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A Prayer about the Countercultural Nature of Marriage

A Prayer about the Countercultural Nature of Marriage

Then the man said,

“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 

Creator God,

In our season of history,

the idea that one woman could belong to one man, 

that one man could belong to one woman, 

that the two could “become one flesh” —

well, it’s simply unthinkable…if not despicable 

to many in our Western culture. 

Marriage of one man to one woman 

is unfashionable, 

out of style. 

After all, women can stand alone, 

and men and women can “hook up” 

with anyone anytime 

without all the wear and tear 

of commitment 

and emotional ties. 

Oh, dear Creator, 

that was not your design 

for man and woman 

when you created us. 

You said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18).

The only thing you called “not good” in all of creation 

was for “man to be alone.” 

You said, “I will make a ‘helper’ fit for him,” (Gen. 2:18)

a powerful warrior-companion 

to “help the other up” when he has fallen down (Ecclesiastes 4:10). 

You said, the woman shall submit to the husband as the leader (Ephesians 5:22),

to lean into him for protection (so out of style — I can protect myself, thank you very much), 

and the man shall love his wife 

“as Christ loved the church 

and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25) — 

in other words, the man shall put his wife’s needs and concerns 

before his own (again, so last century). 

Oh, Lord, help us to recover 

the beauty and wonder of your gift of marriage 

to some of us. 

None of us is meant to be autonomous in the family of Christ, 

whether we’re married or single. 

Thank you for being so “old-school.”  

We pray for your providing grace 

to help us live out this countercultural commitment. 

In the name of Jesus, our heavenly bridegroom we pray.

Amen.

Read Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:21-33.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Caring for Those Who Grieve

A Prayer about Caring for Those Who Grieve

Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless. Psalm 88:15

Merciful Father,

Today we continue our prayer for those grieving an agonizing loss 

with more words from Psalm 88.

For those who feel: “Your wrath lies heavy upon me; 

and you overwhelm me with your waves,” (Psalm 88:7), 

show them your tender compassion and mercy 

through the suffering of your Son.

Remind them that he endured your wrath fully 

so that those who trust in him might never endure it again. 

Help us to bear their burdens by believing for them 

as they wrestle with their unbelief. 

For those who feel: “O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? 

Why do you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 88:14),

Draw near to them in their doubt, 

show them your grace.  

May we enter their grief, 

not with words of explanation for the inexplicable, 

but with presence for those who keenly feel your absence. 

Most of all, Father, we thank you for these dark and harsh words of grief 

written right here in our Bibles. 

May we share them with our grieving friends, 

inviting them to lament their losses. 

You are faithful, and you will hear our prayers.

In Jesus’ grieving name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 88:1-18.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Getting Good at Grief

A Prayer about Getting Good at Grief

I am shut in so I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Psalm 88:9

Compassionate Father,

We don’t pray Psalm 88 enough, 

and maybe that’s why we’re not very good at grief. 

Today, we use the words of this dark yet hopeful Psalm

 to cry out for ourselves or for friends 

walking through agonizing losses:

For those who feel: 

“You have caused my companions to shun me; 

you have made me a horror to them” (Psalm 88:8),

come close in their isolation, 

and send us as comfort in the flesh. 

May we never shrink back from horrific suffering, 

but may we enter into it with your grace and hope. 

For those who feel: “I am a man (or woman) who has no strength” (Psalm 88:4),

soothe them with the rest they desperately need, 

and provide the energy to do the things they must do. 

Send us to lift them up, 

whether in prayer or in service, 

Most of all, Father, 

help our friends to see that they’re not alone, 

that you have supplied them with a great cloud of witnesses 

to walk with them in this long and torturous journey.

In Jesus’ faithful name. Amen.

Read Psalm 88:1-18.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the Power of God’s Grace

A Prayer about the Power of God’s Grace

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

2 Corinthians 12:9

Gracious Father,

Forgive me (us) for underestimating the power of your grace. 

Your grace is not a Southern woman with “nice manners.” 

Your grace is not a little token of appreciation. 

Your grace is not a souvenir from Switzerland.

Your grace is the powerful and profound gift 

of hauling a sinful people out of the suffocating mudpit 

of our own making. 

Your grace came at the high cost 

of the life of your perfectly righteous Son. 

Your grace not only paid the unpayable debt of our sin 

but also imparted to us the righteousness of your Son. 

Your grace is not a trickle little creek of grace 

but a glacier waterfall of grace

pouring over us and through us, 

carving the blunt edges off our rocky hearts 

until they soften into the shape 

of our loving Savior’s heart. 

Your grace will never run out 

and will finish its perfect work in us 

until the day our Savior returns.

Oh, Lord, may we never underestimate 

the profound power of your grace again. 

In Jesus’ grace-pouring name. Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; John 1:16-17; Titus 2:11-14.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Practicing Forgiveness throughout Our Lives

A Prayer about Practicing Forgiveness throughout Our Lives

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

Forgiving Father, 

Secular studies have shown that people 

who know they are dying 

benefit from asking forgiveness 

and granting forgiveness 

at the end of life. 

As Christians, this data does not surprise us, 

for you command us to “forgive one another” 

as you have forgiven us in Christ (Ephesians 4:32).

While it’s tricky to know how to forgive 

someone who has abused or betrayed us, 

in Christ, you have given us 

all of the kindness and compassion we need to do so. 

We must remember that forgiveness is not 

minimizing the damage done 

or excusing the offense. 

It is naming, “You hurt me [in this way] 

and I forgive you, 

not in my own power, 

but in the power of the Holy Spirit 

working in me. 

Similarly, to ask forgiveness of another, 

we don’t excuse, or minimize, or blame-shift. 

We simply say, 

“I hurt you by [naming offense], 

and I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?” 

Forgiving Father, you have forgiven us 

our gossip and greediness, 

our lust for more and our lack of kindness, 

our self-absorption and our self-promotion, 

among the long list 

of other betrayals 

we have committed against you. 

Because you have forgiven us in Christ, 

help us to practice forgiving 

and asking forgiveness, 

not just at the end of our lives, 

but every day of our lives.

In Jesus’ restoring name we ask. Amen.

Read Read Ephesians 1:7, 4:32; Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 5:43-45.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Receiving Jesus’ Cleansing

A Prayer about Receiving Jesus’ Cleansing

“You will never (to eternity) wash my feet.” John 13:8

Jesus, our Faithful Servant,

If we’re honest, we feel the way Peter did: 

you are too good, 

and we are too unworthy for you 

to wash our feet. 

According to Greek scholars*, 

Peter’s response to the idea of Jesus washing his feet is, 

“You will never to eternity wash my feet.” 

In our language, we might say, 

“No way. You will never ever ever wash our feet.” 

Lord, help us in our false humility. 

Help us in our pride. 

Help us in our confusion — 

how can you, 

God incarnate, 

serve us in the lowliest way possible? 

We really need to get this through our skulls 

that are as thick as Peter’s. 

Peter would one day be the “rock” 

on which you would build your church (see Matthew 16:18). 

In this authoritative position, 

he would need your power to submit

to take the lowest places 

to serve others. 

The only way he, and we, 

become empowered to do this 

is to recognize that we are poor and needy, 

but you, the Lord our King, are thinking of us right now (See Psalm 40:17). 

Help us today, Lord. 

Help us to submit 

our minds, 

bodies, 

and spirit to you. 

Cleanse us from our sin, 

and make us ready to serve others 

as your disciples. 

In your humble name we pray.

Amen.

Read John 13:1-11.

*ESV Study Bible note. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker