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A Prayer about Caring for the Mentally Ill

by | Jan 20, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Caring for the Mentally Ill

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Comforting Father,

We lift up all who are affected by mental illness. 

Sadly, because of our ignorance about mental illness, 

many of the mentally ill suffer “secondary wounds.” 

Both the afflicted and their families have suffered

suggestions for quick-fix by faith cures, 

condemnation of behavior, 

or exile from the body. 

As we look to our Lord Jesus, 

who came alongside the mentally afflicted 

and often healed but always cared, 

make us more like him. 

Help us to be sensitive, 

to consider the context of suffering, 

to listen well, 

to remember the hope we have to offer—

the incarnate, resurrected, and ascended Christ 

will one day come again 

to redeem and restore all broken bodies. 

How we ache for that day.

In Christ’s restoring name. Amen. 

Read 1 Peter 5:10; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 4:24; Romans 15:13. 



A Prayer about God’s Plans for Us

by | Jan 18, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about God’s Plans for Us

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11. 

Sovereign Lord,

It’s not even the end of January, 

and some of the plans and goals we made for this year 

have already ended in what looks like “disaster” to us: 

instead of being on track to run a 5k, 

we had the flu and stayed in bed for a week, 

instead of being more patient with our kids, 

our teenager wrecked the car and we lost our temper, 

instead of planning our anniversary trip, 

our spouse was diagnosed with cancer…

All good plans…disrupted.

Thank you for the truth of this verse—

you were speaking to the Israelites 

who were exiled in Babylon 

because of their disobedience and sin. 

Yes, their dreams had been crushed, 

their plans changed, 

but you promised them redemption and restoration 

not after, but during 

their time of exile. 

Help us draw near to you 

and trust in you in disrupted plans, 

that we might see the good stories 

you are writing in our lives 

for your glory.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Jeremiah 29:1-11. 



A Prayer about the Foolishness of Sin

by | Jan 17, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Foolishness of Sin

The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’

They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; 

there is none who does good. Psalm 14:1

Merciful and Forgiving Lord,

Thank you for this reminder 

that without Jesus, our Savior, 

we are all fools. 

Our sin nature, 

the nature with which we were born 

persists in telling us, 

“There’s no God. 

You are your own god. 

Do what feels right to you, 

because you rule!” 

Our sin nature whispers to us, 

“You’re a good person. 

You’re not nearly so bad 

as that guy down the street 

who always yells at his wife and kids.” 

The apostle Paul says, 

“All have sinned and fall short 

of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

David says, 

“There is none who does good, 

not even one” (Psalm 14:3). 

And yet, there is one who did do good, 

one who never sinned. 

And he came for us, 

to be our perfect sacrifice. 

He sent his Spirit to arouse us 

from our zombie status, 

to awaken us to the true wisdom of Jesus. 

Thank you, Lord, 

for such a great salvation. 

Thank you for making us “good” 

in Christ’s goodness, our only hope. 

Read Psalm 14. 



A Prayer about the Precious Gift of Prayer

by | Jan 16, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Precious Gift of Prayer

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.  Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” James 5:13

Good, Good Father,

May we grasp the precious gift you’ve given us in prayer.

Whether we are in trouble or triumph, 

we can cry out to you, with tears or with joy. 

We don’t have to come up with 

highfalutin sounding words. 

In fact, you have given us all the words 

we need to pray. 

When we can’t come up with the words, 

all we have to do is open your Word. 

If we’re feeling sad, there’s: 

“Why are you cast down, 

O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil 

within me? 

Hope in God, 

for I shall again praise him, 

My salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5). 

If we’re feeling delight, 

we shout, 

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; 

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). 

And when we’re just too numb or confused to pray, 

we have the assurance 

that the Spirit is groaning for us 

and Jesus is interceding for us (Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 7:25). 

Thank you, Lord, 

for the sweet communion of prayer.

Amen. 

Read James 5:13; Psalm 42; Psalm 95. 



A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

by | Jan 15, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:13

All-Powerful God,

Every time I read this awkward scene for Sarah in Genesis 18, 

I cringe, 

mostly because I recognize myself 

in her struggle to believe.

The Lord has promised Abraham and Sarah 

descendants as numerous as the stars, 

and yet, “The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah” (Gen. 18:11), 

and Abraham is a ripe 99-years-old. 

So we can hardly blame Sarah for laughing 

when she overhears one of the visitors, 

“the Lord,” 

say, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, 

and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Gen. 18:10). 

Things get awkward when the Lord asks Abraham, 

“Why did Sarah laugh and say, 

‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

Is anything too hard for the Lord?” 

Sarah denies laughing, and the Lord responds, 

“No, but you did laugh” (Gen. 18:14-15). 

Oh Lord, you know the places of our lives 

where we struggle to believe that nothing is too hard for you—

For new companionship to ease our loneliness 

or for healing in broken relationships…

For healing of a chronic illness 

or for belief that a terminal illness will lead to ultimate healing…

For a job that provides for our family 

or a job that allows us to escape an abusive boss….

[Name some places you struggle to believe…]

Help us to trust in you to care for us 

in every detail of our lives 

because you sent your Son in a virgin’s womb, 

because you raised your Son from the dead, 

that those who trust in him might live forever in your love. 

In Jesus’ all-powerful name we pray. Amen.