Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Galatians 6:7-10.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Paul has an essential lesson for all Christians – you will reap what you sow. He warns that what we “sow” here leads to an eternal “harvest”. Our words and actions have consequences in this life and the next. It is important that we realize the impact.

He teaches that we must “not grow weary in doing what is right.” Sometimes it may seem that we’re not making any progress in the fight against evil. God says to keep at it; we do not fight alone and success is not measured in human terms.

Paul encourages us to “work for the good of all.” We are called to spread the Gospel among those who have never heard or understood, and to support our brothers and sisters in Christ that they may accomplish their own sowing of the Good News. The members of the community of faith must work in harmony with each other to ensure the love of God is shared with everyone.

Loving Lord, You created us in Your image for a reason. Fill us with Your spirit and send us to bring Your love and light to all people. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 73:23-26.

Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

The Psalms are expressions of our human emotion and cover all the many feelings we can have. The children of Israel used these as part of their worship, but also as guidance for their lives. They are prayers set to music.

In this psalm we hear the confidence of believers that God will be with us to “guide me with Your counsel”, an Old Testament reference to the Holy Spirit, God’s presence with us. He leads us in the way of righteousness, if we are willing to follow. The choice is ours; however “whom have I in heaven but You?”

The psalmist acknowledges our human frailty, “but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” What a wonderful blessing to know that even in our most difficult moments, God is there for us. He has promised that if we reach out to Him, He will hold us in His love.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful for Your love and guidance in all we do. Bless us to go in Your name to share the Gospel with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 19:16-17

Those who keep the commandment will live; those who are heedless of their ways will die. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full.

Keeping God’s commandments has always been important, from the very beginning. God gave  us a beautiful world with only a few constraints and when we failed to obey, sin entered the world. This brought a whole flood of problems, including want and need.

This passage tells us “whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.” As if He owes us anything! Everything we have is a gift from God in the first place! However, God blesses our generosity with His generosity that all might know His love.

In Deuteronomy 15:7-8 we read ”do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be.” Especially during this time that we celebrate God coming to be with us as one of us, let us remember our charge to care for the last, the least and the lost.

Loving Lord, You have blessed us beyond measure. Help us to see the needs in our world and use Your gifts for the good of all Your children. Amen.

Our Christmas scripture is Matthew 1:20-23.

But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

Mary had the hardest part in bringing Jesus into the world, but Joseph was in a tough spot as well. His fiancée turns up pregnant in a culture that says it values purity and faithfulness. However, Joseph is a kind man who really loves her and rather than shame her publicly, which could result in her death, “he planned to dismiss her quietly” (Matthew 1:19), believing it was the right thing to do.

God intervenes as He did during those times, sending Joseph an angelic messenger in a dream, revealing the miracle to come as it was told to Mary. He had to go with his faith, rather than what the world thought was right. It can’t have been easy for them, but God never promised it would be easy.

God in His mercy had a plan to redeem His people from sin, using an unassuming young couple to bring our savior into the world. God has plans for every one of us, we must be willing to say “yes” as they did and obey even when it is difficult. Joy to the world, the Lord is come. We have received our King, may we all follow in faith.

Gracious God, today we celebrate Your coming to be one of us that we might be saved. Bless us to share Your love every day with all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this Christmas Eve is Luke 2:8-14.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

God sends His angels to tell the lowliest of people of His blessing of salvation – “to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” God has sent His servants before in the form of faithful leaders and prophets, but this time He comes Himself as a human baby. This is not at all what anyone expected.

Later we hear that God has made known to wealthy and learned people from far away of His love and care, and they travel a great distance to see the miracle and worship the King. God doesn’t discriminate based on wealth or position on either end of the scale. His blessing is based on faith and relationship with Him.

The heavenly host sing “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those whom He favors.” God has chosen all of us as His beloved children. May we all come, rich and poor, to accept His gift of love and forgiveness. Oh come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Heavenly Father, we don’t deserve Your blessing, but You bless us just the same. Thank You for the best gift ever given. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 9:6-7.

