Category: October

A Prayer about Toasting Jesus  

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father— to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Rev. 1:5–6 NIV)  

Dear Jesus, John’s words have the feel of a toast to them, as though we’ve just finished a great banquet and have risen to our feet with glasses hoisted to honor you, “To him who loves us . . .” That’s really not very far fetched. 

Indeed, there’s no date on the calendar of my heart more anticipated and longed for than the wedding feast of the Lamb— the banquet of all banquets, the mercy meal by which we will celebrate your marriage to us and the inauguration of our shared life together in the new heaven and new earth. Even so, hasten that day, O great bridegroom; hasten that day. 

Until then, please help me grasp the implications of that one enormous little phrase, “To him who loves us. ” Though every page of Scripture either shadows, suggests, or shouts it, to my knowledge this is the only verse in the whole Bible that actually says that you love us. How fitting that this kiss of grace would be found in the opening words to the concluding book of your whole revelation. What a glorious summation of your work on our behalf, and what a magnificent affirmation of the central theme in the history of redemption: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” 

Keep me from taking your love for granted. Humble me over the cost of your love— the cross. Rescue me when other loves seem more appealing or satisfying. Open my heart to the immeasurable dimensions of your love. Focus and free my heart for living out the radical implications of your love. 

To you be the glory and power forever and ever, Lord Jesus! Your bride awaits your return. I pray in your matchless name.

Amen.

A Prayer about Wholly Holy  

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess. 5:23)  

Gracious Father, it’s a source of incredible comfort to know that you are tenaciously at work in changing us— in making us more like Jesus. For you’ve promised to bring to completion the good work you began in your children. 

I’d despair if this wasn’t the case, for the disparity between Jesus’ beauty and my brokenness is overwhelming to me at times. The thoughts I think, the things I feel, the choices I make are so unlike Jesus. I could never be my own savior, and only a great Savior like Jesus is sufficient for someone like me. 

But as the God of peace, you’re making me wholly holy, changing me through and through. You’re freeing every part of my being— spirit, soul, and body— from the effects and affects of sin. You’re not anxious about the process. You’re at peace, even when I’m not. You don’t roll your eyes, furrow your brow, clear your throat, or show any signs of a nervous twitch when you think about me. O kind Father, you rest in your love toward me in Jesus. 

I will be wholly blameless and shameless at your second coming, Lord Jesus, only because you took my blame upon the cross and despised its shame for me. Even now, my life is hidden safely in you, and when you do return, I will appear with you in glory, for you are my life— my righteousness, holiness, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:31; Col. 3:4). I boast in you, for I have nothing in myself in which to boast. My hope is built on nothing less, nothing more, and nothing other than your blood and righteousness, Lord Jesus! 

So I will actively trust in the righteousness I have passively received in you, Jesus. And I will actively surrender to the very active ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whom I’m sealed, with whom I’m indwelt, and through whom I will be safely delivered into your presence. I pray in your faithful name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about Good Food and Glad Hearts  

They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
(Acts 2:46–47 NIV)  

Jesus, I just got home from a feast. The food was amazing and the fellowship was priceless. I’m not sure when I’ve been as glad to belong to you and your people. The music almost made even me want to dance. Deep-dish apple pie never tasted so good. Multiply these precious, holy, joyful moments. Surely it’s to your praise when we can put aside the busyness and madness of our schedules and simply enjoy enjoyment and enjoy one another.

And to think, I almost didn’t go. Forgive me, Lord. I repent of not wanting to go before we went. I repent of being such a stick in the mud toward my wife. I repent of thinking about the three people I was most dreading being there. I repent of being so small hearted. Grow me up in the gospel, Jesus. Expand the chambers of my heart to take in more of your grace. Free me to be genuinely intrigued with other people. Jesus, that kind of freedom was a sure evidence of your Spirit’s work in the early church. 

Indeed, Jesus, this little taste of rich community tonight has me thinking about our church. We’ve become so good at talking about and defending the gospel, but we don’t really seem to be enjoying it right now. We’ve run off the legalists and moralists, but have we simply become “grace legalists”— self-righteous about the gospel? How could that be? 

