A Prayer about Learning to Forgive

by | Apr 14, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Learning to Forgive

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

Heavenly Father,

On this Tuesday of Holy Week, 

as Jesus taught his disciples essential lessons 

they would need in the coming days, 

he chose to highlight forgiveness.

May we never misunderstand Jesus’ command to forgive:

It is not our forgiving others that earns your forgiveness. 

It is your forgiveness alone through Christ’s death and resurrection 

that empowers us to forgive. 

And yet, you have made your design clear:

there is no room for bitterness and unforgiveness 

in the Christian’s heart. 

You have shaped our hearts 

for your contra-conditional love, 

undeserved mercy, 

and costly forgiveness. 

Almighty God, help us. 

Help us to name the harm that seems unforgivable. Move mighty mountains of bitterness 

far from our hearts; 

toss them into the depths of the sea. 

Free us to run in the boundless love 

which flowed fully down from the cross. 

In Jesus’ forgiving name. Amen.

Read Mark 11:20-25; Matthew 6:7-15.


A Prayer about Becoming Fruitful Fig Trees

by | Apr 13, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Becoming Fruitful Fig Trees

And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once. Matthew 21:18

Creator God,

We confess, 

many of us are as confused 

as the disciples about why you cursed the fig tree. 

What we don’t understand 

is that the fig tree represents Israel, your people, 

who had been saved for a purpose: 

to bear fruit (grow figs); 

yet they repeatedly turned away from you, 

the God who saved them: 

“What I gave them has passed away from them” (Jeremiah 8:13). 

Their leaves of life had withered 

and their figs of fruit had passed away.

Lord, save us from our wayward hearts. 

Help us to grasp 

that Christ’s death and resurrection 

alone will change us into fruit-bearing trees, 

flourishing in your kingdom, 

waving our bright green leaves 

and offering others a taste 

of the rich juicy fruit of your glory. 

In Jesus’ fruit-bearing name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14. 



A Prayer about Perfect Peace

by | Apr 12, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Perfect Peace

Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’  

John 20:21

Heavenly Father, 

Even as Holy Week begins, 

may we remember its conclusion. 

In the days leading up to his death, 

Jesus suffered physical, mental, and emotional pain. 

And yet, he always remained at peace, 

because he knew he had been sent by you to complete a mission—

to bring your people back to your loving embrace.

Now, we your people carry on that mission. 

And sometimes we too will suffer physical, mental, and emotional pain. 

When we do, 

may we remember Christ’s words 

and know his profound comfort: 

‘Peace be with you.’

In Jesus’ peace-bringing name. Amen.

Read John 20:19-23.



A Prayer about a King Who Wins by Dying

by | Apr 11, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about a King Who Wins by Dying

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

Author God,

Who would think to write such a story—

the hero completes his mission by dying? 

And yet, this is just the true story you wrote. 

“It is finished,” 

Jesus proclaimed with his final breath.

What is finished?

Jesus’ work. 

The mission you sent Jesus to complete: 

The debt for sin is

 paid up. 

Our debt for sin is paid up

when we trust in Jesus.

The punishment for sin is over. 

Our punishment for sin is over

when we trust in Jesus. 

The victory over death is complete. 

Our victory over death is complete

when we trust in Jesus.

Lord God, thank you for this ending to the story of redemption

that is the beginning of an eternal story of restoration. 

In Jesus’ sacrificial name. Amen.

Read John 19:28-30; Hebrews 9:12, 9:25-28; Colossians 2:15.



A Prayer about Faithlessness and Faithfulness

by | Apr 9, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Faithlessness and Faithfulness

Peter answered, ‘Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, the very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’

Matthew 26:33-34

Faithful Lord,

How like Peter we all are, 

thinking we will be more faithful than we will ever be, 

wanting to be more faithful than we are. 

We think we will never forget you, 

wander off from you, deny you, desert you.

And yet, like wayward and stubborn sheep, we do. 

You knew Peter would deny you, 

and you didn’t try to pretend he wouldn’t. 

But even as you told him the truth about himself, 

you also knew the day would come 

when you’d rise from the dead 

and meet Peter on the beach.

On that day, you would forgive and restore him, 

calling him to tend your sheep (John 21:15-19). 

Lord, forgive us for our faithlessness to you.

Embolden and empower us 

to live and love out of your faithfulness to us. 

In your true name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 26:30-35; John 21:15-19.



A Prayer about Watching Jesus’ Sorrow

by | Apr 8, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Watching Jesus’ Sorrow

“And he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.’”

Mark 14:34

Father God,

This scene in the Garden of Gethsemane 

the night before Jesus’ arrest 

both challenges and comforts me.

Jesus first confessed to Peter, James, and John 

that he was “very sorrowful”

and then commanded them to remain with him 

and watch with him (Mark 14:33-34). 

And yet, he knew they could not

provide faithful companionship 

in his profound suffering. 

It was to you he turned for that. 

He “fell on the ground and prayed,” 

asking you to remove the cup of suffering from him (Mark 14:35-36). 

What did the disciples do? They fell asleep (Mark 14:37, 41). 

What did Jesus do? 

He ministered to them, 

knowing they would soon face the fiercest spiritual battle of their lives. 

He reminded them how desperately 

they would need to depend on God in a season of doubt, 

“Watch and pray, that you might not enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38). 

Lord, God, wake us up! 

Open our minds 

so that we may fully understand Jesus’ kindness 

to his followers in the midst of his suffering. 

Lord, God, wake us up! 

May we hear and heed Jesus’ call to “watch and pray,” 

knowing that he has empowered us 

through his death and resurrection to resist temptation of all kinds.

In Jesus’ suffering name. Amen.

Read Mark 14:32-42.