Here are some short prayers written for the many beautiful kinds of mothers—new moms, grieving moms, spiritual mothers, waiting moms, and grandmothers.

For New Mothers

Lord, thank you for the miracle of new life and the tender beginnings of motherhood. In every sleepless night and uncertain step, give her strength and peace. Let her know you are near, delighting in every moment with her. Surround her with support, joy, and the gentle reminder: she’s doing beautifully. Remind her that you are her rock—steadfast and unshakable through every challenge and triumph.

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

• Isaiah 40:11

For Grieving Mothers

Lord, our Comforter, be near to the mom whose heart is heavy with loss. You see every tear, you feel every ache. Wrap her in your love today. May her memories be honored, her grief be held gently, and her pain be overshadowed by your grace.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

• Psalm 34:18

For Spiritual Mothers

Lord, thank you for women who mother through faith, encouragement, and prayer. Their love changes lives in quiet, powerful ways. Bless them with joy for the seeds they’ve sown. Let them feel the deep impact of their care—even if they’ve never held a child of their own.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

• Proverbs 31:26

For Waiting Mothers

Lord, you are our source of hope. Be with the woman waiting—for a child, for healing, for prayers answered. In the silence, cover her in peace. In the ache, bring comfort. Remind her that the waiting is not wasted, and that you are still writing a beautiful story.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

• Romans 12:12

For Grandmothers

Lord, thank you for grandmothers—for their warmth, wisdom, and faithfulness. Bless them for the love they’ve given and the lives they’ve shaped. May they feel honored and cherished today. Let their hearts be full as they watch generations bloom.

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

• Psalm 78:4

This plan is designed to build your trust in God, strengthen your soul to persevere, and anchor your heart in His perfect peace. Each day’s reading will prepare you to stand firm in faith, no matter what trials may come. Let’s journey through God’s Word together — fixing our eyes on the Lamb who is worthy and holding fast to the unshakable hope we have in Him!

Serving– maybe you find it refreshing, maybe you find it stretching. Whatever your current view, whether you're eager or exasperated, set it aside for a moment. Let’s return to what Scripture says and remember the heart of serving as defined by God’s Word.

True service isn’t measured by output, but by the heart of obedience that offers it. If we think serving is about results and pats on the back, then we’ve missed it. It’s about humility before God and obedience to Him in doing what we were, quite literally, created to do. In Ephesians 2:10, Paul writes, 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Serving is not an extracurricular part of the Christian life– it is our calling, woven into our spiritual DNA.

But the world will often teach us to measure value by visible results. We normalize admiring accomplishments, production and efficiency. On one hand, that’s not necessarily bad. That mentality, however, can quietly infiltrate our view of Christian service. 

We begin to ask questions like, “What am I achieving?” or “Is this making a difference?” While those questions aren’t inherently wrong, they can distract us from what matters most: obedience and humility.

God’s Word consistently shows that He values the heart over the outcome. In 1 Samuel 15:22, the prophet Samuel confronts Saul and says, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” 

God is after our surrendered hearts that yearn to serve Him, not self-seeking service to Him. Serving isn’t about how much we can achieve or how many gold stars we can earn in the church’s eyes. It’s about being so surrendered to the Father that we humbly obey Him– serving His people and walking in the good works He prepared for us long before we ever saw them (Ephesians 2:10).

Jesus modeled this beautifully. In John 13, before going to the cross, He washed His disciples’ feet– a task reserved for the lowest servant. Jesus said in John 13:14,

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

It wasn’t about status or recognition. It was about humble love and obedience. This is the example we are called to follow–not to impress, but to obey.

And there are blessings built into serving, even if they’re not always immediate or visible. One of the greatest is the formation of deep, Christ-centered relationships. 

Serving shoulder-to-shoulder with others creates space for real relationships. Walls come down when you're serving coffee together, praying with someone, or leading a group of kids on Sunday morning. Church becomes more than a place you attend; it becomes a community you build and a community that becomes family. 

Another benefit of serving is personal growth. God uses our serving to stretch and shape us. When we serve, we often find ourselves in situations that reveal our weaknesses and challenge our self-seeking nature. Proverbs 27:17 says, 

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Serving regularly puts us in the kind of close, collaborative environments where we’re both challenged and encouraged to grow spiritually and relationally.

But ultimately, we serve because it’s who we are in Christ. Ephesians 2:10 isn’t a suggestion; it’s a reminder that as believers we were intentionally created for good works. These aren’t random tasks. They are specific acts of service prepared by God for you to walk in. You were created to reflect His heart, and His heart is one of a servant.

