A Prayer about Suffering for the Sake of Christ

by | Aug 26, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Suffering for the Sake of Christ

Father God,

Thank you for the Apostle Paul. 

What a strange and wonderful man he was, 

so markedly changed by Jesus Christ.

He spoke these words of farewell 

to his dear friends in Ephesus, 

saying basically, 

“I don’t know what will happen to me in Jerusalem, 

but I know I will suffer and be imprisoned” (Acts 20:22-23). 

He continued his farewell by saying, 

“It’s not about me” (ET translation Acts 20:24a), 

stating his primary purpose, his main goal:

“If only I may finish my course and the ministry 

that I received from the Lord Jesus, 

to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

Father, I confess, too often, 

my main focus is getting things checked off my to-do list, 

or praying for and supporting my children in their various needs. 

These are good things, but I want my focus to be on the best thing. 

By the power of your Holy Spirit, make me more like Paul….

no, scratch that—make me more like Jesus, 

willing to suffer 

so that many would know the good news about your grace.

In Jesus’ life-changing name. Amen.

Read Acts 20:17-38.

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A Prayer about Resurrection Joy in Seasons of Sorrow

by | Aug 25, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Suffering

A Prayer about Resurrection Joy in Seasons of Sorrow

Risen Savior,

I love this story about Mary Magdalene.

Not finding you in the tomb, she wept.

Then she turned to see you but failed to recognize you.

You called her name, “Mary.”

She heard your voice and recognized you. 

She embraced you as her tears turned to joy.

May we see you today as our risen and ascended Savior, 

occupying your heavenly throne, 

ruling over the brokenness in this world, 

redeeming in ways we can’t see yet. 

May we stand on tiptoes to look beyond 

what we read in the news or hear reported 

to see you coming “soon,” 

bringing the new heavens and the new earth with you (Revelation 21:1-5; Revelation 22:7). 

When we see you as a risen, ascended, and returning Savior, 

we know joy even in the midst of sorrow, 

remembering that one day soon 

your kingdom of peace and justice 

and righteousness will reign forever. 

In your resurrected name. Amen.

Read John 20: 11-18; Revelation 21:1-5.

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A Prayer about Praying Briefly but Often

by | Aug 24, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about Praying Briefly but Often

Merciful Father,

In the past week, 

I’ve received more emails requesting prayer 

than I have in the past three months. 

We confess, too often, we go about our lives 

thinking that we’ve basically “got it,” 

and we don’t acknowledge our dependence on you by praying. 

Some of us don’t pray because we think 

we have to have the right language; 

others don’t pray because we think 

our prayers have to be long and tedious. 

Father, help us to remember 

that Jesus warned his disciples against 

“heaping up empty phrases” 

and then gave them a very short prayer to pray, 

what we call “The Lord’s Prayer.” (Matthew 6:7-13).

Father, indeed, you know what we need before we ask.

So today we pray 

that we will pray briefly but often, 

coming to you throughout the day with…

our deepest longings: 

Your kingdom come 

(defeat illness and death; 

overthrow evil regimes; 

rule over unrighteousness). 

our basic needs: 

Give us this day our daily bread 

(help me get dinner on the table, 

help me get a job that provides for my family).

our only hope: 

Forgive us and help us forgive others 

(show us our sin; 

soften our bitterness; 

send us to release others).

As we pray these things and more 

throughout the day, 

show us our desperate dependence on you; 

show us your abundant provision for us. 

In Jesus’ praying name. Amen.

Read Matthew 6: 5-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

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A Prayer about Remembering God’s Rescue

by | Aug 20, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Learning Story

A Prayer about Remembering God’s Rescue

Lord,

I admit, I read about the Israelites’ forgetting

“the abundance of your steadfast love” (Psalm 106:7) 

and rebelling against you by the Red Sea, 

and I get kind of judgy. How could they forget? 

And yet, I too, struggle to remember your redemption.

Today and every day, I ask, help me to remember: 

how you have “led [me] through the deep as through a desert” (Psalm 106:9),

[Name ways God has led you through deep and dark places]; 

how you “saved [me] from the hand of the foe 

and redeemed [me] from the power of the enemy” (Psalm 106:10),

[Name ways God has saved you from foes and redeemed you from the enemy], 

how you have “looked upon [my] distress and heard [my] cry” (Psalm 106:44),

[Name ways God has looked on your distress and heard your cry].

And most of all, how you “remembered [your] covenant,” (Psalm 106:45),

faithfully loving us and rescuing us 

from our forgetful rebellion 

by sending your Son Jesus Christ.

May we spend today 

thanking you and praising you 

for all of your wonderful deeds 

and mighty works in our lives!

In Jesus’ rescuing name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 106. 

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A Prayer about Remembering the Spirit’s Power

by | Aug 19, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Theology

A Prayer about Remembering the Spirit’s Power

Spirit of the Living God,

Forgive us for forgetting you.

If it weren’t for you making our hearts alive, 

we would never have followed Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5; Ezekiel 36:26-27).

And now, as we seek to live a life of love and obedience to God, 

we so often try to run in our own strength, 

forgetting that it is by your power alone—

your help, your energy, your counsel,

 your wisdom, your prayer, your renewal,

that we are enabled to grow 

in our delight and service to God. 

Hel[p us to remember that by your work 

we are united to Christ—

Christ in us, we in him, 

and through that gracious union, 

we are justified, having inherited “the hope of eternal life.” 

Help us to remember that it is only

because of your regenerating work, 

we now “devote ourselves to doing good” (Titus 3:8). 

In your power we pray. Amen.

Read Titus 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:1-10; Ezekiel 36:26-27.

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A Prayer about Relinquishing Performance-Based Acceptance

by | Aug 18, 2021 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Relinquishing Performance-Based Acceptance

Precious Jesus,

How glad I am that you are my advocate.

You know how prone I am to wander from grace, 

to wander back into my lifelong ways 

of believing by performing well—

being nice, working hard, doing good,

I will be accepted—

by others, and by God. 

And the worst part is—I think those are all good things to do. 

Don’t get me wrong—

I know it’s good 

to be nice and work hard and do good things. 

But where my wires got crossed along the way 

is believing that those things make you love me more. 

In your Word, you make it clear: 

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

“There is none righteous—not even one” (Romans 3:10). 

There is no way I could love well enough to earn God’s favor. 

That’s why you had to die for my sins, precious Jesus. 

Thank you! 

Thank you for this freedom 

for which we have been set free! 

Help us to go and sin no more, 

to submit no more to the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

Instead, help us to come to you, 

that you may place your light and easy yoke upon us,

the yoke of living in love because you have first loved us (Matthew 11:28-30; 1 John 4:7-8). 

What astounding news this is! 

By your abundant grace 

and because of your transforming love we pray. Amen!

Read 1 John 2:1; Romans 3; Galatians 5:1; Matthew 11:28-30.

Friends, if you want to read more about conquering the idol of performance-based acceptance, please be sure to check out today’s blog. See the link in profile or go to https://www.elizabethturnage.com/weekly-meditation.

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