A Prayer about the God Who Hears Our Groans

by Elizabeth | Mar 5, 2023 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, Lent

A Prayer about the God Who Hears Our Groans

Exodus 2:24–25 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

All-knowing God,

We are so grateful that we know

that you know our very groans.

When you hear our groans,

whether over grief due to a loved one’s death

or the suffering of mental illness

or the sorrow over wars and strivings.

We who belong to you know

that you have rescued us already from the worst slavery,

the slavery to sin and death.

But you don’t stop there.

You continue your redemptive work

in this hurting world,

all the way till our Savior returns

to fully establish his kingdom of shalom

right here on this groaning earth.

We are so grateful—

you never never forget

your covenant with your people,

sealed through your Spirit,

kept through your faithfulness in your Son.

And we are so grateful—

as you remember, you rescue.

In Jesus’ hope-bringing name. Amen.

Read Exodus 2.

A Prayer about Grace for Our Sins

by Elizabeth | Mar 3, 2023 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, Lent

A Prayer about Grace for Our Sins

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; There is no health in my bones because of my sin. Psalm 38:3

Mighty and Merciful God,

In this lenten season,

many Christians around the world spend time

reflecting on our sins

as we prepare to celebrate

the outrageously good news

that Christ died and rose for those sins.

How appropriate then to join David

in his mourning and anguish over his sin,

as he cries out,

“For my iniquities have gone over my head;

like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me” (Psalm 38:4).

Lord, help us to see that without Christ,

we’d be sunk by our sin.

Help us to smell

the festering wounds of our own foolishness (Psalm 38:5).

But most of all, help us to collapse

completely on your grace,

crying out to you as David did,

“O Lord, all my longing is before you;

my sighing is not hidden from you,”

knowing that “it is you, O Lord my God,

who will answer” (Psalm 38:9, 15).

In Jesus suffering name. Amen.

Read Psalm 38.

A Prayer about the Good Shepherd

by Elizabeth | Feb 27, 2023 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, Lent

A Prayer about the Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14-15

Good Shepherd,

We’re so glad that you know your sheep.

You know everything about us—

you count every one

of our wooly curls,

you foresee every one

of our mucky ruts,

you right us every time

we turn ourselves over.

You have saved us from the thief

who came to kill and steal and destroy (John 10:10).

Without you, we were harassed and helpless,

like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36),

but you heard our bleating cries

and came to save us.

Thank you for attuning us

to your firm but tender voice,

for teaching us to heed

your gracious guidance.

Most of all, thank you for becoming

the sacrificial sheep for us,

for laying down your life

that we might fully know you

and fully know our Father.

In your good shepherding name

we pray. Amen.

Read John 10:1-18.

A Prayer about Needing Salvation

by Elizabeth | Feb 22, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Easter, gratitude, Lent

A Prayer about Needing Salvation

Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

Psalm 38:21-22.

Steadfastly-loving Lord,

We come to you again today,

as we did yesterday,

with David, mourning our own sin,

seeing its ravaging effects

on our hearts, souls, bodies, and minds.

We waited for you, O Lord,

and you answered us

by sending your Son,

our Savior (Psalm 38:15).

We would be desperate

if we did not know the hope we have in Jesus.

Because he was forsaken on the cross,

we will never be forsaken in our sin.

We cry out to you with profound hope

for forgiveness

because you have already

made haste to help us

in Christ.

Send us out to live and love

in this great hope today and every day.

In Jesus’ forsaken name. Amen.

Read Psalm 38.

A Prayer about God’s Covenant of Peace

by Elizabeth | Feb 12, 2023 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, Spiritual Growth, Theology, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about God’s Covenant of Peace

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you… Isaiah 54:8-9

Promise-keeping Father,

In this world so set on strife,

what a profound promise this is:

Even where there is utter chaos on this earth,

your steadfast love shall never leave us,

your “covenant of peace shall not be removed” (Isaiah 54:10).

We don’t use the word covenant

often in our everyday conversations,

but we should use it more

when we think about you.

Your covenant is

your

unwavering,

unbreakable,

undivided,

unimaginable,

and undeserved

commitment

to love us and deliver us

from our worst selves,

to give us peace with you

and peace with one another.

Why would you make such a covenant with us?

The Bible is clear—

it’s not because we were so numerous

or powerful

or special—

it’s because of

your steadfast love

and your compassion.

We thank you

for keeping your promises to us.

May we joyfully serve you

in gratitude for your grace.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 54:8-10; Deuteronomy 7:6-11.

A Prayer about Remembering the Wonders of the Lord

by Elizabeth | Feb 9, 2023 | Daily Prayer, gratitude, legacy, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Remembering the Wonders of the Lord

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. Psalm 78:4

Wonder-Working God,

As a lover of stories,

I’ve always appreciated Asaph’s call

to tell the stories of the “glorious deeds,

about his power and his mighty wonders” (Psalm 78:4).

Psalm 78 vividly portrays the terrible things that happen

when we forget to remember and tell the stories of your deliverance:

The Israelites forgot how you had divided the sea

so they could escape from the Egyptians,

and they became “stubborn and rebellious” (Psalm 78:8).

The Ephraimites forgot that you were their covenant-keeping King,

their chief warrior,

and they turned and ran away in the day of battle (Psalm 78:9).

What stories of your mighty wonders have we forgotten?

How you came to a teenage girl

who never went to church

and surrounded her with delightful and loving Christians,

who showed her the way to hope in the midst of darkness?

[Name some wonders of your life you might have forgotten].

Everyday, may we remember the most wonder-full news:

You remembered your compassion

and sent your Son to deliver us from our sins (Psalm 78:38).

In his saving name. Amen.

Read Psalm 78:1-72.