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A Prayer about True Freedom

by | Jul 3, 2022 | 4th of July, Daily Prayer, Gospel Coaching

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,

ourmighty 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.

A Prayer about How We Can Love God and Our Neighbors

by | Mar 31, 2022 | 40-Day Prayer, Daily Prayer, Lent

A Prayer about How We Can Love God and Our Neighbors

Triune God,

In a day when hatred seems more common than love, 

when mocking seems more common than meekness, 

when taking offense seems more common than taking up our cross, 

we confess, the greatest commandment seems impossible. 

And yet, you have not only called us to love you 

with all of our beings, our hearts, our souls, our minds, our strength, 

you have empowered us through your Spirit to do so. 

You have not only called us to love you in this way, 

but you have called us to love our neighbors 

(including strangers and enemies) 

as much as we love ourselves (which we have to admit, is a lot!)

Thank you for Jesus, who loved us, 

Your enemies, 

so much that he died 

so that we might become your friends. 

May we live and love 

out of our gratitude 

for his sacrifice 

and out of the power 

of his resurrection. 

In Jesus’ loving name. Amen.

Read Mark 12:28-34. 

A Prayer about a King Riding a Donkey

by | Mar 30, 2022 | 40-Day Prayer, Daily Prayer, Lent

A Prayer about a King Riding a Donkey

Everlasting King,

As we approach the anniversary of the day 

Jesus entered Jerusalem as a king riding on a donkey, 

give us eyes to see him and minds to comprehend this amazing vision.

The prophet Zechariah foretold this day, 

exhorting the people of Israel:

Rejoice greatly!

Shout aloud!

Why? Because their King of Hope 

was coming to make them prisoners of hope. 

The King of Hope came, 

not riding on a massive white horse 

befitting a king 

but on a young donkey, 

a humble ride for a humble ruler. 

And he has won our peace, 

our peace with God, 

and our peace with one another. 

This Easter, may we join in the chorus of rejoicing 

at our humble king, 

who would defeat death 

and make us forever his “prisoners of hope” (Zechariah 9:12). 

In Jesus’ humble name. Amen.

Read Zechariah 9:9-17

A Prayer about Moving into Suffering

by | Mar 28, 2022 | 40-Day Prayer, Daily Prayer, Lent

A Prayer about Moving into Suffering

Lord Jesus,

Enlarge our imaginations 

so that we might walk with you 

on the day you told your disciples 

this alarming news. 

You were marching resolutely toward Jerusalem, 

toward your certain suffering and death. 

Your face was “set like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7), 

unwavering as you headed toward your final destination. 

Your followers were both “amazed” and “afraid,” 

maybe because you had twice before told them 

what would happen in Jerusalem (Mark 10:32; 8:31; 9:31).

Lord Jesus, enliven our hearts 

that we might be amazed again—

amazed that you moved on toward your mission, 

knowing what you knew—

that your opponents would mock you 

and spit on you 

and flog you 

and kill you;

amazed that because you willingly endured this suffering, 

we have full forgiveness for our sins; 

amazed that you rose from the dead 

and that by believing in you we are raised to new life. 

In your amazing name. Amen.

Read Mark 10:32-34; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Isaiah 50:7.

A Prayer about Not Being Foolish

by | Mar 26, 2022 | 40-Day Prayer, Daily Prayer, Lent

A Prayer about Not Being Foolish

All-Wise God,

May we heed Paul’s words about wisdom and foolishness, 

so that we might avoid being foolish, 

so that we might become truly wise.

Paul is right—the message of the cross: 

the true story that you sent your only Son 

as the perfect Savior for our sins, 

the message that you allowed your beloved, 

obedient Son to die on the cross for our sins, 

seems terribly foolish 

according to the world’s wisdom. 

May we remember our dying Savior 

and see the fullness of your wisdom, power, and love. 

May we adore our risen Savior 

and walk in his wisdom, power, and love. 

In Jesus’ wise and strong name. Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.

To Fast or Not to Fast: How to Prepare for Easter

by | Mar 16, 2022 | Gospel living, Lent

To Fast or Not to Fast: How to Prepare for Easter

It’s the first of March, and here on the Gulf Coast, Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is being celebrated from Pensacola to Mobile (home of America’s first Mardi Gras) to New Orleans. What do lavish beads tossed from a float and little king babies hidden inside a cream cheese frosted pastry have to do with Easter, anyway? Here’s my little history lesson (as discovered from forty-five minutes of internet searching).

Mardi Gras originated in the early centuries AD, when pagan Romans celebrated a fertility god with debauchery and drunkenness. Early Christians decided to transform the raucous celebration and make it a day for feasting to mark the end of “ordinary time” after Christmas and the beginning of Lent, the season of fasting and repentance before the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The French first coined the term “Mardi Gras” (Fat Tuesday) as they ate up all of the eggs and milk they would be fasting from during Lent.

What is Lent, and should we observe it?

Lent, short for Lenten, comes to us from the Old English word for “Spring”: lenten, which meant “lengthen.” As the daylight lengthens, life springs into view, buds blooming and bright stalks shoving their way through the earth.

Read the rest of the article and discover good reasons and not-so-good reasons to fast. Click here.