A Prayer about Not Being Haughty

by | Jan 26, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Not Being Haughty

For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. 

Psalm 18:27

Humble Savior,

We confess, our eyes are often haughty: 

We see others and think we are somehow 

more righteous, 

more beloved, 

more acceptable than they are. 

We see others’ mistakes and think they are monstrous, 

but we fail to see the glaring sin 

in our own hearts (Matthew 7:1-5). 

We are quick to condemn others, 

though you have shown us mercy.

Jesus, by your Spirit, 

we urge you—make us like you, 

who though you were 

“in the form of God, 

did not count equality with God 

a thing to be grasped…” 

who “humbled yourself 

by becoming obedient to the point of death, 

even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:6-8). 

Jesus, by your Spirit, 

draw our hearts to see 

the beauty of your humility 

and shape us into your lovely image. 

In your exalted name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 18:27; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 7:1-5. 



A Prayer about How God Created Our Bodies

by | Jan 25, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about How God Created Our Bodies

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

Creator God,

You have intricately fashioned our bodies, 

beginning in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13).

You have counted the hair on our heads 

and our tears in your bottle (Luke 12:7; Psalm 56:8).

Forgive us for failing 

to proclaim the goodness of our bodies. 

Help us to affirm with David, 

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

May we treat our bodies 

kindly and honorably, 

as the very temple of worship 

you designed them to be (1 Corinthians 6:19).

And may we use 

our feet, our hands, 

our mouths, our tongues, 

to serve you and praise you all of our days.

In the name of Jesus, God-made-flesh. Amen. 

Read Psalm 139:13-16; Luke 12:7; Psalm 56:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19.



A Prayer about Going Places We Never Wanted to Go

by | Jan 24, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Going Places We Never Wanted to Go

Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. Daniel 6:14

Author God, 

Thank you for what Daniel shows us 

about living faithfully in frightening circumstances. 

When he was exiled,

Daniel did not whine or grumble or become bitter; 

instead Daniel remained faithful to you 

but also worked on behalf of the pagan rulers of this land. 

By the time of Darius’ rule, 

Daniel would have been in his eighties, 

and we are told, 

“this Daniel became distinguished 

above all the other presidents and satraps, 

because an excellent spirit was in him” (Daniel 6:3). 

In fact the king “planned to set him over the whole kingdom” (Daniel 6:3). 

And of course it was this excellence 

that provoked the jealousy of the other satraps, 

who found a way to trap Daniel. 

Undeterred, Daniel kept praying, 

thanking you, 

because he trusted in you. 

When we find ourselves in a place we don’t want to be, 

will we keep praying, 

offering thanks, 

trusting fully in your deliverance? 

The story ends with Darius’ astonishing decree: 

“people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, 

for he is the living God, enduring forever….” (Daniel 6:26). 

Father, when we find ourselves in places we never wanted to be, 

give us the courage to trust you, 

to wait for your deliverance. 

Help us to serve others (yes, even your enemies) 

and to believe that you are the God of wonders 

who is writing this story 

to bring good to us and glory to yourself. 

Amen. 

Read Daniel 6.



A Prayer about Trusting the Lord to Protect Children

by | Jan 23, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Trusting the Lord to Protect Children

She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. 

Exodus 2:3b

Compassionate Father, 

As loving parents and grandparents, 

we desperately want to protect our children. 

And yet, you alone 

are powerful enough, 

wise enough, 

and merciful enough 

to properly protect them. 

As we read about Moses’ mother 

trying to protect him from the Egyptian Pharaoh 

who ordered the murder of all male Israelites babies, 

we see your saving hand at work. 

You gave Jochebed wisdom and wit 

to develop a plan for protecting Moses — 

she placed him in a basket made of reeds and pitch 

and set him into the reeds by the river bank (Exodus 2:3). 

We wonder if she felt afraid or if she fully trusted 

that you would save her infant son from drowning. 

How many times have we felt this back and forth 

between trust in you and fear for our children—

when they are sick or have an ongoing health issue, 

when we have to leave them in a new place we’re not comfortable with, 

when they make friends at school 

who might not be the best influence.  

Give us the wit and wisdom you gave Jochebed. 

Show us how to best protect 

our children and grandchildren 

from danger of all kinds. 

Most of all, give us the faith to believe 

that you love our children and grandchildren far more than we do, 

and that you are always seeking their good and your glory.

In Jesus’ child-loving name. Amen.

Read Exodus 2:1-10.



A Prayer about Preparing for Glory

by | Jan 22, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Preparing for Glory

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

Eternal and Everlasting God,

You knew all along how people might respond 

when I tell them I’ve written a book 

about facing our mortality, 

about preparing for glory.* 

Some wonder if I’m morbid, 

and others wonder if I’m sick. 

But some get it. 

Some know that death is our certain fate; 

some walk with a diagnosis 

that will lead to death sooner rather than later; 

some walk with a loved one with such a diagnosis. 

Help us, Lord, we pray, 

to know the hope of glory 

you have given to all who die in Christ. 

Help us to let go of the things of this earth 

to which we cling, 

that we might meditate on eternal glory:

Eternal glory is where we are headed. 

It is heaven. 

It is the new heavens and the new earth. 

It is looking fully on the face of Christ. 

It is hearing the welcome of our Father 

and enjoying the embrace of his Son. 

It is truly believing and clearly seeing 

God’s love for us. 

It is living fully into our creational calling 

to bear God’s image 

and to rule as servants in Christ’s kingdom. 

And it is doing so forever. 

Oh dear Father, thank you for preparing us 

for such glory.

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen. 

Read 1 Peter 5:6-11; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Romans 8:18-25.

*Preparing for Glory: Biblical Answers to 40 Questions on Living and Dying in Hope of Heaven is available for from all of your favorite booksellers. (Affiliate link).