Aunt Nancy understood the power of prayer. It was a regular spiritual practice for her. I think she must have logged countless hours of prayer requests for others, not to mention her own needs for healing prayer.
She and her husband, Uncle Pete, were some of my parents’ oldest friends. Not an aunt by blood, she was a relative through her care and affection for my family. The last time I saw her she was in a wheelchair but her hope for some medical miracle was always present.
Maybe there were other miracles in her life. Back in the summer when we were putting the November issue of Guideposts together, thinking about thankfulness and Thanksgiving a good four months before it appears on the calendar, I remembered the gift Aunt Nancy and Uncle Pete gave my family years ago: a subscription to Guideposts.
I wrote a little article about it for the magazine and was pleased to have it published because Aunt Nancy and Uncle Pete’s gift explains why I am where I am and why I have the job I do. I loved reading that little magazine that appeared at our house month after month, and remembered it well when I applied for my job. I could even retell stories that I’d read as a child. Still can.
I put it all down in a long-overdue thanks. Some say it’s never too late to say thanks, but this one was a long time coming. Even before the November issue was printed I sent a copy of the article to Mom to give to Aunt Nancy and Uncle Pete. “Tell them thanks.”
Then last Wednesday Mom called to tell me that Aunt Nancy died. She’d suffered for such a long time I’m sure I shouldn’t have been surprised. But as a friend of mine reminds me, even when a death is expected, even when it might seem a release, it still takes you back. “Poor Uncle Pete,” I said to Mom.
“He’s been a saint,” she said. They’re both saints. I’m glad I had the chance to tell them thanks.
Although it’s the “most wonderful time of the year,” the holiday season can be filled with stress and pressure. Christmas is just a few weeks away, and often the list of things to do exceeds the time we have available. Perhaps we want to give our loved ones and friends a gift, but we must be careful financially. And on top of that, there are many festive activities to attend. The expectations and demands can dampen the joy of the holidays and wear us down spiritually and physically. But what if we begin this holiday season with a prayer?
Prayer can get us started in the right spirit. Before you go over your list of things to do by Christmas, pause and pray to the Lord. First, thank the Lord for the gift of Christ in the world and in your life.
Second, pray for your family and friends. Make a list of their spiritual and emotional needs and ask God to guide you so that you can be a blessing to them this time of the year.
Third, pray for the less fortunate in our world, those who Jesus makes note of in the Gospel: the hungry, sick and others.
Lastly, pray for God to guide your steps and decisions and to give you strength and wisdom as you celebrate the coming of Christ. Prayer helps put things in perspective and keeps Christ in the season.
In this Advent season, we pray:
Eternal God, thank You for the hope and joy that fills our hearts through the gift of Your son. We thank You for the light of Christ that shines in our hearts and sparkles during our darkest hours.
Let this light beam so brightly that others will see the gift of Jesus in us.
Open our eyes to see and experience the wonders and miracles of Christmas. Help us to pause in our busy lives and flee from the commercial pressures so that we can enjoy Your presence and the company of others.
As we celebrate with friends and family, help us remember our troops on the front lines and our veterans here at home; let peace reign in their hearts. Comfort those who grieve and make free those who yearn to be whole again. Make us agents of peace in a world divided by race, religion and politics.
Give us the courage to do what is right for the poor, strangers and immigrants alike. May our Christmas be filled with hope and faith. Amen.
OK, I didn’t know Ascension was today either. It’s not marked down on my calendar; I didn’t get a text reminding me of the holiday. None of the prayer sites I subscribe to alerted me (maybe I need to add to my list of prayer sites).
It’s not even a Sunday. It’s a Thursday, for goodness sake.Of course, that’s exactly why Ascension is always a Thursday. Think about it. Forty days after Easter, forty days when the risen Christ appeared to the apostles and the disciples, the 40th day is a Thursday. “He appeared to them over a period of forty days, speaking to them about God’s kingdom,” the Bible says (Acts 1:3).
