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A Prayer about Blessing the Lord at All Times

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

A Prayer about Blessing the Lord at All Times

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

Gracious Lord,

We join David today in proclaiming your goodness:

May we bless you at all times—

times when we’ve acted supremely foolish, 

times when we are crushed in spirit, 

times when we are lost and afraid, 

not just times when you’ve blessed us 

with a new car 

or a new boyfriend 

or a new job. 

In all times, 

may we share our uncontainable awe 

at your greatness.

For indeed, with David we can affirm, 

We sought you, and you answered us,

And delivered us from all our fears—

fears of being rejected by our friends or family, 

fears of illness and death, 

fears of being unimportant or irrelevant (Psalm 34:4).

As we take in your glory, 

something amazing happens—

our faces begin to radiate with your dazzling light, 

and where we would have previously hidden in shame, 

We now turn that fiery light outward, 

and shame shrivels and withers away. 

Oh, Lord, indeed, we bless your name. 

You have saved us from all our fear and shame.

In Jesus’ praiseworthy name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 34:1-5. 



 

A Prayer about the Lord’s Guidance

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

A Prayer about the Lord’s Guidance

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Psalm 73:24

Faithful Lord,

As we read Asaph’s words, 

we relate. 

He begins Psalm 73 confessing his envy of the wicked, 

who seem to prosper, 

their bodies “fat and sleek,” 

with no “trouble” as he and others face. 

And yet, as he confesses his envy and resentment, 

he remembers the riches he has in you: 

“You hold [our] right hand” (Ps. 73:23).

“You guide [us] with your counsel” (Ps. 73:24). 

We pause to consider what this means: 

You, 

the all-knowing, 

all-wise, 

all-powerful 

Creator of the Cosmos, 

guide us, steer us, shepherd us, 

with your counsel, wisdom, knowledge, power, and love.

“And afterward you will receive [us] to glory” (Ps. 73:24). 

Not, you “might” receive us to glory if we are good enough, 

but you “will” receive us, 

welcome us, embrace us, 

to glory: 

the state of beauty, perfect peace, 

rest, wholeness and flourishing—shalom. 

Oh Lord, what hope we have in your counsel. 

Keep our eyes firmly fixed on you 

and on our hope in heaven and on earth 

as we plan for the new year. 

Turn our eyes away from others 

whom we might envy 

that we might see how near 

you have come to us in Christ, 

that we might “tell of all your works” (Ps. 73:28). 

Amen. 

Read Psalm 73.



 

A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears

by | Jan 7, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Grief, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Healing Lord,

January now brings with it for me many memories of my mom — 

her birthday on January 4; 

her death day on January 12; 

her funeral on January 8.*

As I remember her with sorrow and longing,

I return to the hope you offer me and my grieving friends:

The hope of the Day to come 

when there will be no more death, 

nor mourning, nor crying, 

nor pain. 

In these remarkable final chapters of your Word, 

you give us a glimpse of what that day will be like:

We will live in safety, with our identity secure in you,

because you will dwell with us (Revelation 21:3).

We will see Jesus face to face, 

and his name will be engraved 

on our forehead (Revelation 22:4).

We will drink for free and freely from 

the river of the water of life, 

and we will dine lavishly

 on the fruit of the tree of life (Revelation 21:6; 22:1).

We will marvel at your majesty, 

and we will long to serve you and no other (Revelation 22:3).

We will enjoy peaceful community 

of people from every tribe and tongue and nation (Revelation 21:4; 22:2).

There’s more, so much more, 

to that day 

which will last forever. 

We believe your promise, 

“Surely, I am coming soon,” 

and we cry in response, 

“Come, Lord Jesus.”

In your hope-giving name. Amen.

Read Revelation 21-22. 

*Because of Covid, we had to wait an entire year to have the funeral my mother had planned.



 

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

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

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Isaiah 60:1

Glorious God,

Though the twelfth day of Christmas 

has come and gone, 

the defrocked trees lie 

dried and withered by the curb, 

may we see the glory of Christ-with-us, 

the good news that our light has come, 

today and every day of this year.

Peel the scales from our eyes, 

so we may see the light

that has overcome the thick darkness, 

your grace, and your glory, 

your mercy and your kindness to us 

in Christ. 

Indeed, may all “nations come to your light, 

and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3). 

Open our eyes to see the great ingathering 

of your people, 

“the sons …come from afar…

the daughters carried on the hip…” (Isaiah 60:4). 

Radiate our hearts with this good news 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen. 

Read Isaiah 60:1-5. 



 

A Prayer about Caring for Aging Parents

by | Jan 5, 2024 | aging, dying, and death, Caregiving, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Caring for Aging Parents

‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.’

Exodus 20:12

Gracious Father,

We confess, 

we don’t always know what it looks like 

to honor our fathers and mothers as they age, 

particularly as they begin to lose 

strength and cognitive abilities. 

Help us, by your Holy Spirit, 

and guide us by your Word, 

that we may know what good care looks like. 

Give us courage to have conversations 

with our parents today 

so that we might know their values, wishes, and priorities 

if they become weak mentally or physically. 

Remind us that despite mental and physical weakness and frailty, 

our parents are never our children. 

May we advocate for them 

as people with profound dignity and worth, 

because you created them in your image 

and you love them far better than we are able. 

Give us wisdom and insight to know 

what they would want in difficult scenarios 

that seem to have no easy answers: 

should they move to assisted living; 

should they have full-time care; 

would they want us to spend our savings 

on their care, etc.? 

Thank you for sending your Son, 

that in him we might live in faith, hope, and love 

as we care for aging parents. 

Amen.

Read Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:1-3; Proverbs 6:20-24.



 

A Prayer about Hope for Temptation

by | Jan 4, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Hope for Temptation

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

Lord Jesus,

We’re only five days into 2024, 

and most of us have already broken 

at least one New Year’s resolution, 

if we even made them. 

Worse still, we’ve all already succumbed to temptation—

to speak ill of a friend or an enemy, 

to eat or drink more than is good 

for the bodies you gave us, 

to say “yes” when we should have said “no,” 

or to say “no” when we should have said “yes.” 

And yet, on this twelfth day of Christmas, 

we take comfort in this passage (Hebrews 2:14-18).

You knew that in our humanity 

we would struggle with temptation and sin, 

so you took on our humanity—

everything except the sin. 

You gave your human body, 

sinless and righteous, 

as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. 

Because you did, 

we who are in you, 

are forever freed from the fear of death. 

Not only that, we are freed from slavery 

to the devil, 

that we might become obedient like you. 

And when we do struggle with temptation, 

we have a Savior who can really help, 

because you endured the pain and struggle 

of temptation for us. 

Encourage us today 

to walk in your new morning mercy.

In your suffering name, Amen.

Read Hebrews 2:14-18.