Maybe you’ve been serving faithfully and feel unseen or underappreciated. Or maybe you’ve hesitated to step in because you’re unsure where to begin. Remember, God sees every act of obedience, no matter how small. In Matthew 6:4, Jesus says, 

And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

He’s not waiting for your perfection; He’s inviting your participation.

So, what does it look like for you to walk in the good works God has prepared? It might be joining one of the ministry teams at church, mentoring a student, or simply being willing to fill in where there’s a need. The point isn’t to produce impressive results. The point is to say "yes" to God.

Serving isn’t about what you can achieve. It’s about becoming the person God created you to be– someone whose life is marked by obedience, humility, and a heart ready to reflect Christ in every act, big or small.

You were created to serve. Step into that calling—not for applause, but for His glory!

When we talk about something that “hits different,” what do we mean? It’s a common phrase within the younger generation. It is used to say that something is uncommon. It’s unique. It exceeds our expectations.

Maybe a specific food or a certain song hits differently. When something catches us off guard with how amazing it looks, sounds, tastes and feels, we recognize that there is something uniquely special about it. 

But what do we mean when ministry hits different. What does it mean or look like for ministry to hit differently amidst different pastors, teachers, churches and organizations that say they do ministry? 

Based on 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, we are given some key indicators that define the kind of ministry that truly hits different.

Ministry that is set apart is marked by:

• What is preached or taught.
• The demeanor or presence in which it’s carried out.
• The purpose or “why” behind doing ministry.

Preaching and Teaching 

Ministry that hits different is rooted in God’s Word. Specifically, the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. What God has said through His Word under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit must be the foundation of ministry that is set apart. 

What this means is that there is no new content to be said. The goal of preaching and teaching is not to say anything that hasn’t been said already. Instead, the goal of preaching and teaching is to interpret what God has said in His Word and apply it to our everyday lives.

In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul describes what this looks like by challenging his spiritual mentee, Timothy, to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

The question to then be asked is, “what do we preach and teach?” What is the content of our message? 1 Corinthians 2:2 answers this question, saying that we ought to preach, “Christ and him crucified.” The Gospel with Christ must be the focal point of whatever lesson or sermon is at hand. 

It is said in Ephesians 1:3 that the Father “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” It’s knowing that the centrality of the Bible is found in the birth, life, death, resurrection and coming again of Jesus Christ. 

This would raise the question, “so what? What does this have to do with my life? What am I supposed to get out of the Gospel?” However, this is not how the question should be asked. 

Rather, what should be asked is, “what can I give the Gospel?” That doesn’t mean that any person or idea can add or subtract value from the Gospel. The question “what can I give the Gospel” must be interpreted like this: “what does the Gospel demand from my life?” 

The Gospel did not come without a cost: the cost of the earthly life of Christ. So, what does a Risen Christ on this side of His crucifixion and resurrection require of us? He requires us to “take up his cross daily and follow me,” as it says in Luke 9:23-24. He requires that every portion of our life and our life as a whole be committed to knowing Him intimately and walking with others so that they may come to know Him or know Him more intimately. Put it another way, through His Word and by His Spirit, we are given everything for “life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). 

Presence and Demeanor

Not only should the preaching and teaching in ministry hit different, but so should the presence and demeanor of it. Paul says it this way,  “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). 

Ministry that hits different should begin from a place of humility. Humility that denies believing we know best or that our ways are better than the Lord’s. Humility that the world would call foolish, but God would use to further His purposes (1 Corinthians 1:27). 

Ministry that hits different also requires a sense of authenticity. An authenticity that comes from a place of being “fearfully and wonderfully made,” as it says in Psalm 139:14. God didn’t call us to be anyone other than ourselves. 

Like Paul, we– left to ourselves– are weak. In 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Paul talks about his situation regarding the thorn in the flesh. He recounted that the Lord would not take it away or remove it from him. Why? So that he would be reminded that in and of himself, he is weak and cannot provide anything of eternal significance.

It’s this reminder that should humble us. Humble us to a place where we can display the Spirit’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4), depending on Christ not to display our own strength, but His power (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). 

What’s the purpose of doing ministry?

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 describes the purpose of ministry that hits different. It answers the question “why do ministry?” or “what’s the point of ministry?” in another way. Paul answers this question by saying, “so that your faith might not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” In other words, the focus is not the person in the ministry. 

The focus is that the person is an avenue to display the person and work of Jesus Christ. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:31 that our boasting is “in the Lord.” 

He would say it to the Roman church in this way: that the power of God is the only means for the salvation of humanity (Romans 1:16-17). 

In layman's terms, our power is not in who we are or what we have done. It is solely about who Christ is and what He has done. Our purpose is in this proclamation.