That 40th day, his followers gathered together for a meal—a good reminder that some of the best spiritual things happen over a meal—and Jesus promised them that they would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit, but for now he was leaving. Then while they were watching he was lifted up and a cloud took him up out of their sight.
I was reminded of Ascension this morning in an email from a church friend, a fellow member of our board. He was talking business—a meeting we’re having tonight, a couple of points he wanted to make, the sometimes boring but necessary nitty-gritty. And then he said, “How perfect that we’re doing this on Ascension Day. We’re still like those disciples gathering around him, looking for the Holy Spirit.”
My favorite painting of the Ascension is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the only part of Jesus it shows are his feet, with the disciples below looking up. I put myself there in that painting and pray, “OK, Jesus, I can’t always see all of you, but if I keep my own feet on the right path, listening for you, hearing your stories, traveling with the poor and the needy like you did, I can stay close to you.” Then I look to my fellow followers, like the group gathering at church tonight. May we not forget your feet!
Sometimes images come into my head for a prayer. Even an image from Lego.
Everybody’s been talking about The Lego Movie, which I haven’t seen yet. Perhaps because I don’t have kids the right age and therefore don’t have the perfect excuse to see it. I would have to stand in line by myself and exclaim with some chagrin, “I’m here for myself.”
Still, I love Legos. I love the way you can build something from nothing. A castle, a fortress, a house, a store, a school, a church, anything. When my boys were younger we spent hours building, happy hours concentrating on red, green, yellow, blue blocks for bridges, roads, arches, gates, people moving in and out, knights on plastic Lego horses, shields in hand.
What I especially remember was my son Timothy’s castle that we constructed out of Lego. It had a moat and a big gray wall and best of all a drawbridge leading to an entrance with a portcullis. We loved that word, portcullis, the metal gate, as we raised it and lowered it for the Lego knights coming into the safe quarters of the castle. “Who goes there? Are you friend or enemy? A friend? Come in, come in.” And we raised the portcullis; we lifted up the gate.
That image of the portcullis is what came to me when I was recently reading Psalm 24: “Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in” (verse 7). God is ready at all times for us to open ourselves up, open up the gates of our hearts, lowering our defenses, allowing him to enter in. “Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle” (verse 8).
For me my battles aren’t usually ones with swords and spears, but ones fighting inner demons of insecurity, despair, lack of trust, wariness, skepticism, doubt, materialism, hopelessness, unkindness, narrowness. I need to lift up that portcullis for God to enter in; or drop it down to keep some of those negative thoughts away. Sin is anything that separates us from the love of God. Close that gate on sin. My Lego gate.
One of our preachers at Lent was reminding us that this is the perfect time to do something, take on a practice that brings you closer to God. As you read the Bible and pray, go ahead and see the images that come into your head. They might seem outlandish, even childish. But I find my prayer life is enhanced when I use them.
The Lord is strong and mighty in battle. We can do anything with him on our side. Lift up your gates… however you imagine them. You can make yourself a Lego prayer.
Any jar can be turned into a prayer jar. A mason jar, for example, or an old coffee canister. Some people decorate their prayer jar, an exercise that can itself be turned into an act of prayer. But whatever you use, there are numerous ways a prayer jar can encourage and enliven prayer for you. Let me suggest one way that can make the coming month a special blessing.
Once you’ve chosen a jar, gather the paper or card stock on which you’ll write your prayers. You might cut one-inch-by-six-inch strips of paper or use 3×5 note cards. The blank backs of business cards also work well.
Place the jar in a prominent place, where you’ll see it often (such as a kitchen table or bedroom nightstand). Keep the writing items next to it (or in a separate jar) so you can add prayers at any time.
Once that’s done, you’re ready to pray. When a hurting family member comes to mind, jot her name down on the paper or card, perhaps add a few words of entreaty (such as “help her, she’s so lonely”), and place it in the jar. When a friend calls with news of a health problem, add him to the jar. When you’re tempted to worry about a financial matter, write it down and place your request in the jar.
You might also add blessings and praises to the prayer jar as the days go by: a “thank you, God” for an unusually tasty meal or a visit from a niece or nephew or a simple expression of happiness (“my new glasses are in!”).
