crowd of witnesses the letter refers to are the examples we are to follow. David sings in Psalms 16:3 “The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!” People of faith can be an inspiration to all around them. As Christians we need to be aware the world is watching!

Pastor and author Eugene Petersen asks of our faith journey “Are we pilgrims or merely tourists?” If we are just here for the main points and pictures, we are not likely to get it. God wants all of us collectively and all of us as individuals. When we give our lives to Him, He can use our faith in marvelous ways.

Gracious God, we are thankful for those who have gone before, showing us the way. May we be pilgrims and an example to those yet to come. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts of the Apostles 20:24.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

In Acts 20:16-38 Paul says goodbye to the leaders of the Ephesian church and leaves his work in their care. The Spirit has called him to Jerusalem and Paul knows his message and his presence are needed there. Just as Jesus went, Paul goes willingly even though there is danger from misguided religious leaders.

In this verse Paul gives his mission statement, saying his life only has value if it advances the kingdom of God. Even though he faces arrest and hardship, he understands the need to be “finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus”. True faith is best expressed when we rely on God and go to accomplish the difficult tasks.

Like Jesus and many early Christians, Paul was obedient unto death. He knew that going to Jerusalem would begin the final act of his ministry, but he saw and used the experience as an opportunity to witness for Jesus. May we live in God’s strength and go in His name as Jesus taught us.

Heavenly Father, we are frail on our own, but strong when we are together in You. Bless us to continue the work we have been given that everyone may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Timothy 6:12-14.

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

Paul sends encouragement to his “son in the faith” Timothy. His instructions are equally applicable to all of us. It’s not just about avoiding sin, we must actively pursue virtue. Timothy has done good things but Paul teaches it’s not about a single act but a life lived well.

When Paul says “fight the good fight” we must remember his teaching from Ephesians 6:12: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” He reminds us that people are not our enemies, and our defense against evil comes from Jesus Christ Himself and our unity in Him.

Too often we are distracted from our real enemy and the real danger of sin. Evil causes us to fight amongst ourselves rather than uniting with Jesus to fight against the root cause of our issues. Only God’s love can save and free us, and only His love can prevail.

Gracious God, You have made us for a purpose and shown us what is necessary to be reconciled with You. Bless us to be Your representatives in all we do. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.

Paul, who usually had more than enough words for every situation, is uncharacteristically brief in this passage, but completely to the point. The Corinthian church has suffered disagreement and division and Paul writes to warn them about their behavior and their reaction to the behavior of others. Perhaps this sounds familiar?

It is sometimes pleasing to find that we have much in common with our ancestors in the faith. Sadly, this is not such an instance. We still argue with each other over issues instead of working to solve them. James 3:10 scolds first century Christians “And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” and two thousand years later we suffer from the same lack of compassion for those with whom we disagree.

While we can write this off to normal human behavior in heated situations, Jesus came to teach us that this is not normal human behavior and we can do better. Paul tells us eloquently about love in Corinthians 13. Here he speaks very directly: “do everything in love.” It doesn’t get any more simple or specific than that.

Heavenly Father, we are often mired in our own earthly problems, more focused on ourselves and things around us than Your love and Your guidance for us. Forgive us, strengthen us and send us to share Your blessings with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 5:14-16.

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Jesus speaks to the crowds that follow Him in His first lesson from Matthew. He uses common examples to teach them heavenly concepts. This was His mission, to show God’s love in a personal way so they could hear and understand, and then go to share the joy of His love with everyone.

He calls us from our darkness into His light and then allows us to give the illumination we have received to others. I always felt our Christmas Eve candlelight service demonstrates this. As we pass the flame to one another it reminds us of how our faith is passed in the world, and each candle can light many others without its own light being diminished. 

Jesus said “you are the light of the world” indicating we are blessed and called to a mission for Him. He tells them “let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father”, the ultimate goal of our discipleship. The old Sunday School song “This Little Light of Mine” expresses it simply and well – may all of our lights shine for Him!

Loving Lord, You made us in Your image to be part of what You are doing in creation. Help us to be living lights that all may know Your love. Amen.