A Prayer about Running the Race with Endurance

by | Sep 27, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, kingdom living, Numbering Our Days

A Prayer about Running the Race with Endurance

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Lord Jesus,

As the author of my faith and the author of my story, 

you know that I always remember this verse 

in the NASB version in which I first memorized it. 

I had been a camper for two life-changing weeks 

at Young Life’s Pioneer Plunge, a wilderness camp, 

and the culmination of our time was a three mile run 

down the mountain (three miles was a long way for 

this out-of-shape fifteen-year-old). 

We were encouraged to memorize these verses 

and to see ourselves running the life of faith with endurance. 

Even before we began, we were encouraged 

to “lay aside every encumbrance 

and the sin which so easily entangles us”

by confessing it to you and possibly to one other. 

When we felt weary or like we couldn’t go on, 

we were to fix our eyes on you, 

“the author and perfecter of our faith,” 

who endured the cross 

because of the joy set before you — 

the joy of knowing 

you were winning your Father’s children back to him. 

We were also to imagine the “great cloud of witnesses,” 

those who had run the race before us, 

Abraham and Sarah and Rahab and Moses

and the “women who received back their dead by resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35). 

(Now I know more and realize these characters

weren’t necessarily heroes of faith 

running like antelope 

but more recipients of your grace, 

stumbling along the way.)

Even if we had to quit running 

and walk part or all of the way, 

we were to remember that you “despised the shame” of the cross, 

so that we might never experience the shame of sin again. 

And if we encountered obstacles along the way, 

we were to ask for help, 

because you sit at the right hand of the throne of God, 

interceding for us.

I pray for my friends and me today, 

that we would continue running this same race with endurance, 

fixing our eyes on you, 

that we might see you 

writing and perfecting your story of faith in our lives.

In your perfect name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 11:1-12:2.

A Prayer about Coming Alongside Caregivers

by | Sep 26, 2022 | aging, dying, and death, Caregiving, Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Coming Alongside Caregivers

….four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on the mat, right down in front of Jesus.

Mark 2:4.

Gentle Jesus,

Bring to mind the people we know 

who are acting as caregivers to the sick or disabled in this season. 

They often find themselves 

paralyzed with guilt or grief, 

with confusion and exhaustion. 

Show us how we can be like the four friends to them, 

laying them on the mat 

and breaking through barriers 

to bring them before you. 

May we serve them in practical ways, 

cooking meals and doing yard work, 

helping them navigate the insurance maze, 

staying with their loved one 

so they can make doctor’s appointments 

or go for a walk. 

May we serve them 

by listening to them,

by encouraging them to lament,

and by praying for and with them 

when they can’t find the words to pray. 

Help us, Lord, to have the faith and kindness 

of the paralytic’s mat-friends 

to bring our caregiving friends before you 

to ask you to heal and help them. 

In your caring name. Amen.

Read Mark 2:1-5. 

A Prayer about Understanding Angels

by | Sep 25, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Scripture, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Understanding Angels

 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Isaiah 6:3

Holy God,

We admit, our understanding of angels 

comes far more from cartoons and collectibles 

than from the descriptions in your Word. 

Throughout Scripture, angels appear to be 

fierce, supernatural, and otherworldly 

(the seraphim praising your name in Isaiah 6:3 have six wings!). 

Angels are your messengers 

(the word angel even means messenger) (Ex. 3; Judges 6:11-17); Luke 1:26-38) 

and your worshipers (Is. 6:3; Rev. 5:12; Rev. 1:6). 

People often tremble when they see angels, 

so we know they probably don’t look like fat-cheeked babies with fluffy wings. 

You send your angels to protect humans (Mt. 18:10) 

and to “serve those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). 

Angels will join Jesus when he returns to establish

the new heavens and the new earth (Mt. 16:27; Mark 8:38). 

Angels do communicate your might and your mercy, 

but Jesus is far superior to the angels (Heb. 1:4). 

Lord, may we never worship angels, 

who indeed worship Christ. 

Lord, may we marvel 

that you created us different from the angels, 

in your image, 

with your glory, 

with a physical body 

that will be raised when Jesus returns.

Lord, how we look forward to worshiping you 

alongside the angels in eternity. 

In Jesus’ superior name. Amen. 

Read Hebrews 1.  

A Prayer about Gaining Wisdom

by | Sep 24, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Gaining Wisdom

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance…. Proverbs 1:5

God Only Wise,

Your Word shows us 

that we don’t have to be old to be wise, 

nor do we have to be geniuses—

we need only to trust in you, 

for “the fear of the Lord 

is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).

May we not be fools, 

who “despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

You have given us everything we need to be wise—

your Son, wisdom itself, 

the Holy Spirit as our counselor, 

and yourself, the only wise, all-knowing God.

Today and everyday, 

let us seek wisdom in your Word 

and by prayer, 

that we may not fall 

into the folly of this world.

In Jesus’ wise name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 1. 

A Prayer about Entrusting Our Souls to God

by | Sep 23, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Entrusting Our Souls to God

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Psalm 25:1-2

Trustworthy God, 

In you alone we must trust, 

for we can’t always trust others, 

or even ourselves, 

but you we can always trust 

to remember your mercy and your steadfast love (Ps. 25:6).

Because of your mercy in Jesus Christ, 

we may never be put to shame—

by our own sin: 

our tendency to trust in gods that are not God, 

our selfishness and self-promotion, 

our unkind thoughts and careless words.

Because of your mercy in Jesus Christ, 

we may never be put to shame 

by others’

condemnation and cruelty, 

demand for perfection, 

or failures of faithfulness.

Because of your mercy in Jesus Christ, we may never be put to shame by the evil one: 

his mockery of our mistakes, 

his temptation to trust him, 

his lies and misleading.

You say, “none who wait for you shall be put to shame” (Ps. 25:3). 

Lord, we are waiting, 

Lord, we can’t wait 

to see the face of our Savior. 

May he return today 

to bring us to everlasting glory. 

In Jesus’ merciful name. 

Amen.

Read Psalm 25.

A Prayer about Drawing Near to God

by | Sep 21, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Drawing Near to God

And since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:21-22

Holy and Merciful God,

It’s easy to pass right over this verse 

without meditating on how astonishing it is 

that you, the holy Creator and King of the universe, 

have called us to draw near to you. 

Like oil and water, sin and holiness don’t mix. 

Like cheap paint on a rusted out car, 

the sacrifices of goats and calves passed quickly away,

leaving the ugly framework of an evil conscience glaring in the sun.

You knew we needed not only a great high priest 

but a lasting sacrifice. 

And you sent Jesus, 

your only Son, your holy Son, 

to keep the law we could never keep. 

You allowed his blood to trickle down 

from the wounds in his nail-scarred hands, 

to wash the bodies of those who would trust in his sacrifice.

And you raised him from the dead, 

bringing him to the heavenly throne next to you,

where he now prays for us. 

It’s truly a bizarre story. 

And yet, it is the only story that calls us 

to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22).

We are humbled and awed by your goodness to us.

In the name of our great high Priest, Jesus, 

we thank you. Amen.

Read Hebrews 9:11-14; 10:19-25.