A Prayer about Endurance in Suffering

by | Sep 26, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Endurance in Suffering

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 1:9

Precious Jesus,

In your Word, and by your Spirit, 

you have given us everything we need 

to persevere in every seemingly new tribulation. 

Even today as we consider Christians 

suffering for their faith throughout the world, 

we are reminded that the apostle John, 

at eighty-four-years-old, 

was sent by the Romans to rot and die 

on the island of Patmos 

because of his “testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9). 

He speaks to your disciples who suffer today

 as a “partner in the tribulation 

and the kingdom 

and the patient endurance that are in Jesus.” 

As Bible scholar Graeme Goldsworthy puts it, 

“John does not urge his fellow-Christians 

to seek a means of escape from this tribulation, 

for he understood only too well 

that discipleship means suffering.”* 

Jesus, in light of the suffering of the martyrs 

throughout the ages, 

we pray that you would make us bold 

to partner with those in deep suffering, 

to persevere with the patient endurance 

that is our legacy as your sisters and brothers.

In your enduring name we pray. Amen. 

Read Revelation 1.

*See Graeme Goldsworthy, The Gospel in Revelation, 181. 

 

A Prayer about a God Who Can Do Far More than We Ask or Think

by | Sep 25, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about a God Who Can Do Far More than We Ask or Think

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 

Ephesians 3:20-21

Glorious God, 

We believe; we confess our unbelief.

For the past few days, 

we’ve been praying Paul’s prayer 

asking you to strengthen us

through the power of your Spirit, 

for the purpose of comprehending 

your incomprehensible love.

As we come to the end of this series, 

we must ask ourselves honestly,

do we dare to pray this prayer:

You are able to do far more abundantly 

than all that we ask or think—

[pause for a few moments

and think about things 

that you may not dare to believe God is able to do…]

How do you do it? 

By working within us, 

through your power (not ours).

Why do you do it?

For the glory of the church 

and for the glory of Jesus Christ 

through all generations, forever and ever and ever.

Today, help us to see how you have already inscribed 

your incomprehensible love into our stories 

and into the redemption of your cosmos.

[Take a few moments again to write or name some of these things].

By the power of your Spirit and because of your glory, 

help us to grasp how much you really love us, Lord, 

and make that love flow boldly through our lives.

In Jesus’ everything-changing name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21. 



A Prayer about Being Rooted and Grounded in Love

by | Sep 24, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being Rooted and Grounded in Love

…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth… Ephesians 3:17-18

Father God

As we see plump, juicy tomatoes growing on the vine 

(not in my yard, but in my son-in-law’s), 

we recognize that good gardeners know 

they need rich, fertile soil 

to grow strong, healthy plants. 

You’ve designed us the same way, 

and the absolutely essential ingredient 

for healthy growth as a Christian is 

love. 

When we are rooted in it, grounded in it, 

by your Gardener-Spirit, 

we grow strong and healthy. 

Because your love is so overpowering 

and incomprehensible to us—mere humans, 

we need your strength to comprehend it—

no measuring tape or smart phone app can reach 

far enough, long enough, deep enough, or wide enough, 

to measure your love. 

Not even the string theory physicists 

can comprehend it, 

for it “surpasses knowledge.” 

Only by your Spirit working in us 

can we know the love of Christ. 

So Lord, we ask, 

please please renew our minds and hearts 

so that we can grasp it 

and grow in it and be filled with all your fullness, 

that we may bear the fruit of love

 in your glorious kingdom.

In Jesus’ incomprehensibly loving name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21.



A Prayer for the Kind of Strength We Need

by | Sep 23, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer for the Kind of Strength We Need

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with his power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16-17

Father God, 

Thank you for this comprehensive prayer 

Paul prayed for his friends the Ephesians. 

Today, we pray it for our loved ones and for ourselves:

Out of your glorious riches — 

riches that aren’t earned, 

riches freely given, 

riches that are plentiful,

riches that can meet all of our needs,

May you strengthen [insert name of loved one or your name] 

with your power — 

your power, which is perfectly wielded 

for the weak and needy (that’s us and others) 

to make us strong — 

not Ford tough or Chevy strong— 

but strong in our “inner being,” 

strong in your Spirit’s power, 

not our own. 

As you strengthen us 

by your Spirit, 

may [name of loved one’s] heart 

come to rest 

in the life-changing reality 

that Christ, our King and Savior, dwells in our hearts. 

In the name of our heart-dwelling Savior, Jesus, we pray.

Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21. 



A Prayer about Not Living to Please Ourselves

by | Sep 22, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Not Living to Please Ourselves

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1

Lord Christ, 

Because you did not live to please yourself (Romans 15:3), 

but instead humbled yourself, 

condescending to be born as a weak and helpless baby, 

taking your first toddling steps 

knowing your last determined steps 

would lead to death on a cursed cross, 

may we never live to please ourselves. 

Because you did not live to please yourself 

but died to please God, 

we who are united to you by faith 

have become pleasing to God, 

and we are now empowered by your Spirit 

to “help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord” (Rom. 15:2).

Because you have given us 

patience and encouragement in your Word, 

we are now empowered by your Spirit 

to “live in complete harmony with each other, 

as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus” (Rom. 15:5). 

Lord Christ, as we live in this harmony, 

may our voices join together 

to glorify God (Rom. 15:6).

And may we offer others 

the welcome with which you have welcomed us, 

for the glory of God (Romans 15:7). 

In your God-pleasing name. Amen.

Read Romans 15:1-7.