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A Prayer about the Goodness of the Lord

by | Sep 6, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Goodness of the Lord

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

Good and Loving Lord,

Slow us down as we read Scripture, 

that we may see your glorious riches all over again.

Why do we give you thanks?

Because you are good. 

Pause us for a few moments to help us see 

what it means that you are good and that you are steadfastly loving. 

There are many things in this world we name “good,”—

that was a “good book,” 

a “good movie,” 

a “good game.” 

But these things are not like your goodness. 

Nothing compares to your goodness. 

You are holy, just, perfect, 

lovely, gracious, kind, 

wise, powerful, 

the measure of any and all goodness.

Not only that, but your “steadfast love endures forever.”

Your love is safe, secure, and everlasting.

It is there when we hurt a dear friend with sarcastic words,

It is there when we get canceled or condemned for our beliefs,

It is there when we fear a hurricane bearing down on us,

It is there when we wonder if our back will ever be free of pain,

It is there when we worry about rising prices and shrinking income…

In all things, may we remember…

You are good, 

and your love is certain and sure.

In Jesus’ good name. Amen.

Read Psalm 118.



A Prayer about Our Worst Fears

by | Sep 5, 2024 | Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Our Worst Fears

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

Redeeming Lord,

We come to you today 

bringing our very worst fears:

Fears of a terrible diagnosis,

Fears of a terrorist attack,

Fears of a terrifying loss,

Fears of abandonment, 

fears of death.

Into our fears, you speak peace and hope:

“I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

“I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:3).

“Because you are precious in my eyes, 

and honored, 

and I love you, 

I give men in return for you, 

peoples in exchange for your life” (Isaiah 43:4).

You gave peoples in exchange for Israel, 

but you have given your beloved Son 

in exchange for our lives. 

Because of his suffering and because of his resurrection, 

we know that no matter what fires we may walk through, 

we shall not be burned; 

no matter what rivers we pass through, 

we will not be overwhelmed, 

for you will be with us.

What hope we have in the midst of our fears 

because of our Savior Jesus! 

In his calming name we pray. Amen. 

Read Isaiah 43:1-7.



A Prayer about Remembering God’s Wonders

by | Sep 4, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Remembering God’s Wonders

In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. Psalm 78:32

Merciful God,

In Psalm 78, Asaph tells a bewildering story of your people, the Israelites:

Your people, who ran away in the day of battle 

and refused to obey you, 

because “They forgot his works and the wonders 

that he had shown them” (Psalm 78:11).

Lord, may it never be so for us, 

your beloved children in Christ. 

May we remember 

“the evidence of God’s abundant grace, 

in spite of [our] own sinfulness.”*

May we remember 

the teachers, the friends, 

the ministry leaders, the churches 

that have led us to see the hope of the gospel: 

that Jesus took on your wrath on the cross, 

that we who trust in him 

might not know the just punishment for our sins (Psalm 78:38).

[Name some of the people who have shown you God’s abundant grace.]

May we remember the times in our lives 

when you saved us out of sin and rebellion, 

when you showed us mercy 

when we deserved punishment.

[Name some of those events.]

May we remember the stories of your kindness and grace, 

your spiritual and material blessings.

[Name some of those stories, and tell or write one of these stories to someone you know today.]

As we remember, may we turn away from any sin that tempts us, 

and may we turn to your saving grace in your Son by your Spirit. 

In Jesus’ cross-bearing name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 78.



A Prayer about the Very Near Word

by | Sep 3, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Very Near Word

But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. Deuteronomy 30:14

Author of Life,

As this day dawns, 

many words have probably already crossed the screens of our lives—

words of encouragement, words of attention-grabbing news, 

words of hope, words of horror. 

Quiet our minds and draw our hearts 

to The Word that most matters—

your Word, 

which is near to us in Scripture, 

which has come near to us in your Living Word, 

Jesus Christ, our Savior (John 1:1). 

Draw us to drink deeply 

from your well of life-giving words, 

words of wisdom, 

words of the best good news—

that your Son took on flesh 

that he might die in our place for our sins, 

that after your Son died for our sins and descended to the dead, 

he was raised from the dead, 

walked on this earth as our risen Savior, 

and ascended to heaven, 

where he rules 

over this universe 

at this very moment.

Today and every day, 

help us to choose to dine on your life-giving Word 

rather than stuffing our face with junk food words 

that will quickly leave us hungry again. 

In the name of your Word-made-flesh, Jesus, we pray.

Amen.

Read Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 30:11-14; John 1:1-18.



A Prayer about Meditating on Good Things

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

A Prayer about Meditating on Good Things

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

Holy God,

Yesterday we prayed about anxiety, 

and we could have included this verse in that prayer. 

Yet another way to combat anxiety 

is to focus our mind on things 

that renew them in gospel realities.

Help us, we pray, 

to turn our minds and ears and eyes away 

from negative Nellies and sour Sallies, 

from rude Rickies and blabbering Bobbies. 

Instead, may we meditate on things 

that are true 

and will lead us to speak the truth in love, 

things that are honorable 

and will lead us to honor the dignity of your creation,

things that are just 

and will lead us to act justly in every arena of our lives, 

things that are pure and will lead us to live and love purely, 

things that are lovely 

and will lead us to speak in lovely ways, 

things that are commendable 

and will lead us to act in a way that reflects your praiseworthy name.

In short, may we think, speak, live and love in a way 

that is the gracious outworking 

of your transforming love in our lives. 

As we do so, 

may we know the peace 

you have promised will envelop us. 

In Jesus’ peace-giving name. Amen.

Read Philippians 4.



A Prayer about What to Do with Anxiety

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

A Prayer about What to Do with Anxiety

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phil 4:5-6

Ever-present Lord,

In these troubling days, 

Thank you for this reminder of what to do with our anxiety:

Pray. Get on our knees. Lift our hands. 

(In our day and age, we might add, 

“For starters, power down the screen 

and quit scrolling.”)

As we turn our minds away from the headlines 

that seek to captivate us

and turn toward you in prayer,

naming our every need, 

remembering that you are with us 

and will help us, what happens?

Our minds ease.

Who is near?

The Lord who made heaven and earth. 

The Lord who walked the earth as Jesus. 

The Lord who fed the multitudes and ate with them, 

The Lord who healed the sick and raised the dead.

As we begin to list all of the ways 

we are thankful for you, what happens?

Your peace descends.

The peace of rest that comes when we trust in you.

The peace of reconciliation that Christ won for us.  

The peace of shalom that you are restoring now and will fully restore one day.

Today and every day, Lord,

May we combat our anxiety 

with your powerful weapons:

prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. 

In Jesus’ praying name. Amen.

Read Philippians 4.