A Prayer about the One Thing We Need

by | Jan 22, 2023 | body, Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the One Thing We Need

Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’ John 6:35

 Lord Jesus,

Bread of life; manna from heaven,

Forgive us when we are like the grumbling people in this story, 

people who have just been fed a filling feast 

you produced out of two fish and five loaves

and who now clamor for more miracles. 

Open our eyes to see that you are the miracle, 

you are the one thing we need. 

We don’t need tricks and magic shows, 

we need the miracle of redemption, 

a Savior sent from heaven to feed us 

the food that fully satisfies, 

to fill us with the living water that quenches our thirst. 

May we see that you are real, 

that while we can’t physically eat you like a piece of bread, 

we can fully partake of you, 

moment by moment, 

through your Word, by your Spirit. 

Help us to see that when we fully take you in, 

you satisfy our deepest longings—

for love, for peace, 

for hope, for trust, 

for forgiveness, for healing. 

In your very real name. Amen. 

Read John 6:22-71.

A Prayer about Caring for the Mentally Ill

by | Jan 21, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Grief, Suffering

A Prayer about Caring for the Mentally Ill

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

Comforting Father,

We lift up all who are affected by mental illness. 

Sadly, because of our ignorance about mental illness, 

many of the mentally ill suffer “secondary wounds.” 

Both the afflicted and their families have suffered

quick-fix by faith cures, 

condemnation of behavior, 

or exile from the body. 

As we look to our Lord Jesus, 

who came alongside the mentally afflicted 

and often healed but always cared, 

make us more like him. 

Help us to be sensitive, 

to consider the context of suffering, 

to listen well, 

to remember the hope we have to offer—

the incarnate, resurrected, and ascended Christ 

will one day come again 

to redeem and restore all broken bodies. 

How we ache for that day.

In Christ’s restoring name. Amen. 

Read 1 Peter 5:10; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 4:24; Romans 15:13. 

A Prayer about the Good News for Robbers, Liars, and Cheats

by | Jan 20, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Scripture

A Prayer about the Good News for Robbers, Liars, and Cheats

Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. Genesis 31:19

Author God,

What a story, a true story, 

you have given us in your Word. 

As I begin a new reading program this year*, 

going through much of Genesis over a two-week period, 

I am dumbstruck by all of 

the murder, hatred, envy, robbery, lying, and cheating — 

by the very people you have promised to bless.

In just part of the true story, 

Jacob cheats Esau; Laban cheats Jacob. 

Leah is despised; Rachel envies Leah. 

Rachel steals her father’s household gods, 

then lies about them when he comes looking for them (Genesis 27-31). 

As we read your whole Story of grace, 

we see people like ourselves, 

people who feel envious, 

people who cover up the truth sometimes, 

people who trick or manipulate others 

to get what they want, 

people who hate and people who feel hated. 

And yet, what we see in this Story over and over again 

is you, the faithful, steadfastly loving, 

merciful, and forgiving God 

who continues to call your people 

to be fruitful and multiply, 

who sent your Son to forgive and cleanse us 

from our sins once and for all. 

Give us a deep love 

for the truth and hope in your redeeming Word. 

In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Read Genesis.

A Prayer about God’s Plans for Us

by | Jan 19, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about God’s Plans for Us

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11. 

Sovereign Lord,

It’s not even the end of January, 

and some of the plans and goals we made for this year 

have already ended in what looks like “disaster” to us: 

instead of being on track to run a 5k, 

we had the flu and stayed in bed for a week, 

instead of being more patient with our kids, 

our teenager wrecked the car and we lost it, 

instead of planning our anniversary trip, 

our spouse was diagnosed with cancer…

All good plans…disrupted.

Thank you for the truth of this verse—

you were speaking to the Israelites 

who were exiled in Babylon 

because of their disobedience and sin. 

Yes, their dreams had been crushed, 

their plans changed, 

but you promised them redemption and restoration 

not after, but during 

their time of exile. 

Help us draw near to you 

and trust in you in disrupted plans, 

that we might see the good stories 

you are writing in our lives 

for your glory.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Jeremiah 29:1-11. 

A Prayer about Clearing the Caregiver Fog

by | Jan 18, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, Caregiving, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Clearing the Caregiver Fog

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city…. Revelation 22:1

Creator God,

Today we lift up all the caregivers of hospital patients. 

You are with them, 

so you know the fog that sets in 

after days of caring for a patient 

in the hospital. 

It may feel like Pigpen’s cloud 

surrounding the brain, 

making clear thinking dusty

when it seems essential.

In the room dimly lit by fluorescents, 

the walls are two awful shades of beige, 

and before you know it, 

every thought and perspective is colored dingy beige.

Lord into this foggy space,

we ask you to send the radiating light of your Son, 

that the caregiver’s mind and heart 

might be transported 

to the glorious day to come. 

May she see the silvery river of the water of life 

glistening into this dim space. 

May she brighten at the brilliant greens 

and lemon yellows 

of the leaves of the tree 

for the healing of nations (and patients). 

May she imagine the better day, 

the eternal day 

when she and her loved one will taste of all twelve kinds of fruit, 

pomegranates and mangoes and juicy oranges and grapes 

bursting with the joy of it all.

Comfort the caregiver with this true hope, 

the hope of eternal glory.

In Jesus’ restoring name. Amen. 

Read Revelation 22:1-5.

A Prayer about the Gift of Prayer

by | Jan 17, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about the Gift of Prayer

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 how precious is the gift of 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.

Amen. 

Read James 5:13; Psalm 42; Psalm 95.