Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 3:5-7.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

I can never read this passage without thinking of the joke about a creating contest between a scientist and God. The scientist says “now we have the knowledge and can make things just as you can.” God suggests a creating contest and picks up a handful of dirt. The scientist reaches down and grabs a handful as well. God slaps the dirt out of his hand and says “that’s my dirt, you go make your own!”

While I hope this brings you a smile, it should also make us think. We are often so proud of ourselves and the things we can make and do. We forget that everything is a gift from God – the raw materials the earth provides, our skills and knowledge, our lives.

Proverbs might be called the book of wisdom because of the wonderful lessons it gives us. However, it is not about our knowledge but the Lord’s. It encourages us to seek God’s will in all things as the source of wisdom. If we “fear the Lord and turn away from evil” we can be connected to Him and go to share His love with the world.

Gracious God, You created everything there is and gave it to us to use well. Help us to see Your plan for us and to bring the Good News of salvation to all. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 4:7-8.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Paul closes this letter, telling the Philippians that God’s peace can be with them always and that “His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” This is the most important part of any lesson, that living in and for Jesus will give us peace. Nothing on earth can ever satisfy our souls like our connection to Him.

Our relationship with Jesus allows us to show the world how important is to know Him. Paul writes “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” This will keep us mindful of Jesus and thankful to Him in all we do.

If we focus on Christ’s love and sacrifice for us, we can’t help but share that joy with the world. Jesus promised us the presence of the Holy Spirit when He returned to the Father. This is the fuel for our Great Commission, to go and make disciples of all nations.

Loving Lord, thank You for giving us Your peace, helping us to remain faithful in the world. Bless us to share Your gift with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 9:21-24.

“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

In this story we hear of a boy possessed by a demon and his father’s efforts to have him healed. Earlier in this chapter the disciples were unable to help the boy, and they are in consternation as Jesus arrives. The boy’s father asks Jesus to help “if You can”.

Jesus tells him “anything is possible if a person believes.” This is not a question of His power, but of our faith. The father showed faith by coming to Jesus in the first place but now he cries to Him “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

Author Philip Yancey writes “Sometimes we ask God for things we should be doing ourselves” but this is not one of those instances. Only our faith that Jesus can do anything will suffice here. We must be willing to do the things assigned to us in faith and leave the things we cannot change ourselves to His keeping.

Heavenly Father, we are thankful for Your many blessings to us, none more important than the gift of Your son. Help us to go in faith, sharing the love You first gave us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Colossians 3:1-4.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

In this passage Paul teaches that we “have been raised to new life with Christ.” He says that by placing our faith in Jesus our old sinful habits can be overcome. Those who believe  know “though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day“ (2 Corinthians 4:16).

The FaithLife Study Bible says of these verses “Jesus is not peripheral to life, He is life.” Jesus told us this when He said “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Our faith allows us to live in this world with the knowledge that our connection to God through Christ will lead to eternal life. 

It may be difficult to live for Jesus here and He told us it would not be easy. He taught us “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:14). We must be ready to face these worldly challenges knowing His strength and the support of our brothers and sisters will sustain us here and in the life to come.

Gracious God, thank You for making a way back for us. Through the gift of Your son we can be saved! Bless us to go to the world in Your name to share Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts of the Apostles 4:11-12.

For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.  

In this chapter of Acts Peter and John are brought before the ruling council. They had healed a man in Jesus’ name and were teaching salvation through Him in the temple court when they were arrested. Peter is no longer the sword wielding adversary from the garden where Jesus was arrested but now he speaks with the fire of the Holy Spirit they have received.

He tells them ”The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone“, a quote from Psalms 118:22. The council is amazed that these common men speak with knowledge and authority, but recognize them as followers of Jesus. They thought that Jesus’ death would end the movement He began.

The council is unsure of what to do with them, as the healed man is there for all to see. They forbid the disciples to preach in His name, to which they reply “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard”(Acts 4:19-20). May we have this strength and confidence as we witness to the world.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of our savior and the way You have made for us to be saved. Bless us to be energetic bearers of the Good News. 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.

