A Prayer about Ending Well

by | May 25, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Ending Well

When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship. Acts 20:36-38

Sending God,

It is the season of endings. 

Students are graduating 

from high schools, colleges, and grad schools; 

couples are getting married and altering the relationships 

they’ve had with their families. 

The truth is, most of us don’t like to say good-bye. 

We enjoy familiarity, and new things sometimes frighten us. 

Shape us by the good news of your sending gospel. 

Show us through Paul and the Ephesian elders 

how to end well.

Paul was honest with his beloved friends, 

“And so this is good-bye. 

You’re not going to see me again, 

nor I you, you whom I’ve gone among for so long 

proclaiming the good news of God’s inaugurated kingdom” (Acts 20:25-27, MSG). 

Paul can leave well because he knows 

he has done what God called him to do in Ephesus: 

“I’ve done my best for you, given you my all, 

held back nothing of God’s will for you” (Acts 20:27).

Even as he leaves, he charges them 

to live in the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. 

And then, in this tender scene on the beach, 

they say good-bye. 

They don’t pretend that they’re not going to miss each other—

they grieve. 

They weep. 

They hug and they kiss (Acts 20:36-38). 

And then the elders send Paul off.

Lord, you’ve shown us the way to do endings well. 

Give us the grace to do so in these coming days.

In Jesus’ tender name. Amen. 

Read Acts 20:17-38.

A Prayer about Confessing Our Sins

by | May 23, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Confessing Our Sins

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

Forgiving Father,

I recently read Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s exhortation 

to confess our sins to a brother or sister in Christ.* 

While we don’t want to make the mistake 

of thinking that we must confess our sins to another person 

in order to be forgiven, 

and while we don’t believe that any human 

has the authority of Christ to forgive us our sins, 

we do need to recognize that confession of our sins, 

sometimes to another human being, 

is crucial to living in the “freedom for which Christ set us free” (Gal. 5:1).

Show us, Father, if we are lying to ourselves 

when we only confess sins privately to you; 

show us if we need to take a sin out of the darkness 

into the light of gracious fellowship, 

a few close friends, 

or a trusted ministry leader, 

who can remind us of the hope your Word offers

about sin, temptation, and forgiveness. 

Help us not to “conceal our transgressions” 

but to “confess” them and “forsake them” (Proverbs 28:13). 

As we confess our sins, 

may we remember and believe 

that you are “faithful and just to forgive our sins 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

In Jesus’ forgiving name. Amen. 

This prayer inspired by Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, Life Together.

A Prayer about Being Saved from Folly

by | May 22, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Being Saved from Folly

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12

Wise and Gracious Lord,

In our world, 

foolishness seems more prevalent 

than wisdom. 

As we read Proverbs, 

we discover that folly 

can be as destructive as evil. 

We urge you, make us wise. 

Turn us away from the world’s folly, 

the kind of folly that closes our minds, 

the kind of folly that refuses to listen, 

the kind of folly that runs off at the mouth 

about things we know nothing about, 

the kind of folly that thinks we know everything, 

the kind of folly that makes us lazy as a brick, 

the kind of folly that makes us repeat our folly. 

Instead, make us foolish in the gospel, 

proclaiming what will sound like folly to fools: 

“For the word of the cross is folly 

to those who are perishing, 

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” 

(1 Corinthians 1:18). 

In your wisdom-giving name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 26.

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

by | May 20, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

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 the Assurance of Salvation

by | May 16, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Theology

A Prayer about the Assurance of Salvation

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28

Good Savior,

Thank you for this promise you’ve given to your sheep, 

to those who know your voice 

to those who believe in you (John 10:27).

Sadly, I’ve met too many ladies in our jail ministry 

who’ve “walked the aisle” again and again and again, 

because they feared that their salvation hadn’t “stuck.” 

They loved you and wanted to follow you, 

but a lifetime of backsliding into addiction 

had caused them to doubt 

whether you could really love them. 

Even more sadly, 

they had been told by pastors or ministry leaders 

that they couldn’t truly belong to you 

if they kept sinning. 

Forgive us, Lord, for judging anyone’s heart. 

You came not to condemn our sins but to forgive them. 

By your Holy Spirit, you change us. 

You assure us that those who follow you 

and listen to your voice will have “eternal life” 

and that they will “never perish.”

You promise, “no one will snatch them out of my hand” 

because your Father has “given them to [you]” (John 10:29). 

We pray for any who long to turn back to you 

but fear you will no longer know them.

May they hear your voice speaking your assurance. 

In your grace-gripping name. Amen. 

Read John 10:22-30.

A Prayer about the Gift of Prayer

by | May 12, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about the Gift of Prayer

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ And he said to them, ‘When you pray, say:….’ Luke 11:1-2

Holy Father,

Thank you for the gift of prayer.

Grow our understanding of the power and richness of prayer.

Thank you for David Powlison’s words 

that remind us of a key feature of prayer we often forget:

“We usually ask God to change events in people’s lives…

But [we need to] think about the spiritual needs of each of these life situations….”

So, even as we pray,

“Lord, please bless my friend’s business,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please give my friend faith that you will provide for her in this business….”

Even as we pray,

“Lord, please heal my friend from chronic pain,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please sustain my friend’s hope in this hard season….”

Even as we pray,

“Lord, please bring my friend’s daughter back home,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please help my friend forgive her daughter for causing so much pain….”

[Name some prayers of your own following this model….]

Thank you Lord, for the privilege of prayer. 

Please shape us more and more 

into the image of your Son as we learn to pray. 

In Jesus’ praying name. Amen. 

Read Luke 11:1-13.