Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 7:7-12.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.

Jesus teaches us to be patient and persistent, that we must ask, seek and knock. He uses human examples we can understand to explain that God has wonderful gifts for us, but we must go to Him in order to receive them and use them wisely. The rest of the lesson is that we must “treat others as you would want them to treat you”.

This “Golden Rule” is a way of turning the situation around. What if we were the one who had been wronged – wouldn’t we want the other to apologize, ask forgiveness and make amends? Now the other side – if we had harmed someone, wouldn’t we want forgiveness and reconciliation? This is what God calls us to in our relationship with Him and each other.

The focus of all the lessons Jesus gives is us, God’s beloved children. I once heard it said that we are the reason God gets up every morning. He wants us to be connected to Him and each other in love, sharing the gifts we are given for the good of all.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the ways we treat each other, ignoring the commandment to love one another. Strengthen us in faith and send us to share Your love in amazing ways. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 27:11-14.

Teach me how you want me to live; lead me along a level path because of those who wait to ambush me! Do not turn me over to my enemies, for false witnesses who want to destroy me testify against me. Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the Lord’s favor in the land of the living? Rely on the Lord! Be strong and confident! Rely on the Lord!

David asks God to teach him how to live according to His law and for protection from his enemies. While our immediate situation may not be life or death, God is always ready to hear and help us. He wants us to trust in His goodness and know He loves us.

David refers back to what God told Joshua before leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land: “I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do” (Joshua 1:9). This is God’s blessing, His presence with us every day, that we are not alone in the world. Our task is to believe His promise and press on in faith.

Relying on God also requires being patient. Waiting on the Lord means we trust Him and His timing over our own. The world needs His love and we have been called to share it with everyone. God doesn’t need our help, but has asked us to be part of His saving work. May we be strong and confident as we go in His name.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your presence and guidance in our lives. Help us to show Your love to all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is 2 Corinthians 7:8-10.

For even if I made you sad by my letter, I do not regret having written it (even though I did regret it, for I see that my letter made you sad, though only for a short time). Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.

This excerpt from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is an almost apology. Paul tells them he didn’t want them to be sad at his words but that his lesson was intended to produce a change in them. This is such difficult situation, trying to convince people of the danger of their disobedience.

As Christians we are told not to judge, at least not by human standards, but at the same time Jesus shares this guidance: “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother” (Matthew 18:15). We are to watch over each other in love. Is it judgement when we try to prevent people harming themselves or others?

He ends this passage with the reminder “for sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret”. God doesn’t want us to be sad in a worldly way, but that sadness at sin will lead us back into the relationship God wants with us. When we see our error, we may be saddened by our wrong choice, but we know that God stands ready to welcome us back.

Gracious God, we are sorry for our selfish ways. Help us to hear Your word, feel Your love and share Your goodness with all the world. Amen.

Most of you are aware that I use The Bible App (bible.com) to put together morning prayer every day. It’s also the source of the shareable graphic that I insert daily. Sometimes I feel their daily reading repeats itself – the same passage in a fairly recent period. Then I had to remind myself I often say “if we hear it more than once, it’s probably important!” I hope you are blessed the reading this Sabbath!

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 6:19-21.

Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus taught us that we are to serve one another and showed us in amazing ways. Now it is our turn to serve. (I know you are thinking “how does service relate to treasure?”) Jesus showed us that our service for God’s kingdom and each other is the only way to enjoy the treasure of eternal life.

Selfish people focus on things. Followers of Jesus focus on people. The treasure we are accumulating for ourselves in heaven are far greater than the things of this world and can never be taken away. Earthly treasure is temporary. Things on earth (including us) eventually wear down. Things lose their value, but God’s beloved children do not.

Jesus wants us to be in relationship with God and each other. This is our first and most important task. If we learn and live the teachings He has given us, we will be rich in heavenly treasure.

Loving Lord, help us to see what is eternal, living as You intend. Send us to share Your love with everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Psalms 42:8-11.

By day the Lord decrees his loyal love, and by night he gives me a song, a prayer to the living God. I will pray to God, my high ridge: “Why do you ignore me? Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?” My enemies’ taunts cut into me to the bone, as they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

This psalm is a lament, a cry to God. There are many of these passages in which the psalmist pours out their heart asking for God’s help. However, there is always a note of hope, our confidence that God hears and answers prayer.

God wants us to bring our issues to Him. While God already knows everything we experience, we become part of the process when we share our joys and concerns. He wants us to be free from worry, but it is up to us to come to Him in prayer for relief.

