Parable
Parable Of The Tower Builder Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped parable prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Father, You told us to sit down first and count the cost. You did not promise that following You would be cheap or easy. You said: count. I have started towers and run out of stone. I have made bright promises in the front room and then could not finish the kitchen. Forgive the unfinished parts of my life with You that others can see. Today I do not need to start another tower. I need to count the cost of the one I am already building. Show me what I have not yet given to You. Show me where my plans are wishful, and my work for You is shallow. Make me a builder who finishes, even slowly, even with a smaller tower than I had planned. The completed small one is Your glory. The half-built large one is my shame. Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?
Luke 14:28
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray parable of the tower builder prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in Luke 14:28. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.