W. David O. Taylor
@wdavidotaylor.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Theology & Culture @fullerseminary. Author: "Prayers for the Pilgrimage" + "A Body of Praise" + "Open & Unafraid." IG: @davidtaylor_theologian. W: https://www.wdavidotaylor.com.
A Night Prayer for the Weary:
O Lord, you who promise us your rest, I offer to you my weary body this night, heavy-laden with the cares of this world, and ask that you would speak your word of peace to it, so that it might be repaired by your grace through the watches of the night. Amen.
O Lord, you who promise us your rest, I offer to you my weary body this night, heavy-laden with the cares of this world, and ask that you would speak your word of peace to it, so that it might be repaired by your grace through the watches of the night. Amen.
November 12, 2025 at 1:56 AM
A Night Prayer for the Weary:
O Lord, you who promise us your rest, I offer to you my weary body this night, heavy-laden with the cares of this world, and ask that you would speak your word of peace to it, so that it might be repaired by your grace through the watches of the night. Amen.
O Lord, you who promise us your rest, I offer to you my weary body this night, heavy-laden with the cares of this world, and ask that you would speak your word of peace to it, so that it might be repaired by your grace through the watches of the night. Amen.
A Prayer for Blessing for the Day’s Work:
Bless my mind to discern the one thing that this day requires;
Bless my heart to remain at peace in the face of fear;
Bless my will to resist all needless distractions;
Bless my hands to do the work that you have entrusted to me;
In your name I pray.
Amen.
Bless my mind to discern the one thing that this day requires;
Bless my heart to remain at peace in the face of fear;
Bless my will to resist all needless distractions;
Bless my hands to do the work that you have entrusted to me;
In your name I pray.
Amen.
November 10, 2025 at 1:32 PM
A Prayer for Blessing for the Day’s Work:
Bless my mind to discern the one thing that this day requires;
Bless my heart to remain at peace in the face of fear;
Bless my will to resist all needless distractions;
Bless my hands to do the work that you have entrusted to me;
In your name I pray.
Amen.
Bless my mind to discern the one thing that this day requires;
Bless my heart to remain at peace in the face of fear;
Bless my will to resist all needless distractions;
Bless my hands to do the work that you have entrusted to me;
In your name I pray.
Amen.
A Prayer for God's Judgment to Begin with the Household of Faith:
(via "Prayers for the Pilgrimage")
(via "Prayers for the Pilgrimage")
November 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM
A Prayer for God's Judgment to Begin with the Household of Faith:
(via "Prayers for the Pilgrimage")
(via "Prayers for the Pilgrimage")
November 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
A Morning Prayer for Joy in the midst of Exile:
O Lord, may your joy be a strength for the tired of body, a holy medicine for the faint of spirit and a bond of friendship for the estranged, so that your joy might be a taste this day of our true home in the midst of exile of our lives. Amen.
O Lord, may your joy be a strength for the tired of body, a holy medicine for the faint of spirit and a bond of friendship for the estranged, so that your joy might be a taste this day of our true home in the midst of exile of our lives. Amen.
November 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM
A Morning Prayer for Joy in the midst of Exile:
O Lord, may your joy be a strength for the tired of body, a holy medicine for the faint of spirit and a bond of friendship for the estranged, so that your joy might be a taste this day of our true home in the midst of exile of our lives. Amen.
O Lord, may your joy be a strength for the tired of body, a holy medicine for the faint of spirit and a bond of friendship for the estranged, so that your joy might be a taste this day of our true home in the midst of exile of our lives. Amen.
A Morning Prayer:
O Lord, you who are providentially at work in the world in ways that cannot be empirically explained, open my eyes, I pray, to see how you are bringing about the renewal and repair of this world in ways that defy the metrics of mortals and the presumptions of the nations. Amen.
O Lord, you who are providentially at work in the world in ways that cannot be empirically explained, open my eyes, I pray, to see how you are bringing about the renewal and repair of this world in ways that defy the metrics of mortals and the presumptions of the nations. Amen.
November 6, 2025 at 1:27 PM
A Morning Prayer:
O Lord, you who are providentially at work in the world in ways that cannot be empirically explained, open my eyes, I pray, to see how you are bringing about the renewal and repair of this world in ways that defy the metrics of mortals and the presumptions of the nations. Amen.
O Lord, you who are providentially at work in the world in ways that cannot be empirically explained, open my eyes, I pray, to see how you are bringing about the renewal and repair of this world in ways that defy the metrics of mortals and the presumptions of the nations. Amen.
A Morning Prayer:
O Lord, you who order all things well, I commend myself to you this day, this hour, this moment, this place, and ask that you would consecrate the labors of this day, that I may serve you in joy and rest in your sovereign care. I pray this in your good name. Amen.
O Lord, you who order all things well, I commend myself to you this day, this hour, this moment, this place, and ask that you would consecrate the labors of this day, that I may serve you in joy and rest in your sovereign care. I pray this in your good name. Amen.
November 5, 2025 at 3:03 PM
A Morning Prayer:
O Lord, you who order all things well, I commend myself to you this day, this hour, this moment, this place, and ask that you would consecrate the labors of this day, that I may serve you in joy and rest in your sovereign care. I pray this in your good name. Amen.
