A Prayer about the God Who Guides Us

by | Nov 2, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about the God Who Guides Us

For this is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14

 

Our God, 

How great are you indeed! 

You were committed to dwelling with your people,

 and long ago, you  you chose to dwell 

in a man-made temple in a man-made city 

as the mighty King of your people (Psalm 48:1-3). 

Other kings caught one look at your might, 

panicked, and ran away (Psalm 48:5). 

Not only are you mighty, you are merciful. 

The people rejoice as they consider

 your “steadfast love” and “righteousness” 

and wise “judgments” (Psalm 48: 9-11) 

Long ago, your people told of your greatness 

to the next generation; 

today, we praise you, 

because you have deigned to make yourself 

our God, forever and ever. 

Not only are you our God, 

you are our guide, today and tomorrow, 

and to the end of our days. 

Even at the end of our days on this earth, 

in you, the end is only the beginning. 

One day, our great King Jesus will return, 

and we will dwell with you forever, 

secure and safe in the eternal joy 

of your everlasting kingdom. 

What reason for rejoicing! Amen.

Read Psalm 48.

 

A Prayer about Waiting for Recovery

by | Nov 1, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Grief, Suffering

A Prayer about Waiting for Recovery

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. Mark 9:24

Heavenly Father,

How this earthly father’s words resonate with us. 

He had likely lost all hope that his son, 

who was violently abused by an “unclean spirit,” 

would ever recover (Mark 9:17). 

And yet, he, like we, 

dared to hope that Jesus could help. 

He, like we, in our hopeless and discouragement, can only ask, 

“if you can do anything, 

have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22). 

When Jesus responds, “Anything is possible if a person believes,” 

the father admits his ambivalence: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). 

Oh Lord, how we thank you 

that your healing work in our lives, 

whether healing of sin, 

healing of addiction, 

healing of illness, 

or healing of relationships, 

does not depend on our level of faith. 

Oh Lord, how we thank you 

that you are the faithful one 

who loves us deeply in our doubt. 

Oh Lord, how we thank you 

that we know the day of full and final healing 

is coming soon. 

In Jesus’ faithful name. Amen.  

Read Mark 9:14-29.

 

A Prayer about Being a Saint

by | Oct 31, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, gratitude, Reformation Day, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Being a Saint

Dear Friends,

This began as a personal prayer, but I invite you to insert your own gratitude for God making you a saint.

 

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you. Psalm 145:10

 

Author God,

You and I both know that in the world’s sense of the word, 

I am no saint. 

And yet, on this All Saints’ Day, 

as I celebrate 60 years of being in the world, 

I stand in awe of “your abundant goodness,” 

in choosing me to be one of your saints in Christ (Romans 1:7). 

Not only did you place me in a Christian school 

where I would hear the good news of the gospel and begin studying the Bible, 

[name some of the specific ways God has shown you the good news of the gospel]

but you surrounded me with “a great cloud of witnesses,” 

wonderful saints, ordinary people redeemed in Christ, 

who were living stories that led me to see my need and desire for a Savior. 

[Name some of the saints who have shown you redemption in Christ.]

Not only did you draw me to Christ, 

literally raise me from spiritual death, 

but you have continued to write your story of “steadfast love,” 

showing me day after day 

that your “mercy is over all that you have made” (Psalm 145:9). 

[Name some of the ways he has written his story of “steadfast love” and “mercy” into your life.]

How grateful I am/we are 

that you have called us to be your “saints in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:1). 

In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

Read Psalm 145. 

 

A Prayer about Seeing God’s Beauty in Creation

by | Oct 30, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, gratitude, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Seeing God’s Beauty in Creation

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1

Creator of Beauty,

On this Fall Monday, we take time to look around us,

 to listen to creation declaring your glory:

Cerulean sky writes messages of your delight in us (Psalm 19:1):

[Name a message of God’s delight that you hear in creation.]

Brilliant sun bounds across the sky, 

shouting of your Son’s salvation (Psalm 19:4-5):

[Name a way the sun reminds you of the Son’s love and forgiveness.]

Early morning dew glints on the soccer fields, 

hinting at the river of life to flow 

in your new heavens and new earth (Revelation 22:1):

[Name ways dew or rain or rivers or oceans remind you 

of the “river of the water of life” that fills your thirst.]

Acorns gently fall to the earth, 

revealing your commitment 

to transform us into “oaks of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:3):

[Name your gratitude at the Spirit’s transforming work in your life.]

Lord, indeed, we could go on and on, 

as your wondrous creation does.

Sharpen our senses today to the beauty of your earth 

and how it declares your glory throughout the day. 

Give us glad, grateful hearts as we take it all in.

In Jesus’ lovely name. Amen.

Read Psalm 19.

 

A Prayer about Eternal Glory

by | Oct 29, 2022 | aging, dying, and death, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Gospel living, kingdom living, Numbering Our Days, Suffering

A Prayer about Eternal Glory

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

Heavenly Father,

Enlarge our imaginations that we might see what glory awaits us in Christ!

In this fallen world, we suffer, 

but “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing 

with the glory that is to be revealed to us” and in us (Romans 8:18).

Because we are in Christ, we have a glorious inheritance 

which we will receive when he returns:

We will be…

Confirmed: 

You, our Father, will welcome us, saying, 

“Yes, this is my beloved child!” 

Restored: 

like the ultimate fixer-upper, 

healed of the wounds of sin, 

healed of the brokenness of our bodies, 

made like Christ, 

fully shining with the glory of Christ!

Strengthened: 

strong in Christ’s strength, 

no longer able to sin.

Established: 

Established on thrones 

as those who reign with Christ 

over the new heavens and new earth, 

and we will “reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). 

(Just call me Queen Elizabeth!)

Oh, Father, the glories that await us in heaven 

do seem too good to be true! 

How we long for the day 

we will see you face to face, 

the day your glory 

will become fully and finally our glory.  

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen.

Read Romans 8:18-30; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Timothy 2:10.