fbpx

A Prayer about Shouting for Joy instead of Frustration

by | Oct 19, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Shouting for Joy instead of Frustration

Shout for joy to God, all the earth,

sing the glory of his name;

give to him glorious praise! Psalm 66:1-2

Glorious God,

How easily we shout for joy to you 

when we wake up after a great night’s sleep 

and look out at the sun rising 

over calm waters and sugar-white sand. 

And yet, you know we more easily shout out of frustration or anger 

when we awaken after a terrible night’s sleep 

and face all sorts of Monday madness. 

In some seasons, when we feel that you are “testing and trying us” (Psalm 66:10), 

or when we feel that you have brought us or our loved ones “into the net,” 

“laid a crushing burden on our backs,” (Psalm 66:11),

 or taken us through “fire and water,” 

we more easily shout, “Why is this happening to me?!” 

Move in us, by your Spirit, we pray: 

jog our memories, 

that we might recall the “awesome deeds “ 

you have done (Ps. 66:2)—

the times you “brought us out into a place of abundance” (Ps. 66:12), 

the way you “turned the sea into dry land” (Ps. 66:6). 

Where we have amnesia about your mercy and kindness, 

remind us of our Savior, 

who endured our crushing burden of sin, 

who acquainted himself with our grief, 

that we might be healed (Is. 53: 3,5). 

In Christ, we can surely find our voices 

to “Shout for joy” to you.

In the name of our Suffering Savior. 

Amen.

Read Psalm 66. 



A Prayer about Living in a Landscape of Loss

by | Oct 18, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Living in a Landscape of Loss

These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Merciful Lord,

Today we pray for all who find themselves living in a landscape of loss. 

Even as various hurricanes whipped through Florida and the East Coast of America, 

wrecking homes, ripping away roofs, and taking lives, 

others are facing disaster in their lives: 

a body-wrecking diagnosis, 

the ripping apart of a marriage by an affair, 

the frequent flood of tears over a rebellious teenager,

unholy wars destroying people and land.

Lord, in a landscape of loss, 

in this world filled with tribulation, 

you make a startling promise: 

you have overcome the world. 

You tell us “Yes, you will suffer in this world, 

but in my world, 

my kingdom, 

which has already come and will soon be consummated,

you will never suffer again. 

Everything lost in the fall will be redeemed. 

For this reason, we can 

“be of good courage,” 

“take heart,” 

“not be afraid,” 

for you have indeed overcome the world 

by your death and resurrection. 

How we look forward to the day of renewal that awaits.

In your restoring name. Amen.

Read John 16. 



A Prayer about the Temptations Jesus Endured

by | Oct 17, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Temptations Jesus Endured

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Sovereign Lord,

How we thank you for Jesus’ temptations, 

first, because as we prayed yesterday, 

it is through them that we are able 

to overcome our temptations. 

They do not merely offer a good example; 

they show us the way out. 

Through Christ, 

the second Adam, 

who, like the first Adam,

endured temptations,

and yet resisted. 

Jesus was tempted 

to provide sustenance through miraculous means (see Matt. 4:3);

while we cannot do this trick, 

we are often tempted to believe 

that you are not good 

when you do not provide 

what we think we need 

when we think we need it. 

Our Savior reminded us of our central hope

when he told Satan, 

“Man does not live by bread alone 

but by every word that comes 

from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). 

We must trust in your goodness 

even when we don’t see your provision.

Jesus was tempted to gain knowledge 

that you loved him 

by demanding you protect him (Matt. 4:5-7). 

He resisted that temptation, 

choosing to trust 

that you protect him 

even in suffering. 

We must trust in your protection 

even when live 

in the midst of uncertainty and confusion.

Jesus was tempted to gain glory 

by worshiping Satan, 

the father of lies (Matt. 4:8-9).

He refused, 

naming his central focus 

as the glory of God: 

“You shall worship the Lord your God 

and him only shall you serve” (Matt. 4:10). 

We must refuse to seek glory 

that belongs to you alone.

Thank you, good Father, 

for giving us a sympathetic high priest 

who has endured temptation. 

May we run to his sheltering mercy and grace 

to find help in our time of need (Heb. 4:16). 

Amen. 

Read Hebrews 4:14-16; Matthew 4:1-11



A Prayer about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

by | Oct 16, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

Ask, and it will be given unto you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

Lord Jesus,

You know the tears of longing and confusion 

this verse brings many of us. 

For we have asked and continued asking, 

daily, unceasingly, for years….

For a spouse, 

for a baby, 

for work that pays the bills, 

for preservation in the storm, 

for healing, 

for the return of a spiritually lost loved one…

The list goes on and on.

As we read the words that come before this verse 

in the Sermon on the Mount, 

we realize you are telling your disciples 

to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking, 

not only for material provision, 

but also for spiritual strength 

to love others, 

even enemies, 

to swallow our judgmental tongues

as you do. 

You do call us also 

to keep praying for the “desire of our heart,” 

for the “good gifts” 

our Heavenly Father gives us. 

We must confess, 

we don’t understand how it all works, 

but we continue to pray and trust 

that our Father is good. 

We continue to pray and trust 

that the Father who allowed you, our Savior, 

to die for us that we might be redeemed,

will redeem and restore all broken things. 

We continue to pray, 

trusting that our Father collects our prayers, 

he hears them, 

and he cares. (See Revelation 5:8; Psalm 141:2). 

In your faithful name we pray.

Amen.

Read Matthew 7:1-12; Revelation 5:8; Psalm 141:2.



A Prayer about Work, Wealth, Women, and Wisdom

by | Oct 15, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Work, Wealth, Women, and Wisdom

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1 Kings 11:4

Author God,

May we learn from Solomon:

We remember how you, 

the all-powerful King of the Universe, 

actually humbled yourself to offer Solomon 

anything he asked for: 

“Ask what I shall give you.” 

And Solomon, loving you, honoring you, 

humbly asked for “an understanding mind to govern my people” (1 Kings 3:5, 9). 

Solomon does show this wisdom for awhile, 

and he gets busy working to build you a temple. 

But then some cracks in his foundation become fissures, 

and before we know it, 

he has married 700 women 

who lead him to worship other gods (1 Kings 11:1-8). 

Lord, we want to cry out, 

“How could he,” 

but we know the truth, 

that whether it is work or wealth or women or wine 

or families or football or fashionable things—

we can take any good gift you give us 

and make it into a god we worship more than you. 

Merciful God,

we pray, show us the things that block us 

from loving you 

and following you 

and serving you 

and enjoying you. 

Thank you for giving us rest in Jesus. May we return to him today.

In Jesus’ kingly name. Amen.

Read 1 Kings 11.