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A Prayer about a Friend Who Loves at All Times

by | Sep 4, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, Marriage

A Prayer about a Friend Who Loves at All Times

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Jesus, Faithful Friend,

As my husband and I look forward to celebrating our fortieth anniversary,

we have thought frequently of dear friends, 

friends who loved us faithfully 

in different seasons of our marriage, 

friends who supported us by sometimes offering “faithful wounds” (Proverbs 27:6),

often by “sticking by us like family” (Proverbs 18:24). 

Friends have been there 

through serious illnesses, multiple surgeries, and mourning deep losses. 

Friends have prayed day after day for us 

when we couldn’t pray for ourselves. 

Friends have encouraged us 

when we weren’t encouraging one another, 

showing us the way to repent and forgive 

and begin again 

after conflicts that tore us apart. 

As persistent and kind and sacrificial 

as our friends have all been, 

none have done the one thing only you could do for us—

you laid down your life for us, 

because you called us your friends. 

How grateful we are, precious Jesus, 

for your friendship 

and for how you have shown us 

that friendship through our precious friends. 

May we grow to become friends like you. 

In your sacrificing name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 27:6; John 15:12-17.

A Prayer about the Goodness of the Lord

by | Sep 3, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, Joy

A Prayer about the Goodness of the Lord

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

Good and Loving Lord,

Slow us down as we read Scripture, that we may see your glorious riches all over again.

Why do we give you thanks?

Because you are good. 

Pause us for a few moments to help us see 

what it means that you are good and that you are steadfastly loving. 

There are many things in this world we name “good,”—

that was a “good book,” 

a “good movie,” 

a “good game.” 

But these things are not like your goodness. 

Nothing compares to your goodness. 

You are holy, just, perfect, 

lovely, gracious, kind, 

wise, powerful, 

the measure of any and all goodness.

Not only that, but your “steadfast love endures forever.”

Your love is safe, secure, and everlasting.

It is there when we hurt a dear friend with sarcastic words,

It is there when we get canceled or condemned for our beliefs,

It is there when we fear a hurricane bearing down on us,

It is there when we wonder if our back will ever be free of pain,

It is there when we worry about rising prices and shrinking income…

In all things, may we remember…

You are good, 

and your love is certain and sure.

In Jesus’ good name. Amen.

Read Psalm 118.

A Prayer about How God Supplies Every Need

by | Sep 1, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, gratitude, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about How God Supplies Every Need

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Merciful God,

Thank you for your extravagant generosity to us. 

As we bring what we consider to be our needs 

before you today, 

may we trust that you will supply every need, 

not just one or two. 

We admit, sometimes we don’t understand 

why you don’t supply things we think we need—

like healing of our child’s illness 

or a long-desired spouse or child 

or a job that seemed just right. 

In those cases, 

turn our eyes upon your riches in glory—

the undeserved and over-the-top 

provision of glory in Christ Jesus. 

In him, we truly have everything we really need—

forgiveness of our sins past, present, and future, 

peace with you eternally, 

a meaningful kingdom life 

that has already begun 

and will continue forever. 

Help us to remember that

though you have already supplied those needs, 

you continue to supply daily, here-and-now needs, 

and you continue to invite us to bring our daily needs to you, 

because you are our generous Father. 

As we name those needs now, 

we pray “Thy will be done.” 

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen. 

Read Philippians 4.

A Prayer to Our Faithful Shepherd

by | Jul 30, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude

A Prayer to Our Faithful Shepherd

[Note: Often the best prayers come straight from Scripture. 

Over the next three days, I am taking the simple language of the NLT translation of Psalm 23 and making it into a personal prayer. Please join me].

The Lord is my shepherd; 

I have all that I need. 

He lets me rest in green meadows; 

he leads me beside peaceful streams. 

He renews my strength. 

He guides me along right paths, 

bringing honor to his name. Ps. 23:1-3

Faithful Lord,

You are our shepherd; 

We have all that we need.

[Name some of the needs he has provided].

You let us rest in green meadows;

You lead us beside peaceful streams.

[Name ways he is inviting you to rest; confess ways you resist resting].

You renew our strength.

[Name some ways he has renewed your strength.]

You guide us along right paths, 

bringing honor to your name.

[Name ways he is guiding you and bringing honor to his name].

In the name of our Saving Shepherd.

Amen.

Read Psalm 23. 

A Prayer about Being Motivated by Gratitude

by | Jun 18, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude

A Prayer about Being Motivated by Gratitude

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Dear Father,

As a woman who can tend to be motivated by guilt,

I am so thankful for the book of Romans!

Paul lays out his argument so clearly:

grace reigns through righteousness

and leads to eternal life (Romans 5:21),

there is “no condemnation for those

who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

And yet, this grace in Jesus Christ

doesn’t lead us to sin freely (Romans 8:12-13);

it leads us to live and love freely out of gratitude.

Yes! Grace leads to gratitude.

Charis leads to eucharisteo.

But wait—there’s even more good news—

it doesn’t even make sense

to continue in sin, the way of death,

because we have been raised with Christ,

who defeated sin and death (Romans 6:4-11).

Today and every day, let us bask in this good news

and celebrate and live out the reality

that grace reigns in us

through our Savior Jesus Christ!

Amen.

Read Romans 8:1-17.

A Prayer about Giving Thanks in A Fallen World

by | Jan 23, 2022 | Daily Prayer, gratitude

A Prayer about Giving Thanks in A Fallen World

Good Father,

We confess that sometimes 

this command seems impossible to obey.

How do we give thanks 

when we feel immersed in the fallenness 

of this broken world, 

in our own sin, 

in the harm caused by others’ sin, 

in the pain and suffering 

of racism, unemployment, 

betrayal, mental illness, sickness, death…?

It helps to remember that the apostle Paul, 

by whose hand you scrawled these words, 

knew suffering: 

imprisonments, shipwreck, beatings, 

betrayal, poverty, mockery, 

and other miseries (2 Corinthians 11:24-29).

And yet, he was able to write these words:

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; 

perplexed, but not driven to despair; 

persecuted, but not forsaken; 

struck down, but not destroyed…” (2 Corinthians 4:8).

What did Paul see that we need to see? 

He saw that as he suffered, 

more people saw the grace of Jesus Christ and more people saw your dazzling glory:

“For it is all for your sake, 

so that as grace extends to more and more people 

it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).

Whether we are in a season of joy or affliction, 

may we give thanks with Paul—

your grace and glory are growing, 

in our lives, and in the lives of others.

In Jesus’ gracious name. Amen. 

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

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