A Prayer for the Kind of Strength We Need

by | Sep 23, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer for the Kind of Strength We Need

What kind of strength do we really need? 

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with his power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16-17

Father God, 

Thank you for this comprehensive prayer 

Paul prayed for his friends the Ephesians. 

Today, we pray it for our loved ones and for ourselves:

Out of your glorious riches — 

riches that aren’t earned, 

riches freely given, 

riches that are plentiful,

riches that can meet all of our needs,

May you strengthen [insert name of loved one or your name] 

with your power — 

your power, which is perfectly wielded 

for the weak and needy (that’s us and others) 

to make us strong — 

not Ford tough or Chevy strong— 

but strong in our “inner being,” 

strong in your Spirit’s power, 

not our own. 

As you strengthen us 

by your Spirit, 

may [name of loved one’s] heart 

come to rest 

in the life-changing reality 

that Christ, our King and Savior, dwells in our hearts. 

In the name of our heart-dwelling Savior, Jesus, we pray.

Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21. 

A Prayer about Not Living to Please Ourselves

by | Sep 22, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Not Living to Please Ourselves

Have you ever been told that older people get to live any way they want?

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans 15:1

Lord Christ, 

Because you did not live to please yourself (Romans 15:3), 

but instead humbled yourself, 

condescending to be born as a weak and helpless baby, 

taking your first toddling steps 

knowing your last determined steps 

would lead to death on a cursed cross, 

may we never live to please ourselves. 

Because you did not live to please yourself 

but died to please God, 

we who are united to you by faith 

have become pleasing to God, 

and we are now empowered by your Spirit 

to “help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord” (Rom. 15:2).

Because you have given us 

patience and encouragement in your Word, 

we are now empowered by your Spirit 

to “live in complete harmony with each other, 

as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus” (Rom. 15:5). 

Lord Christ, as we live in this harmony, 

may our voices join together 

to glorify God (Rom. 15:6).

And may we offer others 

the welcome with which you have welcomed us, 

for the glory of God (Romans 15:7). 

In your God-pleasing name. Amen.

Read Romans 15:1-7. 

A Prayer about the Prize We Really Want

by | Sep 21, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Prize We Really Want

Do you know what you’re running for?

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Heavenly Father,

We can all relate to the apostle Paul’s sense 

that he is running a race, 

but help us to pause to consider: 

what race are we running? 

What prize are we seeking? 

If we’re honest, it may just be the race 

to keep up with the neighbors, 

whether virtual or real; 

or the race to do work that will finally please our boss; 

or the race to take care of every need of every loved one….

Some of these are worthy races to run, 

but we know deep in our hearts 

(because your Holy Spirit convicts us) 

that we will never win the prize in such races, 

or that if we do, the prize will not fully satisfy. 

Father, instead, help us to see the only race worth running, 

the “one thing” Paul mentions: 

the race for the prize of knowing you, 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 

the prize of seeing you face to face, 

as we will do when you take us home to heaven, 

the prize of becoming like you and never sinning again (See 1 John 3:2). 

Father, help us to see that this is a race 

we will certainly win 

because our beloved Savior has gone before us, 

enduring the cross, 

despising the shame (See Hebrews 12:1-3), 

and has won the prize 

of resurrection and reconciliation with you. 

What hopeful news this is. 

May we pause to consider the joy we have 

in such a prize!

Amen.

Read Philippians 3:10-21; Hebrews 12:1-3; 1 John 3:1-3.

A Prayer about Praying for the Church

by | Sep 20, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Praying for the Church

How do you pray for your church? 

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.  Ephesians 1:22-23

As we continue praying Ephesians 1:15-23, we also think about how to pray for our churches. 

Precious Lord,

We pray that every single saint (person set-apart in Christ) 

will understand how powerful you are to those who believe in you  (Ephesians 1:19):

[Name ways you see or need to see God’s power to the church in these days].

Mighty God, you “raised Christ from the dead 

and seated him in the place of honor 

at your right hand” (Ephesians 1:20).

He is there now, ruling and reigning with you. 

May we bow down to our heavenly King

far more than we bow down to our personal agendas.

May we remember that Christ is 

“far above all rule and authority and power and dominion”; 

in other words, he has defeated all evil and sin, 

and he will continue to defeat evil forces 

that rage against your church 

and to defeat sin in our lives 

until the day he comes again.

May we remember and live in the reality 

that the church is Christ’s body—

“it is made full and complete by Christ, 

who fills all things everywhere with himself” (Ephesians 1:23),

and may we worship joyfully 

in anticipation of the day 

when there will be perfect unity and love

in your church forever and ever. 

In Jesus’ reigning name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 1:15-23. 

A Prayer about How to Pray for Loved Ones

by | Sep 19, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about How to Pray for Loved Ones

Do you ever struggle to know what to pray for your loved ones? 

I pray for you constantly,  asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. Ephesians 1:16-17.

[Hi Friends, this is the first of two parts of praying Ephesians 1:15-23.]

Father of Glory,

Sometimes we don’t know how to pray for people I love, 

and then we remember that you’ve given us 

so many good prayers in your Word, 

like this one in Ephesians 1:15-23.

Today, we borrow these words 

to pray for our loved ones:

[try filling in the names of specific people in this prayer]

We thank you for [name’s] faith in Jesus Christ 

and [name’s] love for all of his people (Ephesians 1:15);

We ask you to give [name] 

the wisdom and insight 

that comes from our helper, the Holy Spirit

 and leads to a deep grasp

of God’s love for them (Ephesians 1:17),

We pray that the “eyes of [name’s] heart [would be] enlightened,” 

that is, that they would be empowered 

to understand and walk in the 

“confident hope you’ve given 

to those you’ve called” (Ephesians 1:18), 

and the immense wealth 

which is our “glorious inheritance” in Christ: 

riches like adoption of the Father, 

justification by faith, 

redemption from slavery to sin, 

and more, so much more!

In Jesus’ sacrificing name we ask.

Amen.

Read Ephesians 1:15-23.