A Prayer about Recognizing Unknown Gods

by | Sep 9, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Recognizing Unknown Gods

For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ Acts 17:23

Do you recognize the “unknown gods” of this world?

[This prayer was sparked by a sermon preached by our pastor, Joel Treick, who faithfully preaches the gospel at Pinewoods Church every week.]

Very God of Very God,

We confess, like the Greeks, we are “very religious” (Acts 17:22).

We worship many unknown gods, 

idols that we don’t even recognize as things 

to which we devote our time, our energy, our hopes and dreams:

Idols like success and security and social media, 

Idols like shopping and ice cream and Big Gulps, 

Idols like children and spouses and bosses…

Really anything that we turn to instead of Jesus 

to find the rest and fulfillment only he can give. 

Help us to see the truth, Lord, 

that these idols mock us at the end of the day, 

leaving us as “poor deluded fools feeding on ashes” (Isaiah 44:20).

Draw us to drink instead from your living water, 

to feast on the bread of life, Jesus, God-made-flesh, 

who died that we might come alive 

to our deepest desires, 

our truest of dreams—

to live in your grace and to love in your glory. 

In Jesus’ truthful name. Amen. 

Read Acts 17: 16-34.

A Prayer about Help When We’re Vulnerable

by | Jun 28, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Suffering, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Help When We’re Vulnerable

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1

Maker of Heaven and Earth,

Whatever makes us feel vulnerable, weak, frail:

Our jobs, our health, our finances,

our families, our relationships,

the steady stream of bad news that flits across our screens…

Send us to our knees,

send us to our Bibles,

to remember where our help comes from—

From you, our Lord, our God,

our Shepherd, our Father,

our King of Kings and Prince of Peace.

You just happen to be the Creator of all good things,

the warrior who defeated evil,

the Risen One who overcame death,

the returning One who will bring us

to live forever in your eternal city of light and love,

of healing and joy,

in the new heavens and the new earth.

Indeed, Lord, in our weakness,

we have every reason to hope,

for you keep our lives safe and secure.

In Jesus’ protecting name. Amen.

Read Psalm 121.

A Prayer about Telling the Wondrous Works of God

by | Jun 24, 2022 | Daily Prayer, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Telling the Wondrous Works of God

On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. Psalm 145:5

Our God and Our King,

Thank you for the words of Psalm 145

to give voice to our awe and gratitude 

at the wondrous works you have done. 

If we will pause to meditate, 

to chew on, 

to consider, 

to really think about…

YOU…

We will want to praise you, 

celebrate you, 

glorify you, 

in short…

tell everyone how great you are, 

so great that we can’t even figure you out, 

So great that we can’t even fully understand 

how great you are. 

And yet, we know your greatness 

when we see it, 

especially through your wondrous works—

Your mighty acts…[Name some of the Lord’s mighty acts in your life.] (Psalm 145:4)

Your glorious splendor…{Name some of the ways you see God’s splendor.] (Psalm 145:5)

Your awesome deeds…{Name some of the awesome deeds God has done.] (Psalm 145:6)

Your grace and mercy…[Name some of the ways you’ve seen God’s grace and mercy.] (Psalm 145:8).

Today, gracious and abundantly good God, 

we join with all of your works 

to give you thanks! (Psalm 145:10).

In Jesus’ righteous and loving name. Amen.

Read Psalm 145:1-13. 

A Prayer about the Welcoming Father

by | Jun 5, 2022 | Daily Prayer, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about the Welcoming Father

And he arose and came to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20.

Waiting Father,

Thank you for the beautiful story 

of the returning son and the waiting father

(aka the Prodigal Son story) 

Jesus told the story to demonstrate 

what our Heavenly Father is like.

You are a Father who forgives instantly, 

without bearing a grudge.

You are a Father who throws extravagant parties 

to celebrate our return.

You are a Father who loves 

the proud elder brothers 

and the rebellious younger sisters. 

You are a Father who welcomes all 

to know your wildly generous grace 

in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

In the name of your perfect Son, Jesus, we pray. 

Amen. 

Read Luke 15: 11-32.

A Prayer about Why We Make Joyful Noises

by | Feb 15, 2022 | Daily Prayer, Joy, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Why We Make Joyful Noises

Joy-Giving Lord,

You know that I’m not a very good singer, 

but I sure do like to “Make a joyful noise,” 

and I pray that would be true 

for all who join me in praise of your goodness 

this morning.

We make a joyful noise, 

serve you with gladness, 

and come inro your presence with singing 

because you are God, 

because you made us, 

because we belong to you, 

because we are your people, 

and because we are your sheep (Psalm 100:3). 

[Name specific ways any one of these things makes you joyful or thankful].

We enter your gates with thanksgiving, 

your courts with praise, 

we bless your name, 

because you are good, 

your day-by-day 

moment-by-moment 

love 

endures for-ever, 

your covenantal commitment to us 

lasts until Jesus returns (Psalm 100:5).

[Name some specific ways his steadfast love and faithfulness to you encourages you today.]

In Jesus’ joy-full name. Amen.

Read Psalm 100. 

A Prayer about Remembering the Wonders of the Lord

by | Feb 10, 2022 | Daily Prayer, worship, gratitude

A Prayer about Remembering the Wonders of the Lord

Wonder-Working God,

As a lover of stories, 

I’ve always appreciated Asaph’s call 

to tell the stories of the “glorious deeds, 

about his power and his mighty wonders” (Psalm 78:4).

Psalm 78 vividly portrays the terrible things that happen 

when we forget to remember and tell the stories of your deliverance: 

The Israelites forgot how you had divided the sea 

so they could escape from the Egyptians, 

and they became “stubborn and rebellious” (Psalm 78:8).

The Ephraimites forgot that you were their covenant-keeping King, 

their chief warrior, 

and they turned and ran away in the day of battle (Psalm 78:9).

What stories of your mighty wonders have we forgotten?

How you came to a teenage girl 

who never went to church 

and surrounded her with delightful and loving Christians, 

who showed her the way to hope in the midst of darkness?

[Name some wonders of your life you might have forgotten].

Everyday, may we remember the most wonder-full news:

You remembered your compassion 

and sent your Son to deliver us from our sins (Psalm 78:38).

In his saving name. Amen.

Read Psalm 78:1-72.