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A Prayer about Never Dying

by | Mar 21, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Easter, Lent

A Prayer about Never Dying

Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ John 11:25-26

Lord Jesus,

How I love the true story 

in which you asked your beloved friend Martha this crucial question. 

Her brother, Lazarus has died, 

and she knows that you could have saved him, 

but you didn’t. 

Now he lies in a tomb, 

and she has the faith to say, 

“But even now, I know that whatever you ask from God, 

God will give you” (John 11:22).

And you made this bold assertion: 

“Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23). 

But you didn’t stop there. 

You revealed your true identity to Martha: 

‘I am the resurrection and the life.’ 

And you promised that anyone who believes in you 

will never die (John 11:25-26). 

Jesus, as we walk toward Resurrection Sunday, 

may we see you, the risen and ascended Jesus, 

not only risen from the dead 

but seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Hebrews 10:12). 

And may we address this most crucial question: 

“Do we believe this?” 

It is truly a matter of eternal life and eternal death. 

By your grace, may we believe.

Read John 11:1-44. 

A Prayer about Anticipating the Joys of Heaven

by | Feb 14, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, body, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection

A Prayer about Anticipating the Joys of Heaven

My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Philippians 1:23

Heavenly Father,

We confess, some of the descriptions of heaven 

have made us think it would be boring. 

People with wings and robes 

floating around on clouds playing harps? Really?

Lord, help us to regain an understanding 

of what the Bible tells us about heaven. 

Here are just a few things we know:

First, the moment we die, 

angels will carry us to be with you, 

the triune God (see Luke 16:22; 2 Cor. 5:8).

Second, while we will not have bodies 

when we go to the “temporary” heaven, 

the intermediate state, 

we do not become angels, 

because angels are spirits 

created by you to be completely different from humans (Heb. 1:14). 

Third, one day, when Christ returns to establish the new heavens and the new earth, 

we will receive resurrection bodies. 

The angels will never have bodies, 

but by your grace, one day, 

we will have fully restored and redeemed bodies (1 Cor. 15:35-49). 

Fourth, Jesus described even the intermediate state as “Paradise,” 

telling the converted thief on the cross, 

“Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 22:43). 

Since Paradise also referred to the Garden of Eden, 

where your holy presence lived, 

we know that heaven gleams with your glory 

and is far nicer than Hawaii.

Fifth, and last for today but not forever 

because there’s so much more to say 

about the joys of heaven: 

St. Peter is not standing at the pearly gates with a clipboard 

deciding who gets in and who stays out. 

All who trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins 

will go to heaven: 

“Jesus said to her, 

‘I am the resurrection and the life. 

Whoever believes in me, though he die, 

yet shall he live, 

and everyone who lives and believes in me 

shall never die. 

Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

Yes, Lord, we believe this. 

Thank you for the joys of heaven we anticipate by your grace and mercy.

Amen.

Read Luke 16:22; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

A Prayer about Living and Dying in Faith

by | Jan 26, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, kingdom living, Numbering Our Days

A Prayer about Living and Dying in Faith

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

Heavenly Father,

Whatever our age,

Make us ready always 

to “die in faith.” 

Dying in faith is the natural conclusion 

to living in faith. 

Dying in faith is to look to the redemption 

you have already accomplished in this world

and in our lives through Jesus Christ, 

to be convicted of things we haven’t seen yet: 

our heavenly homeland, 

the new heavens and new earth life 

that will truly fulfill our every hope (Hebrews 11:1). 

To live and die in faith 

is to let go of the things of this earth 

to which we sometimes cling too tightly, 

knowing we are “strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). 

To live and die in faith 

is to trust your perfect timing 

in numbering our days 

and your perfect patience 

in sending Jesus back 

to take us home. 

To live and die in faith 

is to wait eagerly 

for the restoration of all broken things 

even as we groan inwardly 

when life hurts (Romans 8:19). 

