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A Prayer about the One Who Is Trustworthy and True

by | Jun 3, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel Coaching

A Prayer about the One Who Is Trustworthy and True

Write this down for these words are trustworthy and true. Revelation 21:5. 

Trustworthy and True Father,

We are distressed to learn 

that many of the leaders and institutions we have put our trust in, 

even spiritual ones, 

are not trustworthy and true. 

In fact, some cultural commentators say

there is an epidemic of mistrust in our world, 

and they may be right. 

How thankful we are 

that throughout Scripture, 

and especially in the wonderful vision of Revelation

about what really will happen one day “soon,” 

you emphasize how trustworthy and true you are. 

You are the God of truth, the God who never lies. 

You have sent your Son as our Savior, 

and he has proven himself 

to be perfectly trustworthy 

and perfectly loving. 

Unlike any of the fallible leaders in the world today, 

Jesus gave his life for us. 

Jesus made good on his promise 

to rise from the dead after three days. 

Jesus delivered on his pledge

to send a greater Helper, the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus ascended to heaven

and sits at your right hand this very minute, 

interceding for us (Romans 8:34).  

Your promise is trustworthy and true. 

Jesus is coming back. 

Jesus is restoring this broken world.

Jesus is making all things new. 

And one day we really will dwell in shalom forever. 

In Jesus’ faithful and true name. Amen.

Read Revelation 21:5; 22:6; 3:14; 19:11.

 

A Prayer about Obedience

by | Jun 2, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Devotional

A Prayer about Obedience

 

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. John 15:10 

Holy God,

In our world,

which preaches the message of autonomy and high self-esteem, 

we confess, 

the idea of obedience makes some of us cringe. 

The word “obedience” 

comes from an old English word, 

“obeisance,” 

which literally means to “bow down.” 

Servants bowed down before their masters. 

Subjects bowed down before the Queen. 

We confess, 

we far prefer to “bow up” 

than to “bow down.” 

And yet, because of the love with which you loved us,

 because we are indeed “charity cases,” 

as we confessed yesterday, 

we can grow in our love of obedience. 

For indeed, this is what our Savior did: 

rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:7-8)

Gracious Lord, in Christ’s love, 

by your Spirit, 

you have given us the power to bow down, 

to humble ourselves, 

to make ourselves servants—

of you and of others. 

And as Jesus told his disciples, 

it is this abiding and obedience 

that makes our joy complete (John 15:11). 

Give us this abiding joy.

In Jesus’ loving name. Amen.

Read John 15:1-11.

A Prayer about Being a Charity Case

by | Jun 1, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being a Charity Case

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

Gracious Father,

Forgive us for ever saying, 

“I don’t want to be a charity case.” 

The fact is, we are all charity cases in your kingdom, 

for indeed, the word “charity” 

comes from the word “charis,”

which means grace, 

or more fully, your gracious love. 

Without your charity, 

we would be dead in our sins. 

Without your love, we would be nothing. 

It is only because you first loved us 

that we can love at all. 

Only love that is rooted in your love 

and borne by your Spirit 

can be true love. 

We fail in our love, 

but your love never fails. 

We love you and we love our brothers and sisters 

because in fact, 

we are your charity cases. 

Thank you so much 

for your amazing love, 

which compelled you to send your Son 

to die for our sins, 

that we might live in your love by your Spirit.

In Jesus’ charitable name. Amen.

A Prayer about Remembering and Telling Our Stories

by | May 31, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel Coaching

A Prayer about Remembering and Telling Our Stories

 For I will speak to you in a parable.

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—

stories we have heard and known,

stories our ancestors handed down to us. Psalm 78:2-3

Story-Writing God,

Thank you for the true story of grace 

you have written in Scripture; 

Thank you for the stories of grace 

you have written into our lives. 

May we remember them and share them, 

as the Psalmist Asaph tells us to do.

He says that when we share our stories, 

it helps us and others to…

Turn away from our stubborn persistence 

in living life on our own terms;

Trust in you to rescue and redeem this broken world 

because you have done so in the past;

Hope in you today 

because of how you have already redeemed, 

and how you will restore in the final day; and…

Love others well by showing them 

the grace and mercy we have received.

May we remember that 

one of the best ways we can love others is by 

listening to their stories 

and by sharing our stories and The Story 

that is the basis for all of our faith, hope, and love.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 78. 

A Prayer about Aging Beautifully

by | May 30, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Aging Beautifully

And there was a prophetess, Anna…advanced in years….She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. Luke 2:36-38

God of the Ages,

Our world’s narrative teaches us to war against aging, 

fighting it with wrinkle creams and hair dye and trendy diets. 

As we stand in the grocery line, 

we might conclude that there’s nothing worse than getting old. 

Scripture tells a different story about aging—

showing us how to age beautifully:

Scripture tells stories of women like Anna, 

widowed after only seven years of marriage, 

who now at either 80-something or 100-something 

spends her life worshiping, fasting, and praying. 

You gifted her to speak for you as a prophetess. 

You gifted her the instant recognition 

of the infant Jesus as the Redeemer 

whom all Israel had awaited. 

When she sees Jesus, 

she thanks you and begins to tell everyone about you. 

Lord, spare us our culture’s dread of aging; 

shape us into old people like Anna, 

maybe a little wrinkled and dried up in body, 

but energized and liberated 

with the joy of sharing the good news about you.

In Jesus’ ageless name. Amen.  

Read Luke 2:36-38. 

A Prayer about the Lord’s Benefits

by | May 29, 2023 | Daily Prayer, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about the Lord’s Benefits

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…Psalm 103:2

Oh, Lord,

We do bless you! 

Thank you for reminding us of all your benefits:

You forgive all our iniquity: 

when we tell half-truths, 

when we join in the coffee room gossip, 

when we put our trust in things of this earth rather than you — 

you forgive us! 

You heal all our diseases—

when we tolerate toxins which destroy our hearts, 

things like envy, comparison, unforgiveness, impatience—

you inject your antidote of grace, love, mercy, and compassion! (Psalm 103:3)

You redeem our lives from the pit—

when we have sunk farther than we ever thought we could go, 

you extricate us from our mucky ruts! (Psalm 103:4).

Not only do you forgive and heal and redeem—

you crown us with steadfast love and mercy, 

you satisfy us with good, 

you renew our youth like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:4-5).

Lord, today may we truly rejoice in all of your benefits, 

living and loving in the hope of your renewal.

[Name some of the benefits you are rejoicing in today.]

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 103:1-5.