A Prayer about Needing Salvation

by | Feb 18, 2026 | Daily Prayer, Lent

A Prayer about Needing Salvation

What is your hope for 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 17, 2026 | Daily Prayer, Lent

A Prayer about Help for Our Sin

Do you know you need help for your 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, as many Christians began an intentional time 

of reflecting on our sins,

we prepare to celebrate 

the outrageously good news 

that our loving and beloved Savior

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 your love, 

shown to us in your Son our Savior, 

our beloved Bridegroom, 

we’d be sunk by our sin. 

Help us to smell 

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

Help us to truly mourn over our sin, 

over the ways we have done harm to you and others. 

We are indeed “feeble and crushed,” just as David was (Psalm 38:8). 

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 because of Jesus, 

you have heard our cries, 

and you have indeed answered them (Psalm 38:9, 15). 

In Jesus’ loving name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 38.

A Prayer about True Freedom

by | Jul 3, 2025 | 4th of July, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays

A Prayer about True Freedom

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Merciful Father,

When the apostle Paul told the Galatians 

they had been set free for freedom, 

he wasn’t talking politics; 

he was talking about 

the rich, generous, and gracious 

freedom we have in Christ. 

On this Independence Day in America, 

some of us celebrate America’s freedom, 

but even more, 

we celebrate the freedom we have 

as citizens of your kingdom. 

We are…

freed from sin and shame 

to bear the fruit of sanctification 

and to live eternal life as your servants, 

starting now (Romans 6:22). 

freed to outdo one another in love, 

with honor, not slander, 

with hospitable hearts, 

assuming the best of others, not the worst (Romans 12:9-10).

freed to serve God and serve others, 

not to use our “freedom as a cover-up for evil” (1 Peter 2:16).

Best of all, we are freed 

to spend all of our time, money, and energy 

giving glory to you, 

our mighty and majestic God (Revelation 1:5-6).

Thank you for these truths which set us truly free (John 8:32).

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Galatians 5:1-10; Romans 12:9-19; 1 Peter 2:16; Revelation 1:5-6; John 8:32.



A Prayer about Joy on Easter Monday

by | Apr 20, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Easter, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Joy on Easter Monday

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”…Matthew 28:8-9

Risen Lord,

On this Easter Monday, 

the day after we celebrated your resurrection, 

enlarge our imaginations and renew our wonder. 

May we see Mary Magdalene and the other Mary 

trembling before the angels who startle them with their news, 

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 

He is not here, for he is risen, as he said” (Matthew 28:6). 

I love to imagine their astonishment 

as they saw the angels; 

I love even more to think of how amazed 

they must have been to meet you 

along the road as they ran back toward Galilee. 

What joy they must have felt as you called out to them, 

“Greetings,” 

which translates the Greek word for “joy.”

Lord, this Easter Monday, 

fill us with the best Monday motivation 

for whatever lies before us this week: 

the joy that you have truly risen from the dead. 

The hope that because of you, 

we have been made into new creation. 

The faith that you are even now 

making us more and more like you every day. 

In your risen name we pray. Amen. 

Read Matthew 28:1-10.



A Prayer about the Humiliation Jesus Endured

by | Apr 10, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Easter, Grief

A Prayer about the Humiliation Jesus Endured

And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. Mark 15:19-20

King of the Universe,

Open our minds and our hearts

to take in the humiliation 

you endured on our behalf. 

You had already submitted 

to scourging and a mock trial. 

You had been condemned to death by Pilate. 

But before you could die the death you must die, 

some rowdy soldiers wanted to have some fun with you. 

They dressed you in a purple cloak 

and a makeshift crown of thorns. 

They mocked you, 

kneeling before you and shouting, 

“Hail, King of the Jews!” 

(How little did they know how right they were — 

King of the Jews, and the Romans, and the Gentiles, 

and every nation, tongue, tribe, and people group.) 

They spit on your face 

and beat your head with their clubs. 

As we imagine such coarse brutality against you, 

may we adore you all the more,

awed that you endured such suffering, 

“for the joy set before” you, 

“to sit at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2) 

knowing you have won our victory 

over the brutality of sin forever and ever. 

In your humble and kingly name. Amen.

Read Mark 15:16-20; Hebrews 12:1-3.



A Prayer about Monday Motivation before Christmas

by | Dec 22, 2024 | Christmas, Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Monday Motivation before Christmas

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 

Serve the Lord with gladness! 

Come into his presence with singing. Psalm 100:1-2

Almighty God,

As the final week of Advent begins, 

may we put making a “joyful noise” to you 

at the top, middle, and bottom 

of our to-do lists. 

Even as we go about preparing 

to celebrate the coming of Christ, 

may we focus first 

on serving you with gladness. 

May we not sing along mindlessly 

with Christmas music, 

but instead notice 

our many reasons for rejoicing,

“Rejoice, rejoice, 

Emmanuel shall come to thee, 

O Israel” (“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”),

“Joy to the world, 

the Lord is come!” (“Joy to the World”)

“O come all ye faithful, 

joyful and triumphant” (“O Come All Ye Faithful”).

Lord, because you have made us in your image, 

and because you have made us anew 

in Christ, 

we ask that you will make us 

joyful, 

believing that your zeal will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:7).

In Jesus’ joyful name. Amen.

Read Psalm 100. 

Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.