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A Prayer about De-Selfing

by | May 2, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about De-Selfing

….who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:4

Lord Jesus,

Grow our awe—

You gave your-self: your fully divine, fully human self…

For what?

For my sins, for our sins…

Our sins revolve and evolve 

from our selves:

I am/we are

self-seeking,

self-promoting,

self-conscious,

self-pitying, 

self-protecting, 

among many other self-centric behaviors. 

You are 

self-sacrificing, 

self-lowering, 

self-emptying, 

self-less. 

Through your sacrifice for our sins,

we are delivered from the present evil age—

That is, we are 

redeemed, 

rescued, 

saved, 

from our self-centeredness 

and all of the self-seeking attitudes 

this fallen world promotes.

You obeyed the will of your Father, 

that he might be glorified, 

lifted up, 

praised, 

and in you, 

we too are transformed 

from self-centeredness 

to other-centeredness,

empowered 

to glorify God 

and glorify you, 

to love you 

and love others.

Indeed, in you, 

we have every reason to hope 

for freedom from self. 

Amen. 

Read Galatians 1:1-4; Philippians 2:3-11.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Wise Tongues

by | May 1, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Wise Tongues

Do you see someone who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for them.

Proverbs 29:20

All-Wise God, 

Forgive our foolishness. 

Heal our tongues, 

which often speak “rashly, 

like the thrusts of a sword” (Proverbs 12:18).

We have become deeply enculturated 

in a world that is quick to speak 

and slow to listen

when you have called us 

as citizens of your kingdom 

to be “quick to hear, 

slow to speak, 

slow to anger” (James 1:19). 

Lord, we confess to you some of the sins 

that slip off our tongues: 

comparison, 

envy, 

judgment,

gossip, 

criticism, 

slander, 

to name just a few.

Change us, Lord, 

so that “no evil talk come(s) out of our mouths, 

but only what is useful for building up, 

as there is need, 

so that our words may give grace 

to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

Grant us 

the loving wisdom, 

extraordinary patience, 

and sacrificial forgiveness 

of your Son

who taught us to love our enemies 

and to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 4:43-44). 

In Jesus’s all-wise name. Amen. 

Read Proverbs 29. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about a Talking Donkey

by | Apr 30, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about a Talking Donkey

“And the donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?’ Numbers 22:31

King above all Kings,

There is perhaps no more amusing story in Scripture 

than the one about the greedy pagan “prophet” Balaam 

and his faithful (to you that is) donkey (Numbers 22:7, 15, 18). 

We laugh when the donkey refuses to go where Balaam tells her 

because she sees the angel of the Lord (Numbers 22:23-27). 

Our eyes grow wide when you “open the mouth of the donkey” 

and she says, “What have I done to you, 

that you have struck me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28). 

And yet, through this whole true tale, 

you reveal yourself to be King of Kings 

and protector of your people. 

The evil king of Moab, Balak, 

wants Balaam to curse your people, 

the Israelites. 

But you will not allow Balaam to speak evil against your people, 

only a blessing. 

You are indeed the Lord of Lords, 

the Ruler of Rulers, 

the King of Kings. 

And you have shared the hope of this message clearly with us 

throughout Scripture. 

May we be more like your donkey, 

who sees your messengers clearly, 

who obeys your commands.

In Jesus’s worthy name. Amen. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Waiting with Hope

by | Apr 29, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Waiting with Hope

We too wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:23

Gracious God,

Thank you for giving us every reason to hope, 

even as we wait in difficult circumstances—

Some of us are waiting for healing of our bodies, 

others are waiting for healing of relationships, 

others are waiting for healing of injustice.

The clock is ticking, 

and redemption seems to take forever 

in this fallen world. 

And yet, you have promised us 

that one day “the sufferings of this present time” 

will not be “worth comparing 

to the glory that is to be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). 

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, 

you have secured that promise. 

One day, indeed, all suffering will cease, 

and we will be like Jesus, 

because we will see him as he really and truly is (1 John 3:2). 

May we savor this hope 

even as we “wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:25).

In Jesus’ hope-giving name. Amen.

Read Romans 8:18-25.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the Only True Apocalypse

by | Apr 27, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Only True Apocalypse

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. Revelation 1:1.

Lord Jesus,

How we thank you for the book of “apocalypse”

 (the Greek word for “revelation” 

from which the title of the book of Revelation comes). 

Thanks to this book 

and to what you have revealed there, 

we can ignore strange predictions 

about Zombie apocalypses 

that serve as click-bait on our feeds. 

The one true apocalypse, 

the revelation we desperately need, 

is the “unveiling” of your goodness, 

the revealing of your trustworthy and true character. 

You are the One who has already won the war over evil, 

and the One who will finally defeat Satan 

in one last cosmic battle. 

As Pastor Scotty Smith explains, 

“God is using these vivid pictures to show us, in symbols, 

the deeper reality of how he is redeeming and restoring his world.” 

Thank you for revealing yourself in your Word. 

Draw us to study and soak 

in the good news 

you have revealed about yourself 

throughout Scripture, 

especially in Revelation. 

In your victorious name. Amen.

Read Revelation 1:1-3.

Friends, if you’re confused about the “apocalypse” and Revelation, I highly recommend Scotty Smith’s simple and readable study guide, Revelation: Hope in the Darkness. 



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the Only Trustworthy Prophecy

by | Apr 26, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Only Trustworthy Prophecy

And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7

Lord Jesus,

You are coming soon! 

What reason for rejoicing! 

Forgive us for getting caught up in modern day “prophecy” 

that tries to predict when you are coming 

and what the last days of the earth as we know it 

might be like. 

Remind us that the word prophecy

literally means “message from God.” 

Remind us to look to your Word, 

your truest and most complete message, 

to understand how to live every day, 

even the final days. 

Remind us that our calling never changes—

instead of building bunkers to protect ourselves, 

we are to build bridges to connect with others, 

especially those who don’t know you, 

the “evildoers” who “still do evil” (Revelation 22:10). 

Instead of stockpiling food and fuel, 

we are called to step out in love, 

love of you and love of others. 

Instead of quaking in fear at rumors of wars, 

we are to quiet ourselves by your word, 

the only prophecy that is “trustworthy and true.” 

Help us, Lord Jesus, to wait well, for your soon arrival.

In your trustworthy name we pray. Amen.

Read Revelation 22:6-10.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker