A Prayer about Learning to Aim Low

A Prayer about Learning to Aim Low

Lord Jesus,

Everything in our western society tells us to “aim high,” 

but as we learn to revere you, 

we see how low we truly must aim in order to be like you:

You “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, 

but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

You don’t look to your own interests 

but to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4). 

And even though you were “in the form of God,” 

you “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” 

but “emptied [yourself], taking the form of a servant, 

being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7).

Not only that, you “humbled [yourself] 

by becoming obedient to the point of death, 

even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). 

And now, you are “highly exalted,” 

and one day every knee will bow before you (Philippians 2:10).

Lord Jesus, as we marvel over your humility and sacrifice for us, 

we become more like you. 

Fill our minds and our hearts today 

with awe at your remarkable submission, 

that we may “go low” 

and spend our lives 

“submitting to one another 

out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21).  

In your awe-some name. Amen.

Read Ephesians 5:21; Philippians 2:1-11. 

Want to read more about thanking God while we live in the “already” and “not yet”? I’ve begun two new newsletters on Substack, one on living in hope in the already and not yet, and the other on aging, caregiving, and the end of life. Please check them both out!

A Prayer about Asking God to Supply Our Needs

A Prayer about Asking God to Supply Our Needs

Father God,

I’ve got several “I need you” songs stuck in my head this morning:

Annie Hawks’ “I Need Thee Every Hour” because indeed I do, 

every hour and every minute, 

and Matt Maher’s line, 

“You’re my one defense, my righteousness, oh how I need you.” 

Today, God, we draw near to you with every need, 

no matter how great or small, 

because you are the God who supplies “every” need 

according to your “riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). 

That should be enough riches to cover it!

[Praying friends, I’ll get us started and let you fill in your own specific needs and add to the ones I mention…]

I need you for strength today…

[after poor sleep last night].

I need you for patience today…

[when that crazy driver turns left in front of me with no warning].

I need you for calm today…

[when….]

I need you for forgiveness today…

[when…]

I need you for wisdom today…

[when…]

I need you for [….]

[when…]

Heavenly Father, as we lay our needs before you, may you provide in a way that we and others see your glory and goodness.

In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Read Philippians 4:1-20.

Want to read more about thanking God while we live in the “already” and “not yet”? I’ve begun two new newsletters on Substack, one on living in hope in the already and not yet, and the other on aging, caregiving, and the end of life. Please check them both out!

A Prayer about Learning Christ

A Prayer about Learning Christ

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for this compelling invitation 

to your classroom:

You are the best teacher. 

You don’t worry with reading, writing, and arithmetic, 

and you may never produce Jeopardy champions, 

But you do change us completely.

You are making us new, 

into people who will be like you 

when we see you face to face, 

as you really are (Revelation 21:5; 1 John 3:2).

You are making us into gentle and lowly people, 

people who get angry about injustice and oppression and abuse, 

people who speak the truth in love, 

people who humble ourselves 

to forgive those who sin against us. 

Lord, today and everyday, 

make our highest goal to be “learning Christ,” 

that we may discover the deepest rest for our souls. 

In your gentle name. Amen.

Read Matthew 11:28-30; Revelation 21:5; 1 John 3:2.

A Prayer about Knowing God as Our Good Father

A Prayer about Knowing God as Our Good Father

Abba, Father,

Wow! This one simple Hebrew word, 

which translates better they say as “Daddy,”

has the potential to change everything 

about how we see you and how we see ourselves, 

and most of all, how we live our lives.

How shocking really, that the holy God, 

the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, 

would stoop to being called “Daddy” by us, 

your wayward sinner saints.

You are unlike any earthly Daddy, 

for you never lose your patience with us, 

you never harm us in any way, 

you never leave us or forsake us. 

You always invite us to come to you, 

to tell you about our worry and our fear, 

our hopes and our dreams, 

our sin and our sorrow.

Help us to live and love 

out of this secure and stable place today, 

speaking gently to our kids and our spouses, 

acting kindly toward our friends and our enemies, 

sharing your Father-love with anyone and everyone we meet.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read Galatians 4:1-7.

A Prayer about the Bodies God Made

A Prayer about the Bodies God Made

Creator God,

Forgive us for being so spiritually-minded 

we sometimes see little bodily good!

Pastor Sam Allberry points out that our bodies do matter*—

they matter to you, as we realize 

when we think of how you formed Adam. 

You didn’t first create a soul or spirit 

and then find a container for it. 

No, you worked as an artisan 

in fashioning the body of Adam (and later Eve), 

and then you breathed life into it. 

We confess, we don’t always like parts of our bodies 

or even the whole thing.  

Maybe someone made fun of us 

for being too small or too big,

 too tall or too short, 

too brown or too white. 

Help us, Lord. 

Help us to look again in the mirror. 

Help us to see there 

the dark umber or bright hazel eyes 

you have fashioned, 

the long curly or short straight hair, 

the sturdy bones or wiry frame.  

Help us to name where our bodies 

have been broken by the fall. 

Help us to know how you have redeemed our shame 

over our bodies 

by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. 

And help us to remember that one day, 

when Jesus returns, 

we will live in a renewed and whole body forever. 

May we learn to thank you for the body you have given us, 

and may we learn to inhabit and steward it for your glory.

In Jesus’ enfleshed name. Amen.

Read Genesis 2:5-7, 2:21-25.

*For more on this topic, see Sam Allberry’s excellent book, What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves

A Prayer about Labor that Saves

A Prayer about Labor that Saves

Holy God,

Thank you for the apostle Paul’s honesty about his struggle with sin. 

I too struggle. 

On this Labor Day, the song that gets stuck in my head 

(even though it has nothing to do with the actual holiday), 

is “Rock of Ages.”

Today, I make Toplady’s my song, 

for it names the truth about me:

“Not the labors of my hands 

can fulfill thy law’s demands; 

could my zeal no respite know, 

could my tears forever flow, 

all for sin could not atone; 

thou must save, and thou alone.”

Thank you, that Jesus’ labor on the cross has saved us!

And because of this great news, 

lead me into your world to serve you 

and share this good news with others.

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Romans 7:24-8:1.