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A Prayer about Praying Boldly

by | Jun 3, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about Praying Boldly

Holy Spirit,

As you did with the early disciples 

when they were faced with persecution:

Fill us with your power 

and shake us out of our safe, status quo prayers. 

Sharpen the focus of our prayers—

that we might share the good news: 

Jesus has come to save his people!

far and wide, moment by moment. 

Embolden our prayers—

that you, the Holy God would do 

“signs and wonders” 

in the “name of his holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:30).

Strengthen us through our prayers—

that we might become bolder and wiser 

in the way we speak your Word. 

In the holy name of Jesus we ask. Amen. 

Read Acts 4:23-31. 

A Prayer about Not Worrying

by | May 21, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Not Worrying

Good Father,

Once, after a hurricane, 

a friend told me how she handled her worry 

that her seventy-year-old house 

would be destroyed: 

“I stayed inside and thought happy thoughts.” 

There’s nothing wrong with thinking happy thoughts, 

but you have given us a much better antidote to the worry and fear 

that plague us during seasons of crisis: 

Prayer. 

Rejoicing in you, 

because that turns our thoughts 

toward your delight in us and our hope in that delight (Philippians 4:4).

Presenting our requests to you, 

because that acknowledges our utter helplessness, 

your supreme power,

and your good, Fatherly care for us (Philippians 4:6).

Thanking you, because that reminds us 

of how you have saved us in the past 

and points us toward 

how you will rescue us in the future (Philippians 4:6).

Lord, today, when worry creeps in, 

turn our hearts toward you in prayer, 

that we may know the peace 

that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

In Jesus’ peace-bringing name.

Amen.

Read Philippians 4:4-9.

A Prayer about Learning to Pray

by | May 5, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about Learning to Pray

Holy Father,

Thank you for the gift of prayer.

Grow our understanding of the power and richness of prayer.

Thank you for David Powlison’s words 

that remind us of a key feature of prayer we often forget:

“We usually ask God to change events in people’s lives…

But think about the spiritual needs of each of these life situations….”

So, even as we pray,

“Lord, please bless my friend’s business,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please give my friend faith that you will provide for her in this business….”

Even as we pray,

“Lord, please heal my friend from chronic pain,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please sustain my friend’s hope in this hard season….”

Even as we pray,

“Lord, please bring my friend’s daughter back home,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please help my friend forgive her daughter for causing so much pain….”

[Name some prayers of your own following this model….]

Thank you Lord, for the privilege of prayer. 

Please shape us more and more 

into the image of your Son as we learn to pray. 

In Jesus’ praying name. Amen. 

Read Luke 11:1-13.

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A Prayer about Holy Sexuality in a Sexually Insane World

by | Feb 9, 2021 | Gospel living, Prayer, Weekly Gospel Meditation

A Prayer about Holy Sexuality in a Sexually Insane World

This week, the week of Valentine’s, seems like a good time to pray about sexuality in a sexually insane world. Please join me in this prayer of confession and hope, and please share this prayer with others. 

“This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.” Gen. 2:24-25, NLT

“Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.” Eph. 5:3-4

Most merciful, Creator God, we come to you, weighed down by the sexual insanity of this world, deeply broken over our own deceitful lust and greed, and profoundly thankful for your everlasting mercy.

We praise you for your creation of holy and exuberant sexuality.

We praise you for your exquisite design of sexual love expressed in the context of marriage—two sinner-saints joined together in lifelong covenant. You knew that there would be inexpressible joy coupled with heart-shattering grief. You knew the man would fail the woman in silence. You knew the woman would try to take life into her own hands. You created and redeemed sexual love in marriage for your glory.

Lord, we confess that not one of us is free of sexual immorality. Some of us let our eyes linger long on someone else’s spouse; others darken our minds with words and images that have nothing to do with your holy sexuality. We consume others, not caring how our lust may wound them or grieve you.

Lord, we also confess that we have failed to protect our young.

We don’t know what to do with a culture of adolescents that sext and hook up in school hallways, so we give reprimands but refuse to enter hard conversations.

Rather than recognize and respond to the horrifying news of young children being sexually trafficked, we change the channel to something more soothing.

We tell women and men who have suffered sexual abuse that what happened wasn’t really a big deal or that the other person didn’t really mean it.

In the midst of all of this sexual insanity, Lord, we bow before you, marveling at your mercy and forgiveness.

The apostle Paul had it right when he offered thanksgiving as the holy alternative to sexual immorality.

We thank you…

for creating holy sex.

We thank you…

for your healing love that meets us in the midst 

of our sexual brokenness.

We thank you…

for your compassion and mercy for the abused, the oppressed, and the addicted.

We thank you…

for never shaming or humiliating us, 

but inviting us to flourish in the healing mercy of our faithful and ever-loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

In his precious and holy name we pray. Amen.

A Prayer about the Gift of Prayer

by | Jan 25, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about the Gift of Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for the gift of prayer:

Not only have you invited us to share our innermost thoughts with you—

the sins and sorrows we don’t want to share with anyone else, 

but you have also invited us to share our prayer needs 

with other praying believers. 

You designed the body of Christ 

to pray for all sorts of things: 

for church growth and unity, 

for families and marriages, 

for work and play, 

for health and healing, 

for equality and justice.

Not only that, but you gave us your Spirit, 

who groans for us when we cannot find words 

to pray for ourselves or others (Romans 8:26). 

Not only that, but you gave us your Son 

to intercede on our behalf, 

to come as our Advocate, 

pleading your mercy upon us (Romans 8:24; Hebrews 7:25).

Father, may we understand this command 

to “pray without ceasing” as the gift it is; 

may we enjoy your surpassing kindness 

in calling us to pray, 

the most important work we will do this week. 

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Romans 8:24-26; Hebrews 7:25.

A Prayer about Knowing the Way of Peace

by | Dec 23, 2020 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

Oh, Father,

What a beautiful transformation

takes place in your servant Zechariah after his son John the Baptist is born.

Where before he doubted your power and your ways,

now he affirms your provision and your plan.

He sees his newborn son,

and he knows that he will prepare the way for Jesus.

May we all affirm deeply and share widely

this knowledge John the Baptist brought:

“The forgiveness of sins…the tender mercy of our God…

whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” (Luke 2:77-79).

As we do, may we see you guiding our feet “into the way of peace.”

In Jesus’ merciful name. Amen.

Read Luke 2:68-79.