Father, give us the eyes of faith 

to endure until the day comes 

when we are reunited with you.

In Jesus’ living and dying name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 11:1-16; Romans 8: 19. 

A Prayer about the Hope for Our Bodies

by | Dec 12, 2022 | Advent, aging, dying, and death, body, Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about the Hope for Our Bodies

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…John 1:14

Lord Jesus,

As we celebrate your incarnation, 

which literally means “enfleshing”, 

may we not miss the wonder 

that you became a human body. 

May we see the beauty of the bodies 

our Creator God formed for each of us to inhabit, 

and may we thank God for this precious gift. 

May we see how the fall broke our bodies, 

making us know shame 

in our minds, spirits, and bodies (Genesis 3:1-8).

May we marvel at the truth 

author John W. Kleinig describes:

you “took on a human body 

to reclaim us bodily 

for fellowship with God the Father” 

and because you did, 

“our bodies once again become 

what they were meant to be.” 

In union with you, 

we share your holiness 

as we are filled with the Holy Spirit. 

In union with you, 

we “share in God’s hidden glory 

and display it by word and deed 

to the world.” * 

Throughout this season, 

every time we think of the incarnation, 

may we rejoice in the hope 

of the full redemption of our bodies 

we will experience when you return.

In your embodied name. Amen. 

Read John 1:14-18; Genesis 3:1-8; Romans 8:23. 

Quotes from John W. Kleinig, Fearfully Made: A Protestant Theology of the Body

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about Remembering Redemption Stories

by | Dec 3, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Seasons & Holidays, Suffering, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Remembering Redemption Stories

And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. Luke 1:36

Lord God,

Thank you for this wonderful story of redemption. 

Even as the angel Gabriel revealed to Mary 

an incomprehensible promise: 

she would conceive and bear a son, 

the Son of God, Jesus our Savior, 

who would reign on the throne forever (Luke 1:31-33), 

he shares a story of redemption to show her, 

“For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

Father, even today, as we rush 

to finish our giving and our buying and our wrapping, 

or as we miss the days 

when we made all those preparations 

for a typical Christmas, 

press pause in our hearts. 

Help us to sit before you 

to remember our own stories of redemption, 

of the times you came through with the money 

when we didn’t know how we would get through the month, 

of the ways you healed a relationship 

that we thought was irrevocably broken, 

of the baby you brought into our lives 

after we had long given up hope of having a family, 

of how you burst through suffocating darkness

with the light and hope of Jesus.

As we remember, 

may we hope and pray again 

that you would do the impossible 

in this broken and hurting world.

In Christ’s redeeming name we pray. Amen. 

Read Luke 1:31-38.

Image courtesy of Good News Productions International and College Press Publishing at FreeBibleimages.org.

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.

A Prayer about Missing People and Places at the Holidays

by | Nov 21, 2022 | aging, dying, and death, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Grief, legacy, Seasons & Holidays, Suffering, Thanksgiving

A Prayer about Missing People and Places at the Holidays

“My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:2

Gracious and Hospitable Lord,

As Thanksgiving comes around, 

our family misses my mom and her home. 

For many years, we visited her there, 

but her home now belongs to another; 

her new home is in heaven with you.

I know many face a similar sorrow. 

It will be their first holiday without their loved one. 

In a season when we may feel exiled from familiar places, 

draw our hearts to your ever-present 

and always abundant hospitality. 

You make homes for sparrows and nests for swallows (Psalm 84:3),

and you have invited us to be your sons and daughters. 

Even as we limp through the Valley of Weeping,

You make it a place of springs (Psalm 84:6), 

refreshing our hearts with your gentleness and joy.

When we tend to believe the lie that we are bereft, 

remind us that you are our “sun and shield,” 

bestowing “favor and honor”, 

assuring us, “No good thing 

do I withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).  

In the name of your Son, 

who came to walk this earth with us 

that we might live in heaven with you. 

Amen.

Read Psalm 84.