Night Prayer 

Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

Inspiration 

When we act with selfish intentions, we can be sure to get bad results. We might enjoy small gains and superficial victories for a short time, but they do not last. Sowing seeds of violence and deception will only yield pain and destruction. Wickedness cannot produce goodness, so let us always be mindful to sow seeds of grace and mercy.

Prayer 

Gracious Lord, forgive me for the ways in which I have acted out of selfishness and pride. I have hurt others, damaged relationships, and caused ruin. I pray Lord that You would bring healing to right these wrongs and that Your grace would fill me. Empower me to move forward in Your love, so that I sow the grace and mercy that produce healthy and nourishing fruit. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Devotion 

From Death to New Life

Frances Taylor 

How many of us have cried out with Martha and Mary, "Lord, if you had been there, my brother – sister, mother, father, child, friend – would not have died?" Today's reading lets us know that Jesus was and is there when a loved one dies, and is ready to call him or her out to new life. Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. Just in case we still had doubts about the possibility of resurrection, Jesus clearly shows that all is possible. Lazarus, of course, no longer walks the earth, so he must have died again and been buried again, and this time, he awakened into eternal life, not his earthly one. And so, all of us who have been baptized into the death of Christ have been promised that we, too, would awaken into eternal life.

Mother Teresa once said that since she had died with Christ in baptism, she had nothing to fear. This gave her the courage to walk amid the streets of Calcutta helping the poor, the sick and the dying. What holds ...

Morning Prayer 

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Inspiration 

If we have worries that seem to press in upon us and crush us, if we are fearful about the future, or if we wonder sometimes if God really cares, this verse should be a great comfort to us. We can leave all our cares in the hands of Him who always loves us and is always looking out for our welfare.

Prayer 

Lord Jesus, you taught us the folly of worry when you walked among men. You showed us that if God cares for even a sparrow, He will surely take care of His children. We know that the future is in your hands and that those hands are the very ones you gave to be nailed to a cross in order to save us. We trust you with all of our cares and concerns and will not show distrust of you by worrying. Amen.