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A Prayer about Being United by Christ

A Prayer about Being United by Christ

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. 1 Corinthians 1:10

Uniting Lord,

We confess, 

the apostle Paul is holding up a mirror 

to the current state of our churches 

as he pleads with the Corinthians 

to agree “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 

to have “no divisions among you.” (1 Corinthians 1:10). 

Like the Corinthians, 

we sometimes make the leaders of our churches 

or the traditions of our denominations 

more important than the gospel. 

Forgive us, Lord,

for all the ways we deny the gospel of your grace. 

Forgive us, Lord, 

for all the ways we look to the “world’s wisdom” 

rather than the upside-down wisdom of the gospel 

to save us. 

Indeed, “Christ crucified” sounds like a strange way 

to be saved to this world, 

but as Christians, 

we know that death is the way to life, 

and that your power displayed 

in Christ’s resurrection

is the only power 

that can save us (1 Corinthians 1:20-25). 

United with Christ, may we be united 

with one another in this saving truth.

In Jesus’ reconciling name. Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-31.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Where to Turn in Danger

A Prayer about Where to Turn in Danger

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. Daniel 2:20

Saving God,

Few of us have ever faced the threats 

of a despot king as Daniel did, 

but many of us have faced the threat 

of danger 

from an unjust boss, 

a biased system, 

or a dread diagnosis. 

When we are faced with dark threats, 

calm our minds and ease our panic. 

Help us to do what Daniel did—

ask our friends to pray 

and face our enemy with equanimity, 

knowing the Lord who made heaven and earth 

is our helper. 

When you help us, 

draw our hearts to bow before you

thanking you and praising you 

as Daniel did:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, 

to whom belong wisdom and might. 

He changes times and seasons; 

he removes kings and sets up kings; 

he gives wisdom to the wise 

and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:20-21). 

In Jesus’ protecting name. Amen.

Read Daniel 2:1-24. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the Perfection God Promises

A Prayer about the Perfection God Promises

You therefore must be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

Heavenly Father, 

As a recovering perfectionist, 

I confess, this verse always makes me anxious 

when I first read it.

But then I reread a commentary on Matthew,*

and the author reminds me, 

the command is also a promise as phrased in Greek, 

“You shall be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”

As he says, the word “perfect” also reveals 

how completely inadequate we are 

to live out Jesus’ commands 

apart from his mercy and grace 

operating in our lives. 

The word “perfect” means “mature and complete,” 

but we know we’re nowhere near 

as mature and complete as God is, 

so it must be a process. 

Indeed,

becoming mature and complete 

takes a lifetime of your sanctifying work 

through the Spirit. 

Becoming mature and complete 

doesn’t mean “work harder”; 

it means “depend on God more,” 

because you are the God 

who makes new selves out of old selves (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Becoming mature and complete 

doesn’t mean “never make a mistake”; 

it means “run to God 

with all of your mistakes, 

weaknesses, and sin.” 

To be perfect

is to trust in you alone 

to finish the good work 

you began in us in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). 

In Jesus’ perfecting name. Amen.

Read Matthew 5:17-48; Philippians 3:12-16.

*I highly recommend Dr. Dan Doriani’s commentary on Matthew for more on this passage. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Being Open to Learning New Truths

A Prayer about Being Open to Learning New Truths

“You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. John 9:34

Jesus, our Glorious Teacher,

Open our eyes, 

remove our blindness, 

that we may see more of your glory. 

Forgive us for any ways 

we are like the various groups 

in the story of the blind man you healed (John 9)—

the neighbors, who are only mildly skeptical, 

the Pharisees, who deny that you are from God, 

the Jews, who refuse to believe the miracle you worked, 

or even his own parents, 

who fear acknowledging the truth about you. 

Make us more like the blind man 

who received his sight 

and was able to see 

more than just the faces of his accusers. 

He said of you, “He is a prophet” (John 9: 17). 

He said of you, “If this man were not from God, 

he could do nothing” (John 9:33). 

He asked the Jews if they wanted to be your disciples, 

but they “reviled” him (John 9:28). 

Oh, Lord, free us from the error of the Pharisees, 

who believed they could see 

and because of their pride, 

their “guilt remain[ed]” (see John 9:41). 

Healing Lord, give us sight. 

Give us the ability to see that apart from you, 

we can do nothing, we know nothing. 

Give us the open heart to learn new things from you, 

new things about you, 

for you are “gentle and lowly” in heart, 

and from you, 

we will find rest for our souls and our bodies (see Matt. 11:29-30). 

In your glorious name we pray. Amen.

Read John 9:1-41. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the Wisdom We So Desperately Need

A Prayer about the Wisdom We So Desperately Need

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 9:10

Awesome God,

In this confusing and chaotic world, 

how desperately we need your wisdom. 

Parents need your wisdom to know how to

help their children stay safe and on a wise path; 

adult children need your wisdom to know how to 

talk to their parents about letting go of the car keys; 

bosses need your wisdom to know how to 

steward their employees’ gifts, 

Patients need your wisdom 

to know which course of treatment to pursue.

and on and on…

Whoever we are, 

whatever our situation, 

we need your wisdom, 

whether we realize it or not. 

May we first realize that it is your wisdom we need, 

and then may we turn to you to find it. 

When we “fear” you, 

that is live in awe of you, 

live in gratitude of you, 

live seeking your Word, 

live listening to pastors and ministry leaders and wiser friends, 

you promise, 

we will grow in your wisdom. 

It is indeed through you, 

as Eugene Peterson puts it, 

that [our] life deepens, 

and the years of [our] life ripen. 

May we “live wisely” 

so that “wisdom will permeate [our] lives.” (Proverbs 9: 11, The MSG). 

Read Proverbs 9. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Loving Our Enemies

A Prayer about Loving Our Enemies

But I say to you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ Matthew 5:44

Lord Jesus,

You knew we’d struggle

to love the friend who shared our shameful secret;

You knew we’d struggle 

to pray for the boss who unjustly let us go.

And yet, you commanded us to do 

what our hearts can’t do 

in their natural state—

love our enemies.

Why?

Because only in loving our enemy 

can we truly understand how you have loved us

—your enemy. 

For, indeed, while we were still sinners, 

rebels in your sight, 

you endured a beating 

that should have killed you. 

While we were still sinners, 

hating you and hating God, 

you felt the nails 

hammering you to the cross (Romans 5:6-8). 

Something happened there 

to change everything, 

to turn love upside down.

Now, empowered by your sacrificial love, 

enabled by your grace, 

we are sent out to do the impossible, 

to love our enemies 

and pray for those who persecute us.

In your enemy-loving name. Amen.

Read Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 5:6-11.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker