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A Prayer about Making Loving Decisions

by | Jul 7, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Making Loving Decisions

Loving God,

Many of us desperately need wisdom and clarity about tough decisions. 

I love how this verse tells us to begin with your love. 

Our love actually begins 

with knowledge of your contra-conditional love for us. 

As we grow in knowing that your love secures us, 

we grow in general knowledge and depth of insight — 

the wisdom and discernment we need 

for our daily decisions. 

It might look like this: 

my friend is trying to make a decision 

about where to send her daughter to kindergarten: 

public school, Christian school, homeschool? 

Instead of worrying and fretting, 

she spends time thinking about how much you love her

and how much you love her daughter. 

She then wisely entrusts her daughter’s story to you, 

knowing that you will provide for her 

in numerous ways.

With that peace of mind, 

she can choose where to send her daughter 

knowing that you will walk with her, 

working in her life to make her and her mom 

“pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 

filled with the fruit of righteousness 

that comes through Jesus Christ….” 

In Jesus’ clarifying name. Amen.

Read Philippians 1:3-11.

Oh, Lord,

We do bless you! 

Thank you for reminding us of all your benefits:

You forgive all our iniquity: 

when we tell half-truths, 

when we join in the coffee room gossip, 

when we put our trust in things of this earth rather than you — 

you forgive us! 

You heal all our diseases—

when we tolerate toxins which destroy our hearts, 

things like envy, comparison, unforgiveness, impatience—

you inject your antidote of grace, love, mercy, and compassion! (Psalm 103:3)

You redeem our lives from the pit—

when we have sunk farther than we ever thought we could go, 

you extricate us from our mucky ruts! (Psalm 103:4).

Not only do you forgive and heal and redeem—

you crown us with steadfast love and mercy, 

you satisfy us with good, 

you renew our youth like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:4-5).

Lord, today may we truly rejoice in all of your benefits, 

living and loving in the hope of your renewal.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 103:1-5. 

A Prayer about Cheerful Giving

by | Jul 3, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Cheerful Giving

Generous Father,

What a mind-boggling statement about giving. 

Frankly, it’s not always what we hear in the church. 

Some churches hesitate to speak about giving 

because of the fear that people will feel manipulated. 

Other churches work the crowd, 

twisting arms and loading on guilt. 

The gospel frees us from both errors,

laying out the one essential motivation for giving:

You have given us your Son as our Savior. 

You sent him into the world, to die on a cross, 

so that we might become your children. 

You didn’t give him grudgingly; 

you didn’t give him “under compulsion”;

you didn’t give him reluctantly. 

You gave him with great joy and delight, 

knowing that this gift would return to you 

the profound joy 

of welcoming your children home.

Lord, help us to meditate on this good news 

as we consider giving. 

As we do, make us cheerful, generous givers, 

and give us great joy in the privilege of giving. 

In Jesus’ life-giving name. Amen. 

Read 2 Corinthians 9.

A Prayer about Being Perfect

by | Jun 28, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Being Perfect

Heavenly Father, 

As a recovering perfectionist, 

I confess, this verse always makes me anxious 

when I first read it.

But then I reread Dr. Doriani’s commentary on Matthew, 

and he reminds me, 

the command is also a promise as phrased in Greek, 

“You shall be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”

As he says, the word “perfect” also reveals 

how completely inadequate we are 

to live out Jesus’ commands 

apart from his mercy and grace 

operating in our lives. 

The word “perfect” means “mature and complete,” 

but we know we’re nowhere near 

as mature and complete as God is, 

so it must be a process. 

Indeed,

becoming mature and complete 

takes a lifetime of your sanctifying work 

through the Spirit. 

Becoming mature and complete 

doesn’t mean “work harder”; 

it means “depend on God more,” 

because you are the God 

who makes new selves out of old selves (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Becoming mature and complete 

doesn’t mean “never make a mistake”; 

it means “run to God 

with all of your mistakes, 

weaknesses, and sin.” 

To be perfect

is to trust in you alone 

to finish the good work 

you began in us in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). 

In Jesus’ perfecting name. Amen.

Read Matthew 5:17-48; Philippians 3:12-16.

A Prayer about Feeling Anger

by | Jun 23, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Feeling Anger

Faithful Lord,

Thank you for feelings. 

We confess, too many of us have mistakenly believed 

that Christians aren’t supposed to feel feelings, 

especially negative ones. 

And yet, your word is filled with feelings, 

yes, even negative ones: 

sorrow, lament, anger, confusion. 

Forgive us for not listening carefully.

It is true—anger can be a knee-jerk response 

after a hot and exhausting day 

of touring a new city. 

It can be thoughtless and mean.

And yet, it might be a clue — 

to our sin or to another’s. 

It might reveal deep harm to your image in us. 

That’s why anger should make us pause. 

Lead us to ask you and ourselves, 

“Why am I feeling so angry?” 

Help us to stay silent for the moment 

so we can hear your answer. 

It may take more than one night, 

but if we keep coming back to you 

every day with our anger, 

pursuing you in our anger, 

anger will not control us—

it won’t make us bitter, 

it won’t lead us to destroy others. 

Lord, only by your grace 

can we feel our anger 

and allow it to take us to healthier places—

choosing to remain silent 

or choosing to engage in healthy conflict; 

choosing to ask forgiveness

or choosing to forgive. 

Read Psalm 4; Ephesians 4:26-27.

A Prayer about Kindness to Strangers

by | Jun 21, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Kindness to Strangers

Gracious Lord, 

Many of us have known 

the undeserved kindness of a stranger. 

Someone we didn’t know brought us a meal 

when our loved one when was in the hospital; 

a kind grandmotherly woman 

picked up our toddler’s tossed bottle in Target 

and handed it back to us smiling with empathy; 

a fellow traveler helped us get our suitcase into the overhead bin 

when we were clearly struggling. 

As bright and lovely as these kindnesses are, 

they pale in comparison to the kindness you have shown us, 

those estranged from you by sin.

Through your Son, you have extended us forgiving welcome.

You have fed our hunger on the body of Christ; 

you have quenched our thirst with his blood, the wine. 

Empowered by your grace to us, 

may we extend your kindness to strangers:

feeding the hungry, 

giving drink to the thirsty, 

clothing the naked, 

and visiting the sick and imprisoned (Matthew 25:35-36).

In Jesus’ welcoming name.

Amen.

Read Matthew 25:31-46.

A Prayer about Insecurity

by | Jun 19, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Insecurity

Mighty Lord,

We admit, insecurity drives 

many of our worst words 

and much of our wretched worry. 

Because we feel insecure about whether we are loved, 

we harshly judge others, 

typing out or shouting out 

slashing words and witty put-downs. 

Forgive us.

Because we feel insecure 

about our health, finances, jobs, and relationships, 

we worry and fret. 

Forgive us.

Draw us to live out of this hopeful reality:

In Christ, we are your beloved.

In Christ, we are secured 

in your love, your protection, your faithfulness, 

your good plan for us. 

In Christ, we can rest, 

for you are the High God, 

and you surround us, 

not just for one moment, 

but for every moment.

In Christ, we can rest, 

for you are the High God, 

the strong God, 

the surpassing God, 

who defeats any and every enemy 

who would assail us.

May we live out of this security, 

risking love and risking life 

because of who you are. 

In Jesus’ loving and lovely name. Amen.

Read Deuteronomy 33:12; James 3:3-6; Matthew 6:25-34.