A Prayer about Radical Transformation

by | Nov 24, 2022 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living, Prayer

A Prayer about Radical Transformation

But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Acts 8:3

Merciful God,

How good it is to read straight through the Bible 

because we return to radical redemption stories 

we might otherwise forget. 

This past week my reading took me back to this short paragraph 

about the persecution of the early church 

by a “Pharisee of Pharisees” 

who would soon become the apostle Paul, 

the man who wrote much of the New Testament. 

Show us through the true story of a man like Paul 

just how revolutionary the change in us, 

the change in others is, 

through the work of your Holy Spirit. 

A murderer becomes a missionary.

An addict becomes your adorer.

A grump becomes a gracious grandpa.

A sourpuss becomes a sweet servant.

Transforming Lord, 

give us a glimpse of what we might have become 

if we were not united with Christ 

so that we might have hope 

for those we might otherwise dismiss as hopeless. 

Show us the “Sauls” in our lives, 

that we may pray for them, 

that we may go to them, 

that they might have a life-changing encounter 

with Jesus. 

And while you’re at it, 

would you please give us a glimpse of the glory 

that awaits us 

when we see Jesus face to face 

and are truly made like him?

In Jesus’ transforming name. Amen.

Read Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9:1-31.

 

A Prayer about Seeking Shalom in Places of Exile

by | Nov 22, 2022 | Gospel living, kingdom living

A Prayer about Seeking Shalom in Places of Exile

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7

Redeeming God,

What a seemingly strange command. 

Your rebellious people 

have been exiled to Babylon, 

a pagan nation, 

and yet, you instructed them 

to seek the welfare of the city, 

its shalom, its universal flourishing and wholeness.

 In the same way, 

whether we live in a city or country 

we would never have chosen 

or an apartment with roommates we wished lived elsewhere 

or a neighborhood that has no people like us, 

you call us to seek the welfare 

of the places you have placed us. 

You work through us 

to bless every people 

with your peace and hope 

and beauty and truth, 

and one day your Holy City will move to us, 

and you will dwell with us, 

and we will know the future and the hope 

you have planned for us. 

Because of this truth, 

may we live and love today and every day

 for the sake of our neighbors’ welfare.

In Jesus’ restoring name. Amen.

Read Jeremiah 29:4-14. 

 

A Prayer about Walking in God’s Way

by | Nov 19, 2022 | Gospel living

A Prayer about Walking in God’s Way

Thus says the Lord: stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Jeremiah 6:16

Merciful Lord,

What a frightening passage. 

These are your very own people 

who are refusing to walk in the way 

you have shown them, 

the way that will bring rest for their souls. 

These words, “everyone is greedy for unjust gain…

everyone deals falsely” 

describe your chosen people (Jeremiah 6:13). 

They were “not at all ashamed” 

when they followed other pagan gods; 

“they did not knowhow to blush” (Jeremiah 6:14-15). 

When you called to them, 

‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’, 

they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’ (Jeremiah 6:17). 

Gracious Lord, as we, your redeemed people 

read these words describing your people long ago, 

may we examine our own hearts, 

searching for rebellious spirits, 

deaf ears, 

greedy hearts, 

deceptive minds. 

As we see our own sin, 

may we boldly approach your throne of grace, 

where you have promised 

we will receive mercy and help 

in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). 

In the name of Jesus Christ, our advocate, 

we pray. Amen.

Read Jeremiah 6:13-17.

 

A Prayer about Thanking God for True Meaning in Life

by | Nov 17, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living

A Prayer about Thanking God for True Meaning in Life

What I’ve finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless—nothing but spitting into the wind. Ecclesiastes 1:17

Author God,

I admit, I always struggle 

when my daily reading brings me to Ecclesiastes. 

The words seem sarcastic and cynical, 

and I need wise scholars to show me hope in these words. 

And yet, the more I read, 

the more I realize how we can relate to the “Teacher.”

We too can invest our time and energy 

into acquiring both wisdom and knowledge. 

We too can find it leaving us empty and sad. 

We too can try to find meaning in life

in various pleasures—relationships, work, food, drink, etc., 

and we too can find those leaving us empty and sad. 

So where do we find meaning, 

and what does allow us to enjoy your good gifts 

here and now? 

Thanks be to God, 

we know the One who brings meaning to life—

Jesus, our Wisdom and purpose. 

In Christ, you are working 

through every moment of every day 

to make us more like Christ; 

this transformation gives meaning to our lives. 

In Christ, you are working through us 

to bring grace and hope to others; 

this purpose gives meaning to our lives. 

Thank you, God, for giving us the wisdom of Christ 

to see beyond this fallen world, 

to see that indeed, 

everything “under the sun” 

is not “smoke, nothing but smoke” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). 

You are working it all together 

for our good and your glory, even now.

Amen.

Read Ecclesiastes 1. 

 

A Prayer about Really “Getting” God’s Love

by | Nov 16, 2022 | body, Daily Prayer, Joy, Theology

A Prayer about Really “Getting” God’s Love

That you being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints the breadth and length and height and depth…Eph. 3:18

Heavenly Father, 

We confess, we just don’t fully get your love. 

We’ve never seen anything like it on this earth, 

unless we could imagine that the ocean, 

seemingly infinite in depth and length and width and height, 

was full of your love. 

You are love, 

and you can never be not-loving. 

We struggle to understand your love—

like a four-year-old learning to read, 

we might be able to make out some of the characters 

and even a word here or there, 

but a whole sentence or paragraph 

is more than we can handle. 

And yet, you have made a way for us 

to taste the sweetness of your love—

by the power of your Holy Spirit, 

you work in our “inner being,” 

and you tell us, “I love you.” 

You show us through story after story after story 

of your grace—

“My sinless Son died  for you….” 

“My sinless Son died for you….” 

Yes, while you were still a sinner (Romans 5:8). 

Yes, even though you still struggle with sin (Rom. 7:23-25). 

You belong to me, 

and I love you. 

I loved you from before the foundation of the world, 

and I will love you throughout eternity. 

Oh dear Father, 

give us the faith to ground ourselves in this love 

that we might love others 

as you have loved us. 

In Jesus’ eternally loving name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21.

 

A Prayer about Not Being an Orphan

by | Nov 14, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, gratitude, Parenting, Theology

A Prayer about Not Being an Orphan

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:13

Heavenly Father,

Although you are called Father in the Bible, 

may we never forget that you nurture and comfort us 

as a mother does her children:

To the rebellious Israelites, 

you are like a mother 

who will never forget her nursing child (Isaiah 49:15);

Over the city where he would soon be betrayed, 

Jesus cried, 

for he longed to gather Jerusalem 

“as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, 

and you would not!” (Matthew 23:37).

And here in Isaiah 66, 

you promise to bring a mother’s comfort 

in the day of restoration.

Because you comfort and care for your children 

as a mother and a father, 

because you have adopted us as your children, 

we lift up all who feel like orphans. 

Some have lost their mothers and fathers to death, 

others never knew the presence of a mother or father, 

still others have such broken relationships with their mothers or fathers 

that it would seem better to be an orphan. 

And yet, because you have made us your own 

through Jesus Christ, 

we need never feel that “it’s all up to us,” 

or that we are unwanted or unloved. 

Make that truth increasingly real to us, 

so that we may not live as orphans, 

trying to get through life on our own. 

When we feel alone, reach deep into our hearts 

through your Holy Spirit 

and bring us the comfort we crave. 

In Jesus’ assuring name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 66:7-24; Matthew 23:37; Isaiah 49:15.