A Prayer about Asking Wrongly

by | Oct 13, 2022 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Asking Wrongly

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:3

Generous Father,

As we continue to consider the difference 

between living out of the world’s wisdom 

or your wisdom, 

we see how the world’s wisdom 

hinders our prayers. 

If “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” 

drive us, then we quarrel and fight, 

we go to war with one another. 

We even murder, James says (James 4:2).

If we become murderous in our thoughts 

and demanding in our desires, 

we won’t even dare to approach you 

to ask about them. 

We know something is off. 

If we do ask from such a state, 

we probably won’t receive (James 4:3),

because why would you hand 

a murderous, power-hungry woman 

a sword to commit the crime? 

There is only one hope 

for our bitter jealousy and selfish ambition: 

“[You] give more grace. 

[You] oppose the proud, 

but give grace to the humble” (James 4:6). 

May we indeed in all of our prayer, 

submit ourselves to you, draw near to you, 

and resist the devil, that he may flee from us. 

As we humble ourselves before you, 

you do the most amazing thing—

you exalt us (James 4:7-10). 

Thank you for your incomprehensible grace, 

saving Lord. Amen.

Read James 4:1-10. 

A Prayer about Confessing Our Sins

by | Oct 3, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about Confessing Our Sins

Let your ear be attentive, and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night…confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Nehemiah 1:6

Great and Awesome God,

Again we come to you with the words of Nehemiah, 

who is teaching us to pray.

We, like Nehemiah, 

answer you with your assuring Word, 

reminding you of your covenant promises 

of steadfast love. 

Like Nehemiah, 

we need to confess our sins to you, 

our own sins and the sins of “the people,” 

which belong to us as the body of Christ.

Unlike Nehemiah, 

we who are covenant-breakers 

have even greater assurance 

of your forgiveness for our sins—

“how much more will the blood of Christ, 

who through the eternal Spirit 

offered himself without blemish to God, 

purify our conscience 

from dead works 

to serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14).

Because of our covenant-keeping Savior, 

we have the confidence 

to approach your throne of grace,

to find the mercy and grace we need (Hebrews 4:16). 

As we name your steadfast love 

and confess our sins, 

may our hope swell 

and our vision of redemption sharpen, 

sending us out to love 

all who are in “great trouble and shame.”

In Jesus’ atoning name. Amen.

Read Nehemiah 1:1-11.

A Prayer about Praying our Emotions

by | Oct 2, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Prayer, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Praying our Emotions

As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4

God of heaven,

Thank you for how your Word 

teaches us to pray. 

I confess, I don’t know where I got the idea 

that prayer needed to be formal and stiff 

and even a little stoic, 

because the Bible is full of people (including Jesus) 

laying their emotions before you in prayer (see Psalm 22, Psalm 88, Luke 22:39-46). 

May we not merely observe Nehemiah’s prayer, 

may we enter it, 

engaging you with the cries of our heart 

for the people we pray for, 

including ourselves. 

May we sit down (stop our busy rushing here and there) 

before you, the God of heaven. 

May we weep and mourn, 

not just for five minutes but for fifty days. 

May we focus our prayers 

through fasting, 

whether giving up food or phones or shopping or TV. 

As we still ourselves before you, 

may we hear your voice speaking 

confidence and comfort over us. 

As we get rid of the things we think are essential to our lives, 

may we see you, 

the maker of heaven and earth, 

at work even now, 

bringing your heavenly kingdom to bear 

on the trouble and shame of this broken world. 

In Jesus’ compassionate name. Amen.

Read Nehemiah 1. 

A Prayer about What to Pray For

by | Sep 10, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Parenting, Prayer

A Prayer about What to Pray For

For the next four days, we’ll pray through Colossians. If you’d like to receive these prayers in your inbox by 6 a.m. central time, please sign up: 

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding… Colossians 1:9

Heavenly Father,

Today we allow your Word to give voice to our prayers for particular people:

[Try inserting your name or a person’s name in this prayer]

We pray for [name], 

May they grow in spiritual wisdom, not wisdom of the world, 

so that they may be filled with the “knowledge of [your] will,” 

not merely knowledge about Calculus, or parenting, or world history.

With this knowledge and wisdom, 

may [name] “walk in a manner worthy of you,” 

always seeking to bring you glory and honor 

and to love others well. 

May [name] “bear fruit in every good work” 

even as they continue to know you more intimately 

and learn more about your goodness (Col. 1:10).

May [name] be strengthened with your power, 

not Powerade power or strong girl power, 

but the kind and humble power 

that comes from your glorious might.

May this glorious power strengthen [name] 

to endure suffering 

and to be patient in trials, 

that they may know the deep joy of your comfort. 

May [name] give you thanks all day every day 

for your forgiveness, 

for your redemption, 

and for calling them “saints in light,” 

In Christ’s delivering name. Amen.

Read Colossians 1:9-14.

A Prayer about Praying for Pastors

by | Sep 5, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about Praying for Pastors

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30

Heavenly Father,

In a day and age when 75% of pastors report being extremely stressed, 70% of pastors say they don’t have a close friend, and 80% think they won’t  be in ministry in ten years,*

we must heed Paul’s call to pray for pastors, faithfully committing to praying for them and encouraging them.

We pray for relief from the daily stresses pastors face, 

that we can be people who come alongside to support 

without seeking to know all of the “church gossip.”

We pray we will be faithful to encourage our pastors verbally, 

with spoken and written affirmation.

We pray for appropriate rest, 

and that our church will make a way for them to take regular sabbaticals, 

We pray for the energy and space to take good care of their bodies, 

getting exercise and eating well. 

We pray for encouraging friendships with other pastors, 

for the courage and space to tell the truth about their struggles, 

And we pray for protection from temptation 

and danger and all forms of spiritual attack. 

In the name of our great Shepherd, Jesus.

Amen.

 Romans 15:30-33; 2 Corinthians 1:10-11; Ephesians 6:19-20; Philippians 1:19-20

*Statistics from https://www.soulshepherding.org/pastors-under-stress/

Friends, for a helpful article on understanding your pastor’s need for pastor friends, please check out this wise encouragement by Pastor Walter Henegar at By Faith Online, “Your Pastor Needs Pastor Friends”

A Prayer Thanking God for Unanswered Prayers

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer Thanking God for Unanswered Prayers

Good Father, 

I’ve been thinking a lot about prayers I prayed 

that you didn’t answer the way I wanted 

or prayers that you answered 

with those two hard words, “not yet.” 

For many of those answers, 

I am now so grateful:

Thank you for not getting me back together 

with that mean high school boyfriend,

Thank you for not letting us

get that house I wanted in my friends’ neighborhood,

Thank you for not giving me that full scholarship to college 

that seemed like a dream come true 

(because I might never have transferred to the college where I met my husband)…

[Name some “prayers answered differently” that you are thankful for].

I confess, God, there are some prayers I’ve prayed 

that are still answered “not yet” 

and prayers for which I didn’t honestly love your answer: 

The prayer that angels would protect my mother 

when she was sick with Covid.

The prayer that our children would be healthy.

[Name some “answered differently” prayers you’re not so sure about].

And yet, I cannot, I do not, doubt your love for me. 

I cannot, I do not, doubt you want the best for me. 

I do believe that you are a good Father 

who is working your best plan 

not only for my good 

but for the good of your kingdom. 

And I’m grateful to be part of that kingdom plan. 

Thank you for hearing our prayers.

In Jesus’ faithful name. Amen.

Read Matthew 6:5-15.