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A Prayer about Waiting With Eager Hope

by | May 8, 2023 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living

A Prayer about Waiting With Eager Hope

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:25

Gracious God,

Thank you for giving us every reason to hope, 

even as we wait in difficult circumstances—

Some of us are waiting for healing of our bodies, 

others are waiting for healing of relationships, 

others are waiting for healing of injustice.

The clock is ticking, 

and redemption seems to take forever 

in this fallen world. 

And yet, you have promised us 

that one day “the sufferings of this present time” 

will not be “worth comparing 

to the glory that is to be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). 

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, 

you have secured that promise. 

One day, indeed, all suffering will cease, 

and we will be like Jesus, 

because we will see him as he really and truly is (1 John 3:2). 

May we savor this hope 

even as we “wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:25).

In Jesus’ hope-giving name. Amen.

Read Romans 8:18-25.

A Prayer about the Day the Lord Returns

by | May 7, 2023 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living, Theology

A Prayer about the Day the Lord Returns

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2

Gracious Lord,

As we witness the works of the wicked in this world, 

we confess, we long for 

the “day of the Lord,”

the day you will finally return and destroy 

all the “arrogant and all evildoers” (Malachi 3:1).

And yet, you are so much more patient than we are, 

for you have delayed that day 

because you do not “wish that any should perish 

but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). 

Lord, fill us with your patience and mercy and love

that we might call others to turn toward you. 

Lord, fill us with anticipation 

for the day your sun will rise 

with the return of your Son, 

the day we will know such healing 

that we will frolic around like little baby calves 

learning to use their legs 

in our new heavens and new earth home. 

In Jesus’ patient name. Amen. 

Read Malachi 3-4.

A Prayer about Knowing Ourselves

by | Apr 20, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living

A Prayer about Knowing Ourselves

So if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! 2 Corinthians 5:17

All-Knowing God,

When we begin to know you, 

and when we begin to understand 

the hope, joy, and relief 

of being known by you, 

then and only then are we ready 

to begin trying to know ourselves.

What do we need to know about ourselves?

We need to know our sin: 

not only generally, but specifically:

some of us always want to be right; 

some of us need to feel love and approval from everyone all the time; 

some of us need lots of money and stuff to feel secure; 

some of us  get angry easily when they don’t get their way

…and on and on we could go.

[Stop for a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal some of your specific sin tendencies.]

But if we stopped at only knowing our sin, 

we would remain in despair. 

As we prayed yesterday, 

you knew our sin—

past, present, and future 

when you sent your Son to die for us (Romans 5:8).

We must also know 

who we have become 

and who we are becoming in Christ:

In Christ, we already have become (unbelievably to us), 

“the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). 

In Christ, we already have become “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17).

In Christ, we are “being sanctified” (Heb. 10:14), 

becoming more and more like Christ every day.

That means that we are recognizing and repenting more quickly 

when we put our trust in 

being right, 

or needing approval, 

or trusting in riches, 

or getting our way

[Name some things you are recognizing and repenting of more quickly.]

Oh, Lord, what good news 

your Word gives us about ourselves!

The truest truth about us 

is not that we are sinners 

but that we are redeemed sinners.

You have saved us for a purpose, 

and you have sent us to tell others 

the good news of our hope in Jesus Christ. 

Thank you for giving us our identity 

as adopted children,

servants of the King, 

Christ’s ambassadors.

In Jesus’ freeing name. Amen.

Read Psalm 51; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.

A Prayer about What to do When We’re Afraid

by | Apr 17, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living, Suffering

A Prayer about What to do When We’re Afraid

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3

Faithful Lord,

Thank you for your compassion for our fearfulness.

Today, we bring our fears to you:

When we are afraid that we will fail 

at work, at school, as caregivers 

[name any failures you fear], 

we put our trust in you.

When we are afraid that we have made the wrong decisions 

for our children, 

for our loved ones, 

about our work,

[name any wrong decisions you fear], 

we put our trust in you.

When we are afraid that our health 

or the health of a loved one will not improve 

[name any health fears you have], 

we put our trust in you.

When we are afraid that we will lose our job 

or won’t find one soon 

[name any fears about provision you have], 

we put our trust in you.

Father, you know all of our fears, 

and you invite us to bring them to you.

As we do so, calm our hearts and minds 

in the hope of your kind provision. 

In Jesus’ trustworthy name. Amen.

Read Psalm 56:1-13.

A Prayer about Becoming a Living Sacrifice

by | Mar 24, 2023 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living, Lent

A Prayer about Becoming a Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

Merciful God,

What a remarkable calling you’ve given us, 

and how remarkable that you’ve also made it possible!

I wonder if we sometimes slip right by this verse, 

not noticing the “Therefore” 

and wondering what it’s there for. 

Because “from him and through him and to him” 

are all things, 

and only because of that reality, 

we are able to present our bodies 

as a living sacrifice. 

In Christ, we become living sacrifices, 

holy and acceptable to you. 

Now by the power of the Holy Spirit, 

we respond in worship, 

in gratitude for your mercy, 

giving you all things. 

We offer our work to you as a sacrifice, 

asking you to help us glorify you in it, 

whether the job is drudge-work or dream work.

We offer our relationships to you as a sacrifice, 

asking you to help us glorify you through them, 

to love neighbors and family and even enemies.

We offer our bodies to you as a living sacrifice,

asking you to help us glorify you in them, 

To care well for them and to thank you 

for how you have made them.

We offer our minds to you as a living sacrifice,

asking you to help us glorify you in them, 

seeking to instruct them with your wisdom.

And on and on we go, 

with everything that we have 

and everything that we are, 

giving it all back to you, 

because and through the One 

who gave himself as a living sacrifice for us. 

In his loving name we pray. Amen.

Read Romans 11:36-12:2.

A Prayer about What Makes Life Last

by | Mar 20, 2023 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living, Lent

A Prayer about What Makes Life Last

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3

Everlasting God, 

In a year when close to fifty thousand people have died in the earthquake in Turkey and Syria,

when hundreds of thousands have died in the war in Ukraine, 

and when we are all frequently touched by the deaths of loved ones, 

people are more desperate than ever 

to know what makes life last. 

Some say, 

“Science and medicine can make life last”; 

others shrug and say, 

“Whatever, it’s all going to end, so live for today”; 

still others say, 

“You do you. That’s where you find life—within.”

You say…

“There’s only one way: 

Jesus… ‘the way, the truth, and the life’ (John 14:6).”

You say…

“Having an intimate relationship with Jesus 

is eternal life, 

life that begins here on earth 

and lasts forever.”

You said…

“I’ll bet my Son’s life on it.”

We say,

“Thanks be to God!”

In Jesus’ true and saving name. Amen. 

Read John 17:1-5; John 14:6; John 1:4-5.