A Prayer about Unspoken Prayer Requests

by | Jan 28, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about Unspoken Prayer Requests

For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26

Heavenly Father, 

Today we come to you 

on behalf of all of the people 

who have “unspoken prayer requests.” 

In our church prayer chains, 

we have no qualms about asking for prayer 

for our ailing aunt or our ongoing job search, 

but we are far more reticent 

to ask for prayer 

for our husband’s struggle with addiction, 

our daughter’s struggle with same-sex attraction, 

or our own struggle with depression. 

What’s worse, 

we don’t even know

how to pray for ourselves. 

So today, we lift up everyone 

who has a prayer request they fear to name. 

May we/they remember 

“your Father knows what you need 

even before you ask him” (Matthew 6:9). 

You are listening, you are looking, 

and when you see misery, you act (Exodus 2:23-24).

May we/they remember that your Holy Spirit 

is actively groaning with and for us (Romans 8:26). 

When we can’t put our prayer requests into words, 

the Holy Spirit joins in our groans, 

and you hear and understand. 

May we/they remember that your Son, 

our great High Priest, 

is praying for us, 

and “Therefore, he is able, 

once and forever, 

to save those who come to God through him. 

He lives forever to intercede with God 

on their behalf” (Hebrews 7:25). 

Finally, may we/they 

take heart that the church cares for us 

and bears our burdens with us, 

even the unspoken ones. 

In Jesus’ comforting name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 6:5-8; Romans 8:25-34; Hebrews 7:25; James 5:12. 

A Prayer of Lament for Those Who Die Young

by | Jan 27, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, body, Daily Prayer, Grief, Suffering

A Prayer of Lament for Those Who Die Young

He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!’ Revelation 22:20

 Merciful God,

We believe you to be merciful; 

help our unbelief.

We admit, 

we struggle to understand 

why you would take young people home 

when it seems to us 

they have so many more days 

to bear fruit here on this earth. 

Why, Lord? 

Why do you take children, 

a little girl who just professed her faith in you, 

a young man who just shared his testimony to his entire football team, 

a young woman who sang her love for you 

to all who would listen? 

We can’t understand. 

We hurt with the loss of young ones 

precious to us, 

precious to their friends, 

precious to their parents. 

We know. 

We know we are but dust. 

We know we are frail and fragile 

from the day you bring us into this world. 

And at some level, we remember that we were made for more. 

We were made for a life that will never end. 

We were made for eternal glory, 

to live with you in a home 

where there will be 

no more death, 

no more pain, 

no more sorrow, 

no more mourning. 

We know this. 

In these hard days of grief, 

open our eyes to see the day which you, 

dear Lord Jesus, 

promise is coming soon. 

The day when we will be gathered together 

with all those we have lost, 

infants and children and young adults 

and the very very old. 

In that day, 

we will see. 

In that day, we may not know “why” 

you took our loved one before we were ready, 

but we will see your face, 

and we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt 

your goodness, 

your mercy, 

your love, 

your kindness, 

and most of all, 

your joy. 

Until that day comes, 

fill our hearts with this eternal hope, 

because of the death and resurrection 

of Christ your beloved Son. 

In his compassionate name we pray. Amen. 

Read Matthew 26:36-46; Revelation 21:1-5; Revelation 22:20-21.

A Prayer about Living and Dying in Faith

by | Jan 26, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, kingdom living, Numbering Our Days

A Prayer about Living and Dying in Faith

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Hebrews 11:13

Heavenly Father,

Whatever our age,

Make us ready always 

to “die in faith.” 

Dying in faith is the natural conclusion 

to living in faith. 

Dying in faith is to look to the redemption 

you have already accomplished in this world

and in our lives through Jesus Christ, 

to be convicted of things we haven’t seen yet: 

our heavenly homeland, 

the new heavens and new earth life 

that will truly fulfill our every hope (Hebrews 11:1). 

To live and die in faith 

is to let go of the things of this earth 

to which we sometimes cling too tightly, 

knowing we are “strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). 

To live and die in faith 

is to trust your perfect timing 

in numbering our days 

and your perfect patience 

in sending Jesus back 

to take us home. 

To live and die in faith 

is to wait eagerly 

for the restoration of all broken things 

even as we groan inwardly 

when life hurts (Romans 8:19). 

Father, give us the eyes of faith 

to endure until the day comes 

when we are reunited with you.

In Jesus’ living and dying name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 11:1-16; Romans 8: 19. 

A Prayer about Not Being Haughty

by | Jan 25, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Not Being Haughty

For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. Psalm 18:27

Humble Savior,

We confess, our eyes are often haughty: 

We see others and think we are somehow 

more righteous, 

more beloved, 

more acceptable than they are. 

We see others’ mistakes and think they are monstrous, 

but we fail to see the glaring sin 

in our own hearts (Matthew 7:1-5). 

We are quick to condemn others, 

though you have shown us mercy.

Jesus, by your Spirit, 

we urge you—make us like you, 

who though you were 

“in the form of God, did not count equality with God 

a thing to be grasped…”

who “humbled yourself by becoming obedient to the point of death, 

even death on a cross” (the most humiliating form of death in that culture) (Phil. 2:6-8). 

Jesus, by your Spirit, 

draw our hearts to see 

the beauty of your humility 

and shape us into your lovely image. 

In your exalted name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 18:27; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 7:1-5. 

A Prayer about How God Created Our Bodies

by | Jan 24, 2023 | body, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about How God Created Our Bodies

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

Creator God,

You have intricately fashioned our bodies, 

beginning in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13).

You have counted the hair on our heads 

and our tears in your bottle (Luke 12:7; Psalm 56:8).

Forgive us for failing 

to proclaim the goodness of our bodies. 

Help us to affirm with David, 

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

May we treat our bodies 

kindly and honorably, 

as the very temple of worship 

you designed them to be (1 Corinthians 6:19).

And may we use 

our feet, our hands, 

our mouths, our tongues, 

to serve you and praise you all of our days.

In the name of Jesus, God-made-flesh. Amen. 

Read Psalm 139:13-16; Luke 12:7; Psalm 56:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19.

A Prayer about Trusting the Lord to Protect Children

by | Jan 23, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Parenting, Prayer

A Prayer about Trusting the Lord to Protect Children

She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. Exodus 2:3b

Compassionate Father, 

As loving parents and grandparents, 

we desperately want to protect our children. 

And yet, you alone 

are powerful enough, 

wise enough, 

and merciful enough 

to properly protect them. 

As we read about Moses’ mother 

trying to protect him from the Egyptian Pharaoh 

who ordered the murder of all male Israelites babies, 

we see your saving hand at work. 

You gave Jochebed wisdom and wit 

to develop a plan for protecting Moses — 

she placed him in a basket made of reeds and pitch 

and set him into the reeds by the river bank (Exodus 2:3). 

We wonder if she felt afraid or if she fully trusted 

that you would save her infant son from drowning. 

How many times have we felt this back and forth 

between trust in you and fear for our children—

when they are sick or have an ongoing health issue, 

when we have to leave them in a new place we’re not comfortable with, 

when they make friends at school 

who might not be the best influence.  

Give us the wit and wisdom you gave Jochebed. 

Show us how to best protect 

our children and grandchildren 

from danger of all kinds. 

Most of all, give us the faith to believe 

that you love our children even more than we do, 

and that you are always seeking their good and your glory.

In Jesus’ child-loving name. Amen.

Read Exodus 2:1-10.