Five Prayers Inspired by John 3

Study for Nicodemus Visiting Jesus by Henry Ossawa Tanner

Water and Spirit by Lisa Degrenia
Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” – John 3:5-6

Holy Spirit
Pregnant with twins- Truth and New Life
Welcome home to my spirit
Let it be with me according to your word

Reveal yourself in my thoughts
Bring forth encouragement and counsel
Deliver righteousness and justice in every choice
Carry hope and healing in every touch

Give birth not just in me, but to a whole new generation,
a people so full of your gifts and power they never labor in vain

Open our eyes to the glory that is possible
Open our hearts to the great responsibility- is it of flesh or is it of you?
Open us to the fullness of you. Amen.

Make Me Your Love by Lisa Degrenia
Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Rabbi Jesus
Promised Messiah
Son of the One, True, Living God

Fill me with your Spirit
Make me your love

It is your command
It is your way
It is your gift
It is You and your work

Yes, make me your witness
And yes, make me your will
But first and always, make me your love

Pause in silence to receive

Brought to Light by Lisa Degrenia
Jesus said, “For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” – John 3:20-21

Radiant One, we hear your call
“Come to the light.”

The hidden will be brought to light
hidden words
hidden thoughts
hidden actions of our hands
hidden motives of our hearts

Radiant One, in your mercy,
Guide us, heal us

We stand- trusting all will be revealed
We bow- knowing all will be revealed

Light and Life by Lisa Degrenia
Jesus, you are Light and Life
Help me love you more than my shadows
my inky shame
my sinful secrets
the resentments I nurture and nurse

I try to hide my trauma from you
There is no need to hide

Help me bring it all to your light
I am seen
I will be made whole

Celebrating Jesus by Lisa Degrenia
John the Baptist said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:28-30

Jesus, like our brother John,
we have a calling
we have a place in your plan

Jesus, like our brother John,
help us speak of you
point to you
rejoice in people drawn to you

You are the Bridegroom
We celebrate you
We celebrate the day of your coming
We celebrate your increase and glory

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I’ll be posting prayers based on the Gospel of John throughout Lent this year as part of our Lenten Reading Plan. Here’s your invitation to join us for this reading plan.  

Five Prayers Based on John 3 © 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting without asking permission. It’s always a treat to hear from you if you’re using it. Leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in a book, blog, etc.

Come and See – Prayers Inspired by John 1

Based on John 1:1-28
Jesus, True Light, enlighten us
Dispel the darkness of pettiness and fear
division and falsehood
apathy and evil

Offer your own prayers of confession

You are here, You are coming, You are overcoming
Blessed be your name.

Based on John 1:29-51
Come and See
the One foretold
the Fulfillment of promises
Who ranks ahead and comes before

Come and See
the Chosen One
Long awaited
Who welcomes one and all

Come and See
the Messiah
Rabbi and Redeemer
the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin, our shame, our brokenness
and the sin, the shame, the brokenness of our world

Come and See
Behold and Believe

Offer your own prayers of thanksgiving for God’s presence and power

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I’ll be posting prayers based on the Gospel of John throughout Lent this year as part of our Lenten Reading Plan. Here’s your invitation to join us for this reading plan.  

Be sure to also check out Testifiy to the Light – Prayers based on John 1:6-8

Prayers Inspired by John 1 © 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting without asking permission. It’s always a treat to hear from you if you’re using it. Leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in a book, blog, etc.

Light & Salt – a prayer inspired by Matthew 5.13-16

Matthew 5:13-14 Believers Are Salt and Light 13 “You are the salt of the  earth; but if the salt loses its … | Salt and light, Light of the world,  Salt of the earth

Jesus,
You name us Beloved, Blessed
Son, Daughter
Sibling, Heir
Help us remember

You name us Child of the King
Redeemed, Forgiven
Saved by grace through faith
Help us remember

You name us Light, Salt,
Hope, Grace
A Priesthood of Believers
Help us remember

You name us, you alone
Nothing can change what You have said
Blessed be your Holy Name

The congregation is invited to offer their own praise and thanksgiving

Amen.

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Salt & Light © 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting without asking permission. It’s always a treat to hear from you if you’re using it. Leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in a book, blog,, etc.

Do You Hear What I Hear? A Devotional Based on Beloved Christmas Carols

Songs of Christmas 1110 x 624The Christmas Story is full of singing. Over the centuries we’ve continued to celebrate with songs of our own, songs born from the joy of Christ’s coming.

This holy season, to prepare our hearts again for the coming of Christ, the congregation of Coronado Community United Methodist Church in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, will reflect on the poetry of these meaningful songs.

You’re most welcome to join us. Just CLICK HERE to download the free resource guide. Our journey will begin Monday, November 29, and continue all the way to Epiphany, January 6, 2022.

Some songs will be old friends. Others will be new. May their beauty and power draw you close to Jesus, the babe of Bethlehem, the Risen King. – Lisa <><

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Do You Hear What I Hear, the Songs of Christmas © 2021 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this compilation for personal devotions.
Do not publish this work in any form.

Testify to the Light- Prayers based on John 1.6-8

light of the world robbie quinn

You are the Light of the World by Robbie Quinn

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. – John 1:6-9

Prayer: Hallelujah! Help Us Shine!
Welcome Glorious One
Lord of Life and Light
Dawn in us your power and peacemaking
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

You bathe us in the light of your grace, that we may be grace
You fill us with the light of your truth, that we may be truth
You flood us with the light of your love, that we may be love
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

Sharing your light
Spreading your light
Beyond our imagining to your desiring
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

Unveiled, Bright, and True
A beam worthy of the stretch of your embrace
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

Draw us to your light
Draw all to your light
Hallelujah! Help us shine!

Prayer: For Yours Alone
Jesus, Messiah
True Light Came and Coming,
Your message is sacred
Holy, Set Apart, Treasured

Your message is eternal
Timeless, Lasting, a Firm Foundation

Your message is salvation
Deliverance, Wholeness, Grace

We bow before your commission to receive and bear your message into the world

Show us when to speak and give us the words
Never for our agenda, for yours alone

Show us what to do and give us the strength
Never for our achievement, for yours alone

Show others we are from you by your power at work through us
Never for our glory, for yours alone

Prayer: Open My Lips
Jesus
Light of Life, Light of Healing
Light of Relationship and Saving Love

Open my lips as you open my eyes
Open my lips as you open my ears
Open my lips to declare your praise
Your power
Your welcome
Your hope

Open my lips in all seasons
in all circumstances

You reveal, I receive
New life is born

You reveal, I reveal
Your Kingdom comes
Your family increases
as does the joy

Open my lips

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Hallelujah! Help us shine! © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
For Yours Alone © 2018 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Open My Lips © 2016 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution. (by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, http://www.revlisad.com) Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.