Restore to us the joy of your salvation, Jesus. Bring us back to the childlike wonder of our early days of knowing you. May your welcoming heart once again be ex- tended to stranger and friend alike. Oh, to enjoy the favor of those around us sim- ply because you are so clearly in our midst. I pray in your welcoming and renewing name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about the Teaching Ministry of Grace  

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, up- right, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11–14)  

Jesus, if there’s one teacher I want to excel under, if there’s one curriculum I need to master, if there’s one school I want to do well in, it’s the academy of grace. In the past I’ve either taken education too seriously, turning grades into idols, or I’ve not taken learning very seriously at all, doing only enough to get by. Please help me to become a student of grace, to your glory and for my transformation. 

Your grace first appeared to me like a longed-for sunrise after the bleakest night of darkness. It came quite literally bringing salvation to me, for I could never find it on my own, earn it through my efforts, or even desire it, left to my own sin and foolishness. 

And this is the grace of your gospel, Lord Jesus: you gave yourself for us on the cross to redeem us from sin, to purify us for yourself, to make us eager to do good. Anything less is not the gospel. Anything more is not the gospel. Anything other is not the gospel. If I’m not being challenged and changed by the power of your grace, then how can I say I have ever been sought and saved by the riches of your grace? 

So as one under the pedagogy of your grace, Lord Jesus, help me learn to say an emphatic “No!” to everything that robs you of your glory and an enthusiastic “Yes!” to everything that promotes your honor and reveals your beauty. May my repentances be more notorious than my sins.

May the blessed hope of your future return motivate me toward a greater obedience in the present moment. Jesus, continue to teach me the difference between an uptight life of rigidity and an upright life of holiness. Continue to free me from my unrighteousness and my self righteousness. I pray in your loving name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about Those Who Wrestle Wild Beasts  

And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I face death every day— yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (1 Cor. 15:30–32 NIV)  

Dear Jesus, I have no clue what kind of wild beasts Paul wrestled with in Ephesus, whether they were of the four legged or two legged variety or if they were simply demons. It makes absolutely no difference. For Paul, all of life became a journey and adventure of living out the radical implications of the gospel. Because of your resurrection, he would be resurrected; therefore death held no threat. Because of your resurrection, all “beastliness” will be ultimately eradicated; therefore, he would wrestle anything for your glory. 

Jesus, this moves me to pray today for friends who have taken on various “beastly” callings. I praise you for my friends who have gone to work for the International Justice Mission— for their willingness to work in the seedy, dark world of human trafficking. I thank you for these servants, many of whom endanger themselves every hour. I bless you, Jesus, for the women and children they have already rescued, and I pray for thousands more. Keep them resourced, wise, and filled with the hope of the gospel. 

I pray for my friends living in AIDS colonies in the mountains of Uganda. Jesus, it is so encouraging to know that the percentage of those infected with HIV has decreased in Uganda. Much of this progress has come through the care of your people: good scientists, health care personnel, politicians, and missionaries. Bless their efforts even more. They often get weary in well doing, so bring the grace and truth of the gospel to bear in supernatural ways. Refresh them with your grace. Renew their heart affections for you. Keep their relationships oiled with the Holy Spirit, as sometimes it gets very hard to love one another in such demanding and draining circumstances. 

Jesus, don’t let us sin against these by failing to pray for them. We don’t understand all the mysteries of prayer; we just know you have taught us to pray. Shut the mouths of the beasts by the power of the gospel, for the glory of your name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about Refreshment  

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. (Jer. 31:25 NIV)  

Gracious Father, I am like a baby bird in a nest before this promise, with my mouth wide open. I am weary. I haven’t fainted yet, but I am weary. 

It’s heartening to know that I don’t have to pretend around you. I don’t have to feel guilty, feign strength, or make excuses. You meet me in my weariness to refresh me as a loving Father, not reprimand me as a disgruntled coach. You meet me with the gospel, not a scorecard. 

