Finally, Face-to-Face
Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. (v. 17) After over two decades of exchanging letters, emails, devotionals, and drafts of my autobiography, I felt like I knew the Words of Hope staff, […]
The Right Prescription
Read: John 21:15-23 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (v. 22) A few years ago, I noticed that I couldn’t read as well as I used to, so I went to the eye doctor. Her first suggestion was […]
Drink More Water
Read: John 4:1-26 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38) “You need to drink more […]
Jonah’s Prayer of Complaint
Read: Jonah 4 O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, […]
Daniel’s Prayer for Forgiveness
Read: Daniel 9:1-19 O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. (vv. 4-5) This beautiful and heartbreaking prayer is one of stark contrasts. […]
Daniel’s Prayer of Praise
Read: Daniel 2:1-24 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter. (v. 23) All the wise men of Babylon were sentenced […]
Hezekiah’s Prayer for Healing
Read: Isaiah 38:1-6 “Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. (v. 3) Such a short, simple prayer certainly had a remarkable result. King Hezekiah was very ill. When the prophet Isaiah told […]
Nehemiah’s Prayer of Confession
Read: Nehemiah 1 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. (v. 7) There are at least six prayers of Nehemiah in the book that carries his name. Nehemiah knew how to pray, and he prayed fervently and often. […]
Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
Read: 1 Kings 8:22-30 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! (v. 27) When an ocean liner or aircraft carrier is dedicated, a dignified official smashes a bottle of champagne against the side of the ship. This […]