A Prayer about the Assurance of the Spirit

by | Aug 12, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Assurance of the Spirit

 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16

Merciful Father,

Thank you for your Holy Spirit reminders 

that we are your children 

if we have professed our trust in Christ Jesus as Savior.

Sometimes it’s easy to believe 

you won’t want us anymore, 

or  that you will disown us

especially when we seem to be losing the battle against sin. 

When we’ve powed someone again in traffic 

after praying that we would be more patient, 

when we’ve called someone a name 

after praying we’d be more kind, 

when we’ve yelled at our kids after praying 

we’d be more even-tempered, 

we are sad. 

Some days, it feels like we’re never going to look like your Son. 

Especially in these times, 

we need to run to the assurance of your Word 

reminding us that we are your children, 

and we will always be your children. 

There’s no disowning in the kingdom of God. 

We need to run to the assurance of your Word 

to hear your invitation to return 

and receive forgiveness, 

because “there is therefore now no condemnation 

for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Thank you, Lord, for this incredibly good news.

In the name of our inviting Savior we pray. Amen. 

Read Romans 7:21-8:1, Romans 8:12-18.



A Prayer about How to Glorify God

by | Aug 11, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Joy

A Prayer about How to Glorify God

And they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. Psalm 138:5

Glorious God,

We join David today in singing of your glorious ways — 

even though you are everlasting and ever-loving, 

all-wise and all-powerful, 

you “regard the lowly” (Psalm 138:6). 

Though you are above all and rule over all, 

you “preserve [our] lives” 

when we “walk in the midst of trouble.” 

In this is your glory, 

that despite your greatness, 

you stoop down to care for us. 

Pastor and Author Dane Ortlund 

exhorts us to a way of glorifying you 

that we might not have considered: 

“Do you want to glorify God?….

Let him love you. 

Receive his grace, 

drink it down, 

without adding one drop 

of your goodness to it.”* 

Oh glorious God, 

may we indeed reconsider 

how to glorify you, 

how to humbly receive 

what you in your greatness and goodness 

have given us. 

Help us this day to live lives 

“to the praise of your glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6). 

In Jesus’ immanent name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 138.

*Note from Dane C. Ortlund’s book, In the Lord I Take Refuge: 150 Daily Devotions through the Psalms.

A Prayer about How to Give Generously

by | Aug 10, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about How to Give Generously

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’” 2 Corinthians 9:6

Generous Father,

You know many of us struggle with giving. 

We live in a world that tells us 

to take and keep, 

to save and protect. 

And yet, Paul tells us of the Macedonian Christians 

who were 

“incredibly happy, though desperately poor” (2 Cor. 8:2). 

And they gave generously, 

beyond their ability, 

because they were so grateful 

for what you had done in their lives, 

for your “indescribable gift” 

of Jesus Christ. 

Father, help us to get our heads on straight 

about giving. 

May we not give out of guilt; 

may we not heed poor teaching 

that tells us if we give enough 

we’ll live healthy and wealthy all of our lives. 

May we fully embrace the joy of gospel giving: 

you “generously provide all we need” (2 Cor. 9:8). 

You give us the seed to make the wheat 

to make the flour to make the bread. 

You give us strength to work 

and work to do 

and fair wages to earn. 

And most of all, you gave us your Son! 

In grateful response, 

we give money and possessions and time 

to further your redeeming work in the world, 

and we do so like the Macedonians, 

eagerly and happily. 

In the name of your life-giving Son. Amen. 

Read 2 Corinthians 8-9.



A Prayer about How God’s Blessings Spread

by | Aug 9, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about How God’s Blessings Spread

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Psalm 67:1-2

Gracious God,

You have indeed been gracious to us and blessed us,

[Name ways he has been gracious to you and blessed you.]

You have made your face to shine your glory upon us,

[Name ways he has shone his glory on you.].

Help us not to hoard your many blessings, 

for you have always intended for your glory 

to make us fruitful, 

to make us multiply. 

Indeed, your blessings 

of mercy and grace 

and forgiveness 

are meant to show others 

(our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, our enemies)—

“your way” (Psalm 67:2), 

your generous, 

steadfastly loving, 

faithful 

way.

[Name some ways you have seen God’s blessings spread to others through you.]

You have always intended 

for our salvation stories 

to lead people throughout the entire world 

to see your “saving power among all nations” (Psalm 67:2).

[Name some ways others might see God’s saving power through your stories of redemption.]

How we look forward to that day 

when all nations will “be glad and sing for joy” (Psalm 67:4), 

when every ethnicity will praise 

your justice and equity (Psalm 67:4).

Until that day comes, 

we will praise you 

and call all of the peoples of the earth 

to praise you!

In Jesus’ generous name. Amen.

Read Psalm 67. 



A Prayer about Worshipping like We’re in Heaven

by | Aug 8, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Worshipping like We’re in Heaven

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ Revelation 7:9-10

 

Mighty God,

Open our eyes, 

that we may truly see the magnificent worship 

taking place in heaven. 

Engage our hearts 

that we might worship you today in our churches 

as a foretaste of the day 

we will worship you eternally 

with all of the saints.

When we peek into heaven with John, 

the author of Revelation, 

we see “a great multitude”—

what an encouragement in a day 

when it seems so few want to worship you. 

In heaven, the deacons couldn’t even count the attendance.

Who are these people? 

They are people 

from Uganda and Ukraine, 

Mexico and Monaco, 

Cambodia and Côte d’Ivoire, 

people from every country A to Z, 

who speak every language ever spoken. 

What do they do? 

With the angels 

and the elders 

and the other living creatures, 

they fall on their faces 

before the throne, 

worshiping you.

What do they say? 

“Amen!

Blessing and glory and wisdom 

and thanksgiving and honor and power and might 

be to our God forever and ever! 

Amen” (Revelation 7:12). 

Oh, Lord, may this true story of worship 

change our worship today.

In Jesus’ worthy name. Amen.

Read Revelation 7.