A Prayer about Getting Good at Grief

by | Jun 19, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel Coaching, Grief

A Prayer about Getting Good at Grief

I am shut in so I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow.

Psalm 88:9

Compassionate Father,

We don’t pray Psalm 88 enough, 

and maybe that’s why we’re not very good at grief. 

Today, we use the words of this dark yet hopeful Psalm

 to cry out for ourselves or for friends 

walking through agonizing losses:

For those who feel: 

“You have caused my companions to shun me; 

you have made me a horror to them” (Psalm 88:8),

come close in their isolation, 

and send us as comfort in the flesh. 

May we never shrink back from horrific suffering, 

but may we enter into it with your grace and hope. 

For those who feel: “I am a man (or woman) who has no strength” (Psalm 88:4),

soothe them with the rest they desperately need, 

and provide the energy to do the things they must do. 

Send us to lift them up, 

whether in prayer or in service, 

Most of all, Father, 

help our friends to see that they’re not alone, 

that you have supplied them with a great cloud of witnesses 

to walk with them in this long and torturous journey.

In Jesus’ faithful name. Amen.

Read Psalm 88:1-18.



A Prayer about the Power of God’s Grace

by | Jun 18, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Power of God’s Grace

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Gracious Father,

Forgive me (us) for underestimating the power of your grace. 

Your grace is not a Southern woman with “nice manners.” 

Your grace is not a little token of appreciation. 

Your grace is not a souvenir from Switzerland.

Your grace is the powerful and profound gift 

of hauling a sinful people out of the suffocating mudpit 

of our own making. 

Your grace came at the high cost 

of the life of your perfectly righteous Son. 

Your grace not only paid the unpayable debt of our sin 

but also imparted to us the righteousness of your Son. 

Your grace is not a trickle little creek of grace 

but a glacier waterfall of grace

pouring over us and through us, 

carving the blunt edges off our rocky hearts 

until they soften into the shape 

of our loving Savior’s heart. 

Your grace will never run out 

and will finish its perfect work in us 

until the day our Savior returns.

Oh, Lord, may we never underestimate 

the profound power of your grace again. 

In Jesus’ grace-pouring name. Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; John 1:16-17; Titus 2:11-14. 



A Prayer about the Perfect Father

by | Jun 17, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel Coaching

A Prayer about the Perfect Father

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20

Good and Faithful Father,

On this day 

when some celebrate their earthly fathers 

while some grieve fathers who’ve left this earth 

and others long for the presence of a good father, 

we thank you that you are a better father even 

than this waiting father 

in the story of the lost sons (Luke 15:11-32).

You have run to us through your Son; 

you have embraced us by his death for our sins; 

you have robed us in Christ’s righteousness; 

you have kissed us and welcomed us home 

because of your extravagant grace.

On this Father’s Day on earth, 

let us remember that for those who belong to you, 

every day is Father’s Day, 

every day is a day to praise and thank you, 

our good and glorious Father. 

In your precious Son’s name. Amen.

Read Luke 15:11-32.

A Prayer about Rejoicing in Suffering

by | Jun 16, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Rejoicing in Suffering

Have you ever wondered how you can rejoice in suffering?

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…Romans 5:3-4.

Lord Jesus,

Yesterday we prayed about rejoicing 

“in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).

Today we need to face the fact that, 

for those who follow you, 

suffering is not only normal, 

but also a cause for rejoicing. 

That doesn’t really fit our American narrative, 

so help us by your Spirit to understand:

Suffering produces endurance: 

As we fix our eyes on you, 

the “founder and perfecter” of our faith 

who endured the cross for us (Hebrews 12:2), 

we are empowered by your Spirit to keep walking forward, 

one new mercy at a time.

Endurance produces character: 

Through suffering, you are making us “mature and complete” (James 1:4), 

people who are wise and compassionate, 

tender and strong comforters, 

people who don’t toss out spiritual Band-aids, 

people who listen carefully 

and give wise counsel at the right time.

Character produces hope: 

As you grow our endurance and character through suffering, 

we long even more for the future day 

when you will return and make all things new. 

This is the essence of hope, 

and it is a hope that will never disappoint (Romans 5:5).

In your suffering name. Amen.

Read Romans 5:1-5.



A Prayer about the Grace in Which We Stand

by | Jun 15, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Grace in Which We Stand

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2

Lord Jesus Christ,

What peace and hope and joy we have 

when we trust in you for our salvation.

In you, we have “obtained access,” 

that is, gained entrance into secure relationship with God. 

It’s like the Queen of England has an open door policy 

inviting us into her state room. 

But it’s even better than that. 

Not only are we given an audience with the Queen, 

she welcomes us with delight, 

like familiar family she really loves. 

We don’t wobble in your grace 

as though we’re about to fall out of it; 

we stand in it. 

We are held secure in your grace, 

which will not let us go. 

We stand tall and strong like mighty oaks, 

Unmoved by difficult circumstances.

Not only that, in this grace we rejoice, even boast. 

We are so confident in your grace 

that we want to shout it out like thrilled fans at a football game. 

Our sure hope for today and for the coming years

is that the glory of God will be known throughout all the earth. 

Our joy comes in knowing 

that we get to play a bit part in the story of your glory. 

In your justifying name. Amen. 

Read Romans 4:13-5:2.