So what am I weary about, Lord? I’m not really sure. I need you to help me sort all that out. It’s probably a combination of things. Though I hate to admit it, I am getting older, and my energy level’s not exactly what it used to be. I know I must make more time to relax, rest, and replenish. And then there’s the “wars and rumors of wars” thing. I never saw the day coming when walking people rather than flying planes would be the delivery system for bombs. 

My weariness probably also has something to do with the energy it takes to stay connected to family and friends. Relationships are so complex, Father. No one knows that better than you. How I long for the day when all brokenness will give way to the perfect blessedness of loving well in the new heaven and new earth. That day cannot come a day too soon. 

We look forward to an eternity of no more pettiness or petulance; no more hardheartedness or fragile heartedness; no more hurt feelings or bullying egos; no more communicating in part or conflicting to win; no more passive aggressiveness or active indifference; no more innuendo or bravado or anything else that hides the beauty of Jesus. 

Indeed, Jesus, there’s no refreshment apart from you. You still cry out in a loud voice for the thirsty ones to come to you and drink. You still call to the weary and heavy laden to come to you for rest. Kiss my heart today with the Good News, the fresh news of the gospel, and it will be enough. Not for a month, or a week, but just for this one day, help me to love others as you love me. I pray in your faithful name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about True Blessedness  

Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them. (Rom. 4:7–8 NIV)  

Loving Father, I’m thinking about the word blessings today and how this perfectly good word seems to have been taken hostage. There are all kinds of books, DVDs, blogs, broadcasts, podcasts, tweets, and chirps calculated to help me know how to get more “blessings” from you—telling me how to live a life that you reward, decorate, and “bless” or giving me formulas for gaining more of your favor and getting more “favors” from you. 

Though I feel the cynic in me rising, I confess that I’m just as selfish as anyone, and just as committed to a life of personal peace and affluence. Have mercy on me, dear Lord; have mercy on me. 

Like all words, categories, and concepts, true “blessedness” is defined only by you, heavenly Father. You alone have the right to define blessing, and you’ve done so. In the words of a broken king, David (Ps. 32:1–2), and a humbled Pharisee, Paul (Rom. 4:7–8), you’ve made abundantly clear what a “blessed life” is all about. 

I am a most blessed man, for you have completely forgiven all my transgressions, once and for all. You have thoroughly covered my sins by the blood of Jesus. You will never count my sin against me because you counted my sin against Jesus and you now count me righteous in him!

Abba, Father, whether I live in a penthouse or an outhouse, drive a BMW or pedal a bicycle, feast on caviar or munch on a crust of bread, have a retirement fund or live from paycheck to paycheck, wear updated fashion or hand-me- downs— am a blessed man, a truly blessed man. There is no greater state of blessedness than simply to be in Christ. And in those moments of insanity when I’m tempted to think otherwise, bring me back to gospel sanity. I pray in Jesus’ merciful and mighty name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about Nonstop Good  

And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. (Jer. 32:38–40)  

Gracious Father, here you go again, exposing the brokenness of my heart and the bounty of your mercies. Don’t stop, please, until the day you bring to completion the good gospel work you’ve begun in us and even in the whole cosmos. 

I want what you’ve promised— a singleness of heart— for much of the time my heart feels rather divided. It is parceled to lesser gods, too easily charmed by foolishness, fickle and fragile rather than faithful. You alone are worthy of my heart’s affection and adoration. 

I want singleness of action, seeking first the kingdom of redemption, restoration, and righteousness— the kingdom of your beloved Son, Jesus. Too many of my thoughts and too much of my energy is spent on the little fiefdom of me; it is squandered, frittered, wasted. 

I want to fear you, Father, now that I no longer have to be afraid of you. Through the work of Jesus, you have eternally freed me from the fear of death and judgment. Now give me awe and reverence consistent with the measure of your mercies and grace that are mine in the gospel. Give me astonishment and wonder worthy of your great love and endless compassion for me in Jesus. 

