A Prayer about the Welcoming Father

by | Jun 5, 2022 | Daily Prayer, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about the Welcoming Father

And he arose and came to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20.

Waiting Father,

Thank you for the beautiful story 

of the returning son and the waiting father

(aka the Prodigal Son story) 

Jesus told the story to demonstrate 

what our Heavenly Father is like.

You are a Father who forgives instantly, 

without bearing a grudge.

You are a Father who throws extravagant parties 

to celebrate our return.

You are a Father who loves 

the proud elder brothers 

and the rebellious younger sisters. 

You are a Father who welcomes all 

to know your wildly generous grace 

in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

In the name of your perfect Son, Jesus, we pray. 

Amen. 

Read Luke 15: 11-32.

A Prayer about the Best Heart Transplant

by | Jun 4, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about the Best Heart Transplant

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26.

Lord God,

I’ve always been fascinated with the strange prophecies of Ezekiel. 

I love the part where you tell him to breathe into the dry bones, 

and “there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, 

and the bones came together, bone to its bone.

”Then you tell Ezekiel to breathe some more, 

and all of these skeletons are covered with flesh  (Ezekiel 37:7-10). 

It is vivid picture of the new life you give us in Jesus Christ. 

We were walking skeletons in our sin (Ephesians 2:1), 

but you raised us to new life. 

Not only that, you gave us a heart transplant, 

so that we would be your people, and you would be our God.

Fill our imaginations, Lord. 

Help us to see our new hearts 

learning to pump out the lifeblood of love. 

Send us as your grace-plump, enfleshed people, 

into a hurting world that desperately needs new hearts.

In Jesus’ life-giving name. Amen.

Read Ezekiel 36:22-38; 37:1-14.

A Prayer about Becoming Trustworthy and True

by | Jun 3, 2022 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Becoming Trustworthy and True

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…Ephesians 4:15

Trustworthy and True Jesus,

Yesterday we prayed about 

your trustworthy, true nature.

Today, we ask that you would, 

by your Spirit, so unite us to yourself, 

that we become like you.

We want to be trustworthy and true people, 

dependable and honest. 

We want to be people who show up 

when we say we’ll be there. 

We want to be people 

who give advice 

infused with prayer and your wisdom. 

We want to be people who allow others

to rest and relax

because they feel safe and comfortable in our presence. 

In this world of uncertainty and unpredictability, 

make us carriers of your trustworthy and true nature. 

In your faithful name. Amen.

Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-24. 

A Prayer about the One Who Is Trustworthy and True

by | Jun 2, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Theology

A Prayer about the One Who Is Trustworthy and True

Write this down for these words are trustworthy and true. Revelation 21:5. 

Trustworthy and True Father,

We are distressed to learn 

that many of the leaders and institutions we have put our trust in, 

even spiritual ones, 

are not trustworthy and true. 

In fact, some cultural commentators say

there is an epidemic of mistrust in our world, 

and they may be right. 

How thankful we are 

that throughout Scripture, 

and especially in the wonderful vision of Revelation

about what really will happen one day “soon,” 

you emphasize how trustworthy and true you are. 

You are the God of truth, the God who never lies. 

You have sent your Son as our Savior, 

and he has proven himself 

to be perfectly trustworthy 

and perfectly loving. 

Unlike any of the fallible leaders in the world today, 

Jesus gave his life for us. 

Jesus made good on his promise 

to rise from the dead after three days. 

Jesus delivered on his pledge

to send a greater Helper, the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus ascended to heaven

and sits at your right hand this very minute, 

interceding for us (Romans 8:34).  

Your promise is trustworthy and true. 

Jesus is coming back. 

Jesus is restoring this broken world.

Jesus is making all things new. 

And one day we really will dwell in shalom forever. 

In Jesus’ faithful and true name. Amen.

Read Revelation 21:5; 22:6; 3:14; 19:11.

A Prayer about Remembering and Telling Our Stories

by | Jun 1, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Learning Story

A Prayer about Remembering and Telling Our Stories

“O my people, listen to my instructions.

    Open your ears to what I am saying,

for I will speak to you in a parable.

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—

    stories we have heard and known,

    stories our ancestors handed down to us.” Psalm 78:1-2

Story-Writing God,

Thank you for the true story of grace 

you have written in Scripture; 

Thank you for the stories of grace 

you have written into our lives. 

May we remember them and share them, 

as the Psalmist Asaph tells us to do.

He says that when we share our stories, 

it helps us and others to…

Turn away from our stubborn persistence 

in living life on our own terms;

Trust in you to rescue and redeem this broken world 

because you have done so in the past;

Hope in you today 

because of how you have already redeemed, 

and how you will restore in the final day; and…

Love others well by showing them 

the grace and mercy we have received.

May we remember that 

one of the best ways we can love others is by 

listening to their stories 

and by sharing our stories and The Story 

that is the basis for all of our faith, hope, and love.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 78. 

A Prayer about How We Can Love God and Our Neighbors

by | Mar 31, 2022 | 40-Day Prayer, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about How We Can Love God and Our Neighbors

Triune God,

In a day when hatred seems more common than love, 

when mocking seems more common than meekness, 

when taking offense seems more common than taking up our cross, 

we confess, the greatest commandment seems impossible. 

And yet, you have not only called us to love you 

with all of our beings, our hearts, our souls, our minds, our strength, 

you have empowered us through your Spirit to do so. 

You have not only called us to love you in this way, 

but you have called us to love our neighbors 

(including strangers and enemies) 

as much as we love ourselves (which we have to admit, is a lot!)

Thank you for Jesus, who loved us, 

Your enemies, 

so much that he died 

so that we might become your friends. 

May we live and love 

out of our gratitude 

for his sacrifice 

and out of the power 

of his resurrection. 

In Jesus’ loving name. Amen.

Read Mark 12:28-34.