Daily Prayer for April 18
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Revelation 3:8, NIV
Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that you know us all and that you look deep into our hearts, watching over us in everything we go through, whether easy or difficult. We thank you that we do not stand alone but that you hear the smallest sigh of each of your children. We thank you that darkness must give way to light, distress to joy, and fear to strength and courage. For you lead us through everything; it is what you bring about from your future world, not anything within our sight, that gives us strength and courage and that endures through everything. We thank you from our hearts for your unending gifts, and we are amazed that it was possible for us to receive all this from you. Protect us and keep us childlike, so that we remain in the fellowship that the Lord Jesus has given us, singing praise to him and to the glory and honor of your name. Amen.
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A Child’s Right to PlayJohann Christoph Arnold We know children learn best through playing, but play also brings joy, contentment, and detachment from the troubles of the day. In our frantically over-scheduled culture, every child should have a right to play. Read now |
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Daily Prayer for April 17
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11, NIV
Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for everything you have done for us, everything we think of when we are quiet for a moment and look back. May all that you have done remain alive in us, so that we can look forward with open, clear-seeing eyes, aware that our lives are in your hands and that you always lead us to something new, great, and glorious. Again and again you will give your Sabbath rest to your people, to all who acknowledge you and whose task is to work for you among the people. Again and again you will bring them your rest, until the coming of the last and glorious Sabbath on which your kingdom can be established. Amen.
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PloughCast 81: Can Metaphors Help Us Live Well?Joy Marie Clarkson and Susannah Black Roberts Joy Marie Clarkson discusses her new book, and the importance of metaphor. Read now |
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A Debut Novel Revisits Ukraine’s PastNadya Williams Sasha Vasilyuk’s Your Presence Is Mandatory calls us to honesty and openness with ourselves and our loved ones. Read now |
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Can Masculinity Be Good?Samuel Helyar Or is it a problem to be eradicated? Read now |
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Daily Prayer for April 16
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7, NIV
Lord our God, we come seeking to find community with you and ask you to keep us in your truth throughout all that occupies us in our daily lives. Keep us from growing confused about truths we have already found through the witness of your Spirit in our hearts. Keep us in your truth so that we can hold firmly to our course on earth under the many hardships and burdens that try to drag us down. Help us to remain steady and to find the path that goes straight ahead, leading us on and on to your final goal. Amen.
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A Debut Novel Revisits Ukraine’s PastNadya Williams Sasha Vasilyuk’s Your Presence Is Mandatory calls us to honesty and openness with ourselves and our loved ones. 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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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 |
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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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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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 |
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 |