Lastly, Father, I want and I need you to convince me, over and over and over, of your commitment to never stop doing good to me. Such a promise is simply over whelming, almost too much to wrap my heart around, and would be groundless apart from Jesus. 

You’ve forgiven my unbelief; now free me even more from its pillaging presence. You are good, all the time, and all the time, you are good. Even when you discipline me, it is a kiss from heaven. Everything you do is for your glory and therefore good for me. I do believe this, but I long to believe it more. I pray in Jesus’ glorious name.

Amen. 

A Prayer about Restored Sanity  

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are ac- counted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Dan. 4:34–35)  

Lord Jesus, it’s one of those seasons again when I need to be reminded of which kingdom and which King is actually in control. This world feels so out of control. All the suicide bombings, all the covert attempts to develop nuclear weapons, and all the overt rhetoric of political evil and global domination— it’s a recipe for fear- mongering, Bible twisting, and crazy-making. 

But I flat-out refuse to capitulate to the earlier days when I used to allow the newscasters, pundits, and prophecy pirates to interpret world history for me. You are God, and there is no other god. You’ve spoken in your Word, and you haven’t stuttered. 

You have no rivals, contingencies, or concerns. There’s no sweat on your palms, vacancy in your eyes, or vexation in your heart. You set up kings and you sit them down at your discretion. You live forever, your dominion is eternal, your kingdom endures, and you do as you please . . . period!

Even as you brought King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to his theological and political senses, so keep me in gospel sanity as you show me more and more of the occupied throne of heaven. 

Today, right now, I affirm that you, Lord Jesus, are already the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. I’m not waiting for the day you will become the true King, for you are already reigning over all things at the right hand of God the Father. The government of all things is on your shoulders. Your kingdom of redemption and restoration is the only unshakable kingdom. Of the increase of your government and peace there will be no end, for you will reign forever and ever! 

You play no national favorites, for you are the pan-national Savior and the pan- universal Lord. So I bow down, I humble myself, and I honor you as my King, my Sovereign, my Lord. And I raise my hands and heart in adoration of you, for though you are the true King, you have made me a part of your beloved bride. What wondrous love is this, indeed, that you would conquer, capture, and enrapture the dark nation of my heart! I pray with astonishment and surrender.

Amen. 

A Prayer about Losing and Regaining the Gospel  

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Rom. 3:21–26)  

Dear Jesus, how did it ever come to pass that there was even a need for the Reformation? What circumstances created the necessity for Martin Luther to nail his Ninety-Five Theses to the front door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg on October 31, 1517? 

All my questions are rhetorical, Jesus, for I know quite well why we needed the Reformation and why we’ll always need to be rediscovering and reaffirming the gospel of your sovereign and saving grace. I know this because I know my own proud and foolish heart. 

Jesus, the gospel declares me to be a whole lot worse off than I can imagine, and certainly a whole lot worse than I want to acknowledge. Jesus, I never needed you merely to be a moral model for me to follow. I never needed a religious experience or rules to obey. I needed you to live a life of perfect obedience for me. I needed you to fulfill all the demands of the law for me. Thank you for doing this perfectly, Jesus. 

And I needed you to take my place upon the cross, receiving the punishment I deserve for all the ways I fall short of God’s glory: breaking, ignoring, and going way beyond his law, and worst of all, worshiping other gods. I needed you to exhaust God’s just and holy wrath against me and my sin— lest I despair of my guilt or foolishly try to curry God’s favor by anything of my own. Thank you for doing this perfectly, Jesus. 

Jesus, I even needed you to give me the very faith I needed to receive this free and full justification. This you have done perfectly as well. I praise you. I worship you. I once again affirm today that my hope is built on nothing less, nothing more, and nothing other than your blood and your righteousness. On you, Lord Jesus, the solid and saving Rock, I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. Keep bringing me back to the gospel, Jesus; keep bringing me back to the gospel plus nothing. I pray in your most holy and gracious name.

Amen.