A Prayer about a Talking Donkey

by Elizabeth | Apr 30, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Scripture

A Prayer about a Talking Donkey

“And the donkey said to Balaam, ‘Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?’

King above all Kings,

There is perhaps no more amusing story in Scripture

than the one about the greedy pagan “prophet” Balaam

and his faithful (to you that is) donkey (Numbers 22:7, 15, 18).

We laugh when the donkey refuses to go where Balaam tells her

because she sees the angel of the Lord (Numbers 22:23-27).

Our eyes grow wide when you “open the mouth of the donkey”

and she says, “What have I done to you,

that you have struck me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28).

And yet, through this whole true tale,

you reveal yourself to be King of Kings

and protector of your people.

The evil king of Moab, Balak,

wants Balaam to curse your people,

the Israelites.

But you will not allow Balaam to speak evil against your people,

only a blessing.

You are indeed the Lord of Lords,

the Ruler of Rulers,

the King of Kings.

And you have shared the hope of this message clearly with us

throughout Scripture.

May we be more like your donkey,

who sees your messengers clearly,

who obeys your commands.

In Jesus’ worthy name. Amen.

A Prayer about the Only Trustworthy Prophecy

by Elizabeth | Apr 28, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Scripture, Theology

A Prayer about the Only Trustworthy Prophecy

“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7

Lord Jesus,

You are coming soon!

What reason for rejoicing!

Forgive us for getting caught up in modern day “prophecy”

that tries to predict when you are coming

and what the last days of the earth as we know it

might be like.

Remind us that the word prophecy

literally means “message from God.”

Remind us to look to your Word,

your truest and most complete message,

to understand how to live every day,

even the final days.

Remind us that our calling never changes—

instead of building bunkers to protect ourselves,

we are to build bridges to connect with others,

especially those who don’t know you,

the “evildoers” who “still do evil” (Revelation 22:10).

Instead of stockpiling food and fuel,

we are called to step out in love,

love of you and love of others.

Instead of quaking in fear at rumors of wars,

we are to quiet ourselves by your word,

the only prophecy that is “trustworthy and true.”

Help us, Lord Jesus, to wait well, for your soon arrival.

In your certain name we pray. Amen.

Read Revelation 22:6-10.

A Prayer about Being Known By God

by Elizabeth | Apr 19, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Scripture, Theology

A Prayer about Being Known By God

You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. Psalm 139:1

Gracious God,

As we prayed yesterday,

we are so thankful

that you have invited us to know you,

but we are even more thankful

that you know us.

We confess,

we often fear being known,

because we are afraid if someone really knows

the whole truth about us,

they won’t like us or love us.

But you “discern our thoughts”

and you know

what words are forming on our tongues

even before we do (Psalm 139:2-4).

Given some of the thoughts and words

that form in our minds

and on our tongues,

we are astonished that you still love us, Lord.

But indeed you do,

for you demonstrated your love for us

by sending Christ to die for us

while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).

As theologian J. I. Packer writes,

“There is tremendous relief

in knowing that your love for us

is utterly realistic…

so that no discovery now

can disillusion you about us…” (42).

Not only do you know us and love us and forgive us;

you know every detail of every lives:

the number of hairs on our head,

the number of e-mails piling up in our inbox,

the number of diapers we will change today,

the number of days in our lives.

Because you are a God of the details,

we can trust that your care for us is complete—

you never miss a moment.

Knowing how you know us

comforts us and energizes us

to know you

and love you

and serve you

and obey you.

Knowing how you know us

encourages us to seek to know ourselves,

something we will pray about tomorrow.

In Jesus’ knowing and loving name. Amen.

Read Psalm 139:1-6; Galatians 4:9; Exodus 33:17; Jeremiah 1:5.

A Prayer about Really Knowing God

by Elizabeth | Apr 18, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Scripture, Theology

A Prayer about Really Knowing God

Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me… Jeremiah 9:23-24

Gracious God,

May we learn to boast in the wild reality

that by your grace

we do have the understanding to know you.

What indeed must we know about you?

It is true,

we need to know about you,

that you are

all-knowing,

all-holy,

all-powerful,

all-loving, etc.

But we also need to know you, personally.

Theologian J.I. Packer taught us how we could know you personally in his book, Knowing God.

He explained that

if we were to meet the Queen of England or the President of the United States,

they would have to be willing to be known by us

in order for us to get to know them.

If they didn’t share much about themselves,

we wouldn’t feel we had the right to complain.

But you, oh gracious God,

you initiate the conversation,

you “start at once to take us into your confidence,

and tell us frankly what is in your mind

on matters of common concern…

you invite us to join you

in particular undertakings you have planned,

and ask us to make ourselves permanently available

for this kind of collaboration when you need us….”*

When we think of it this way, kind Lord,

how we see your grace,

how we see your love.

We can know you

because you have allowed us

and invited us

to know you.

We can know you by meditating on your Word,

not just reading it and studying it,

although those are good things,

but by engaging our imaginations and intellect.

We can know you

by asking Jesus,

you-in-the-flesh,

to help us know you.

Through him we see

that knowing you is

like knowing a good Father,

like “a wife knowing her husband,

a subject knowing his king

and a sheep knowing its shepherd”*

Lord, slow us down

that we might spend time getting to know you,

That we might discover one of the

most life-changing truths ever,

which we will pray about tomorrow:

you have known us.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 John 2:1-11; John 17:3; Psalm 100:3

*This prayer inspired by reading the introduction to J.I. Packer’s great book, Knowing God. Quotes from pages 36-37.

A Prayer about Missing the Obvious

by Elizabeth | Apr 10, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, gratitude, Scripture

A Prayer about Missing the Obvious

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27

Risen Lord,

This story reminds us that William Shakespeare

was not the first person to use dramatic irony to humorous effect.

You walked along the road with two of your followers all the way to Emmaus.

They thought you were really out of it

not to have heard anything about

“Jesus of Nazareth,

a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word…

and how our chief priests and rulers

delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him” (Luke 24:19-20).

What did your heart feel

when you heard their aching disappointment:

“But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21)?

We don’t know, but we do know you gave these two followers

the best Bible study ever,

showing them how all of Scripture

pointed to your redemption of not only Israel

but of every tribe, tongue, nation, and people group (Luke 24:27).

You arrived at the village,

accepting their invitation to dine with them.

You “took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them” (Luke 24:30).

Only then were their “eyes opened and they recognized him” (Luke 24:31).

Lord, we have been given so much more opportunity

to see you than these two followers.

May we never be blind to your risen presence

among us through the Holy Spirit.

May we seek you in the Scriptures morning by morning,

day by day, knowing the truth about you

flashes at us from every direction like the neon signs on Broadway.

And may we, in recognizing the reality of your resurrection,

worship you by telling others this profoundly good news.

In your ever-present name. Amen.

Read Luke 24:13-35.

A Prayer about the Guidance We Need

by Elizabeth | Feb 15, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Scripture

A Prayer about the Guidance We Need

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5

All-Wise God,

You know that every morning

I look at my weather app

to help me plan for my day—

how to dress,

where to work out,

when to walk my dog.

So many of us seek guidance for life

in little metal and glass boxes—

scanning the news headlines,

scrolling through social media,

seeking peace for our worries

and guidance for living.

Help us, Lord!

Draw us to the truth

that teaches and leads us

to your holiness, kindness,

and grace.

Your Word instructs sinners (Psalm 25:8);

your Word shows us how to walk on your path,

the path of “steadfast love and faithfulness” (Psalm 25:10).

Your Word teaches the humble your way (Psalm 25:9).

Your Word shows us the way we should choose—

what to do about that problem at work,

how to show our children love through discipline,

who to ask about help with depression and anxiety…

Lord, you have already turned to us

and been so very gracious to us

through the Living Word,

your Son, our Savior.

May we find comfort in affliction

and companionship in loneliness

as we embrace your wonderful Word.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 25.