Art by Beidaa Weli

Daylight Scripture – Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you.

Luke  6:31

Daylight Prayer – Lord, I have a hard time with this great commandment. I don’t always treat people the way I should. You know how I say hateful things, laugh at people, judge them (that’s most of the time), and always want to be right. Lord, please forgive me for these sins, and help me to be better at showing the kind of compassion that you show to me…truly help me to treat others as I would like to be treated. Lord, I really need you to help me with this; it’s not easy! Amen.

Daylight Scripture – I was in terrible trouble when I called out to you, and from your temple you heard me and answered my prayer. 

2 Samuel 22:7

Daylight Prayer – Lord, I know that when ever I am in trouble you are there…even in the most terrible of troubles. But I know people, Lord, who don’t even know that you exist or that you even care about them. Today, I pray for those children of yours. I ask that you send people to them who can be a witness to the love you have for them. I ask you to show them who you are and how you love, how you forgive, how you restore, and how your promise of your eternal presence is real! Save your children, Lord…I pray earnestly in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daylight Scripture – Delight yourself in the Lord, and God will bless you with your heart’s desire.

Psalm 37:4

Daylight Prayer – Lord, I pray in the midst of chaos, sometimes not knowing even what to desire. May your Holy Spirit be real enough to me as to show me the delights to be found in following you. Let my heart match yours. Amen.

Daylight Scripture – Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and their bodies were covered with eyes. Day and night they never stopped singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, the all-powerful God, who was and is and is coming!”

Revelation 4:8

Daylight Prayer – Lord, as the creatures of heaven praise you, give me voice to praise you…both in the day and in the night. Let me remember my blessings and the great mercies you have shown me in my life. In you I have nothing to be afraid of, because even though you know me through and through, you still…love me. Praise the Lord…the Holy, Holy, Holy all power one. Amen.

Artist is Chris Silver

Daylight Scripture – Likewise, encourage the younger ones to be sensible in every way. Offer yourself as a role model of good actions. Show integrity, seriousness, and a sound message that is above criticism when you teach, so that any opponent will be ashamed because they won’t find anything bad to say about us.

Titus 2: 6-8

Daylight Prayer – Loving God. I know that many teachers, administrators, principals, and others people who work in education are returning to jobs and classrooms today. Lord, give them hope and the assurance that you are with them in all things. Help them to rely on you for calm, patience, and endurance. Give them your wisdom for problem solving, compassionate responses, and caring gestures. Above all, God, I ask you to bless them beyond their expectations! Amen.

Painting ©2015 by Janel Bragg

Daylight Scripture – You, Lord God, bless everyone who cares for the poor, and you rescue those people in times of trouble. You protect them and keep them alive.You make them happy here in this land, and you don’t hand them over to their enemies. You always heal them and restore their strength when they are sick.

Psalm 41: 1-3

Daylight Prayer – Lord, I pray for those among us who are sick and worried about tomorrow. I pray that your Spirit will be like a light in the darkness to them, and they will feel your healing hand. Not all our enemies come in human form, Lord. But they come in other forms…fears, worries, dread, broken hearts and the like. Protect us from those enemies of ours with your mighty power. Do not let us be devoured. We lift our life to you, for where else can we turn? Amen.

Daylight Scripture – The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusts God. I was helped, my heart rejoiced, and I thank God with my song.

Psalm 28:7

Daylight Prayer – Gracious and redeeming Lord, thank you for the years past and for the gifts of blessing, love, protection, sorry, healing, strength, sadness, wisdom, fear, witness, courage, and well-being. I anticipate with joy the new year and all of the bounty of this abundant life you have given me. I pray for those who do not know you yet. May your love become apparent to them in this new year.  Amen.

*Image source: Pinterest

Daylight Scripture – You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that you will be acting as children of God.

Matthew 5: 43-45

Daylight Prayer – Lord, for many days I have heard the rhetoric of one side and then another, enemy versus enemy. Will it never end? It is heartbreaking, and I am tempted to be hopeless. It is so hard to love an enemy, and doubly hard to pray for those who harass you. But, I know that the love you enable us to share can bring people together in ways that heal. That is my humble prayer and hope. Bring stillness to our hearts; bring justice to our actions; bring honor to our communities; bring unity into our division and save us. Amen.

Daylight Scripture – The protection of the Lord will be a tent by day for shade from the heat and a hiding place and shelter from a storms.

Isaiah 4:6

Daylight Prayer – Lord it is on days like we are having now, when the seasonal sun is near and hot that I understand my need for shade. Likewise the summer storms flail upon me with fury, and I understand my need for a hiding place. Lord, I praise you because when my spirit is low and the days bring hardships, you are there to protect and shelter me with your love and comfort…no matter what the season may bring. Though I am undeserving, I am grateful always for your great and tender mercy to me. Amen.

Daylight Scripture – Don’t try to make yourselves beautiful on the outside, with stylish hair or by wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Instead, make yourselves beautiful on the inside, in your hearts, with the enduring quality of a gentle, peaceful spirit. This type of beauty is very precious in God’s eyes.

1 Peter 3: 3-4

Daylight Prayer – Lord, did you make the butterfly to teach us how to recognize beauty,  peace and gentleness? Even if that was not your plan, I have learned these things from watching these most exquisite creatures. Help me to let go of my vanities. Help me to seek to focus on the inside stuff, the only place that can be cultivated into the beauty of Christ. Lord, have mercy. Amen.