A Prayer about Submitting to the Lord’s Plan for Our Lives

by | May 23, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Submitting to the Lord’s Plan for Our Lives

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

All-Wise Lord,

Forgive us for thinking so highly of our own thoughts and plans.

We live in a culture that tells us to make a plan and work the plan, 

and success will follow. 

How we need to trust in your plan, 

even when it does not fit with our plan. 

You tell us to come to you for life and peace, 

to turn from the temptation to earn our way 

into your good graces. 

Indeed, there is no earning in your kingdom: 

“Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, 

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” (Isaiah 55:2).

Because of your abundant mercy, 

we turn from the temptation to trust our own plans…

for relationships,

spouses,

children (young or grown), 

work and retirement, 

finances, 

health, 

living situation, etc. 

Because of your eternal wisdom, 

we seek you and call upon you, 

believing that your way are higher than our ways, 

and your thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). 

Because you are the Lord and giver of life, 

we turn to your living Word 

to discover the hopeful plans 

you have made for us, 

fighting our unbelief 

to hope that this word will be true for us, 

our loved ones, our church, and your kingdom:

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace…” (Isaiah 55:12).

In the name of your Word incarnate, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Read Isaiah 55. 



A Prayer about Resting from Self-Reliance

by | May 22, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Resting from Self-Reliance

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:9

Resurrecting and Rest-giving God,

Forgive us for our stubborn self-reliance, 

our refusal to rest, 

our restless commitment 

to hurry and busyness.

Thank you for sending suffering 

that stops us in our tracks. 

Give us the eyes to see 

like the blind man given sight, 

your beloved apostle Paul, 

that when we experience affliction, 

when we feel “utterly burdened beyond our strength,” 

and “despair of life itself” (2 Cor. 1: 8), 

you are inviting us to the rest and reliance we need, 

the only rest that will truly satisfy, 

rest in your suffering Son, Jesus. 

Slow us down in our sorrow 

that we may feel 

your strength, 

your sturdiness, 

your steadfast love. 

Help us not to rush 

to comfort others in their affliction (2 Cor. 1:3-7), 

even though that labor will one day be a byproduct 

of our suffering. 

Help us to simply stop, 

to shed the tears you wait to count, 

to throw ourselves completely 

on the rest you give. 

For indeed, 

you are the God who raises the dead, 

and you give us the hope 

that “will deliver us again” (2 Cor. 1:10). 

In the name of our Savior who suffered 

that we might be comforted. Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-11.



A Prayer about Seeing the Glory of Jesus

by | May 21, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Seeing the Glory of Jesus

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. Matthew 17:2

Glorious Jesus,

How we long to see your glory, 

to really see it, 

the way Peter, James, and John saw it 

in the transfiguration. 

You took them to a high mountain, 

and as you were praying, 

you began shining like the sun, 

your face lit up in fierce, overpowering light, 

your clothes whiter 

than newly bleached sheets. 

Even though we have not yet physically seen you 

in your glory, 

help us to engage our imaginations 

so that we see what Peter, James, and John saw. 

Dazzling in your glory, 

you spoke with Moses and Elijah, 

two men who had caught glimpses of God’s glory. 

God’s glory-cloud descended on this whole bunch 

gathered on the mountain, 

and the voice of your Father spoke, 

“This is my beloved Son, 

with whom I am well pleased. 

Listen to him” (Matthew 17:5). 

The disciples sank to the ground, 

terrified by it all. 

But you, the fiery yet gentle Jesus, 

touched them, 

telling them, 

“Rise, and have no fear” (Matthew 17:7). 

Lord, may we see your glory 

even in this very story. 

And may we imagine your glory 

shining today into every crack and crevice of sin, 

every rupture and ravage of evil, 

healing and cleansing 

and bringing hope to hurting hearts. 

In your beautiful name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 17:1-13.



A Prayer about Days When You Can’t Take One More Thing

by | May 20, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Days When You Can’t Take One More Thing

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. Psalm 118:13

Lord Almighty,

On those days 

when we can’t take 

one more phone call lodging a complaint, 

one more text sharing sad news, 

one more best-laid plan going awry, 

one more thing—

Help us!

Help us to remember that you are our helper.

Who is our helper?

Our helper is the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 146:6). 

Our helper is the one 

who has “answered [us] and set [us] free” (Psalm 118:6).

Our helper is the one 

who “keeps faith forever; 

who executes justice for the oppressed, 

who gives food to the hungry, 

who sets the prisoner free, 

who opens the eyes of the blind, 

who lifts up those who are bowed down, 

who loves the righteous, 

who watches over the sojourner, 

who upholds the widow and the fatherless, 

who brings the wicked to ruin” (Psalm 146:6-10).

Our helper is the one 

whose steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 118:1-3).

Our helper is you, our Heavenly Father, 

who has adopted us through the precious blood 

of your very own Son.

In Jesus’ helping name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 118. 



A Prayer about How We’re Saved

by | May 18, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about How We’re Saved

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Gracious God,

Forgive us. 

We are so easily confused, 

and when we read about the Old Testament law 

and all the different kinds of offerings, 

we sometimes believe that you once saved your people 

through their keeping the law. 

But the law was never meant to save, 

only to point your people from the beginning of time 

to your undeserved kindness. 

We see this in what has been called the “Hall of Heroes,” 

but is more aptly called the “Hall of Your Faithfulness.” 

Indeed, from Abel to Abraham, 

from Sarah to Samson, 

none of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11 

lived your law perfectly. 

Instead, they “consider[ed] him faithful who had promised” (Heb. 11:11).  

It is this faith in your faithfulness, 

in your saving grace, 

that saved them. 

And it is this faith that saves us. 

May we always remember 

that you have faithfully carried out your plan 

to save your people 

from the beginning of time. 

What good news this is, 

since our works could never save us!

In the name of our faithful Savior, Jesus, we pray.

Amen. 



A Prayer about Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

by | May 17, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

Trustworthy Jesus,

We know we need to fix and re-fix our eyes on you, 

our “unseen” (for now) Savior, 

the author and perfecter of our faith (See Hebrews 12:1-2). 

Only in you will we find 

the strength, the courage, 

the faith, the hope, 

the love 

we need to move forward 

into the uncertain and often frightening 

circumstances of our lives. 

Help us not to trust in our to-do lists 

or our carefully laid plans. 

Help us not to trust in 

our efficiency or our competence. 

Help us instead to look at you 

each hour, each moment, 

of every day, 

to ask you, 

“Now what? 

Now to whom? 

Now where?” 

Help us to look to you for direction, 

and help us to obey you 

when you send us somewhere 

we don’t want to go. 

Indeed, only in you will we find our perfect peace, 

only as our minds are focused on you (See Isaiah 26:3). 

You are trustworthy; 

you are working in all things 

for the good of those who love you 

and are called according to your purpose (See Romans 8:28). 

We love you, Jesus. 

Help us to keep our eyes on you, 

that we might trust you. 

Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Hebrews 12:1-3; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 8:28.