A Prayer about Recognizing Unknown Gods

by | Sep 9, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Recognizing Unknown Gods

For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ Acts 17:23

Do you recognize the “unknown gods” of this world?

[This prayer was sparked by a sermon preached by our pastor, Joel Treick, who faithfully preaches the gospel at Pinewoods Church every week.]

Very God of Very God,

We confess, like the Greeks, we are “very religious” (Acts 17:22).

We worship many unknown gods, 

idols that we don’t even recognize as things 

to which we devote our time, our energy, our hopes and dreams:

Idols like success and security and social media, 

Idols like shopping and ice cream and Big Gulps, 

Idols like children and spouses and bosses…

Really anything that we turn to instead of Jesus 

to find the rest and fulfillment only he can give. 

Help us to see the truth, Lord, 

that these idols mock us at the end of the day, 

leaving us as “poor deluded fools feeding on ashes” (Isaiah 44:20).

Draw us to drink instead from your living water, 

to feast on the bread of life, Jesus, God-made-flesh, 

who died that we might come alive 

to our deepest desires, 

our truest of dreams—

to live in your grace and to love in your glory. 

In Jesus’ truthful name. Amen. 

Read Acts 17: 16-34.

A Prayer about Slowing Down

by | Sep 8, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Slowing Down

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ Mark 6:31

Gentle and Wise Jesus,

You beckon us to rest, to slow, to still.

But we have things to do, places to go, people to see, 

(all for the sake of the kingdom for sure). 

There’s no time to stop!

Forgive us.

Draw us in to your Story, 

how John the Baptist, the disciples’ dear friend, 

had just been beheaded, 

how, though they didn’t know it, 

a huge crowd would be coming for dinner, 

of how your plan was being orchestrated 

all around them and in them 

through every moment (Mark 6:26-44). 

May we follow your lead as you rose

“while it was till dark…

and went off to a solitary place, 

where [you] prayed” (Mark 1:35). 

May we follow your lead 

as you “withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:15-16). 

This September Saturday, 

before the noise of the football games begins, 

after the busy morning of kids’ soccer games, 

may we spend some quiet time simply resting in you. 

And as we do, 

may we hear you whispering your delight in us, 

may we hear you

calling us into the work of love 

you have equipped us to do. 

In your calming name. Amen.

Read Mark 6:26-44; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:15-16.

A Prayer about the God Who Counts Our Tears

by | Sep 7, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Grief, Suffering

A Prayer about the God Who Counts Our Tears

You have kept count of my tossing; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Psalm 56:8

Compassionate Father,

In these days of grief, 

when so many are mourning, 

whether it is loved ones lost to death, 

or homes destroyed by natural disaster, 

or the ongoing oppression of people based on their ethnicity,

We thank you for caring about our tears. 

Not only do you count and collect them, 

one day you will wipe them gently away 

even as you remove the reasons for our mourning: 

“death shall be no more, 

neither shall there be mourning, 

nor crying, nor pain anymore, 

for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). 

Until that day comes, 

may we bring all of our tears to you, 

and may we share your comfort with others.

In Jesus’ tear-shedding name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 56; Revelation 21:1-5.

A Prayer about Seeing God’s Might

by | Sep 6, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Mission

A Prayer about Seeing God’s Might

We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are. Numbers 13:31.

Mighty God, 

I’m afraid I often relate more to the spies of Numbers 13

than I do to Caleb, the man with eyes to see your power and glory.

The spies, though they were surrounded by grapes the size of golf balls 

and a land lush with pomegranates and figs, 

chose to focus on the big and scary giants.

Caleb, a man of great faith, 

boldly fought the wild rumors the fear-mongers spread, 

assuring Moses and the people, 

“we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30). 

Lord, may we remember 

that you had brought your people through the wilderness, 

and you had promised to give them this land (Numbers 13:1). 

And yet, many doubted.

In the same way, 

may we remember 

that you have already defeated the monster of our sin 

and have given us the fruit of the gospel. 

As we remember your redemptive work in us, 

may we grow in faith and boldness.

May we know that you are with us. 

May we see that you are mighty to defeat 

whatever giants we see in the lands to which you have called us 

to go with the incredibly good news of the gospel. 

In Jesus’ mighty and merciful name. Amen.

Read Numbers 13. 

A Prayer about Praying for Pastors

by | Sep 5, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about Praying for Pastors

I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30

Heavenly Father,

In a day and age when 75% of pastors report being extremely stressed, 70% of pastors say they don’t have a close friend, and 80% think they won’t  be in ministry in ten years,*

we must heed Paul’s call to pray for pastors, faithfully committing to praying for them and encouraging them.

We pray for relief from the daily stresses pastors face, 

that we can be people who come alongside to support 

without seeking to know all of the “church gossip.”

We pray we will be faithful to encourage our pastors verbally, 

with spoken and written affirmation.

We pray for appropriate rest, 

and that our church will make a way for them to take regular sabbaticals, 

We pray for the energy and space to take good care of their bodies, 

getting exercise and eating well. 

We pray for encouraging friendships with other pastors, 

for the courage and space to tell the truth about their struggles, 

And we pray for protection from temptation 

and danger and all forms of spiritual attack. 

In the name of our great Shepherd, Jesus.

Amen.

 Romans 15:30-33; 2 Corinthians 1:10-11; Ephesians 6:19-20; Philippians 1:19-20

*Statistics from https://www.soulshepherding.org/pastors-under-stress/

Friends, for a helpful article on understanding your pastor’s need for pastor friends, please check out this wise encouragement by Pastor Walter Henegar at By Faith Online, “Your Pastor Needs Pastor Friends”