Prayer Ministry

Daily Prayer Ventures

September 2025

1 Labor Day  Praise the work people do to sustain their families and benefit their communities and society. Pray that all will receive fair wages, work in safe environments, receive encouragement, be renewed through times of sabbath, and experience joy and fulfillment in their labor. Pray for those who seek employment and for the care, support and well-being of people unable to work.

2 “Let mutual affection continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1-2). Pray that our fears, prejudices and ideologies will not prevent us from showing love, respect and hospitality to one another — friends, family and strangers alike.

3 Suicide Prevention Month  Pray for our neighbors and siblings in Christ who feel lonely, depressed and hopeless, that they will find compassion, support and spiritual renewal in times of darkness and suffering. Ask the Spirit to inspire and guide our care, support and counsel for those who are contemplating suicide, and for those who grieve the loss of someone to suicide.

4 Give thanks for the faithful service and leadership of Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. Pray that her faith, gifts and commitment will continue to inspire us to work for justice and peace, to love and serve our neighbors, and to share the good news of Jesus Christ in a world yearning for hope and renewal.  

5 “Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord, who greatly delight in his commandments” (Psalm 112:1). Pray that we will find joy and guidance in the ways and commandments of God and be inspired by God’s wisdom, love for humanity and concern for those who suffer. 

6  The 2025 Churchwide Assembly has elected the Rev. Yehiel Curry to serve as the next presiding bishop of the ELCA. Pray that the Spirit will strengthen his faith, gifts and wisdom as he leads our church in its mission to share the good news of Jesus Christ, reflect God’s abundant love and mercy for the world, and serve our neighbors in need. 

 7  “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday  ELCA congregations join together today for our annual day of service, celebrating that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. Pray for service activities around the country that unite people, ecumenical partners and community agencies as we serve our neighbors in need, strengthen our communities and demonstrate God’s love.

8 Pray for the resolution of international conflicts that cause suffering, violence, mistrust, injustice, economic crises and political instability. Ask God to forgive us for sometimes playing a role in these conflicts, intentional or not.

9 Pray for our missionaries in Latin America and the Caribbean and for the Young Adults in Global Mission volunteers serving in Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay, that the Spirit will nurture their faith as they accompany global companions in ministries that include education, immigration and pastoral leadership.

10 Pray for faith in the ways and thoughts of God, which stretch beyond our comprehension and imagination yet stir awe and devotion.

21 Remember in prayer those recovering from devastating floods and grieving the loss of loved ones and neighbors. Give thanks for the work we do through Lutheran Disaster Response to respond to urgent needs, give emotional and spiritual care, support long-term recovery and restore the vitality of communities. Ask God to strengthen and bless our partnerships with synods, congregations, local relief agencies and ecumenical relief programs.

22 First day of fall  “In this great and strange creation, with a breath God gives us birth: born of soil to live as stewards, called to love and serve the earth” (“Earth Is Full of Wit and Wisdom,” ACS 1064). Sing praise to God for creating and entrusting to our care the earth, its natural resources and the inspiring beauty of all living things, including humankind.

23 Pray for church leaders as they gather for the Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference in New Orleans to study and reflect on stewardship and to equip themselves for cultivating generosity in congregations. Give thanks for how God works through this partnership with the Presbyterian Foundation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the ELCA’s stewardship and generosity team.

24 Praise God that our church gathers and nurtures the gifts of so many through congregations, synods and special ministries to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, care for neighbors in need, equip and encourage one another, and invite all to experience the blessings of being valued members of faith communities.

25 Remember in prayer those who are fighting cancer or experiencing a wide range of emotions upon receiving a cancer diagnosis. Pray that we and our faith communities will offer steadfast support, care and encouragement to them and their families.

26 Pray that all people will know the love, peace and wisdom that comes from God, made real to us through the birth, life, suffering, death and resurrection of our true savior, Jesus Christ.

