Daily Prayer Ventures

March 2026

1 Give thanks to God for the faith and gifts of hymn writers, musicians, choir members and directors of music ministries who help us express our praise, thanksgiving, joy and petitions to God.

2 Women's History Month  Remember, celebrate and give thanks for the contributions, achievements, leadership, wisdom and gifts of women and girls in the church, our communities and the world throughout history. Remember in prayer women who have been present and influential in your life, including parents, grandparents, pastors and deacons, teachers, youth ministers, outdoor ministry staff, neighbors and friends.

3 Remember in prayer the bishops of our church as they gather for the spring Conference of Bishops meeting. Give thanks for their faith, gifts, wisdom and careful deliberation, which God uses to benefit and guide the church and its leaders.

4 “Grace knocks us flat, preventing any form of self-congratulation. All the good we achieve is to be attributed to God rather than to ourselves” (Kathryn Tanner, Christ the Key). Ask the Spirit to help us embrace the free, undeserved gift of grace — love, forgiveness and new life — that is made real to us through baptism and the life, teaching, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

5 Remember in prayer those recovering from winter storms and flooding in various regions of our country, that they will receive support, encouragement and resources from neighbors, communities of faith, and disaster relief agencies and ministries, including Lutheran Disaster Response.

6 World Day of Prayer  Take time today to pray for siblings of Christ around the world. Give thanks for this vast ecumenical community of faith that is called and equipped by the Spirit to do God’s work in the world — together.

7 Pray for young adults who are considering or have applied to be volunteers in the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission program for 2026-27, a yearlong opportunity for international service and ministry alongside our companion churches and organizations.

8 When Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman drawing water at a well, he reveals himself to be the promised Messiah, the truth and source of living water — love, mercy, new life and salvation. Pray that we will demonstrate gratitude and joy to God by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with all people, including family, neighbors, friends, strangers, immigrants and refugees of all cultures, nationalities and life experiences.

9 Pray for the ministries and organizations that help us understand the value and fragility of creation and the environment. Bless their work as they remind us of our responsibility to be grateful, wise and responsible stewards of these gifts from God — gifts that nourish us and sustain all living things. Remember in prayer the ministries of synod creation care teams, Lutherans Restoring Creation, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, the Creation Care Network, ELCA Advocacy and Creation Justice Ministries.

10 Pray for Women of the ELCA to flourish in its ministry of helping women grow in faith, discover their gifts, and encourage one another to engage in ministry and promote healing and wholeness in the church, society and world.

11 Pray that the Spirit will guide our Lenten reflections on the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the sake of the world. Pray that we do not shy away from making personal and community sacrifices to help us focus on loving and serving others, especially neighbors who long for relief and hope from poverty, hunger, illness and injustice.

12  Remember in prayer those in your community whose work does not earn them a living wage, that they will find meaningful employment that provides for their daily needs. Ask the Spirit to inspire and guide our acts of care, compassion and support, that they may be truly impactful and honor the dignity and gifts of our neighbor.

13 Pray for the ministry of deacons. Give thanks for the new agreement between The Episcopal Church and the ELCA that welcomes the exchange of deacons.

14 Thank God for the ELCA’s special relationship with The Episcopal Church, a full communion partner since 1999. Pray for the church, its members and leaders, that together we will find strength and resources for the work of sharing the gospel and serving our neighbor, especially in these challenging times for the church and society.

15 Pray that the Spirit will strengthen our faith in God’s ability to open our eyes to God’s presence and activity in the world.

16 Reflect on your baptism and give thanks that you were — and continue to be — born anew in God’s love and forgiveness, welcomed into a community of those who follow Christ, and set free to love and serve all people.

17 “For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:8-9). Lent can feel dark and dispiriting when we reflect on human inadequacy and Jesus’ suffering and death, but the promise that we are children of light saved by the love of the risen Christ is wonderful. Give thanks and praise to God!

18 Pray that the Spirit will guide and inspire those across the church who are planning the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, as well as the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event, the tAble event for youth living with disabilities, and the Young Adult Gathering.

19 Pray for leaders who serve on the ELCA Church Council as they gather to enable and support our church for doing God’s work in the world with thoughtfulness, integrity, respect, and through partnerships with denominations and organizations that share a common vision.

20 First day of spring  Ask God to direct our attention to those things in nature and humanity that stir our hope, wonder and joy, reminding us of our awesome Creator from whom all things flow. Pray that we will radiate hope, compassion and the good news of Jesus Christ through our faith, values, words and actions.

21 Give thanks and praise to God who walks with us throughout life to guide, comfort, nourish and restore us through its twists, turns and challenges.

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.