After you’ve filled your prayer jar with requests and praises, it can be a wonderful celebration to empty it, reviewing and recalling all that God has done in answer to your prayers. You might make that review time a Christmas Eve (or day-after-Christmas) exercise or incorporate it into your New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day celebration. You might even find it so fun and helpful that you continue to use it—and maybe expand on it—in the coming year.
My cell phone buzzed first thing this morning with a message. “Who’s texting me now?” I wondered. Turned out it was God. Or at least one of God’s minions.
There on the screen was a prayer: Give us, who are called by your holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence.
I should explain. I don’t give my cell phone number out to anybody, just family and friends.
When I get a call or a text it’s from somebody I know and if it’s an unknown number, I don’t answer it. He or she can leave a message. (Okay, once it was Elizabeth Dole and I immediately called her back, apologetically.)
But here it was a prayer on my screen. Then I remembered. This was something I signed up for. An Advent message for every day of the Advent season.
Advent often gets buried in the loud, raucous, green-and-red-lights, tinsel-on-everything, commercial scream of “Shop Till You Drop” days before Christmas. It’s about waiting, and every inherent “Buy It Now!” message of the season argues against celebrating Advent.
Where is the sign that says, “Open your heart, make room, your Savior’s coming?” And not just for the first time but for the second time and time immemorial, God’s time of peace and justice forever.
That’s why I was grateful to a group of young adults at church–yes, one of them is my younger son, Tim–who came up with this idea. Advent warriors, the ultimate counter-culturists.
“The Young Adults of St. Michael’s are offering a daily digital Advent calendar,” said the announcement in the bulletin. “Sign up to receive a short, contemplative text message during Advent by texting ADVENTTIDE to 313131 or emailing your name and cell phone number to st.michaels.ya.advent.2014@gmail.com.”
Try it. You’ll like it. Nobody’s trying to sell you anything. And it only lasts 25 days…22 days by now. I can assure you these Christmas counter-culturists are the best sort of elves. One of them spends most of his weekends among the pots and pans of the Saturday soup kitchen.
Waiting doesn’t come easy to me. I like things to happen right now. But waiting in prayer is just right, waiting with God and working with God as He creates his wonders.
I like being reminded of that at 8:30 in the morning when the phone buzzes with a prayer in my pocket. Like I said, I only give out my cell number to friends and family.
The Christmas season, for many, is a time of memories, beauty and warmth. But for others it can be a time of struggle. They may grieve a loss or feel lonely. Or the holidays may stir up difficult memories. Christmas peace and Christmas joy are not automatic, and neither is Christmas hope. Hope can sometimes surprise us, but it can also be awakened. Hope can come, even to those in difficult circumstances, as a fruit of prayer. Let a Christmas prayer of hope guide you to it.
Here are nine prayers drawn from the Bible that can help foster an attitude of hope, not only at this time of year but all year long:
1) Prayer of Hope for the Whole Day
Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long (Psalm 25:5, NIV).
2) Prayer to Have a Need Met
God, I know Your eyes are on those who fear You, on those whose hope is in Your unfailing love. I believe You love me and will not fail me. I wait in hope for You; You are my help and shield (from Psalm 33:18, 20).
Mighty God, You have answered Your people many times with awesome and righteous deeds; You are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by Your power, having armed Yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. The whole earth is filled with awe at Your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, You call forth songs of joy (Psalm 65:5-8, NIV). What You have done before, do again, and in the meantime fill my waiting heart with hope.
Lord God, the psalmist said repeatedly, “I have put my hope in Your Word.” Even when my soul faints, I put my hope in Your Word, for You are my refuge and my shield. Send me light and blessing and hope—most of all, hope—as I read Your Word (based on Psalm 119:74, 81, 114, 147).
Jesus, the prophet promised You would not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick; You show mercy to all, even to those who seem past hope, and in Your name the nations will put their hope (Matthew 12:20-22). Send hope to _______, until healing appears.
