Father God,

Today, I pray against the scars of life, not the physical ones, but the deeper and more tender ones of the heart. I pray against the emotional memories which cannot always be put into words, but that arise often when we least expect it. I pray against the continued distress that those scars cause in both the person and in the relationships affected by the scars’ outward effects.

We are embodied souls who not only think and act, but feel and our souls remember pain beyond the cognitive. For those whose memories contain repeated pain of one form or another, they can feel the scars into the bones of their soul.

Grant those those whose lives have marked them with scars would find Your healing just as fully and deeply and lasting as the leper when touched by Christ. Give us victory over those scars, even those which we can’t put into words, that we may rejoice in You and Your blessings poured out upon us.

For those who do not carry the scars, but love those who do, grant them patience and perseverance, as well as wisdom to be Your hands and feet in caring for the scarred of heart.

In Christ’s Name,

Amen

Father God,

Today, I pray that You would remind Your children who are dismayed by the world’s pressure upon them that You understand our feeble frames in the response You give in Isaiah 41:10-13. In the command to fear not, You also tell us why we should not fear.

You tell us You are with us.

You tell us that You are our God.

You promise to strengthen us and to help us.

You declare that You will uphold us by Your righteous right hand.

In contrast, all those who oppose us will come to nothing.

Remind us today that You hold our right hand and though we do not have sufficient strength for the day’s battles, You have promised all that we need, Your presence and provision. Whether the opposition takes the form of physical enemies or spiritual enemies, we are secure in You, oh Lord.

In Christ’s Name,

Amen.

Father God,

Today, I pray for those who are weary from the burdens of this world. Though the physical burdens do take a toll on our bodies and endurance, the daily carrying of the spiritual toil can be heavier to continue with.

We live in an age where less and less of society’s basic beliefs and habits are grounded in Your ways. More and more of society is leaning away from a Christian worldview if not pushing us towards a secular worldview antagonistic to a walk of faith.

Many of the simple acts of life are becoming harder and harder to walk out without more and more conscious effort. Expectations of what is normal have changed. Even those who profess faith operate with an underlying secular mindset.

Give us strength and perseverance to stand on truth, to refuse to just fit in with the flow of society, to proclaim that You and Your Word stand over all of life without exception. Renew the strength of our hearts.

In Christ’s Name,

Amen.

Father God,

Today, I pray for those who are seeking wisdom from You today for different decisions and situations they face. We walk in a fallen world with limited sight and understanding of present and future. So much is uncertain to us though entirely clear to Your eyes. Even what we see is unclear and partial.

We are called to trust You with all of this, yet our frames are weak, our will is easily diverted, our minds easily distracted, our emotions easily swayed. Today give us sight and understanding according to Your mercy and love for us. Grant that we may know enough to respond to our present in a way that is pleasing before Your eyes and blessing to us and our loved ones for whom we care.

Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness to meet us in our need for understanding. Let us glorify You before the watching world.

In Christ’s Name,

Amen.

Father God,

Today, I pray for those who preach and teach Your Word to stay within the bounds of its meaning. There are ditches on both sides of the road in which they can fall into. On one hand they can so simplify its meaning that it becomes no more than a moralistic guide to life or a pietistic excuse for feeling good. On the other hand they can go too far in imagination and creativity to make it into something it was never meant to be or into a prison of legalism rather than life giving waters.

Therefore I pray for those whom You have called to be Your voice leading Your people. Humble them for the task. Give them courage for the work. Remove any scales or blind-spots from their eyes. Guide the words of their mouths as they proclaim Your truth.

As You work in them, then give a Berean spirit to Your people that they may test the words of the preacher, discern Your truths from that which is only from the human mind and tongue. Allow no deception regarding Your Word to spread.

Let Your Word be proclaimed with boldness and power throughout the world bearing much fruit.

In Christ’s Name,

Amen

Father God,

Today, I pray for those who are suffering from symptoms and illness that they do not understand, that they do not even recognize nor have a name for. So many are just trying to keep their heads above water, to just make it through another day, that they cannot stop long enough to truly get help.

I pray that You would whisper into the midst of their days guiding them to get help, to get the right help, to get deeper help than just survival. I pray You would comfort and heal where they need it. I pray that You would bind up their wounds both physically and spiritually. Though they may feel that they walk through the darkness alone, be with them and cause them to sense Your presence, giving them peace even in the valley of suffering.

In Christ alone,

Amen.