A Prayer about Praying for Children and Grandchildren

by | Aug 16, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Praying for Children and Grandchildren

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:18 

 

Heavenly Father,

I confess, as a parent, 

I so often forget 

the powerful tool 

of praying for my children. 

I remember when my kids were younger, 

I would often ask a friend just ahead of me 

if her child ever exhibited a certain behavior 

(biting, not eating her whole meal, talking back, etc.), 

and her answer became my go-to 

when younger moms asked me later, 

“Yes, my child did that, 

and I don’t remember what I did, 

but I know I prayed.” 

Father, today I pray 

for all of my parenting 

and grand parenting friends out there. 

As we feel the normal anxieties 

over our children and grandchildren, 

draw us by your Spirit to lay them all before you:

Worried about our granddaughter getting a job? 

Ask you to provide for her.

Worried about our baby sleeping through the night? 

Ask you to grant sleep and rest.

Worried about our son being overwhelmed as he enters high school? 

Ask you to guide and keep him. 

[Name some worries you have for your children and/or grandchildren. Ask the Lord for help.]

Thank you for the powerful peace 

that comes from entrusting our children 

and grandchildren to you. 

In Jesus’ comforting name. Amen.

Friends, if you have children or grandchildren or simply want to pray for children, be sure to check out my printable guide to creating prayer cards for children. Go here to get it: http://eepurl.com/b__teX.

A Prayer about Righteousness and Justice for the Oppressed

by | Aug 15, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Righteousness and Justice for the Oppressed

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103:6

Holy, Righteous, and Just Lord,

Even as yesterday we considered 

so many of your benefits and blessings, 

today we meditate on the awe-some news 

that you work your righteousness and justice 

for all who are oppressed (Psalm 103:6). 

I confess, when I think “oppressed,” 

I often think of the marginalized and weak, 

those who have experienced 

the demeaning of their dignity as image-bearers, 

those who suffer regular injustices against them. 

Those are the “oppressed,” 

but we must remember that we, 

your people, were “oppressed” 

before you sent your Son, our Savior, 

to free us from our sins:

You sent Jesus to set prisoners free, 

to open the eyes of the blind, 

to lift up those who are enslaved by sin (Psalm 146:8).

Because of your abundant mercy and lavish love, 

we are set free, and we are made righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

Now, as your new creation, 

you send us out as your ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:17-20),

to be instruments of your shalom: 

working toward 

“universal flourishing, 

wholeness, 

and delight”* 

Today and every day, 

open our eyes to see those who are oppressed—

whether in bondage to sin 

or marginalized because of their skin color, 

whether broken by loneliness and grief, 

or by addiction to substances, 

whether stuck in a cycle of poverty 

or in a cyclone of mental illness…

And strengthen our hands and our hearts 

to work for their flourishing and wholeness.

In Jesus’ righteous name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 103:6-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Psalm 146:7-9.

*Cornelius Plantinga, Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin



A Prayer about All of the Lord’s Benefits

by | Aug 14, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about All of the Lord’s Benefits

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…

Psalm 103:2

 

Saving Lord,

We confess, we have what some have called “gospel amnesia.” 

Heal our memories that we might recite your benefits, 

not just some of them, but ALL of them. 

To name a few…

Thank you for forgiving our sins (Psalm 103:3).

[Name some sins you are thankful God has forgiven you.]

Thank you for healing our diseases (Psalm 103:3). 

[Note: “diseases” may mean more spiritual than physical here. Name some diseases you are thankful God has healed.]

Thank you for redeeming our lives from the pit (Psalm 103:4).

[Name some pits God has rescued you from.]

Thank you for crowning us with your steadfast love and mercy (Psalm 103:4).

[Name some ways God has shown you steadfast love and mercy that you might show it to others.]

Thank you for satisfying us with your goodness (Psalm 103:5).

[Name some ways God has satisfied you with his goodness.]

