A Prayer about Honoring Jesus

by Elizabeth | Mar 29, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Easter, Gospel living, Lent

A Prayer about Honoring Jesus

In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her. Matthew 26:12-13

Lord Jesus,

How often we,

like the disciples,

have different values than yours.

They were alarmed that Mary had anointed your head

with her expensive ointment (Matthew 26:6-7; John 12:3).

Religious and practical,

they called her sacrifice “a waste,”

saying the ointment could have been sold

and the money given to the poor (Matthew 26:8).

(Judas was disgusted because he wanted to sell it

and take the money for himself (John 12:6).

You disagreed, telling the disciples,

“she has done a beautiful thing for me” (Matthew 26:10).

You knew you would soon die,

and your followers’ opportunity

to enjoy and honor you in person

would come to an end.

Save us, Lord, from our self-made plans to serve you.

Draw us to your feet, to see you as Mary did,

to know your desires as Mary did,

and to love you “impractically” as Mary did.

Grow our enjoyment of you,

so that we will delight in your presence

and focus our lives fully on you.

In our devotion to you,

may we show the world the good news

of your sacrifice for us.

In your worship-worthy name. Amen.

Read Matthew 26:6-16.

A Prayer about Believing God’s Love is Unfailing

by Elizabeth | Mar 28, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Easter, Lent

A Prayer about Believing God’s Love is Unfailing

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Steadfastly Loving God,

I haven’t done a study on it,

but I’m willing to bet the word “love” ranks high

as one of the most common words and themes in Scripture,

especially as it is associated with you.

Here are just a few of the things the Bible says about

what your love means for us:

“See how very much our Father loves us,

for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

“But God showed His great love for us

by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8).

“For this is how God loved the world:

He gave His one and only Son,

so that everyone who believes in Him

will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)

“For the LORD corrects those He loves,

just as a father corrects a child in whom He delights” (Proverbs 3:11-12).

The question we must answer is

do we believe

in your everlasting,

unfailing,

unearned,

undeserved

love for us?

And if we do,

how will we respond?

Will we live in the security of your love,

loving our neighbors

and even ourselves (who we sometimes find hardest to love)?

Will we live without fear,

because your perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18)?

Will we live in service to you,

grateful for your love to us?

Oh, loving Lord, may it be so!

May we rest and rejoice in your incomprehensible love for us, today and every day!

In Jesus’ sacrificially loving name. Amen.

Read 1 John 3:1-3; John 3:16; Proverbs 3:11-12; 1 John 4:7-21.

A Prayer about Jesus’ Determination

by Elizabeth | Mar 27, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Easter, Lent

A Prayer about Jesus’ Determination

And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise. Mark 10:34.

Lord Jesus,

Enlarge our imaginations

so that we might walk with you

on the day you told your disciples

this alarming news.

You were marching resolutely toward Jerusalem,

toward your certain suffering and death.

Your face was “set like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7),

unwavering as you headed toward your final destination.

Your followers were both “amazed” and “afraid,”

maybe because you had twice before told them

what would happen in Jerusalem (Mark 10:32; 8:31; 9:31).

Lord Jesus, enliven our hearts

that we might be amazed again—

amazed that you moved on toward your mission,

knowing what you knew—

that your opponents would mock you

and spit on you

and flog you

and kill you;

amazed that because you willingly endured this suffering,

we have full forgiveness for our sins;

amazed that you rose from the dead

and that by believing in you we are raised to new life.

In your amazing name. Amen.

Read Mark 10:32-34; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Isaiah 50:7.

A Prayer about Never Dying

by Elizabeth | Mar 21, 2023 | aging, dying, and death, Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Easter, Lent

A Prayer about Never Dying

Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ John 11:25-26

Lord Jesus,

How I love the true story

in which you asked your beloved friend Martha this crucial question.

Her brother, Lazarus has died,

and she knows that you could have saved him,

but you didn’t.

Now he lies in a tomb,

and she has the faith to say,

“But even now, I know that whatever you ask from God,

God will give you” (John 11:22).

And you made this bold assertion:

“Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23).

But you didn’t stop there.

You revealed your true identity to Martha:

‘I am the resurrection and the life.’

And you promised that anyone who believes in you

will never die (John 11:25-26).

Jesus, as we walk toward Resurrection Sunday,

may we see you, the risen and ascended Jesus,

not only risen from the dead

but seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Hebrews 10:12).

And may we address this most crucial question:

“Do we believe this?”

It is truly a matter of eternal life and eternal death.

By your grace, may we believe.

Read John 11:1-44.

A Prayer about Not Being Offended by Jesus

by Elizabeth | Mar 16, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Easter, Gospel living, Lent

A Prayer about Not Being Offended by Jesus

And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.’ And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:57-58

Lord Jesus,

In these days leading up to Easter,

draw us to examine our hearts.

As we read of people in your hometown

wanting to throw you off a cliff (Luke 4:29)

because they were so disappointed in you,

we need to ask ourselves,

Do we ever take offense at you?

Do we have expectations

of what you should do,

of who you should be?

Do we sometimes miss out

on your “mighty works…

because of [our] unbelief?” (Matthew 13:58).

Do we know you so well

that we start to take you for granted,

that we fail to honor you?

May it never be!

Lord, show us our unbelief.

Transform our hearts into megaphones

maximizing our praise and honor of you,

our glorious King.

In your saving name. Amen.

Read Matthew 13:53-58.