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A Prayer about the Wrath of God

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

A Prayer about the Wrath of God

But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. Romans 2:8.

Holy and Just God,

We confess, we don’t like to talk much about your wrath and fury. 

And yet, your Word tells us 

that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), 

and that there is only one way to be saved from our sin—

by your Holy Spirit awakening us from our spiritual death

and through our trust in your Son our Savior. 

There are people who refuse to seek you, 

who refuse to obey you, 

who, even worse, 

obey unrighteousness, 

who “cannot rest until they do evil” (Proverbs 4:16). 

For such people, there will truly be “tribulation and distress” (Romans 2:9) 

on the “day of wrath” (Romans 2:5). 

As people who belong to Jesus, 

may we never judge people who seem to be following evil. 

May we instead reach out to the unrepentant, 

praying for them, 

urging them by the power of your Spirit 

to turn away from evil, 

to turn back to you, 

to know your abounding mercy, 

that they may never know 

your wrath and fury on judgment day. 

In Jesus’ evil-crushing name. Amen.

Read Romans 2:1-16.



A Prayer about Seeking Immortality

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

A Prayer about Seeking Immortality

To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life… Romans 2:7

Just Judge,

Again today, we grapple with Paul’s strong words 

about your judgment in Romans 2:1-11. 

We know the gospel tells us 

we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8). 

And yet, here we read: “He will render each according to his works…” (Romans 2:6). 

Help us to understand what one biblical scholar wrote,

“Judgment by deeds is not salvation by works…

our words and deeds follow our heart commitments.”* 

Lord, if we truly belong to you, 

then the Holy Spirit is transforming 

our hearts, 

our words, 

our deeds, 

so that we do become “patient in well-doing,” 

so that we do seek “glory and honor and immortality,” 

and so that we will bask in the joy of eternal life with you. 

Reading our Bibles, 

driving a friend to chemo, 

helping a co-worker figure out a problem, 

feeding a homeless person—

these are the acts that flow from being united with you. 

By your faithfulness in us through your Holy Spirit, 

we will persevere in glorifying you to the end.

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Romans 2:1-11. 



A Prayer about God’s Just Judgment

by | Aug 21, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about God’s Just Judgment

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4

God our Judge,

Our culture is allergic to judgment, 

and yet, like the audience of Paul’s letter to the Romans, 

we’re a pretty “judgy” people. 

Open our ears to hear this Word 

that applies to us today: 

“Therefore, every one of you who judges 

is without excuse. 

For when you judge another, 

you condemn yourself, 

since you, the judge, do the same things” (Romans 2:3). 

The bottom line is we are blinded 

by our own sin and self-righteousness, 

and we have no business judging others. 

Lord, humble us, 

help us to see your kindness—

not “niceness” but kindness, 

your forbearance—your restraint in not unleashing your wrath on evil, 

your patience—your willingness to wait for us to turn from our sins. 

And may that kindness lead to true repentance, 

turning away from our selves 

or anything else we look to for salvation, 

turning to the only one who can judge justly 

because he took the judgment for our sins, 

our Savior Jesus Christ.

In his forgiving name we pray. Amen. 

Read Romans 2:1-5.



Have you ever wondered if it was all Eve’s fault?

by | Aug 20, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

Have you ever wondered if it was all Eve’s fault?

…she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.  Genesis 3:6

Heavenly Father,

Recently I’ve been reminded of how crucial it is 

that we read your Word carefully. 

Otherwise, we can fall prey to human teachings 

that only do harm. 

Long ago, some misguided theologians 

started the terrible teaching 

that the fall of humanity was all Eve’s fault. 

As we revisit the first three chapters of Genesis, 

we see your design for the first man and the first woman, 

as well as your design for every marriage. 

Adam was called to name both beauty and sin (See Genesis 2:16-22). 

When the woman was formed from his flesh,

 he spoke the first poem in the Bible: 

“This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; 

she shall be called Woman, 

because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23). 

We sometimes miss the fact 

that Adam was standing with Eve 

when Satan, disguised as the serpent, 

approached her. 

We often fail to consider what might have happened 

if Adam had spoken up. 

“No sir, we will not  eat of that tree, 

for it’s the only tree that God forbade us. 

Our God is so generous. 

Our God has given us everything we need.” 

Sadly, those words aren’t in the Bible. 

Either Adam was equally drawn in by the serpent’s words, 

or he just couldn’t find the courage to oppose him. 

So when Eve reached for the fruit, 

he said nothing.

When Eve turned to him as he stood “with her,” 

he ate. 

Oh, Lord, may it never be! 

May we work together as husband and wife, 

as men and women too, 

to know your Word, 

your profound goodness, 

your lavish generosity, 

your rich mercy, 

and may we remind one another 

when the other is tempted.

In Jesus’ forgiving name. Amen. 

Read Genesis 1-3. 



A Prayer about Praying for Children and Grandchildren

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

A Prayer about Praying for Children and Grandchildren

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18

Heavenly Father,

I confess, as a parent, 

I so often forget 

the powerful tool 

of praying for my children. 

I remember when my kids were younger, 

I would often ask a friend just ahead of me 

if her child ever exhibited a certain behavior 

(biting, not eating her whole meal, talking back, etc.), 

and her answer became my go-to 

when younger moms asked me later, 

“Yes, my child did that, 

and I don’t remember what I did, 

but I know I prayed.” 

Father, today I pray 

for all of my parenting 

and grand parenting friends out there. 

As we feel the normal anxieties 

over our children and grandchildren, 

draw us by your Spirit to lay them all before you:

Worried about our granddaughter getting a job? 

Lord, provide for her.

Worried about our baby sleeping through the night? 

Lord, grant sleep and rest.

Worried about our son being overwhelmed as he enters high school? 

Lord, guide and keep him. 

[Name some worries you have for your children and/or grandchildren. Ask the Lord for help.]

Thank you for the powerful peace 

that comes from entrusting our children 

and grandchildren to you. 

In Jesus’ comforting name. Amen.

Friends, if you have children or grandchildren or simply want to pray for children, be sure to check out my printable guide to creating prayer cards for children. Go here to get it: http://eepurl.com/b__teX.



A Prayer about Righteousness and Justice for the Oppressed

by | Aug 18, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

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