A Prayer about the Precious Gift of Prayer

by | Jan 19, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Precious Gift of Prayer

Are you in awe that God invites you to pray? 

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.  Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” James 5:13

Good, Good Father,

May we grasp the precious gift you’ve given us in prayer.

Whether we are in trouble or triumph, 

we can cry out to you, with tears or with joy. 

We don’t have to come up with 

highfalutin sounding words. 

In fact, you have given us all the words 

we need to pray. 

When we can’t come up with the words, 

all we have to do is open your Word. 

If we’re feeling sad, there’s: 

“Why are you cast down, 

O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil 

within me? 

Hope in God, 

for I shall again praise him, 

My salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5). 

If we’re feeling delight, 

we shout, 

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; 

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). 

And when we’re just too numb or confused to pray, 

we have the assurance 

that the Spirit is groaning for us 

and Jesus is interceding for us (Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 7:25). 

Thank you, Lord, 

for the sweet communion of prayer 

and for all of my praying friends.

Amen. 

Read James 5:13; Psalm 42; Psalm 95. 

A Prayer about the Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr.

by | Jan 18, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr.

What is your greatest longing?

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Isaiah 40:4 ESV

Holy God,

I love this day, a day to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 

and his dream, 

yes, 

but also a day to name our longing 

for the day when that dream will finally come true.

As I re-read the powerful words 

Dr. King spoke at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, 

the gospel roots of his dream are unmistakeable. 

He said, 

“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted (Yes), 

every hill and mountain shall be made low, 

the rough places will be made plain (Yes), 

and the crooked places will be made straight (Yes), 

and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed [cheering], 

and all flesh shall see it together. (Yes Lord)”.

As Dr. King dreamed of a day when the wrongs of slavery 

would be made right, 

when the ravages of racism 

would be healed, 

we still long for that day 

when your glory will be fully revealed (Isaiah 40:5).

Even now, just over sixty years past the date of his speech,

the sin of racism remains, 

and many are discouraged. 

Draw us to look to you, Lord, 

to see you working in your kingdom already come in Christ, 

to create a land in which there is the freedom 

for which Christ set every man and woman free (Galatians 5:1). 

Help us, even as we long for justice to roll down on this earth 

to know there is a day coming 

when justice for all people will be the reality 

for every person who trusts in Christ as their king. 

Even as we long for justice and lean toward that final day, 

empower us to love our neighbors by working toward that equality 

for every human being today.

In the name of the one who humbled himself 

that we might all call your kingdom our home.

Amen.

Read Isaiah 40:1-5.

A Prayer about the Foolishness of Sin

by | Jan 17, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Foolishness of Sin

Do you need hope for the folly of sin?

The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. Psalm 14:1

Merciful and Forgiving Lord,

Thank you for this reminder 

that without Jesus, our Savior, 

we are all fools. 

Our sin nature, 

the nature with which we were born 

persists in telling us, 

“There’s no God. 

You are your own god. 

Do what feels right to you, 

because you rule!” 

Our sin nature whispers to us, 

“You’re a good person. 

You’re not nearly so bad 

as that guy down the street 

who always yells at his wife and kids.” 

The apostle Paul says, 

“All have sinned and fall short 

of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

David says, 

“There is none who does good, 

not even one” (Psalm 14:3). 

And yet, there is one who did do good, 

one who never sinned. 

And he came for us, 

to be our perfect sacrifice. 

He sent his Spirit to arouse us 

from our zombie status, 

to awaken us to the true wisdom of Jesus. 

Thank you, Lord, 

for such a great salvation. 

Thank you for making us “good” 

in Christ’s goodness, our only hope. 

Read Psalm 14. 

A Prayer about the Joy of Believing

by | Jan 16, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Joy of Believing

Has believing in Jesus brought you joy?

And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. Acts 16:34

Wonder-Working God,

Help us to see ourselves in this Philippian jailer! 

