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A Prayer about Walking in the Light of the Lord’s Glory

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

A Prayer about Walking in the Light of the Lord’s Glory

Happy are the people who know the joyful shout;

Lord, they walk in the light from your face. Psalm 89:15

Everpresent Father, Jesus Immanuel, Indwelling Spirit,

We confess, 

we often walk through our days 

forgetting your presence. 

Re-orient us, we pray, 

so that we may be aware of “the light from your face” 

shining on us in every step we take, 

in every place we go, 

each day and every day, 

all the days of our lives.

Help us to not only “set our minds on the things above” (Colossians 3:2), 

but to see that you are “always before [us]” (Psalm 16:8), 

that we are in Christ, and Christ is in us, 

by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

When we become so fully aware of your inescapable presence, 

we will have peace in the midst of literal and metaphorical storms,

hope in the midst of disasters and diagnoses,

love in the midst of broken relationships,

joy in the midst of painful losses.

Walking in the light of your glory, 

we will indeed shout joyfully; 

we will indeed “spread the fragrance” 

of your sweet aroma everywhere we go (2 Corinthians 2:14).

In the name of our Lord who came near to us we pray.

Amen.

Read Psalm 89; Colossians 3:2; Psalm 16:8; 2 Corinthians 2:14. 



A Prayer about Surrendering Control as We Age

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

A Prayer about Surrendering Control as We Age

And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ Luke 1:38

Eternal Lord,

Mary was a young woman when she spoke these words. 

What wisdom and faith she had, 

even though she was “troubled” at the news 

that she would give birth to your Son. 

May we learn from her at an early age 

to surrender control of our lives to you 

so that when we move into our later years 

we are more accepting of the loss of control 

we experience.

Many of us pride ourselves on our independence, 

on not needing anyone or anything. 

And then we notice that we can’t see as well at night 

and now we can’t drive ourselves to Wednesday night church. 

Some of us have been told by our adult children, 

the very children whose diapers we changed, 

that it’s not safe for us to live in our own houses anymore. 

Lord, it is hard! 

We need your wisdom; 

we need your mercy; 

we need your grace. 

In our own strength, 

we can’t face the losses of independence 

aging requires of us. 

Only by your Spirit, 

only in the power of our Savior’s blood, 

shed for us in his weakness on the cross, 

can we accept these limitations and losses. 

Help us dear Lord, 

and shape us more and more 

into the image of your Son 

as we get closer to meeting you in glory. 

In Jesus’ surrendering name. Amen.

Read Luke 1:26-38; 2 Corinthians 12:9-11. 



A Prayer about Our To-Not-Do List for Today

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

A Prayer about Our To-Not-Do List for Today

You shall not murder. Exodus 20:13

Lord God,

Thank you for placing these verses 

in Exodus in front of me 

and the accompanying Heidelberg catechism question and answer 105: 

What does God require in the sixth commandment?

“I am not 

to belittle, 

hate, 

insult, 

or kill my neighbor, 

not by 

my thoughts, 

my words, 

my look, 

my gesture, 

and certainly not 

by actual deeds. 

I am not 

to be party to this 

in others. 

I am to put away 

all desires for revenge.”

It’s sobering to read these words, Lord, 

to be faced with how many ways 

we murder our neighbor 

every single day all throughout the day.

We cry out, “Wretched people that we are! 

Who will deliver us from this body of death?”

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord….

There is therefore now no condemnation 

for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 7:24, 8:1).

Draw us to quick repentance, Lord, 

when we murder our neighbor. 

By your transforming Spirit, 

change us into people 

who “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly” 

with you and with others (Micah 6:2). 

Help us to “love one another” 

and to “outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10). 

In your forgiving name. Amen.

Read Leviticus 19:1; Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 5:21-22.



A Prayer about the Lord’s Right Now Delight in Us

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

A Prayer about the Lord’s Right Now Delight in Us

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



A Prayer about a God Who Can Do Far More than We Ask or Think

by | Sep 25, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about a God Who Can Do Far More than We Ask or Think

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 

Ephesians 3:20-21

Glorious God, 

We believe; we confess our unbelief.

For the past few days, 

we’ve been praying Paul’s prayer 

asking you to strengthen us

through the power of your Spirit, 

for the purpose of comprehending 

your incomprehensible love.

As we come to the end of this series, 

we must ask ourselves honestly,

do we dare to pray this prayer:

You are able to do far more abundantly 

than all that we ask or think—

[pause for a few moments

and think about things 

that you may not dare to believe God is able to do…]

How do you do it? 

By working within us, 

through your power (not ours).

Why do you do it?

For the glory of the church 

and for the glory of Jesus Christ 

through all generations, forever and ever and ever.

Today, help us to see how you have already inscribed 

your incomprehensible love into our stories 

and into the redemption of your cosmos.

[Take a few moments again to write or name some of these things].

By the power of your Spirit and because of your glory, 

help us to grasp how much you really love us, Lord, 

and make that love flow boldly through our lives.

In Jesus’ everything-changing name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21. 



A Prayer about Being Rooted and Grounded in Love

by | Sep 24, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being Rooted and Grounded in Love

…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth… Ephesians 3:17-18

Father God

As we see plump, juicy tomatoes growing on the vine 

(not in my yard, but in my son-in-law’s), 

we recognize that good gardeners know 

they need rich, fertile soil 

to grow strong, healthy plants. 

You’ve designed us the same way, 

and the absolutely essential ingredient 

for healthy growth as a Christian is 

love. 

When we are rooted in it, grounded in it, 

by your Gardener-Spirit, 

we grow strong and healthy. 

Because your love is so overpowering 

and incomprehensible to us—mere humans, 

we need your strength to comprehend it—

no measuring tape or smart phone app can reach 

far enough, long enough, deep enough, or wide enough, 

to measure your love. 

Not even the string theory physicists 

can comprehend it, 

for it “surpasses knowledge.” 

Only by your Spirit working in us 

can we know the love of Christ. 

So Lord, we ask, 

please please renew our minds and hearts 

so that we can grasp it 

and grow in it and be filled with all your fullness, 

that we may bear the fruit of love

 in your glorious kingdom.

In Jesus’ incomprehensibly loving name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21.