A Prayer about Not Being Haughty

by | Jan 26, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Not Being Haughty

How do we remain humble?

For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. Psalm 18:27

Humble Savior,

We confess, our eyes are often haughty: 

We see others and think we are somehow 

more righteous, 

more beloved, 

more acceptable than they are. 

We see others’ mistakes and think they are monstrous, 

but we fail to see the glaring sin 

in our own hearts (Matthew 7:1-5). 

We are quick to condemn others, 

though you have shown us mercy.

Jesus, by your Spirit, 

we urge you—make us like you, 

who though you were 

“in the form of God, 

did not count equality with God 

a thing to be grasped…” 

who “humbled yourself 

by becoming obedient to the point of death, 

even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:6-8). 

Jesus, by your Spirit, 

draw our hearts to see 

the beauty of your humility 

and shape us into your lovely image. 

In your exalted name we pray. Amen. 

Read Psalm 18:27; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 7:1-5. 

A Prayer about the Work God Will Complete in Us

by | Jan 25, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Work God Will Complete in Us

Do you know that God is making you into a masterpiece?

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Sanctifying God, Saving Son,

We come to you confessing—

 it’s hard to believe that you are truly making us 

into people who will be “pure and blameless” 

on the day Christ returns (Phil. 1:10).

It is far easier to see 

our self-preserving, 

self-serving,

self-promoting,

hearts 

than hearts full of love and joy,

growing inside of us 

in this very moment 

through the work of your powerful Spirit. 

This morning, you have favored me 

with a view of a thin slice 

of a crescent moon 

hovering near the horizon over the sea

even as the sky turns orange 

with the coming sunrise. 

I pray for my friends and for me 

that we will imagine our sanctification (growing in holiness) 

just like that crescent moon: 

We know that moon 

will in a few short days 

be full, 

enormous, 

smiling and shining in the dark sky. 

May we recognize that the “Sun of righteousness” 

who rises with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2) 

is lighting up our hearts 

with the “fruit of righteousness 

that comes through Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:11) 

this very moment. 

And may we see 

that you are creating this masterpiece in us 

all for your glory 

that all may praise you. 

How grateful we are, Lord!

Amen.

Read Philippians 1:3-11.

A Prayer about Going Places We Never Wanted to Go

by | Jan 24, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Going Places We Never Wanted to Go

Have you ever spent time in a place you never wanted to be?

Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. Daniel 6:14

Author God, 

Thank you for what Daniel shows us 

about living faithfully in frightening circumstances. 

When he was exiled,

Daniel did not whine or grumble or become bitter; 

instead Daniel remained faithful to you 

but also worked on behalf of the pagan rulers of this land. 

By the time of Darius’ rule, 

Daniel would have been in his eighties, 

and we are told, 

“this Daniel became distinguished 

above all the other presidents and satraps, 

because an excellent spirit was in him” (Daniel 6:3). 

In fact the king “planned to set him over the whole kingdom” (Daniel 6:3). 

And of course it was this excellence 

that provoked the jealousy of the other satraps, 

who found a way to trap Daniel. 

Undeterred, Daniel kept praying, 

thanking you, 

because he trusted in you. 

When we find ourselves in a place we don’t want to be, 

will we keep praying, 

offering thanks, 

trusting fully in your deliverance? 

The story ends with Darius’ astonishing decree: 

“people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, 

for he is the living God, enduring forever….” (Daniel 6:26). 

Father, when we find ourselves in places we never wanted to be, 

give us the courage to trust you, 

to wait for your deliverance. 

Help us to serve others (yes, even your enemies) 

and to believe that you are the God of wonders 

who is writing this story 

to bring good to us and glory to yourself. 

Amen. 

Read Daniel 6.

A Prayer about Trusting the Lord to Protect Children

by | Jan 23, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Trusting the Lord to Protect Children

Do you ever struggle to trust God to protect your children and grandchildren?

She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. Exodus 2:3b

Compassionate Father, 

As loving parents and grandparents, 

we desperately want to protect our children. 

And yet, you alone 

are powerful enough, 

wise enough, 

and merciful enough 

to properly protect them. 

As we read about Moses’ mother 

trying to protect him from the Egyptian Pharaoh 

who ordered the murder of all male Israelites babies, 

we see your saving hand at work. 

You gave Jochebed wisdom and wit 

to develop a plan for protecting Moses — 

she placed him in a basket made of reeds and pitch 

and set him into the reeds by the river bank (Exodus 2:3). 

We wonder if she felt afraid or if she fully trusted 

that you would save her infant son from drowning. 

How many times have we felt this back and forth 

between trust in you and fear for our children—

when they are sick or have an ongoing health issue, 

when we have to leave them in a new place we’re not comfortable with, 

when they make friends at school 

who might not be the best influence.  

Give us the wit and wisdom you gave Jochebed. 

Show us how to best protect 

our children and grandchildren 

from danger of all kinds. 

Most of all, give us the faith to believe 

that you love our children and grandchildren far more than we do, 

and that you are always seeking their good and your glory.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Exodus 2:1-10.

A Prayer about Preparing for Glory

by | Jan 22, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Preparing for Glory

Are you prepared for glory? 

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

Eternal and Everlasting God,

You knew all along how people might respond 

when I tell them I’ve written a book 

about facing our mortality, 

about preparing for glory.* 

Some wonder if I’m morbid, 

and others wonder if I’m sick. 

But some get it. 

Some know that death is our certain fate; 

some walk with a diagnosis 

that will lead to death sooner rather than later; 

some walk with a loved one with such a diagnosis. 

Help us, Lord, we pray, 

to know the hope of glory 

you have given to all who die in Christ. 

Help us to let go of the things of this earth 

to which we cling, 

that we might meditate on eternal glory:

Eternal glory is where we are headed. 

It is heaven. 

It is the new heavens and the new earth. 

It is looking fully on the face of Christ. 

It is hearing the welcome of our Father 

and enjoying the embrace of his Son. 

It is truly believing and clearly seeing 

God’s love for us. 

It is living fully into our creational calling 

to bear God’s image 

and to rule as servants in Christ’s kingdom. 

And it is doing so forever. 

Oh dear Father, thank you for preparing us 

for such glory.

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen. 

Read 1 Peter 5:6-11; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Romans 8:18-25.

*Preparing for Glory: Biblical Answers to 40 Questions on Living and Dying in Hope of Heaven is available from all of your favorite booksellers. (Affiliate link).

A Prayer about Stilling Our Souls

by | Jan 21, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Stilling Our Souls

Do you need to be still?

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