Living Story Blog
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A Prayer about Grieving with Hope
Comforting God, How kind your Word is— you know that we will grieve when we lose loved ones, and you don’t tell us not to grieve. and yet, you remind us that Jesus gives us every reason to hope for a brighter day even as we grieve. For we know that our loved ones...
A Prayer for When We’re Afraid
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 trust in you. When we are afraid that we have made the...
A Prayer about Bearing One Another’s Burdens
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 weakness we find our greatest strength —strength in dependence on Christ, ...
A Prayer about Worshiping the God Who Delivers Us
Merciful God, Today, as we gather, whether in-person or apart, we remember your steadfast love which endures forever (Psalm 107:1). We have been in distress, from our own foolish and “sinful ways” (Psalm 107:17), from prisons of our own making and prisons of...
Hope for Hard Times: Be of Good Cheer
Dear Friends, In this season of Lent/preparation for Easter, it's a good time to reexamine our reason for hope, even when we are facing disastrous circumstances. Enjoy this excerpt from my devotional, From Recovery to Restoration: 60 Meditations for Finding Peace...
Counting Our Losses: The Hope of Lament
Dear friends, as we move through the season of Lent toward Easter, as many continue to experience loss in 2021, it seemed like a good time to share this excerpt from The Waiting Room: 60 Meditations for Finding Peace & Hope in a Health Crisis. I hope it meets you...
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Daily Prayers
A Prayer about the Coming of God’s Kingdom
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 Heavenly Father, Forgive us for ever mumbling this prayer by rote, not really thinking about what we are asking for. The fact is, this is a radical prayer. It is a prayer you invite us...
A Prayer about the Beauty, Surprise, and Joy of Jesus
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. Isaiah 25:6 Miracle-working Jesus, Two years ago, our pastor preached on your first miracle— turning...
A Prayer about Receiving a Dire Diagnosis
Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. Isaiah 41:10 Mighty and Merciful God, We lift up those who have just received the bad news about their health or a loved one’s health. It was cancer. There is no cure. We’re not sure what’s...
A Prayer about the Guidance We Need
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5 All-Wise God, You know that every morning I look at my weather app to help me plan for my day— how to...
A Prayer about Anticipating the Joys of Heaven
My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Philippians 1:23 Heavenly Father, We confess, some of the descriptions of heaven have made us think it would be boring. People with wings and robes floating around on clouds playing harps? Really?...
A Prayer about Why We Make a Joyful Noise
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Psalm 100:1 Joy-Giving Lord, You know that I’m not a very good singer, but I sure do like to “Make a joyful noise,” and I pray that would be true for...