Living Story Blog
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A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and 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 Healing Lord, Today we pray for all who have lost loved ones in the past...
A Prayer about Abounding in Hope and Joy
May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and hope in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 God of Hope, Thank you for the good news this verse offers: You are the God of hope, and you are the one who fills us...
A Prayer about Suffering with the Savior
Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword shall pierce your soul also)…Luke 2:34-35 Comforting Father, As this year draws to a close, I know many look forward to a new year, hoping that it...
Planning to Prepare a Legacy in 2023: Seven Steps to Reaching Your Legacy Goals
If you’ve been around this column for awhile, you know why I’m passionate about helping people prepare a practical and spiritual legacy: first, my father died in 2017, leaving very little guidance about his wishes despite the fact that he knew for 2 years that he had...
A Prayer about Jesus’ Tears
Jesus wept. John 11:35 Compassionate Lord, Even though the day most people exchange gifts has come and gone, or maybe especially because that day has come and gone, it’s a good time to contemplate this baby in the manger. Many of us love the Christmas lullaby ...
A Prayer about Joy in the Midst of Sadness
Celebrate joyfully in the Lord, all the time. I’ll say it again: Celebrate! Philippians 4:4 Lord, I love how theologian Tom Wright translates Philippians 4:4 and what he teaches us about joy in his advent devotional: Joy goes “hand in hand with hope: it doesn’t...
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Daily Prayers
A Prayer about Being an Exile on Earth
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Hebrews 11:13 Author God, I love how your Word reminds us of things we know...
A Prayer about the Questions God Asks
Where have you come from, and where are you going? Genesis 16:8 Pursuing God Thank you for chasing after us when we try to run away. Like Hagar in the wilderness, we can run ourselves into the ground, but you seek us, and you draw us out of our hiding, asking...
A Prayer about Believing that God Is for Us
This I know, that God is for me. Psalm 56:9 Holy and Merciful God, I admit, as I was reading this Psalm aloud in prayer the other day, I thought, how could David say these words so confidently: “This I know, that God is for me.” I thought about what a “big sinner”...
A Prayer about the Price Paid for Us
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10 Holy God, Redeeming Son, Sanctifying Spirit, How we thank you for the precious gift of a debt of our sins fully paid. Help us to...
A Prayer about Complicated Caregiving
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…’ Matthew 5:33-34 Heavenly Father, Loving Savior, Helping Spirit, Today we lift up all of those (including...
A Prayer about the Laughter of Hope
“God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” Genesis 21:6 Surprising Lord, At some point, we’ve all felt the despair Sarah felt after years of waiting for the child you had promised, after any physiological hope for a baby was past, and if...