A Prayer about Needing to Lie Down

by | Jan 8, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Needing to Lie Down

Will you lie down and rest?

I will make you lie down in safety. Hosea 2:18

Protecting Father,

We confess, we resist lying down; we resist rest.

We’d rather, to change Spurgeon’s words around a little, 

sit up and worry than lie down in peace.

You know this about us, 

and that is why you “make us 

lie down in safety.” 

We are truly stubborn sheep, 

who you so kindly tend. 

You “make us lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2). 

We believe; help our unbelief.

Help us to trust 

that you will one day 

abolish the bow and the sword (Hosea 2:18).

Help us to know that we need not fear 

“sudden terror or the ruin of the wicked” (Prov. 3:25), 

so that we may lie down and not be afraid (Proverbs 3:24-25). 

Help us to believe that we are always safe “in Christ,” 

our true haven and home, 

where nothing can separate us from your love.

Help us to remember 

that while we are subject to 

“tribulation, distress, 

persecution, famine, 

nakedness, danger,  and sword” (Romans 8:35)

in this world, 

the day is soon coming 

when we will be safe in the walls of the holy city, 

where no danger or threat can enter.

In Jesus’ protecting name. Amen. 

Read Hosea 2:18; Psalm 23:1-2; Proverbs 3:24-25; Romans 8:31-38.

*This prayer inspired by Charles Spurgeon, Promises of God, January 4. ​

A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears

by | Jan 7, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Day of No More Tears

Do you look forward to 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,

January now brings with it for me many memories of my mom — 

her birthday on January 4; 

her death day on January 12; 

her funeral on January 8.*

As I remember her with sorrow and longing,

I return to the hope you offer me and my grieving friends:

The hope of the Day to come 

when there will be 

no more death, 

nor mourning, 

nor crying, 

nor pain. 

In these remarkable final chapters of your Word, 

you give us a glimpse of what that day will be like:

We will live in safety, with our identity secure in you,

because you will dwell with us (Revelation 21:3).

We will see Jesus face to face, 

and his name will be engraved 

on our foreheads (Revelation 22:4).

We will drink for free and freely from 

the river of the water of life, 

and we will dine lavishly

on the fruit of the tree of life (Revelation 21:6; 22:1).

We will marvel at your majesty, 

and we will long to serve you and no other (Revelation 22:3).

We will enjoy peaceful community 

of people from every tribe and tongue and nation (Revelation 21:4; 22:2).

There’s more, so much more, 

to that day 

which will last forever. 

We believe your promise, 

“Surely, I am coming soon,” 

and we cry in response, 

“Come, Lord Jesus.”

In your hope-giving name. Amen.

Read Revelation 21-22. 

*Because of Covid, we had to wait an entire year to have the funeral my mother had planned.

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

by | Jan 6, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

Can you see the light? 

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1

Glorious God,

Though the twelfth day of Christmas 

has come and gone, 

the defrocked trees lie 

dried and withered by the curb, 

may we see the glory of Christ-with-us, 

the good news that our light has come, 

today and every day of this year.

Peel the scales from our eyes, 

so we may see the light

that has overcome the thick darkness, 

your grace, and your glory, 

your mercy and your kindness to us 

in Christ. 

Indeed, may all “nations come to your light, 

and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3). 

Open our eyes to see the great ingathering 

of your people, 

“the sons …come from afar…

the daughters carried on the hip…” (Isaiah 60:4). 

Radiate our hearts with this good news 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen. 

Read Isaiah 60:1-5. 

A Prayer about Falling in Love with God’s Word

by | Jan 5, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Falling in Love with God’s Word

Does reading the Bible ever seem dry to you?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1

Loving Father, 

As many of us begin a new season of Bible study, 

help us to grasp deeply the best reasons 

for studying your Word. 

To begin with, as John tells us, 

the Bible is your Word, 

your true story about yourself—

Author God, 

Saving Son, 

Guiding Spirit. 

Not only that, 

your Word has the power 

to change our lives, 

to make us more like Jesus (See Matt. 13:18-23). 

Not only that, 

your Word is the One True Story 

that explains the beauty of our world and ourselves 

as your creation (See Genesis 1-2), 

tells us what happened to make life so hard (See Genesis 3), 

gives us the hope of redemption in Jesus Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:16-21), 

and — spoiler alert — tells us how our story will end, 

with the return of our King, Jesus, 

to establish the new heavens and new earth (See Revelation 21-22). 

Your Word renews our mind 

and changes our hearts (See Romans 12:1-2). 

Encourage us today to enjoy studying the Bible. 

Send us to places where we can study the Bible with others. 

Melt our frozen hearts 

with the warmth of your love 

that flows through the pages of Scripture.

Amen.

Read Matthew 13:18-23; Genesis 1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Revelation 21:1-4

A Prayer about Hope for Temptation

by | Jan 4, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Hope for Temptation

How do you feel when you give in to temptation?

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

Lord Jesus,

We’re only five days into 2026, 

and most of us have already broken 

at least one New Year’s resolution, 

if we even made them. 

Worse still, we’ve all already succumbed to temptation—

to speak ill of a friend or an enemy, 

to eat or drink more than is good 

for the bodies you gave us, 

to say “yes” when we should have said “no,” 

or to say “no” when we should have said “yes.” 

And yet, on this twelfth day of Christmas,

we take comfort in this passage (Hebrews 2:14-18).

You knew that in our humanity 

we would struggle with temptation and sin, 

so you took on our humanity—

everything except the sin. 

You gave your human body, 

sinless and righteous, 

as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. 

Because you did, 

we who are in you, 

are forever freed from the fear of death. 

Not only that, we are freed from slavery 

to the devil, 

that we might become obedient like you. 

And when we do struggle with temptation, 

we have a Savior who can really help, 

because you endured the pain and struggle 

of temptation for us. 

Encourage us today 

to walk in your new morning mercy.

Amen.

Read Hebrews 2:14-18.

​

A Prayer about Trusting God for Transformation

by | Jan 3, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Trusting God for Transformation

Do you want to see transformation this year?

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Faithful God,

As this new year begins, I and others are making plans, 

hopefully good, God-authored plans 

to pursue the unique callings you have given us.

As we do so, help us to take stock of the unique gifts 

and wounds you have written into our lives:

[Name some of the gifts God has given you—

unique story, abilities, passions, etc. 

and some of the wounds you’ve experienced (because God works to redeem all things].

Guide us by your Holy Spirit to see 

the people, places, and things 

you have called us to in the coming year.

[Take a few moments to listen to the Holy Spirit 

about the people, places, and things 

he is calling you to this year.]

Help us by the wisdom of Jesus, 

who had perfect boundaries, 

to know when to say “no.”

Help us by the grace of Jesus, 

who served perfectly, 

to know when to say “yes.”

In every step we take, 

may we look to you and trust you 

to complete the good works 

you have “prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).  

Amen.

Read Proverbs 3:5-6; Colossians 3:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10.