Friday - Because He Lives

Welcome to Daily Prayer. This is Week 7 of the Because He Lives series — encounters with the risen Jesus. Today Peter declares that the risen Jesus has been made both Lord and Christ. Ask the Lord to deepen your surrender to His authority. Let us quiet our hearts and minds before the Lord, anticipating a special connection with him today. Father, we give everyone and everything to you.

Acts 2:29-36 (ESV)

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

A Prayer of Worship

Jesus, I worship you as Lord and Christ. You are not just someone to believe in on Sundays. You are King over my whole life. You are worthy of more than songs, words, or church attendance. You are worthy of my choices, my friendships, my attitude, my future, and my heart. I praise you because your authority is good. You do not lead me to harm me. You lead me because you love me and know what is best. Help me see surrender not as losing something, but as trusting the One who loves me most.

A Prayer of Confession

Lord, I confess that I often want you as Savior while resisting you as Lord. I want forgiveness, comfort, blessing, and help, but I do not always want surrender, obedience, correction, or submission. I confess my divided heart. I confess selective obedience. I confess the ways I trust my desires more than your wisdom. There are habits, attitudes, fears, relationships, ambitions, and decisions that I have not fully placed under your rule. Jesus, help me to be a person after your own heart.

A Prayer of Petition

Lord, bring every part of me under your loving lordship. Rule over my thoughts, my words, my desires, my time, my relationships, my money, my ministry, and my future. Show me the places where I am still resisting you. Teach me to obey not out of fear, but out of love. Teach me to trust that your authority is good, your commands are life, and your ways are better than mine. Let my life declare that Jesus is Lord. Holy Spirit, make surrender beautiful to me. Make obedience joyful. Make the reign of Jesus visible in me.

Closing Prayer

During these last few moments, ask Jesus to show you one area of your life that needs to come more fully under His lordship. It may be a habit, relationship, decision, attitude, fear, ambition, or private struggle. Bring that area before Him without defensiveness. Ask Him what surrender would look like in that specific place. Then sit quietly and allow the Holy Spirit to give you courage, trust, and willingness to obey.