Savior, You have delivered Your people from deadly peril, and will deliver them again. On You we have set our hope that You will continue to deliver us, especially __________. Send hope. Send deliverance. Send thanks for all Your gracious favor (from 2 Corinthians 1:10).
7) Prayer for Christmas Hope in Abundance
God of hope fill me with all joy and peace as I trust in You, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (from Romans 15:13).
8) Prayer for Growth in Righteousness
I am often displeased and discouraged with my spiritual life, Lord. But through the Spirit I eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which I hope (based on Galatians 5:5).
9) Prayer for Future Christmases
Father, let the eyes of my heart be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which You have called me, the riches of my glorious inheritance among Your holy people (Ephesians 1:18).
Imagine how your hope will take root and grow if you pray a Christmas prayer of hope even outside of the holiday season!
You know the old expression “The person who sings, prays twice.” During the holiday season the carols we sing often have lines in them that make beautiful prayers Here are just a few. Sing them and pray them all at once:
1) O Holy Child of Bethlehem!/Descend to us, we pray;/Cast out our sin and enter in,/Be born in us today.
The minister Phillips Brooks wrote “O Little Town of Bethlehem” after a visit to the Holy Land, culminating in a Christmas Eve service at Bethlehem. No wonder it’s sung far and wide today.
2) Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay/Close by me forever, and love me, I pray…”
“Away in a Manger” was first called “Luther’s Cradle Hymn” although apparently the words were not written by Martin Luther but an anonymous American author. Whoever wrote it, it’s a perfect lullaby.
3) Joyful all ye nations, rise,/Join the triumph of the skies,/With the angelic hosts proclaim,/“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, wrote more than 6000 hymns. “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” is among the most popular.
Don’t we have to ask ourselves that question, again and again? “Who is Jesus to me?” Imagine how the first visitors to the manger felt, called by angels to witness this sight.
What a poetic reminder of the silence God is ready to give us at this busy, crazy season. That heavenly peace, what we all wish for, is right at the center of Christmas, ready to give us comfort and rest, here in everyone’s favorite carol.
6) Joy to the world! The Lord is come:/Let earth receive her King/ Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,/And heaven and nature sing.
Do you get a little giddy at Christmas? Don’t we all! Think of the joy you feel as a prayer, the heavens singing right along with you.
7) What can I give him, poor as I am?/If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb;/If I were a wise man I would do my part;/Yet what I can I give him—give my heart.
This last verse of English poet Christina Rossetti’s “In the Bleak Midwinter” is my deepest prayer of the season. That I can give my heart.
There are many ways to pray your way to the annual celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth. Some people use an Advent calendar to mark the days leading up to Christmas. Others sing, pray or read as they light candles in an Advent wreath every morning or evening. Some use a devotional book or pamphlet to make this special season even more meaningful.
An ancient tradition is to pray one of seven prayers, sometimes called the “O Antiphons” (also called “The Great Os”) each evening of the week before Christmas Eve (an antiphon is a short, chanted prayer or verse, sometimes sung as a call-and-response by two singers or groups). Each of these prayers is based on a messianic title drawn from the prophet Isaiah:
1) O Wisdom (Isaiah 11:2-3, 28:29)
O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other mightily,
and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Amen.
2) O Lord (Isaiah 11:4-5, 33:22)
O Lord of ancient Israel,
who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush,
who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain:
come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
Amen.
3) O Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1, 10)
O Root of Jesse, you have been raised up
as a sign for all peoples;
kings stand silent in your presence;
the nations bow down in worship before you.
Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.
Amen.
4) O Key of David (Isaiah 9:7, 22:2, 42:7)
O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel,
controlling at your will the gate of heaven:
come, break down the prison walls of death
for those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death;
and lead your captive people into freedom.
Amen.
5) O Morning Star (Isaiah 9:2)
O Morning Star,
splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.
Amen.
6) O King of the Gentiles (Isaiah 2:4, 9:6, 64:8)
O King of the Gentiles and their desired One,
the cornerstone that makes both one:
Come, and deliver man,
whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.
