Category: Daily Prayer

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.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 9:1-2.

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

In one translation this psalm is entitled “A Psalm of Thanksgiving for God’s Justice”, a statement of confident faith.  God is never anxious to punish, but sometimes like children our behavior needs correcting. We know that He is a just God, but also the God of mercy and love.

Giving God our praise is natural, built in to us at birth because He is our creator. God has given us life and all the wonders of creation. We must choose to connect with Him and then give Him thanks for our very being! Without Him we are nothing.

Our connection with Him affects our connection with everything else. The old hymn “Trust and Obey” says “when we walk with the Lord, in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way”, reminding us that only a right relationship with Him can make us complete. May we praise the Lord with all our hearts, now and forever.

Gracious God, we give You all the glory for Your wonderful work. Help us to share the joy we find in You, making disciples of all nations. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14.

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

Paul sends encouragement for the Thessalonians to “honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work”. While this points to pastors, there are many others involved in the life of the church. Take some time to consider and pray for those who keep your church moving forward in faith.

All of us have received spiritual gifts to be shared with the church and the world. While you may think you’re “along for the ride”, never doubt that God has a plan for your life, and will give you opportunities to share the joy we find in Him. Everyone has a chance to serve and bring the Good News!

Paul lists some tasks for us as members of the body of Christ: warn, encourage and take care of those around us. Finally he asks us to be patient with everyone. This is likely to be the most difficult calling we face in our fast-paced and sorely divided world. Rather than grumble about how hard life is and how thick-headed some may seem, we must remember we are all made in His image and no one is beyond His love.

Heavenly Father, we come to You in sorrow for our shortcomings, but with hope for the future. Bless us to be Your representatives, sharing Your word and Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 34:6-9.

In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.

This psalm tells of someone in a desperate situation asking for God’s help. While our situations change, God does not. He is constant in His love and care for us, providing protection and sustenance. The psalmist sings “oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him!”

The phrase “taste and see that the Lord is good” reminds us that we can’t experience His blessings until we go to Him in repentance and accept His forgiveness. He is always ready to welcome us back but we must choose Him first. 

God cares about all His creation, but human beings made in His image are at the top of His list.  Matthew 6:26 tells us “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” When we are in connection with Him, God will protect and provide.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the care and comfort You give, not just when we are troubled, but always. Help us to share Your blessings and truth with all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 2:5-11.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul writes “you must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had”. He tells us not to just think of Jesus, we must think like Jesus. It also means we must act like Jesus, because believing in Him and doing His will can’t be separated. 

Jesus came to save us from ourselves. He came to change our hearts to love God and each other. He came to change our minds that we might go in His name to change the world. While we may see this as something new, it’s not – we were created to be like Him in the first place.

Jesus is our example for a relationship with God and each other. He came and emptied Himself for us that we might be saved. For this reason, God exalted Him above all things, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow”. Jesus has done His part for us, now it’s our turn!

Heavenly Father, we are thankful that You sent Jesus to teach us and save us. Bless us to bring the Good News to all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Peter 1:3-4.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

The apostle Peter writes to remind us that “God has given us everything we need for living a godly life”. God created everything that is and only by His power do we have life at all. When we come to know God through Jesus and the lessons found in scripture, we have an eternal connection that can’t be broken.

Knowing Him leads us to trust the promises He makes to us. Throughout human history He has made covenants with us to guide and protect us. God offers us everlasting life when we accept His call and obey His commandments. We are made in His image and when we are in relationship with Him, we find our highest purpose and happiness.

This amazing connection compels us to share His love with the world. Jesus prepared us to carry on His ministry, making disciples of all nations. Through God’s power and promise, we can now participate in the work of His kingdom, bringing the Good News to everyone.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the times we have failed You and one another. Bless us to go in Your name, showing all what You have done for us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Mark 16:14-16.

Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead. And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”

Mark is acknowledged to be the oldest of the Gospel accounts. It is a compact testimony focusing on what Jesus did, using the phrases “immediately ” or “at once” to indicate action. Mark’s version of the Great Commission is perhaps different in structure than what we hear in Matthew 28, but the call for us to go share the Good News is exactly the same.

In Genesis 12 we read that all the world was to be blessed through Abraham. Jesus lived, died and rose again as the fulfillment of that covenant. He has called us to carry on the work of making disciples until He comes again to take us home.

Being part of the kingdom work is our response to what Jesus has done for us all. We share His story and how His sacrifice has impacted our lives. Each of us must choose to accept His promise that “anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved”. 

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of Your son who came to save us. Help us to go in faith to share Your word and Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Lamentations 3:21-24.

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. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

This passage speaks to us of God’s everlasting love and faithfulness. The prophet Jeremiah wrote to the people of Israel with hope even as Babylon was poised to overrun their country and carry them into captivity. God was just in allowing this punishment for their sin, but offers them His forgiveness when they turn to Him in repentance.

In Jeremiah 29:11 we read “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God wants only the best for us, but our selfish disobedience puts us in opposition to His will for us. If we try to do it on our own, we fail.

The example of Israel in Egypt and the exile to Babylon teach us that He is the God of justice. However, He proves Himself the God of love by sending Jesus that we might all be saved! When we admit our wrongdoing and ask His forgiveness, God is always ready to welcome us back.

Gracious God, we know how often we fail You and each other. Forgive us, strengthen us in faith, and send us to share Your love with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.

Paul has strong words for the church at Corinth that are still applicable for us today. As believers, we fight not as the world does but with “God’s mighty weapons”. This is the way Jesus brought the truth of God to the world “to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments”.

We read that the faithful “destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God”. This is the call that Jesus has placed on our lives, to share the Good News with everyone. Paul originally opposed this message, but when Christ appeared to him he was forever changed.

Two words describing us stand out in this passage, proud and rebellious. We put so much faith in ourselves that rightly belongs to God! By submitting to His will we can be saved and become part of the kingdom work He has for us all.

Gracious God, we are ashamed of our foolish pride and our disobedience. Forgive us and make us more like Jesus, sharing Your love with the world. Amen.