Prayer of the Day

Lord, this is not a sprint, and I am tired of running.

Give me endurance — the plain, unglamorous strength that gets up each morning and simply continues.

I don't ask You to shorten the road. I ask You to lengthen my stride, deepen my breath, and keep my eyes on where we're going.

Daily bread was Your idea, Father. So I'll stop asking for a year's strength at once and just take today's portion, with thanks.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Father, the house is quieting down, and I bring You my family before I sleep.

Thank You for every person under this roof tonight, and for the ones we love sleeping under other roofs — across town, across the world. One family, kept in one set of hands: Yours.

Forgive us for the ways we were impatient with each other today. We are hardest, somehow, on the people we love most. Let no sharp word from today follow any of us into tomorrow.

Watch over each one as they sleep. Give the tired ones deep rest. Give the worried ones peace. Give the little ones good dreams.

Thank You that home isn't the walls — it's the people, and it's You in the middle of us. Keep us close to each other, and closer to You.

Goodnight, Father. We're all in Your keeping now.

In Jesus' name, Amen.