O Lord, you who order all things well, I commend myself to you this day, this hour, this moment, this place, and ask that you would consecrate the labors of this day, that I may serve you in joy and rest in your sovereign care. I pray this in your good name. Amen.
A Beatitude for Social Media:
Blessed are the ones who amplify the voices of the vulnerable, for in doing so they shall discover anew the delight of God‘s heart.
Blessed are the ones who amplify the voices of the vulnerable, for in doing so they shall discover anew the delight of God‘s heart.
November 4, 2025 at 12:26 PM
A Beatitude for Social Media:
Blessed are the ones who amplify the voices of the vulnerable, for in doing so they shall discover anew the delight of God‘s heart.
Blessed are the ones who amplify the voices of the vulnerable, for in doing so they shall discover anew the delight of God‘s heart.
A happy All Souls Day, friends!
May we take heart from the cloud of witnesses who suffered the temptations of their own times and places but remained faithful to the One who alone sustains us in the hour of trial.
May we take heart from the cloud of witnesses who suffered the temptations of their own times and places but remained faithful to the One who alone sustains us in the hour of trial.
November 2, 2025 at 1:01 PM
A happy All Souls Day, friends!
May we take heart from the cloud of witnesses who suffered the temptations of their own times and places but remained faithful to the One who alone sustains us in the hour of trial.
May we take heart from the cloud of witnesses who suffered the temptations of their own times and places but remained faithful to the One who alone sustains us in the hour of trial.
A happy All Saints Day, friends! May you become aflame this day with the love of the Holy Trinity and bear witness in word and deed to all that is good and holy about God’s kingdom.
November 1, 2025 at 1:00 PM
A happy All Saints Day, friends! May you become aflame this day with the love of the Holy Trinity and bear witness in word and deed to all that is good and holy about God’s kingdom.
There are two things that All Hallow’s Eve invites us to take seriously: the uncontainable merriment that marks God’s creation and the reality of evil. It’s these two things that I sought to give expression to in my prayers for Halloween in my book with @ivpress.bsky.social.
October 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
There are two things that All Hallow’s Eve invites us to take seriously: the uncontainable merriment that marks God’s creation and the reality of evil. It’s these two things that I sought to give expression to in my prayers for Halloween in my book with @ivpress.bsky.social.
A Morning Prayer:
“You will only have to look with your eyes to see how the guilty face Creator’s justice for what they have done.
For you have called Grandfather “my medicine shield” and have made the One Above Us All your home.”
— Psalm 91:8-9 (First Nations Version)
“You will only have to look with your eyes to see how the guilty face Creator’s justice for what they have done.
For you have called Grandfather “my medicine shield” and have made the One Above Us All your home.”
— Psalm 91:8-9 (First Nations Version)
October 31, 2025 at 2:57 PM
A Morning Prayer:
“You will only have to look with your eyes to see how the guilty face Creator’s justice for what they have done.
For you have called Grandfather “my medicine shield” and have made the One Above Us All your home.”
— Psalm 91:8-9 (First Nations Version)
“You will only have to look with your eyes to see how the guilty face Creator’s justice for what they have done.
For you have called Grandfather “my medicine shield” and have made the One Above Us All your home.”
— Psalm 91:8-9 (First Nations Version)
A prayer for being present to the present this day rather than excessively worrying about yesterday and uncontrollably fretting about tomorrow.
("Prayers for the Pilgrimage")
("Prayers for the Pilgrimage")
October 30, 2025 at 12:35 PM
A prayer for being present to the present this day rather than excessively worrying about yesterday and uncontrollably fretting about tomorrow.
("Prayers for the Pilgrimage")
("Prayers for the Pilgrimage")
Blessed are those who remain on social media without becoming cynical, petty, or combative.
October 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Blessed are those who remain on social media without becoming cynical, petty, or combative.
A prayer for peace in a world full of strife, saber-rattling, and fear for the worst.
October 28, 2025 at 1:21 PM
A prayer for peace in a world full of strife, saber-rattling, and fear for the worst.
A Prayer for Sunday:
O Lord, you who are the Sovereign of heaven and earth, may we dwell this day under the shelter of the Most High, so that we may feel wholly secure in your providential care over all the details of our lives. We pray this in the name of the One who is the Lord of lords. Amen.
O Lord, you who are the Sovereign of heaven and earth, may we dwell this day under the shelter of the Most High, so that we may feel wholly secure in your providential care over all the details of our lives. We pray this in the name of the One who is the Lord of lords. Amen.
October 26, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Prayer for Sunday:
O Lord, you who are the Sovereign of heaven and earth, may we dwell this day under the shelter of the Most High, so that we may feel wholly secure in your providential care over all the details of our lives. We pray this in the name of the One who is the Lord of lords. Amen.
O Lord, you who are the Sovereign of heaven and earth, may we dwell this day under the shelter of the Most High, so that we may feel wholly secure in your providential care over all the details of our lives. We pray this in the name of the One who is the Lord of lords. Amen.
