A Prayer about Mistaking Jesus for a Ghost

by | Jul 13, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Mistaking Jesus for a Ghost

But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. Matthew 14:26

Precious Jesus,

How kind you are 

to your weary and confused disciples. 

The disciples had earlier that day 

watched as you made five loaves and two fish 

into a feast for over five thousand people. 

Now they are out on the sea, 

and a fierce storm has come up, 

and they are frightened. 

When they see you walking toward them, 

they mistake you for a ghost. 

We confess, 

we too sometimes mistake your movement toward us 

for something frightening. 

We too sometimes lose sight 

of your compassion 

and your power. 

We too sometimes forget 

that you are the one who brings hope and calm 

in the midst of mighty maelstroms. 

When we are afraid and get confused about who you are, 

give us ears to hear 

the words you spoke to your disciples, 

“Take heart; it is I.

 Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). 

In your storm-calming name we ask. Amen.

Read Matthew 14:22-33. 



A Prayer about Drawing Near to Jesus

by | Jul 12, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Drawing Near to Jesus

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

King Jesus,

Yesterday, my daily prayer gang and I 

wondered at your sympathy, 

your capacity to suffer with us, 

to get inside our struggle with sin, 

even though you yourself are sinless.

Today, we pray that we would have the courage 

to draw near to your throne.

We don’t have to hunch in hiding 

like children of an unpredictable father 

who comes home drunk one day 

but is ready to play the next. 

We don’t have to cower in fear 

like children of a harsh father 

who might beat us bloody with a strap 

for our disobedience. 

You transformed our fear into hope 

by dying for our sins, 

taking our punishment on yourself, 

and passing through the heavens (Hebrews 4:14). 

You open your arms wide to us, 

inviting us to bring all of our sin and sorrow—

the rotten words we have spoken, 

the murderous thoughts we have entertained, 

the habitual sins we have indulged in, 

not to mention the harm inflicted on us by others’ sins. 

Whatever our suffering in this broken world, 

you are ruling over it from your throne. 

Whatever our need is, 

you welcome us to come to you, 

to lay it before you, 

and to receive your abundant mercy and grace 

as a balm to heal us and make us whole.

In your forgiving name. Amen.

Read Hebrews 4:14-16.



A Prayer about Jesus’ Sympathy for Us

by | Jul 11, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Jesus’ Sympathy for Us

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Gracious and Generous God,

How often do we pause to consider 

how a sympathetic Savior changes everything? 

As we bow before you today, 

may we grasp afresh 

the hope that is ours in our beloved Christ:

Jesus, in his sinless humanity, 

is sympathetic to our weakness.

How can this be?

In one of my favorite books, the author 

explains it so much better than I can:
“It is in our ‘weaknesses’ that Jesus sympathizes with us.” 

[Sympathize means “to suffer with.”]

“Sympathize here is not cool and detached pity…

In our pain, Jesus is pained; 

in our suffering, 

he feels the suffering as his own 

even though it isn’t…

His is a love that cannot be held back 

when he sees his people in pain.”* 

Oh, Lord, may we cling to our

suffering and sympathetic Savior. 

May we rest in Christ’s sympathy for us, 

even as we battle sin, 

even as we suffer in a fallen world. 

In Jesus’ sympathetic name. Amen. 

Read Hebrews 4:14-16.



A Prayer about Caring for Our Grandchildren’s Parents

by | Jul 10, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Caring for Our Grandchildren’s Parents

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

Heavenly Father,

Our son laughingly told me before he and his wife left for the week 

that they understood the “grandparent tax” — 

the price paid for leaving their child with a grandparent: 

her bedtimes might be off, 

she might eat ice cream for dessert (or dinner) every night, etc. 

It was sweet of them to give me permission to do a little spoiling, 

but it also made me think. 

How do or should grandparents care for their adult children 

even as they care for their grandchildren? 

You tell us to “Count others more significant than [ourselves]….” 

Help us, Lord, to consider the challenges our adult children face 

and to come alongside them and support them in their efforts. 

Help us not to put our own needs first 

but to think about how we can help our grandchildren grow 

to love you and honor their parents. 

Help us to pray for our adult children 

as they seek to be wise parents. 

Help us to encourage our adult children in their efforts. 

Help us to offer to serve them 

by giving them a much-needed rest from time to time. 

Humble Jesus, make us like you 

as we care for our grandchildren’s parents.

Amen. 

Read Philippians 2:1-11.



A Prayer about Feeling Desperate in Illness

by | Jul 9, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Feeling Desperate in Illness

For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 2 Corinthians 1:8

Great Physician,

What good news —

you are near to the broken-bodied 

and save those who are 

crushed in spirit 

and in hope for health (See Psalm 34:18).

Today, we bring our sick and suffering friends before you, 

asking for your help and your hope. 

We think of Jairus, 

who fell down at your feet 

and pleaded for his little daughter, 

saying she was “at the point of death.” 

How desperate he must have felt 

when you stopped to heal the hemorrhaging woman, 

who also was surely desperate, 

because she reached out and touched your robe 

even though she knew her illness made her unclean (Mark 5:21-43). 

How desperate Jairus must have felt 

when his friends ran to him 

and told him his daughter had died.

How desperate the apostle Paul must have been, 

after he asked (at least) three times 

that you would heal his thorn in the flesh and was told “no  (See (2 Corinthians 12:8).

And yet, Paul, who suffered much in his body

for the sake of the gospel, 

who, though he “despaired of life itself,” (2 Corinthians 1:8)

gave us the words we pray now,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 

who comforts us in all our affliction, 

so that we may be able to comfort those 

who are in any affliction, 

with the comfort 

with which we ourselves are comforted 

by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

In the hope of ultimate healing in your name we pray. Amen.

Read Mark 5:21-43; 2 Corinthians 1; 2 Corinthians 11:26-27. 



A Prayer about the Joy of Being Rescued

by | Jul 8, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Joy, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Joy of Being Rescued

So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing. 

Psalm 105:43

God of Joy and Rescue,

How do we enjoy you?

Here in this wonderful Psalm of rescue and redemption, 

we read about how you saved your people, the Israelites. 

You performed all sorts of wonders—

turning waters into blood, 

sending a swarm of frogs to the land, 

blowing gnats throughout Egypt, 

and on and on (Psalm 105:30-31). 

You brought your people out 

with silver and gold, 

and you “spread a cloud for a covering, 

and fire to give light by night” (Psalm 105:39-41). 

But the Israelites are not the only people 

for whom you have performed mighty miracles; 

we too have been saved from certain death, 

pulled out of the pit of darkness by your wonders. 

Lord, remind us of our stories of redemption, 

of all the ways you have pursued us with your love and grace, 

of the desperate ditches you have yanked us from. 

[Take a few minutes to remember some of the things God has saved you from.]

As we remember, 

we too will sing songs of joy, 

shouting out our astonishment at your kindness to us. 

For truly, it is in your rescue and redemption 

that we discover our deepest joy in you. 

It is because you have saved us 

that we delight to do 

what you tell us to do (Psalm 105:45). 

In Jesus’ saving name. Amen.

Read Psalm 105.