A Prayer about Preventing Bitterness

by | Feb 3, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Preventing Bitterness

See to it than on one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble and by it many become defiled… Hebrews 12:15

Merciful Lord,

May we hear your dire warning 

to guard our hearts 

from the toxic root of bitterness.

Bitterness characterizes the unrighteous, 

whose “mouth is full of curses and bitterness, 

whose feet are swift to shed blood” (Romans 3:14-15). 

Bitterness characterizes the selfish, 

those who are “in the gall of bitterness 

and in the bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:23). 

Bitterness grows when we refuse to forgive. 

For those forgiven by you, 

bitterness makes no sense. 

Knowing the cost of our sins 

you paid on the cross, 

we pray daily, “forgive us our debts, 

as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). 

Knowing how fully you have forgiven us, 

we forgo resentment and bitterness, 

striving for “peace with everyone” 

insofar as it depends on us (Hebrews 12:15; Romans 12:18). 

In your grace-giving name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 12:14-15; Romans 3:10-18; Romans 12:9-21. 

A Prayer about the Lord’s Discipline

by | Feb 2, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Theology

A Prayer about the Lord’s Discipline

Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe his discipline; for the Lord disciplines the one he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:11-12)

Heavenly Father,

Although your discipline, 

your correction, 

your reproof 

may seem painful at the time, 

help us to receive it as the tender and kind strength 

of a good Father who deeply loves his children. 

Remind us of the truth misapplied by Eliphaz—

“For he wounds, but he binds up; 

He shatters, but his hands heal” (Job 5:11-12). 

Remind us that while earthly fathers 

may discipline poorly and for a short time, 

you discipline us “for our good, 

that we may share his holiness.” 

Help us to wait for the day 

your discipline will “yield 

the peaceful fruit of righteousness 

to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11). 

Most of all, remind us that while you discipline us, 

you are not punishing us, 

for you have already punished Jesus, 

our Savior, 

on the cross 

for every sin 

we would ever commit: 

“Consider him who endured from sinners 

such hostility against himself, 

so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:3).

In Jesus’ enduring name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:1-11.

A Prayer about Understanding Sickness and Healing

by | Feb 1, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, body, Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Understanding Sickness and Healing

‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? John 9:2

Healing Lord, 

Thank you for the compassion 

you show the sick and those who need healing. 

Correct wrong assumptions about sickness and healing. 

Sadly, too many of us have been told 

that if we just had enough faith, 

or that if we got rid of the sin in our lives, 

we or our loved ones would be healed. 

You spoke directly to this harmful assumption, 

when you corrected your disciples,

 saying, “It was not that this man sinned, 

or his parents, 

but that the works of God 

might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). 

May we remember that you did not choose 

to heal all of the sick and lame 

on this earth, 

only some. 

In the case of the apostle Paul, 

he prayed three times 

that the thorn in his flesh would be removed, 

but you responded, 

“My grace is sufficient for you, 

for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

Lord, help us to trust you with our broken bodies, 

whether you choose to heal now, 

later, 

or in eternity. 

How we look forward to the day you return, 

for then you will truly heal and restore 

our broken bodies forever. 

Amen. 

Read John 9:1-41; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

A Prayer about Peace for Troubled Hearts

by | Jan 31, 2023 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Peace for Troubled Hearts

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for this profound promise 

for troubled hearts:

You leave us peace, your peace, 

which in the Bible refers to something way better 

than a day without car, or credit trouble.  

Your peace is “shalom,” 

a state of flourishing, 

wholeness, 

and harmony.

When our hearts are troubled—

aching because of good hopes dashed again and again and again, 

miserable because we have harmed one we love through our sin, 

agonized because we have suffered yet another setback in our recovery, 

you give us your peace, your rest, your hope, your wholeness. 

It is not the peace the world gives, 

it is the peace of the cross, 

for you spoke these words 

just before you died on a cross for us. 

It is the peace of restoration, 

for you died on that cross 

so that we who believe might be restored 

as children of the Father. 

It is the peace of the wholeness 

we will one day know 

in heart and mind and body and soul 

when you come again 

to bring the new heavens and the new earth. 

Because of your peace, 

we have every reason 

to obey your command:

“Let not your hearts be troubled; 

neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

In your peace-bringing name. Amen.

Read John 14:1-30. 

A Prayer about Doing Hard Work Heartily

by | Jan 30, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living

A Prayer about Doing Hard Work Heartily

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…(Colossians 3:23)

Gracious Lord,

I remember well the days of four children under six years, 

the chaos, the clutter, the laundry, the diapers, the dishes, 

the drudge of work that had to be done over and over and over again. 

It could be disheartening if not downright depressing. 

Today, I lift up any and all who find their work disheartening or depressing. 

Help us to see beyond the micro-story of the dirty diapers we are changing 

or the droning demands of an impossible boss,

to your meta-story, the story you are writing in us 

through whatever work you have given us. 

Help us to see your kingdom and your mission and the part you have given us to play in it. 

How are you calling us to be an ambassador of Christ in our workplace? 

How are you conforming us to Christ’s image in the patience required to do our work? 

And what reward are you preparing for us even as we do this work (Colossians 3:24)? 

As we see these things, empower us and energize us 

to obey this command, 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, 

as working for the Lord, not for human masters…” (Colossians 3:23).

Read Colossians 3:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.