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A Prayer about Longing for Healing

by | Aug 25, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Longing for Healing

“He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” John 9:14

Healing Lord, 

You know my sweet husband often jokes 

that if either one of us ever woke up and our bodies weren’t in pain, 

we’d know we had died and gone to be with you. 

Today I pray for all who have chronic illness and ailments, 

for those who have visited doctor after doctor, 

sought help from numerous resources, 

hoping for a diagnosis, hoping for a cure.

We confess, we don’t understand why some people 

are healed and others aren’t. 

And yet, we trust that you are merciful and kind, 

that you are working in the midst of affliction, 

just as you worked in the midst of Paul’s thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Today, give us the courage to pray 

that even if we are not yet healed, 

your grace would be sufficient 

and our suffering would reveal your glory. 

Today, give us the courage to pray for healing 

and to trust that if healing doesn’t come in our bodies or minds, 

it will come in our hearts 

in the form of greater endurance, 

greater faith, 

greater hope (Romans 5:3-5). 

In your redeeming name. Amen. 

Read John 9:1-41; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.



A Prayer about Being Afraid

by | Aug 24, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being Afraid

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

Lord God,

Thank you for your compassion 

for our fearfulness. 

Today, we bring our fears to you:

When we are afraid that we will fail 

[name any failures you fear],

We put our trust in you.

When we are afraid 

that we’ve made the wrong decisions for our children 

[name any parenting 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 won’t find jobs or find finances 

[name any fears for 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’ name. Amen.

Read Psalm 56.



A Prayer about the Wrath of God

by | Aug 23, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Wrath of God

But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. Romans 2:8.

Holy and Just God,

We confess, we don’t like to talk much about your wrath and fury. 

And yet, your Word tells us 

that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), 

and that there is only one way to be saved from our sin—

by your Holy Spirit awakening us from our spiritual death

and through our trust in your Son our Savior. 

There are people who refuse to seek you, 

who refuse to obey you, 

who, even worse, 

obey unrighteousness, 

who “cannot rest until they do evil” (Proverbs 4:16). 

For such people, there will truly be “tribulation and distress” (Romans 2:9) 

on the “day of wrath” (Romans 2:5). 

As people who belong to Jesus, 

may we never judge people who seem to be following evil. 

May we instead reach out to the unrepentant, 

praying for them, 

urging them by the power of your Spirit 

to turn away from evil, 

to turn back to you, 

to know your abounding mercy, 

that they may never know 

your wrath and fury on judgment day. 

In Jesus’ evil-crushing name. Amen.

Read Romans 2:1-16.



A Prayer about Seeking Immortality

by | Aug 22, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Seeking Immortality

To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life… Romans 2:7

Just Judge,

Again today, we grapple with Paul’s strong words 

about your judgment in Romans 2:1-11. 

We know the gospel tells us 

we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8). 

And yet, here we read: “He will render each according to his works…” (Romans 2:6). 

Help us to understand what one biblical scholar wrote,

“Judgment by deeds is not salvation by works…

our words and deeds follow our heart commitments.”* 

Lord, if we truly belong to you, 

then the Holy Spirit is transforming 

our hearts, 

our words, 

our deeds, 

so that we do become “patient in well-doing,” 

so that we do seek “glory and honor and immortality,” 

and so that we will bask in the joy of eternal life with you. 

Reading our Bibles, 

driving a friend to chemo, 

helping a co-worker figure out a problem, 

feeding a homeless person—

these are the acts that flow from being united with you. 

By your faithfulness in us through your Holy Spirit, 

we will persevere in glorifying you to the end.

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Romans 2:1-11. 



A Prayer about God’s Just Judgment

by | Aug 21, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about God’s Just Judgment

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4

God our Judge,

Our culture is allergic to judgment, 

and yet, like the audience of Paul’s letter to the Romans, 

we’re a pretty “judgy” people. 

Open our ears to hear this Word 

that applies to us today: 

“Therefore, every one of you who judges 

is without excuse. 

For when you judge another, 

you condemn yourself, 

since you, the judge, do the same things” (Romans 2:3). 

The bottom line is we are blinded 

by our own sin and self-righteousness, 

and we have no business judging others. 

Lord, humble us, 

help us to see your kindness—

not “niceness” but kindness, 

your forbearance—your restraint in not unleashing your wrath on evil, 

your patience—your willingness to wait for us to turn from our sins. 

And may that kindness lead to true repentance, 

turning away from our selves 

or anything else we look to for salvation, 

turning to the only one who can judge justly 

because he took the judgment for our sins, 

our Savior Jesus Christ.

In his forgiving name we pray. Amen. 

Read Romans 2:1-5.



Have you ever wondered if it was all Eve’s fault?

by | Aug 20, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

Have you ever wondered if it was all Eve’s fault?

…she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.  Genesis 3:6

Heavenly Father,

Recently I’ve been reminded of how crucial it is 

that we read your Word carefully. 

Otherwise, we can fall prey to human teachings 

that only do harm. 

Long ago, some misguided theologians 

started the terrible teaching 

that the fall of humanity was all Eve’s fault. 

As we revisit the first three chapters of Genesis, 

we see your design for the first man and the first woman, 

as well as your design for every marriage. 

Adam was called to name both beauty and sin (See Genesis 2:16-22). 

When the woman was formed from his flesh,

 he spoke the first poem in the Bible: 

“This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; 

she shall be called Woman, 

because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23). 

We sometimes miss the fact 

that Adam was standing with Eve 

when Satan, disguised as the serpent, 

approached her. 

We often fail to consider what might have happened 

if Adam had spoken up. 

“No sir, we will not  eat of that tree, 

for it’s the only tree that God forbade us. 

Our God is so generous. 

Our God has given us everything we need.” 

Sadly, those words aren’t in the Bible. 

Either Adam was equally drawn in by the serpent’s words, 

or he just couldn’t find the courage to oppose him. 

So when Eve reached for the fruit, 

he said nothing.

When Eve turned to him as he stood “with her,” 

he ate. 

Oh, Lord, may it never be! 

May we work together as husband and wife, 

as men and women too, 

to know your Word, 

your profound goodness, 

your lavish generosity, 

your rich mercy, 

and may we remind one another 

when the other is tempted.

In Jesus’ forgiving name. Amen. 

Read Genesis 1-3.