A Prayer about Doing Justice

by | Feb 11, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Doing Justice

Heavenly Father,

I will never forget the time the Reverend John M. Perkins spoke in our high school chapel,

the stories he told, his book we read, “Let Justice Roll Down.” 

He challenged us as he challenged himself to search our hearts 

to see if we truly understood what was good. 

Today I am rereading his book, 

his call to deep repentance and forgiveness, 

his own example of deep repentance and forgiveness 

of the people who brutalized him. His words call me to pray:

Lord, you have shown us what is good. 

[Name some of the things Jesus has shown you about what is good.]

Lord, what do you require of me?

[Spend some time in silence, listening to the Lord speak to you.]

You call me to do justice. 

How do you want me to do justice?

[Spend some time in silence, listening to the Lord speak to you about doing justice].

You call me to love mercy. 

What does it look like for me to love mercy?

[Spend some time in silence, listening to the Lord speak to you about loving mercy].

You call me to walk humbly with my God. 

What does it look like for me to walk humbly with you?

[Spend some time in silence, listening to the Lord speak to you about walking humbly with your God].

May we, in the power of the Spirit, truly do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you.

In Jesus’ justice-fulfilling name. Amen.

Read Micah 6:8; Amos 5:24, 5:15.

A Prayer about the Wisdom We Desperately Need

by | Feb 10, 2021 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Wisdom We Desperately Need

Jesus, our Wisdom,

Some of us need your wisdom 

for making crucial decisions 

about our lives, our work, our families, our homes.

Some of us need your wisdom 

for dealing with daily decisions 

about potty-training, barking dogs, loud neighbors, and difficult teammates.

Help us to remember that we need not trust in our own wisdom or in worldly wisdom. 

We have access to your wisdom—

wisdom wiser than that of Aristotle or Confucious or Winnie-the-Pooh’s friend Owl.

Indeed, you are the one who “became to us wisdom from God,” 

who “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man,” 

who holds “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (1 Corinthians 1:30; Luke 2:52; Colossians 2:3).

As we make crucial decisions and daily decisions, 

may we seek your wisdom from above, 

and may we seek to live out 

your love, mercy, and grace in every moment of our lives.  

In your wise name we ask. Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 1:30; Luke 2:52; Colossians 2:3.

A Prayer about Holy Sexuality in a Sexually Insane World

by | Feb 9, 2021 | Gospel living, Prayer, Weekly Gospel Meditation

A Prayer about Holy Sexuality in a Sexually Insane World

This week, the week of Valentine’s, seems like a good time to pray about sexuality in a sexually insane world. Please join me in this prayer of confession and hope, and please share this prayer with others. 

“This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.” Gen. 2:24-25, NLT

“Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.” Eph. 5:3-4

Most merciful, Creator God, we come to you, weighed down by the sexual insanity of this world, deeply broken over our own deceitful lust and greed, and profoundly thankful for your everlasting mercy.

We praise you for your creation of holy and exuberant sexuality.

We praise you for your exquisite design of sexual love expressed in the context of marriage—two sinner-saints joined together in lifelong covenant. You knew that there would be inexpressible joy coupled with heart-shattering grief. You knew the man would fail the woman in silence. You knew the woman would try to take life into her own hands. You created and redeemed sexual love in marriage for your glory.

Lord, we confess that not one of us is free of sexual immorality. Some of us let our eyes linger long on someone else’s spouse; others darken our minds with words and images that have nothing to do with your holy sexuality. We consume others, not caring how our lust may wound them or grieve you.

Lord, we also confess that we have failed to protect our young.

We don’t know what to do with a culture of adolescents that sext and hook up in school hallways, so we give reprimands but refuse to enter hard conversations.

Rather than recognize and respond to the horrifying news of young children being sexually trafficked, we change the channel to something more soothing.

We tell women and men who have suffered sexual abuse that what happened wasn’t really a big deal or that the other person didn’t really mean it.

In the midst of all of this sexual insanity, Lord, we bow before you, marveling at your mercy and forgiveness.

The apostle Paul had it right when he offered thanksgiving as the holy alternative to sexual immorality.

We thank you…

for creating holy sex.

We thank you…

for your healing love that meets us in the midst 

of our sexual brokenness.

We thank you…

for your compassion and mercy for the abused, the oppressed, and the addicted.

We thank you…

for never shaming or humiliating us, 

but inviting us to flourish in the healing mercy of our faithful and ever-loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

In his precious and holy name we pray. Amen.

A Prayer about the Very Near Word

by | Feb 9, 2021 | Bible study, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Very Near Word

Oh Father,

What a promise you have given us in this lovely word from your Word.

Many of us are facing things that seem way too difficult—

finding a new job, having kids quarantined yet again, 

healing from illness or surgery, grieving the loss of loved ones, 

overcoming lifelong temptations.

You promise that your help is not out of our reach (Deuteronomy 30:11).

You have empowered us to live in your love, 

even in the most impossible circumstances,

through Jesus Christ, the Word who came near to us, 

who stretched his arms across the great divide 

between our sin and your holiness. 

May we draw near to you in your Word 

as you have drawn near to us, today and everyday.

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen. 

Read Deuteronomy 30:11-20.

A Prayer about Our Work of Reconciliation

by | Feb 8, 2021 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Our Work of Reconciliation

Merciful King,

As we look at our week and consider the work we think we must get done, 

may we never forget the most important work you have called us to 

as your “new creation” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17):

You have made us new, and you are forming a new people, 

“reconciling the world to [yourself], not counting people’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). 

And wow, look at this, you have “committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19)! 

You are sending us into our workplaces and our homes, 

our neighborhoods and our neighboring lands 

as “Christ’s ambassadors,” 

“making your appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). 

What a profound calling! 

Whatever tasks we are assigned this week, 

may we remember that they are part of your larger work, 

to unite people of every tribe, tongue, nation, and people group 

recreating us as your lovely and holy bride. 

In Jesus’ sending name. Amen. 

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.