A Prayer about Respecting the Aged
Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:32
Eternal Lord,
We live in a culture that prefers agelessness,
a culture that strives to remain eternally young.
We live in an aging culture,
where we see some who age graciously,
and others who do not.
In this season of the silver tsunami,
may we obey your command
to respect the aged.
Forgive us for any harsh words
spoken to aging parents
out of frustration and fear—
words uttered out of
concern about their driving when they shouldn’t,
impatience about their refusal to follow doctor’s orders,
annoyance about their rejection of our offers of help.
Replace our fears about their frailty
with tender concern and honoring respect.
Help us to take the time to listen to their stories,
asking them to tell us about the seasons of sorrow
and seasons of joy they’ve endured and enjoyed.
Help us to honor the wisdom of the aged (Job 12:12)
and seek out their counsel
on marriage and finances and work and children.
Lord, slow us down
so that we might truly respect the aged
as you have called us to do.
In Jesus’ respect-full name. Amen.
Read Leviticus 19:32; Timothy 5:1-3; Job 12:12; 1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 23:22.
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage
author, life and legacy coach, speaker
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage is the author of Preparing for Glory: Biblical Answers to 40 Questions on Living and Dying in Hope of Heaven.
(affiliate link)
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.
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage
author, life and legacy coach, speaker
Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage is the author of Preparing for Glory: Biblical Answers to 40 Questions on Living and Dying in Hope of Heaven.
(affiliate link)