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A Prayer about Giving Thanks in All Circumstances

by | Nov 22, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Thanksgiving

A Prayer about Giving Thanks in All Circumstances

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Gracious Lord,

For some of us, 

today’s circumstances may include

maple-smoked turkey, buttery mashed potatoes, 

apple-crumb pie, and other rich and luscious fare. 

For others, it might look like a frozen turkey pot pie 

eaten in front of the TV. 

Whatever our circumstances 

on Thanksgiving Day in America, 

may we continue to rejoice and to pray, 

to give thanks, 

because it is your will for us in Christ Jesus. 

May we remember that the apostle Paul, 

who first penned these words, 

wasn’t sitting on silky sand 

drinking a Pina colada when he wrote them. 

He had suffered imprisonments, 

shipwreck, beatings, and betrayal, 

among other miseries. 

And yet, in such difficult circumstances, 

he discovered your kindness to him 

in the midst of suffering. 

He thanked you in the midst of grief 

because he saw you multiplying the good news 

in the hearts of many. 

Today, whatever food is on our table, 

whoever does or does not sit around it, 

may we see you multiplying beauty and hope 

and give you thanks 

for all of your gifts to us in Christ.

In the name of our Redeemer, Jesus. Amen.

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



A Prayer about Thanking God for True Meaning in Life

by | Nov 17, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, Thanksgiving

A Prayer about Thanking God for True Meaning in Life

What I’ve finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless—nothing but spitting into the wind. Ecclesiastes 1:17

Author God,

I admit, I always struggle 

when my daily reading brings me to Ecclesiastes. 

The words seem sarcastic and cynical, 

and I need wise scholars to show me hope in these words. 

And yet, the more I read, 

the more I realize how we can relate to the “Teacher.”

We too can invest our time and energy 

into acquiring both wisdom and knowledge. 

We too can find it leaving us empty and sad. 

We too can try to find meaning in life

in various pleasures—relationships, work, food, drink, etc., 

and we too can find those leaving us empty and sad. 

So where do we find meaning, 

and what does allow us to enjoy your good gifts 

here and now? 

Thanks be to God, 

we know the One who brings meaning to life—

Jesus, our Wisdom and purpose. 

In Christ, you are working 

through every moment of every day 

to make us more like Christ; 

this transformation gives meaning to our lives. 

In Christ, you are working through us 

to bring grace and hope to others; 

this purpose gives meaning to our lives. 

Thank you, God, for giving us the wisdom of Christ 

to see beyond this fallen world, 

to see that indeed, 

everything “under the sun” 

is not “smoke, nothing but smoke” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). 

You are working it all together 

for our good and your glory, even now.

Amen.

Read Ecclesiastes 1. 



A Prayer for Veterans and Current Military Personnel

by | Nov 10, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Seasons & Holidays, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer for Veterans and Current Military Personnel

May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace! Psalm 29:11

Almighty God,

Even as we celebrate and pray

for our veterans today in America, 

we praise you for being the Commander-in-Chief 

of Peace and Love. 

We thank you for those 

who have laid down their lives 

to bring peace, freedom, and protection to our country.

We thank you for their many sacrifices—

leaving families and friends, 

suffering loneliness and injury on our behalf.

We lift up families of veterans and current military personnel—

may they find good community, supportive churches, 

and rest in your protection when their loved ones are serving.

And we pray for all who have been injured in the line of duty, 

whether physically or mentally. 

We ask especially for healing of those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder—

bring restoration and hope to their lives and their families’ hearts. 

Most of all, we pray that our veterans and current military personnel 

would find their hope and healing in the Prince of Peace—Jesus.

In his mighty name we pray. Amen. 

Read Psalm 29. 



A Prayer about Sorrow and Joy on Mother’s Day

by | May 13, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Mother's Day

A Prayer about Sorrow and Joy on Mother’s Day

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”  Isaiah 49:15

Heavenly Father,

Today we honor mothers, 

rising up and blessing them 

for their tender care of their children. 

We thank you for nurturing mothers, 

for strengthening and helping them 

to do all of the things asked of moms—

clean, feed, and clothe; 

teach, admonish, and guide; 

counsel, cheer, and encourage….

Even as we do so, 

we recognize this can be a painful day 

for those who want that white rose at church 

but have not been blessed with a child 

or who have lost a child early in life, 

whether in the womb or beyond.

It can be a painful day 

for those whose mothers 

were unable to mother them 

for any number of reasons. 

It can be a painful day 

for those who lost their mothers 

seemingly too soon or in the recent past.

We thank you that we can all come to you, 

the one who nurtures and gathers your children 

and teaches and guides and counsels and encourages us, 

for you care for us wherever we find ourselves on this Mother’s Day. 

In Jesus’ caring name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 31:10-31; Isaiah 49:15-16. 

A Prayer about Joy on Easter Monday

by | Apr 9, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Easter

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.

A Prayer about the Surprise of a Risen Lord

by | Apr 8, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Easter, Lent

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.