A Prayer about Seeking Immortality

by | Aug 22, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Seeking Immortality

How do you seek glory and honor and immortality?

To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life…Romans 2:7

Just Judge,

Again today, we grapple with Paul’s strong words 

about your judgment in Romans 2:1-11. 

We know the gospel tells us 

we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8). 

And yet, here we read: “He will render each according to his works…” (Romans 2:6). 

Help us to understand what one biblical scholar wrote,

“Judgment by deeds is not salvation by works…

our words and deeds follow our heart commitments.”* 

Lord, if we truly belong to you, 

then the Holy Spirit is transforming 

our hearts, 

our words, 

our deeds, 

so that we do become “patient in well-doing,” 

so that we do seek “glory and honor and immortality,” 

and so that we will bask in the joy of eternal life with you. 

Reading our Bibles, 

driving a friend to chemo, 

helping a co-worker figure out a problem, 

feeding a homeless person—

these are the acts that flow from being united with you. 

By your faithfulness in us through your Holy Spirit, 

we will persevere in glorifying you to the end.

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Romans 2:1-11. 

*See Ch. 5 of Dr. Dan Doriani’s Romans commentary.

A Prayer about the God Who Answers before We Call

by | Aug 21, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the God Who Answers before We Call

Do you know the God who anticipates your prayers?

Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

All-Knowing, All-Seeing Father,

We confess, we often forget 

that you know all things; 

you see all things.

And because you do, 

you are orchestrating your world 

such that even before affliction or adversity come, 

you are working in all things 

to provide comfort and consolation. 

Before the word “Help!” forms on our tongues, 

you are already moving 

to provide what we need. 

Before we have uttered a sound, 

you have heard, and when you hear, 

you move to act (See Exodus 2:23-25). 

When we feel incapable of praying, 

when we don’t know how to pray, 

we need not worry, 

for “the Spirit himself intercedes for us 

with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). 

Like the Good Father who ran toward his son 

while he was still a long way off (See Luke 15: 17-24), 

you have come near to us in your Son, 

who himself “lives to make intercession for [us]” (Hebrews 7:25). 

Oh Father, your love for us, 

your nearness to us, 

is incomprehensible! 

May we grasp the hope this gives us; 

the confidence and comfort it brings!

Amen.

Read Isaiah 65:24; Hebrews 7:20-28, Romans 8:26-39. 

A Prayer about the Silence of Adam

by | Aug 20, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Silence of Adam

Have you ever wondered if it was all Eve’s fault?

…she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6

Heavenly Father,

Recently I’ve been reminded of how crucial it is 

that we read your Word carefully. 

Otherwise, we can fall prey to human teachings 

that only do harm. 

Long ago, some misguided theologians 

started the terrible teaching 

that the fall of humanity was all Eve’s fault. 

As we revisit the first three chapters of Genesis, 

we see your design for the first man and the first woman, 

as well as your design for every marriage. 

Adam was called to name both beauty and sin (See Genesis 2:16-22). 

When the woman was formed from his flesh,

 he spoke the first poem in the Bible: 

“This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; 

she shall be called Woman, 

because she was taken out of Man” (Genesis 2:23). 

We sometimes miss the fact 

that Adam was standing with Eve 

when Satan, disguised as the serpent, 

approached her. 

We often fail to consider what might have happened 

if Adam had spoken up. 

“No sir, we will not  eat of that tree, 

for it’s the only tree that God forbade us. 

Our God is so generous. 

Our God has given us everything we need.” 

Sadly, those words aren’t in the Bible. 

Either Adam was equally drawn in by the serpent’s words, 

or he just couldn’t find the courage to oppose him. 

So when Eve reached for the fruit, 

he said nothing.

When Eve turned to him as he stood “with her,” 

he ate. 

Oh, Lord, may it never be! 

May we work together as husband and wife, 

as men and women too, 

to know your Word, 

your profound goodness, 

your lavish generosity, 

your rich mercy, 

and may we remind one another 

when the other is tempted.

In Jesus’ forgiving name. Amen. 

Read Genesis 1-3. 

A Prayer about Praying for Children and Grandchildren

by | Aug 19, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Praying for Children and Grandchildren

Do you ever struggle to know how to pray for your children, grandchildren, and/or others’ children?

