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A Prayer about Righteousness and Justice for the Oppressed

A Prayer about Righteousness and Justice for the Oppressed

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:6

Holy, Righteous, and Just Lord,

Even as yesterday we considered 

so many of your benefits and blessings, 

today we meditate on the awe-some news 

that you work your righteousness and justice 

for all who are oppressed (Psalm 103:6). 

I confess, when I think “oppressed,” 

I often think of the marginalized and weak, 

those who have experienced 

the demeaning of their dignity as image-bearers, 

those who suffer regular injustices against them. 

Those are the “oppressed,” 

but we must remember that we, 

your people, were “oppressed” 

before you sent your Son, our Savior, 

to free us from our sins:

You sent Jesus to set prisoners free, 

to open the eyes of the blind, 

to lift up those who are enslaved by sin (Psalm 146:8).

Because of your abundant mercy and lavish love, 

we are set free, and we are made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

Now, as your new creation, 

you send us out as your ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:17-20),

to be instruments of your shalom: 

working toward 

“universal flourishing, 

wholeness, 

and delight”* 

Today and every day, 

open our eyes to see those who are oppressed—

whether in bondage to sin 

or marginalized because of their skin color, 

whether broken by loneliness and grief, 

or by addiction to substances, 

whether stuck in a cycle of poverty 

or in a cyclone of mental illness…

And strengthen our hands and our hearts 

to work for their flourishing and wholeness.

In Jesus’ righteous name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 103:6-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Psalm 146:7-9.

*Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin



A Prayer about All of the Lord’s Benefits

A Prayer about All of the Lord’s Benefits

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…Psalm 103:2

Saving Lord,

We confess, we have what some have called “gospel amnesia.” 

Heal our memories that we might recite your benefits, 

not just some of them, but ALL of them. 

To name a few…

Thank you for forgiving our sins (Psalm 103:3).

[Name some sins you are thankful God has forgiven you.]

Thank you for healing our diseases (Psalm 103:3). 

[Note: “diseases” refers to both spiritual and physical. 

Name some diseases you are thankful God has healed.]

Thank you for redeeming our lives from the pit (Psalm 103:4).

[Name some pits God has rescued you from.]

Thank you for crowning us with your steadfast love and mercy (Psalm 103:4).

[Name some ways God has shown you steadfast love and mercy that you might show it to others.]

Thank you for satisfying us with your goodness (Psalm 103:5).

[Name some ways God has satisfied you with his goodness.]

Thank you for renewing our youth by giving us life everlasting (Psalm 103:5).

[Name some ways you are grateful for God’s renewal in your life.]

Thank you, merciful Lord, for all of your many benefits and blessings.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 103:1-5.



A Prayer about Being Bound to God by His Love

A Prayer about Being Bound to God by His Love

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35

Ever-loving Lord,

When we are in the midst of trials and tragedy, 

we sometimes feel tempted to doubt your love for us. 

We suspect you knew we might struggle in this way, 

because your Word teems with promises 

of your love for your children, 

starting with this beautiful passage in Romans 8:28-38. 

You make so many promises throughout Scripture

about how we are bound to and by your love:

You have engraved us on the palm of your hands (Isaiah 49:15-16).

You will never leave us nor forsake us (Joshua 1:5, etc.)

You will not break a bruised reed; you will not snuff out a smoldering wick (Isaiah 42:3).

You are near to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

We could go on all day with these promises. 

But let’s conclude by remembering this:

One day, soon, you promise, you are coming back. 

In that day, we will see your face, 

and your name will be on our foreheads (Revelation 22:4). 

Lord, whether we like or dislike tattoos, 

may we gleefully imagine being face to face with you, 

with twin tattoos of your undying love 

marking our bodies, souls, minds, and heart.

Come, Lord Jesus. 

“Surely I am coming soon” (Rev. 21:20).

Amen. 

Read Romans 8:28-38; Isaiah 49:15-16; Revelation 22:4-5. 



A Prayer about Where We Find Our Security and Significance

A Prayer about Where We Find Our Security and Significance

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1

Faithful God,

We confess, too many times, 

our souls wait noisily, 

and they’re waiting for whatever will bring us 

a greater sense of security and significance. 

May we recognize with David 

that you alone are worthy of our wait. 

You alone are our rock and our salvation, 

our fortress. 

When we secure ourselves in you alone, 

we will “not be greatly shaken” (Psalm 62:1-2).

When we look for security in the many good gifts 

you have graciously given us,

we will find that they are only 

“leaning walls” 

and “tottering fences.” 

Our ideal families aren’t always happy; 

Our fit bodies aren’t always healthy;

Our retirement accounts aren’t always hefty. 

And yet, strangely enough, 

you know when we turn to these things 

for a sense of security and significance, 

and although you may “discipline those you love” (Hebrews 12:6 ), 

you do love us, 

you do seek us out, 

you do draw us back to yourself, 

our only safe refuge. 

Indeed, Lord, we can trust in you at all times; 

we can vulnerably “pour out our heart before you” (Psalm 62:8), for

“Power belongs to you,” 

and you alone are “steadfastly loving” (Psalm 62:11). 

In Jesus’ safe and secure name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 62.



A Prayer about How to Glorify God

A Prayer about How to Glorify God

And they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. Psalm 138:5

Glorious God,

We join David today in singing of your glorious ways — 

even though you are everlasting and ever-loving, 

all-wise and all-powerful, 

you “regard the lowly” (Psalm 138:6). 

Though you are above all and rule over all, 

you “preserve [our] lives” 

when we “walk in the midst of trouble.” 

In this is your glory, 

that despite your greatness, 

you stoop down to care for us. 

One author exhorts us to a way of glorifying you 

that we might not have considered: 

“Do you want to glorify God?….

Let him love you. 

Receive his grace, 

drink it down, 

without adding one drop 

of your goodness to it.”* 

Oh glorious God, 

may we indeed reconsider 

how to glorify you, 

how to humbly receive 

what you in your greatness and goodness 

have given us. 

Help us this day to live lives 

“to the praise of your glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6). 

In Jesus’ immanent name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 138.

*Note from Dane C. Ortlund’s book, In the Lord I Take Refuge: 150 Daily Devotions through the Psalms.

A Prayer about How to Give Generously

A Prayer about How to Give Generously

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’” 2 Corinthians 9:6

Generous Father,

You know many of us struggle with giving. 

We live in a world that tells us 

to take and keep, 

to save and protect. 

And yet, Paul tells us of the Macedonian Christians 

who were 

“incredibly happy, though desperately poor” (2 Cor. 8:2). 

And they gave generously, 

beyond their ability, 

because they were so grateful 

for what you had done in their lives, 

for your “indescribable gift” 

of Jesus Christ. 

Father, help us to get our heads on straight 

about giving. 

May we not give out of guilt; 

may we not heed poor teaching 

that tells us if we give enough 

we’ll live healthy and wealthy all of our lives. 

May we fully embrace the joy of gospel giving: 

you “generously provide all we need” (2 Cor. 9:8). 

You give us the seed to make the wheat 

to make the flour to make the bread. 

You give us strength to work 

and work to do 

and fair wages to earn. 

And most of all, you gave us your Son! 

In grateful response, 

we give money and possessions and time 

to further your redeeming work in the world, 

and we do so like the Macedonians, 

eagerly and happily. 

In the name of your life-giving Son. Amen. 

Read 2 Corinthians 8-9.