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A Prayer about Worshipping like We’re in Heaven

by | Aug 12, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Worshipping like We’re in Heaven

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ Revelation 7:9-10

Mighty God,

Open our eyes, 

that we may truly see the magnificent worship 

taking place in heaven. 

Engage our hearts 

that we might worship you today in our churches 

as a foretaste of the day 

we will worship you eternally 

with all of the saints.

When we peek into heaven with John, 

the author of Revelation, 

we see “a great multitude”—

what an encouragement in a day 

when it seems so few want to worship you. 

In heaven, the deacons couldn’t even count the attendance.

Who are these people? 

They are people 

from Uganda and Ukraine, 

Mexico and Monaco, 

Cambodia and Côte d’Ivoire, 

people from every country A to Z, 

who speak every language ever spoken. 

What do they do? 

With the angels 

and the elders 

and the other living creatures, 

they fall on their faces 

before the throne, 

worshiping you.

What do they say? 

“Amen!

Blessing and glory and wisdom 

and thanksgiving and honor and power and might 

be to our God forever and ever! 

Amen” (Revelation 7:12). 

Oh, Lord, may this true story of worship 

change our worship today.

In Jesus’ worthy name. Amen.

Read Revelation 7. 



A Prayer about Being More than Conquerors

by | Aug 10, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being More than Conquerors

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for showing us

where our real hope lies 

for victory in spiritual battle. 

My praying friends and I need to remember 

a few things about these verses in Romans:

First of all, being “more than a conqueror” 

is about a spiritual battle, 

not about a football game, 

a fight with a friend, 

or a political agenda. 

Second, being “more than a conqueror” 

is not about us conquering in our own strength—

the emphasis must be placed on THROUGH HIM…

THROUGH HIM, we conquer in the spiritual battle 

that rages against 

the world hostile to God’s kingdom, 

the devil rebelling against God’s rule, 

and or our own sinful hearts seeking to rule our lives. 

THROUGH JESUS, the one who conquered evil on the cross.

Third, the way we conquer is through his love, 

through arming ourselves with his forgiving, cleansing love 

against any accusations the evil one 

or the world, 

or our own sinful hearts might throw at us—

knowing that we are “in Christ,” 

and “in Christ,” 

there is no condemnation, 

no charge that can stand against us.

Oh Lord, take us deeper into that love 

which has indeed conquered sin and death forever.

In Jesus’ victorious name. Amen. 

Read Romans 8:31-38; 1 John 5:4-5; Revelation 2:7; 2:26;  3:12; 5:5; 21:7.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the In Real Life Presence of God

by | Aug 9, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the In Real Life Presence of God

Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. Revelation 21:3

Ever-present God,

Our world has gone virtual, 

and we are starving for irl (in real life) experiences 

of people and places. 

Draw us to look forward to the day

when we will know your irl presence 

fully and forever. 

We await the day 

when we will never sense your absence again. 

We await the day 

when we fully comprehend the depths of the promise

that we are “in Christ,” 

“partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). 

We await the day 

when we will fall on our faces at the beauty of Christ’s face. 

We await the day of our homecoming, 

the day we truly see 

what the angel showed John 

in his vision of the new heavens and new earth, 

“Look! Look! 

God has moved into the neighborhood, 

making his home with men and women!”

Until that day comes, 

may we seek your face daily 

in your Word 

and prayer 

and fellowship 

and worship, 

because in these means of grace 

we find the joy of your presence. 

Read Exodus 26; Ephesians 1:7-13.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Comfort for Caregivers

by | Aug 8, 2024 | Caregiving, Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Comfort for Caregivers

In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Matthew 26:12

Precious Jesus,

Thank you for this affirmation 

of Mary’s tender caregiving actions. 

May we remember 

that while she cared for you before you died, 

she could not save you. 

May we see that she, unlike the disciples, 

seemed to believe you 

when you said you would die, 

and that she came alongside you 

to help you die well.

We pray today for all caregivers 

who are watching their loved ones die. 

Fill them with your surpassing peace 

in the midst of anxious moments bedside. 

As beepers blare or breathing becomes shallow, 

remind them that it is neither in their job description 

nor in their power 

to prevent their loved one’s death. 

Free them from any guilt or sense of failure 

about the care they have given. 

Give them the hope of resurrection, 

the hope that their loved one will soon be well 

in a way they never can be on this earth.

And send us, Lord, to comfort the caregiver, 

to sit with her, 

to listen to her, 

to cry with her, 

to feed her, 

to care for her 

in her grief and sorrow. 

Give us the wisdom and insight only your Holy Spirit can give 

about how to care for the caregiver 

in these agonizing moments.  

In your caregiving name. Amen.

Read Matthew 26:6-13, 25:31-46. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Becoming Weak and Inefficient

by | Aug 7, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Becoming Weak and Inefficient

…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Gracious Lord,

I remember memorizing this verse 

as an achievement-oriented high school student, 

a fifteen-year-old eager to renew my strength 

and to run and not be weary. 

It’s easy to see now how I misunderstood 

a lot of what this verse was about, 

but I confess, in our achievement-oriented, 

efficiency-seeking society, 

it’s not always easy to remember 

that the gospel isn’t about strength, 

accomplishment, 

or efficiency.

Indeed, you were speaking to the Israelites in exile 

in these verses, 

assuring them in the midst of their frailty, 

in the aftermath of their sinful rebellion, 

that you would send a Savior:

“Comfort, comfort my people, 

says your God. 

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, 

and cry to her that her warfare has ended, 

that her iniquity is pardoned” (Isaiah 40:1).

Oh, patient and merciful God, 

help us to see that in our weakness, 

you alone are our strength; 

that in our idol of efficiency, 

you alone are our salvation. 

Help us to learn to wait on you, 

to watch to see 

what you are doing in our lives 

and in this world 

through the transforming love of Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ perfectly sufficient name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 40. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about God’s Grace for Our Sin

by | Aug 6, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about God’s Grace for Our Sin

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

I will praise the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praises to my God all my life long. Psalm 146:1

God-Above, Maker of Heaven and Earth,

How often do we pause to consider who you are, 

your graciousness, 

your goodness, 

your generosity? 

Not often enough. 

When we take time to consider 

your “wondrous works” and “mighty acts,” 

we receive a blessing—

our worry shrinks and our confidence grows. 

Let’s start naming just a few of the things we praise you for:

You “uphold all who are falling 

and raise up all who are bowed down” (Psalm 145:15)

[Name why this matters to you or those you pray for.]

You are our help and our hope, 

the God “who made heaven and earth, the sea, 

and all that is in them” (Psalm 146:6).

[Name why this matters to you pr those you pray for.]

You “execute justice for the oppressed, 

you give food to the hungry” (Psalm 146:7).

[Name why this matters to you or those you pray for.]

You “lift up the humble; 

you cast the wicked to the ground” (Psalm 147:6).

[Name why this matters to you and those you pray for.]

You “take pleasure in your people; 

you adorn the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149:4).

[Name why this matters to you and those you pray for.]

Good and gracious Father, 

for all of these things and thousands more, 

we praise your name, 

we rejoice in you, 

we adore you, 

we give you glory. 

Develop in us a regular rhythm 

of praising all of your goodness.

In Jesus’ wonder-full name. Amen.

Read one or more from Psalms 145-150. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker