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A Prayer about Submitting to the Lord’s Plan for Our Lives

A Prayer about Submitting to the Lord’s Plan for Our Lives

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

All-Wise Lord,

Forgive us for thinking so highly of our own thoughts and plans.

We live in a culture that tells us to make a plan and work the plan, 

and success will follow. 

How we need to trust in your plan, 

even when it does not fit with our plan. 

You tell us to come to you for life and peace, 

to turn from the temptation to earn our way 

into your good graces. 

Indeed, there is no earning in your kingdom: 

“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, 

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:2).

Because of your abundant mercy, 

we turn from the temptation to trust our own plans…

for relationships,

spouses,

children (young or grown), 

work and retirement, 

finances, 

health, 

living situation, etc. 

Because of your eternal wisdom, 

we seek you and call upon you, 

believing that your way are higher than our ways, 

and your thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). 

Because you are the Lord and giver of life, 

we turn to your living Word 

to discover the hopeful plans 

you have made for us, 

fighting our unbelief 

to hope that this word will be true for us, 

our loved ones, our church, and your kingdom:

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace…” (Isaiah 55:12).

In the name of your Word incarnate, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Read Isaiah 55. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Being Saved from Folly

A Prayer about Being Saved from Folly

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 26:12

Wise and Gracious Lord,

In our world, 

foolishness seems more prevalent 

than wisdom. 

As we read Proverbs, 

we discover that folly 

can be as destructive as evil. 

We urge you, make us wise. 

Turn us away from the world’s folly, 

the kind of folly that closes our minds, 

the kind of folly that refuses to listen, 

the kind of folly that runs off at the mouth 

about things we know nothing about, 

the kind of folly that thinks we know everything, 

the kind of folly that makes us lazy as a brick, 

the kind of folly that makes us repeat our folly. 

Instead, make us foolish in the gospel, 

proclaiming what will sound like folly to fools: 

“For the word of the cross is folly 

to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” 

(1 Corinthians 1:18). 

In your wisdom-giving name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 26.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Seeing the Glory of Jesus

A Prayer about Seeing the Glory of Jesus

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

Matthew 17:2

Glorious Jesus,

How we long to see your glory, 

to really see it, 

the way Peter, James, and John saw it 

in the transfiguration. 

You took them to a high mountain, 

and as you were praying, 

you began shining like the sun, 

your face lit up in fierce, overpowering light, 

your clothes whiter 

than newly bleached sheets. 

Even though we have not yet physically seen you 

in your glory, 

help us to engage our imaginations 

so that we see what Peter, James, and John saw. 

Dazzling in your glory, 

you spoke with Moses and Elijah, 

two men who had caught glimpses of God’s glory. 

God’s glory-cloud descended on this whole bunch 

gathered on the mountain, 

and the voice of your Father spoke, 

“This is my beloved Son, 

with whom I am well pleased. 

Listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). 

The disciples sank to the ground, 

terrified by it all. 

But you, the fiery yet gentle Jesus, 

touched them, 

telling them, 

“Rise, and have no fear” (Matthew 17:7). 

Lord, may we see your glory 

even in this very story. 

And may we imagine your glory 

shining today into every crack and crevice of sin, 

every rupture and ravage of evil, 

healing and cleansing 

and bringing hope to hurting hearts. 

In your beautiful name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 17:1-13.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Days When You Can’t Take One More Thing

A Prayer about Days When You Can’t Take One More Thing

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. Psalm 118:13

Lord Almighty,

On those days 

when we can’t take 

one more phone call lodging a complaint, 

one more text sharing sad news, 

one more best-laid plan going awry, 

one more thing—

Help us!

Help us to remember that you are our helper.

Who is our helper?

Our helper is the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 146:6). 

Our helper is the one 

who has “answered [us] and set [us] free” (Psalm 118:6).

Our helper is the one 

who “keeps faith forever; 

who executes justice for the oppressed, 

who gives food to the hungry, 

who sets the prisoner free, 

who opens the eyes of the blind, 

who lifts up those who are bowed down, 

who loves the righteous, 

who watches over the sojourner, 

who upholds the widow and the fatherless, 

who brings the wicked to ruin” (Psalm 146:6-10).

Our helper is the one 

whose steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 118:1-3).

Our helper is you, our Heavenly Father, 

who has adopted us through the precious blood 

of your very own Son.

In Jesus’ helping name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 118. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Ascribing Glory to the Lord

A Prayer about Ascribing Glory to the Lord

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,

Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Psalm 29:1

Glorious Lord,

It’s easy to come to you in prayer 

with a grocery list of wants and needs. 

Forgive us for forgetting 

that the best prayer starts 

with recognizing your glory, 

your strength, 

your splendor, 

your holiness, 

your majesty, 

and your might. 

Thank you for Psalm 29, 

which reminds us that we join

with heavenly beings 

when we pause to reflect 

on your glory. 

Today, we join David in awe 

at just a few of your many marvels:

Your “voice” is “over the waters” (29:3), 

waters which in ancient times were chaotic and dangerous. 

In other words, you establish order in the midst of chaos.

Your voice “breaks the cedars of Lebanon” (29:5), 

the renowned and majestic trees 

of the great ancient city of Lebanon; 

in other words, your power overcomes 

the most powerful forces we face.  

Your voice “shakes the wilderness” (29:8), 

a dangerous and murderous world in ancient times; 

in other words, you grab what threatens us 

and shake it to its core.

And on and on we can go 

ascribing your glory to you.

Thank you for these reminders of your glory 

that change the list of requests we name. 

For indeed, what we truly want and need most 

is for your glory to reign forever and ever. 

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen. 

Pray Psalm 29 (aloud).



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the Assurance of Salvation

A Prayer about the Assurance of Salvation

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28

Good Savior,

Thank you for this promise you’ve given to your sheep, 

to those who know your voice 

to those who believe in you (John 10:27).

Sadly, I’ve met too many ladies in our jail ministry 

who’ve “walked the aisle” again and again and again, 

because they feared that their salvation hadn’t “stuck.” 

They loved you and wanted to follow you, 

but a lifetime of backsliding into addiction 

had caused them to doubt 

whether you could really love them. 

Even more sadly, 

they had been told by pastors or ministry leaders 

that they couldn’t truly belong to you 

if they kept sinning. 

Forgive us, Lord, for judging anyone’s heart. 

You came not to condemn our sins but to forgive them. 

By your Holy Spirit, you change us. 

You assure us that those who follow you 

and listen to your voice will have “eternal life” 

and that they will “never perish.”

You promise, “no one will snatch them out of my hand” 

because your Father has “given them to [you]” (John 10:29). 

We pray for any who long to turn back to you 

but fear you will no longer know them.

May they hear your voice speaking your assurance. 

In your grace-gripping name. Amen. 

Read John 10:22-30.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker