A Prayer about the Occupied Throne

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

A Prayer about the Occupied Throne

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Revelation 5:13

Our Heavenly King,

We confess, 

Most of us have never never seen a throne in real life, 

and sometimes it’s hard to understand 

what it means that you’re sitting 

on the throne of heaven, 

right this very minute. 

Show us, we pray, 

that we might see you as our glorious King 

even as we wait for the day 

we will gather before your throne in person.

Because you are on the throne, 

we can wait for that day confidently, 

knowing that the day of judgment approaches

for evil rulers who seem to be winning over the world 

with their corrupt power. 

Because you are on the throne, 

we can wait peacefully, 

knowing that our King is seated on the throne, 

not pacing the floor wringing his hands in worry 

about the wretched state of the cosmos. 

Because you are on the throne, we can wait gratefully, 

seeing the King who suffered for us to make us his people. 

Because you are on the throne, we can wait worshipfully, 

bowing with all the saints of heaven 

before your occupied throne, 

singing the praise of our benevolent King.

In Jesus’ just and merciful name we pray. 

Amen.

Read Revelation 4-5.



A Prayer about Hospitality

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

A Prayer about Hospitality

Where do you get that living water? John 4:11

Lord Jesus,

What a host you are! 

We confess, in our world, 

especially for those of us who live in the southern part of the U.S., 

we are confused about hospitality. 

We often think it’s all about 

cleaning up our homes, 

baking blueberry cobbler, 

and inviting people to dinner. 

And there’s nothing wrong with that. 

But help us to see your hospitality, 

your welcome of a stranger, 

in this beautiful and true story in John 4. 

You were weary and thirsty. 

You asked a Samaritan woman (an outcast in that culture) 

to give you a drink of water. 

She was shocked. 

And then you began talking with her 

about the living water you could offer her. 

She was curious. 

“Where do you get this living water?” 

Then, shockingly, you raised one of the topics 

we definitely are told 

not to discuss in polite dinner table conversation—

her sex life: 

“You have had five husbands, 

and the one you have now is not your husband” (John 4:18). 

But you didn’t say it to shame her. 

You said it to invite her to the truth: 

she needed you to give her the living water 

that would wash her sins away. 

She left her meeting with you 

thrilled, 

ecstatic, 

eager 

to invite her townspeople, 

people who had rejected her, 

to “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. 

Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:29). 

Lord, grow in us the kind of hospitality 

that invites those who rejected us 

to meet the One who can give them living water. 

Amen.

Read John 4:1-42. 



A Prayer about the Profound Peace God Gives

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

A Prayer about the Profound Peace God Gives

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

God of Peace,

When my kids were young, 

with four children in six years, 

sometimes all I wanted was a little peace and quiet. 

There’s nothing wrong with a little peace and quiet, 

but may we never forget that your peace 

is something far richer, far more wonderful.

Your peace, in Hebrew, is shalom, 

a state of “universal flourishing, wholeness, and delight.”* 

This shalom gives rise to wonder, awe, and joy, 

at the God who establishes it.

After Adam and Eve sinned, 

the world, and all who lived in it, 

fell into a state of disorder, 

a state of chaos, 

in which disease and division and dissension ruled the day. 

But you, the God of peace, 

sent Jesus, our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), 

to give us peace with you (Romans 5:1). 

Because Jesus died for our sins, 

we who trust in him for salvation, 

are reconciled with you (Romans 5:10).

Now, united to Christ, 

we live in his legacy of peace, 

of wholeness, flourishing, and delight. 

And even as we are still troubled at times by this fallen world, 

we look forward to the day 

when Christ our peace will return 

to fully restore all peace. 

In that day, we will live forever in harmony 

with you and with others.

Thank you for being our peace 

today and every day until that day.

In Jesus’ peace-bringing name. Amen. 

Read John 14:25-27; Romans 16:20; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 5:1-11.

See Cornelius Plantinga’s book Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin for this quote on shalom and more about shalom. 



A Prayer about Not Wavering in Worry

by | Jun 8, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Not Wavering in Worry

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

Psalm 125:1

Lord,

We want to be like Mount Zion, like Mount Rainier, like Mount Everest, 

our faith and hope so firmly planted 

in your grace, goodness, and generosity 

that we never even tremble when uncertainty comes.

The reality is that we worry about little and large things, 

what-if’s we can’t control: 

what if the plane is delayed and I miss my flight, 

what if my child doesn’t love Jesus, 

what if it’s cancer? 

Help us, by your Spirit, 

to fix our hopes on Jesus, 

who is always in the business of redeeming and restoring. 

Remind us — it is true: 

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, 

so you surround your people….” (Psalm 125:2)

Like a hen with its brood safely hidden under its wings, 

we are safely ensconced in your perfect love. 

Remind us — it is true: “from this time forth and forevermore….” 

You are not just holding and helping us 

today or in this one moment, 

you are holding and helping us 

every day in every moment.

Thank you for this unshakable hope.

In the name of our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray. 

Amen.

Read Psalm 125. 



A Prayer about Being Ready for Christ’s Return

by | Jun 7, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being Ready for Christ’s Return

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look here it is!’ Or ‘There!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” Luke 17:20-21

Christ our King,

We confess, 

even as we pray daily, “Thy kingdom come,” 

we can be misled by people 

who tell us we will see flashy signs 

that the day of your return is near. 

You yourself told the Pharisees 

and the disciples 

that we wouldn’t be able to predict 

the coming of your kingdom, 

to know exactly the day or the time. 

You also said that it is already here, 

and indeed, since your first coming to earth, 

the kingdom of God has come near. 

You also instructed your disciples 

to be ready for the day you will come again 

in all of your glory 

to reign over your restored earth 

with all who trust in you. 

What should we do? 

We should be ready. 

What makes us ready? 

Very simply, 

trusting you, 

waiting on you, 

seeking the things of your kingdom. 

Very simply, 

praying for and sharing your love 

with those who refuse to bow before you, 

desiring no one to be eternally separated from you 

because of their rebellion. 

By your grace, draw us near

to your throne of grace daily 

to gain the mercy and grace 

we need 

to wait well for your glorious kingdom.

In your ruling name. Amen.  

Read Luke 17:20-37.



A Prayer about the Work God Will Complete

by | Jun 6, 2025 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Work God Will Complete

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

What amazing grace is this!

You began a good work in us. 

You always have been 

and ever will be faithful 

to complete this good work in us.

What good work have you begun?

You began the work 

by making the walking dead (that was us!)

alive again (Ephesians 2:1,5), 

by making wretched wrecks 

into new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), 

by making self-absorbed narcissists

into self-emptying servants (Phil. 2:1-11),

by making dark and dusty souls 

into shining stars 

that light up the darkness (Phil. 2:15). 

In Christ, 

we are 

your beauty, 

your beloved, 

your blessed belonging. 

Because of your work in us, 

we can continue working out our salvation, 

becoming blameless and innocent, 

holding fast to the word of life,

confident that you will complete the restoration work 

you have begun (Phil. 2:14-18). 

Lord, we believe; 

help our unbelief!

Amen

Read Philippians 1:3-11; 2:1-18.