The psalm ends with praise to God “for His saving intervention”. With this assurance we rejoice. We know that God is present with us always and His presence gives us comfort and courage to press on.

Loving Lord, we are weak on our own, but with Your love we are strengthened. Help us to be energetic in sharing the Gospel everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 22:3-6.

A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fearing the Lord is riches and honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but the one who guards himself keeps far from them. Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

While proverbs are usually stand alone instructions not necessarily related to the verses around them, this passage connects wise sayings about the path God has planned for us. It reminds us that God has shown us what is right, but we must still choose it. God wants us to be part of what He is doing in creation but He doesn’t force us.

This reading warns that “thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse”. Choosing what we want rather than what God intends always leads to bad results. Jesus teaches “the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14). We must learn to follow Him instead of our own selfish ways.

The sooner we learn this the easier it will be for us. The last verse tells us “train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it”. We have responsibility to learn this for ourselves and help others to find their place in His kingdom.

Loving Lord, we are sorry for the times we stray from You. Help us to return in repentance, safe on the path You have made for us. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is James 1:25-27.

But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does. If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile. Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

God has given us His will in His word. Scripture is God’s message of love and hope sent to us through inspired writers over the centuries. James tells us if we live out God’s law we will be blessed in what we do.

Doing God’s will means knowing His word. How can we know what God intends for us if we don’t read and listen? Even then, James warns we “must not become a forgetful listener”, that we must do more than that. We are called to act in the name of Jesus to share God’s love.

Each of us are differently gifted and God has a unique purpose for everyone. James instructs us to look to the needs of those around us. Perhaps we can’t solve all the world’s problems but everyone can do something. Ask God to point you in the right direction and go make a difference!

Gracious God, You have called us to share the Gospel with the world. Make us strong in faith and love to reach out to all Your children. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Philippians 1:8-11.

For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Paul writes to the Philippians with words of encouragement from his prison cell. He wants them to know that God’s love is there with him, even in dire circumstances, and that same love is given to them. It is their task to accept and share God’s love with everyone.

Paul went from being a persecutor of Christians to being a persecuted Christian. While we may not face the challenges he did, his lessons are applicable in our lives. He teaches us that we are precious to God and that He is always with us.

We are called to be “sincere and blameless for the day of Christ” by following the example Jesus set for us. Paul’s life was turned around by his encounter with Christ. While we may never have the same experience, we can all know Jesus and make Him part of our lives. Then we can be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God”, living in Him and for Him.

Loving Lord, we are amazed that You call us back into relationship with You to be part of Your eternal plan. Bless us to grow in Your love and Your spirit to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture this morning is Matthew 6:33-34.

But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus continues a series of lessons in this chapter on many subjects, such as prayer, fasting, and giving up our anxiety to God. He presents God’s will and word to us in ways that are welcoming and understandable. He wants us to see scripture not as a rule book but a love letter, a record of our history with God.

Nothing is more important than our connection to our Heavenly Father, and when we allow things to distract us, it hampers the relationship. Even harmless everyday activities can divert us from time needed with God. The story of Mary and Martha is a prime example. Martha certainly isn’t doing anything wrong in preparing for the meal, but when she complains to Jesus her sister isn’t helping, He tells her that “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

Worry is never a solution, it merely wastes energy and often takes time away from working on the issue. Jesus says to continue our efforts for the kingdom and let God handle things. In this way we can better concentrate on the task before us – sharing His love with the world.

Gracious God, we are grateful for the gift of Your son who taught us to love You and one another. Help us to be more like Jesus, trusting You in all things. Amen.

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

So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer. So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come! And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Paul sums up the Great Commission by saying God “has given us the ministry of reconciliation”. Being reconciled means being together again. Jesus puts us together with God again and calls us to do the same for the whole world.

While we are part of God’s plan, we need His help to accomplish it. We may have individual work we are called to, however we also work together as brothers and sisters. We are the body of Christ here on earth and the best way to reach people for Jesus is to meet them where they are on a personal level.

Paul writes “what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!”, telling us that Jesus has brought about a change in us and calls us to share it with everyone. We no longer look at each other as mere humans but see people as beloved children of God. As such, we are each special and each of us is responsible for spreading the Gospel everywhere.

Gracious God, You sent us Your son Jesus Christ that we might be made new through Him. Bless us to go in faith to tell the world of Your love. Amen.