fbpx

A Prayer about Seeing God’s Beauty in Creation

by | Oct 30, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, gratitude, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Seeing God’s Beauty in Creation

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

Creator of Beauty,

On this Fall Monday, we take time to look around us,

 to listen to creation declaring your glory:

Cerulean sky writes messages of your delight in us (Psalm 19:1):

[Name a message of God’s delight that you hear in creation.]

Brilliant sun bounds across the sky, 

shouting of your Son’s salvation (Psalm 19:4-5):

[Name a way the sun reminds you of the Son’s love and forgiveness.]

Early morning dew glints on the soccer fields, 

hinting at the river of life to flow 

in your new heavens and new earth (Revelation 22:1):

[Name ways dew or rain or rivers or oceans remind you 

of the “river of the water of life” that fills your thirst.]

Acorns gently fall to the earth, 

revealing your commitment 

to transform us into “oaks of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:3):

[Name your gratitude at the Spirit’s transforming work in your life.]

Lord, indeed, we could go on and on, 

as your wondrous creation does.

Sharpen our senses today to the beauty of your earth 

and how it declares your glory throughout the day. 

Give us glad, grateful hearts as we take it all in.

In Jesus’ lovely name. Amen.

Read Psalm 19.

 

A Prayer about the Lord’s Generosity

by | Oct 21, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, gratitude, kingdom living, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about the Lord’s Generosity

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

Generous Father,

How kind and generous you have been with us! 

You have [blessed us in the city, 

blessed us in the field,

 blessed the fruit of our womb 

and the fruit of our ground 

and the fruit of our cattle…

You have blessed our basket

 and our kneading bowl. 

You have blessed us 

when we came in 

and when we went out.] (See Deuteronomy 28:2-6). 

Protect us, Lord, from the temptation to believe 

that our money belongs to us. 

Help us to remember always 

that you are the giver of all good gifts. 

Help us to return to you 

a healthy portion of what you have first given us. 

In so doing, 

we may find our barns filled with plenty 

and our vats bursting with wine, 

or we may not. 

But we will most definitely know 

the profound joy of being freed 

from the “love of money,” 

which can lead us 

to greediness and self-destruction. (See 1 Timothy 6:10). 

Even more, may we treasure most 

the inheritance of grace we have in your Son, 

our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

In his sacrificial name we pray. Amen. 

Read Proverbs 3:9-10; Deuteronomy 28:1-14; 1 Timothy 6:10. 

If you want to receive the daily prayer in your inbox, be sure to sign up at link in profile or go here: http://eepurl.com/b__teX

A Prayer about Turning to God in Shame

by | Oct 19, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, kingdom living, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Turning to God in Shame

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Psalm 25:1-2

Merciful Lord,

When we feel shame, 

whether over our own sins 

or over terrible mistakes we’ve made, 

some of us want to run and hide; 

others want to blame and accuse. 

Whatever our instinct, 

may we, with David, 

lift up our souls to you. 

May we do it even now, 

lifting our hands, 

placing in them our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies, 

raising them toward you, 

surrendering them to you. 

For we have every reason to trust in you 

to care well for our souls. 

Sometimes we trust in others 

for that forgiveness or approval or security or significance, 

but you alone are safe for such trust. 

When enemies shout and jeer at us, 

whether enemies with faces we can see and voices we can hear 

or the enemy, 

the one who loves to tell us we’re “bad,” 

“not enough,” 

“unforgiven,” 

“shameful,” 

make us deaf to their cries. 

Turn our ears instead toward you, 

that we might hear you 

singing your love for us: 

“You shall no more be termed Forsaken…

but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her” (Isaiah 62:4). 

As we hear your delight, rest us in your embrace.

In Jesus’ shame-enduring name we ask. Amen. 

Read Psalm 25; Isaiah 62:2-5.

Hey friends, if this prayer encouraged you, why not share it with someone who may need it. if you’d like to have the daily prayer delivered 7 days a week (as early as 6am central time, make sure to sign up. http://eepurl.com/b__teX

A Prayer about How to Not Grumble

by | Oct 14, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, Joy

A Prayer about How to Not Grumble

Do all things without grumbling or arguing, that you may be blameless and pure…Philippians 2:14

Generous Father,

A few days ago, 

I noticed a lot of grumbling and arguing 

swimming around in my soul. 

