Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Lamentations 3:20-23.

I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Jeremiah is often called “the weeping prophet” as he was sent to call out the evil behavior of Israel. He is the author of the book that bears his name as well as Lamentations. As the title indicates, this is a story of grief over sin.

Rebellion, consequence, forgiveness, restoration. This has been our unfortunate pattern of interaction with God since the very beginning. We disobeyed and were sent away from the garden (Genesis 3:23), but God still had a plan and made a way for us.

Because of God’s faithful love, we have hope. Instead of reliving the hurt and being miserable, we can look forward to His forgiveness and healing. We can sing together “Great is thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see” and know that God is there for us always.

Loving Lord, forgive our willful selfishness and the evil we bring on ourselves. Mend us and send us in Your name that all may know Your love. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 1:19-21.

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

We’ve read this passage together before, but it popped up again today because God thinks we really need to hear it! When anger grabs me I believe I am right, but I say and do things I am ashamed of later. These verses in James tell me I need to slow down and listen.

I know it is often hard to listen to someone with whom you disagree, but if we don’t we will never progress in faith and love as God desires. Jesus told us to love one another but if we don’t even listen to their concerns, we can’t begin to feel affection for them. Listening to God is the way to know His plan for us and listening to each other is the way to know what they fear.

I invite you to join me in something. I plan to intentionally read and listen to people on the “other side” of issues I care about. While this may be hard, remember Jesus listened and spoke often with the people He knew were plotting His death. If we want to be like Him we must make the same effort.

Heavenly Father, help us to see that we all have differing needs and opinions on how to solve our problems. Bless us to be patient listeners, gentle speakers and to always share Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 John 4:4-6.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

John warned Christians about the opposition they would face from those who “belong to this world”, that is, those who are blinded to the truth of Christ by the temporary things they have here. We are still called to minister to them as Jesus did, but not to be surprised at their resistance or affected by their attitude. Most of all we must not let their lies or half-truths infect our faith.

God wants us all back as part of His family, but we each have to make that choice for ourselves. There are earthly and heavenly consequences for our actions but no one is beyond God’s love or redemption. Jesus speaks tenderly to the thief crucified with Him, saying “today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). 

We are all influenced by the world around us, what we see and hear. We must remember that God created everything and the world has nothing of its own to give. It is our challenge to value God’s love and the sacrifice of Jesus for us over everything else.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we follow the way of the world instead of the path You have showed us. Forgive our foolishness and help us to use the gifts we have from You to reach all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Leviticus 20:26.

You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.

This statement from God comes among a variety of religious and societal laws He has given the people. God had freed them but they were not a nation; they had no laws or traditions other than what had been passed down during their captivity in Egypt. This was part of the reason for their dissatisfaction and grumbling and the cause of their wandering in the desert until they learned obedience.

God wanted to protect the covenant relationship between Him and His people. The long list of instructions against religious, family and societal offenses were to keep them from becoming like the pagans around them who did whatever they wanted. Because God is holy, He wants His children to be holy also.

All of this stems from God’s love and His desire for us to be connected to Him. He chose a group of people to be set apart from the rest of the world as an example. Sadly, we have demonstrated our human willfulness time after time, but God loves us too much to give up. 

Gracious God, You created us in Your image out of love and put that love within us. Help us to see that Your plan for us is better than anything we could imagine for ourselves. Bless us to be the bearers of the Gospel to all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 10:31-33.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

This passage concludes Paul’s teaching on giving up one’s rights out of love. There was discussion of whether eating meat that was sacrificed to idols was permitted in 1 Corinthians 8. Paul tells us we may know the action is not wrong (since idols are nothing) but it may cause others to weaken in faith and that is not Christian living.

This speaks to what we say and do as the family of God, that our words and actions have eternal consequences, both for ourselves and others. It doesn’t mean we follow whatever the current whim of society is, but that we do our best to live our faith gently when possible and firmly when needed.

Following Jesus is all about giving glory to God in all we do, and doing what’s best for others as the example. This is living out the Greatest Commandment to love God and neighbor. We must be willing to deny ourselves as Christ did in order that “many may be saved.”

