Daily Prayer for December 14
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Hebrews 13:8, RSV
Thank you, Father in heaven, for gathering us together and opening a door which can be entered by all who are like children. You open the door for all who have the childlike hope that you are carrying out your purpose, that in the midst of the ruin and sin of world history, life remains, the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, life for all the world. No one can destroy this life, which will soon gather power until all people see him, Jesus Christ, who for the salvation of humankind is the same yesterday, today, and in all eternity. Amen.
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Trumpet ManRobert Lee Williams A mystery man sporting a salt-and-pepper afro blew a golden trumpet in the prison yard. His tune took me back to the streets. Read now |
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Daily Prayer for December 13
I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart. I will put my spirit in you and will see to it that you follow my laws and keep all the commands I have given you. Ezekiel 36:26–27, TEV
Lord our God, may our lives be awakened, for you send your Spirit to blow through heaven and earth and you stir everything to life. May we long for your Spirit’s prompting. Grant that we not be overpowered by evil and sin. May we be born anew to be fighters for the highest good on earth, which leads into heaven. Hear the prayers of all people far and near who are sighing for the Savior. We pray for them all as we pray for ourselves, and you will hear our prayer. You will send power to lift up their hearts and souls so that there may be a great throng of your joyful people on earth. In spite of all the misfortune, adversity, and danger in the world, there will be a people exulting from one end of the earth to the other, a people trusting in you and sure of victory through the great grace you give in answer to our prayers. Amen.
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The Reluctant Goddess and the Roasted HogsLisabeth Button A Bruderhof teacher applies lessons from her mentors and Homer in her classroom and beyond. Read now |
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A Failsafe Cure for LonelinessJohann Christoph Arnold If we look at what we can give to others, our loneliness will evaporate. Read now |
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For Such a KingKelsi Folsom Don’t be surprised to find politically subversive messages in Gian Carlo Menotti’s classic children’s opera Amahl and the Night Visitors. Read now |
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Book Tour: Of Gods and GhostsPhil Christman Reviewing Lake of Darkness by Adam Roberts, All Things Are Full of Gods by David Bentley Hart, and Concerning the Future of Souls by Joy Williams. Read now |
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Daily Prayer for December 12
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:11–12, NIV
Lord our God, we thank you for allowing us to be called your children. We thank you for giving us the power to become more truly your children, so that there may be a witness to your name on earth, so that again and again in the name of Jesus Christ new power may come for body and soul, for the happy and unhappy, for all who are still following false paths, for all who suffer so much grief, fear, and need. We thank you and we praise your name. Help us on our way. Help us weak people who often grow anxious and afraid. Help us in everything. Help us especially in the concern we have deepest in our hearts, that your name may be honored, your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.
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A Failsafe Cure for LonelinessJohann Christoph Arnold If we look at what we can give to others, our loneliness will evaporate. Read now |
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For Such a KingKelsi Folsom Don’t be surprised to find politically subversive messages in Gian Carlo Menotti’s classic children’s opera Amahl and the Night Visitors. Read now |
|
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Book Tour: Of Gods and GhostsPhil Christman Reviewing Lake of Darkness by Adam Roberts, All Things Are Full of Gods by David Bentley Hart, and Concerning the Future of Souls by Joy Williams. Read now |
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Daily Prayer for May 1
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
Lord Jesus, we look to you on the throne beside your Father in heaven and ask that you be Lord of peace in our hearts. Help us to overcome ourselves again and again and to remain at peace. Then your will may be done in your disciples, a power of peace may be around us that goes out into the whole world, and your name may be glorified on earth. For you are Lord of peace, and we await you. In difficult times faith and hope will take hold in our hearts all the more firmly, to your glory, Lord Jesus. For you will suddenly come according to your promise as the One who does God’s will on earth among all people. Amen.
