fbpx

A Prayer about Having Not Love

by | May 5, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Having Not Love

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2

Loving Father, 

In this season of many weddings, 

we may often hear the passage on love 

from 1 Corinthians 13. 

As we do so, 

may we hear and apply it in its proper context.

First of all, the apostle Paul was chastising the Corinthian Christians 

for their overemphasis on spiritual gifts: 

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, 

but have not love, 

I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). 

If we have powers to prophesy 

or power to do miracles 

but have not love, 

we are nothing. 

If we give away everything, 

even sacrificing our own bodies, 

but have not love 

then that is not love. 

Indeed, as we read and listen carefully, 

we realize that in and of ourselves, 

none of us “has love.” 

It is only in Jesus Christ, 

whose love never fails 

that we become 

“not nothing,” 

“something,” 

“someone” 

who loves, 

not with manmade love, 

and not even perfectly 

(until the day Christ returns), 

but often and well. 

We love out of the righteousness 

we have in Christ. 

We love because he first loved us. 

And we love as he loved us. 

When we commit one of the failures of love, 

being proud or boasting, 

keeping a record of wrongs, 

delighting in evil, 

we are convicted by the Holy Spirit in us, 

and we repent, 

saying we’re sorry, 

asking forgiveness, 

and praying for the Holy Spirit’s help 

that we might try to love again. 

In Jesus’ perfectly-loving name. Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. 

A Prayer about the Misery of Sin

by | May 4, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about the Misery of Sin

On your wondrous works, I will meditate. Psalm 145:5

Wondrously Working Lord,

How often do we pause, 

do we really chew on, 

the millions of ways, 

seen and unseen, 

you work in this world, 

in our neighborhood, 

in our lives?

For a few moments, 

let’s consider your wondrous works:

You’ve  drawn us to yourself 

even when we were wandering around like the spiritual zombies we were.

You’ve loved us every day, all the time, 

even when we hated you.

You’ve given us new life 

even when we deserved certain death,

You’ve kept your promises to us 

even when we broke every promise we ever made to you,

You’ve shown us limitless patience 

even when we threw tantrums of impatience with you.

You’ve lavished us with the gifts we needed 

even when we demanded the things we wanted when we wanted them. 

[List some of the specific wondrous works God has done in your life].

Oh, Lord, may we break our eyes away 

from the seductive screen 

and look out, look up, look in, 

to see your stunning beauty and your baffling kindness!

In Jesus’ gracious name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 145.

A Prayer about Pausing to Remember God’s Wondrous Works

by | May 3, 2023 | Daily Prayer, gratitude

A Prayer about Pausing to Remember God’s Wondrous Works

On your wondrous works, I will meditate. Psalm 145:5

Wondrously Working Lord,

How often do we pause, 

do we really chew on, 

the millions of ways, 

seen and unseen, 

you work in this world, 

in our neighborhood, 

in our lives?

For a few moments, 

let’s consider your wondrous works:

You’ve  drawn us to yourself 

even when we were wandering around like the spiritual zombies we were.

You’ve loved us every day, all the time, 

even when we hated you.

You’ve given us new life 

even when we deserved certain death,

You’ve kept your promises to us 

even when we broke every promise we ever made to you,

You’ve shown us limitless patience 

even when we threw tantrums of impatience with you.

You’ve lavished us with the gifts we needed 

even when we demanded the things we wanted when we wanted them. 

[List some of the specific wondrous works God has done in your life].

Oh, Lord, may we break our eyes away 

from the seductive screen 

and look out, look up, look in, 

to see your stunning beauty and your baffling kindness!

In Jesus’ gracious name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 145.

A Prayer about the Destruction of Death

by | May 2, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, Daily Prayer, Numbering Our Days

A Prayer about the Destruction of Death

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:27

Heavenly Father,

Death is indeed our enemy. 

You created humans to live forever, 

glorifying and enjoying you. 

When sin entered the world, 

death came right alongside it, 

and ever since, 

the devil has used the power of death 

to hold your people in bondage to fear (Hebrews 2:14-15).

But because of the resurrection of Jesus 

which we celebrated a few short weeks ago, 

death has lost its sting for followers of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55). 

We of all people should be able to discuss death, 

to prepare to die well by planning for the end of our lives, 

knowing it is coming, 

and knowing it will be a sad day for our loved ones left behind 

even as it is a day of unspeakable joy for us. 

Help us, Lord, 

to face this formidable enemy with courage, 

preparing for it practically, 

leaving a legacy that guides our loved ones 

in their grief, 

because of the hope we have in Jesus.

In Jesus’ death-defeating name. Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-58.

A Prayer about Wise Tongues

by | May 1, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Wise Tongues

Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

Proverbs 29:20

All-Wise God, 

Forgive our foolishness. 

Heal our tongues, 

which often speak “rashly, 

like the thrusts of a sword” (Proverbs 12:18).

We have become deeply enculturated 

in a world that is quick to speak 

and slow to listen

when you have called us 

as citizens of your kingdom 

to be quick to hear, 

slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). 

Lord, we confess to you some of the sins that slip off our tongues: 

comparison, 

envy, 

judgment,

gossip, 

criticism, 

slander, 

to name just a few.

So change us, Lord, 

that “no evil talk come(s) out of our mouths, 

but only what is useful for building up, 

as there is need, 

so that our words may give grace 

to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

Grant us 

the loving wisdom, 

extraordinary patience, 

and sacrificial forgiveness of your Son

who taught us to love our enemies 

and to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 4:43-44). 

In Jesus’ all-wise name. Amen. 

Read Proverbs 29. 

A Prayer about a Talking Donkey

by | Apr 30, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Scripture

A Prayer about a Talking Donkey

“And the donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?’

King above all Kings,

There is perhaps no more amusing story in Scripture 

than the one about the greedy pagan “prophet” Balaam 

and his faithful (to you that is) donkey (Numbers 22:7, 15, 18). 

We laugh when the donkey refuses to go where Balaam tells her 

because she sees the angel of the Lord (Numbers 22:23-27). 

Our eyes grow wide when you “open the mouth of the donkey” 

and she says, “What have I done to you, 

that you have struck me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28). 

And yet, through this whole true tale, 

you reveal yourself to be King of Kings 

and protector of your people. 

The evil king of Moab, Balak, 

wants Balaam to curse your people, 

the Israelites. 

But you will not allow Balaam to speak evil against your people, 

only a blessing. 

You are indeed the Lord of Lords, 

the Ruler of Rulers, 

the King of Kings. 

And you have shared the hope of this message clearly with us 

throughout Scripture. 

May we be more like your donkey, 

who sees your messengers clearly, 

who obeys your commands.

In Jesus’ worthy name. Amen.