A Prayer about a God Who Can Do Far More than We Ask or Think

by | Jun 13, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about a God Who Can Do Far More than We Ask or Think

Glorious God, 

I believe; I confess my unbelief.

For the past few days, 

we’ve been praying Paul’s prayer 

asking you to strengthen us

 through the power of your Spirit, 

for the purpose of comprehending 

your incomprehensible love.

As we come to the end of this series, 

we must ask ourselves honestly,

do we dare to pray this prayer:

You are able to do far more abundantly 

than ALL that we ask or think—

[pause for a few moments

and think about things 

that you may not dare to believe God is able to do…]

How do you do it? 

By working within us, 

through your power (not ours).

Why do you do it?

For the glory of the church 

and for the glory of Jesus Christ 

through all generations, forever and ever and ever.

Today, help us to see how you have already inscribed 

your incomprehensible love into our stories 

and into the redemption of your cosmos.

[Take a few moments again to write or name some of these things].

By the power of your Spirit and because of your glory, 

help us to grasp how much you really love us, Lord, 

and make that love flow boldly through our lives.

In Jesus’ everything-changing name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21. 

A Prayer about Being Rooted and Grounded in Love

by | Jun 12, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Being Rooted and Grounded in Love

Father God

As we see plump, juicy tomatoes growing on the vine 

(not in my yard, but in my daughter’s), 

we recognize that good gardeners know 

they need rich, fertile soil 

to grow strong, healthy plants. 

You’ve designed us the same way, 

and the absolutely essential ingredient 

for healthy growth as a Christian is 

love. 

When we are rooted in it, grounded in it, 

by your Gardener-Spirit, 

we grow strong and healthy. 

Because your love is so overpowering 

and incomprehensible to us—mere humans, 

we need your strength to comprehend it—

no measuring tape or smart phone app can reach 

far enough, long enough, deep enough, or wide enough, 

to measure your love. 

Not even the string theory physicists 

can comprehend it, 

for it “surpasses knowledge.” 

Only by your Spirit working in us 

can we know this love. 

So Lord, we ask, 

please please renew our minds and hearts 

so that we can grasp it 

and grow in it and be filled with all your fullness, 

that we may bear the fruit of love

 in your glorious kingdom.

In Jesus’ incomprehensibly loving name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21.

A Prayer for the Kind of Strength We Need

by | Jun 11, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer for the Kind of Strength We Need

Father God, 

Thank you for this comprehensive prayer 

Paul prayed for his friends the Ephesians. 

Today, we pray it for our loved ones and for ourselves:

Out of your glorious riches — 

your riches aren’t earned, 

nor are they corrupt, 

nor are they self-serving — 

they are glorious and generous and plentiful 

to provide all of our needs…

May you strengthen [insert name of loved one or your name] 

with your power — 

your power, which is perfectly wielded 

for the weak and needy (that’s us and others) 

to make us strong — 

not Ford tough or Chevy strong— 

but strong in our “inner being,” 

strong in your Spirit’s power, 

not our own. 

As you strengthen us 

by your Spirit, 

may [name of loved one’s] heart 

come to rest 

in the life-changing reality 

that Christ, our King and Savior, dwells in our hearts. 

In the name of our heart-dwelling Savior, Jesus, we pray.

Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21. 

A Prayer about Being the Baby Bird

by | Jun 5, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Being the Baby Bird

Creator of All Good Things,

Thank you for giving me a close-up view of a cardinal couple 

building a nest, incubating the eggs, 

and hatching two little baby birds over the past few weeks.

One day I snuck a picture of the baby birds, 

mouths wide open, 

cheeping away as they awaited their morning feast of juicy insects.

Lord, remind us of how much we are like baby birds, 

utterly dependent on you for our nourishment of grace. 

You are the God who dropped manna from the sky 

to feed your people in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4). 

You are the Jesus who broke the bread 

and shared it with his disciples, saying, 

“Take, eat; this is my body” (Matthew 26:26). 

You are the Spirit who grows us 

through the Word and prayer. 

One day the baby birds will grow stronger, 

take wing, and fly. 

We too will grow stronger, 

but unlike the birds, 

we will never outgrow 

our complete dependence on you 

and our need for the nourishment of your grace. 

Gratefully we pray,

In Jesus’ life-giving name. Amen.

Read Matthew 26:26-29; Deuteronomy 8:1-10; Hebrews 4:12.

A Prayer about Praying Boldly

by | Jun 3, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Prayer

A Prayer about Praying Boldly

Holy Spirit,

As you did with the early disciples 

when they were faced with persecution:

Fill us with your power 

and shake us out of our safe, status quo prayers. 

Sharpen the focus of our prayers—

that we might share the good news: 

Jesus has come to save his people!

far and wide, moment by moment. 

Embolden our prayers—

that you, the Holy God would do 

“signs and wonders” 

in the “name of his holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:30).

Strengthen us through our prayers—

that we might become bolder and wiser 

in the way we speak your Word. 

In the holy name of Jesus we ask. Amen. 

Read Acts 4:23-31. 

A Prayer about Being Humbled by the Word

by | May 30, 2021 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living

A Prayer about Being Humbled by the Word

Merciful and Loving Jesus,

Thank you for your Word, 

a sword that stabs straight through 

our shields of blindness, 

exposing our sin. 

Thank you for the times our daily reading takes us, 

as it did me, 

to a story of the wedding guests who chose the seat of honor 

the day after we’ve chosen the place of honor for ourselves 

or we’ve put our agenda before others, 

or we’ve failed to consider others better than ourselves.

 [If you can think of a recent time when you put yourself first, confess that to the Lord.]

Thank you for your Word 

that not only exposes our sin 

but also invites us to humbly receive your forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

Thank you for your Word 

that transforms us so that 

we will begin to more naturally choose the lower place. 

We are humbled by your humility, 

grateful for your grace. 

In your forgiving name. Amen. 

Read Luke 14:7-11; Philippians 2:1-11.