Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NLT).

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul reminds us that the Law is a guide to our relationship with God and one another. However, we have made it a tool for control and a weapon. As long as there was sin under the Law, there were people willing to use it improperly, which is a sin in itself.

In Romans 6:14 we read “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the Law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” Jesus came as the once and forever sacrifice to break the power of sin. We can accept His saving grace and be washed clean.

This doesn’t mean there are no rules. We need to remember what Jesus taught Matthew 5:17, “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.” Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love, His Word given to guard and guide us eternally.

Loving Lord, in Your mercy You sent Your Son to cancel the power of sin and death. Bless us to live in Your light and love, carrying the Good News to the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 1:4-5 (NLT).

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Today is the beginning of our celebration of Advent, the time of preparation for Christ coming to be with us as one of us. God sends us what is precious to Him because we are precious to Him. When we accept this wonderful gift, we are forever changed.

Isaiah 9:2 tells us “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” This is God’s promise that He would not abandon us, no matter how badly we have failed Him. He sent His Word and Light to lead us and teach us how we are to love and live for Him.

As we prepare ourselves to celebrate Christ’s birth, may the love He brings fill our hearts and pour out to everyone. He is our Savior and the greatest example of love there is. Now it is up to us to bring His love to the world.

God of light and love, help us to make room in our hearts for Your Son and all Your children. Bless us to go in Your name to share the joy of salvation. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT).

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.

I often ask how God could plan something so awful for His beloved Son. I know we often hurt those closest to us as humans, but thankfully God isn’t like us. Why then did He set in motion such a terrible occurrence?

Dr. J. H. Jowett writes in the Bible Exposition Commentary “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.” Jesus gave up His throne at the right hand of God the Father and obediently became one of us so that we could be saved. He knew exactly what He faced here but He gave Himself up for us anyway.

Jesus taught us that no matter what terrible things happen here, nothing can separate us from His love. Our God is an awesome God and while we may totally mess things up through our own actions, nothing we do can interfere with His plan for all of creation. When we go to Him in repentance, we can be healed.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You sent Your Son to love and save us. Help us to love each other as He did and go in Your name to share the joy of salvation with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT).

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

The Pharisees were attempting to make Jesus look bad, but as always Jesus was ready. He gives an answer and a lesson that is irrefutable. The commandment to love God and each other is what is most important in His kingdom.

Those without a relationship with God are incapable of truly loving others. Our connection to our Creator is the basis for all our other interactions. When we accept His love and forgiveness we can see each other as fellow children of the Heavenly Father, worthy of the love and care He offers to all.

Recognizing our brothers and sisters and their needs is the next step. Jesus calls us to an active life of faith, sharing the gifts God has given us in love. Through this we can be united as followers of Jesus, putting His teaching into practice in everything we do.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for the gift of our Savior and the love He showed us. Help us to show that love to all and share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Chronicles 16:34-35 (NLT).

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, O God of our salvation! Gather and rescue us from among the nations, so we can thank your holy name and rejoice and praise you.”

Today in the US we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It commemorates God’s love and care for His people. I remember singing a hymn called “We Gather Together” every year at Thanksgiving and I hope you’ll remember with me:

“We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing. He chastens and hastens His will to make known. The wicked oppressing, now cease from distressing. Sing praises to His name, He forgets not His own.”

The last verse begins “Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining.” God loves and knows each one of us and most certainly “His faithful love endures forever”. He wants us to gather together in His name to remember His love and care for us, and go to all His children to share that love and care. May we look for ways to be the heart and hands and feet of our Lord every day.

Wise and wonderful God, we give you thanks for all Your many blessings. Send us into the world with Your love and forgiveness, that all Your children may gather together in Your name. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 1 Peter 4:8 (NLT).

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

Peter has good advice for our relationship with God and each other. We need to love God, our neighbor and ourselves in order to be complete as Christians. That may sound a little strange, but unfortunately our self relationship may be our worst stumbling block in trying to follow Jesus.

Proverbs 10:12 tells us “Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.” This is especially true when we love even our enemies as Jesus taught in Luke 6:27. Our love can “cover a multitude of sins” committed against us, but what about love covering a multitude of MY sins?

We may find it hard to love and forgive ourselves after a loss or trauma, even if we were not the cause. What could we have done, how could we have prevented the event? The answer is most often “nothing”. Peter must have agonized over what happened to Jesus and the fact that he denied Him out of fear. Jesus loved and forgave Peter, but Peter also had to love and forgive himself to be restored as an effective disciple.

Loving Lord, we are sorry that we allow evil to distract us with anger, guilt and shame. Help us to give it all to You in faith and live as Your forgiven and beloved children, sharing Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 5:16-18 (NLT).

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

Paul writes that our connection to Christ and each other is not based on “a human point of view.” Jesus doesn’t care about our political or economic systems, the only earthly thing He is interested in is us. Because of this “the old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

In Galatians 3:28 we read “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” The way we label and separate ourselves must sadden Jesus, who sees everyone as a child of God. We must look at each other in the same way if we are to follow Him.

God has called us to be relationship builders according to Christ’s example for us. He changed Paul from a persecutor to a proclaimer, and He can change our lives when we accept His forgiveness and the “task of reconciling people to Him.” He sends us to share His love with the world.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for our lack of care for one another. Bless us to see each other as You do and bring the Good News to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Romans 15:4-6 (NLT).

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul tells his readers that “such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us”, a reminder that the lessons of Jesus are not replacing what they have been taught (Matthew 5:17) but explaining and amplifying those instructions. The Law and the Prophets are still God’s guidance for our lives but now He has spoken to us through the gift of His Son.

Paul adds that being together in study, prayer and praise, “one voice”, enable us to unite as followers of Jesus. This unity makes our discipleship possible, using everyone’s spiritual gifts for the kingdom work to which we are called. While we are differently gifted, we are all blessed the same way.

This passage echoes the teaching “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ” (Philippians 2:5).  We need the same intent Jesus had, sharing His love and His message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). Each of us must accept His forgiveness and be reconciled to God.

Gracious God, we are grateful for your love and care. Help us to share both with all Your children everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is John 1:14 (NLT).

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

The first 18 verses of John’s Gospel are known as the prologue. This passage leads us into the person of Jesus as the Word of God and the light of the world. He is our Savior, but in order to be saved we must live according to His instruction and follow the example He has set for us.

I remember a night land navigation test I had to do as a Boy Scout using a map, compass and a flashlight. All of these tools were essential, but the knowledge of how to use them was more important still. Just having the items doesn’t mean we can put them into practice. Without the teaching of my Scoutmaster I would’ve been lost.

This is how I see scripture and the earthly life of Jesus, as tools and knowledge. We need both to accomplish the work He has called us to do in His name. We must follow where He leads, and without the teachings of the Master, we are lost.

Loving Lord, You sent Your Son to save us from our selfish sins. Forgive us and give us new hearts for the mission You have for us, bringing Your love to the world. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 18:10 (NIV).

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

The Book of Proverbs packs a lot of wisdom into 31 short chapters. This verse reminds us of God’s love and care for us, “a fortified tower” when we need it. The instruction says “the righteous run to it and are safe.” Our faith in Him provides the hope we need.

In verse 11 we read “the wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.” This is a false hope in our own strength which will not protect us in eternity. Putting our trust in the Lord is the only way we can be saved.

Jesus told us “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Nothing we have here can protect us the way a connection to God does! By repenting and accepting Him we can be made whole again and go in the name of the Lord to share His love.

Heavenly Father, we are sorry for our pride that allows us to think we can do it on our own. Forgive us and bless us to be honest in our faith and energetic in our discipleship. Amen.