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A Prayer about Looking to the Lord as He Looks at Us

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

A Prayer about Looking to the Lord as He Looks at Us

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears toward their cry. Psalms 34:15

Precious Father,

We confess, in the midst of affliction 

we tend to turn our eyes on the trials and tragedies 

piling up before us. 

As we finish praying through Psalm 34, 

help us to see you seeing us, 

help us to hear you hearing our cries. 

We confess, we sometimes think, 

“well, I’m not very righteous, 

so maybe this doesn’t apply to me.” 

To that wayward thought, 

help us to hear your response: 

“Those who look to [me] are radiant, 

and [your] faces shall never be put to shame” (Psalm 34:5). 

Indeed, because our Savior who knew no sin 

became sin, 

we who look to him for salvation; 

in him, we have “become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

As your righteous people, 

help us to look to you 

to see the many benefits you bestow on us:

When we cry out for help, 

you deliver us from trouble (Ps. 34:17).

When we experience “many afflictions,” 

we know we are in good company 

because of our Savior who suffered (Ps. 34:19).

When we face evil, we have peace 

that we will never be condemned (Ps. 34:22).

Lord, help us to keep our eyes fixed on you 

and ears sharp 

to hear your voice 

even as you have first turned your merciful gaze on us, 

your listening ears toward us.

In Jesus’ comforting name we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 34. 



A Prayer about the Lord Who Hears and Responds

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

A Prayer about the Lord Who Hears and Responds

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7

Rescuing Lord, 

As we continue praying through Psalm 34, 

we see even more reasons to bless your name “at all times” 

as we prayed about yesterday: 

We were sprawled out on the sofa, 

choking on sobs 

of grief, of regret, 

of disappointment, of frustration, 

and you heard us. 

You heard us. 

And when you hear, you respond: 

you “saved [us] out of all of [our] troubles” (Psalm 34:6). 

Not some of our troubles. 

All of our troubles. 

You send your angel to “encamp” around us. 

We shouldn’t picture a chubby blond cherub 

or a pale-faced long-haired lady  

when we think angel. 

We should picture warrior of light, 

powerful, fearsome, 

mighty, messenger. 

And though Psalm 34 just mentions one angel, 

we should probably picture a whole army of angels 

setting up this camp around us 

to protect us, to deliver us. 

Yes, indeed, we do “taste and see that you are good!” 

And we do proclaim with David, 

“Blessed is the man [or woman] who takes refuge in you” (Psalm 34:8).

In Jesus’ delivering name we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 34:6-7; Matthew 28:2; Hebrews 13: 2; Daniel 10. 



A Prayer about Blessing the Lord at All Times

by | Jan 10, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Blessing the Lord at All Times

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1

Gracious Lord,

We join David today in proclaiming your goodness:

May we bless you at all times—

times when we’ve acted supremely foolish, 

times when we are crushed in spirit, 

times when we are lost and afraid, 

not just times when you’ve blessed us 

with a new car 

or a new boyfriend 

or a new job. 

In all times, 

may we share our uncontainable awe 

at your greatness.

For indeed, with David we can affirm, 

We sought you, and you answered us,

And delivered us from all our fears—

fears of being rejected by our friends or family, 

fears of illness and death, 

fears of being unimportant or irrelevant (Psalm 34:4).

As we take in your glory, 

something amazing happens—

our faces begin to radiate with your dazzling light, 

and where we would have previously hidden in shame, 

We now turn that fiery light outward, 

and shame shrivels and withers away. 

Oh, Lord, indeed, we bless your name. 

You have saved us from all our fear and shame.

In Jesus’ praiseworthy name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 34:1-5. 



A Prayer about the Lord’s Guidance

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

A Prayer about the Lord’s Guidance

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Psalm 73:24

Faithful Lord,

As we read Asaph’s words, 

we relate. 

He begins Psalm 73 confessing his envy of the wicked, 

who seem to prosper, 

their bodies “fat and sleek,” 

with no “trouble” as he and others face. 

And yet, as he confesses his envy and resentment, 

he remembers the riches he has in you: 

“You hold [our] right hand” (Ps. 73:23).

“You guide [us] with your counsel” (Ps. 73:24). 

We pause to consider what this means: 

You, 

the all-knowing, 

all-wise, 

all-powerful 

Creator of the Cosmos, 

guide us, steer us, shepherd us, 

with your counsel, wisdom, knowledge, power, and love.

“And afterward you will receive [us] to glory” (Ps. 73:24). 

Not, you “might” receive us to glory if we are good enough, 

but you “will” receive us, 

welcome us, embrace us, 

to glory: 

the state of beauty, perfect peace, 

rest, wholeness and flourishing—shalom. 

Oh Lord, what hope we have in your counsel. 

Keep our eyes firmly fixed on you 

and on our hope in heaven and on earth 

as we plan for the new year. 

Turn our eyes away from others 

whom we might envy 

that we might see how near 

you have come to us in Christ, 

that we might “tell of all your works” (Ps. 73:28). 

Amen. 

Read Psalm 73.



A Prayer about Needing to Lie Down

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

A Prayer about Needing to Lie Down

I will make you lie down in safety. Hosea 2:18

Protecting Father,

We confess, we resist lying down; we resist rest.

We’d rather, to change Spurgeon’s words around a little, 

sit up and worry than lie down in peace.

You know this about us, 

and that is why you “make us

lie down in safety.” 

We are truly stubborn sheep, 

who you so kindly tend. 

You “make us lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2). 

We believe; help our unbelief.

Help us to trust 

that you will one day 

abolish the bow and the sword (Hosea 2:18).

Help us to know that we need not fear 

“sudden terror or the ruin of the wicked” (Prov. 3:25), 

so that we may lie down and not be afraid (Proverbs 3:24-25). 

Help us to believe that we are always safe “in Christ,” 

our true haven and home, 

where nothing can separate us from your love.

Help us to remember 

that while we are subject to 

“tribulation, distress, 

persecution, famine, 

nakedness, danger,  and sword” (Romans 8:35)

in this world, 

the day is soon coming 

when we will be safe in the walls of the holy city, 

where no danger or threat can enter.

In Jesus’ protecting name. Amen. 

*This prayer inspired by Charles Spurgeon, Promises of God, January 4.

A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears

by | Jan 7, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Grief, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

Healing Lord,

January now brings with it for me many memories of my mom — 

her birthday on January 4; 

her death day on January 12; 

her funeral on January 8.*

As I remember her with sorrow and longing,

I return to the hope you offer me and my grieving friends:

The hope of the Day to come 

when there will be 

no more death, 

nor mourning, 

nor crying, 

nor pain. 

In these remarkable final chapters of your Word, 

you give us a glimpse of what that day will be like:

We will live in safety, with our identity secure in you,

because you will dwell with us (Revelation 21:3).

We will see Jesus face to face, 

and his name will be engraved 

on our foreheads (Revelation 22:4).

We will drink for free and freely from 

the river of the water of life, 

and we will dine lavishly

on the fruit of the tree of life (Revelation 21:6; 22:1).

We will marvel at your majesty, 

and we will long to serve you and no other (Revelation 22:3).

We will enjoy peaceful community 

of people from every tribe and tongue and nation (Revelation 21:4; 22:2).

There’s more, so much more, 

to that day 

which will last forever. 

We believe your promise, 

“Surely, I am coming soon,” 

and we cry in response, 

“Come, Lord Jesus.”

In your hope-giving name. Amen.

Read Revelation 21-22. 

*Because of Covid, we had to wait an entire year to have the funeral my mother had planned.