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A Prayer about Drawing Near to the Throne of Grace

by | Dec 27, 2022 | Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, gratitude

A Prayer about Drawing Near to the Throne of Grace

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16.

Gracious Father,

In these days between Christmas and New Year’s, 

some of us find ourselves in seasons of doubt. 

Some feel regret over Christmas conflicts, 

others feel remorse over sins habitually committed.

Wherever we find ourselves,

may we hear you calling us 

to confidence:

Draw near to the throne of grace!

There you will find your sympathetic priest, 

“who was tempted in every way and yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15)

He became the perfect sacrifice 

and presented this sacrifice to me, 

and now, united with him, 

you are cleansed from your sins.

Come to me with confidence.

You will find mercy and grace 

to help you in your time of need.”

Forgiving Father, of all the invitations 

we may receive this holiday season, 

none is so generous and comforting as this one. 

Thank you! 

May we receive and believe it.

In the name of our sympathetic priest, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Read Hebrews 4:14-16.

A Prayer about the God Who Lives with Us

by | Dec 25, 2022 | Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, gratitude, kingdom living

A Prayer about the God Who Lives with Us

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. Revelation 21:3

Faith-full God, Hope-filling God, Fully-loving God,

We celebrate your glory

as the shepherds celebrated before the manger 

and the wise men celebrated before the little one.

You have richly blessed us with

your arrival on earth, in earthy reality, 

coming to a stable,

sleeping with the sheep,

disrupting our expectations

 about the way things should be, 

showing us that your glory is clothed in your humility.

Thank you. May we never forget.

May we never romanticize 

the Christ out of Christmas.

Thank you, God, 

that you are coming again once-and-for-all, 

to end our

hearts’ waywardness.

Thank you that one day 

we will rest utterly in your Presence, 

never wandering off

down our own little kingdom paths. 

We look forward to the day 

when we will worship and delight in you

as we were created to do.

This Christmas season, 

may we wait well,

with an eye toward the future, 

the hope of the one day when all 

will finally and forever be well.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen!

Read Revelation 21:1-5. 

A Prayer about God’s Wonderful Plan

by | Dec 2, 2022 | Advent, Christmas, Daily Prayer, gratitude, Seasons & Holidays, Theology, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about God’s Wonderful Plan

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35 (NLT)

Holy, Majestic, Wondrous God,

No matter how many times I read 

the angel Gabriel’s “explanation” to Mary

 about how she will become pregnant 

with the Son of God, 

I’m baffled every time.

Who else but you 

would think of such a plan? 

What god but you, the Creator of the cosmos,

could actually execute it? 

What god but you, the Merciful Lord, 

would pay such a high price

to save a wayward people?

Yet, because you did,

the Holy Spirit “overshadowed” Mary, 

and she gave birth to Jesus, our Savior, 

so that one day, we could be born all over again, 

as completely new creation, in Christ. 

Only you, our glorious, covenantal, steadfastly loving God 

would and could accomplish such a thing!

May we spend this advent season 

marveling at the many ways you give birth to new things—

Especially new love for you and new love for others.

In Jesus’ saving name.

Amen.

Read Luke 1:26-35.

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

A Prayer about How Christmas Disturbs Our Self-Made Shalom

by | Nov 27, 2022 | A Woman's Story, Advent, Christmas, Daily Prayer, gratitude, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about How Christmas Disturbs Our Self-Made Shalom

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. Luke 1:29

Wondrous God, 

Even though this verse isn’t usually 

the subject of memes or cross-stitched wall-art, 

we need to ponder it.

It reminds us of just how disruptive 

the birth of Christ really was, 

how Christ in fact came 

to disrupt any self-made shalom, 

any peace we’ve gained on our own terms, 

any security and significance 

that doesn’t come from you. 

We can imagine how confused 

Mary must have been, 

how disruptive the news 

of her imminent pregnancy was to her.

After all, what would Joseph, 

her betrothed say?

And yet, she doesn’t quarrel 

with the angel Gabriel. 

Instead, she wonders, “How can this be?”

Lord, in this season of Advent, 

draw us to wonder 

about the disruptive grace 

of Jesus Christ. 

Make us sit and rest and ponder 

the enormity of this question, 

“How can this be….” 

In Christ’s wonderfully disruptive name. Amen.

Read Luke 1:26-38.

 

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

 

A Prayer about Thanking God for Special People

by | Nov 25, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Thanking God for Special People

On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. Acts 28:15

Author God,

Since today is my husband’s birthday, 

and since people in Scripture 

often thank you for people you’ve blessed them with,

it seems fitting now 

to thank you for the people 

you have written into our stories:

Thank you for writing [my friend, my encourager, my supporter, my child, my boss…] 

into my story.

Thank you for the ways they have supported me…

[Name the ways this person has supported you].

Thank you for the ways they have helped me grow…

[Name the ways they helped you grow]

Thank you for the ways they have given me courage to do hard things…

[Name the ways they have given you courage…]

Thank you for the way they have comforted me when I was sad…

[Name the ways they have comforted you…]

Thank you for the ways they have cheered me on in exciting times…

[Name ways they have cheered you on…]

Thank you for —

[Name anything else you can think of.]

In the name of our most faithful friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Read Acts 28:15; Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:9; Ephesians 1:16

 

Suggestion: Consider telling the person or people you prayed for what you prayed. It will encourage their hearts to know how God has worked in your life through theirs.

 

A Prayer about Giving Thanks in All Circumstances

by | Nov 23, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, Seasons & Holidays, Thanksgiving

A Prayer about Giving Thanks in All Circumstances

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Gracious Lord,

For some of us, 

today’s circumstances may include

maple-smoked turkey, buttery mashed potatoes, 

Apple-crumb pie, and other rich and luscious fare. 

For others, it might look like a frozen turkey pot pie 

eaten in front of the TV. 

Whatever our circumstances 

on Thanksgiving Day in America, 

may we continue to rejoice and to pray, 

to give thanks, 

because it is your will for us in Christ Jesus. 

May we remember that the apostle Paul, 

who first penned these words, 

wasn’t sitting on silky sand 

drinking a Pina colada when he wrote them. 

He had suffered imprisonments, 

shipwreck, beatings, and betrayal, 

among other miseries. 

And yet, in such difficult circumstances, 

he discovered your kindness to him 

in the midst of suffering. 

He thanked you in the midst of grief 

because he saw you multiplying the good news 

in the hearts of many. 

Today, whatever food is on our table, 

whoever does or does not sit around it, 

may we see you multiplying beauty and hope 

and give you thanks 

for all of your gifts to us in Christ.

In the name of our Redeemer, Jesus. Amen.

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.