A Prayer about Why God Sent His Son

by | Jan 10, 2023 | Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, gratitude

A Prayer about Why God Sent His Son

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17

Heavenly Father,

In these early days after Christmas, 

may we not immerse ourselves in the whirl of the world 

so fully that we lose our wonder 

at the profoundly good news of the incarnation: 

From the beginning, 

even when his fingers were tiny 

and his sounds were infant coos, 

Jesus was born for one purpose: 

that we, that the whole cosmos, might be “born again” (John 3:3). 

“How shall that be,” the Jewish leader, Nicodemus, 

asks? 

Jesus explains in some of the better known words of the Word: 

“For God so loved the world, 

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in him 

should not perish 

but should have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

This is the true gift of Christmas, 

but it gets even better. 

For all who have suffered the voices of contempt and condemnation, 

who have hung their heads in shame, 

you give more hope, 

“For God did not send his Son 

into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). 

Oh, gracious and merciful Father, 

what good news this is! 

May we live and love out of it today and every day.

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read John 3:1-21. 

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

by | Jan 5, 2023 | Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, gratitude, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about Seeing the Light

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1

 

Glorious God,

Though the twelfth day of Christmas 

has come and gone, 

the defrocked trees lie 

dried and withered by the curb, 

may we see the glory of Christ-with-us, 

the good news that our light has come, 

today and every day of this year.

Peel the scales from our eyes, 

so we may see the light

that has overcome the thick darkness, 

your grace, and your glory, 

your mercy and your kindness to us 

in Christ. 

Indeed, may all “nations come to your light, 

and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:3). 

Open our eyes to see the great ingathering 

of your people, 

“the sons …come from afar…

the daughters carried on the hip…” (Isaiah 60:4). 

Radiate our hearts with this good news 

today and every day. 

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen. 

Read Isaiah 60:1-5. 

A Prayer about Hope for Temptation

by | Jan 4, 2023 | Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Hope for Temptation

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

Lord Jesus,

We’re only five days into 2023, 

and most of us have already broken 

at least one New Year’s resolution, 

if we even made them. 

Worse still, we’ve all already succumbed to temptation—

to speak ill of a friend or an enemy, 

to eat or drink more than is good 

for the bodies you gave us, 

to say “yes” when we should have said “no,” 

or to say “no” when we should have said “yes.” 

And yet, on this twelfth day of Christmas, 

we take comfort in this passage (Hebrews 2:14-18).

You knew that in our humanity 

we would struggle with temptation and sin, 

so you took on our humanity—

everything except the sin. 

You gave your human body, 

sinless and righteous, 

as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. 

Because you did, 

we who are in you, 

are forever freed from the fear of death. 

Not only that, we are freed from slavery 

to the devil, 

that we might become obedient like you. 

And when we do struggle with temptation, 

we have a Savior who can really help, 

because you endured the pain and struggle 

of temptation for us. 

Encourage us today 

to walk in your new morning mercy.

In your suffering name, Amen.

Read Hebrews 2:14-18.

A Prayer about Trusting God for Transformation

by | Jan 3, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living, Seasons & Holidays, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Trusting God for Transformation

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Faithful God,

As this new year begins, I and others are making plans, 

hopefully good, God-authored plans 

to pursue the unique callings you have given us.

As we do so, help us to take stock of the unique gifts 

and wounds you have written into our lives:

[Name some of the gifts God has given you—

unique story, abilities, passions, etc. 

and some of the wounds you’ve experienced (because God works to redeem all things].

Guide us by your Holy Spirit to see 

the people, places, and things 

you have called us to in the coming year.

[Take a few moments to listen to the Holy Spirit 

about the people, places, and things 

he is calling you to this year.]

Help us by the wisdom of Jesus, 

who had perfect boundaries, 

to know when to say “no.”

Help us by the grace of Jesus, 

who served perfectly, 

to know when to say “yes.”

In every step we take, 

may we look to you and trust you 

to complete the good works you have “prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).  

Read Proverbs 3:5-6; Colossians 3:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10.

A Prayer about Becoming Wise

by | Jan 2, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Becoming Wise

“…wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”

(Matthew 2:2).

Wise Lord,

As we enter this first week of the new year, 

how desperately we need your wisdom. 

We’ve seen the bumper stickers, and they nail it—

“Wise men still seek him.” 

Lord, indeed, the first way of wisdom 

is to seek Jesus. 

For years I didn’t realize that the wise men weren’t Jewish—

they were astrologers, 

interpreters of stars and signs and dreams, 

likely from Babylon. 

Maybe they had overheard some Israelites 

who were exiled there 

speaking of the “bright morning star” 

and they recognized the sign when they saw it. 

Lord, help us to recognize you, 

and to seek you in a much clearer sign—your Word. 

When the wise men saw the sign, 

they traveled far, probably around nine hundred miles, 

to find the “king of the Jews.” 

Lord, make us willing travelers 

who will enter the unfamiliar 

in order to see you and to share you with others. 

The wise men risked their lives in asking Herod, 

the appointed king of the Jews, 

where the real King of the Jews was. 

Lord, make us bold and courageous 

in telling the truth about our real King, Jesus. 

The wise men “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” 

when they saw the star 

and when they discovered the child Jesus,

they “fell down and worshiped.” 

Lord, make us people who fall down and worship 

when we see you, 

and make us see you every single moment of every single day.

In the name of King Jesus we pray. Amen. 

Read Matthew 2: 1-12.

(This prayer was inspired by a sermon from our pastor, Joel Treick — you can listen at Pinewoods Church, December 19, 2021.)

A Prayer about Waiting for Redemption

by | Jan 1, 2023 | Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, kingdom living, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about Waiting for Redemption

And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36

Heavenly Father,

What an attractive old woman Anna was. 

She was widowed young, 

after only seven years of marriage, 

and then she spent the rest of her life single. 

It would have been so easy to become bitter, 

especially in a society in which widows 

and single women were often outcasts. 

And yet, you gave Anna the gift 

we all most desire in this Christmas season, 

the gift of believing redemption would come 

in the midst of the broken story of her life, 

of the lives of her people. 

She spent years waiting for redemption, 

watching for you, 

waiting at your “home,” the temple, 

believing you would show up there one day. 

And she didn’t hide, 

keeping her hope to herself—

she was a prophetess, 

sharing the good news about you with others. 

Lord, would you make us like Anna 

as we await your second coming? 

Would you transform our vision 

so that what we solely seek 

is your arrival? 

Would you transform our tongues 

so that what we simply speak of 

is your salvation? 

Would you even allow us today 

to receive our King as Anna once did long long ago? 

In Jesus’ returning name we ask. Amen. 

Read Luke 2:36-38.