Amen.
7) O Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14)
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Savior:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Amen.
The familiar hymn, “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” is a paraphrase of the O Antiphons, though the verses are typically sung in a different order. In addition, many choral settings of these prayers can be found online.
In whatever form you pray, chant or sing these prayers, let them prepare your heart for the celebration of Jesus’ birth this year.
For most of us, the 4th of July will be a day of food, fireworks and maybe a parade or concert. But it can also include prayer. But, I suggest, not just any prayer. Try praying this way on Independence Day:
1. Give thanks for your freedom and favor.
What a blessing it is to enjoy the freedoms we too often take for granted and the blessings that attend us in this country.
2. Pray for those who protect our freedom.
Remember those who fought and died for our freedom in the past and those soldiers, sailors, police and others whose service protects us today.
3. Pray for our nation’s leaders.
Paul, the early church leader, wrote, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3, niv). If he were writing today, Paul would probably include not only the president and other national officials but also members of Congress, governors, judges and others in positions of authority.
4. Pray for the safety of those who gather to celebrate the holiday.
In this day and age, any large gathering presents security challenges large and small. Ask God to grant wisdom and watchfulness to planners and hosts of events—as well as the usual need for caution in handling fireworks and other seasonal hazards.
5. Remember those in oppressive or disadvantaged circumstances.
As we express gratitude for our freedoms, we should also remember those who live in different circumstances where war, oppression, discrimination and injustice divide and dominate. Even as you rejoice in your blessings, cry out to God for those who suffer.
6. Find new freedom in forgiveness.
There is no bad time to forgive someone but there are few better times than on a day when we celebrate freedom. Take a moment to consider whether there is someone you can forgive or something in your life that you can let go. Why not include in this year’s celebration a new level of freedom by shaking off the shackles of unforgiveness or regret—perhaps even seeking God’s forgiveness or forgiving yourself, and experiencing the truth of Romans 8:1-2: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2, niv).
Everyone wants to make the annual celebration of Christmas more meaningful. Some do it by attending service at their church. Some by observing a long-hold family traditions. Others may try something new this year. But anyone can make the holiday more meaningful with a prayer for Christmas Eve.
Christmas Eve, like Advent, is a time of anticipation, when we await the day that celebrates Jesus Christ’s birth. Prayers can be a powerful way to prepare our hearts for this holy time. The best part is, it doesn’t even take much effort. It requires little preparation. Just six short, simple prayers can thoroughly change the way you experience Christmas Eve, and even Christmas Day, this year.
I like to pray the following six prayers at regular intervals—morning, noon and night—beginning on the morning of Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day. You may certainly choose to do something different, but I hope a prayer for Christmas Eve enriches your celebration:
1) A New Prayer for Christmas Eve
Lord Jesus,
the day of your nativity approaches,
the day on which we commemorate
your birth,
your condescension,
your humble incarnation.
Please help me and mine
to approach that day on tiptoe,
with reverence and awe,
mindful of your holiness and beauty,
and grateful for the privilege
of finding
and approaching
and kneeling at
your manger, amen.
(Bob Hostetler)
2) A Short Christmas Eve Prayer
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with you there.
(John T. McFarland)
3) A Prayer to Wait for Jesus
Come, come, Jesus, I await you…
I am a poor shepherd; I have only a wretched stable, a small manger, some wisps of straw. I offer all these to you, be pleased to come into my poor hovel. I offer you my heart; my soul is poor and bare of virtues, the straws of so many imperfections will prick you and make you weep—but oh, my Lord, what can you expect? This little is all I have…I have nothing better to offer you, Jesus, honour my soul with your presence, adorn it with your graces. Burn this straw and change it into a soft couch for your most holy body.
Jesus, I am here waiting for your coming. Wicked men have driven you out, and the wind is like ice. I am poor, but I will warm you as well as I can. At least be pleased that I wish to welcome you warmly, to love you and sacrifice myself for you.
