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A Prayer about Being Persecuted as a Christian

by | Nov 2, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being Persecuted as a Christian

‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…. John 15:20

Precious Jesus,

We admit, we really like to be liked. 

Reading that we will be hated and persecuted 

“because [we] are not of this world” 

unnerves us.* 

Strengthen us to bear persecution, 

for indeed, 

it will come to your followers.** 

Help us to remember that it is not personal, 

especially when family and friends 

mock or abandon us 

because we follow you. 

Help us to endure persecution 

through looking to you, 

the “author and perfecter of our faith,” 

“who for the joy set before him 

endured the cross, 

despising the shame, 

and is seated at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 12:2). 

And most of all, help us to remember 

that we are not alone 

as we face persecution, 

for we have the Helper, 

the Holy Spirit, 

whom you sent to us. 

The Spirit will give us the words 

and the courage we need; 

the Spirit will comfort us 

and bandage our wounds. 

Thank you for giving us all we need 

to endure 

until the day 

of no more mourning, 

no more pain, 

no more shame. 

Amen.

*Today is the international day of prayer for the persecuted church. We will pray about persecution today and tomorrow (and on an ongoing basis.)

**This prayer based on a sermon by our pastor, Joel Treick. You can listen here : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pinewoods-church/id1550803637.



A Prayer about Not Resenting Correction

by | Nov 1, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Not Resenting Correction

Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise. Proverbs 15:12

Gracious Father,

Throughout your word, 

we find you calling us 

to heed correction and discipline. 

And yet, we confess, 

we resist it; 

sometimes we even resent it. 

How desperately we need your correction, though,

for our hearts are stubborn and still plagued by sin; 

we are too much the wayward sheep, 

all going our own way (See Isaiah 53:6).

How desperately we need a Savior, 

and how desperately we need to trust your discipline 

as a kindness to us. 

We do not want to be people 

who “despise the Lord’s discipline,” 

who “resent your rebuke” (Prov. 3:11).

Rather, make us your very own children 

who know that you “discipline the one you love” (Hebrews 11:6), 

who trust that your discipline, 

while it seems painful, 

“yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness 

to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11). 

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 3:11; Proverbs 15:12; Hebrews 12:3-11.



A Prayer about Being a Saint

by | Oct 31, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being a Saint

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you. Psalm 145:10

Author God,

You and I both know that in the world’s sense of the word, 

I am no saint. 

And yet, on this All Saints’ Day, 

as I celebrate 60 years of being in the world, 

I stand in awe of “your abundant goodness,” 

in choosing me to be one of your saints in Christ (Romans 1:7). 

Not only did you place me in a Christian school 

where I would hear the good news of the gospel and begin studying the Bible, 

[name some of the specific ways God has shown you the good news of the gospel]

but you surrounded me with “a great cloud of witnesses,” 

wonderful saints, ordinary people redeemed in Christ, 

who were living stories that led me to see my need and desire for a Savior. 

[Name some of the saints who have shown you redemption in Christ.]

Not only did you draw me to Christ, 

literally raise me from spiritual death, 

but you have continued to write your story of “steadfast love,” 

showing me day after day 

that your “mercy is over all that you have made” (Psalm 145:9). 

[Name some of the ways he has written his story of “steadfast love” and “mercy” into your life.]

How grateful I am/we are 

that you have called us to be your “saints in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:1). 

In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

Read Psalm 145. 



A Prayer about Eternal Glory

by | Oct 30, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Eternal Glory

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

Heavenly Father,

Enlarge our imaginations 

that we might see what glory awaits us in Christ!

In this fallen world, we suffer, 

but “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing

with the glory that is to be revealed to us” and in us (Romans 8:18).

Because we are in Christ, we have a glorious inheritance 

which we will receive when he returns:

We will be…

Confirmed: 

You, our Father, will welcome us, saying, 

“Yes, this is my beloved child!” 

Restored: 

like the ultimate fixer-upper, 

healed of the wounds of sin, 

healed of the brokenness of our bodies, 

made like Christ, 

fully shining with the glory of Christ!

Strengthened: 

strong in Christ’s strength, 

no longer able to sin.

Established: 

Established on thrones 

as those who reign with Christ 

over the new heavens and new earth, 

and we will “reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). 

(Just call me Queen Elizabeth!)

Oh, Father, the glories that await us in heaven 

do seem too good to be true! 

How we long for the day 

we will see you face to face, 

the day your glory 

will become fully and finally our glory.  

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen.

Read Romans 8:18-30; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Timothy 2:10.



A Prayer about Knowing What Work We’re Called to Do

by | Oct 29, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Knowing What Work We’re Called to Do

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God….2 Cor. 5:20

Heavenly King,

Many of us struggle with knowing our calling 

and purpose here on this earth. 

We’re not sure which job we’re meant to do, 

or when we should retire, 

or if we’re meant to not work outside the home 

at all in this season. 

As we begin this “work week,” 

show us that we all have a role to play 

in your heavenly kingdom. 

You have given us a title, 

“Ambassador for Christ,” 

and with it comes both privileges and responsibilities. 

We are called to share the good news 

of your peace treaty with others, 

to implore others on behalf of Christ the King—

be reconciled to God. 

We are called to protect the citizens of your country, 

to point them to their safe place in Christ. 

We are called to be compelling representatives of you, 

the King, in this foreign country of the world. 

One day, we will gather together 

with all who serve and worship you 

in your heavenly kingdom, 

the new heavens and the new earth. 

Meanwhile, we seek to do your will 

in carrying out your kingdom plan. 

Energize for us this work this week, 

and show us where you would have us go 

with your message.

In the name of Christ our King we pray. Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. 



A Prayer about Learning from Younger People

by | Oct 28, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Learning from Younger People

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

All-Wise God,

Just as we prayed yesterday 

about seeing that each member of the body of Christ 

has gifts given by the Spirit to bless the whole body, 

today we remember to look to and learn from youth in our body. 

I recently heard a podcast with a senior ministry team leader

interviewing a teenager from her church,* 

and the young woman urged older people 

to reach out to teenagers and younger people, 

saying young people desperately need their wisdom and experience. 

This young woman set an example for me 

“in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 

Lord, we confess, sometimes we don’t know 

what to do with younger generations, 

and yet, if we will look at them with compassion 

as Jesus looked on people of every age, 

if we will listen with curiosity, 

we have much to learn. 

And, as this teenaged woman so wisely said, 

“We need people in our lives

 who have walked with Christ much longer than we have.” 

Oh, Heavenly Father, may we heed her cry; 

may we be willing to learn from younger people 

and to pour into their lives. 

In Jesus’ compassionate name. Amen.

Read 1 Timothy 4:6-16.

*Podcast can be found here: “Sanctuary Spectacles: Being a Teenage Woman in the Church”