A Prayer about the Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr.

by | Jan 15, 2023 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living, legacy

A Prayer about the Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Isaiah 40:4 ESV

Holy God,

I love this day, a day to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 

and his dream, 

yes, 

but also a day to name our longing 

for the day when that dream will finally come true.

As I re-read the powerful words 

Dr. King spoke at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, 

the gospel roots of his dream are unmistakable. 

He said, 

“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted (Yes), 

every hill and mountain shall be made low, 

the rough places will be made plain (Yes), 

and the crooked places will be made straight (Yes), 

and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed [cheering], 

and all flesh shall see it together. (Yes Lord)”.

As Dr. King dreamed of a day when the wrongs of slavery 

would be made right, 

when the ravages of racism 

would be healed, 

we still long for that day 

when your glory will be fully revealed (Isaiah 40:5).

In this past year, we have seen sin run rampant, 

and many are discouraged. 

Draw us to look to you, Lord, 

to see you working in your kingdom already come in Christ, 

to create a land in which there is the freedom 

for which Christ set every man and woman free (Galatians 5:1). 

Help us, even as we long for justice to roll down on this earth 

to know there is a day coming 

when justice for all people will be the reality 

for every person who trusts in Christ as their king. 

Even as we long for justice and lean toward that final day, 

empower us to love our neighbors by working toward that equality 

for every human being today.

In the name of the one who humbled himself 

that we might all call your kingdom our home.

Amen.

Read Isaiah 40:1-5.

A Prayer about Not Panicking

by | Jan 14, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Not Panicking

Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10

Strong-gripped Father,

Thank you for holding us firmly 

when we’re frightened.

I’ve been re-listening to Prince Caspian, 

and I love the scene where Aslan says to Susan, 

“You’ve been listening to your fears again. 

Come here, let me breathe on you.”

Boy do we know that feeling of listening 

to our fears. 

When we listen to our fears,

we might get grumpy and mean like Susan was to Lucy. 

When we listen to our fears, 

we will struggle to see you in all of your might and majesty, 

just as Susan couldn’t see Aslan 

when Lucy insisted Aslan was there. 

When we listen to our fears, 

we might tremble and shake in panic. 

And yet, all along, 

you are holding us and helping us, 

keeping us steady and sure. 

Today, whether we fear 

abandonment of a friend 

or anger of a boss 

or abuse of a spouse, 

may we turn to you and trust in you 

and find you to be our unshakeable comfort and guide. 

In Jesus’ strong name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 43:1-7. 

A Prayer about Fighting Disease

by | Jan 13, 2023 | body, Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Fighting Disease

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. Psalm 107:13

Almighty God, 

We lift up friends, family, and strangers,  

any who are fighting Covid, cancer, or chronic disease.

Bring rest to their bodies 

as they fight off the destructive invaders 

Seeking to do them harm, 

bring clarity to their minds as they face 

a dizzying array of medical procedures 

and medicinal protocols, 

bring hope to their hearts 

as they fend off the despair 

that can envelop us when our bodies languish.

As our friends and family suffer,

bring the soothing of your Spirit 

and the comfort of your faithful presence. 

Draw our eyes to see Jesus, 

the best doctor, 

ministering his merciful healing 

to bodies, minds, hearts, and souls. 

In his healing name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 107:1-21.

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

by | Jan 12, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:13

All-Powerful God,

Every time I read this awkward scene for Sarah in Genesis, 

I slightly cringe, 

mostly because I recognize myself 

in her struggle to believe.

The Lord has promised Abraham and Sarah 

descendants as numerous as the stars, 

and yet, “The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah” (Gen. 18:11), 

and Abraham is a ripe 99-years-old. 

So we can hardly blame Sarah for laughing 

when she overhears one of the visitors, 

“the Lord,” 

say, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, 

and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Gen. 18:10). 

Things get awkward when the Lord asks Abraham, 

“Why did Sarah laugh and say, 

‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

Is anything too hard for the Lord?” 

Sarah denies laughing, and the Lord responds, 

“No, but you did laugh” (Gen. 18:14-15). 

Oh Lord, you know the places of our lives 

where it’s hard to believe that nothing is too hard for you—

For new companionship to ease our loneliness 

or for healing in broken relationships…

For healing of a chronic illness 

or for belief that a terminal illness will lead to ultimate healing…

For a job that provides for our family 

or a job that allows us to escape an abusive boss….

[Name some places you struggle to believe…]

Help us to trust in you to care for us 

in every detail of our lives 

because you sent your Son in a virgin’s womb, 

because you raised your Son from the dead, 

that those who trust in him might live forever in your love. 

In Jesus’ all-powerful name we pray. Amen. 

A Prayer about the Wrong Kind of Unity

by | Jan 11, 2023 | Church, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Wrong Kind of Unity

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

Genesis 11:4

Merciful Lord,

In this true story of your people building themselves a city and a tower, 

we see the root of our sin: 

trying to make a name for ourselves. 

Your people, whom you had commanded to “be fruitful and multiply,” 

to fill the earth with your glory, 

were united in the wrong purpose: 

they sought to build their own glory. 

You saw this wrong kind of unity, 

and you said, “Behold, they are one people, 

and they have all one language, 

and this is only the beginning of what they will do. 

And nothing that they propose 

will now be impossible for them” (Gen. 11:6).

And yet, even in dispersing the people across the earth, 

you continued your plan of redemption. 

One day, you would send your Son to unite your people, 

to bring “near” those who were once “far off,” 

to tear down “the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph. 2:14), 

to make all who would trust in you 

“fellow citizens and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).

And one day “soon,” 

your Son our Savior will return 

to bring the glory of all the nations into our eternal home, 

the new heavens and the new earth. 

Because you did what was impossible through your Son, 

may we daily seek to glorify you.

In Jesus’ uniting name. Amen.