Living Story Blog
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A Prayer about Not Rushing Grief
I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Psalm 88:8-9 Healing Father, We all know people who have lost people to death, whether anticipated or completely unexpected, people who have lost homes and possessions to hurricanes and...
A Prayer about Coming Alongside Caregivers
….four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on the mat, right down in front of Jesus. Mark 2:4 Gentle Jesus, Bring to mind...
A Prayer about Clearing the Caregiver Fog
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city…. Revelation 22:1 Creator God, Today we lift up all the caregivers of hospital patients. You are...
A Prayer about Flourishing in Old Age
They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green….Psalm 92:14 Everlasting God, We live in a world that urges us to fight aging, We live in a world that promises us eternal youth, if we will only apply this wrinkle cream, walk 10,000 steps a...
A Prayer about Praying in Stories of Suffering
She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. Luke 2:36 Answering God, How we thank you for the story of Anna, the 84-year-old widow who had known deep suffering. In her world, losing a husband meant losing everything — ...
A Prayer about Living like We’re Dying
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 Heavenly Father, In the novel I just read, a professor gives her college English students a short essay question: “What would you do if you knew you only had forty days left to live?”*...
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Daily Prayers
A Prayer about Giving Thanks in All Circumstances
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Gracious Lord, For some of us, today’s circumstances may include maple-smoked turkey, buttery mashed potatoes, apple-crumb pie,...
A Prayer about Walking in God’s Way
Thus says the Lord: stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Jeremiah 6:16 Merciful Lord, What a frightening passage. These are your very...
A Prayer about Thanking God for Special People
On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. Acts 28:15 Author God, Since today is my husband’s birthday, and since people in Scripture often thank you for people you’ve blessed them with, it seems fitting now to thank you for the people you have written...
A Prayer about Radical Transformation
But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Acts 8:3 Merciful God, How good it is to read straight through the Bible because we return to radical redemption stories we might otherwise...
A Prayer about Seeking Shalom in Places of Exile
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7 Redeeming God, What a seemingly strange command. Your rebellious people have been exiled to Babylon, ...
A Prayer about Talking about Death and Dying
The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:26 Gracious Father, You know how deathly afraid we are of death. We ask for your grace and mercy to help us talk about death and dying, well before we have any inkling that we might die. We ask you to give...