Evening Prayer for Sunday, January 25, 2026

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Praying the Scriptures

Sunday Evening Prayer

January 25, 2026

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14-16

Heavenly Father,

As the Sunday light fades from the peaks of the Florida Mountains to the east and the winter chill settles over the high desert, I come to you in the stillness of this Deming evening. The vast, darkening sky reminds me of the magnitude of your creation, while the quiet of my home offers a sanctuary to reflect on the worship of the day. In this silence, I acknowledge my longing for a faith that is sturdy and deep, rooted not in my own efforts but in the fertile soil of your enduring grace.

Lord Jesus, you have called us to be a light to the world, a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden, yet I often feel like a small, flickering lamp in a windswept valley. During this time of prayer for unity, I ask that you nurture the growth of your spirit within me, transforming my human weakness into a vessel for your radiance. Help me to trust that even the smallest acts of love, done in your name, have the power to scatter the shadows of division and doubt, revealing the brightness of your truth to those around me.

Holy Spirit, as I prepare for rest, I place my trust in your power to bring forth growth and change in ways I cannot always see. Just as the desert waits patiently for the season of bloom, let me wait with quiet confidence on your timing, believing that you are knitting your people together into the full stature of Christ. Grant me a peaceful sleep and a hopeful heart, that I may rise with the morning sun, ready to shine with a renewed purpose and to glorify you in all that I do.

Amen.

May the light of Christ illuminate our hearts and homes, knitting us together in one spirit of love and guarding us in perfect peace this night.

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The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Morning Prayer for Sunday, January 25, 2026

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Praying the Scriptures

Sunday Morning Prayer

January 25, 2026

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14-16

Gracious Father,

As the chill of this January morning settles over the high desert and the pale winter sun begins to crest the horizon here in Deming, I come before You seeking the quiet growth that only Your Spirit can bring. The world outside is still dormant, reflecting the silence of my own heart as I wait for the stirring of new life, yet I know that beneath this dry, cold ground, roots are deepening in secret. I offer up my smallness and my limitations, acknowledging that my own strength is insufficient for the journey of unity and maturity to which You call us, and I ask that You plant the seeds of Your grace deeper within the soil of my soul.

Lord Jesus, You are the true Light who dispels all darkness, and You have called us to be a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden, even when we feel like flickering candles in a vast night. I confess that I often doubt how my small life or our scattered efforts can make a difference, but I trust that Your power is made perfect in this very weakness. Illuminate the shadows of uncertainty and division that linger in my mind, and help me to realize that it is not by my might, but by Your radiance reflecting through me, that the world sees Your goodness and finds the path back to Your love.

Holy Spirit, breathe upon this Sunday morning and kindle within me a renewed sense of purpose, that I might walk out this door ready to glorify my Father in heaven through simple acts of kindness and truth. Grant me the confidence to trust that You are orchestrating a great harvest from the smallest grains of faith, knitting us together into the full stature of Christ. As the day unfolds across this valley, let my life be a transparent vessel for Your peace, shining steadily for my neighbors and community, secure in the hope that You are bringing all things to a glorious completion.

Amen.

May we go forth together, united in the growing light of Christ, to share God's illuminating love with every neighbor we meet.

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The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Verse of the Day for Sunday, January 25, 2026

 

Verse of the Day

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Philippians 4:8

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Introduction

Philippians 4:8 is often cited as the "Magna Carta of the Christian Mind." In the verses immediately preceding this, Saint Paul addresses interpersonal conflict and anxiety, offering the peace of God as a guard for our hearts and minds (v. 7). In verse 8, he shifts from defense to offense. It is not enough to simply ask God to guard our minds; we must also actively cultivate them.

This passage serves as a rubric for spiritual discipline. Paul invites the believers in Philippi to curate their inner lives carefully. He understands a fundamental psychological and spiritual truth: what we consistently contemplate inevitably shapes who we become. This is not merely an instruction in "positive thinking," but a call to align our intellect and imagination with the character of God.

Commentary

Paul lists six specific qualities, followed by a summarizing clause. Let us examine these criteria for Christian thought:

• Whatever is True: This refers not just to factual accuracy, but to moral truth—reality as seen through God's eyes. It opposes the deceptive, the illusionary, and the hypocritical.

• Whatever is Honorable (Noble): The Greek word used here (semna) suggests gravitas and dignity. These are things worthy of respect and reverence, raising the human spirit rather than dragging it into the trivial or vulgar.

• Whatever is Just (Righteous): This pertains to uprightness in conduct and fairness in relationships. It asks us to dwell on what is right in the eyes of God and fair to our neighbors.

• Whatever is Pure: While often used in a sexual sense, the root here implies ritual or ceremonial cleanliness—thoughts that are unmixed with evil or ulterior motives.

• Whatever is Pleasing (Lovely): This term appears only here in the New Testament. It speaks to that which calls forth love—things that are agreeable, amiable, and promote peace rather than conflict.

• Whatever is Commendable (Admirable): This refers to things that are "well-spoken of" or reputable. It encourages focusing on the good reputation of others rather than engaging in gossip or criticism.

The Summary:

"If there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise..."

Paul concludes by using two broad terms prominent in Greek moral philosophy. "Excellence" (or virtue) and "Praise" serve as a catch-all. Paul is essentially saying: "If I missed anything good in the list above, include that too." He validates truth and beauty wherever it is found, even if found in the broader culture outside the church.

Understanding the Context

To fully grasp the weight of this command, we must remember where Paul was when he wrote it: in prison.

