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A Prayer about Jesus’ Determination

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

A Prayer about Jesus’ Determination

“And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

Mark 10:34

Lord Jesus,

Enlarge our imaginations 

so that we might walk with you 

on the day you told your disciples 

this alarming news. 

You were marching resolutely toward Jerusalem, 

toward your certain suffering and death. 

Your face was “set like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7), 

unwavering as you headed toward your final destination. 

Your followers were both “amazed” and “afraid,” 

maybe because you had twice before told them 

what would happen in Jerusalem (Mark 10:32; 8:31; 9:31).

Lord Jesus, enliven our hearts 

that we might be amazed again—

amazed that you moved on toward your mission, 

knowing what you knew—

that your opponents would mock you 

and spit on you 

and flog you 

and kill you;

amazed that because you willingly endured this suffering, 

we have full forgiveness for our sins; 

amazed that you rose from the dead 

and that by believing in you we are raised to new life. 

In your amazing name. Amen.

Read Mark 10:32-34; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Isaiah 50:7. 



 

A Prayer about How to Endure Temptation

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

A Prayer about How to Endure Temptation

And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ 

Luke 4:12

Lord Jesus,

In our study of your temptation in the wilderness, 

we see how Satan tried the same things with you 

he tries with us. 

This time he encouraged you to test God, 

to demand a sign from God. 

Oh, Lord, do we ever do this? 

Do we ever want to live by sight 

rather than living by faith? 

We do. 

We are often tempted to base our beliefs about you

on our experience or our feelings 

rather than on what your Word asserts is true. 

It’s easy to do when we get isolated, 

so we pray that we will stay firmly planted 

in our churches and Christian community. 

We pray that we will stay close to you, 

for “we do not have a great high priest 

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 

but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, 

yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). 

Thank you, Lord, for enduring the cross for us, 

that we might live in obedience 

to your perfect and glorious will.

Amen.

Read Luke 4:9-13.



 

A Prayer about Not Being Foolish

by | Mar 8, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Not Being Foolish

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

All-Wise God,

May we heed Paul’s words about wisdom and foolishness, 

so that we might avoid being foolish, 

so that we might become truly wise.

Paul is right—the message of the cross: 

the true story that you sent your only Son 

as the perfect Savior for our sins, 

the message that you allowed your beloved, 

obedient Son to die on the cross for our sins, 

seems terribly foolish 

according to the world’s wisdom. 

May we remember our dying Savior 

and see the fullness of your wisdom, power, and love. 

May we adore our risen Savior 

and walk in his wisdom, power, and love. 

In Jesus’ wise and strong name. Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.



 

A Prayer about Waiting and Watching for the Lord

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

A Prayer about Waiting and Watching for the Lord

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.” Psalm 130:5-6

Steadfast God,

Many of us are waiting in agony for a harsh season to end. 

All of us are waiting for justice to reign in Ukraine,

Some of us have lost loved ones to cancer or heart disease or dementia; 

others have lost health, friendships, or churches 

in these political and pandemic years. 

Some are anxiously waiting for restoration 

after hurricanes and blizzards, 

and still others are waiting for good results 

from diagnostic testing or job interviews. 

Wherever we are in our wait, 

Lord, make us good watchmen. 

Draw our eyes heavenward, 

to notice your delight in a child’s glee, 

to hear your calming word in the voice of a wise friend, 

to see your light bursting forth in the dark of the dawn. 

May we have the courage to wait with hope because we know:

“With the Lord there is steadfast love,

 and with him is plentiful redemption” (Psalm 130:7). 

Read Psalm 130. 



 

A Prayer about a Strange Trade-Off

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

A Prayer about a Strange Trade-Off

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.”

1 Peter 3:18

Holy and Merciful God,

Thank you for these show-stopping words from 1 Peter. 

This reality that we focus on in Lent 

should widen our eyes and slacken our jaws:

Christ suffered for sins (our sins). 

He who was fully God and fully man 

died in the flesh; 

he was raised in the spirit.

And now, we who believe in him 

will never suffer punishment for our sins again. 

Why would he do such a thing?

For one reason only: 

So that he might bring us to God, 

for we could not come near God before—

the unrighteous cannot be near the righteous (Psalm 5:5). 

But when Christ became sin for us, 

we became the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

Holy God, we admit, 

with our myopic human perspective, 

this great exchange makes no sense at all.

It only makes sense if you are an unfailingly loving God 

who would go to unimaginable extremes

to bring his beloved people to him. 

And that is what you are. 

How we praise you and thank you for this good news!

In Jesus’ substituting name. Amen.

Read 1 Peter 3:18; Psalm 5; 2 Corinthians 5:21.



 

A Prayer about Never Dying

by | Mar 5, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Never Dying

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’”

 John 11:25-26

Lord Jesus,

How I love the true story 

in which you asked your beloved friend Martha this crucial question. 

Her brother, Lazarus has died, 

and she knows that you could have saved him, 

but you didn’t. 

Now he lies in a tomb, 

and she has the faith to say, 

“But even now, I know that whatever you ask from God, 

God will give you” (John 11:22).

And you made this bold assertion: 

“Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23). 

But you didn’t stop there. 

You revealed your true identity to Martha: 

‘I am the resurrection and the life.’ 

And you promised that anyone who believes in you 

will never die (John 11:25-26). 

Jesus, as we walk toward Resurrection Sunday, 

may we see you, the risen and ascended Jesus, 

not only risen from the dead 

but seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Hebrews 10:12). 

And may we address this most crucial question: 

“Do we believe this?” 

It is truly a matter of eternal life and eternal death. 

By your grace, may we believe.

Read John 11:1-44.