Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 54:9-10.

“Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

Isaiah writes of the hope God’s people have in His covenant of blessing. This encouraged the children of Israel after the exile that God was still with them and for them. God says through His prophet “For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain.”

God makes an eternal covenant of relationship with each of us and all of us. His word can never fail! While we may continue to stumble along the way, God’s love for us is constant. He tells us “My covenant of blessing will never be broken.”

This covenant of blessing leads to the coming of Jesus as our savior. In the ultimate act of forgiveness and mercy Christ was willing to die for us that we might be free of slavery to sin and death. God’s promise came in the flesh and our Lord will return to complete God’s plan of salvation for all of us.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for the times we fail to live according to Your law and Your love. Bless us to go in Your name to share Your covenant of blessing with the world. Amen.

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

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given.

I learned something this morning! Well, maybe remembered something I had forgotten. I was all set to tell you that as King David was bringing the ark back to Jerusalem, he sang Psalm 105. While this passage does appear there, it is because David wrote it specifically for this occasion (1 Chronicles 16:7). It was saved by the Levites and later included in the Psalms.

We need to remember that the Bible is not necessarily chronological in between Genesis and Revelation. Written by a variety of people over a long span of time, it shows how constant God is and how consistent is our experience with Him. God’s love and His plan for us are unchanging.

The message of this scripture is essential, that God rules over everything there is and deserves our praise and worship. We are to “Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds. Exult in His holy name”. Think of how He has led us and blessed us, and let us give thanks for His love.

Gracious God, You created us in Your image out of love. Help us to love others as You first loved us, following the example of Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 9:6-9.

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

Paul writes to the church in Corinth regarding giving, using the example of planting seed. He wants us to understand that giving for the needs of others is what God has called us to do, but also that our generosity can inspire increased faith and further generosity in those whom we help. God creates a cycle of assistance through our giving.

The scriptural quote Paul uses comes from Psalm 112:9, which is similar to Proverbs 22:9 “Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor”. These indicate that giving has been part of God’s plan for a long time. God wants us to be involved in the welfare of others, sharing what we have been given.

Paul tells us not to give “reluctantly or in response to pressure”. Our offering must be a gift, given in joy and praise for what the Lord has done for us. God loves a cheerful giver because they are grateful for their blessings and want others to be able to know that joy. When we give in order to help our brothers and sisters we are part of God’s work in the world.

Gracious God, You have given us everything. Help us to be generous in our giving out of love for You and all creation. Amen.

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

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

In this chapter Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount with the call to follow Him. Evil opens a “highway to hell”, the easy road. Believers are cautioned to avoid being led into this trap. Jesus Himself is the narrow gate through which the righteous may enter God’s kingdom.

The decision is ours, but there is no middle road; it is His way or no way. Jesus tells us “no one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6). God sent His Son to be with us as one of us that we might see what a life in connection to Him means.

All are invited to be part of God’s plan but we have to choose to accept His terms: to love Him and one another, and go share His love with the world. This is not negotiable. While we may still stumble and fall, His love and forgiveness wait for those who repent and get back on the path.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus Christ our Lord who came to save us and show us a better life in You. Guide us through the narrow gate into salvation. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 55:10-12.

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

Isaiah chapters 40-55 are known as the prophecies of comfort. They speak to us of God’s love and mercy, that there is forgiveness for those who choose a connection with the Lord and desire to obey His commandments. God says “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit”. 

Romans 8:19-23 tells us that creation waits for the fulfillment of His plan, the fruit that God speaks of in Isaiah 55:11. We are part of this plan, as recipients of His gifts and as His workers, to bring His word to everyone. The prophet teaches us that like rain that produces seed and bread, His word is essential for our lives.

This passage closes with the happy exclamation “The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!” This echos Psalm 19 that tells us creation sings at God’s glory and majesty. We too offer God our praise and worship, and go in His name to share the blessings He gives.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of life and Your invitation to eternal life through Christ’s sacrifice for us. Bless us to be energetic in sharing our faith with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 19:1-6.

