A Prayer about Where to Flee in Times of Trouble

by | Apr 27, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Where to Flee in Times of Trouble

“I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.” Psalm 3:4

Dear Father,

Many of us feel as David did 

when his son Absalom was pursuing him to kill him:

Many are our foes, 

many rise against us, 

and many tell us

there is no hope for salvation in you (See Psalm 3:1-2).

Whether our foes are 

in the world, 

in our own sinful nature, 

or in the evil one, 

they press in on us, 

causing us to lose hope.

When we face so many foes, 

help us to turn to you as David did, 

to cry aloud to you 

and to listen for your answer. 

For indeed, you alone are our protective shield, 

you alone are our glory — 

the One who goes before us in battle.

You have lifted our heads hung down in shame, 

our heads hung down in disappointment, 

our heads hung down in fear (See Psalm 3:3). 

Safe and secure in your loving embrace, 

we can lie down in sleep, 

trusting you to protect us and those we love.

And when we arise, 

we will not be afraid, 

even where there are enemies 

before us, 

beside us, 

and behind us. 

You have struck your Son, 

allowing him to become cursed on the cross

as he took on all of our sins. 

To him, salvation truly belongs. 

In him, we have every spiritual blessing (See Psalm 3:8)

Thank you, Lord, for this assurance in times of trouble. Amen.

Read Psalm 3.



A Prayer about the Only Trustworthy Prophecy

by | Apr 26, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Only Trustworthy Prophecy

And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7

Lord Jesus,

You are coming soon! 

What reason for rejoicing! 

Forgive us for getting caught up in modern day “prophecy” 

that tries to predict when you are coming 

and what the last days of the earth as we know it 

might be like. 

Remind us that the word prophecy

literally means “message from God.” 

Remind us to look to your Word, 

your truest and most complete message, 

to understand how to live every day, 

even the final days. 

Remind us that our calling never changes—

instead of building bunkers to protect ourselves, 

we are to build bridges to connect with others, 

especially those who don’t know you, 

the “evildoers” who “still do evil” (Revelation 22:10). 

Instead of stockpiling food and fuel, 

we are called to step out in love, 

love of you and love of others. 

Instead of quaking in fear at rumors of wars, 

we are to quiet ourselves by your word, 

the only prophecy that is “trustworthy and true.” 

Help us, Lord Jesus, to wait well, for your soon arrival.

In your trustworthy name we pray. Amen.

Read Revelation 22:6-10.



A Prayer about Our Hope in Broken Stories

by | Apr 25, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Our Hope in Broken Stories

They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Isaiah 61:4

Restoring God,

Today we lift up all who are in the middle of a story 

that feels like it has been torn up and tossed in the trash. 

The woman who has had three miscarriages in the past two years,

The child who just heard of her parent’s divorce,

The man who has received a cancer diagnosis, 

The people who experience marginalization 

because of their skin color or nationality…

The list goes on and on and on. 

Help us to look for what we really need to see 

in the midst of such stories: 

your restoring work that is happening even today 

and will be completed when Jesus returns.

Here is just some of the good news Jesus speaks to us through Isaiah: 

Instead of streaks of tears sullying your face, 

your face will shine with the oil of gladness

 and the hope of restoration (Isaiah 61:3).

No longer shriveled by sin and sadness, 

you will stand strong, 

planted firmly in the Lord’s steadfast love, 

like a mighty oak waving its leaf-laden branches 

in praise of the Lord’s glory (Isaiah 61:3).

The ruins of your life will be rebuilt, 

losses to the evil one will be restored, 

relationships ravaged by sin will be revived (Isaiah 61:4).

Help us to meditate on this future 

which you are writing into our broken stories even today.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 61:1-11.



A Prayer about Boasting in Our Weakness

by | Apr 24, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Boasting in Our Weakness

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Cor. 12:10

All-Powerful God,

We confess, 

we in Western culture 

crave power, control, and independence.

 The last thing we want 

is to seem weak. 

And yet, weakness is the way of Christ, 

so it must be our way as well.

The apostle Paul understood that, 

so in the face of accusations 

that he wasn’t an apostle, 

he countered the boasting of the “super-apostles” 

with some boasting of his own:

“If I must boast, 

I will boast of the things 

that show my weakness” (2 Cor. 11:30). 

And then he mentions how he was lowered in a basket through the window of a wall in Damascus, of all places, 

a place he went to persecute Jews only to be knocked down on the road, 

struck blind, by his Lord and Savior himself. 

Paul shares many other weaknesses in 2 Corinthians, 

a book that’s all about weakness as the way 

of followers of Christ. 

He asked that you would relieve him from a “thorn in the flesh,” 

but you did not. 

Instead, you said, 

“My grace is sufficient for you, 

for my power is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). 

Lord, we know we really are weak — 

[for each of these areas, name any weaknesses you have]

weak in our bodies,  

weak in our work,

weak in our wills,

weak in our faith,

weak in our hope,

weak in our love.

We believe 

that you your power is made perfect

in and through our weakness. 

Help our unbelief.

In Jesus’s name. Amen. 

Read 2 Corinthians 11:30-12:10.



A Prayer about Leaning into Brand New Things

by | Apr 23, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Leaning into Brand New Things

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:19

Creator King,

Isaiah shared your hope with the Israelites

in a desperate season.

May we hear his call 

to “remember not the former things”—

old ways of entrenched sin, 

deeply rooted patterns of rebellion, 

relationships ripped apart by rudeness, 

lives lost to cancer or wrecked by addiction…

May we instead look toward the horizon 

and lean into the brand new things you are doing.

May we step faithfully

into the pathways 

carved through the wilderness 

by our Savior’s death and resurrection. 

May we drink deeply from the rivers of mercy 

that flow from the cross 

into the driest desert days of our lives. 

Wherever this word and prayer meets us today, Lord, 

strengthen us with the hope 

of the brand new thing 

you have already done; 

give us the faith to believe 

you will continue to do new things 

until we dwell with you forever 

in the new heavens and the new earth. 

In Jesus’ renewing name. Amen.

Read Isaiah 43:15-21. 



A Prayer about Not Missing the Obvious

by | Apr 22, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Not Missing the Obvious

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27

Risen Lord,

This story reminds us that William Shakespeare 

was not the first person to use dramatic irony to humorous effect. 

You walked along the road with two of your followers all the way to Emmaus. 

They thought you were really out of it 

not to have heard anything about 

“Jesus of Nazareth, 

a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word…

and how our chief priests and rulers 

delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him” (Luke 24:19-20).

What did your heart feel 

when you heard their aching disappointment: 

“But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21)?

We don’t know, but we do know you gave these two followers 

the best Bible study ever, 

showing them how all of Scripture 

pointed to your redemption of not only Israel 

but of every tribe, tongue, nation, and people group (Luke 24:27).

You arrived at the village, 

accepting their invitation to dine with them.

You “took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them” (Luke 24:30). 

Only then were their “eyes opened and they recognized him” (Luke 24:31).

Lord, we have been given so much more opportunity 

to see you than these two followers. 

May we never be blind to your risen presence 

among us through the Holy Spirit. 

May we seek you in the Scriptures morning by morning, 

day by day, knowing the truth about you 

flashes at us from every direction like the neon signs on Broadway. 

And may we, in recognizing the reality of your resurrection, 

worship you by telling others this profoundly good news. 

In your ever-present name. Amen.

Read Luke 24:13-35.