A Prayer about Living like We’re Dying

by | Sep 8, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Living like We’re Dying

What would you do if you knew you had 40 days to live?

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Heavenly Father, 

In the novel I just read, 

a professor gives her college English students a short essay question: 

“What would you do if you knew 

you only had forty days left to live?”*

At its core, this is what Psalm 90:12 asks us to do, 

to “number our days,” 

to recognize that our earthly days have a limit, 

that our lives have an expiration date. 

We ask you to teach us, 

to show us how,

to remind us, 

to number our days, 

because when we do so, 

we get “a heart of wisdom.” 

We become 

forgiving, honoring, lamenting,

vulnerable, grateful, humble people, 

people who know the depths of your love for us 

and who can’t wait to share that love with others.

So today we ask you to help us to think or to journal, 

if only for a few minutes, 

about how we would spend our days 

if we only had forty of them left.

Read Psalm 71, Psalm 90; Psalm 92.

*From Book 3 of the Sensible Shoes Series by Sharon Garlough Brown.

**This prayer is part of a celebration of the two-year anniversary of the free online community, the NYD Network, which offers gospel-centered encouragement and equipping for issues of aging, caregiving, legacy, and end-of-life. Why not join today or invite someone you love to join? (It’s FREE!) Link: https://numberingyourdaysnetwork.mn.co/share/B5q0dGGIOR0f996K?utm_source=manual

A Prayer about Honoring the Aging

by | Sep 7, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Honoring the Aging

How do we honor our aging?

The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old. Proverbs 20:29

Everlasting Father,

In a world that often marginalizes or mocks the elderly, 

transform us into people who honor and value the elderly.

Even as we age, may we see your holy purposes for aging—

some may no longer have the energy to tend to babies all night long, 

but they do wake up in the night, 

and they can pray for those who do.

Some may no longer have the physical agility 

to perform skilled labor, 

but they do have years of experience 

and can teach those who do.

Some may no longer have the responsibilities 

of running a business, 

but they do have the ability and wisdom 

to give good counsel to those who do.

Lord, may we see the opportunities aging affords, 

and may we embrace not only our own aging, 

but others’ aging. 

May we see that you call the elderly 

to continue giving you glory 

by learning and leading every day of their lives. 

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 20:29; Titus 2:2-5; 1 Timothy 5:1

A Prayer about Our Worst Fears

by | Sep 6, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Our Worst Fears

Where do you go with your worst fears?

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

Redeeming Lord,

We come to you today 

bringing our very worst fears:

Fears of a terrible diagnosis,

Fears of a terrorist attack,

Fears of a terrifying loss,

Fears of abandonment, 

fears of death.

Into our fears, you speak peace and hope:

“I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

“I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:3).

“Because you are precious in my eyes, 

and honored, 

and I love you, 

I give men in return for you, 

peoples in exchange for your life” (Isaiah 43:4).

You gave peoples in exchange for Israel, 

but you have given your beloved Son 

in exchange for our lives. 

Because of his suffering and because of his resurrection, 

we know that no matter what fires we may walk through, 

we shall not be burned; 

no matter what rivers we pass through, 

we will not be overwhelmed, 

for you will be with us.

What hope we have in the midst of our fears 

because of our Savior Jesus! 

In his calming name we pray. Amen. 

Read Isaiah 43:1-7.

A Prayer about Receiving the Help Others Offer

by | Sep 5, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Receiving the Help Others Offer

Will you receive the help others offer?

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Gracious Father,

We know we can cry out to you in times of distress, 

and you will answer us (Psalm 107:19). 

But never let us forget 

that your provision for our needs 

often comes through people 

you send to help us. 

Give us the humility and the faith we need 

to receive others’ help. 

When our loved one is hospitalized 

and people offer to bring meals, 

help us to say “yes.” 

When our baby is sick 

and someone offers to pick up our older child from school, 

help us to say “yes.” 

When our aging mother needs care 

and a co-worker offers to help with a work project, 

help us to say “yes.” 

And as we say “yes,” 

help us to see the beauty of the many people 

you send to us as messengers of your grace, 

people who “encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25) 

through acts of service, 

people who “bear one another’s burdens” 

because they love you. 

What kindness you have given us in community! 

May we never reject your help in our time of need!

In gratitude for your grace we pray. Amen. 

Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Hebrews 10:24-25; Philippians 4:14-16; Psalm 107.

A Prayer about Remembering God’s Wonders

by | Sep 4, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Remembering God’s Wonders

Have you remembered God’s wonders lately?

In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. Psalm 78:32

Merciful God,

In Psalm 78, Asaph tells a bewildering story of your people, the Israelites:

Your people, who ran away in the day of battle 

and refused to obey you, 

because “They forgot his works and the wonders 

that he had shown them” (Psalm 78:11).

Lord, may it never be so for us, 

your beloved children in Christ. 

May we remember 

God’s abundant grace

despite our own sin and rebellion.

May we remember 

the teachers, the friends, 

the ministry leaders, the churches 

that have led us to see the hope of the gospel: 

that Jesus took on your wrath on the cross, 

that we who trust in him 

might not know the just punishment for our sins (Psalm 78:38).

[Name some of the people who have shown you God’s abundant grace.]

May we remember the times in our lives 

when you saved us out of sin and rebellion, 

when you showed us mercy 

when we deserved punishment.

[Name some of those events.]

May we remember the stories of your kindness and grace, 

your spiritual and material blessings.

[Name some of those stories, and tell or write one of these stories to someone you know today.]

As we remember, may we turn away from any sin that tempts us, 

and may we turn to your saving grace in your Son by your Spirit. 

In Jesus’ cross-bearing name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 78.