I had the privilege again this year to pray at the Palm Sunday service at Mount Hermon. Not usually prone to write out my prayers for a situation like this, I felt God nudge me to be sure I prayed particular things. So I wrote it down. Here it is. I pray it blesses you. I pray it becomes your prayer, my prayer, our prayer.

“Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You” (Jeremiah 32:17).

Lord, we are a fearful people. Forgive us for elevating security and safety above You. Fearful, we do not risk. We prefer the status quo over living the adventure of following in Your steps. Forgive us for finding satisfaction in complacency, in the way things have always been, in the way we think life should be.


Lord, we live in the land of If Only. If only we could point to a published piece, a reader’s positive feedback, a stellar bottom line. Lord, ground us in the great right now, away from the tyranny of if only. Please be our sufficiency.


Forgive us for filling the recesses of our hearts with lesser things. Forgive us for elevating our acclaim over your rightful fame. Forgive us for seeing today’s struggles as if they were bigger than You.


Thank You that it’s not our harried performance You’re after–that You don’t call us to be big and strong. Forgive us for thinking our strength accomplishes Your purposes. May we shake hands with our weakness today, knowing that our weakness is the dance floor You dance Your strength.


Enlarge our view of You. Grow our hearts to receive more of Your heart. Expand our minds enough to embrace Your mystery, Your intricacy, Your perplexing beauty.


We want to be a people who see You lofty, who have an affectionate view of our readers and a sensible, healthy view of ourselves.


Do what You will, Lord. Take it all–our insecurities, jealousies, trials, hopes, successes, journeys, and temptations. We choose in this holy moment to let go of worry, stress, and striving. Oh Jesus, it’s all for You.


Amen.