Likely a Roman citizen, 

trained to bow down to the emperor (what did we bow down to before you?), 

he obeyed the order to unjustly imprison Paul and Silas, 

chaining them by their feet in the maximum security prison 

“to keep them safely” (Acts 16:23-24). 

We wonder, author God, did he sneer in contempt 

as Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to you (Acts 16:25)? 

And then, when you sent the earthquake, 

and the prison doors flew open, 

what terror he felt as he anticipated 

being sent to his death by his superiors 

for letting the prisoners escape. 

He drew his sword, 

prepared to take his own life 

rather than to endure the beating 

and death sentence to come. 

But Paul cried out, “We’re all here” (Acts 16:27-28). 

Why, God, was the jailer’s first response 

to fall down trembling with fear, 

and asking, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). 

Oh, Lord, may the jailer’s response 

remind us of seasons 

when we desperately needed to know 

what we must do to be saved. 

May the jailer’s response remind us 

of how you invited us, 

“Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved….” (Acts 16:31). 

And then, as we remember your mercy and grace, 

how you saved us out of a desperate time, 

may we join the jailer in rejoicing 

(even though he might have lost his job 

for taking prisoners into his home), 

rejoicing that by your grace, 

we have believed in you! 

What great good news this is, 

today and every day!

Amen. 

Read Acts 16:23-34

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

by | Jan 15, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

Do you sometimes struggle to believe in God’s power?

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:13

All-Powerful God,

Every time I read this awkward scene for Sarah in Genesis 18, 

I cringe, 

mostly because I recognize myself 

in her struggle to believe.

The Lord has promised Abraham and Sarah 

descendants as numerous as the stars, 

and yet, “The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah” (Gen. 18:11), 

and Abraham is a ripe 99-years-old. 

So we can hardly blame Sarah for laughing 

when she overhears one of the visitors, 

“the Lord,” 

say, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, 

and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Gen. 18:10). 

Things get awkward when the Lord asks Abraham, 

“Why did Sarah laugh and say, 

‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

Is anything too hard for the Lord?” 

Sarah denies laughing, and the Lord responds, 

“No, but you did laugh” (Gen. 18:14-15). 

Oh Lord, you know the places of our lives 

where we struggle to believe that nothing is too hard for you—

For new companionship to ease our loneliness 

or for healing in broken relationships…

For healing of a chronic illness 

or for belief that a terminal illness will lead to ultimate healing…

For a job that provides for our family 

or a job that allows us to escape an abusive boss….

[Name some places you struggle to believe…]

Help us to trust in you to care for us 

in every detail of our lives 

because you sent your Son in a virgin’s womb, 

because you raised your Son from the dead, 

that those who trust in him might live forever in your love. 

In Jesus’ all-powerful name we pray. Amen. 

Read Genesis 18

A Prayer about Taking Our Fears to the One Who Created Us

by | Jan 14, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Taking Our Fears to the One Who Created Us

Do you know the One who tells you not to fear?

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Creator and Lord,

Over and over in Scripture, 

we read the words, “Do not fear.” 

Help us to hear you speaking them to us. 

Help us to know in our very bones 

that we can trust you. 

Who is the One telling us not to fear?

You are the One who created us, 

who formed us in the womb (Is. 43:1; Psalm 139:13), 

who conceived of us before we were conceived. 

You are the One who tells us 

we belong to you; we are yours (Is. 43:1). 

You are the One who speaks the loving words ever so gently, 

“Because you are precious in my eyes, 

and honored, 

and I love you, 

I give men in return for you ….” 

Knowing who you are,

we now bring our fears honestly to you:

Lord, I fear…[name a fear and why you fear it]

Lord, I fear…[name a fear and why you fear it]

[Continue with as many fears as you can think of.]

Now that we have shared our fears, 

we listen again to your voice 

through your comforting Scripture:

“Fear not, for I am with you” (Is. 43:8).

Indeed, Lord, with you with us and for us, 

who can stand against us?

Thank you for calming our fears.

Amen. 

Read Isaiah 43:1-7.

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