Do you know the story of redemption? Whether you do or don’t, take a moment to read a refresher of what Jesus did for you thousands of years ago. He is called “Worthy” for a reason. Let’s recount the story of redemption and why Jesus is Worthy.

CREATION

The Gospel begins with a Creator who made everything good. Genesis 1:31 says, "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day." Humanity was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), designed for relationship with Him, to live in perfect peace and joy under His rule.

FALL

But that peace was shattered. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve disobeyed God, bringing sin and death into the world. Romans 5:12 explains, "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." Sin separated humanity from God, and no amount of effort or goodness could bridge the gap. Humanity was destined for death with no way out of it.

REDEMPTION

Yet, even in humanity’s rebellion, God’s plan of rescue was already unfolding. From the earliest pages of Scripture, God promised a Savior–someone to come and save God’s people from death and persecution. Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." 

That Savior is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who entered the world not as a distant deity, but as a humble man (John 1:14). He lived a perfect life, free from sin (Hebrews 4:15), and willingly took the penalty for sin upon Himself. Romans 6:23 tells us, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

On Good Friday, Jesus was crucified—nailed to a cross, mocked, and abandoned. But it was not a defeat. It was the fulfillment of God’s rescue plan. As Jesus died, He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The debt of sin was paid in full.

And then, three days later, He rose. The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event; it is the cornerstone of hope. 1 Corinthians 15:17 says, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins." But Christ has been raised. Death has been defeated. Redemption is now available to all who believe and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10:9-11).

Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." 

This is the heart of the Gospel: Jesus lived the life we couldn’t live, died the death we deserved, and rose again so we could be restored and have a personal relationship with God.

Don't just hear the story;  step into it. Redemption isn't for the perfect. It's for the broken, the searching, the sinner. It's for you.

SUNDAY

(Palm Sunday) 

This is Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Crowds of people gathered with palm branches. Scripture says, And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Scriptural Reference: Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, John 12

MONDAY

Jesus cleanses the temple by overturning the tables of those selling and buying. This adds to the attention Jesus was beginning to receive. Jesus says, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:12-13). Jesus performs the miracle of cursing a fig tree: “”May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once” (Matthew 21:19).

Scriptural Reference: Matthew 21

TUESDAY

The disciples see the miracle of the fig tree withering at the command of Jesus (Matthew 21:20, Mark 11:20-21) and Jesus shares a lesson on belief and the Kingdom of God (Mark 11:20-25, Luke 21:29-32). Jesus continues to teach parables in the temple, bringing more attention from the crowds (Matthew 21, Mark 12, Luke 20). The Pharisees and Sadducees question Jesus on controversial topics (Matthew 22, Mark 12, Luke 10 & 20).

Scriptural Reference: Matthew 21-23, Mark 11 & 12, Luke 10, Luke 20 & 21

WEDNESDAY

The betrayal of Jesus begins as Judas Iscariot agrees to deliver Jesus to the chief priest in return for money (Matthew 26:14-16, Mark 14:10-11, Luke 22:3-6). The chief priests and elders plan to kill Jesus once the Passover is finished (Matthew 26:1-5, Mark 14:1-2, Luke 22:1-2).

Scriptural Reference: Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22

THURSDAY

The Passover takes place and Jesus reveals one of His disciples will betray Him. Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.. The Lord’s Supper takes place, and Jesus predicts Peter’s denial. 

Scriptural Reference: Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 13

FRIDAY

Estimated to be at midnight, Jesus prays in Gethsemane. Around 3 AM, Jesus goes on trial before Caiaphas. Peter denies Jesus even when he said he would never deny Him (Matthew 26:35). Matthew 26:72 says, “And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” At this time, Jesus was also condemned by the Sanhedrin. Around 6 AM, Jesus goes on trial before Pilate, Herod, and then Pilate a second time. After the second time he appeared before Pilate, Jesus was flogged and beaten. Around 9 AM Friday morning, Jesus was crucified. Friday at noon, the interaction between the thief on the cross and Jesus took place. Luke 23:42-43 says, “And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Around 3 PM, Jesus dies and those present respond in sorrow to Jesus’ death. The Roman soldiers spear Jesus’ side to ensure He was dead. Around 6 PM, Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb with a great stone to cover its entrance. 

Scriptural Reference: Matthew 26 & 27, Mark 14 & 15, Luke 22 & 23, John 18 & 19

SATURDAY

The women watch the tomb. Matthew 27:61 says, “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.” 

Scriptural Reference: Mark 15:47, Luke 23:55-56

SUNDAY

The women visit the tomb to find it empty! Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, the other women, and his disciples. Soldiers report to Jewish authorities what had taken place (Matthew 28:11-15).  He is Risen!

See: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 

He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

- Matthew 28:1-6