A Prayer about the Darkness of Hatred

by | Nov 4, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Darkness of Hatred

But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 1 John 2:11

 

Loving Savior,

What a world we live in. 

The news is full of stories of hate crimes, 

but the bigger story is the hatred of people 

for other people. 

If we say we belong to you, 

we must confess any hate our hearts harbor, 

for “Whoever says he is in the light 

and hates his brother or sister is still in darkness” (1 John 2:9). 

You are the true light, the light of the world, 

who came into this world because God so loved us 

that he sent his Son, 

to die on a cross in what could have been called 

a “hate crime.” 

Oh, Lord, “our sins are forgiven for [your] name’s sake” (1 John 1:12). 

Because that is true, you say that we “have overcome the evil one,” (1 John 2:13), 

the one who stirs up dissension and bitterness and hate. 

And one day, we will live forever in eternal glory 

with you in the new heavens and new earth. 

In anticipation of the day 

every nation will walk in the light of the glory of God, 

may we live in the light of your love (Rev. 21:24). 

In your brightly shining name we pray. Amen.

Read 1 John 2:7-14.

 

A Prayer about the God Who Guides Us

by | Nov 2, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about the God Who Guides Us

For this is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48:14

 

Our God, 

How great are you indeed! 

You were committed to dwelling with your people,

 and long ago, you  you chose to dwell 

in a man-made temple in a man-made city 

as the mighty King of your people (Psalm 48:1-3). 

Other kings caught one look at your might, 

panicked, and ran away (Psalm 48:5). 

Not only are you mighty, you are merciful. 

The people rejoice as they consider

 your “steadfast love” and “righteousness” 

and wise “judgments” (Psalm 48: 9-11) 

Long ago, your people told of your greatness 

to the next generation; 

today, we praise you, 

because you have deigned to make yourself 

our God, forever and ever. 

Not only are you our God, 

you are our guide, today and tomorrow, 

and to the end of our days. 

Even at the end of our days on this earth, 

in you, the end is only the beginning. 

One day, our great King Jesus will return, 

and we will dwell with you forever, 

secure and safe in the eternal joy 

of your everlasting kingdom. 

What reason for rejoicing! Amen.

Read Psalm 48.

 

A Prayer about Being a Saint

by | Oct 31, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, gratitude, Reformation Day, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Being a Saint

Dear Friends,

This began as a personal prayer, but I invite you to insert your own gratitude for God making you a saint.

 

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you. Psalm 145:10

 

Author God,

You and I both know that in the world’s sense of the word, 

I am no saint. 

And yet, on this All Saints’ Day, 

as I celebrate 60 years of being in the world, 

I stand in awe of “your abundant goodness,” 

in choosing me to be one of your saints in Christ (Romans 1:7). 

Not only did you place me in a Christian school 

where I would hear the good news of the gospel and begin studying the Bible, 

[name some of the specific ways God has shown you the good news of the gospel]

but you surrounded me with “a great cloud of witnesses,” 

wonderful saints, ordinary people redeemed in Christ, 

who were living stories that led me to see my need and desire for a Savior. 

[Name some of the saints who have shown you redemption in Christ.]

Not only did you draw me to Christ, 

literally raise me from spiritual death, 

but you have continued to write your story of “steadfast love,” 

showing me day after day 

that your “mercy is over all that you have made” (Psalm 145:9). 

[Name some of the ways he has written his story of “steadfast love” and “mercy” into your life.]

How grateful I am/we are 

that you have called us to be your “saints in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:1). 

In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

Read Psalm 145. 

 

A Prayer about Eternal Glory

by | Oct 29, 2022 | aging, dying, and death, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Gospel living, kingdom living, Numbering Our Days, Suffering

A Prayer about Eternal 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

Heavenly Father,

Enlarge our imaginations that we might see what glory awaits us in Christ!

In this fallen world, we suffer, 

but “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing 

with the glory that is to be revealed to us” and in us (Romans 8:18).

Because we are in Christ, we have a glorious inheritance 

which we will receive when he returns:

We will be…

Confirmed: 

You, our Father, will welcome us, saying, 

“Yes, this is my beloved child!” 

Restored: 

like the ultimate fixer-upper, 

healed of the wounds of sin, 

healed of the brokenness of our bodies, 

made like Christ, 

fully shining with the glory of Christ!

Strengthened: 

strong in Christ’s strength, 

no longer able to sin.

Established: 

Established on thrones 

as those who reign with Christ 

over the new heavens and new earth, 

and we will “reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). 

(Just call me Queen Elizabeth!)

Oh, Father, the glories that await us in heaven 

do seem too good to be true! 

How we long for the day 

we will see you face to face, 

the day your glory 

will become fully and finally our glory.  

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen.

Read Romans 8:18-30; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Timothy 2:10.

 

A Prayer about Learning from Younger People

by | Oct 27, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living, legacy

A Prayer about Learning from Younger People

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

All-Wise God,

Just as we prayed yesterday 

about seeing that each member of the body of Christ 

has gifts given by the Spirit to bless the whole body, 

today we remember to look to and learn from youth in our body. 

I recently heard a podcast with a senior ministry team leader

 interviewing a teenager from her church,* 

and the young woman urged older people 

to reach out to teenagers and younger people, 

saying young people desperately need their wisdom and experience. 

This young woman set an example for me 

“in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 

Lord, we confess, sometimes we don’t know 

what to do with younger generations, 

and yet, if we will look at them with compassion 

as Jesus looked on people of every age, 

if we will listen with curiosity, 

we have much to learn. 

And, as this teen woman so wisely said, 

“We need people in our lives

 who have walked with Christ much longer than we have.” 

Oh, Heavenly Father, may we heed her cry; 

may we be willing to learn from younger people 

and to pour into their lives. 

In Jesus’ compassionate name. Amen.

 

*Podcast can be found here: “Sanctuary Spectacles: Being a Teenage Woman in the Church” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-encourage-womens-podcast/id1299190093?i=1000581527096

 

A Prayer about Being a BlueJay

by | Oct 26, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Being a BlueJay

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 1 Corinthians 12:18

 

Creator God,

How creative you are!

As I was watching the birds in the oak tree 

across from my study window, 

I noticed a blue jay, 

a very common bird in my neighborhood. 

I said to myself, “Oh, it’s just a blue jay!” 

(Because blue jays are very common in this tree.)

But then I began to look at the beautiful blend 

of blues and grays and blacks in the blue jay 

and thought of how cleverly you designed this bird 

to help plant new oak trees by spreading acorns. 

And I thought of how we sometimes look at people 

in your body and think 

“they’re just blue jays.”

Just another ordinary person, 

nothing special. 

Or maybe we think about ourselves that way—

“I don’t have any special gifts 

to contribute to the body.”

And yet, you have clearly created each one of us 

with unique gifts for serving you, 

and we need every member of the body of Christ: 

“If the whole body were an ear, 

where would be the sense of smell?” (1 Corinthians 12:17). 

Wondrous Creator, 

may we see the wonder of each and every member of your body, 

including ourselves, 

even if we’re “just a blue jay.” 

May we seek you and serve you 

with the ordinary gifts you have given us—

the ability to open the door for an older woman, 

the heart to send a note to someone we missed in church today, 

the hope to believe that redemption is coming 

despite the dark landscape we see around us.

In Jesus’ gifting name. Amen.