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A Prayer about Encouragement for the Faint-Hearted

A Prayer about Encouragement for the Faint-Hearted

Encourage the fainthearted, and help the weak… 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Heavenly Father,

At times, our burdens become so great 

that we struggle 

to pray, 

to believe, 

to hope. 

At such times, 

we thank you for the church, 

the community of believers 

called to bear our burdens with us (Galatians 6:2). 

I remember when my kids were small 

and we had to walk a long way, 

my husband would sometimes lift them on his shoulders to give their weary legs a rest. 

From high above, 

they gained new perspective 

and a much-needed rest. 

In the same way, 

as we “encourage the fainthearted and help the weak,” may we give them 

the rest they desperately need. 

May we believe for them 

when they are struggling with doubt. 

May we hope for them 

when they are weary of waiting for redemption. 

May we endure hardship with them 

as they suffer. 

Lord, if we are the ones 

needing a rest, 

may we reach out for it 

and receive it. 

Lord, if we are the ones called and strengthened 

to give that rest, 

lead us to your weary ones who need it.

In Jesus’ burden-bearing name. Amen.

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 Corinthians 13:7; Galatians 6:2. 

A Prayer about the Only Trustworthy Prophecy

A Prayer about the Only Trustworthy Prophecy

“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7

Lord Jesus,

You are coming soon! 

What reason for rejoicing! 

Forgive us for getting caught up in modern day “prophecy” 

that tries to predict when you are coming 

and what the last days of the earth as we know it 

might be like. 

Remind us that the word prophecy

 literally means “message from God.” 

Remind us to look to your Word, 

your truest and most complete message, 

to understand how to live every day, 

even the final days. 

Remind us that our calling never changes—

instead of building bunkers to protect ourselves, 

we are to build bridges to connect with others, 

especially those who don’t know you, 

the “evildoers” who “still do evil” (Revelation 22:10). 

Instead of stockpiling food and fuel, 

we are called to step out in love, 

love of you and love of others. 

Instead of quaking in fear at rumors of wars, 

we are to quiet ourselves by your word, 

the only prophecy that is “trustworthy and true.” 

Help us, Lord Jesus, to wait well, for your soon arrival.

In your certain name we pray. Amen.

Read Revelation 22:6-10.

A Prayer about Ignoring the Zombie Apocalypse

A Prayer about Ignoring the Zombie Apocalypse

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. Revelation 1:1.

Lord Jesus,

How we thank you for the book of “apocalypse”

 (the Greek word for “revelation” 

from which the title of the book of Revelation comes). 

Thanks to this book 

and to what you have revealed there, 

we can ignore strange predictions 

about Zombie apocalypses 

that serve as click-bait on our feeds. 

The one true apocalypse, 

the revelation we desperately need, 

is the “unveiling” of your goodness, 

the revealing of your trustworthy and true character. 

You are the One who has already won the war over evil, 

and the One who will finally defeat Satan 

in one last cosmic battle. 

As Pastor Scotty Smith explains, 

“God is using these vivid pictures to show us, in symbols, 

the deeper reality of how he is redeeming and restoring his world.” 

Thank you for revealing yourself in your Word. 

Draw us to study and soak 

in the good news 

you have revealed about yourself 

throughout Scripture, 

especially in Revelation. 

In your victorious name. Amen.

Read Revelation 1:1-3.

Friends, if you’re confused about the “apocalypse” and Revelation, I highly recommend Scotty Smith’s simple and readable study guide, Revelation: Hope in the Darkness

A Prayer about the Necessity of Christian Community

A Prayer about the Necessity of Christian Community

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…

2 Corinthians 5:18

Reconciling Father,

Yesterday, we prayed about 

your treasured gift of Christian community, 

today, we remember its necessity.

You could have shared the message of the gospel without us,

but you designed us to serve you by spreading the good news.

As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, 

“But God put his Word into the mouth of human beings 

so that it may be passed on to others….

[You have] willed that we should seek and find 

God’s living Word in the testimony of other Christians.”*

This is why we must seek out face-to-face fellowship 

with those who know and love the good news of the gospel. 

Because the “Christ in my heart is weaker 

than the Christ in the word of other Christians.”*

Thank you for that sister who spoke up in Sunday school, 

sharing her favorite verse; 

thank you for how her words reminded me 

that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

Thank you for our faithful Bible study leaders, 

who study the lesson and draw us to see the truths in your Word 

we would never have seen on our own. 

Thank you, of course, for our faithful pastors and ministry leaders, 

who work so hard to preach and teach the gospel week after week,

year after year. 

Our hearts are indeed “uncertain” 

when we are left to ourselves; 

with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we become sure.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. 

This prayer inspired by Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, Life Together. Quotes from page 32. 

A Prayer about the Treasure of Christian Community

A Prayer about the Treasure of Christian Community

I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 2 John 12

Gracious God, 

Creator of Christian community, 

help us to marvel at the good gift 

of face-to-face fellowship 

with other believers. 

In recent years, 

we learned how privileged we are

to be able to gather safely together 

with the body of Christ. 

After the season of social distancing, 

it took some of us awhile 

to get used to being together again, 

and it can still be tempting 

to “watch the livestream” 

rather than to get up, get dressed, and get to church. 

Oh, Lord, may it not be so! 

Help us to understand 

what imprisoned theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood 

when he wrote, “visible community is grace.”* 

Help us to see that face-to-face fellowship 

is a foretaste of the day 

when you will 

“gather us in…

for you have redeemed us” (see Zechariah 10:8-9). 

Help us to remember that 

“we belong to one another 

only through and in Jesus Christ.” 

Help us to remember 

that Jesus broke down the dividing wall of hostility 

that we might be united, 

as one community in Christ, 

for all of eternity. 

One day soon we will see Jesus face to face, 

but until then, 

may we enjoy your wonder-full gift 

of face-to-face fellowship 

with our dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

In Jesus’ uniting name. Amen.

Read Zechariah 10:8-12; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; Psalm 42:4; Ephesians 2:14-18. 

 

*This prayer was inspired and informed by Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s great book, Life Together. First quote is from p. 28 and second from p. 33.

A Prayer about Our Hope in Broken Stories

A Prayer about Our Hope in Broken Stories

They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Isaiah 61:4

Restoring God,

Today we lift up all who are in the middle of a story 

that feels like it has been torn up and tossed in the trash. 

The woman who has had three miscarriages in the past two years,

The child who just heard of her parent’s divorce,

The man who has received a cancer diagnosis, 

The people who experience marginalization 

because of their skin color or nationality…

The list goes on and on and on. 

Help us to look for what we really need to see 

in the midst of such stories: 

your restoring work that is happening even today 

and will be completed when Jesus returns.

Here is just some of the good news Jesus speaks to us through Isaiah: 

Instead of streaks of tears sullying your face, 

your face will shine with the oil of gladness

 and the hope of restoration (Isaiah 61:3).

No longer shriveled by sin and sadness, 

you will stand strong, 

planted firmly in the Lord’s steadfast love, 

like a mighty oak waving its leaf-laden branches 

in praise of the Lord’s glory (Isaiah 61:3).

The ruins of your life will be rebuilt, 

losses to the evil one will be restored, 

relationships ravaged by sin will be revived (Isaiah 61:4).

Help us to meditate on this future 

which you are writing into our broken stories even today.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 61:1-11.