My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1–2, NIV
Lord God, we thank you that you have given us atonement, an atonement that delivers us from all evil, from all that is temporal and perishable, and that allows us even now to live in eternity. Grant that many people become aware of the greatness and freeing power of the redemption you have offered us. May a people be born to you, serving you with light in their hearts as they look to the future coming of Jesus Christ. Be with us, strengthen us, and protect us from all the deception on earth. For we want to be your children and nothing else; with our whole hearts we want to look always to you. Amen.
Recent articles on Plough
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Monday Provocation
Zena Hitz
When I tried living in a religious community, I didn’t get to choose my companions. Read now
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Sunday Source
Saint Rafael Arnaiz
Get rid of everything in your heart that is in the way, and you’ll find God there. Read now
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Saturday Short
Ivan Rusyn
A year after the Russian invasion, a pastor gives an update on the work of churches in wartime Bucha and Kyiv. Read now
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Friday Long Read
Amy Boyd
Wildfires can be a valuable conservation tool – but that depends where they occur. The sun-scorched desert is vulnerable in ways you might not expect. Read now
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Thursday Insight
Johann Christoph Arnold
What can we learn from this radical woman? Read now
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For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:20-22, NIV
Lord our God, from whom great promises are given for all humankind and especially for your people, we gather in your presence. We rejoice before you, for your promise is sure and your works will be revealed to the glory of your name. Grant us steadfast faith in the grace of Jesus Christ. Grant us faith to hold firm, and in spite of all evil to trust that you are ruling and will set everything right. Lord our God, our Father, we cry to you. As the deer pants for refreshing water, so in our time our souls cry out to you, “Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as in heaven.” Amen.
Recent articles on Plough
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Sunday Source
Saint Rafael Arnaiz
Get rid of everything in your heart that is in the way, and you’ll find God there. Read now
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Saturday Short
Ivan Rusyn
A year after the Russian invasion, a pastor gives an update on the work of churches in wartime Bucha and Kyiv. Read now
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Friday Long Read
Amy Boyd
Wildfires can be a valuable conservation tool – but that depends where they occur. The sun-scorched desert is vulnerable in ways you might not expect. Read now
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Thursday Insight
Johann Christoph Arnold
What can we learn from this radical woman? Read now
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Wednesday Podcast
Tom Holland, Peter Mommsen and Susannah Black Roberts
How did the crucifixion of Jesus change how humanity thinks about suffering? Read now
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It is not that the Lord is slow in fulfilling his promise, as some suppose, but that he is very patient with you, because it is not his will for any to be lost, but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9, NEB
Dear Father in heaven, we thank you with all our hearts that you have given us your living promise. We thank you that again and again our faith can receive a clearer vision through this promise. For you have promised that at last the greatest day of all will come, will conquer the whole world, and bring salvation to all people to the glory of your name as Father throughout all nations. Strengthen us in every way, especially when we are in need and distress. Strengthen the sick and those who are tempted. May they wait in expectation for fulfillment of the promise, and may they see help come. May your name, Lord God, be honored among us. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.
Recent articles on Plough
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Sunday Source
Saint Rafael Arnaiz
Get rid of everything in your heart that is in the way, and you’ll find God there. Read now
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Saturday Short
Ivan Rusyn
A year after the Russian invasion, a pastor gives an update on the work of churches in wartime Bucha and Kyiv. Read now
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Friday Long Read
Amy Boyd
Wildfires can be a valuable conservation tool – but that depends where they occur. The sun-scorched desert is vulnerable in ways you might not expect. Read now
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Thursday Insight
Johann Christoph Arnold
What can we learn from this radical woman? Read now
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Wednesday Podcast
Tom Holland, Peter Mommsen and Susannah Black Roberts
How did the crucifixion of Jesus change how humanity thinks about suffering? Read now
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As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13–14, NIV
Lord our God, merciful God and almighty Father in heaven, we beseech you, look upon us as your children. For in spite of everything, all of us are allowed to be your children and to praise you for all the good you are doing and for all you still want to do for us. Hear our prayer as we come to you with particular concerns, asking for your will to be done in us, for everything to be carried out according to your good purpose, that we may be joyful even in hard and serious times and may hold fast to what you have promised. Amen.
Recent articles on Plough
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Friday Long Read
Amy Boyd
Wildfires can be a valuable conservation tool – but that depends where they occur. The sun-scorched desert is vulnerable in ways you might not expect. Read now
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Thursday Insight
Johann Christoph Arnold
What can we learn from this radical woman? Read now
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Wednesday Podcast
Tom Holland, Peter Mommsen and Susannah Black Roberts
How did the crucifixion of Jesus change how humanity thinks about suffering? Read now
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Tuesday Books & Culture
Alan Noble
Alan Noble reviews Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger and Stella Maris. Read now
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Monday Provocation
Elise Tegegne
When someone asks me for money, should I give? Read now
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For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3, NIV
Dear Father in heaven, in quietness we come to you and ask you for your Spirit. We ask this especially for the time of waiting still required of us as we hope and strive for light to come into all hearts, for light to shine where there is so much death. We must not despair of our inner life even when life around us rages as if it would suck us down into its whirlpool with no way out. But you will guard us. Watch over us, we pray, also in hours of temptation, so that we may remain under your care. Watch over us so that we have hope and joy in you, assured that your goal for us all is true life from above, a life of resurrection. Amen.
