Daily Bible Verses

Heavenly Father
Give us grace to seek first the Kingdom of Heaven today

⁴⁴ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid.
In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Heavenly Father
Give us grace today to seek for what is finest and best today and deal with everything else appropriately.

⁴⁵ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls, 
⁴⁶ who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:45–46  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Richard Ruhr considers how dualistic thinking is at the root of our illusions of human perfection: …

Heavenly Father
Give us grace today to be of use in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

⁴⁷ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind, 
⁴⁸ which, when it was filled, fishermen drew up on the beach.
They sat down and gathered the good [useful] into containers, but the bad they threw away. 
⁴⁹ So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 
⁵⁰ and will cast…

Heavenly Father
Give us grace today to discover new things about the kingdom of God

⁵¹ Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”

They answered him, “Yes, Lord.”

⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things.”

Heavenly father
give us grace today to listen to wisdom whoever is speaking. 

⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there. 
⁵⁴ Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said,
“Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 
⁵⁵ Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 
⁵⁶ Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to discern if and when we need to speak about truth and justice 

¹ At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, 
² and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.” 
³ For Herod had arrested John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 
⁴ For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to stop us being foolish, particularly around pleasure and beauty

⁶ But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod. 
⁷ Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask. 
⁸ She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”
⁹ The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths and of those who sat at the table with him, he…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to seek you when we feel down (as Jesus did on the death of his cousin)

¹¹ His head was brought on a platter and given to the young lady; and she brought it to her mother. ¹² His disciples came, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. ¹³ Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

Heavenly father
give us grace today 

¹² His disciples came, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 
¹³ Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart.
When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

¹⁴ Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick. ¹⁵ When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to be compassionate

¹⁴ Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick. ¹⁵ When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.”
¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

Heavenly father
give us grace today to see what resources we have and put them at your disposal

¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
¹⁷ They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”
¹⁸ He said, “Bring them here to me.” 

‘We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered. Matthew 14:17

Some thoughts based on Richard Rohr’s thoughts…. 

The Gospel accounts include two traditions of open table fellowship: one of bread and wine, the other of bread and fish. The bread and fish stories emphasize surplus and outside guests. At the end of each event, there are seven or twelve baskets left over. That surplus seems to be a point of this form of table…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to take what you give us today, and to share it with others  so that we may be blessed and be a blessing to others, particularly when we are feeling broken. 

¹⁹ He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass;
and he took the five loaves and the two fish,
and looking up to heaven, he blessed,
broke and
gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 

Heavenly father
give us grace today to  feed on the bread of heaven.

²⁰ They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces. 
²¹ Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

Heavenly father
give us grace today to be find time to be alone with you 

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 
²³ After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone. 

Heavenly father
give us grace today to not be afraid when we are in distress

²⁴ But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 
²⁵ In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. 
²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to cry out to you when we are afraid

²⁸ Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
²⁹ He said, “Come!”
Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. 
³⁰ But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
³¹ Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to reach out to you and find wholeness

³⁴ When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. 
³⁵ When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick; 
³⁶ and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

Heavenly father
give us grace today when finding fault with others to examine ourselves to see if we too have those faults.  

¹ Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, 
² “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”
³ He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? 

Heavenly father
give us grace today to do what is right, particularly when we are not in the habit of doing so

⁴ For God commanded, ‘Honour your father and your mother`, and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
⁵ But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,” 
⁶ he shall not honour his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition. …

Heavenly father
give us grace to be gentle in our seeking after righteousness today

⁵ Blessed are the gentle,
    for they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they shall be filled.

Heavenly father
give us grace today to be careful what we say

¹⁰ He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand. 
¹¹ That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

Heavenly father
give us grace today to discern when others are giving a lead which we should not follow

¹² Then the disciples came, and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
¹³ But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. 
¹⁴ Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Heavenly father
give us grace today to cleanse our souls from everything which defiles us.  

¹⁵ Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”
¹⁶ So Jesus said, “Do you also still not understand? 
¹⁷ Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly and then out of the body? 
¹⁸ But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. 
¹⁹ For out of the heart come…

Heavenly father
give us grace to value you and all your goodness so much that it is you and your goodness that we look to for what we need today.  

²¹ Jesus went out from there and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. 
²² Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders and cried, saying,
“Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!”
²³ But he answered her not a word.
His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away;…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to believe in your goodness particularly when we encounter the opposite.

^[A Canaanite woman asked Jesus about her daughter who was severely possessed by a demon!”]

²⁶ But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
²⁷ But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to see you at work today in those most in need. 

²⁹ Jesus departed from there and came near to the sea of Galilee;
and he went up into the mountain and sat there. 
³⁰ Great multitudes came to him,
having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others,
and they put them down at his feet. He healed them, 
³¹ so that the multitude wondered
when they saw the mute speaking, the injured healed, the lame walking, and the blind seeing…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to have compassion for those around us.

³² Jesus summoned his disciples and said, 
“I have compassion on the multitude,
because they have continued with me now three days and have nothing to eat.
I don’t want to send them away fasting, or they might faint on the way.”
³³ The disciples said to him,
“Where could we get so many loaves in a deserted place as to satisfy so great a multitude?”
³⁴ Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to receive what you give us with thanks, and to use it, particularly for the benefit other others. 

³⁵ He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground; 
³⁶ and he took the seven loaves and the fish.
He gave thanks and broke them,
and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. 
 

Heavenly father
give us grace today to be careful not to waste the precious resources you have given us.  

³⁷ They all ate and were satisfied. Afterwards the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 
³⁸ The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 
³⁹ After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

Heavenly father
give us grace today to discern signs of the kingdom of heaven on earth

¹ The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 
² But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 
³ In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’
Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times! …

Heavenly father
give us grace today to not be led into temptation - anything which pulls us away from what is the bread of life

⁵ The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread. 
⁶ Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
⁷ They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”
⁸ Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to know Jesus as your Son 

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, 
“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
¹⁴ They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Heavenly father
give us grace today to be open to you revealing truths  to us. 

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷ Jesus answered him, 
“Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah,
for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
but my Father who is in heaven. 

Heavenly father
give us grace today to be forgiven and forgiving

¹⁸ I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly,
and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 
¹⁹ I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven,
and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven;
and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” 
²⁰ Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to seek first the kingdom of God, whatever the consequences.

²¹ From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem
and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed,
and the third day be raised up.
²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying,
“Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.”
²³ But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!
You are a stumbling…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow you. 

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, 
“If anyone desires to come after me,
let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 
²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it. 
²⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? …

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Cynthia Bourgeault says “When I talk about Jesus as a wisdom master, I need to mention that in the Near East “wisdom teacher” is a recognized spiritual occupation … one who taught the ancient traditions of the transformation of the human being. 

These teachers of transformation—among whom I would place the authors of the Hebrew wisdom literature such as Ecclesiastes, Job, and Proverbs—may be the early precursors to the rabbi whose task it was to interpret the…

Heavenly father
give us grace today to live in the kingdom and not taste those things that not of the kingdom. 

²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels,
and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds. 
²⁸ Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death
until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”