Praying for Reformation

Happy Reformation Day!

I’d initially planned on releasing part 2 of the 4-part series I hinted at in this post today, but writing projects and work schedule got away from me this year. (You can read last year’s entry here.) But I think what I share below is just as relevant as the post I planned on writing would have been.

I was praying yesterday, and the Lord impressed it on my heart that I should publish my prayer journal from yesterday. I don’t know why. It feels very Matthew 6–left/right hand–to me, but it is what it is.

However, I figure it’s a prayer that not only is critically important in light of Reformation Day and what Protestantism has become, but it also sheds some practical light on how to pray. This is how I’ve been going about it recently, and it has been incredibly beneficial to me.

* * *

10/30/25

Jesus,

I love you. Going back to the idea of asking if I can be honest,¹ you’ve always welcomed honesty. I feel guilty speaking with you in anything less than total honesty. And it was this very thing that led me to also feel guilty lying to others, “I’m good,” “It’s great,” “No problem,” when it’s exactly the opposite. Isn’t this part of Christianity? Being our authentic selves so the grace of God can meet us? Your grace?

I feel like if anyone read a fraction of the gospels, this is the simplest answer to how not to turn into a Pharisee. And the Pharisees were your enemies. And the Pharisees are how Luther characterized the Catholic Church of his day. So Protestant Evangelicals of all people should move in humble honesty so we can be met by God’s grace.

But we’re called to love our enemies just like you did. This includes the people who have Pharisaically harmed us. This means ___ and ___ and ___ and ___ and ___ and ___ and ___. But how? How do I love them without casting my pearls before swine and getting further trampled?

Start by writing about this.

Really, Lord?

Yes, really. Writing about this puts it out into the world and serves as a call to repent.

But what if no one sees it? Most of my posts get little traction.

Those who need to see it will see it. And it’ll also help your own heart–to go back to yesterday’s conversation.

True. Should I copy this prayer, or write something brand new?

That’s up to you. But given you’re stretched so thin as it is, copying the pertinent portion of this prayer would be totally understandable.

I love you. Life makes much more sense when we talk.

* * *

I’m sure you figured it out, but the text formatted differently represents the impressions I get from Jesus. I talked about this a bit in this post, though I didn’t give any specific examples there.

I will probably write more on this concept in the not too distant future (fingers crossed), but let me close with a prayer for Christianity at large:

* * *

Jesus,

I pray that you would break us of our pride. Break us of our masks. Break us of our posturing. You gave yourself for us, hanging naked and bloody on a cross, not so we could protect our own images, but so that we would confess and repent of the sins that pinned you to the cross. On this Reformation Day in 2025, set your church on a new path. A path that shows the world–this is the way!

Thank you, Jesus!

We love you!

* * *

In this with you!

Thanks for reading.

Notes and References

1. The song “Honest” by Leanna Crawford popped up on the radio during my drive yesterday, and it reminded me of a blog I’ve been drafting titled “Can I Be Honest?” ↩︎