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A Prayer about Missing People and Places at the Holidays

by | Nov 21, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, 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.



A Prayer about True Freedom

by | Jul 3, 2024 | 4th of July, Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about True Freedom

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Merciful Father,

When the apostle Paul told the Galatians 

they had been set free for freedom, 

he wasn’t talking politics; 

he was talking about 

the rich, generous, and gracious 

freedom we have in Christ. 

On this Independence Day in America, 

some of us celebrate America’s freedom, 

but even more, 

we celebrate the freedom we have 

as citizens of your kingdom. 

We are…

Freed from sin and shame 

to bear the fruit of sanctification 

and to live eternal life as your servants, 

starting now (Romans 6:22). 

Freed to outdo one another in love, 

with honor, not slander, 

with hospitable hearts, 

assuming the best of others, not the worst (Romans 12:9-10).

Freed to serve God and serve others, 

not to use our “freedom as a cover-up for evil” (1 Peter 2:16).

Best of all, we are freed 

to spend all of our time, money, and energy 

giving glory to you, 

our  mighty and majestic God (Revelation 1:5-6).

Thank you for these truths which set us truly free (John 8:32).

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Galatians 5:1-10; Romans 12:9-19; 1 Peter 2:16; Revelation 1:5-6; John 8:32.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Beholding the Glory of the Lord

by | Apr 4, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Easter

A Prayer about Beholding the Glory of the Lord

 

And we all with unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18a

Dear Friends, join me today and tomorrow to consider this profound verse, 2 Corinthians 3:18

Glorious Lord,

Still us and stun us with your glory.

Awe us and humble us with the hope 

that we can actually behold your glory.

The apostle Paul boldly declares his ministry 

to be greater than that of Moses (2 Cor. 3:12), 

for he and we, 

all who live after your death and resurrection, 

and have had the veil of hard-heartedness 

toward you removed,

can behold, look on, reflect, 

the glory of the Lord. 

We who were once blinded by unbelief, 

can now see clearly, fully, wholly.

And we must devote ourselves 

to beholding your glory, 

memorizing the contours of unfailing love 

reflected in your face, 

studying the scars in your hands 

and the wound in your side, 

the very wounds by which we were healed (Isaiah 53:5). 

As we study your glory, 

by the ministry of the Spirit, 

we are freed, 

freed 

from condemnation (Rom. 8:1), 

from guilt, 

from sin, 

from despair. 

Oh, Lord, pause our busy rushing today 

that we might rejoice 

in your removal of the veil, 

that we might behold your glory.

In your glorious name.

Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 3:12-18.

 

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Joy on Easter Monday

by | Mar 31, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Easter, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Joy on Easter Monday

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”…Matthew 28:8-9

Risen Lord,

On this Easter Monday, 

the day after we celebrated your resurrection, 

enlarge our imaginations and renew our wonder. 

May we see Mary Magdalene and the other Mary 

trembling before the angels who startle them with their news, 

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 

He is not here, for he is risen, as he said” (Matthew 28:6). 

I love to imagine their astonishment 

as they saw the angels; 

I love even more to think of how amazed 

they must have been to meet you 

along the road as they ran back toward Galilee. 

What joy they must have felt as you called out to them, 

“Greetings,” 

which translates the Greek word for “joy.”

Lord, this Easter Monday, 

fill us with the best Monday motivation 

for whatever lies before us this week: 

the joy that you have truly risen from the dead. 

The hope that because of you, 

we have been made into new creation. 

The faith that you are even now 

making us more and more like you every day. 

In your risen name we pray. Amen. 

Read Matthew 28:1-10.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the Surprise of a Risen Lord

by | Mar 30, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Easter, Gospel living, Seasons & Holidays, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Surprise of a Risen Lord

Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ John 20:15

Gracious, Powerful, Startling, Risen Lord, 

It is almost funny to think of how your unbelieving enemies 

might have scurried around on that first Resurrection Day, 

making last-ditch attempts to cover up the truth about the one who covers our sins. 

We confess, we could have been them, 

or we could have been Peter, who denied you three times, 

or we could have mistaken you for the gardener, 

or we might have had a long theological discussion 

with you and not realized 

you were the King of theology, 

the walking, breathing, theology we always need.

Help us, we pray, to humble ourselves, 

to be willing to ride on a donkey or in a thirty-year-old Datsun, 

for love of our risen Savior. 

Teach us the difference 

between your righteous anger and our often self-righteous anger.

Free us to worship you with abandon, 

anointing you with precious perfume or lavishing you with unending praise.

Work in us so that we may work for you, 

washing dirty feet or changing smelly diapers.

Draw us daily nearer and nearer to you that we might live boldly, 

as a resurrected people raised from the death of our sins 

by the Savior who descended to the dead 

to put them to death. 

May we shout with triumph 

on this marvelous day, 

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

In your transforming name. Amen. 

Read John 20:13-29. 

Note: This prayer is based on my Holy Week devotional, The Gospel Day-by-Day. Get your Holy Week devotional e-book free now. Link in profile or copy/paste link into browser: http://eepurl.com/b__teX.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Silent Saturday

by | Mar 29, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Easter, Gospel living, Seasons & Holidays, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Silent Saturday

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. Revelation 21:4

Heavenly Father,

It’s the Saturday before Easter, 

the day Christians historically call “Silent Saturday.” 

That first Saturday after Jesus died 

would have been silent indeed; 

not only was it the Sabbath, 

but for all who loved and followed Jesus, 

it was a day of confusion, doubt, and deep grief. 

Unlike us, they didn’t know what would happen on Sunday. 

Father, on what may be a busy Saturday 

for many of us, 

as we take kids to Easter egg hunts 

or run to the grocery store 

for last-minute brunch items, 

I pray we will take time to be silent, 

to remember how tragic our story would have been 

if this story had ended on Saturday. 

I pray that we will also remember those 

who are walking in seasons of Silent Saturdays,

days of dark grief and devastating sorrow. 

Even as we remember, 

may we glimpse the rays of resurrection hope 

rising to crowd out the darkness. 

Even as we remember, 

may we look forward to the day 

of no more mourning, no more sorrow, no more tears (Revelation 21:4).

In Jesus’ hopeful name. Amen.

Read Matthew 27:62-66; Revelation 21:1-5.

Note: This prayer is based on my Holy Week devotional, The Gospel Day-by-Day. Get your Holy Week devotional e-book free now. Link in profile or copy/paste link into browser: http://eepurl.com/b__teX.’



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker