Father, I pray for (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends who are struggling with challenges...

When they're disappointed that You haven't answered their prayers or haven't seemed to make any move to change things yet, forgive their impatience. Help them to live like the prophets of old, who were patient even when they had to suffer, and who didn't quit though they must have felt like it sometimes. Help these I'm praying for not to quit either.(James 5:10–11a)

Help them to trust You and believe that You care, that You haven't forgotten them—and You won't! When trouble comes their way, when they're facing tests and challenges, help them be willing to thank You in all circumstances, difficult as that is.(Nahum 1:7a; Isaiah 49:15b; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Ephesians 5:20)

Help them to love You with all their hearts, souls, and minds, for You cause all things to work together for our good when we love You and are called according to Your purpose. Help them realize that somehow You're fitting them into Your plans. Help their love for You to be as steadfast and unchanging as Your love for them.(Matthew 22:37; Romans 8:28, 38–39)

May they never question Your love, knowing it was settled once and forever at the cross. (1 John 4:10)

In Jesus' name, amen.

- Jim & Kaye Johns

Source: "Prayers for the Moment: One-Minute Scripture Prayers" Copyright September 2006. Reprinted with permission of B&H Publishing Group

TAGS: Christian, Daily, hope, Peace, Protestant

Father, I'm praying for myself and others (name one or more) in my circle of family and friends to grow in our prayer lives...

May we be people of prayer, asking not only for our daily needs to be met but praying for others. May we ask, seek, and knock with right motives, living lives of obedience that are pleasing to You so we may receive whatever we ask. (Matthew 6:11; 1 Samuel 12:23; Matthew 7:7–8; James 4:2–3; 1 John 3:21–22)

May our prayers be set before You like incense as we pray without ceasing, praying always without giving up—boldly and with persistence. Help us come before Your throne of grace with confidence and be able to pray as Elijah prayed—fervently, effectively. May we be watchmen on the wall, standing our ground in prayer. (Psalm 141:2a; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 18:1–5; 11:5–8; Hebrews 4:16; James 5:16b; Ezekiel 33:7; Ephesians 6:10–18)

Help us pray in faith, believing we have received what we've asked because we've prayed according to Your will. May our faith be so strong it amazes You! (Mark 11:22–24; 1 John 5:14–15; Matthew 8:5–13)

Help us to grow strong in prayer. In Jesus' name, amen.

- Jim & Kaye Johns

Source: "Prayers for the Moment: One-Minute Scripture Prayers" Copyright September 2006. Reprinted with permission of B&H Publishing Group

Father, I'm praying for myself and others (name one or more) in my circle of family and friends to become increasingly mature in Christ...

Some have been content not to grow. They've continued to live as infants in Christ, settling for the milk of the Word, not ready to move on to solid food—sometimes for years. Forgive them and change them; help them be willing to grow, to become more mature in their walk, their understanding, and their application of Your Word. (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-14)

Help all of us to see wonderful things in Your Word and be eager to live by Your rules, not ours. Direct our steps according to the Word; let no sin rule over us. (Psalm 119:18, 9, 133) Give us a genuine desire to grow beyond simple, elementary truth, becoming strong in our understanding, as we should. (Hebrews 6:1–3)

Grant us perseverance so we'll not only begin but continue to grow in Christ, so one day we'll be complete and not lack anything. Help us count the cost of time and energy and be willing to pay the price. (James 1:4; Luke 14:28)

May we choose to grow spiritually. In Jesus' name, amen.

- Jim & Kaye Johns

Source: "Prayers for the Moment: One-Minute Scripture Prayers" Copyright September 2006. Reprinted with permission of B&H Publishing Group

Father, I pray for (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends who are growing discouraged...

When they feel as if they wait and watch and nothing happens— nothing changes—they grow discouraged. They may feel like the prophet who cried out, How long must I call for help, before You listen? Help them not to give up, to keep watching for Your answers, to be willing to keep on praying. (Habakkuk 1:2a; 2:1; Luke 18:1–5)

Help them be determined to rejoice in You no matter what's happening in their lives, to be joyful in You, their Savior, no matter how hard things are or how tired they are. Be their strength! (Habakkuk 3:17–19a)

Give them faith strong enough to wait on You as Abraham, David, and Joseph did. Help them not to lose their confidence in You and Your faithfulness, to know they will see how good You are. Help them turn to You as the One who sustains them. (Genesis 17:19; 21:2, 5; 1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 2:4a; Genesis 37:2a; 41:46a; Psalm 54:4)

Help them put their hope in Your Word and all it tells them about You. Help them trust in the wonder of Your great love. (Psalm 130:5; 17:7a)

In Jesus' name, amen.

