Daily Prayer
A Prayer about Happy Holidays
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Psalm 98:4 Joyful Lord, It’s already happening. I feel my inner Grinch creeping, ready to make a sneak attack on the poor unsuspecting checkout folks who cheerfully call...
A Prayer about How Christmas Disturbs Our Self-Made Shalom
But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. Luke 1:29 Wondrous God, Even though this verse isn’t usually the subject of memes or cross-stitched wall-art, we need to ponder it. It reminds us of just how...
A Prayer about Undeserved Grace
Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you! Luke 1:28 Wondrous God, As advent, the season of celebrating the wait for Christ to come, begins today, open our eyes to see the hope-full truth: Grace is all about you! In Greek, the word for “favored” is “graced,” ...
A Prayer about Thanking God for Special People
On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. Acts 28:15 Author God, Since today is my husband’s birthday, and since people in Scripture often thank you for people you’ve blessed them with, it seems fitting now to thank you for the people you have written...
A Prayer about Radical Transformation
But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Acts 8:3 Merciful God, How good it is to read straight through the Bible because we return to radical redemption stories we might otherwise...
A Prayer about Giving Thanks in All Circumstances
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Gracious Lord, For some of us, today’s circumstances may include maple-smoked turkey, buttery mashed potatoes, Apple-crumb pie,...
A Prayer about Missing People and Places at the Holidays
“My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Psalm 84:2 Gracious and Hospitable Lord, As Thanksgiving comes around, our family misses my mom and her home. For many years, we visited her there, but her...
A Prayer about Lamenting Chronic Illness
For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. Psalm 22:24 Good Father, Today we lift up our friends who have searched and searched and searched, who have waited and...
A Prayer about Thanking God for True Meaning in Life
What I’ve finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless—nothing but spitting into the wind. Ecclesiastes 1:17 Author God, I admit, I always struggle when my daily reading brings me to Ecclesiastes. The words seem sarcastic and...
A Prayer about Really “Getting” God’s Love
That you being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints the breadth and length and height and depth…Eph. 3:18 Heavenly Father, We confess, we just don’t fully get your love. We’ve never seen anything like it on this earth, ...