A Prayer about Moving from the Domain of Darkness

by | Feb 6, 2022 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Moving from the Domain of Darkness

Father, 

I confess, 

sometimes the darkness of this world 

seems all-encompassing. 

The depressing news, 

the bent toward meanness, 

the joy in judginess

…I see it everywhere—

in my own heart and in the hearts of others. 

What good news it is to remember then, 

that we who are in Christ

no longer live in the “domain of darkness.” 

You have transferred us and transformed us. 

Now we have a rich inheritance: 

“the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:12). 

Now we are freed from the tyrant Satan 

to serve you, our redeeming and forgiving King. 

Now our primary language is “thanksgiving” 

and our primary work is “endurance and patience and joy” (Colossians 1:11). 

Now we have been “strengthened with all power, 

according to his glorious might” (Colossians 1:11).

to live as citizens of the kingdom of the beloved Son.

So very gratefully we pray. Amen. 

Read Colossians 1:9-14.

A Prayer about God’s Purposes in Aging

by | Feb 5, 2022 | aging, dying, and death, body, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about God’s Purposes in Aging

Everlasting Father,

In a world that often marginalizes or mocks the elderly, 

transform us into people who honor and value the elderly.

Even as we age, may we see your holy purposes for aging—

some may no longer have the energy to tend to babies all night long, 

but they do wake up in the night, 

and they can pray for those who do.

Some may no longer have the physical agility 

to perform skilled labor, 

but they do have years of experience 

and can teach those who do.

Some may no longer have the responsibilities 

of running a business, 

but they do have the ability and wisdom 

to give good counsel to those who do.

Lord, may we see the opportunities aging affords, 

and may we embrace not only our own aging, 

but the aging of others. 

May we see that you call the elderly 

to continue giving you glory 

by learning and leading every day of their lives. 

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 20:29; Titus 2:2-5; 1 Timothy 5:1 . 

A Prayer about Getting Unstuck

by | Feb 4, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Joy

A Prayer about Getting Unstuck

Author God,

What a profound true story you have given us to demonstrate 

the only real hope for those of us who feel stuck—

whether stuck in sin, stuck in bad habits, or just stuck in life.

May we read this story and see 

how Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), 

how his revelation that he is the Messiah, 

the Christ, the King of our lives, 

changes everything when we believe it. 

The Samaritan woman, 

who had been stuck for a long time, 

dropped her water jar

and ran back to the very people 

she had just avoided 

to invite them to meet the Messiah (John 4:28-30). 

May we truly seek out the Jesus who seeks us out. 

May we find ourselves found in him. 

And may we become true worshipers—

those who worship in spirit and in truth (4:23). 

Read John 4:1-42. For more thoughts on this story, check out this weekly gospel meditation. 

A Prayer about Preventing Bitterness

by | Feb 3, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Preventing Bitterness

Merciful Lord,

May we hear your dire warning 

to guard our hearts 

from the toxic root of bitterness.

Bitterness characterizes the unrighteous, 

whose “mouth is full of curses and bitterness, 

whose feet are swift to shed blood” (Romans 3:14-15). 

Bitterness characterizes the selfish, 

those who are “in the gall of bitterness 

and in the bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:23). 

Bitterness grows when we refuse to forgive. 

For those forgiven by you, 

bitterness makes no sense. 

Knowing the cost of our sins 

you paid on the cross, 

we pray daily, “forgive us our debts, 

as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). 

Knowing how fully you have forgiven us, 

we forgo resentment and bitterness, 

striving for “peace with everyone” 

insofar as it depends on us (Hebrews 12:15; Romans 12:18). 

In your grace-giving name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 12:14-15; Romans 3:10-18; Romans 12:9-21. 

A Prayer about Receiving the Lord’s Discipline

by | Feb 2, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Receiving the Lord’s Discipline

Heavenly Father,

Although your discipline, 

your correction, 

your reproof 

may seem painful at the time, 

help us to receive it as the tender and kind strength 

of a good Father who deeply loves his children. 

Remind us of the truth misapplied by Eliphaz—

“For he wounds, but he binds up; 

He shatters, but his hands heal” (Job 5:11-12). 

Remind us that while earthly fathers 

may discipline poorly and for a short time, 

you discipline us “for our good, 

that we may share his holiness.” 

Help us to wait for the day 

your discipline will “yield 

the peaceful fruit of righteousness 

to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11). 

Most of all, remind us that while you discipline us, 

you are not punishing us, 

for you have already punished Jesus, 

our Savior, 

on the cross 

for every sin 

we would ever commit: 

“Consider him who endured from sinners 

such hostility against himself, 

so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:3).

In Jesus’ enduring name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:1-11.

A Prayer about Peace for Troubled Hearts

by | Feb 1, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Peace for Troubled Hearts

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for this profound promise 

for troubled hearts:

You leave us peace, your peace, 

which in the Bible refers to something way better 

than a day without car, or credit trouble.  

Your peace is “shalom,” 

a state of flourishing, 

wholeness, 

and harmony.

When our hearts are troubled—

aching because of good hopes dashed again and again and again, 

miserable because we have harmed one we love through our sin, 

agonized because we have suffered yet another setback in our recovery, 

you give us your peace, your rest, your hope, your wholeness. 

It is not the peace the world gives, 

it is the peace of the cross, 

for you spoke these words 

just before you died on a cross for us. 

It is the peace of restoration, 

for you died on that cross 

so that we who believe might be restored 

as children of the Father. 

It is the peace of the wholeness 

we will one day know 

in heart and mind and body and soul 

when you come again 

to bring the new heavens and the new earth. 

Because of your peace, 

we have every reason 

to obey your command:

“Let not your hearts be troubled; 

neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

In your peace-bringing name. Amen.

Read John 14:1-30.