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A Prayer about God’s Plans for Us

by | Jan 18, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about God’s Plans for Us

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11. 

Sovereign Lord,

It’s not even the end of January, 

and some of the plans and goals we made for this year 

have already ended in what looks like “disaster” to us: 

instead of being on track to run a 5k, 

we had the flu and stayed in bed for a week, 

instead of being more patient with our kids, 

our teenager wrecked the car and we lost our temper, 

instead of planning our anniversary trip, 

our spouse was diagnosed with cancer…

All good plans…disrupted.

Thank you for the truth of this verse—

you were speaking to the Israelites 

who were exiled in Babylon 

because of their disobedience and sin. 

Yes, their dreams had been crushed, 

their plans changed, 

but you promised them redemption and restoration 

not after, but during 

their time of exile. 

Help us draw near to you 

and trust in you in disrupted plans, 

that we might see the good stories 

you are writing in our lives 

for your glory.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Jeremiah 29:1-11. 



 

A Prayer about the Foolishness of Sin

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

A Prayer about the Foolishness of Sin

The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’

They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; 

there is none who does good. Psalm 14:1

Merciful and Forgiving Lord,

Thank you for this reminder 

that without Jesus, our Savior, 

we are all fools. 

Our sin nature, 

the nature with which we were born 

persists in telling us, 

“There’s no God. 

You are your own god. 

Do what feels right to you, 

because you rule!” 

Our sin nature whispers to us, 

“You’re a good person. 

You’re not nearly so bad 

as that guy down the street 

who always yells at his wife and kids.” 

The apostle Paul says, 

“All have sinned and fall short 

of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

David says, 

“There is none who does good, 

not even one” (Psalm 14:3). 

And yet, there is one who did do good, 

one who never sinned. 

And he came for us, 

to be our perfect sacrifice. 

He sent his Spirit to arouse us 

from our zombie status, 

to awaken us to the true wisdom of Jesus. 

Thank you, Lord, 

for such a great salvation. 

Thank you for making us “good” 

in Christ’s goodness, our only hope. 

Read Psalm 14. 



 

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

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

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:13

All-Powerful God,

Every time I read this awkward scene for Sarah in Genesis 18, 

I cringe, 

mostly because I recognize myself 

in her struggle to believe.

The Lord has promised Abraham and Sarah 

descendants as numerous as the stars, 

and yet, “The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah” (Gen. 18:11), 

and Abraham is a ripe 99-years-old. 

So we can hardly blame Sarah for laughing 

when she overhears one of the visitors, 

“the Lord,” 

say, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, 

and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Gen. 18:10). 

Things get awkward when the Lord asks Abraham, 

“Why did Sarah laugh and say, 

‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

Is anything too hard for the Lord?” 

Sarah denies laughing, and the Lord responds, 

“No, but you did laugh” (Gen. 18:14-15). 

Oh Lord, you know the places of our lives 

where it’s hard to believe that nothing is too hard for you—

For new companionship to ease our loneliness 

or for healing in broken relationships…

For healing of a chronic illness 

or for belief that a terminal illness will lead to ultimate healing…

For a job that provides for our family 

or a job that allows us to escape an abusive boss….

[Name some places you struggle to believe…]

Help us to trust in you to care for us 

in every detail of our lives 

because you sent your Son in a virgin’s womb, 

because you raised your Son from the dead, 

that those who trust in him might live forever in your love. 

In Jesus’ all-powerful name we pray. Amen. 



 

A Prayer about Taking Our Fears to the One Who Created Us

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

A Prayer about Taking Our Fears to the One Who Created Us

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Creator and Lord,

Over and over in Scripture, 

we read the words, “Do not fear.” 

Help us to hear you speaking them to us. 

Help us to know in our very bones 

that we can trust you. 

Who is the One telling us not to fear?

You are the One who created us, 

who formed us in the womb (Is. 43:1; Psalm 139:13), 

who conceived of us before we were conceived. 

You are the One who tells us 

we belong to you; we are yours (Is. 43:1). 

You are the One who speaks the loving words ever so gently, 

“Because you are precious in my eyes, 

and honored, 

and I love you, 

I give men in return for you….” 

Knowing who you are,

we now bring our fears honestly to you:

Lord, I fear…[name a fear and why you fear it]

Lord, I fear…[name a fear and why you fear it]

[Continue with as many fears as you can think of.]

Now that we have shared our fears, 

we listen again to your voice 

through your comforting Scripture:

“Fear not, for I am with you” (Is. 43:8).

Indeed, Lord, with you with us and for us, 

who can stand against us?

Thank you for calming our fears.

Amen. 

Read Isaiah 43:1-7.



 

A Prayer about the Son Who Came to Save

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

A Prayer about the Son Who Came to Save

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17

Heavenly Father,

In these early days after Christmas, 

may we not immerse ourselves in the whirl of the world 

so fully that we lose our wonder 

at the profoundly good news of the incarnation: 

From the beginning, 

even when his fingers were tiny 

and his sounds were infant coos, 

Jesus was born for one purpose: 

that we, that the whole cosmos, might be “born again” (John 3:3). 

“How shall that be,” the Jewish leader, Nicodemus, 

asks? 

Jesus explains in some of the better known words of the Word: 

“For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in him 

should not perish 

but should have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

This is the true gift of Christmas, 

but it gets even better. 

For all who have suffered the voices of contempt and condemnation, 

who have hung their heads in shame, 

you give more hope, 

“For God did not send his Son 

into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). 

Oh, gracious and merciful Father, 

what good news this is! 

May we live and love out of it today and every day.

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read John 3:1-21. 



 

A Prayer about Letting Go of Resentment

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

A Prayer about Letting Go of Resentment

Love…keeps no record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 13:5

Gracious God,

Today you guide us to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

replacing the word love with God.*

Indeed, when we read “God keeps no record of wrongs,” 

your Spirit pricks our hearts. 

Is it really true? 

Do you, who are patient and kind, 

perfectly loving, 

really not keep a record of our wrongs? 

Yes, according to Scripture, 

if we are in Christ, 

it is true! Romans 4 tells us, 

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, 

and whose sins are covered; 

blessed is the man 

against whom the Lord will not count his sin” (Romans 4:7-8). 

And in 2 Corinthians, 

“in Christ, 

God was reconciling the world to himself, 

not counting their trespasses against them…” (5:19). 

Oh gracious Father, 

show us anew how amazing your grace is, 

how wonderfully free we are in Christ. 

And by your grace, transform us. 

For who are we to keep a record of wrongs, 

to build up resentment, 

hard and crusty, 

if you, the Lord against whom we have sinned, 

do not do so because of the perfect sacrifice of your Son? 

Help us, Lord, we pray.

In Jesus’ transforming name. Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Romans 4:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19. 

*This suggestion came from Jan Johnson, in Meeting God in Scripture