A Prayer about Our Comfort in Life and in Death

For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-8

Faithful Savior, Lord Jesus Christ,

In this world that values autonomy above all else, 

it is odd to utter the words of the ancient creed: 

“My only comfort in life and in death 

is that I am not my own 

but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.”*

And yet, the apostle Paul teaches us here 

that it is a great comfort when faced with dark news 

to know that we belong to you. 

You give us eternal life, 

and no one can snatch us out of your hand (See John 10:28). 

You have paid the debt for our sins 

and freed us from all the power of the devil, 

including fear of death. 

Because you and only you preserve us, 

not a single hair can fall from our heads 

nor a cell grow in our bodies 

without the will of our Heavenly Father. 

Because of this great good news, 

we live each day expectantly, 

giving you glory for each day you give us.

Because of your kindness we pray.

Amen. 

Read Romans 14:7-9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Hebrews 2:14; Matthew 10:29-31. 

*See The Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1. 

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

and you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.