The driver of the twenty-year-old land yacht 

changed lanes without warning, 

the rain soaked my shoes, 

and my roasted chicken refused to be done. 

In such days, 

draw my heart to the 

uncomplaining, 

undisputing, 

unrelenting love of Jesus.

Did Jesus ever say to you and the Spirit, 

“Why do I have to be the one to die for these unworthy sinners?” 

No. He did not.

Even though he was “in the form of God, 

he did not consider equality with God 

a thing to be grasped, 

emptying himself, becoming a servant…” 

He went all the way to the cross, 

and as I read the story, 

I don’t hear him grumbling once. 

He lamented in the garden, yes. But he did not argue. 

The truly astonishing thing is that 

we can “have the same mind of Christ” 

when we trust in him, 

because we are in him, 

and he is in us. 

Not only that, 

when we do things without grumbling or arguing, 

we are living into the blamelessness and innocence 

we received through Christ. 

Not only that, when we do things 

without grumbling or arguing, 

we “shine as lights in the world” 

“in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation” — 

we are little lighthouses 

pointing the way in the darkness to Jesus, 

“the light of all mankind.”

What a story! What a Savior! 

By your Spirit, 

may praise and singing and encouragement 

and kindness slip easily from our tongues today!

In Jesus’ uncomplaining name. Amen. 

Read Philippians 2:1-18.

A Prayer about Shouting for Joy instead of Frustration

by | Oct 9, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Shouting for Joy instead of Frustration

Shout for joy to God, all the earth, sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Psalm 66:1-2

Glorious God,

How easily we shout for joy to you 

when we wake up after a great night’s sleep 

and look out at the sun rising 

over calm waters and sugar-white sand. 

And yet, you know we more easily shout out of frustration or anger 

when we awaken after a terrible night’s sleep 

and face all sorts of Monday madness. 

In some seasons, when we feel that you are “testing and trying us” (Psalm 66:10), 

or when we feel that you have brought us or our loved ones “into the net,” 

“laid a crushing burden on our backs,” (Psalm 66:11),

 or taken us through “fire and water,” 

we more easily shout, “Why is this happening to me?!” 

Move in us, by your Spirit, we pray: 

jog our memories, 

that we might recall the “awesome deeds “ 

you have done (Ps. 66:2)—

the times you “brought us out into a place of abundance” (Ps. 66:12), 

the way you “turned the sea into dry land” (Ps. 66:6). 

Where we have amnesia about your mercy and kindness, 

remind us of our Savior, 

who endured our crushing burden of sin, 

who acquainted himself with our grief, 

that we might be healed (Is. 53: 3,5). 

In Christ, we can surely find our voices 

to “Shout for joy” to you.

In the name of our Suffering Savior. 

Amen.

Read Psalm 66. 

A Prayer about Thanking God for His Perfect Timing

by | Sep 22, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, kingdom living

A Prayer about Thanking God for His Perfect Timing

Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Genesis 21:2

Good Father, 

Just a year before Sarah became pregnant, 

you heard Sarah laughing at your promise 

that she would bear a child (Genesis 18:13). 

And you said, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). 

Then Sarah had the gall to tell you she had not laughed. 

You were firm, “No, but you did laugh.” 

Despite Sarah’s unbelief, 

you moved forward with your plan, 

and now, a year later, 

Sarah gives birth to a son 

and calls him “Laughter,” 

because “God has made laughter for me; 

everyone who hears will laugh over me” (Genesis 21:6). 

What a story! What an amazing God you are!

Today, we thank you for this reminder 

that not even our own unbelief 

can stop you from fulfilling the plans 

you have for us 

to multiply your glory. 

Today, may we remember 

all of the unexpected, surprising, 

seemingly impossible ways you’ve worked, 

in your perfect timing, 

to bless us for the sake of your glory—

with children, work, friendships, healing, homes…

the list goes on and on.

[Thank God for some of the unexpected ways he has blessed you over the course of your life or the course of this week.]

May we never forget your goodness to us.

In Jesus’ surprising name. Amen.

Read Genesis 18:9-15; Genesis 21:1-5.