• The Situational Context: Paul was likely facing a capital trial. His circumstances were defined by restriction, uncertainty, and potential execution. Yet, he writes about beauty, honor, and praise. This proves that Christian joy and mental clarity are not dependent on external circumstances. Paul practiced what he preached; he did not let the grime of a Roman prison dictate the landscape of his mind.

• The Cultural Context: The list Paul provides echoes the best of Stoic philosophy current in the Roman world. By using terms familiar to his culture (like "excellence/virtue"), Paul demonstrates that Christians need not reject everything in the secular world. Instead, they should claim whatever is good and true, sanctifying it through the lens of Christ.

• The Pastoral Context: The Philippian church was struggling with internal disagreement (specifically between two leaders, Euodia and Syntyche) and external persecution. Anxiety was high. Paul prescribes this mental discipline as the antidote to community fragmentation. When a community focuses on the "honorable" and "commendable" in one another, unity follows.

Application for Today

How do we live out this ancient command in a modern context?

• The Media Diet: We live in an information age where algorithms often prioritize outrage, fear, and scandal because these emotions drive engagement. Applying Philippians 4:8 requires us to be gatekeepers of our own attention. We must ask: Does the news, social media, or entertainment I consume make me more cynical, or does it point me toward "excellence"?

• Reframing Relationships: When dealing with difficult people, it is easy to fixate on their faults. This verse challenges us to hunt for the "commendable" in them. This does not mean ignoring abuse or sin, but it does mean refusing to let resentment dominate our internal narrative about others.

• Neuroplasticity and Prayer: Modern neuroscience tells us that "neurons that fire together, wire together." Repeated thoughts create physical pathways in the brain. Paul’s instruction is, in a sense, spiritual neuroplasticity. By habitually directing our minds toward the good, we physically rewire our brains for peace rather than anxiety.

Reflection

Philippians 4:8 is ultimately a call to recognize that the mind is a sanctuary. In the Old Testament, the priests were careful about what was brought into the Temple; nothing unclean was permitted. As believers, we are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

Paul invites us to stand guard at the doors of this temple. He asks us to view the world not with naivety—ignoring the brokenness—but with a deliberate focus on the redemptive. When we "think on these things," we are not engaging in escapism. We are engaging in the "reckoning" of faith: counting God's truth as heavier and more substantial than the world's chaos. We align our minds with the mind of Christ, who is Himself the Incarnation of all that is True, Honorable, Just, Pure, Pleasing, and Excellent.

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The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Verse of the Day is a daily inspirational and encouraging Bible verse, extracted from BibleGateway.com. Commentary by Kenny Sallee, ThM.

Daily Devotions for Sunday, January 25, 2026: Full Stature: Growing Together into Christ

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The Daily Devotional

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Full Stature: Growing Together into Christ

“Until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” — Ephesians 4:13

Introduction

Today holds a dual significance in the life of the Church. It marks the eighth and final day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and it is also the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul. These two observances are deeply intertwined. Paul’s radical transformation on the road to Damascus—from a persecutor of the faithful to the "Apostle to the Gentiles"—reminds us that knowing Christ is not merely an intellectual exercise, but a life-altering encounter. As we conclude this week of praying for unity, Paul’s words to the Ephesians remind us that our goal is not just to coexist, but to grow together into spiritual adulthood, reaching the "full stature" of Jesus himself.

Reflection

Maturity is a concept we understand well in our professional and physical lives, yet we sometimes neglect it in our spiritual lives.

Consider the journey of a medical resident. A student can memorize every anatomy textbook and pass every written exam with perfect scores, but that does not make them a surgeon. "Maturity" in medicine requires stepping out of the classroom and into the operating room. It requires hands-to-scalpel experience, standing alongside a mentor, learning the rhythm of the work, and applying that book knowledge to real, breathing patients. Over time, the anxious resident becomes the steady, seasoned doctor. The knowledge has moved from their head to their hands; it has become second nature.

This is the vision Paul summarizes for the Body of Christ. Spiritual maturity comes through an ever-deepening knowledge of Jesus—not just knowing about Him, but knowing Him. It is a life-changing knowledge that renews our minds and demands to be put into practice. We cannot claim to have the "full stature of Christ" if our faith remains a theory. We resemble Him more and more only as we get to know Him better through obedience.

Just as Saul of Tarsus had to be blinded by the light of Christ to truly see, we must allow our encounters with Jesus to shape our actions, thoughts, and relationships. True Christian unity is found here: when we are all striving to love as He loves and serve as He serves, our differences fade in the light of His character.

Application

Today, take a moment to evaluate your spiritual "diet" and "exercise." Are you consuming knowledge about God without putting it into practice? The challenge for today is to move from intellectual comprehension to active obedience. Choose one specific character trait of Jesus—perhaps His patience, His listening ear, or His willingness to serve the unnoticed—and consciously practice it in your workplace or home today. Let your actions be the evidence of your growing knowledge of the Son of God.

Conclusion

The goal of our Christian journey is nothing less than becoming like Jesus in every way. As we close this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, let us remember that we are not walking this road alone. We are called to seek unity with one another, growing side-by-side toward maturity. When we strive for His fullness in us, we become a collective witness to the world, just as Paul was, revealing the transformative power of God’s grace.

Prayer

O Christ, True Light of the world, make my soul worthy to see the light of your glory with joy on the day of my calling, and to rest with the hope of good things in the house of the righteous, until the day of your great coming. Have mercy upon your creation, and on me, a great sinner. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA

The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.