27 “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both,” wrote Lutheran theologian Karl Barth (1886-1968). “But interpret newspapers from your Bible.” Ask God to help us attend to our communities, nation and world, and remember that our faith in Jesus Christ calls us to foster peace, justice, love, forgiveness and healing among all people.

28 The story of Lazarus and the rich man in the gospels of Luke and John reminds us of God’s love and concern for those who suffer poverty, illness and neglect. Pray that we will embrace all people as neighbors who deserve respect, compassion, love and inclusion.

 29  Michael and All Angels  Ask the Spirit to help us be aware of God’s activity in the world and to strengthen our faith when we are perplexed by the mysteries of God’s ways and the presence of angels and spiritual beings who serve as God’s messengers.

30 Ask God to bless and guide the work of the ELCA Gender Justice and Women’s Empowerment program, informed by the unique voices and experiences of people across race, ethnicity, ability, class, sexuality and age. Pray for the advancement of gender justice in the church and society — justice grounded in Scripture, Lutheran theology and people of all gender identities working together.

Morning: PRAY 

Four steps for a good morning prayer can be remembered by the acronym –

PRAY: Praise, Reason, Ask, Yes

1. Paise God. Begin by thanking and praising God for keeping you through the night. Give thanks for God's great love.

2. Reason why God is giving you this day. What needs to be done by you today?

3. Ask God, for forgiveness and grace. Ask God for one gift today to help you be the best you can be.

4. Yes God! Tell God you are ready, willing, and able to accomplish the tasks for the day. Do your best and give God the rest.

Evening: GRIP

In the evening, get a grip on the day: 

GRIP: Gratitude, Recollection, Inventory, Prayers

1. Gratitude: Take a moment to thank God for giving you this day. Give thanks for God's great love for you. Where did God bless you today?

2. Recollection: Look back at the events of the day. Consider who you saw, what you did, where you went. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you courage to be truly soul-searching. Were you growing closer to God or further away?

3. Inventory: Take inventory of how the day went. Thank God for the good you have done. Ask forgiveness for any wrong you have done. Prepare to make some amendment for sins. Take a good look at your mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Accept God's forgiveness and be at peace.

4. Prayers: Give to God all those who need your prayers. Let no boundaries stand in your way as you pray for yourself, your family and friends, the Church, the country, and the world.

ﾠ1. Give Thanksﾠ

Pause and give thanks for something
in your day (even if it’s small).

Gratitude lets us see the light in our lives alongside the shadows. Acknowledging what we cherish gives us a sense of wonder and connects us to Love within us and around us. In this way, gratitude is one way we tell the truth about ourselves and our lives. It’s another way we say, “This matters to me.”

ﾠ2. Reviewﾠ

Review what happened in your day
and how you felt about it.

We don’t have to remember every detail, but a general recap of our day makes us more aware of our reality and emotions. This is especially helpful if we are on autopilot or feeling disconnected from ourselves, love, or others. Reviewing our day also helps us consider that Love speaks to us through our humanity (our thoughts, emotions, and bodies) and that we’re invited to listen to all of that.

ﾠ3. Reflectﾠ

Reflect on consolation
and desolation by asking: 

“When did I feel connected to
and disconnected from Love today?”

Holding the memories and feelings from the day, we now observe (without judgment) what sticks out and grabs our attention most. We listen to what brought us alive and made us feel most like ourselves. We call this feeling of being connected to Love and our true selves, consolation. And then we also listen, with equal attention, to what broke our heart, made us feel isolated, or ­misunderstood. We call this feeling of being disconnected from Love and our true selves, desolation. These deeper messages from our experiences and heart are often ways the Sacred invites us into deeper relationship, healing, and growth.

ﾠ4. Mendﾠ 

Listen to where you need mending
or need to make amends.

This step is about accountability and compassion. We sit in union with Love and consider where there was misunderstanding or pain in our day. We listen to where we need to make amends and commit to taking steps to do so. We also listen to where we need to speak up about our own needs or on behalf of someone else. Again, we commit to following up on these revelations when we end our practice.