Recent articles on Plough
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Friday Long Read
Amy Boyd
Wildfires can be a valuable conservation tool – but that depends where they occur. The sun-scorched desert is vulnerable in ways you might not expect. Read now
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Thursday Insight
Johann Christoph Arnold
What can we learn from this radical woman? Read now
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Wednesday Podcast
Tom Holland, Peter Mommsen and Susannah Black Roberts
How did the crucifixion of Jesus change how humanity thinks about suffering? Read now
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Tuesday Books & Culture
Alan Noble
Alan Noble reviews Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger and Stella Maris. Read now
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Monday Provocation
Elise Tegegne
When someone asks me for money, should I give? Read now
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This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances.” Isaiah 49:8, NIV
Lord our God, protect us in your Spirit. Strengthen our hearts especially when we often have to bear suffering, that we may be steadfast in hope and may again and again experience a day of salvation. Protect us in every way. Accept our praise and thanks, and let our hearts rejoice in what you have already done for us. We want to discern your ways more and more so that we may please you as your servants. Amen.
Recent articles on Plough
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Wednesday Podcast
Tom Holland, Peter Mommsen and Susannah Black Roberts
How did the crucifixion of Jesus change how humanity thinks about suffering? Read now
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Tuesday Books & Culture
Alan Noble
Alan Noble reviews Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger and Stella Maris. Read now
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Monday Provocation
Elise Tegegne
When someone asks me for money, should I give? Read now
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Sunday Source
Julian of Norwich
The thirst Christ suffered on the cross remains unquenched until the last soul has been made free. Read now
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Saturday Short
A. J. Maruna
Hoping to grow closer to God, a young man learns some truths about himself and encounters some of the miracles of community during his time at L’Abri. Read now
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He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 1:5-6, NIV
Dear Father in heaven, grant that we may come to you as your children. Grant that we may come to your Spirit, that something of trust and perseverance may be born in us for our life on earth. May we always be loyal and full of hope, working and striving not only for what is earthly, but for the tasks that have been laid on us for your kingdom and its righteousness. Let new light shine out among us again and again. Let many understand when your voice is speaking to them, so that they may gain courage. Let your voice be heard so that the great gospel that makes us your children may be proclaimed to people of all circles. Amen.
Recent articles on Plough
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Tuesday Books & Culture
Alan Noble
Alan Noble reviews Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger and Stella Maris. Read now
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Monday Provocation
Elise Tegegne
When someone asks me for money, should I give? Read now
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Sunday Source
Julian of Norwich
The thirst Christ suffered on the cross remains unquenched until the last soul has been made free. Read now
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Saturday Short
A. J. Maruna
Hoping to grow closer to God, a young man learns some truths about himself and encounters some of the miracles of community during his time at L’Abri. Read now
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Friday Long Read
Julian Waldner
How do you make an inherited tradition your own? A young Hutterite reckons with the legacy of his forebears. Read now
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…till the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest. The Lord’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:15-17, NIV
Lord our God, we look to your Holy Spirit. Unite us with your Spirit, we pray. May we be children of your Spirit, ruled throughout our lives by your Spirit. There is so much else around us wanting to teach us and claiming to represent the truth, and we are full of fear unless help comes from your Spirit alone. Your Spirit comes to us as helper and comforter, who helps us find the way to go. Hear us, your children, whom you want to lead and whose Savior you want to be through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Recent articles on Plough
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Monday Provocation
Elise Tegegne
When someone asks me for money, should I give? Read now
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Sunday Source
Julian of Norwich
The thirst Christ suffered on the cross remains unquenched until the last soul has been made free. Read now
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Saturday Short
A. J. Maruna
Hoping to grow closer to God, a young man learns some truths about himself and encounters some of the miracles of community during his time at L’Abri. Read now
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Friday Long Read
Julian Waldner
How do you make an inherited tradition your own? A young Hutterite reckons with the legacy of his forebears. Read now
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Thursday Insight
Sadhu Sundar Singh
Communion with God requires living and breathing in him, not hunting for his blessing. Read now
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Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Revelation 12:10-11, NIV
Lord our God, in praise and thanksgiving we look toward your kingdom and the reign of Jesus Christ in your kingdom. We rejoice that you make him Lord not only in heaven but also on earth, where he will gain the victory in all mankind. Men will become good and will love one another, and they will find peace when everything is done according to your will. For the time must come when, on earth as in heaven, your will is done everywhere and in everything. Be with us with your Spirit so that we may stand firm as your children until the moment comes for us to exult: Up out of all grief and trouble! Up from evil and death! Up to you, our Father in heaven! Praise to your name today while we are still groaning. Glory to your kingdom. Glory to Jesus Christ our Savior, whom you have given us. Amen.
Recent articles on Plough
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Sunday Source
Julian of Norwich
The thirst Christ suffered on the cross remains unquenched until the last soul has been made free. Read now
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Saturday Short
A. J. Maruna
Hoping to grow closer to God, a young man learns some truths about himself and encounters some of the miracles of community during his time at L’Abri. Read now
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Friday Long Read
Julian Waldner
How do you make an inherited tradition your own? A young Hutterite reckons with the legacy of his forebears. Read now
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Thursday Insight
Sadhu Sundar Singh
Communion with God requires living and breathing in him, not hunting for his blessing. Read now
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Wednesday Podcast
Peter Mommsen and Susannah Black Roberts
The great Christian apologist is an imaginary guest as the hosts consider the problem of suffering. Read now
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