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah, the prophet who warned Israel about how they were living and the consequences of their actions, also spoke of the grace of God and the blessing He has for His people. He tells of God’s love for them and the child that will come to prove it in the flesh. It reminds them of their heritage and the future of love and peace God promises.

This passage gives us some of the titles by which we will know Jesus. He is the Wonderful Counselor who will always guide us in accordance with God’s will. As Mighty God Himself, He stands ready to protect us. The Everlasting Father loves all His children and wants them in eternal relationship with Him and each other.

The Prince of Peace comes to gather the faithful to Himself and “His authority shall grow continually.” Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, and He shall reign forever. Hallelujah!

Loving Lord, we are ashamed of our falling away from Your love and Your word. Forgive us, we pray. Strengthen us by faith and send us into Your world that all may know Your love. Amen.

Friends, I apologize for the tardy post today, rough night and morning appointment, home to find my internet down. Still, the word of the Lord is welcome whenever it arrives. 

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 7:13-14.

Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.“

The prophet Isaiah lived and ministered 700 years before Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, yet he told the people of God’s wonderful provision for them. Israel faced perilous issues during this time, yet they still didn’t return to the Lord. Isaiah tells them there will be a sign from God.

He says “the virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel”. That term means “God with us”. Not God is good, God is for you – yes, He is! – but very literally God in human form dwelling on earth with us. How amazing that the Creator Himself would choose to come as one of us that we might know His love personally!

There’s more of course. All of this connects with God’s plan from the beginning. We were given stewardship of creation and above all, that means looking after one another. Jesus taught us that this is our way of showing God our love, by sharing His love with the world.

Gracious God, we are so grateful for the gift of Yourself in the form of Your son, Jesus Christ. Help us to share the joy we have received and tell everyone the Good News. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 100:1-5.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Praise and worship are our response to God’s love. Because He made us for relationship with Himself and each other, we are to share His love and care for His creation (Genesis 1:28-31). This is the first covenant between God and His people – He has given us everything and we are to look after it as He does.

He is constant and unchanging in His care for us and we offer Him our thanks by worshiping as a community. By joining together to recognize what He has done for us we remember “it is He that made us and we are His.” As the “sheep of His pasture” we follow His guidance and enjoy His presence and protection.

God calls us to be the caretakers of all creation, an amazing blessing, but a task we can only accomplish with His help. Through our worship we gain a renewed sense of His love and our responsibility. We praise Him for His greatness and go in His name to serve.

Gracious God, we are humbled that You have given us everything and ask us to be part of what You are doing in the world. May we go in joyful obedience to do Your will. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Chronicles 16:8-12.

O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered.

This is David’s song of thanks as the Ark of the Covenant is brought into Jerusalem. Scholars tell us that while 1 Chronicles 16 records the event, David wrote Psalm 105, which is very similar, to celebrate the event. This would have been sung by a group of priests, and later by the people in memory of the Ark’s return.

I sometimes think of David as the Singing King because of the number of Psalms attributed to him. This was definitely a gift from God and David used his gift in praise to the Lord. While singing is not everyone’s gift, we can all join in worship to God in some way.

What’s important here is not the beauty of our voices or the marvelous composition, or even the momentous event being remembered. What is most important is God’s everlasting love for us and our response to Him. “Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His presence continually” is still our daily goal and blessing.

Loving Lord, we praise You for Your greatness and Your care for us. Lead us in Your righteousness and send us to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 47:1-7.

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.

Songs of praise and worship are numerous in scripture. It is a natural reaction for us to give thanks for God’s goodness and protection. If we could maintain this attitude throughout our lives how much happier we would be!

In some translations this psalm is titled “One God, one King, one people”. In our modern understanding we forget how rare the worship of one God was. Monotheism was unique to Israel in that time and region. They had a special relationship with the Creator of all things.

However, they asked for an earthly king when God was already their king (1 Samuel 8:20). They chose to follow the ways of people, rather than the plan God had for them. May we choose the Lord over all the gaudy things the earth may tempt us with, and claim Jesus as our Savior!

Gracious God, we often fall into the lure of worldly things. Help us to see the truth through Your light and love, and go to share this blessing with the world. Amen.