Heavenly Father, we are grateful to be called part of Your family. Help us to live in faith as Your children, sharing Your love and bringing the world to You. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 9:36-38.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

This passage is a prologue to Jesus sending out His disciples in Matthew 10 to preach and heal. This is what they would be called to do after He returned to the Father. He compares the people to sheep without a shepherd. While there were surely some religious leaders of the time who cared, most were only concerned with maintaining their power and position.

Jesus uses the example of a great harvest to explain how we must go into the world in His name. While I was appointed in farming communities in southwest Kansas and southeast Nebraska I got to see what harvest is really like. It is hard, dirty work and takes commitment from everyone involved. However, once it’s done there is a sense of joy and accomplishment. 

Jesus tells us we must be ready to work hard for the kingdom but if we work with Him, we can be part of it. In the old hymn “Come Ye Thankful People, Come” we sing “Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.” We are both the harvesters and God’s harvest, planted by Him with a purpose.

Gracious God, we are glad to be part of what You are doing in the world. Strengthen us to be the labor force you need and bring in all Your children for Your great harvest. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Titus 2:11-13.

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

God’s grace for us has been shown through Christ coming to be one of us. Paul writes of a practical faith, putting into practice what we have learned from Christ. It is a living faith, both alive and a part of our lives. 

We know He will return for us (v. 13), but Jesus Himself told us “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know“ (Acts 1:7). God’s plan is His alone and we should spend time doing what we have been created for – loving Him and one another. If we focus our lives and gifts on this, we are accomplishing our part in His plan.

We read that His coming has brought “salvation to all people”, that everyone is included in God’s offer. We must respond by living according to the lessons Jesus has given, avoiding the pitfalls of earthly sin and waiting patiently but actively for His return. We have been blessed and called to share our faith with the world.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You sent Jesus to show us the way to salvation. Strengthen us in faith and send us into Your creation to share the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Ezekiel 36:26-27.

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

Have you ever had a change of heart? It’s a term we use to describe planning to do one thing, but then after consideration doing something completely different. It indicates a change in our thinking and our behavior toward a situation or a person.

This is the promise God gives Israel (and us) in this passage. Rather than waiting for us to figure it out, the Lord says “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” This reminds us of David’s prayer of confession in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

God is ready and willing to take us back in love. We don’t have to figure it out, we just need to go to Him in repentance, wanting a better connection to Him and a better relationship with our brothers and sisters. God waits for us to accept the fact we can’t save ourselves and turn to Him.

Loving Lord, we are ashamed of our selfish ways toward You and one another. Bless us to be washed clean through the sacrifice of Your son and go in Your name to all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Chronicles 29:10-11.

Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: “O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.“

I must admit I am not overly familiar with some of the Old Testament passages. However, these seemingly dry histories have much to teach us about the relationship between God and His people. We must take time to discover the beauty and lessons found in these accounts.

David wanted to build the temple in Jerusalem, but God said that task would fall to David’s son, Solomon. As we read in this chapter David gathered the materials and funds needed to be able to do this. In these verses we hear his prayer of dedication.

David is remembered as a great king who had human failings but tried to lead his people in godly ways. He is a human example for us that we can’t do it on our own. No matter how “great” we think we are, we all need God’s help and love.

Gracious God, You have made us in Your own image. We are amazed and grateful for Your care. Bless us to be willing and energetic children, sharing Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 8:8-10.

But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!“

In order to understand today’s passage you need to read Matthew 8:5-13. This story always chokes me up. Here is a Roman occupier, a Gentile, who comes to Jesus in faith asking healing not for himself, but for his servant. When Jesus says “I will come”, the centurion says “I am not worthy, just say the word.”

The centurion is there on behalf of his servant, an example of the love for others that Jesus taught. He has faith that Jesus can heal at a distance with a word. He acknowledges his unworthiness. What a great definition of Christianity, admitting we are unworthy, and demonstrating faith and love. 

Jesus came for all of us, Jew and Gentile, and any other human created division with which we have labeled ourselves. In Isaiah 2:3 we hear “People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.“ God wants all His children to be saved, not just a select group. Jesus didn’t come because any of us are worthy, He came because of His love for us.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for our lack of love and faith. Forgive us and bless to go in Your name to love the world as You first loved us. Amen.