Living Story Blog
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A Prayer about the Hope of the Cross
Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty shekels of silver. Matthew 26:14-15 Merciful Father, This scene ranks right up there as...
A Prayer about a King who Wins by Dying
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 Author God, Who would think to write such a story— the hero completes his mission by dying? And yet, this is just the true story you wrote. “It...
A Prayer about Faithlessness and Faithfulness
Peter answered, ‘Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, the very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’ Matthew 26:33-34 Faithful Lord, How like Peter we all are, ...
A Prayer about Watching Jesus’ Sorrow
“And he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.’” Mark 14:34 Father God, This scene in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before Jesus’ arrest both challenges and comforts me. Jesus first confessed to Peter, James, and John ...
Coping with Grief During the Holidays: Six Ways to Grieve with Hope
Dear Friends, As we enter the holiday season, I am all too aware that many of you are grieving the loss of a loved one or the loss of health for yourself or for a loved one. Two years ago, the first holiday season after my mom had died, I described my grief this way:...
Planning to Prepare Your Legacy: 7 Steps to Begin Sharing Your Legacy
If you’ve been around my blog 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 two years of his...
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Daily Prayers
A Prayer about Being Known by God
You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. Psalm 139:1 Gracious God, As we prayed yesterday, we are so thankful that you have invited us to know you, but we are even more thankful that you know us. We confess, we often fear being known, because we are afraid...
A Prayer about Really Knowing God
Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me… Jeremiah 9:23-24 Gracious God, May we learn to boast in the wild...
A Prayer about What to Do When We’re Afraid
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3 Faithful Lord, Thank you for your compassion for our fearfulness. Today, we bring our fears to you: When we are afraid that we will fail at work, at school, as caregivers [name any failures you fear], we put our...
A Prayer about Trusting in the Lord for All Things
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. Jeremiah 17:7 All-Wise God, Forgive us for placing our confidence or finding our security and significance in any number of idols that are not you— work, money, looks, family, friends, food,...
A Prayer about Bearing One Another’s Burdens
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 Merciful God, How exquisitely you have designed your church, the body of Christ. You have called us to share our weakness with you and with one another, and you tell us that in that...
A Prayer about Sharing Our Stories
One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4 Author God, What exciting stories of redemption you have written in our lives. Every day of our life, may we live to tell that story, in our deeds and in our words....