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A Prayer about True Freedom

by | Jul 3, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about True Freedom

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Merciful Father,

When the apostle Paul told the Galatians 

they had been set free for freedom, 

he wasn’t talking politics; 

he was talking about 

the rich, generous, and gracious 

freedom we have in Christ. 

On this Independence Day in America, 

some of us celebrate America’s freedom, 

but even more, 

we celebrate the freedom we have 

as citizens of your kingdom. 

We are…

Freed from sin and shame 

to bear the fruit of sanctification 

and to live eternal life as your servants, 

starting now (Romans 6:22). 

Freed to outdo one another in love, 

with honor, not slander, 

with hospitable hearts, 

assuming the best of others, not the worst (Romans 12:9-10).

Freed to serve God and serve others, 

not to use our “freedom as a cover-up for evil” (1 Peter 2:16).

Best of all, we are freed 

to spend all of our time, money, and energy 

giving glory to you, 

our  mighty and majestic God (Revelation 1:5-6).

Thank you for these truths which set us truly free (John 8:32).

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Galatians 5:1-10; Romans 12:9-19; 1 Peter 2:16; Revelation 1:5-6; John 8:32.



A Prayer about Being Truly Transformed

by | Jul 2, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being Truly Transformed

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2

Everlasting God,

I did it again.

I just scrolled away twenty minutes, 

looking at this and that, 

following this trail on someone’s post about their wayward cat, 

clicking on this headline about a bizarre tragedy on a remote island, 

checking the weather for Wimbledon…

Have mercy on me, have mercy on us.

Sometimes it seems we have no self-control 

when a screen is in our hand or at our fingertips.

We long to know the “rest for my soul” 

that Jesus has promised (Matthew 11:28-30), 

and yet so much of what we do 

fills our heads and heart 

with noise and trivia 

that is impotent to change our lives.

Transform us, we pray, 

renew our minds by the work of your Spirit, 

so that we can sit still 

and remember that you are God (Psalm 46:10). 

Speaking of sitting, 

help us to do just that sometimes, 

to sit quietly with no phone, no tablet, not even a book, 

and listen for your voice delighting in us, 

for in this very moment, 

you are singing over us, 

quieting us with your love (Zephaniah 3:14-17). 

In Jesus’ life-changing name. Amen. 

Read Romans 12:13; Matthew 11:28-30; Psalm 46:10; Zephaniah 3:14-17.



A Prayer about the Wisdom We So Desperately Need

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

A Prayer about the Wisdom We So Desperately Need

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 9:10

Awesome God,

In this confusing and chaotic world, 

how desperately  we need your wisdom. 

Parents need your wisdom to know how to

help their children stay safe and on a wise path; 

adult children need your wisdom to know how to 

talk to their parents about letting go of the car keys; 

bosses need your wisdom to know how to 

steward their employees’ gifts, 

Patients need your wisdom 

to know which course of treatment to pursue.

and on and on…

Whoever we are, 

whatever our situation, 

we need your wisdom, 

whether we realize it or not. 

May we first realize that it is your wisdom we need, 

and then may we turn to you to find it. 

When we “fear” you, 

that is live in awe of you, 

live in gratitude of you, 

live seeking your Word, 

live listening to pastors and ministry leaders and wiser friends, 

you promise, 

we will grow in your wisdom. 

It is indeed through you, 

as Eugene Peterson puts it, 

that [our] life deepens, 

and the years of [our] life ripen. 

May we “live wisely” 

so that “wisdom will permeate [our] lives.” (Proverbs 9: 11, The MSG). 

Read Proverbs 9. 



A Prayer about Loving Our Enemies

by | Jun 30, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Loving Our Enemies

But I say to you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ Matthew 5:44

Lord Jesus,

You knew we’d struggle

to love the friend who shared our shameful secret;

You knew we’d struggle 

to pray for the boss who unjustly let us go.

And yet, you commanded us to do 

what our hearts can’t do 

in their natural state—love our enemies.

Why?

Because only in loving our enemy 

can we truly understand how you have loved us

—your enemy. 

For, indeed, while we were still sinners, 

rebels in your sight, 

you endured a beating 

that should have killed you. 

While we were still sinners, 

hating you and hating God, 

you felt the nails 

hammering you to the cross (Romans 5:6-8). 

Something happened there 

to change everything, 

to turn love upside down.

Now, empowered by your sacrificial love, 

enabled by your grace, 

we are sent out to do the impossible, 

to love our enemies 

and pray for those who persecute us.

In your enemy-loving name. Amen.

Read Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 5:6-11.



A Prayer about the Questions God Asks

by | Jun 29, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel Coaching

A Prayer about the Questions God Asks

Where have you come from, and where are you going?

Genesis 16:8

Pursuing God

Thank you for chasing after us when we try to run away.

Like Hagar in the wilderness, 

we can run ourselves into the ground,

but you seek us, 

and you draw us out of our hiding, 

asking questions we really need to hear:

Where have you come from?

Where are you going?

Or, as you asked Adam and Eve 

when they “hid” from you after eating the fruit,

Where are you?

You don’t ask these questions 

because you don’t know the answers.

You don’t ask these questions 

because you want to trap us.

You ask them 

to invite us to see where we are, 

to see where we’ve been, 

to see where we’re headed without you. 

But you also ask them 

to reveal the most important thing 

we need to know—

where you are (right here with us), 

and who you are: 

“The God Who Hears, 

The God Who Sees,” 

the God who looks after us (Genesis 16:13). 

May we listen to your questions, 

letting them draw us 

to your loving and forgiving presence.

In the name of our Savior,

 Immanuel (“God-with-us”), we pray. Amen. 

Read Genesis 16:1-16.



A Prayer about Finding Joy When Life Is a Struggle

by | Jun 28, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Finding Joy When Life Is a Struggle

Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him.

Psalm 64:10

Saving God,

Thank you for calling us to rejoice, 

even when we’re under attack.

My Bible reading plan took me today to Psalms 63-68, 

many of them authored by David 

when he was being chased by Saul 

or being attacked by other enemies. 

Amazingly, he didn’t cry out, 

“Oh poor me, everyone hates me, 

and I’m going to die.” 

Instead, he professed his hope 

that you would save him. 

He cried honestly for help, lamenting the trials he was experiencing. 

He remembered your past help 

and proclaimed his confident hope 

that you will help again. 

As we recite some of the words David first penned,

strengthen our hope, 

increase our faith, 

and send us out out in joy at your salvation:

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; 

my soul thirsts for you; 

my flesh faints for you, 

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).

“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, 

and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 

when I remember you upon my bed, 

and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

For you have been my help, 

and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy” (Psalm 63:5-7).

“The pastures of the wilderness overflow, 

the hills gird themselves with joy” (Psalm 65:12).

“Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 

sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 

Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! 

So great is your power 

that your enemies come cringing to you.’” (Psalm 66:1-2). 

“God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered….

But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; 

they shall be jubilant with joy!” (Psalm 68:3).

In Jesus’ joy-giving name. Amen.

Read any of Psalms 63-68.