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18

Heavenly Father,

I confess, as a parent, 

I so often forget 

the powerful tool 

of praying for my children. 

I remember when my kids were younger, 

I would often ask a friend just ahead of me 

if her child ever exhibited a certain behavior 

(biting, not eating her whole meal, talking back, etc.), 

and her answer became my go-to 

when younger moms asked me later, 

“Yes, my child did that, 

and I don’t remember what I did, 

but I know I prayed.” 

Father, today I pray 

for all of my parenting 

and grand parenting friends out there. 

As we feel the normal anxieties 

over our children and grandchildren, 

draw us by your Spirit to lay them all before you:

Worried about our granddaughter getting a job? 

Lord, provide for her.

Worried about our baby sleeping through the night? 

Lord, grant sleep and rest.

Worried about our son being overwhelmed as he enters high school? 

Lord, guide and keep him. 

[Name some worries you have for your children and/or grandchildren. Ask the Lord for help.]

Thank you for the powerful peace 

that comes from entrusting our children 

and grandchildren to you. 

In Jesus’ comforting name. Amen.

Read Ephesians 6:18, 1 Peter 5:6-7, Psalm 55:22, John 14:27

Friends, if you have children or grandchildren or simply want to pray for children, be sure to check out my printable guide to creating prayer cards for children. Go here to get it: http://eepurl.com/b__teX.

A Prayer about Righteousness and Justice for the Oppressed

by | Aug 18, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Righteousness and Justice for the Oppressed

Do you long to see righteousness and justice for the oppressed?

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:6

Holy, Righteous, and Just Lord,

Even as yesterday we considered 

so many of your benefits and blessings, 

today we meditate on the awe-some news 

that you work your righteousness and justice 

for all who are oppressed (Psalm 103:6). 

I confess, when I think “oppressed,” 

I often think of the marginalized and weak, 

those who have experienced 

the demeaning of their dignity as image-bearers, 

those who suffer regular injustices against them. 

Those are the “oppressed,” 

but we must remember that we, 

your people, were “oppressed” 

before you sent your Son, our Savior, 

to free us from our sins:

You sent Jesus to set prisoners free, 

to open the eyes of the blind (Luke 4:18), 

to lift up those who are enslaved by sin (Psalm 146:8).

Because of your abundant mercy and lavish love, 

we are set free, and we are made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

Now, as your new creation, 

you send us out as your ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:17-20),

to be instruments of your shalom: 

working toward 

“universal flourishing, 

wholeness, 

and delight”* 

Today and every day, 

open our eyes to see those who are oppressed—

whether in bondage to sin 

or marginalized because of their skin color, 

whether broken by loneliness and grief, 

or by addiction to substances, 

whether stuck in a cycle of poverty 

or in a cyclone of mental illness…

And strengthen our hands and our hearts 

to work for their flourishing and wholeness.

In Jesus’ righteous name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 103:6-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Psalm 146:7-9.

*Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin

A Prayer about All of the Lord’s Benefits

by | Aug 17, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about All of the Lord’s Benefits

Do you sometimes struggle with forgetting the Lord’s benefits? 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…Psalm 103:2

Saving Lord,

We confess, we have what some have called “gospel amnesia.” 

Heal our memories that we might recite your benefits, 

not just some of them, but ALL of them. 

To name a few…

Thank you for forgiving our sins (Psalm 103:3).

[Name some sins you are thankful God has forgiven you.]

Thank you for healing our diseases (Psalm 103:3). 

[Note: “diseases” refers to both spiritual and physical. 

Name some diseases you are thankful God has healed.]

Thank you for redeeming our lives from the pit (Psalm 103:4).

[Name some pits God has rescued you from.]

Thank you for crowning us with your steadfast love and mercy (Psalm 103:4).

[Name some ways God has shown you steadfast love and mercy that you might show it to others.]

Thank you for satisfying us with your goodness (Psalm 103:5).

[Name some ways God has satisfied you with his goodness.]

Thank you for renewing our youth by giving us life everlasting (Psalm 103:5).

[Name some ways you are grateful for God’s renewal in your life.]

Thank you, merciful Lord, for all of your many benefits and blessings.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 103:1-5.