A Prayer about Moving from the Domain of Darkness

by | Feb 6, 2022 | Daily Prayer, kingdom living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Moving from the Domain of Darkness

Father, 

I confess, 

sometimes the darkness of this world 

seems all-encompassing. 

The depressing news, 

the bent toward meanness, 

the joy in judginess

…I see it everywhere—

in my own heart and in the hearts of others. 

What good news it is to remember then, 

that we who are in Christ

no longer live in the “domain of darkness.” 

You have transferred us and transformed us. 

Now we have a rich inheritance: 

“the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:12). 

Now we are freed from the tyrant Satan 

to serve you, our redeeming and forgiving King. 

Now our primary language is “thanksgiving” 

and our primary work is “endurance and patience and joy” (Colossians 1:11). 

Now we have been “strengthened with all power, 

according to his glorious might” (Colossians 1:11).

to live as citizens of the kingdom of the beloved Son.

So very gratefully we pray. Amen. 

Read Colossians 1:9-14.

A Prayer about Getting Unstuck

by | Feb 4, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Joy

A Prayer about Getting Unstuck

Author God,

What a profound true story you have given us to demonstrate 

the only real hope for those of us who feel stuck—

whether stuck in sin, stuck in bad habits, or just stuck in life.

May we read this story and see 

how Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), 

how his revelation that he is the Messiah, 

the Christ, the King of our lives, 

changes everything when we believe it. 

The Samaritan woman, 

who had been stuck for a long time, 

dropped her water jar

and ran back to the very people 

she had just avoided 

to invite them to meet the Messiah (John 4:28-30). 

May we truly seek out the Jesus who seeks us out. 

May we find ourselves found in him. 

And may we become true worshipers—

those who worship in spirit and in truth (4:23). 

Read John 4:1-42. For more thoughts on this story, check out this weekly gospel meditation. 

A Prayer about Preventing Bitterness

by | Feb 3, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Preventing Bitterness

Merciful Lord,

May we hear your dire warning 

to guard our hearts 

from the toxic root of bitterness.

Bitterness characterizes the unrighteous, 

whose “mouth is full of curses and bitterness, 

whose feet are swift to shed blood” (Romans 3:14-15). 

Bitterness characterizes the selfish, 

those who are “in the gall of bitterness 

and in the bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:23). 

Bitterness grows when we refuse to forgive. 

For those forgiven by you, 

bitterness makes no sense. 

Knowing the cost of our sins 

you paid on the cross, 

we pray daily, “forgive us our debts, 

as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). 

Knowing how fully you have forgiven us, 

we forgo resentment and bitterness, 

striving for “peace with everyone” 

insofar as it depends on us (Hebrews 12:15; Romans 12:18). 

In your grace-giving name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 12:14-15; Romans 3:10-18; Romans 12:9-21. 

A Prayer about Receiving the Lord’s Discipline

by | Feb 2, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Spiritual Growth, Suffering

A Prayer about Receiving the Lord’s Discipline

Heavenly Father,

Although your discipline, 

your correction, 

your reproof 

may seem painful at the time, 

help us to receive it as the tender and kind strength 

of a good Father who deeply loves his children. 

Remind us of the truth misapplied by Eliphaz—

“For he wounds, but he binds up; 

He shatters, but his hands heal” (Job 5:11-12). 

Remind us that while earthly fathers 

may discipline poorly and for a short time, 

you discipline us “for our good, 

that we may share his holiness.” 

Help us to wait for the day 

your discipline will “yield 

the peaceful fruit of righteousness 

to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11). 

Most of all, remind us that while you discipline us, 

you are not punishing us, 

for you have already punished Jesus, 

our Savior, 

on the cross 

for every sin 

we would ever commit: 

“Consider him who endured from sinners 

such hostility against himself, 

so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:3).

In Jesus’ enduring name. Amen.

Read Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:1-11.

A Prayer for Unspoken Prayer Requests

by | Jan 29, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer for Unspoken Prayer Requests

Heavenly Father, 

Today we come to you 

on behalf of all of the people 

who have “unspoken prayer requests.” 

In our church prayer chains, 

we have no qualms about asking for prayer 

for our ailing aunt or our ongoing job search, 

but we are far more reticent 

to ask for prayer 

for our husband’s struggle with addiction, 

our daughter’s struggle with same-sex attraction, 

or our own struggle with depression. 

What’s worse, 

we don’t even know

how to pray for ourselves. 

So today, we lift up everyone 

who has a prayer request they fear to name. 

May we/they remember 

“your Father knows what you need 

even before you ask him” (Matthew 6:9). 

You are listening, you are looking, 

and when you see misery, you act (Exodus 2:23-24).

May we/they remember that your Holy Spirit 

is actively groaning with and for us (Romans 8:26). 

When we can’t put our prayer requests into words, 

the Holy Spirit joins in our groans, 

and you hear and understand. 

May we/they remember that your Son, 

our great High Priest, 

is praying for us, 

and “Therefore, he is able, 

once and forever, 

to save those who come to God through him. 

He lives forever to intercede with God 

on their behalf” (Hebrews 7:25). 

Finally, may we/they 

take heart that the church cares for us 

and bears our burdens with us, 

even the unspoken ones. 

In Jesus’ comforting name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 6:5-8; Romans 8:25-34; Hebrews 7:25; James 5:12. 

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A Prayer for Days When You Feel Pummeled

by | Jan 28, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Theology

A Prayer for Days When You Feel Pummeled

Lord of Angel Armies,

On days when we feel beaten, 

Whether by rough bosses 

or by betraying friends 

or by battles for health, 

remind us of two things:

First, there is a cosmic battle raging. 

The devil, 

no red-suited, 

forked-tail 

cartoon figure, 

but an actual spiritual force, 

“schemes” against us (Ephesians 6:11). 

He seeks to dissolve our faith, 

devour our hope, 

and destroy our love. 

He is real, 

and his spiritual force is real. 

Second, you are far more real, 

far more powerful. 

Not only have you sent Jesus as a human 

to fight our battles with sin and Satan on the cross, 

you have “disarmed the rulers and authorities” (Colossians 2:15) 

through his death and resurrection. 

Not only have you disarmed the evil one, 

in Christ, you have armed us 

with the weapons of loving warfare: 

truth, righteousness in Christ, good news, 

peace, faith, salvation, 

your Spirit, your Word, 

prayer, and perseverance (Ephesians 6:14-18). 

In this hope may we go forth 

to battle against the cosmic powers of darkness, 

declaring boldly the “mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:20). 

In Jesus’ victorious name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 6:1-20.

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