- Jim & Kaye Johns

Source: "Prayers for the Moment: One-Minute Scripture Prayers" Copyright September 2006. Reprinted with permission of B&H Publishing Group

TAGS: Christian, comfort, Daily, Peace, Protestant, Strength & Courage

May Christ keep me ever young to the greater glory of God.
For old age comes from Him, old age leads to Him,
and old age will touch me only insofar as He wills.
To be "young" means to be hopeful, energetic, smiling --- and clearsighted.
May I accept death in whatever guise it may come to me in Christ,
that is, within the process of the development of life.

A smile --- inward and outward --- means facing with mildness
and gentleness whatever befalls me.

Jesus, grant me to serve You, to proclaim You, to glorify You,
and to manifest You, to the very end through all the time
that remains to me of life, and above all through my death.

Lord Jesus, I commit to your care my last years, and my death;
do not let them impair or spoil the work I have so dreamed of achieving
for You. Amen.

- Genesis 1:28

TAGS: Aging, Christian, Protestant

O Lord, omnipotent Father, we give you thanks for having given us children. They are our joy, and we accept with serenity the worries, fears, and labors which bring us pain. Help us to love them sincerely. Through us you gave life to them; from eternity you knew them and loved them. Give us the wisdom to guide them, patience to teach them, vigilance to accustom them to the good through our example.

Support our love so that we may receive them back when they have strayed and make them good. It is often so difficult to understand them, to be as they would want us to be, to help them go on their way. Grant that they may always see our home as a haven in their time of need. Teach us and help us, O good Father, through the merits of Jesus, your Son and our Lord.

Amen.

Source: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Picayune, MS

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

TAGS: Christian, comfort, Depression, Guidance, hope, loneliness, Morning, Protestant, Strength & Courage

Father, I'm praying for (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends who need Christ...

You are the God who gives life to the spiritually dead. (Romans 4:17b)

I thank You that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But Scripture asks, How can these I'm praying for call on Jesus if they have not believed in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they've not heard about Him? And how can they hear without someone bringing the truth to them? And how can they hear unless that person is sent? (Romans 10:13–15a)

I ask You to send someone into each of their lives, someone with the message of life, the Word of Christ—for Your Word does not return empty; it accomplishes what You desire and achieves the purpose for which it is sent. (Romans 10:17; Isaiah 55:11)

May they hear the words of Christ, for His words are spirit and they are life. May the words that they hear not be stolen from their hearts. ( John 6:63; Luke 8:12)

Send someone they can respect to bring them the truth. In Jesus' name, amen.

- Jim & Kaye Johns

TAGS: Christian, conversion, Protestant

Father, I'm praying that (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends will have servant hearts...

May they desire to have servant hearts, considering others better than themselves, putting others' needs above their own. (Philippians 2:3–4)

May they imitate Christ, who became a servant, humbling Himself to become human just like us, living a life of obedience even to death. Jesus came not to be served but to serve and to give His life. (1 Thessalonians 1:6; Philippians 2:6–8; Matthew 20:28)

May they serve one another in love, always wholeheartedly as though they are serving the Lord Jesus, not men. May they use the spiritual gifts they've received to serve others with the strength You provide, so that in all things You may be praised. (Galatians 5:13b; Ephesians 6:7; 1 Peter 4:10, 11b)

May they always be eager to serve, treating others as they would want to be treated. (1 Peter 5:2b; Matthew 7:12)

Help them to live for others, asking, "How would I want to be treated in this and every situation?"—and responding just that way.

In Jesus' name, amen.

- Jim & Kaye Johns

Source: "Prayers for the Moment: One-Minute Scripture Prayers" Copyright September 2006. Reprinted with permission of B&H Publishing Group