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A Prayer about Desiring a Better Country

by | Nov 7, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living

A Prayer about Desiring a Better Country

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Hebrews 11:13

Lord God, Architect and Builder of the City with Foundations,

Remind us today of what you have told us over and over: 

this world is not our home—yet. 

One day, our Savior, King Jesus, 

who submitted himself to estrangement 

for the sake of our sins, 

will return to this earth. 

In that day, he will bring with him 

“the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, 

coming down out of heaven from God, 

prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2). 

I admit, that’s such a mixed metaphor 

it’s hard to get my mind around, 

but this I know. 

In that day, we will, 

like Abraham and Sarah and Moses and Rahab 

and all the other saints mentioned in Hebrews 11, “

receive the things promised,” 

the things we “greet…from afar” (Hebrews 11:13). 

We will settle in the homeland 

we have always sought (Hebrews 11:14). 

We will no longer be “strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). 

Today and every day, Lord, 

keep our eyes fixed on the horizon, 

looking for that “better country” 

our hearts deeply desire, 

the heavenly one, 

for we know that you have prepared for us a city. 

Until that day comes, 

may we invite others to join us 

as strangers and exiles on this earth, 

as citizens of your heavenly kingdom. 

In Jesus’ anticipated name. Amen. 

Read Hebrews 11:8-16; Revelation 21:1-5.

 

A Prayer about Why the Gospel is Such Good News

by | Nov 6, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living

A Prayer about Why the Gospel is Such Good News

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1

Good Father,

Our world seems to be drawn to bad news, 

so much so that we can even watch it 24 hours a day on TV, on our phones, on our tablets.

And yet, our souls truly long for good news, 

and your gospel is precisely that. 

The word gospel literally translates as “good news.” 

This good news is “of Jesus Christ,” 

meaning it belongs to Jesus the Messiah, 

the King of your kingdom. 

This good news is also about Jesus Christ. 

It is true that it is [almost] unbelievably good news, 

for the story goes that you sent your Son, 

a divine King,

into the world as a human baby 

born from a virgin’s womb. 

But not only that, you sent your Son, 

your sinless Son, 

who perfectly satisfied you, 

as the Savior for your sinful people, 

who could never satisfy you. 

Good Father, help us to grasp this truth—

we could never earn your love. 

We could never pay the debt of our sin. 

Nothing we have done in our lives 

makes us good enough to be forgiven. 

And in that is the amazingly good news: 

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, 

so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). 

Father, how we thank you for your goodness to us in Christ. 

May we live in gratitude for this good news, 

and may we share it with everyone we meet.

In Jesus’ good name. Amen.

Read Mark 1:1-11. 

 

A Prayer about the Darkness of Hatred

by | Nov 4, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Darkness of Hatred

But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 1 John 2:11

 

Loving Savior,

What a world we live in. 

The news is full of stories of hate crimes, 

but the bigger story is the hatred of people 

for other people. 

If we say we belong to you, 

we must confess any hate our hearts harbor, 

for “Whoever says he is in the light 

and hates his brother or sister is still in darkness” (1 John 2:9). 

You are the true light, the light of the world, 

who came into this world because God so loved us 

that he sent his Son, 

to die on a cross in what could have been called 

a “hate crime.” 

Oh, Lord, “our sins are forgiven for [your] name’s sake” (1 John 1:12). 

Because that is true, you say that we “have overcome the evil one,” (1 John 2:13), 

the one who stirs up dissension and bitterness and hate. 

And one day, we will live forever in eternal glory 

with you in the new heavens and new earth. 

In anticipation of the day 

every nation will walk in the light of the glory of God, 

may we live in the light of your love (Rev. 21:24). 

In your brightly shining name we pray. Amen.

Read 1 John 2:7-14.

 

A Prayer about the God Who Guides Us

by | Nov 2, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about the God Who Guides Us

For this is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14

 

Our God, 

How great are you indeed! 

You were committed to dwelling with your people,

 and long ago, you  you chose to dwell 

in a man-made temple in a man-made city 

as the mighty King of your people (Psalm 48:1-3). 

Other kings caught one look at your might, 

panicked, and ran away (Psalm 48:5). 

Not only are you mighty, you are merciful. 

The people rejoice as they consider

 your “steadfast love” and “righteousness” 

and wise “judgments” (Psalm 48: 9-11) 

Long ago, your people told of your greatness 

to the next generation; 

today, we praise you, 

because you have deigned to make yourself 

our God, forever and ever. 

Not only are you our God, 

you are our guide, today and tomorrow, 

and to the end of our days. 

Even at the end of our days on this earth, 

in you, the end is only the beginning. 

One day, our great King Jesus will return, 

and we will dwell with you forever, 

secure and safe in the eternal joy 

of your everlasting kingdom. 

What reason for rejoicing! Amen.

Read Psalm 48.

 

A Prayer about Being a Saint

by | Oct 31, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, gratitude, Reformation Day, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Being a Saint

Dear Friends,

This began as a personal prayer, but I invite you to insert your own gratitude for God making you a saint.

 

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you. Psalm 145:10

 

Author God,

You and I both know that in the world’s sense of the word, 

I am no saint. 

And yet, on this All Saints’ Day, 

as I celebrate 60 years of being in the world, 

I stand in awe of “your abundant goodness,” 

in choosing me to be one of your saints in Christ (Romans 1:7). 

Not only did you place me in a Christian school 

where I would hear the good news of the gospel and begin studying the Bible, 

[name some of the specific ways God has shown you the good news of the gospel]

but you surrounded me with “a great cloud of witnesses,” 

wonderful saints, ordinary people redeemed in Christ, 

who were living stories that led me to see my need and desire for a Savior. 

[Name some of the saints who have shown you redemption in Christ.]

Not only did you draw me to Christ, 

literally raise me from spiritual death, 

but you have continued to write your story of “steadfast love,” 

showing me day after day 

that your “mercy is over all that you have made” (Psalm 145:9). 

[Name some of the ways he has written his story of “steadfast love” and “mercy” into your life.]

How grateful I am/we are 

that you have called us to be your “saints in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:1). 

In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

Read Psalm 145. 

 

A Prayer about Eternal Glory

by | Oct 29, 2022 | aging, dying, and death, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Gospel living, kingdom living, Numbering Our Days, Suffering

A Prayer about Eternal Glory

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

Heavenly Father,

Enlarge our imaginations that we might see what glory awaits us in Christ!

In this fallen world, we suffer, 

but “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing 

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

Because we are in Christ, we have a glorious inheritance 

which we will receive when he returns:

We will be…

Confirmed: 

You, our Father, will welcome us, saying, 

“Yes, this is my beloved child!” 

Restored: 

like the ultimate fixer-upper, 

healed of the wounds of sin, 

healed of the brokenness of our bodies, 

made like Christ, 

fully shining with the glory of Christ!

Strengthened: 

strong in Christ’s strength, 

no longer able to sin.

Established: 

Established on thrones 

as those who reign with Christ 

over the new heavens and new earth, 

and we will “reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). 

(Just call me Queen Elizabeth!)

Oh, Father, the glories that await us in heaven 

do seem too good to be true! 

How we long for the day 

we will see you face to face, 

the day your glory 

will become fully and finally our glory.  

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen.

Read Romans 8:18-30; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Timothy 2:10.