fbpx

A Prayer about the Precious Gift of Prayer

by | Jan 16, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Precious Gift of Prayer

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.  Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” James 5:13

Good, Good Father,

May we grasp how precious is the gift of prayer.

Whether we are in trouble or triumph, 

we can cry out to you, with tears or with joy. 

We don’t have to come up with 

highfalutin sounding words. 

In fact, you have given us all the words 

we need to pray. 

When we can’t come up with the words, 

all we have to do is open your Word. 

If we’re feeling sad, there’s: 

“Why are you cast down, 

O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil 

within me? 

Hope in God, 

for I shall again praise him, 

My salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5). 

If we’re feeling delight, 

we shout, 

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; 

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). 

And when we’re just too numb or confused to pray, 

we have the assurance 

that the Spirit is groaning for us 

and Jesus is interceding for us (Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 7:25). 

Thank you, Lord, 

for the sweet communion of prayer.

Amen. 

Read James 5:13; Psalm 42; Psalm 95. 



 

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

by | Jan 15, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:13

All-Powerful God,

Every time I read this awkward scene for Sarah in Genesis 18, 

I cringe, 

mostly because I recognize myself 

in her struggle to believe.

The Lord has promised Abraham and Sarah 

descendants as numerous as the stars, 

and yet, “The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah” (Gen. 18:11), 

and Abraham is a ripe 99-years-old. 

So we can hardly blame Sarah for laughing 

when she overhears one of the visitors, 

“the Lord,” 

say, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, 

and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Gen. 18:10). 

Things get awkward when the Lord asks Abraham, 

“Why did Sarah laugh and say, 

‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

Is anything too hard for the Lord?” 

Sarah denies laughing, and the Lord responds, 

“No, but you did laugh” (Gen. 18:14-15). 

Oh Lord, you know the places of our lives 

where it’s hard to believe that nothing is too hard for you—

For new companionship to ease our loneliness 

or for healing in broken relationships…

For healing of a chronic illness 

or for belief that a terminal illness will lead to ultimate healing…

For a job that provides for our family 

or a job that allows us to escape an abusive boss….

[Name some places you struggle to believe…]

Help us to trust in you to care for us 

in every detail of our lives 

because you sent your Son in a virgin’s womb, 

because you raised your Son from the dead, 

that those who trust in him might live forever in your love. 

In Jesus’ all-powerful name we pray. Amen. 



 

A Prayer about Taking Our Fears to the One Who Created Us

by | Jan 14, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Taking Our Fears to the One Who Created Us

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Creator and Lord,

Over and over in Scripture, 

we read the words, “Do not fear.” 

Help us to hear you speaking them to us. 

Help us to know in our very bones 

that we can trust you. 

Who is the One telling us not to fear?

You are the One who created us, 

who formed us in the womb (Is. 43:1; Psalm 139:13), 

who conceived of us before we were conceived. 

You are the One who tells us 

we belong to you; we are yours (Is. 43:1). 

You are the One who speaks the loving words ever so gently, 

“Because you are precious in my eyes, 

and honored, 

and I love you, 

I give men in return for you….” 

Knowing who you are,

we now bring our fears honestly to you:

Lord, I fear…[name a fear and why you fear it]

Lord, I fear…[name a fear and why you fear it]

[Continue with as many fears as you can think of.]

Now that we have shared our fears, 

we listen again to your voice 

through your comforting Scripture:

“Fear not, for I am with you” (Is. 43:8).

Indeed, Lord, with you with us and for us, 

who can stand against us?

Thank you for calming our fears.

Amen. 

Read Isaiah 43:1-7.



 

A Prayer about the Son Who Came to Save

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

A Prayer about the Son Who Came to Save

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17

Heavenly Father,

In these early days after Christmas, 

may we not immerse ourselves in the whirl of the world 

so fully that we lose our wonder 

at the profoundly good news of the incarnation: 

From the beginning, 

even when his fingers were tiny 

and his sounds were infant coos, 

Jesus was born for one purpose: 

that we, that the whole cosmos, might be “born again” (John 3:3). 

“How shall that be,” the Jewish leader, Nicodemus, 

asks? 

Jesus explains in some of the better known words of the Word: 

“For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in him 

should not perish 

but should have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

This is the true gift of Christmas, 

but it gets even better. 

For all who have suffered the voices of contempt and condemnation, 

who have hung their heads in shame, 

you give more hope, 

“For God did not send his Son 

into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). 

Oh, gracious and merciful Father, 

what good news this is! 

May we live and love out of it today and every day.

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read John 3:1-21. 



 

A Prayer about Letting Go of Resentment

by | Jan 11, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Letting Go of Resentment

Love…keeps no record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 13:5

Gracious God,

Today you guide us to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

replacing the word love with God.*

Indeed, when we read “God keeps no record of wrongs,” 

your Spirit pricks our hearts. 

Is it really true? 

Do you, who are patient and kind, 

perfectly loving, 

really not keep a record of our wrongs? 

Yes, according to Scripture, 

if we are in Christ, 

it is true! Romans 4 tells us, 

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, 

and whose sins are covered; 

blessed is the man 

against whom the Lord will not count his sin” (Romans 4:7-8). 

And in 2 Corinthians, 

“in Christ, 

God was reconciling the world to himself, 

not counting their trespasses against them…” (5:19). 

Oh gracious Father, 

show us anew how amazing your grace is, 

how wonderfully free we are in Christ. 

And by your grace, transform us. 

For who are we to keep a record of wrongs, 

to build up resentment, 

hard and crusty, 

if you, the Lord against whom we have sinned, 

do not do so because of the perfect sacrifice of your Son? 

Help us, Lord, we pray.

In Jesus’ transforming name. Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Romans 4:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19. 

*This suggestion came from Jan Johnson, in Meeting God in Scripture



 

A Prayer about the Lord Who Hears and Responds

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

A Prayer about the Lord Who Hears and Responds

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7

Rescuing Lord, 

As we continue praying through Psalm 34, 

we see even more reasons to bless your name “at all times” 

as we prayed about yesterday: 

We were sprawled out on the sofa, 

choking on sobs 

of grief, of regret, 

of disappointment, of frustration, 

and you heard us. 

You heard us. 

And when you hear, you respond: 

you “saved [us] out of all of [our] troubles” (Psalm 34:6). 

Not some of our troubles. 

All of our troubles. 

You send your angel to “encamp” around us. 

We shouldn’t picture a chubby blond cherub 

or a pale-faced long-haired lady  

when we think angel. 

We should picture warrior of light, 

powerful, fearsome, 

mighty, messenger. 

And though Psalm 34 just mentions one angel, 

we should probably picture a whole army of angels 

setting up this camp around us 

to protect us, to deliver us. 

Yes, indeed, we do “taste and see that you are good!” 

And we do proclaim with David, 

“Blessed is the man [or woman] who takes refuge in you” (Psalm 34:8).

In Jesus’ delivering name we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 34:6-7; Matthew 28:2; Hebrews 13: 2; Daniel 10.