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.

This psalm tells us that creation testifies to God’s greatness at all times and in all places. In Luke 19 Jesus tells the Pharisees who want His followers to be quiet “I tell you, if these stop speaking, the stones will cry out!” Everything praises their maker.

We were made specifically for relationship with God, but He doesn’t force us. We must choose to connect with Him. Without His loving care, we would not exist. In John 15 we read “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”.

How do we offer God our praise? We connect personally through study and prayer, in corporate worship and by caring for His creation, to include our brothers and sisters. God has given us charge over His gifts and our best offering is to love one another as He first loved us.

Gracious God, we are amazed that You include us in Your plan for all creation. Help us to share the Good News of salvation with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Hebrews 12:10-13.

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Discipline is not something we tend to seek or readily accept as humans. We associate it with correction, and as the writer (assumed to be Paul) tells us “no discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful!” However, God only tries to correct our behavior because He loves us. If we didn’t matter, He wouldn’t bother.

As our earthly families mold us to live as part of a community, so our Father in heaven molds us to live eternally. We read “God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness”. God has provided us with the guidance of His word and the example of Jesus that we might learn and share His love.

This passage closes with an exhortation to “take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees”, encouraging us to grow in faith and go in faith to make disciples of all nations. God wants all His children to come to Him and we are all charged to spread the Good News. 

Loving Lord, we are amazed that You call us to be part of the kingdom work. Bless us to go in Your name, strengthened by faith, to tell everyone of Your love for us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Isaiah 60:1-4.

Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home.

The prophet Isaiah writes with encouragement for Israel during the time of the exile in Babylon. It expresses hope for their future as a nation, but more importantly, it speaks of their role as a beacon to God for all people everywhere. While the darkness of sin may seem bleak, the glory of the Lord will come to bring His light.

God’s people may face trials and persecution but He is always there for us. Our situation doesn’t override our calling to spread the Gospel. When we face difficulties we take it to the Lord, and when we are blessed we praise Him for His love and mercy.

We are meant to be an example to the world in good times and bad times. How we react as Christians has an impact on others. It is easy to respond as the world does, Jesus shows us a better way through loving God and one another. 

Heavenly Father, we are grateful to be part of what You are doing in the world. Strengthen us in faith and send us to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 8:34-35.

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”

Jesus teaches us that our first allegiance must be to God, not to ourselves or any earthly thing. When we try to do it alone, we fail. Only our repentance and acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice for us can make us right with God.

God has a plan for each of our lives and in order to live with Him eternally we must follow that plan, not our own. This is hard for us because we have free will to choose our actions. God doesn’t force us to do anything. However, we risk separation from His blessings when we go our own way.

Jesus tells us it may not be easy, but it will be worth the effort. In order to follow Him we must be ready to do as He did, laying down our lives for each other if necessary. His way is the one and only way for us to be saved.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of Your son, Jesus Christ our savior. Help us to die to self and live for You, sharing the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Peter 4:6-8.

That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit. The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Peter tells us that we must share the Gospel because even those who have died after hearing it  “now live forever with God in the spirit”. In 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 we hear “for as in Adam all die; even so in Christ shall all be made alive”. Jesus sends us to tell the Good News to everyone that they might repent and be saved.

The instruction to “continue to show deep love for each other” teaches that we must forgive the human mistakes we all make. Jesus taught us that love forgives repeatedly (Matthew 18:21-22). By forgiving one another we release the hurt caused and repair the relationship. By asking God’s forgiveness we reconnect with Him.

This passage closes with the assurance that “love covers a multitude of sins”. This comes from Proverbs 10:12, reminding us that our love for others can help them find their way to the Lord. It also means that through Christ’s sacrifice for us, we can be washed clean and live new lives in Him. 

Loving Lord, You have forgiven us and made a way for us to be free of earthly sin. Help us to share this blessing with our brothers and sisters that we may all live eternally with You. Amen.