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A Prayer about God Hiding His Face From Sin

by | Mar 17, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Lent

A Prayer about God Hiding His Face From Sin

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Psalm 51:9

Most Merciful God,

What a bold and beautiful legacy of confession 

King David left us in Psalm 51.

David’s is one of the better known 

sin-stories of Scripture: 

he committed adultery with Bathsheba, 

impregnating her, 

and then killed her husband 

in a cover-up attempt (2 Samuel 11-12). 

And yet, you called David a man after your own heart 

and taught us how to confess our most miserable sins, 

transgressions, and iniquities 

through his prayer of confession.

For you, our holy God, 

to look on sin is to punish it. 

So David asks you to turn your face away. 

His prayer predicts the moment 

you would turn your face away 

from your beloved Son 

as he died on the cross 

for every sin we would ever commit.

Because you turned away 

from your Son 

in that moment, 

Jesus blotted out all of our iniquities (Psalm 51:9), 

and you will never hide your face 

from those who belong to him.

What steadfast love and mercy is this! 

What a God, what a Savior!

In Jesus’ cleansing name. Amen.

Read Psalm 51. 

A Prayer about Not Being Offended by Jesus

by | Mar 16, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Easter, Gospel living, Lent

A Prayer about Not Being Offended by Jesus

And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.’ And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:57-58

Lord Jesus,

In these days leading up to Easter, 

draw us to examine our hearts. 

As we read of people in your hometown 

wanting to throw you off a cliff (Luke 4:29) 

because they were so disappointed in you, 

we need to ask ourselves,

Do we ever take offense at you?

Do we have expectations 

of what you should do, 

of who you should be?

Do we sometimes miss out 

on your “mighty works…

because of [our] unbelief?” (Matthew 13:58). 

Do we know you so well 

that we start to take you for granted, 

that we fail to honor you? 

May it never be! 

Lord, show us our unbelief. 

Transform our hearts into megaphones 

maximizing our praise and honor of you, 

our glorious King.

In your saving name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 13:53-58.

A Prayer about the Age of Exaltation

by | Mar 8, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Lent

A Prayer about the Age of Exaltation

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 18:14

Almighty King, 

We live in the Age of Exaltation, especially self-exaltation.

We need inversion therapy—

we need our ways of thinking and acting 

to be turned upside-down 

by the extraordinary news of the gospel. 

You say, 

“everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, 

but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

You sent your Son, the King of the Cosmos, 

to this “humus,” this earth, as a humble servant

to save us from our self-exaltation.

He “did not count equality with God 

a thing to be grasped but made himself nothing, 

taking the form of a servant. 

And being found in human form, 

he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, 

even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).

By your grace, through Christ’s death and resurrection, 

raise us up to live in the humility of our now-exalted King.

In Jesus’ humble name. Amen.

Read Luke 18:9-17; Philippians 2:1-11. 

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

by | Feb 25, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living, Lent

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:3

Glorious King,

As we revisit the story 

leading up to your death on a cross 

and your rising in glory, 

we’re still a long way away 

from your triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 

But the joy we know as Christians 

is that we’ve already heard the end of the story, 

and you win!  

In these gloomy, dark days of February, 

may we see your light burning 

through the thick darkness of our sin, 

the thick darkness of racial and political divides, 

the thick darkness of war and sickness and death. 

The day is coming, and it is coming soon, 

when we will arise and shine, 

when all nations and all kings 

will bow to the “brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3). 

Until that day comes, 

may our hearts be warmed 

by the radiating glory 

of your brilliant love.

In your kingly name. Amen. 

Read Isaiah 60. 

A Prayer about the Peace of God

by | Feb 20, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about the Peace of God

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Peace-bringing God,

We have all been there, 

whether in the waiting room 

while a loved one undergoes a big surgery 

or in a living room 

hearing the news that our daughter is battling an addiction 

or in a conference room 

wondering if we’re about to get the axe…

in short, in a place that induces fear and anxiety.

In such places, we desperately need to know your peace, 

“the peace of God.” 

What is it like?

First of all, it is your peace. 

It belongs to you, 

and it characterizes you. 

Would the God who created the universe 

ever be found wringing his hands over what-if’s? 

We don’t think so. 

You are 

the all-knowing 

and all-powerful 

Creator and Ruler of the universe.

Second, it is a surpassing peace. 

It’s far more soothing  

than the scent of a lavender candle. 

Third, it is a peace 

that surpasses all understanding. 

It is a puzzling peace, 

a seemingly impossible peace given the situation.

Finally, it is a peace that comes 

from being “in Christ Jesus.” 

It is the saving peace 

of knowing our foundation 

is sure and unshakeable. 

Oh, Father, 

wherever we are today, 

grant us this surpassing peace.

In Jesus’ peace-bringing name. Amen.

Read Philippians 4:4-9.

Friends, this prayer is an excerpt from my devotional From Recovery to Restoration: 60 Meditations for Finding Peace & Hope in Crisis. If you or someone you know is in crisis, be sure to check it out. 

A Prayer about the Love that Binds Us Together

by | Feb 11, 2023 | Church, Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about the Love that Binds Us Together

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

Lover of our Soul,

This Sabbath day, as we celebrate your love 

for your Bride, the Church,

and our love and gratitude for saving us, 

we pray for your healing and help 

that we may love one another well. 

In the past several years,

we’ve seen more disharmony in the church 

than at any time in recent history. 

Forgive us. Help us and heal us. 

Our hope lies in you, 

the God of “endurance and encouragement” (Romans 15:7).

By your Spirit, transform us 

so we may live as your Bride, the Church, 

in harmony with one another, 

glorifying you (Romans 15:7-8).

One day soon, our perfect Bridegroom will return, 

and we will all celebrate 

at the greatest wedding feast ever enjoyed (Revelation 19:7).

By your grace, may we live and love 

in eager anticipation of that day, starting today.

Read Romans 15:1-7; Revelation 19:7; Ephesians 5:25-27.