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A Prayer about Jesus’ Sympathy for Us

A Prayer about Jesus’ Sympathy for Us

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Gracious and Generous God,

How often do we pause to consider 

how a sympathetic Savior changes everything? 

As we bow before you today, 

may we grasp afresh 

the hope that is ours in our beloved Christ:

Jesus, in his sinless humanity, 

is sympathetic to our weakness.

How can this be?

In one of my favorite books, the author 

explains it so much better than I can:
“It is in our ‘weaknesses’ that Jesus sympathizes with us.” 

[Sympathize means “to suffer with.”]

“Sympathize here is not cool and detached pity…

In our pain, Jesus is pained; 

in our suffering, 

he feels the suffering as his own 

even though it isn’t…

His is a love that cannot be held back 

when he sees his people in pain.”* 

Oh, Lord, thank you for sending 

a suffering and sympathetic Savior. 

May we cling to our suffering Savior. 

May we rest in Christ’s sympathy for us, 

even as we battle sin, 

even as we suffer in a fallen world. 

In Jesus’ sympathetic name. Amen. 

Read Hebrews 4:14-16.

*(Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, by Dane Ortlund, page 46).



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Entering God’s Rest

A Prayer about Entering God’s Rest

For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. Hebrews 4:10

Lord of the Sabbath,

May we hear and heed these words in Hebrews. 

In our busy, noisy, rushing world, 

we often ignore your invitation to rest. 

Your people long ago ignored your invitation, 

choosing instead to serve other gods 

who seemed to offer them 

what they wanted when they wanted it. 

They refused to trust in you, 

and therefore you said,

“They shall not enter my rest” (Hebrews 4:5-6). 

You have given us everything we need 

for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), 

and all we must do is believe 

this good news, rest in it, 

and love out of it. 

Today and every day, 

may we still ourselves 

and say no to the world’s 

clanging demands 

in order to receive 

the profound rest 

you have offered us. 

May we truly cease striving 

and know that you are God (Psalm 46:10).

In the name of Jesus, who gave us rest. Amen.

Read Hebrews 4:1-13. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Feeling Desperate in Illness

A Prayer about Feeling Desperate in Illness

For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

2 Corinthians 1:8

Great Physician,

How grateful we are to know 

that you are also near to the broken-bodied 

and save those who are crushed in spirit and in hope for health (See Psalm 34:18).

Today, we bring our sick and suffering friends before you, 

asking for your help and your hope. 

We think of Jairus, 

who fell down at your feet 

and pleaded for his little daughter, 

saying she was “at the point of death.” 

How desperate he must have felt 

when you stopped to heal the hemorrhaging woman, 

who also was surely desperate, 

because she reached out and touched your robe 

even though she knew her illness made her unclean (Mark 5:21-43). 

How desperate Jairus must have felt 

when his friends ran to him 

and told him his daughter had died.

How desperate the apostle Paul must have been, 

after he asked (at least) three times 

that you would heal his thorn in the flesh and was told “no  (See (2 Corinthians 12:8).

And yet, Paul, who suffered much in his body

for the sake of the gospel, 

who, though he “despaired of life itself,” (2 Corinthians 1:8)

gave us the words we pray now,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 

who comforts us in all our affliction, 

so that we may be able to comfort those 

who are in any affliction, 

with the comfort 

with which we ourselves are comforted 

by God. For as we share abundantly 

in Christ’s sufferings, 

so through Christ 

we share abundantly in comfort too….” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

In the hope of ultimate healing in your name we pray. Amen.

Read Mark 5:21-43; 2 Corinthians 1; 2 Corinthians 11:26-27. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

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