A Prayer about Not Panicking

by | Jan 14, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Prayer, Suffering

A Prayer about Not Panicking

Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10

Strong-gripped Father,

Thank you for holding us firmly 

when we’re frightened.

I’ve been re-listening to Prince Caspian, 

and I love the scene where Aslan says to Susan, 

“You’ve been listening to your fears again. 

Come here, let me breathe on you.”

Boy do we know that feeling of listening 

to our fears. 

When we listen to our fears,

we might get grumpy and mean like Susan was to Lucy. 

When we listen to our fears, 

we will struggle to see you in all of your might and majesty, 

just as Susan couldn’t see Aslan 

when Lucy insisted Aslan was there. 

When we listen to our fears, 

we might tremble and shake in panic. 

And yet, all along, 

you are holding us and helping us, 

keeping us steady and sure. 

Today, whether we fear 

abandonment of a friend 

or anger of a boss 

or abuse of a spouse, 

may we turn to you and trust in you 

and find you to be our unshakeable comfort and guide. 

In Jesus’ strong name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 43:1-7. 

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

by | Jan 12, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Our Struggle to Believe

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Genesis 18:13

All-Powerful God,

Every time I read this awkward scene for Sarah in Genesis, 

I slightly cringe, 

mostly because I recognize myself 

in her struggle to believe.

The Lord has promised Abraham and Sarah 

descendants as numerous as the stars, 

and yet, “The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah” (Gen. 18:11), 

and Abraham is a ripe 99-years-old. 

So we can hardly blame Sarah for laughing 

when she overhears one of the visitors, 

“the Lord,” 

say, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, 

and Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Gen. 18:10). 

Things get awkward when the Lord asks Abraham, 

“Why did Sarah laugh and say, 

‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

Is anything too hard for the Lord?” 

Sarah denies laughing, and the Lord responds, 

“No, but you did laugh” (Gen. 18:14-15). 

Oh Lord, you know the places of our lives 

where it’s hard to believe that nothing is too hard for you—

For new companionship to ease our loneliness 

or for healing in broken relationships…

For healing of a chronic illness 

or for belief that a terminal illness will lead to ultimate healing…

For a job that provides for our family 

or a job that allows us to escape an abusive boss….

[Name some places you struggle to believe…]

Help us to trust in you to care for us 

in every detail of our lives 

because you sent your Son in a virgin’s womb, 

because you raised your Son from the dead, 

that those who trust in him might live forever in your love. 

In Jesus’ all-powerful name we pray. Amen. 

A Prayer about the Wrong Kind of Unity

by | Jan 11, 2023 | Church, Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Wrong Kind of Unity

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

Genesis 11:4

Merciful Lord,

In this true story of your people building themselves a city and a tower, 

we see the root of our sin: 

trying to make a name for ourselves. 

Your people, whom you had commanded to “be fruitful and multiply,” 

to fill the earth with your glory, 

were united in the wrong purpose: 

they sought to build their own glory. 

You saw this wrong kind of unity, 

and you said, “Behold, they are one people, 

and they have all one language, 

and this is only the beginning of what they will do. 

And nothing that they propose 

will now be impossible for them” (Gen. 11:6).

And yet, even in dispersing the people across the earth, 

you continued your plan of redemption. 

One day, you would send your Son to unite your people, 

to bring “near” those who were once “far off,” 

to tear down “the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph. 2:14), 

to make all who would trust in you 

“fellow citizens and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).

And one day “soon,” 

your Son our Savior will return 

to bring the glory of all the nations into our eternal home, 

the new heavens and the new earth. 

Because you did what was impossible through your Son, 

may we daily seek to glorify you.

In Jesus’ uniting name. Amen.

A Prayer about Hope for Temptation

by | Jan 4, 2023 | Christmas, Christmas, Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Hope for Temptation

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

Lord Jesus,

We’re only five days into 2023, 

and most of us have already broken 

at least one New Year’s resolution, 

if we even made them. 

Worse still, we’ve all already succumbed to temptation—

to speak ill of a friend or an enemy, 

to eat or drink more than is good 

for the bodies you gave us, 

to say “yes” when we should have said “no,” 

or to say “no” when we should have said “yes.” 

And yet, on this twelfth day of Christmas, 

we take comfort in this passage (Hebrews 2:14-18).

You knew that in our humanity 

we would struggle with temptation and sin, 

so you took on our humanity—

everything except the sin. 

You gave your human body, 

sinless and righteous, 

as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. 

Because you did, 

we who are in you, 

are forever freed from the fear of death. 

Not only that, we are freed from slavery 

to the devil, 

that we might become obedient like you. 

And when we do struggle with temptation, 

we have a Savior who can really help, 

because you endured the pain and struggle 

of temptation for us. 

Encourage us today 

to walk in your new morning mercy.

In your suffering name, Amen.

Read Hebrews 2:14-18.

A Prayer about Trusting God for Transformation

by | Jan 3, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living, Seasons & Holidays, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Trusting God for Transformation

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Faithful God,

As this new year begins, I and others are making plans, 

hopefully good, God-authored plans 

to pursue the unique callings you have given us.

As we do so, help us to take stock of the unique gifts 

and wounds you have written into our lives:

[Name some of the gifts God has given you—

unique story, abilities, passions, etc. 

and some of the wounds you’ve experienced (because God works to redeem all things].

Guide us by your Holy Spirit to see 

the people, places, and things 

you have called us to in the coming year.

[Take a few moments to listen to the Holy Spirit 

about the people, places, and things 

he is calling you to this year.]

Help us by the wisdom of Jesus, 

who had perfect boundaries, 

to know when to say “no.”

Help us by the grace of Jesus, 

who served perfectly, 

to know when to say “yes.”

In every step we take, 

may we look to you and trust you 

to complete the good works you have “prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10).  

Read Proverbs 3:5-6; Colossians 3:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-10.

A Prayer about Becoming Wise

by | Jan 2, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Seasons & Holidays, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Becoming Wise

“…wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?”

(Matthew 2:2).

Wise Lord,

As we enter this first week of the new year, 

how desperately we need your wisdom. 

We’ve seen the bumper stickers, and they nail it—

“Wise men still seek him.” 

Lord, indeed, the first way of wisdom 

is to seek Jesus. 

For years I didn’t realize that the wise men weren’t Jewish—

they were astrologers, 

interpreters of stars and signs and dreams, 

likely from Babylon. 

Maybe they had overheard some Israelites 

who were exiled there 

speaking of the “bright morning star” 

and they recognized the sign when they saw it. 

Lord, help us to recognize you, 

and to seek you in a much clearer sign—your Word. 

When the wise men saw the sign, 

they traveled far, probably around nine hundred miles, 

to find the “king of the Jews.” 

Lord, make us willing travelers 

who will enter the unfamiliar 

in order to see you and to share you with others. 

The wise men risked their lives in asking Herod, 

the appointed king of the Jews, 

where the real King of the Jews was. 

Lord, make us bold and courageous 

in telling the truth about our real King, Jesus. 

The wise men “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” 

when they saw the star 

and when they discovered the child Jesus,

they “fell down and worshiped.” 

Lord, make us people who fall down and worship 

when we see you, 

and make us see you every single moment of every single day.

In the name of King Jesus we pray. Amen. 

Read Matthew 2: 1-12.

(This prayer was inspired by a sermon from our pastor, Joel Treick — you can listen at Pinewoods Church, December 19, 2021.)