A Prayer about Drawing Near to Jesus

by | Jul 12, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Drawing Near to Jesus

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

King Jesus,

Yesterday, my daily prayer gang and I 

wondered at your sympathy, 

your capacity to suffer with us, 

to get inside our struggle with sin, 

even though you yourself are sinless.

Today, we pray that we would have the courage 

to draw near to your throne.

We don’t have to hunch in hiding 

like children of an unpredictable father 

who comes home drunk one day 

but is ready to play the next. 

We don’t have to cower in fear 

like children of a harsh father 

who might beat us bloody with a strap 

for our disobedience. 

You transformed our fear into hope 

by dying for our sins, 

taking our punishment on yourself, 

and passing through the heavens (Hebrews 4:14). 

You open your arms wide to us, 

inviting us to bring all of our sin and sorrow—

the rotten words we have spoken, 

the murderous thoughts we have entertained, 

the habitual sins we have indulged in, 

not to mention the harm inflicted on us by others’ sins. 

Whatever our suffering in this broken world, 

you are ruling over it from your throne. 

Whatever our need is, 

you welcome us to come to you, 

to lay it before you, 

and to receive your abundant mercy and grace 

as a balm to heal us and make us whole.

In your forgiving name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 4:14-16.



A Prayer about Jesus’ Sympathy for Us

by | Jul 11, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Jesus’ Sympathy for Us

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Gracious and Generous God,

How often do we pause to consider 

how a sympathetic Savior changes everything? 

As we bow before you today, 

may we grasp afresh 

the hope that is ours in our beloved Christ:

Jesus, in his sinless humanity, 

is sympathetic to our weakness.

How can this be?

In one of my favorite books, the author 

explains it so much better than I can:
“It is in our ‘weaknesses’ that Jesus sympathizes with us.” 

[Sympathize means “to suffer with.”]

“Sympathize here is not cool and detached pity…

In our pain, Jesus is pained; 

in our suffering, 

he feels the suffering as his own 

even though it isn’t…

His is a love that cannot be held back 

when he sees his people in pain.”* 

Oh, Lord, may we cling to our

suffering and sympathetic Savior. 

May we rest in Christ’s sympathy for us, 

even as we battle sin, 

even as we suffer in a fallen world. 

In Jesus’ sympathetic name. Amen. 

Read Hebrews 4:14-16.



A Prayer about Caring for Our Grandchildren’s Parents

by | Jul 10, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Caring for Our Grandchildren’s Parents

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

Heavenly Father,

Our son laughingly told me before he and his wife left for the week 

that they understood the “grandparent tax” — 

the price paid for leaving their child with a grandparent: 

her bedtimes might be off, 

she might eat ice cream for dessert (or dinner) every night, etc. 

It was sweet of them to give me permission to do a little spoiling, 

but it also made me think. 

How do or should grandparents care for their adult children 

even as they care for their grandchildren? 

You tell us to “Count others more significant than [ourselves]….” 

Help us, Lord, to consider the challenges our adult children face 

and to come alongside them and support them in their efforts. 

Help us not to put our own needs first 

but to think about how we can help our grandchildren grow 

to love you and honor their parents. 

Help us to pray for our adult children 

as they seek to be wise parents. 

Help us to encourage our adult children in their efforts. 

Help us to offer to serve them 

by giving them a much-needed rest from time to time. 

Humble Jesus, make us like you 

as we care for our grandchildren’s parents.

Amen. 

Read Philippians 2:1-11.



A Prayer about Feeling Desperate in Illness

by | Jul 9, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Feeling Desperate in Illness

For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 2 Corinthians 1:8

Great Physician,

What good news —

you are near to the broken-bodied 

and save those who are 

crushed in spirit 

and in hope for health (See Psalm 34:18).

Today, we bring our sick and suffering friends before you, 

asking for your help and your hope. 

We think of Jairus, 

who fell down at your feet 

and pleaded for his little daughter, 

saying she was “at the point of death.” 

How desperate he must have felt 

when you stopped to heal the hemorrhaging woman, 

who also was surely desperate, 

because she reached out and touched your robe 

even though she knew her illness made her unclean (Mark 5:21-43). 

How desperate Jairus must have felt 

when his friends ran to him 

and told him his daughter had died.

How desperate the apostle Paul must have been, 

after he asked (at least) three times 

that you would heal his thorn in the flesh and was told “no  (See (2 Corinthians 12:8).

And yet, Paul, who suffered much in his body

for the sake of the gospel, 

who, though he “despaired of life itself,” (2 Corinthians 1:8)

gave us the words we pray now,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 

who comforts us in all our affliction, 

so that we may be able to comfort those 

who are in any affliction, 

with the comfort 

with which we ourselves are comforted 

by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

In the hope of ultimate healing in your name we pray. Amen.

Read Mark 5:21-43; 2 Corinthians 1; 2 Corinthians 11:26-27. 



A Prayer about Being United by Christ

by | Jul 7, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being United by Christ

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. 1 Corinthians 1:10

Uniting Lord,

We confess, 

the apostle Paul is holding up a mirror 

to the current state of our churches 

as he pleads with the Corinthians 

to agree “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 

to have “no divisions among you.” (1 Corinthians 1:10). 

Like the Corinthians, 

we sometimes make the leaders of our churches 

or the traditions of our denominations 

more important than the gospel. 

Forgive us, Lord,

for all the ways we deny the gospel of your grace. 

Forgive us, Lord, 

for all the ways we look to the “world’s wisdom” 

rather than the upside-down wisdom of the gospel 

to save us. 

Indeed, “Christ crucified” sounds like a strange way 

to be saved to this world, 

but as Christians, 

we know that death is the way to life, 

and that your power displayed 

in Christ’s resurrection

is the only power 

that can save us (1 Corinthians 1:20-25). 

United with Christ, may we be united 

with one another in this saving truth.

In Jesus’ reconciling name. Amen.

Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-31.



A Prayer about Where to Turn in Danger

by | Jul 6, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Where to Turn in Danger

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. Daniel 2:20

Saving God,

Few of us have ever faced the threats 

of a despot king as Daniel did, 

but many of us have faced the threat 

of danger 

from an unjust boss, 

a biased system, 

or a dread diagnosis. 

When we are faced with dark threats, 

calm our minds and ease our panic. 

Help us to do what Daniel did—

ask our friends to pray 

and face our enemy with equanimity, 

knowing the Lord who made heaven and earth 

is our helper. 

When you help us, 

draw our hearts to bow before you

thanking you and praising you 

as Daniel did:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, 

to whom belong wisdom and might. 

He changes times and seasons; 

he removes kings and sets up kings; 

he gives wisdom to the wise 

and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Daniel 2:20-21). 

In Jesus’ protecting name. Amen.

Read Daniel 2:1-24.