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A Prayer about the Temptations Jesus Endured

by | Oct 17, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Temptations Jesus Endured

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

Sovereign Lord,

How we thank you for Jesus’ temptations, 

first, because as we prayed yesterday, 

it is through them that we are able 

to overcome our temptations. 

They do not merely offer a good example; 

they show us the way out. 

Through Christ, 

the second Adam, 

who, like the first Adam,

endured temptations,

and yet resisted. 

Jesus was tempted 

to provide sustenance through miraculous means (see Matt. 4:3);

while we cannot do this trick, 

we are often tempted to believe 

that you are not good 

when you do not provide 

what we think we need 

when we think we need it. 

Our Savior reminded us of our central hope

when he told Satan, 

“Man does not live by bread alone 

but by every word that comes 

from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). 

We must trust in your goodness 

even when we don’t see your provision.

Jesus was tempted to gain knowledge 

that you loved him 

by demanding you protect him (Matt. 4:5-7). 

He resisted that temptation, 

choosing to trust 

that you protect him 

even in suffering. 

We must trust in your protection 

even when live 

in the midst of uncertainty and confusion.

Jesus was tempted to gain glory 

by worshiping Satan, 

the father of lies (Matt. 4:8-9).

He refused, 

naming his central focus 

as the glory of God: 

“You shall worship the Lord your God 

and him only shall you serve” (Matt. 4:10). 

We must refuse to seek glory 

that belongs to you alone.

Thank you, good Father, 

for giving us a sympathetic high priest 

who has endured temptation. 

May we run to his sheltering mercy and grace 

to find help in our time of need (Heb. 4:16). 

Amen. 

Read Hebrews 4:14-16; Matthew 4:1-11



A Prayer about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

by | Oct 16, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

Ask, and it will be given unto you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

Lord Jesus,

You know the tears of longing and confusion 

this verse brings many of us. 

For we have asked and continued asking, 

daily, unceasingly, for years….

For a spouse, 

for a baby, 

for work that pays the bills, 

for preservation in the storm, 

for healing, 

for the return of a spiritually lost loved one…

The list goes on and on.

As we read the words that come before this verse 

in the Sermon on the Mount, 

we realize you are telling your disciples 

to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking, 

not only for material provision, 

but also for spiritual strength 

to love others, 

even enemies, 

to swallow our judgmental tongues

as you do. 

You do call us also 

to keep praying for the “desire of our heart,” 

for the “good gifts” 

our Heavenly Father gives us. 

We must confess, 

we don’t understand how it all works, 

but we continue to pray and trust 

that our Father is good. 

We continue to pray and trust 

that the Father who allowed you, our Savior, 

to die for us that we might be redeemed,

will redeem and restore all broken things. 

We continue to pray, 

trusting that our Father collects our prayers, 

he hears them, 

and he cares. (See Revelation 5:8; Psalm 141:2). 

In your faithful name we pray.

Amen.

Read Matthew 7:1-12; Revelation 5:8; Psalm 141:2.



A Prayer about Work, Wealth, Women, and Wisdom

by | Oct 15, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Work, Wealth, Women, and Wisdom

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1 Kings 11:4

Author God,

May we learn from Solomon:

We remember how you, 

the all-powerful King of the Universe, 

actually humbled yourself to offer Solomon 

anything he asked for: 

“Ask what I shall give you.” 

And Solomon, loving you, honoring you, 

humbly asked for “an understanding mind to govern my people” (1 Kings 3:5, 9). 

Solomon does show this wisdom for awhile, 

and he gets busy working to build you a temple. 

But then some cracks in his foundation become fissures, 

and before we know it, 

he has married 700 women 

who lead him to worship other gods (1 Kings 11:1-8). 

Lord, we want to cry out, 

“How could he,” 

but we know the truth, 

that whether it is work or wealth or women or wine 

or families or football or fashionable things—

we can take any good gift you give us 

and make it into a god we worship more than you. 

Merciful God,

we pray, show us the things that block us 

from loving you 

and following you 

and serving you 

and enjoying you. 

Thank you for giving us rest in Jesus. May we return to him today.

In Jesus’ kingly name. Amen.

Read 1 Kings 11.



A Prayer about Living in Faith, Hope, and Love

by | Oct 14, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Living in Faith, Hope, and Love

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

Faithful Lord,

In a world that nags us, 

“You need more, 

to get more, 

to do more, 

to be more,”

help us to see that you have given us 

the “full assurance of faith,” 

your finished work for us on the cross. 

Now we can draw near to you 

with hearts relieved of guilt, 

for you have cleansed us from our sins (Heb. 10:22). 

In a world that makes us feel despair sometimes—

rising inflation, rising crime rates, rising poverty, 

we can “hold fast the confession of our hope,” 

not because we are so faithful, 

but because you are faithful, 

and you have promised your shalom 

will reign eternally. 

And because of the faith and hope you have given us, 

we can “consider” (be considerate) 

“how to stir one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). 

Lord, let us not forget 

that you are coming soon, 

and as we remember, 

may we live out your faith, hope, and love 

in a world desperate to know good news. 

In your re-creating name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 10:19-39.



A Prayer about Where to Focus

by | Oct 12, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Where to Focus

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. Colossians 2:8

Lord Jesus,

Forgive us for wasting our time and our brain space 

with all sorts of 

“empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense” 

that fill the screens we gaze upon. 

We scroll and scroll, 

looking for the next new thing, 

some great idea, 

never realizing how many of the thoughts we consume 

come from “human thinking” 

or ”the spiritual powers of this world.” 

Draw our gaze instead to you, 

the One in whom God’s fullness dwells 

in a human body (Col. 1:19). 

As we look on you, 

may we see that if you dwell in us, 

if we call you Savior, 

we have been “buried with you in baptism,” 

and now we have been “raised with you 

through faith 

in the powerful working of God” (Col. 2:12). 

Because of this mind-boggling truth, 

we can walk freely, 

forgiven, 

in you, 

and we can live for you, 

loving you and loving others with all we do. 

That’s really the only reality 

we need to focus on today or any day. 

In your saving name. Amen. 

Read Colossians 2:1-23.



A Prayer about Being a Comfort to Ministry Leaders

by | Oct 11, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being a Comfort to Ministry Leaders

Remember my chains. Colossians 3:18

Jesus, Great Shepherd of the Sheep,

As we read the apostle Paul’s closing instructions to the Colossians, 

we can’t miss his reminder, 

which he mentions twice, 

that he is in chains. 

He has told the Colossians 

the good news of the gospel: 

they have died with Christ, 

been raised with Christ, 

are rooted in Christ, 

and are hidden in Christ. 

Now they and we can live in peace, 

in tenderness, 

in mercy. 

Now he encourages them and us 

to pray. 

We must pray for all who are ministers of the gospel:

preachers, teachers, youth workers, 

children’s and women’s ministry directors. 

We pray that we would not in any way imprison them, 

that we would speak to them 

and about them 

as we are directed to speak to everyone—

wisely, graciously, kindly (Col. 4:5-6). 

May we be faithful brothers and sisters, 

people like Tychicus, Onesimus, and Aristarchus, 

comforting our ministry leaders 

in trying and bewildering times (Col. 4:7-11), 

working with our ministry leaders 

for the glory of the Kingdom of God (Col. 4:7-12). 

May we “pray earnestly” like Epaphras 

for the good of our church, 

asking God to help the whole church 

follow the will of God (Col. 4:12-13). 

And may we always remember their chains, 

remember that our ministry leaders 

suffer for the sake of the glory of God. 

In your shepherding name. Amen.

Read Colossians 4.