A Prayer about Needing Salvation

by | 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 Help for Our Sin

by | Feb 21, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Easter, Lent

A Prayer about Help for Our Sin

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,

Today, many Christians began an intentional time 

of 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 God’s Miraculous Rescue

by | Apr 13, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Easter

A Prayer about God’s Miraculous Rescue

Merciful God,

You are a God who hears, who sees, 

who moves on behalf of your people. 

Long ago, you heard your children crying out in Egypt. 

You remembered your covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:23). 

You rescued your people 

and brought them out of slavery (Exodus 3:8).

Today, you still hear the cries of our groaning, 

and you have sent a far greater rescuer and redeemer, 

your Son, our Savior.

Help us to live today in the freedom 

for which Jesus has set us free (Galatians 5:1).

May we bear all sorts of lovely fruit 

like peace and joy and gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22). 

In Jesus’ rescuing name. Amen. 

Read Exodus 2:23 – 3:9; Galatians 5:1-26.

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5 Ways to Keep Living the Resurrection

by | Apr 13, 2021 | Easter, Gospel living, Weekly Gospel Meditation

5 Ways to Keep Living the Resurrection

Is your resurrection wonder fading fast?

It is two weeks after Easter, and as always, Resurrection wonder is in danger of fading as fast as the pretty pastel eggs.

What do we do when the celebration of new life gets lost in the drudge of daily life? Remember the story!  As we look back at what the followers of Jesus did post-resurrection, we re-discover the joy of living the resurrection.

5 Ways to Keep Living the Resurrection

1. See the Lord and be glad!(John 20:19-20). Some might object, “But we can’t see Jesus the way the disciples could!”Jesus insists that with the Holy Spirit’s help, we can see him as well as the first disciples did. Read a book or passage of the Bible and remember the day you first understood it. Remember a story of how Jesus changed your life when all appeared lost.

2. Run to tell others (Matt 28:8). In 2014, the year after the Boston marathon bombing, the Boston Athletic Association, rather than decreasing the number of people allowed to run, increased the registration limit to 36,000—over 30,000 people entered to prove that “terror will not triumph.” We stake our lives on an even more astonishing message: Jesus rose from the dead. He defeated violence, sin, and death—the final enemy (Hebrews 2:14-15). We should walk, not run, to tell others this good news.

3. Risk to tell others (Luke 24:11)Will you risk mockery, apathy, or even pity for sharing this story of great news? The women ran back from the empty tomb to tell their own community, and those dense disciples thought their words were an “idle tale.” It is, admittedly, hard to believe this story, but we must tell it anyway!

4. Doubt and disbelieve; then stop disbelieving and believe (John 20:27). Poor “doubting Thomas,” who has been much maligned throughout history for demanding to see and touch Jesus’ scars before believing he had risen. How did Jesus respond to Thomas’s doubts? Simply, warmly. “Put your finger here…place your hand in my side.” “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” If you, like Thomas, feel the need to see the proof, persevere. And—look out—the Holy Spirit will sow belief into your heart. Do not disbelieve, but believe.

5. Feed his sheep (John 21:1-21). Reread Jesus’ loving encounter with Peter on that beach. Have you failed Jesus? (Yes.) Have you betrayed him? (Yes.) Are you sometimes a rotten friend like Peter? (Yes.) Then there’s good news! Jesus wants you to share the only story that will satiate the starved sheep of this world. This, as Romans 12:1 says, is our spiritual service of worship!

A Prayer for Living the Resurrection

Lord Jesus, We believe, help our dry, stale, unbelief. Help us to continue living in resurrection wonder, awed at the goodness of our God, awed at the kindness of the cross, awed at the gentleness of our Jesus. Thank you for feeding us your abundant grace; empower us to feed others with this good news. In Jesus’ resurrected name! Amen.

Further Encouragement

1. Read John 20:19-20; John 21:1-21; Matthew 28:8; Luke 24:11.

2. Listen to “Power in the Blood”.

For Reflection

1. Which of these ways of living the resurrection resonates with you today? What ways do you see God calling you to continue living the resurrection?

A Prayer about Not Laboring in Vain

by | Apr 12, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Easter

A Prayer about Not Laboring in Vain

Heavenly Father,

This Monday morning, 

draw our eyes from the task lists before us 

to gaze on your heavenly presence.

Help us to frame all of our earthly labor 

in the context of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. 

The apostle Paul tells us,

Christ’s victory over sin and death changes everything, 

empowering us to “be steadfast, immovable, 

always abounding in the work of the Lord, 

knowing that in the Lord 

your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

May we indeed live and love in this hope today and every day. 

In Jesus’ victorious name. Amen. 

Read 1 Corinthians 15.

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A Prayer about Praising God

by | Apr 11, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Easter

A Prayer about Praising God

Mighty and Majestic God,

As we gather together today, whether near or far, 

May we join with voices through the generations making joyful noises, 

proclaiming,

“You are a great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:3).

“The sea is yours because you made it” (Psalm 95:5).

“The Lord reigns! 

Yes, the world is established,

 it shall never be moved; 

you will judge the peoples with equity” (Psalm 96:10).

As we sing your praises, 

may every sorrow and distress 

fade before the brilliance of your glorious presence.

In Jesus’ praiseworthy name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 95-96.

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