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Sunday Source The Danger of CongenialityFriedrich Wilhelm Foerster Often mischaracterized as a soft chumminess, Christian love is close to the opposite. Indeed, it has the power to overcome enmity and death. Read now |
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Saturday Short Felix Manz: The Making of a Young RadicalJason Landsel In a city astir with dangerous new ideas, the son of a priest becomes a leader of a nonviolent revolution. Read now |
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Friday Long Read The Library at HomeZito Madu My parents insisted on reserving an entire room in our small house for books. Reading expanded my world and shaped my future. Read now |
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Thursday Insight What I Do Is MeMargaret R. Ellsberg Gerard Manley Hopkins found the big picture in nature’s most intricate details. Read now |
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Daily Prayer for April 30
He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:41-42, NIV
Dear Father in heaven, we lift our eyes to you. You allow earthly events to follow their own course, and even your own Son had to suffer and die. But your plan is already prepared and you will act in our time according to your will. We pray, “Your will be done, your will!” In the midst of all the suffering let your love be revealed in many places, wherever it is possible for people to understand it. You have always protected us; protect us still. You have done much for us and we want to praise your name. We want to be people who always acknowledge you and praise you, for you will never let any be lost who hope in you. Be with us this night, help us, and send us the strength we need to serve you, also in our everyday life. Amen.
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Saturday Short Felix Manz: The Making of a Young RadicalJason Landsel In a city astir with dangerous new ideas, the son of a priest becomes a leader of a nonviolent revolution. Read now |
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Friday Long Read The Library at HomeZito Madu My parents insisted on reserving an entire room in our small house for books. Reading expanded my world and shaped my future. Read now |
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Thursday Insight What I Do Is MeMargaret R. Ellsberg Gerard Manley Hopkins found the big picture in nature’s most intricate details. Read now |
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Wednesday Podcast PloughCast 56: Felix Manz and the Birth of AnabaptismJason Landsel, Peter Mommsen and Susannah Black Roberts Jason Landsel, author of a new graphic novel, talks about the Radical Reformation and its legacy. Read now |
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Tuesday Books & Culture The Abyss of GraceRagan Sutterfield A review of Costica Bradatan’s In Praise of Failure: Four Lessons in Humility Read now |
Daily Prayer for April 29
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9–10, NIV
Lord our God, we look to you in our many needs, in the distress of our hearts, in the anguish of the whole world. We beseech you, let light come to your people everywhere on earth to bring them your help and your victory. Remember the wretched, the sick, the poor. Let your living strength come to them so that they can bear their sufferings and hold out joyfully to the end. Remember us all, O Lord our God, for we all need you. We are weak and poor and cannot go forward alone. Your Spirit must help us. May the Savior come to us, and may his grace and his power be born in our hearts. Amen.
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Friday Long Read The Library at HomeZito Madu My parents insisted on reserving an entire room in our small house for books. Reading expanded my world and shaped my future. Read now |
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Thursday Insight What I Do Is MeMargaret R. Ellsberg Gerard Manley Hopkins found the big picture in nature’s most intricate details. Read now |
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Wednesday Podcast PloughCast 56: Felix Manz and the Birth of AnabaptismJason Landsel, Peter Mommsen and Susannah Black Roberts Jason Landsel, author of a new graphic novel, talks about the Radical Reformation and its legacy. Read now |
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Monday Provocation An Antidote to Christian CelebrityAndy Stanton-Henry Small-town saints challenge us to rethink our approach to success. Read now |
Daily Prayer for April 28
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11, NIV
Dear Father in heaven, you show us the way of life; in your presence is fullness of joy, and at your right hand is delight forever. In your presence we want to rejoice together as your children, under your protection. May we become firm in every part of our life on earth. Grant that soon something of your kingdom, of your heaven, may encircle us like a blessing, enabling us to fight on in joy and exultation. We entrust ourselves to you, our faithful and loving God, and we thank you. Amen.
Recent articles on Plough
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Thursday Insight What I Do Is MeMargaret R. Ellsberg Gerard Manley Hopkins found the big picture in nature’s most intricate details. Read now |
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Wednesday Podcast PloughCast 56: Felix Manz and the Birth of AnabaptismJason Landsel, Peter Mommsen and Susannah Black Roberts Jason Landsel, author of a new graphic novel, talks about the Radical Reformation and its legacy. Read now |
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Tuesday Books & Culture The Abyss of GraceRagan Sutterfield A review of Costica Bradatan’s In Praise of Failure: Four Lessons in Humility Read now |
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Monday Provocation An Antidote to Christian CelebrityAndy Stanton-Henry Small-town saints challenge us to rethink our approach to success. Read now |
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Sunday Source Make Me an InstrumentAlan Paton In his prayer, Saint Francis asks nothing for himself – or perhaps he asks everything. Read now |