Thank you for renewing our youth by giving us life everlasting (Psalm 103:5).

[Name some ways you are grateful for God’s renewal in your life.]

Thank you, merciful Lord, for all of your many benefits and blessings.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 103:1-5.



A Prayer about Where We Find Our Security and Significance

by | Aug 13, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Where We Find Our Security and Significance

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. 

Psalm 62:1

Faithful God,

We confess, too many times, 

our souls wait noisily, 

and they’re waiting for whatever will bring us 

a greater sense of security and significance. 

May we recognize with David 

that you alone are worthy of our wait. 

You alone are our rock and our salvation, 

our fortress. 

When we secure ourselves in you alone, 

we will “not be greatly shaken” (Psalm 62:1-2).

When we look for security in the many good gifts 

you have graciously given us,

we will find that they are only 

“leaning walls” 

and “tottering fences.” 

Our ideal families aren’t always happy; 

Our fit bodies aren’t always healthy;

Our retirement accounts aren’t always hefty. 

And yet, strangely enough, 

you know when we turn to these things 

for a sense of security and significance, 

and although you may “discipline those you love” (Hebrews 12:6 ), 

you do love us, 

you do seek us out, 

you do draw us back to yourself, 

our only safe refuge. 

Indeed, Lord, we can trust in you at all times; 

we can vulnerably “pour out our heart before you” (Psalm 62:8), for

“Power belongs to you,” 

and you alone are “steadfastly loving” (Psalm 62:11). 

In Jesus’ safe and secure name. Amen. 

Read Psalm 62.



A Prayer about the Assurance of the Spirit

by | Aug 12, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Assurance of the Spirit

 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16

Merciful Father,

Thank you for your Holy Spirit reminders 

that we are your children 

if we have professed our trust in Christ Jesus as Savior.

Sometimes it’s easy to believe 

you won’t want us anymore, 

or  that you will disown us

especially when we seem to be losing the battle against sin. 

When we’ve powed someone again in traffic 

after praying that we would be more patient, 

when we’ve called someone a name 

after praying we’d be more kind, 

when we’ve yelled at our kids after praying 

we’d be more even-tempered, 

we are sad. 

Some days, it feels like we’re never going to look like your Son. 

Especially in these times, 

we need to run to the assurance of your Word 

reminding us that we are your children, 

and we will always be your children. 

There’s no disowning in the kingdom of God. 

We need to run to the assurance of your Word 

to hear your invitation to return 

and receive forgiveness, 

because “there is therefore now no condemnation 

for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Thank you, Lord, for this incredibly good news.

In the name of our inviting Savior we pray. Amen. 

Read Romans 7:21-8:1, Romans 8:12-18.



A Prayer about How to Give Generously

by | Aug 10, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about How to Give Generously

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’” 2 Corinthians 9:6

Generous Father,

You know many of us struggle with giving. 

We live in a world that tells us 

to take and keep, 

to save and protect. 

And yet, Paul tells us of the Macedonian Christians 

who were 

“incredibly happy, though desperately poor” (2 Cor. 8:2). 

And they gave generously, 

beyond their ability, 

because they were so grateful 

for what you had done in their lives, 

for your “indescribable gift” 

of Jesus Christ. 

Father, help us to get our heads on straight 

about giving. 

May we not give out of guilt; 

may we not heed poor teaching 

that tells us if we give enough 

we’ll live healthy and wealthy all of our lives. 

May we fully embrace the joy of gospel giving: 

you “generously provide all we need” (2 Cor. 9:8). 

You give us the seed to make the wheat 

to make the flour to make the bread. 

You give us strength to work 

and work to do 

and fair wages to earn. 

And most of all, you gave us your Son! 

In grateful response, 

we give money and possessions and time 

to further your redeeming work in the world, 

and we do so like the Macedonians, 

eagerly and happily. 

In the name of your life-giving Son. Amen. 

Read 2 Corinthians 8-9.