A Prayer about Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

by | May 17, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Trustworthy Jesus,

We know we need to fix and re-fix our eyes on you, 

our “unseen” (for now) Savior, 

the author and perfecter of our faith (See Hebrews 12:1-2). 

Only in you will we find 

the strength, the courage, 

the faith, the hope, 

the love 

we need to move forward 

into the uncertain and often frightening 

circumstances of our lives. 

Help us not to trust in our to-do lists 

or our carefully laid plans. 

Help us not to trust in 

our efficiency or our competence. 

Help us instead to look at you 

each hour, each moment, 

of every day, 

to ask you, 

“Now what? 

Now to whom? 

Now where?” 

Help us to look to you for direction, 

and help us to obey you 

when you send us somewhere 

we don’t want to go. 

Indeed, only in you will we find our perfect peace, 

only as our minds are focused on you (See Isaiah 26:3). 

You are trustworthy; 

you are working in all things 

for the good of those who love you 

and are called according to your purpose (See Romans 8:28). 

We love you, Jesus. 

Help us to keep our eyes on you, 

that we might trust you. 

Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Hebrews 12:1-3; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 8:28. 



A Prayer about Seeing God’s Glory

by | May 16, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Seeing God’s Glory

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’ Luke 5:8

God of Glory, Holy Lord,

Recently our pastor encouraged us 

to pray to see God’s glory. 

I’m so thankful for his encouragement. 

Glory is such a weighty and unwieldy concept to grasp. 

Furthermore, Isaiah 6:3 tells us, 

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty; 

the whole earth is filled with his glory.”

So in other words, your holiness and your glory are intertwined. 

How do we grasp your holiness and your glory? 

I think Peter gives us a clue in this moment with Jesus. 

He was a fishermen; he knew fish. 

He had been fishing all night 

without catching so much as a minnow. 

So when Jesus, after concluding one of his teaching sessions, 

tells him to cast his nets, 

we can imagine Peter’s eye-roll. 

And we can also imagine the commanding look 

Jesus gave him in return, 

because Peter quickly says, 

“But at your word I will let down the nets.” 

Sure enough, so many fish swim into the nets 

they almost burst wide open. 

And it is here that Peter sees Jesus 

for who he really is. 

Holy. 

Glorious. 

Something other. 

Something beyond. 

Something beautiful. 

And that is why this rough and rowdy fisherman 

collapses in a pile of fish 

and prays this prayer, 

“Depart from me, 

for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’ 

How we thank you for your holiness, Lord, 

for your glory, 

and for how you reveal it to us. 

May we see it all day every day—

in the sun and moon and stars 

and fish and faces and fellowship, 

in your Word and in your work in this world. 

In Jesus’ beautiful name we pray. Amen.

Read Isaiah 6:3; Luke 5:1-11.



A Prayer about Joy in Trials

by | May 15, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Joy in Trials

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:2-3

Father of All Comfort,

We admit, “joy” is not often our first response 

when our car won’t start 

or when we receive a difficult diagnosis 

or when our child struggles in school 

or when we have a bad day at work…

And yet, you call us to “consider it a great joy” 

when we encounter all kinds of trials. 

You must have a good reason, 

and your gospel has made that reason clear:

Trials test our faith (James 1:2). 

When our kids are happy and our health is good and work works, 

we don’t always recognize you as the giver of these good gifts; 

we don’t always recognize our desperate dependence on you. 

But when trials come, when storms bring rough waters, 

we must anchor ourselves to your steadfast love.

You will sustain us, 

and “steadfastness” will one day have its full effect: 

having gone through this trial, 

we will be “mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4). 

Gracious Father, that is what we want most of all: 

to be more and more like Christ, 

who “for the joy set before him, endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

By his grace, teach us to “count it joy” when we face trials, 

and grow our endurance.

In Jesus’ joy-full name. Amen. 

Read James 1:1-4; Hebrews 12:1-11.



A Prayer about the Gift of Prayer

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

A Prayer about the Gift of Prayer

….one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ And he said to them, ‘When you pray, say:….’ Luke 11:1-2

Holy Father,

Thank you for the gift of prayer.

Grow our understanding of the power and richness of prayer.

Even as we pray for you to change circumstances in others’ lives, 

may we also pray for you to change their hearts about these circumstances:

So, even as we pray,

“Lord, please bless my friend’s business,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please give my friend faith that you will provide for her in this business….”

Even as we pray,

“Lord, please heal my friend from chronic pain,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please sustain my friend’s hope in this hard season….”

Even as we pray,

“Lord, please bring my friend’s daughter back home,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please help my friend forgive her daughter for causing so much pain….”

[Name some prayers of your own following this model….]

Thank you Lord, for the privilege of prayer. 

Please shape us more and more 

into the image of your Son as we learn to pray. 

In Jesus’ praying name. Amen. 

Read Luke 11:1-13.



A Prayer about the Transforming Work of the Spirit

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

A Prayer about the Transforming Work of the Spirit

….that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being… Ephesians 3:16

Risen Jesus,

Thank you for sending your Spirit as our Helper. 

No shriveled weakling is your Spirit; 

indeed, your Spirit strengthens us 

with a superpower far surpassing 

Superman’s or Wonderwoman’s. 

Your Spirit raises us 

right out of our spiritual death. 

Your Spirit softens hard hearts. 

Your Spirit renews our inner beings. 

Your Spirit roots your love deep 

in the once-rocky soil 

of our heart, soul, mind, and body. 

Your Spirit transforms us, 

that we may bear the fruit of being grafted into you: 

We walk in your love; 

we share your joy; 

we seek your peace; 

we wait with your patience; 

we move in your kindness; 

we reflect your goodness; 

we trust with your faithfulness; 

we touch with your gentleness; 

we resist with your self-control. 

Oh, yes, Lord, how we thank you 

for leaving your Spirit as our best Help!

In your kind name we pray. Amen.

Read Ephesians 3:14-21; John 14:15-17; Galatians 5:22-26.