It seems our faith is tested on a daily basis anymore. It’s easy to think that things have never been worse, but if we are honest with ourselves we know every generation has struggled against the challenges of their time. The followers of Jesus must have felt this way when He was crucified, but their faith was strengthened by His resurrection and the task He gave them.

Jesus has called us to continue His ministry until He returns for us. When that will be we don’t know but we have His promise that it will occur (Acts 1:8). Until then we are His representatives here and commissioned to share the Good News everywhere.

Jesus told us because the world hated Him we too will face opposition (John 15:18). Our faith may be tested in a variety of ways but it doesn’t change what Jesus has asked of us. We are to remain steadfast, knowing that when things are difficult we can turn to Him and receive strength.

Gracious God, thank You for the gift of Jesus as our savior and example. Help us to go into the world in Your name that all may know Your love. Amen.

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Paul and the other early missionaries faced financial hardship as they followed the call God had placed on their lives. They had to rely on donations from those to whom they went or finding work to support themselves as they spread the Good News. Paul indicates that whether he had “plenty or little”, he was intent on accomplishing the mission.

The important part is the trust they put in Christ to encourage them and provide help for their needs. While they did what they could to help themselves in these circumstances, it was always their faith that sustained them. Paul says “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

We too can know this faith that enables us to overcome our doubts and live for Christ as we have been called to do. Spending time in prayer, studying the word and coming together in fellowship are the tools to be able to see to the needs of others as well as share the love of God with the world.

Gracious God, You have gifted us with skills and material to support ourselves and one another. Bless us to use these wisely to care for Your children that they may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18.

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Paul writes some of the most basic instructions for Christians in this closing to his letter. Jesus taught us all these things, but as humans we need reminding. Paul tells us “this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Jesus gave us the example for these as well – doing good for all people, being joyful, relying on prayer and giving thanks to God. Paul wants us to remember that these aren’t just commands for us to obey but gifts God gave for us to connect with Him and one another. Many see these as an obligation Christians must fulfill and while they are, they are also blessings!

Our Creator loves us so much He sent His son to teach us personally. He wants a face to face and heart to heart relationship with every one of us. When we use these blessings as He intends, we can be saved from our selfishness and focus on the mission we have been given to share the Good News with the world.

Loving Lord, You have given us everything and ask that we love You and one another in return. Bless us to be honest and diligent in our faith sharing with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Acts 20:34-36.

“You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them.

In this passage Paul says goodbye to his friends in Ephesus. He has been an example as well as a teacher and leaves them with this encouragement and instruction. As always, he was concerned about providing care for those to whom he ministered and that they in turn care for others.

He tells them that working hard to provide for their needs and those around them is what we are all called to do. God has given us skills, the ability to learn and opportunities so that we might care for ourselves and each other. When we see a need we can meet, we should do so.

Paul tells us Jesus said “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” While these words are not recorded in the Gospels, they are believable as the Lord cared deeply about the needs of the people, and as John writes ”Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written“ (John 21:25).

Loving Lord, we are thankful for Your many gifts, none more precious than our Lord Jesus. Bless us to be energetic in our work, sharing our blessings and Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Luke 6:35-36.

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

In this passage Jesus asks us to follow His example with some specific instructions. It isn’t easy to love our enemies but He tells us it is necessary if we want to be called God’s children. Doing good without expecting anything in return is what is required of those who follow Him.

Jesus tells us that God “is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Sadly, if we are honest, we see ourselves in that definition. We have all failed to love God and one another at some point in our lives. However, because our Father is merciful, we can go to Him in repentance and be forgiven for our mistakes.

After we have been forgiven, the next step is to forgive others, not because they deserve it but because they too are children of God. We are to “be merciful just as your Father is merciful.” What we have received, we are to share with the world.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we have fallen short of Your plan for us. Forgive us and bless us to go in Your name, telling the world of Your love. Amen.