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A Prayer about Affliction

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

A Prayer about Affliction

I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

Psalm 119:75

Faithful Lord,

The truth is, we don’t like to think that you afflict us. 

And then, when we do think you afflict us, 

we don’t always remember that it is 

“in faithfulness” that you do so. 

Today, I can more easily see how and why 

you might allow what feels like affliction in our lives. 

We have had to withhold food

from our beloved dog-who-thinks-she-is-a-person 

since last night at 8 p.m., 

because she is getting her teeth cleaned today. 

She has begged, 

she has nudged, 

she has barked her displeasure 

at not getting her morning treats, 

her morning meal, 

and her second round of morning treats. 

(I know, maybe we’re too extravagant with her?) 

(But not any less so than you are with us!).

To her, this feels like affliction. 

But we know that if we fed her, 

she might aspirate while under the anesthetic. 

Finally, she has settled, 

choosing to take a nap, 

choosing to trust 

that we have a good reason 

for “afflicting” her. 

Today, Lord, we pray that we would do the same—

that we would settle, 

that we would trust you, 

that we would know any affliction we experience 

is faithfully, sovereignly, lovingly 

administered by you. 

In the name of our afflicted Savior we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 119:67, 71, 75. 



A Prayer about the Author Who Writes Our Stories from Start to Finish

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

A Prayer about the Author Who Writes Our Stories from Start to Finish

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:13

Author God,

You began 

your True Story, 

the Living Word, 

with the words, 

“In the beginning…” 

Jesus concludes the True Story 

by reminding us, 

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, 

the First and the Last, 

the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). 

Help us to see what good news this is! 

If you are the beginning and the end, 

surely there is nothing in-between 

that you have not written into our stories 

for our good and your glory. 

Just as every character, 

round or flat, 

good girl or bad guy, 

is written into your True Story for a purpose, 

every person you place in our lives 

has a glorious purpose, 

to grace us, 

refine us, 

shape us, 

into the image of Christ. 

Every plot point, 

every twist and turn of the story, 

is written by your loving hand. 

Even more, you are 

with us

in the story. 

You never leave us to fend for ourselves 

against the mighty dragons. 

You never leave us to weep alone 

the losses and longings 

of this life. 

No human author can say the same, 

no matter how badly we may wish 

to walk alongside our readers. 

Thank you, 

glorious God, 

brilliant Author, 

for writing our story 

from beginning 

to end 

to new beginning. 

In the name of the Alpha and Omega, 

Jesus, our Savior, we pray.

Amen. 

Read Genesis 1:1; Revelation 21-22. 



A Prayer about Wisdom for Caregivers

by | Nov 7, 2024 | 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 6, 2024 | 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 5, 2024 | 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 Desiring a Better Country

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

A Prayer about Desiring a Better Country

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Hebrews 11:13

Lord God, Architect and Builder of the City with Foundations,

Remind us today of what you have told us over and over: 

this world is not our home—yet. 

One day, our Savior, King Jesus, 

who submitted himself to estrangement 

for the sake of our sins, 

will return to this earth. 

In that day, he will bring with him 

“the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, 

coming down out of heaven from God, 

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). 

I admit, that’s such a mixed metaphor 

it’s hard to get my mind around, 

but this I know. 

In that day, we will, 

like Abraham and Sarah and Moses and Rahab 

and all the other saints mentioned in Hebrews 11, 

“receive the things promised,” 

the things we “greet…from afar” (Hebrews 11:13). 

We will settle in the homeland 

we have always sought (Hebrews 11:14). 

We will no longer be “strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). 

Today and every day, Lord, 

keep our eyes fixed on the horizon, 

looking for that “better country” 

our hearts deeply desire, 

the heavenly one, 

for we know that you have prepared for us a city. 

Until that day comes, 

may we invite others to join us 

as strangers and exiles on this earth, 

as citizens of your heavenly kingdom. 

In Jesus’ anticipated name. Amen. 

Read Hebrews 11:8-16; Revelation 21:1-5.