A Prayer about the Lord’s Right Now Delight in Us

by | Jul 14, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Lord’s Right Now Delight in Us

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Lord, 

We believe; help our unbelief.

We believe you have already come into our midst 

in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We believe you are a mighty one 

who has already saved us from our sins 

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But in the next line of this magnificent verse, 

we stutter and stumble. 

We think that maybe you will rejoice in us 

some day in the future 

when we are more holy, 

that you will love us 

some day in the future 

when we never sin again,

that you will exult in us with loud singing 

some day in the future 

when we’ve finally earned our way to heaven.

But that’s not what Scripture tells us.

The gospel good news 

for all who trust in Jesus

is that right this minute, 

you are rejoicing over us, 

right this minute

you are quieting us with your love, 

right this minute

you are exulting over us with loud singing. 

You saved us. 

You love us. 

You delight in us. 

You sing extra-loud over us, 

like the five-year-old who loves to sing 

at the top of his lungs 

because he’s so happy. 

Help us today to sit quietly 

and listen for the sound 

of your delight in us, 

and may that delight 

change the way we live and love 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Zephaniah 3:14-20.



A Prayer about Mistaking Jesus for a Ghost

by | Jul 13, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Mistaking Jesus for a Ghost

But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. Matthew 14:26

Precious Jesus,

How kind you are 

to your weary and confused disciples. 

The disciples had earlier that day 

watched as you made five loaves and two fish 

into a feast for over five thousand people. 

Now they are out on the sea, 

and a fierce storm has come up, 

and they are frightened. 

When they see you walking toward them, 

they mistake you for a ghost. 

We confess, 

we too sometimes mistake your movement toward us 

for something frightening. 

We too sometimes lose sight 

of your compassion 

and your power. 

We too sometimes forget 

that you are the one who brings hope and calm 

in the midst of mighty maelstroms. 

When we are afraid and get confused about who you are, 

give us ears to hear 

the words you spoke to your disciples, 

“Take heart; it is I.

 Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). 

In your storm-calming name we ask. Amen.

Read Matthew 14:22-33. 



A Prayer about Drawing Near to Jesus

by | Jul 12, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Drawing Near to Jesus

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

King Jesus,

Yesterday, my daily prayer gang and I 

wondered at your sympathy, 

your capacity to suffer with us, 

to get inside our struggle with sin, 

even though you yourself are sinless.

Today, we pray that we would have the courage 

to draw near to your throne.

We don’t have to hunch in hiding 

like children of an unpredictable father 

who comes home drunk one day 

but is ready to play the next. 

We don’t have to cower in fear 

like children of a harsh father 

who might beat us bloody with a strap 

for our disobedience. 

You transformed our fear into hope 

by dying for our sins, 

taking our punishment on yourself, 

and passing through the heavens (Hebrews 4:14). 

You open your arms wide to us, 

inviting us to bring all of our sin and sorrow—

the rotten words we have spoken, 

the murderous thoughts we have entertained, 

the habitual sins we have indulged in, 

not to mention the harm inflicted on us by others’ sins. 

Whatever our suffering in this broken world, 

you are ruling over it from your throne. 

Whatever our need is, 

you welcome us to come to you, 

to lay it before you, 

and to receive your abundant mercy and grace 

as a balm to heal us and make us whole.

In your forgiving name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 4:14-16.



A Prayer about Jesus’ Sympathy for Us

by | Jul 11, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Jesus’ Sympathy for Us

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Gracious and Generous God,

How often do we pause to consider 

how a sympathetic Savior changes everything? 

As we bow before you today, 

may we grasp afresh 

the hope that is ours in our beloved Christ:

Jesus, in his sinless humanity, 

is sympathetic to our weakness.

How can this be?

In one of my favorite books, the author 

explains it so much better than I can:
“It is in our ‘weaknesses’ that Jesus sympathizes with us.” 

[Sympathize means “to suffer with.”]

“Sympathize here is not cool and detached pity…

In our pain, Jesus is pained; 

in our suffering, 

he feels the suffering as his own 

even though it isn’t…

His is a love that cannot be held back 

when he sees his people in pain.”* 

Oh, Lord, may we cling to our

suffering and sympathetic Savior. 

May we rest in Christ’s sympathy for us, 

even as we battle sin, 

even as we suffer in a fallen world. 

In Jesus’ sympathetic name. Amen. 

Read Hebrews 4:14-16.



A Prayer about Caring for Our Grandchildren’s Parents

by | Jul 10, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Caring for Our Grandchildren’s Parents

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

Heavenly Father,

Our son laughingly told me before he and his wife left for the week 

that they understood the “grandparent tax” — 

the price paid for leaving their child with a grandparent: 

her bedtimes might be off, 

she might eat ice cream for dessert (or dinner) every night, etc. 

It was sweet of them to give me permission to do a little spoiling, 

but it also made me think. 

How do or should grandparents care for their adult children 

even as they care for their grandchildren? 

You tell us to “Count others more significant than [ourselves]….” 

Help us, Lord, to consider the challenges our adult children face 

and to come alongside them and support them in their efforts. 

Help us not to put our own needs first 

but to think about how we can help our grandchildren grow 

to love you and honor their parents. 

Help us to pray for our adult children 

as they seek to be wise parents. 

Help us to encourage our adult children in their efforts. 

Help us to offer to serve them 

by giving them a much-needed rest from time to time. 

Humble Jesus, make us like you 

as we care for our grandchildren’s parents.

Amen. 

Read Philippians 2:1-11.