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A Prayer about Being Persecuted as a Christian

by | Nov 4, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

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 (Find October 23 sermon): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pinewoods-church/id1550803637.



A Prayer about Wisdom for Caregivers

by | Nov 3, 2023 | Caregiving, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Wisdom for Caregivers

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6

Wise and Gracious Lord,

Thank you for the wisdom you give 

for all of life’s hard stories and tough decisions. 

Today we think of our caregiving friends, 

who face weighty decisions daily 

concerning their loved ones’ care. 

Which medicine to try, 

how to get their loved one to comply with doctor’s orders, 

whether to take the car keys or not, 

how long to continue trying new treatments….

the list goes on and on. 

We pray for them, 

that they would hear you answering their prayers, 

perhaps in the form of helpful and wise counselors 

who have been there before them 

or in the form of gentle and kind social workers 

who understand the situation. 

We pray that you would deploy us 

as answers to their prayers, 

simply by offering respite 

or picking up mail while they’re at the hospital, 

or performing a simple task 

like walking the dog or delivering a meal. 

We pray that you would show them 

your deep compassion and forgiveness, 

especially if they are feeling a sense of failing their loved ones. 

Lord, in their hard caregiving days, 

may they truly know the rest and kindness of Jesus, 

our constant and caring companion.

Amen.

Read Proverbs 2:6; Psalm 91:1, 16; Isaiah 25:6-8; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.



A Prayer about the God Who Guides Us

by | Nov 2, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the God Who Guides Us

For this is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Psalm 48:14

 

Our God, 

How great are you indeed! 

You were committed to dwelling with your people,

 and long ago, you chose to dwell 

in a man-made temple in a man-made city 

as the mighty King of your people (Psalm 48:1-3). 

Other kings caught one look at your might, 

panicked, and ran away (Psalm 48:5). 

Not only are you mighty, you are merciful. 

The people rejoice as they consider

your “steadfast love” and “righteousness” 

and wise “judgments” (Psalm 48:9-11) 

Long ago, your people told of your greatness 

to the next generation; 

today, we praise you, 

because you have deigned to make yourself 

our God, forever and ever. 

Not only are you our God, 

you are our guide, today and tomorrow, 

and to the end of our days. 

Even at the end of our days on this earth, 

in you, the end is only the beginning. 

One day, our great King Jesus will return, 

and we will dwell with you forever, 

secure and safe in the eternal joy 

of your everlasting kingdom. 

What reason for rejoicing! Amen.

Read Psalm 48.



A Prayer about Waiting for Recovery

by | Nov 1, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Waiting for Recovery

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Mark 9:24

Heavenly Father,

How this earthly father’s words resonate with us. 

He had likely lost all hope that his son, 

who was violently abused by an “unclean spirit,” 

would ever recover (Mark 9:17). 

And yet, he, like we, 

dared to hope that Jesus could help. 

He, like we, in our hopeless and discouragement, can only ask, 

“if you can do anything, 

have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22). 

When Jesus responds, 

“Anything is possible if a person believes,” 

the father admits his ambivalence: 

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). 

Oh Lord, how we thank you 

that your healing work in our lives, 

whether healing of sin, 

healing of addiction, 

healing of illness, 

or healing of relationships, 

does not depend on our level of faith. 

Oh Lord, how we thank you 

that you are the faithful one 

who loves us deeply in our doubt. 

Oh Lord, how we thank you 

that we know the day of full and final healing 

is coming soon. 

In Jesus’ faithful name. Amen.  

Read Mark 9:14-29. 



A Prayer about Creating a Spiritual Legacy

by | Oct 31, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Creating a Spiritual Legacy

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. Ps. 78:4

Redeeming Lord,

You have commanded us 

to tell the next generation about your “glorious deeds,” 

“the wonders you have done.” 

Today, on my 61st birthday, 

I have no sense that my life is short, 

but for all I know, 

that proverbial bus may hit me 

today, tomorrow, or next week. 

For this reason, I ask you to help me 

and to help my friends 

become intentional 

about the spiritual (non-material) legacies we leave. 

May we live in a way 

that reflects our knowledge of the love of Jesus Christ. 

May we tell the stories of how you redeemed us, 

rescuing us from the pit. 

May we humbly and kindly pass on encouragement 

from the experiences we have had. 

May we share things we have learned how to do — 

sew a quilt, 

drive in the snow, 

identify birds, 

make our world-famous chili, etc. 

May we speak and write blessings 

on those we love. 

And may we do all of these things 

for the purpose of encouraging 

the next generation to live 

in faith (remembering your redemption), 

hope (envisioning redemption in the midst of sorrow), 

and love (caring for others as you have cared for us). 

In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 78.



A Prayer about Eternal Glory

by | Oct 30, 2023 | 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.