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A Prayer about Loving Difficult People

A Prayer about Loving Difficult People

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…’ Matthew 5:43-44

Heavenly Father,

Because you have first loved us, 

we plead with you to give us the love 

that doesn’t come naturally 

for those who have hurt us 

or made life difficult for us.

The world tells us to stand up for our rights, 

to make sure no one takes advantage of us; 

you tell us to move toward our enemies in love, 

and to pray for those who persecute us. 

By your Spirit, and in your Word, 

you’ve given us ideas 

for how to pray and how to love:

We pray for the difficult people in our lives (and for ourselves)…

To “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge…” (Ephesians 3:19);

To know your perfect love, for “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:19);

To believe that you are “a God merciful and gracious, 

slow to anger, 

and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6);

To “turn away from evil and do good” (Psalm 34:14);

To “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).

Father, make us persistent in these prayers, 

and make us consistent in living out the hope of reconciliation 

we have in Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ enemy-loving name. Amen.

Read Matthew 5:43-48; Psalm 34:14; Ephesians 3:19; 1 John 4:19.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the Hope of Resurrection

A Prayer about the Hope of Resurrection

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20

Resurrected Lord,

In this world, we will have tribulation, 

and it’s not always easy to be of “good cheer” (John 16:33).

But our hearts can take courage 

as we remember the resurrection, 

the very present hope 

that not only have you been raised from the dead, 

but you are even now 

resurrecting bodies and hearts.

Yes, our believing loved ones who have died before us 

are now with you in heaven praying with us.  

Yes, every moment of every day, 

you are at work in your kingdom here on earth 

making all things new (Revelation 21:5). 

You are making our hearts new (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

You are making your heavens and earth new (Revelation 21:1-5). 

One day, all of your people will gather together 

in the fully restored new heavens and new earth. 

In that day, all of our tears will be wiped away, 

and there will be no more cause for mourning. 

In that day, we will join in belting out 

songs of rejoicing, songs of redemption.

Until that day comes, 

bring us the comfort and hope only you can give.

Amen. 

Read Revelation 21:1-5; John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Good Desires and Longings

A Prayer about Good Desires and Longings

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Gracious and Generous Father,

Thank you for the desires you have placed in our hearts. 

Our longings for children, 

longings for a loving spouse, 

longings for close friends, 

longings for peace in our families, 

longings for rest from work,

longings for a safe place to live,

longings for physical healing,

are all good. 

They can all be traced back to the shalom

with which you created the world. 

According to Nicholas Wolterstorff, 

“To dwell in shalom is to enjoy living before God, 

to enjoy living in one’s physical surroundings, 

to enjoy living with one’s fellows, 

to enjoy life with oneself.”*

Lord, thank you for creating us 

for enjoyment of you 

and enjoyment of the good gifts 

you so generously give us. 

Thank you for transforming our desires 

as we continue to delight ourselves in you. 

When our hearts hurt because you have not chosen 

to fulfill good desires, 

draw us near to you and give us the comfort 

only you can give. 

Remind us that one day, 

Jesus will return, 

and we will eternally enjoy the shalom 

that fulfills our deepest longings. 

In Jesus’ desirable name. Amen.

Read  Psalm 37.

*From Nicholas Wolterstorff’s Till Justice and Peace Embrace.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Thanking God for His Steadfast Love

A Prayer about Thanking God for His Steadfast Love

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

God of gods, Lord of lords,

We give thanks to you, for you are good, 

and your steadfast love endures forever.

We give thanks for the great wonders you alone can do:

[Name aspects of creation you are thankful for today (sun, moon, sea, stars, etc.).]

for your steadfast love endures forever.

We give thanks to you for striking down oppressive enemies:

[Name some specific ways God has defeated enemies in your life: think in terms of worldly or systematic evil, your own sin, and the devil.]

for your steadfast love endures forever.

We give thanks to you for countless rescues:

[Name some ways God has rescued you throughout your life.]

for your steadfast love endures forever.

We give thanks to you for the inheritance you have given us:

[Name some of the many blessings you have, both material and spiritual.]

for your steadfast love endures forever.

We give thanks to you for your faithful provision:

[Name some ways God has provided for your needs, physical and spiritual.]

We give thanks to you, the God of heaven,

for your steadfast love endures forever.

In Jesus’ faithfully loving name. Amen.

Read Psalm 136.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Being in a Spiritual Battle

A Prayer about Being in a Spiritual Battle

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor, so you will be able to resist the enemy in time of evil. Ephesians 6:13

Lord of Angel-Armies,

May we never forget or discount the spiritual battle 

that rages right here right now. 

The evil one prowls around like a lip-licking lion, 

drooling over our vulnerability and frailty. 

He is a liar, a tempter, an accuser, and an adversary. 

His minions serve him, 

seeking to deceive us, 

to make us think 

lovely people are unlovely, 

to distract us from our mission to serve and glorify you, 

and degrade the dignity you have shaped into our image-bearing being. 

By the Holy Spirit, you have given us everything we need to defend ourselves 

against the accuser’s stratagems: 

the belt of truth, 

the breastplate of righteousness, 

the gospel slippers of peace, 

the shield of faith, 

the helmet of salvation, 

the sword of the Spirit. 

May we indeed arm ourselves 

against all the “cosmic powers over this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12),

and resist the devil, that he may flee from us (James 4:7).

In Jesus’ peace-bringing name. Amen.

Read Ephesians 6:10-18.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Letting Jesus Lead

A Prayer about Letting Jesus Lead

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16: 24

Precious Father,

How stunning that you, 

our heavenly, hallowed, (holy) Father, 

the perfectly right and just judge 

of the universe you created, 

invite us to call you “Abba,” 

best translated in English as “Daddy.”

You are a good Father,

Perfectly tender,

Perfectly strong,

Perfectly wise,

Perfectly loving.

You embodied your love in your Son, 

who, just before he died on a cross for our sins, 

told his disciples, in essence, 

“You must let me lead your life. 

You must release your white-knuckled grip 

on the steering wheel of your life.” 

When we do, we will discover that all along, 

it was an illusion, 

that you always had the wheel, 

that you were and are 

taking us on a ride 

that may not seem safe to us, 

but is definitely good for us, 

because it is part of your perfect journey 

of drawing us closer to you, 

of leading us to vistas of unspeakable glory, 

of transporting us to landscapes of our lives 

we never would have visited on our own.

Today we name the areas of our lives 

where we need you to unfurl our fingers, 

to hold our hands gently yet firmly, 

that we may not try to grip the wheel again.

[Name some areas you desperately want to control.]

Help us, Lord, 

to follow your beloved Son 

into the way of suffering, 

the way of glory. 

In his precious name we pray. Amen. 

Read Matthew 16:21-26. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker