A Prayer about Seeing the Light

by | Jan 6, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

Can you see the light? 

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1

Glorious God,

Though the twelfth day of Christmas 

has come and gone, 

the defrocked trees lie 

dried and withered by the curb, 

may we see the glory of Christ-with-us, 

the good news that our light has come, 

today and every day of this year.

Peel the scales from our eyes, 

so we may see the light

that has overcome the thick darkness, 

your grace, and your glory, 

your mercy and your kindness to us 

in Christ. 

Indeed, may all “nations come to your light, 

and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3). 

Open our eyes to see the great ingathering 

of your people, 

“the sons …come from afar…

the daughters carried on the hip…” (Isaiah 60:4). 

Radiate our hearts with this good news 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen. 

Read Isaiah 60:1-5. 

A Prayer about Falling in Love with God’s Word

by | Jan 5, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Falling in Love with God’s Word

Does reading the Bible ever seem dry to you?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Loving Father, 

As many of us begin a new season of Bible study, 

help us to grasp deeply the best reasons 

for studying your Word. 

To begin with, as John tells us, 

the Bible is your Word, 

your true story about yourself—

Author God, 

Saving Son, 

Guiding Spirit. 

Not only that, 

your Word has the power 

to change our lives, 

to make us more like Jesus (See Matt. 13:18-23). 

Not only that, 

your Word is the One True Story 

that explains the beauty of our world and ourselves 

as your creation (See Genesis 1-2), 

tells us what happened to make life so hard (See Genesis 3), 

gives us the hope of redemption in Jesus Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:16-21), 

and — spoiler alert — tells us how our story will end, 

with the return of our King, Jesus, 

to establish the new heavens and new earth (See Revelation 21-22). 

Your Word renews our mind 

and changes our hearts (See Romans 12:1-2). 

Encourage us today to enjoy studying the Bible. 

Send us to places where we can study the Bible with others. 

Melt our frozen hearts 

with the warmth of your love 

that flows through the pages of Scripture.

Amen.

Read Matthew 13:18-23; Genesis 1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Revelation 21:1-4

A Prayer about Hope for Temptation

by | Jan 4, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Hope for Temptation

How do you feel when you give in to temptation?

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

Lord Jesus,

We’re only five days into 2026, 

and most of us have already broken 

at least one New Year’s resolution, 

if we even made them. 

Worse still, we’ve all already succumbed to temptation—

to speak ill of a friend or an enemy, 

to eat or drink more than is good 

for the bodies you gave us, 

to say “yes” when we should have said “no,” 

or to say “no” when we should have said “yes.” 

And yet, on this twelfth day of Christmas,

we take comfort in this passage (Hebrews 2:14-18).

You knew that in our humanity 

we would struggle with temptation and sin, 

so you took on our humanity—

everything except the sin. 

You gave your human body, 

sinless and righteous, 

as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. 

Because you did, 

we who are in you, 

are forever freed from the fear of death. 

Not only that, we are freed from slavery 

to the devil, 

that we might become obedient like you. 

And when we do struggle with temptation, 

we have a Savior who can really help, 

because you endured the pain and struggle 

of temptation for us. 

Encourage us today 

to walk in your new morning mercy.

Amen.

Read Hebrews 2:14-18.

​

A Prayer about Trusting God for Transformation

by | Jan 3, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Trusting God for Transformation

Do you want to see transformation this year?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Faithful God,

As this new year begins, I and others are making plans, 

hopefully good, God-authored plans 

to pursue the unique callings you have given us.

As we do so, help us to take stock of the unique gifts 

and wounds you have written into our lives:

[Name some of the gifts God has given you—

unique story, abilities, passions, etc. 

and some of the wounds you’ve experienced (because God works to redeem all things].

Guide us by your Holy Spirit to see 

the people, places, and things 

you have called us to in the coming year.

[Take a few moments to listen to the Holy Spirit 

about the people, places, and things 

he is calling you to this year.]

Help us by the wisdom of Jesus, 

who had perfect boundaries, 

to know when to say “no.”

Help us by the grace of Jesus, 

who served perfectly, 

to know when to say “yes.”

In every step we take, 

may we look to you and trust you 

to complete the good works 

you have “prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).  

Amen.

Read Proverbs 3:5-6; Colossians 3:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10.

A Prayer about Becoming Wise

by | Jan 2, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Becoming Wise

Do you know where true wisdom comes from?

…wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” Matthew 2:2

Wise Lord,

As we enter this first week of the new year, 

how desperately we need your wisdom. 

We’ve seen the bumper stickers, and they nail it—

“Wise men still seek him.” 

Lord, indeed, the first way of wisdom 

is to seek Jesus. 

For years I didn’t realize that the wise men weren’t Jewish—

they were astrologers, 

interpreters of stars and signs and dreams, 

likely from Babylon. 

Maybe they had overheard some Israelites 

who were exiled there 

speaking of the “bright morning star” 

and they recognized the sign when they saw it. 

Lord, help us to recognize you, 

and to seek you in a much clearer sign—your Word. 

When the wise men saw the sign, 

they traveled far, probably around nine hundred miles, 

to find the “king of the Jews.” 

Lord, make us willing travelers 

who will enter the unfamiliar 

in order to see you and to share you with others. 

The wise men risked their lives in asking Herod, 

the appointed king of the Jews, 

where the real King of the Jews was. 

Lord, make us bold and courageous 

in telling the truth about our real King, Jesus. 

The wise men “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” 

when they saw the star 

and when they discovered the child Jesus,

they “fell down and worshiped.” 

Lord, make us people who fall down and worship 

when we see you, 

and make us see you every single moment of every single day.

In the name of King Jesus we pray. Amen. 

Read Matthew 2: 1-12.

(This prayer was inspired by a sermon from our pastor, Joel Treick — you can listen at Pinewoods Church, December 19, 2021.)

To spend more time praying and reflecting about the coming year, get Elizabeth’s January reflection journal.