Today I’d love to share a short, special prayer with you so that you can include it in your daily arsenal.

-When you’re on your knees, or not.
-When you’re driving, or walking.
-When you’re calm, or fed up.
-When you’re composed, or frazzled.

It’s biblical, easy to memorize, and powerful.

“Marana Tha.”

It’s Aramaic (the language Jesus spoke) and means “Our Lord, come.” Paul tells it to us in 1 Corinthians 16:22 and offers no explanation. To me that probably means it was so widely known—at least in Corinth—that he didn’t have to. Everyone knew what he was talking about and what it meant.

When we pray “Marana Tha,” I think we pray for at least two things:

First, we pray for Jesus to return and bring an end to pain, tears, sin, estrangement and brokenness, and replace it with “a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). Sounds amazing!

Second, we pray that Jesus come powerfully into the specific situations, thoughts and contours of our day.

All that in two words? Yes!

No matter who we are or what we’re going through, all of us need the powerful presence of God, don’t we?

Marana Tha.

By Matthew Ruttan

–Today’s “Up!” is connected to my latest sermon, Part 4 in the Armageddon series: “The daily difference any of it makes.” You can listen here. Enjoy!
–“How to memorize a Bible passage.” That’s a YouTube video I made. If you missed it and want to check it out, you can watch here.
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.