Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 42:1-2.

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

This psalm compares the deer searching for a stream to our need to be with God. Our lives can become parched and dry without the healing love God’s presence provides. We know that only a connection with our loving Lord can save us.

God has promised to be with us everywhere and in everything we face. While the psalmist asks “where can I go to stand before Him?”, we know the answer. God will never leave those who invite Him to be part of their lives. We see this blessing continually through scripture from Creation to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

We are called to share this blessing with the world, telling everyone what God has done for us. In Acts 1:8 Jesus says to His disciples “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” God’s Spirit is always there for us, and we are empowered to go in His name.

Gracious God, You call us from our failure into blessing, to be washed clean and live new lives in You. Send us to show the world Your love and mercy. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 John 4:18-19.

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.

John is the author of a gospel, three letters and the book of Revelation. In all of these he focuses on God’s love given to us through the work of Jesus in our lives so that we can share His love in the world. His plan includes us so that we may continue what Christ died and rose to bring us.

God created everything that is and blessed us to live in a world made for our needs. However, He also gave us free will to choose our actions and sadly, we often choose poorly, to our detriment and that of our brothers and sisters. We forget that God made us in His image to love Him and one another. 

In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul gives us many characteristics of love, that it is patient, kind and doesn’t demand its own way. We need to keep these in mind when we face difficult situations, loving each other “because He loved us first”. God is love (1 John 4:8) and in Him we find blessing, comfort and the energy to go in His name.

Loving Lord, we are humbled that you chose us to be part of what You are doing in creation. Help us to share Your love with everyone that they may know the joy of salvation. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 2:3-5.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Humble and bold are not words we generally associate with each other. They seem to express completely different patterns of behavior. However, Paul explains that this was what Jesus came to show us – to be humble in ourselves and bold in the Lord.

Paul writes “you must have the same attitude Christ had”. Jesus gave up His divinity to be human with us, that we could come to know God’s love in person. It was a humble action, lowering Himself to our level in order to teach us and energize our sharing of His love.

He also taught us to be bold in the Spirit, using the gifts we have been given to reach others. God wants to work in us for our growth and through us for the growth of others. By taking an interest in others, we come to know their needs and fears and can better equip them to deal with life by sharing the love we know in our Savior.

Heavenly Father, You have blessed us with gifts beyond measure. Help us to be humble in ourselves and bold in Your love that all the world may come to You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 18:20.

For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.

The section heading for this passage in the New Living Translation is “Correcting another believer”. Other versions call it “Restoring a brother” and “Discipline and prayer”. Reading the complete lesson (Matthew 18:15-20) is necessary for us to fully understand what Jesus is saying here.

This particular verse is used to show Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit coming to be with us, and while that is completely true, there is more. He promised His presence when we are required to make difficult decisions, such as correcting another believer. We are not called to judge, but to react in love, wanting all to make the choice for salvation.

Going as two or three to speak with an errant member is done not to “gang up” on them, but in love, showing a community concern. Speaking for myself, I have found this the most difficult thing to do in ministry – pointing out the faults of others while knowing my own. Jesus used the example of a lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14) immediately before this lesson to show us our responsibility to go after those who stray.

Gracious God, You have given us life and a duty to look after Your creation, which includes each other. Help us to watch in love, ready to be Your servants in the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 27:17.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

While Proverbs is made up of mostly short lessons, there is a lot to learn from these wisdom statements. In this single sentence there is much to consider. It speaks to us of our relationship with God and each other and our responsibility to each other.

In order to sharpen something you have to apply friction, which builds heat and wears away small particles of the surface. In the same way, we are called to sharpen each other, to help each other learn and grow in the knowledge of God. It is not always an easy process.

Like the particles being ground away on a tool, we may need to have parts of our lives reshaped or ground away through faith. Letting go of our habits is not an overnight thing, we must be consistent and persistent in our efforts. God is there with us and has blessed us with brothers and sisters to sharpen each other.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for our connection to You and Your creation. Help us to stay sharp and help sharpen all Your children. Amen. 

Our scripture this morning is Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

Our relationships with one another are important to God. He said in Genesis 2:18 “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” From the beginning God knew even though He was always there for us, we needed someone like ourselves for connection.

This passage teaches us that we are made to help each other. We need the emotional and sometimes physical support of other people in order to live. No one has every gift but by using our gifts together we can accomplish the things that need doing.

God realized that we needed someone like us to teach us the essential lessons He has for us. He sent Jesus to be one of us so that we would pay attention and learn His will. He has promised His spirit to be with us always as we grow in faith and go in His name together.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of relationship with You and each other. Bless us to be Your image to one another and share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 6:37-38.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

This passage from the Sermon on the Plain is Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching which is also recorded in the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew. There we read “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged” (Matthew 7:1-2). Again we see that even though different authors have shared this in slightly different ways, the core of Christ’s lesson remains the same.

God wants us focused on sharing His love, not using it as a weapon. Yes, He has set standards for us but our task is not to berate others for failing to reach these but to help all to know God’s love and His law. Jesus taught what is expected of us but we are each individually responsible to accept His guidance.

Generosity comes from trusting God, knowing that our gifts are from Him and we merely share what we have been given. God has a plan for every one of us and we must follow the path Jesus has shown us. The only way we can be saved is through living in love and service to our savior and each other.

Gracious God, You have given us everything we have. Bless us to be generous with Your gifts that all may come to know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 31:28-30.

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

Proverbs begins and ends with instruction on connecting with God (1:7, 31:30). When we “fear the Lord” we are in relationship with Him, obeying His commandments and caring for one another as Jesus taught. His love for us compels us to love one another.

The last section of this chapter (verses 10-31) praises a righteous woman. She does it all because she loves God and God loves her, caring for home and family, engaging in the community and helping others. God gives her strength and skill for the work she is called to accomplish.

While this is written in praise of godly women, we can all receive the blessing God has for those who care for His children and His creation. We are all in need of His love and care. Everyone who goes to the Lord in repentance can be saved and live a new life in Him. 

Loving Lord, You have blessed us with many gifts, none more important than our savior, Jesus Christ. Send us in Your name that the world may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 10:11-13.

The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

The last phrase in this reading comes from Joel 2:32, a prophecy that everyone can be saved through a relationship with God. Paul uses this to show that Jews and Gentiles all have a place in God’s kingdom. If these two disparate groups could come together, there is still hope for us today.

Paul worked very hard to show that all were welcome in the New Covenant Jesus brought to us. Peter states this in Acts 10:34-35 – “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Jesus has invited everyone to be reconnected with the Father, it is up to each individual to accept and follow Him.

God made a way for all to be forgiven and restored through Christ’s sacrifice for us. All who repent and accept this love can be part of the work to share the message with the world. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You reached out to save us. Help us to share that love with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 40:1-3.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

Waiting patiently can be very hard. In our fast paced society, even a minute of delay can cause us irritation. This psalm of David encourages us not to impose our timing and our solutions on things immediately, but rather to seek God’s will in all things.

God has called us to act boldly in His name, but also to wait on His timing and His answer. Isaiah 40:31 tells us “those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”. When we are worn out by trying to solve things ourselves, God invites us to rest in Him and see His strength where ours has failed.

God has gifted us with reason and free will to make decisions. However, when we ask for His help we bring the only real power there is into the equation. God wants so much to be a part of our lives and help us with our issues, but only when we ask. We must choose to give our lives to Him each day.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for all Your gifts and Your mercy to us. Help us to be patient when we face difficult things, waiting for Your love and guidance. Amen.