A Prayer about Caring for the Mentally Ill

by | Jan 20, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Caring for the Mentally Ill

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

Ps. 46:10

Friends, as you will probably soon recognize, this prayer is based on the hymn, “Be Still My Soul.”

Precious Jesus, Never-Changing God, Holy Spirit our Constant Companion,

Thank you for your constant kindness, 

your loyal friendship, 

your dependable aid…

to be able to call you our best friend, 

our “heavenly friend…” 

Can we be so bold?

Yes, we can! 

Because you have first called us “friend” (John 15:12-15). 

You know that we are busy ones, 

more constant in commotion than compassion. 

You know we find it hard to sit still, 

to soak our souls 

in the sunlight 

of your presence. 

You know how quickly we grab our phones, 

assuring ourselves 

we only want to check the weather 

or to read the daily prayer, 

then ten minutes later find ourselves 

immersed in the words, 

the images, 

the reels that leave us reeling. 

Bring us back: 

clasp our hands, 

clamp our ears, 

close our eyes, 

that our souls may be stilled, 

that we may stop and see—

you, our friend. 

Our heavenly friend, 

the One who laid down your life 

for your friends. 

The One who “bore the cross, the grief, the pain,” 

that we might call you friend; 

that you might bring us 

to our “joyful end.”

So very gratefully we pray.

Amen.

Read Psalm 46.

Listen to “Be Still My Soul” here. (Note, this playlist has many versions of the great hymn by Katarina von Schlegel, so you can choose your favorite.)



A Prayer about God’s Plans for Us

by | Jan 18, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, 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 our temper, 

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 the Foolishness of Sin

by | Jan 17, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Foolishness of Sin

The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’

They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; 

there is none who does good. Psalm 14:1

Merciful and Forgiving Lord,

Thank you for this reminder 

that without Jesus, our Savior, 

we are all fools. 

Our sin nature, 

the nature with which we were born 

persists in telling us, 

“There’s no God. 

You are your own god. 

Do what feels right to you, 

because you rule!” 

Our sin nature whispers to us, 

“You’re a good person. 

You’re not nearly so bad 

as that guy down the street 

who always yells at his wife and kids.” 

The apostle Paul says, 

“All have sinned and fall short 

of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

David says, 

“There is none who does good, 

not even one” (Psalm 14:3). 

And yet, there is one who did do good, 

one who never sinned. 

And he came for us, 

to be our perfect sacrifice. 

He sent his Spirit to arouse us 

from our zombie status, 

to awaken us to the true wisdom of Jesus. 

Thank you, Lord, 

for such a great salvation. 

Thank you for making us “good” 

in Christ’s goodness, our only hope. 

Read Psalm 14. 



A Prayer about the Precious Gift of Prayer

by | Jan 16, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Precious 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 the precious gift you’ve given us in 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. 



A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

by | Jan 15, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:13

All-Powerful God,

Every time I read this awkward scene for Sarah in Genesis 18, 

I cringe, 

mostly because I recognize myself 

in her struggle to believe.

The Lord has promised Abraham and Sarah 

descendants as numerous as the stars, 

and yet, “The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah” (Gen. 18:11), 

and Abraham is a ripe 99-years-old. 

So we can hardly blame Sarah for laughing 

when she overhears one of the visitors, 

“the Lord,” 

say, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, 

and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Gen. 18:10). 

Things get awkward when the Lord asks Abraham, 

“Why did Sarah laugh and say, 

‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

Is anything too hard for the Lord?” 

Sarah denies laughing, and the Lord responds, 

“No, but you did laugh” (Gen. 18:14-15). 

Oh Lord, you know the places of our lives 

where we struggle to believe that nothing is too hard for you—

For new companionship to ease our loneliness 

or for healing in broken relationships…

For healing of a chronic illness 

or for belief that a terminal illness will lead to ultimate healing…

For a job that provides for our family 

or a job that allows us to escape an abusive boss….

[Name some places you struggle to believe…]

Help us to trust in you to care for us 

in every detail of our lives 

because you sent your Son in a virgin’s womb, 

because you raised your Son from the dead, 

that those who trust in him might live forever in your love. 

In Jesus’ all-powerful name we pray. Amen. 



A Prayer about Taking Our Fears to the One Who Created Us

by | Jan 14, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Taking Our Fears to the One Who Created Us

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Creator and Lord,

Over and over in Scripture, 

we read the words, “Do not fear.” 

Help us to hear you speaking them to us. 

Help us to know in our very bones 

that we can trust you. 

Who is the One telling us not to fear?

You are the One who created us, 

who formed us in the womb (Is. 43:1; Psalm 139:13), 

who conceived of us before we were conceived. 

You are the One who tells us 

we belong to you; we are yours (Is. 43:1). 

You are the One who speaks the loving words ever so gently, 

“Because you are precious in my eyes, 

and honored, 

and I love you, 

I give men in return for you ….” 

Knowing who you are,

we now bring our fears honestly to you:

Lord, I fear…[name a fear and why you fear it]

Lord, I fear…[name a fear and why you fear it]

[Continue with as many fears as you can think of.]

Now that we have shared our fears, 

we listen again to your voice 

through your comforting Scripture:

“Fear not, for I am with you” (Is. 43:8).

Indeed, Lord, with you with us and for us, 

who can stand against us?

Thank you for calming our fears.

Amen. 

Read Isaiah 43:1-7.