fbpx

A Prayer about Work, Wealth, Women, and Wisdom

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

A Prayer about Work, Wealth, Women, and Wisdom

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1 Kings 11:4

Author God,

May we learn from Solomon:

We remember how you, 

the all-powerful King of the Universe, 

actually humbled yourself to offer Solomon 

anything he asked for: 

“Ask what I shall give you.” 

And Solomon, loving you, honoring you, 

humbly asked for “an understanding mind to govern my people” (1 Kings 3:5, 9). 

Solomon does show this wisdom for awhile, 

and he gets busy working to build you a temple. 

But then some cracks in his foundation become fissures, 

and before we know it, 

he has married 700 women 

who lead him to worship other gods (1 Kings 11:1-8). 

Lord, we want to cry out, 

“How could he,” 

but we know the truth, 

that whether it is work or wealth or women or wine 

or families or football or fashionable things—

we can take any good gift you give us 

and make it into a god we worship more than you. 

Merciful God,

we pray, show us the things that block us 

from loving you 

and following you 

and serving you 

and enjoying you. 

Thank you for giving us rest in Jesus. May we return to him today.

In Jesus’ kingly name. Amen.

Read 1 Kings 11.



A Prayer about Living in Faith, Hope, and Love

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

A Prayer about Living in Faith, Hope, and Love

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

Faithful Lord,

In a world that nags us, 

“You need more, 

to get more, 

to do more, 

to be more,”

help us to see that you have given us 

the “full assurance of faith,” 

your finished work for us on the cross. 

Now we can draw near to you 

with hearts relieved of guilt, 

for you have cleansed us from our sins (Heb. 10:22). 

In a world that makes us feel despair sometimes—

rising inflation, rising crime rates, rising poverty, 

we can “hold fast the confession of our hope,” 

not because we are so faithful, 

but because you are faithful, 

and you have promised your shalom 

will reign eternally. 

And because of the faith and hope you have given us, 

we can “consider” (be considerate) 

“how to stir one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). 

Lord, let us not forget 

that you are coming soon, 

and as we remember, 

may we live out your faith, hope, and love 

in a world desperate to know good news. 

In your re-creating name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 10:19-39.



A Prayer about the Possibility of Entering God’s Kingdom

by | Oct 13, 2024 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Possibility of Entering God’s Kingdom

With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God. Mark 10:27

Christ our King,

In Mark 10:17-31, we read of a rich young man 

who truly seemed to want to know 

how to inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17). 

He did seem a little proud of his moral accomplishments—

he told you he had kept all the commandments you named 

(not noticing you left out a few big ones!) (Mark 10:20). 

But there was one thing he couldn’t do. 

He couldn’t sell all his possessions and follow you. 

Jesus, help us to see you in this true story—

you “felt genuine love” for this man (Mark 10:21). 

You knew it is impossible 

but for the work of the Spirit 

for any of us to give up the things 

that we make gods 

instead of the One, true Living God. 

Whether it’s money or relationships 

or work or family or shopping

or food or drink, 

we tend to look to other things 

for security and significance. 

We were “dead in our trespasses,” (Ephesians 2:1), 

and if it weren’t for your death on the cross, 

none of us would be able to inherit eternal life. 

Thanks be to God for his rich mercy, 

for making “us alive together” with you (Ephesians 2:4-5). 

Because he did, it is possible to follow you. 

Because he did, it is possible for us to inherit eternal life.

In your saving name. Amen.

Read Mark 10:17-31. 



A Prayer about Where to Focus

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

A Prayer about Where to Focus

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. Colossians 2:8

Lord Jesus,

Forgive us for wasting our time and our brain space 

with all sorts of 

“empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense” 

that fill the screens we gaze upon. 

We scroll and scroll, 

looking for the next new thing, 

some great idea, 

never realizing how many of the thoughts we consume 

come from “human thinking” 

or ”the spiritual powers of this world.” 

Draw our gaze instead to you, 

the One in whom God’s fullness dwells 

in a human body (Col. 1:19). 

As we look on you, 

may we see that if you dwell in us, 

if we call you Savior, 

we have been “buried with you in baptism,” 

and now we have been “raised with you 

through faith 

in the powerful working of God” (Col. 2:12). 

Because of this mind-boggling truth, 

we can walk freely, 

forgiven, 

in you, 

and we can live for you, 

loving you and loving others with all we do. 

That’s really the only reality 

we need to focus on today or any day. 

In your saving name. Amen. 

Read Colossians 2:1-23.



A Prayer about Being a Comfort to Ministry Leaders

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

A Prayer about Being a Comfort to Ministry Leaders

Remember my chains. Colossians 3:18

Jesus, Great Shepherd of the Sheep,

As we read the apostle Paul’s closing instructions to the Colossians, 

we can’t miss his reminder, 

which he mentions twice, 

that he is in chains. 

He has told the Colossians 

the good news of the gospel: 

they have died with Christ, 

been raised with Christ, 

are rooted in Christ, 

and are hidden in Christ. 

Now they and we can live in peace, 

in tenderness, 

in mercy. 

Now he encourages them and us 

to pray. 

We must pray for all who are ministers of the gospel:

preachers, teachers, youth workers, 

children’s and women’s ministry directors. 

We pray that we would not in any way imprison them, 

that we would speak to them 

and about them 

as we are directed to speak to everyone—

wisely, graciously, kindly (Col. 4:5-6). 

May we be faithful brothers and sisters, 

people like Tychicus, Onesimus, and Aristarchus, 

comforting our ministry leaders 

in trying and bewildering times (Col. 4:7-11), 

working with our ministry leaders 

for the glory of the Kingdom of God (Col. 4:7-12). 

May we “pray earnestly” like Epaphras 

for the good of our church, 

asking God to help the whole church 

follow the will of God (Col. 4:12-13). 

And may we always remember their chains, 

remember that our ministry leaders 

suffer for the sake of the glory of God. 

In your shepherding name. Amen.

Read Colossians 4. 



A Prayer about Being United to Christ

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

A Prayer about Being United to Christ

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:3

Precious Jesus,

Please open the eyes of our hearts 

that we might understand all of the riches 

we have in our union with you, 

that we might live accordingly. 

Our old self has died, 

and with it, all of our slavery to sin—

we can be free of idolatry of every kind:

addiction to control or to crack, 

to work or to wasting time, 

to sexual immorality or to secret lusts.

We are raised with you, 

“holy and beloved” (3:1, 12), 

so we can put on compassion, 

letting others go first in a long line at the gas station, 

patiently waiting when our friend always runs fifteen minutes late, 

forgiving our co-worker for taking credit for our work, 

seeking to restore harmony with a roommate 

who never takes out the trash or does the dishes… (Col. 3:14).

Indeed, joined to you, 

we will “share in your sufferings” (Philippians 3:10), 

but because we are hidden in you, 

you will bear the brunt of those sufferings, 

as a pregnant mother does for the baby in her womb. 

Most wonderfully of all, 

because we are joined to you, 

we can never be separated from you. 

Gentle Jesus, may we indeed be thankful and peaceful. 

May we sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Col. 3:16-17)

 as we grasp this incredibly good news!

In your life-transforming name. Amen.

Read Colossians 3.