The best thing about "Atomic Habits" is not just its advice about how to build a new habit: 1) Make it obvious; 2) Make it attractive; 3) Make it easy; 4) Make it satisfying.
It's his advice to pay attention to the actual conditions of your life that made a good habit plausible & probable.
It's his advice to pay attention to the actual conditions of your life that made a good habit plausible & probable.
October 24, 2025 at 1:28 PM
The best thing about "Atomic Habits" is not just its advice about how to build a new habit: 1) Make it obvious; 2) Make it attractive; 3) Make it easy; 4) Make it satisfying.
It's his advice to pay attention to the actual conditions of your life that made a good habit plausible & probable.
It's his advice to pay attention to the actual conditions of your life that made a good habit plausible & probable.
This is a prayer that I’ve written in order to give voice to Holy Scripture’s enduring commitment to justice and to our responsibility as followers of Jesus to be a people who do justice in the manner that God does justice.
(via “Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
(via “Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
October 23, 2025 at 9:09 PM
This is a prayer that I’ve written in order to give voice to Holy Scripture’s enduring commitment to justice and to our responsibility as followers of Jesus to be a people who do justice in the manner that God does justice.
(via “Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
(via “Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
Found at a coffee shop in Lake Tahoe. It could be the motto for lots of political operatives these days.
October 23, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Found at a coffee shop in Lake Tahoe. It could be the motto for lots of political operatives these days.
This is one of my favorite images of an artist. It’s by my massively talented friend and illustrator, Samantha Wedelich, it shows up in my book, “For the Beauty of the Church,” and it’s so true: some days for the artist, it’s all heart.
October 21, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This is one of my favorite images of an artist. It’s by my massively talented friend and illustrator, Samantha Wedelich, it shows up in my book, “For the Beauty of the Church,” and it’s so true: some days for the artist, it’s all heart.
A Morning Prayer to Mind Our Own Business:
O Lord, you who are the True Laborer, help us, we pray, to mind our own business rather than becoming nosy about others’, so that we might learn gratitude in our own labors, no matter how small they may be. Amen.
(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
O Lord, you who are the True Laborer, help us, we pray, to mind our own business rather than becoming nosy about others’, so that we might learn gratitude in our own labors, no matter how small they may be. Amen.
(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
October 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
A Morning Prayer to Mind Our Own Business:
O Lord, you who are the True Laborer, help us, we pray, to mind our own business rather than becoming nosy about others’, so that we might learn gratitude in our own labors, no matter how small they may be. Amen.
(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
O Lord, you who are the True Laborer, help us, we pray, to mind our own business rather than becoming nosy about others’, so that we might learn gratitude in our own labors, no matter how small they may be. Amen.
(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
A Prayer inspired by the Persistent Widow of Luke 18, a prayer for all who have been wronged and feel powerless and helpless to do anything about it:
October 19, 2025 at 12:29 PM
A Prayer inspired by the Persistent Widow of Luke 18, a prayer for all who have been wronged and feel powerless and helpless to do anything about it:
We either believe it or we don't:
"Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.... It is not that people think this too high and difficult a virtue: it is that they think it hateful and contemptible."
-- C. S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity"
"Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.... It is not that people think this too high and difficult a virtue: it is that they think it hateful and contemptible."
-- C. S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity"
October 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM
We either believe it or we don't:
"Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.... It is not that people think this too high and difficult a virtue: it is that they think it hateful and contemptible."
-- C. S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity"
"Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.... It is not that people think this too high and difficult a virtue: it is that they think it hateful and contemptible."
-- C. S. Lewis, "Mere Christianity"
A Morning Prayer for the Day's Work:
O Christ,
Deliver me this day from fear;
Save me from the hour of trial;
Rescue me from the pride of life;
Great Carpenter, teach me, guide me, aid me in my work.
I pray this in the name of the Word & Icon of God.
Amen.
(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
O Christ,
Deliver me this day from fear;
Save me from the hour of trial;
Rescue me from the pride of life;
Great Carpenter, teach me, guide me, aid me in my work.
I pray this in the name of the Word & Icon of God.
Amen.
(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
October 15, 2025 at 12:14 PM
A Morning Prayer for the Day's Work:
O Christ,
Deliver me this day from fear;
Save me from the hour of trial;
Rescue me from the pride of life;
Great Carpenter, teach me, guide me, aid me in my work.
I pray this in the name of the Word & Icon of God.
Amen.
(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
O Christ,
Deliver me this day from fear;
Save me from the hour of trial;
Rescue me from the pride of life;
Great Carpenter, teach me, guide me, aid me in my work.
I pray this in the name of the Word & Icon of God.
Amen.
(“Prayers for the Pilgrimage”)
This was the Merriam-Webster word of the day for January 23, 2021. It’s one of the cardinal sins that I warn my students against in their research papers but it’s tragically become the word that'll define this era of our country. There are no more good-faith arguments. No more. What a grievous loss.
October 15, 2025 at 2:04 AM
This was the Merriam-Webster word of the day for January 23, 2021. It’s one of the cardinal sins that I warn my students against in their research papers but it’s tragically become the word that'll define this era of our country. There are no more good-faith arguments. No more. What a grievous loss.