Great God and Father of all humanity,
thank you that because of this day,
this holy feast, in the words of Chrysostom,
the ancient slavery is ended,
the devil confounded,
the demons take to flight,
the power of death is broken,
paradise is unlocked,
the curse is taken away,
sin is removed from us,
error driven out,
truth has been brought back,
the speech of kindliness diffused,
and spreads on every side,
a heavenly way of life has been in-planted on the earth,
angels communicate with men without fear,
and men now hold speech with angels,
amen!
(Bob Hostetler, based on sermon by St. John Chrysostom)
Even if we know all the days of Holy Week and how to celebrate them, we can sometimes feel at a loss for how to meaningfully mark such important days in the Christian year. How can we make Holy Week a little more holy? One of the best ways to do that is with Holy Week prayers.
For followers of Jesus, Lent offers opportunities to pause and pray, as we approach the yearly remembrance of our Lord’s Passion—His suffering, death, burial, and Resurrection.
But even during this season of reflection and gratitude, it’s so easy to rush through days filled with work, errands, grocery shopping, school events, and more. We’d like to be more mindful and present as we approach Holy Week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, but how?
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could somehow “pray our way to Calvary” in the final weeks before the most momentous days in our Christian calendar? We can. In fact, our Bibles already have a built-in tool that can help. It’s called “the Psalms of Ascent,” or “Pilgrim Songs.”
You may have noticed in some Bibles that Psalms 120-134 each bears a heading identifying it as “A Psalm of Ascent.” Those 15 psalms are a sort of “hymnal” within a hymnal. Jewish pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for one of the annual festivals sang these songs, in order, on their uphill journey, as they ascended. They may also have been sung by priests and worshipers ascending the steps to the Temple.
So, one way to make this year’s “journey to Calvary” more meaningful is to start the third Friday before Easter by praying (or, if you prefer, singing or chanting) Psalm 120—a prayer for God’s presence during a time of distress—at some point during the day. Then, simply pray or sing the next psalm each day, culminating in Psalm 134 on Maundy Thursday. It’s a short psalm of praise to God in His sanctuary on the day that marks the Last Supper before the betrayal, arrest, and trial of Jesus.
By following the ancient songbook, you can pray your way to Holy Week. You will arrive at Good Friday having prayed your way—day by day, step by step, psalm by psalm—to the cross of Jesus, where His loving sacrifice made forgiveness and redemption possible for all who look to Him in sincere faith.
21 Holy Week Prayers
However else you might observe Holy Week, prayers are always a good idea for such momentous moments. In many churches, there will be liturgical drama from the washing of feet to the stripping of an altar. How to pray during a week of both triumph and betrayal? Here are 21 suggested prayers for Holy Week to take you from Holy Monday to Resurrection Sunday and beyond.
Holy Week Prayers for Palm Sunday (Day 1)
1. Let me sing “Hosannas” with the crowd and wave my palms high, as I remember, Lord, just what kind of kingdom Your Son has promised to reign over. Amen. —Rick Hamlin
2.Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9) Heavenly Father, today on Palm Sunday, as Holy Week begins, please guide me on my faith journey to deeply reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My heart is open, and I am ready to share His message of love, mercy and forgiveness with anyone in need and offer them hope and comfort. —Sabra Ciancanelli
3. Dear Lord, on this Holy Monday, I am thankful for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save us from our sins. As we begin Holy Week, I ask for Your guidance and strength to walk with Jesus. Help me to learn from His example of selflessness and love. Please comfort all who are suffering today. May they feel Your presence and experience Your healing. May they find hope in Your love. —Sabra Ciancanelli
4. Where am I going, Lord? Where am I headed? I have seen the Lord curse a fig tree and watch it wither and die. Let not my Spirit wilt in the same way. Amen. —Rick Hamlin
5. Lord Jesus, You entered the Jerusalem Temple to cleanse it of corruption and abuse. As this Holy Week commences, search and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting life. Amen. —Bob Hostetler (based on Psalm 139:23-24 WEB)
6. Lord Jesus, it was on a Tuesday that you spoke out against abuse of power, collaboration with oppressors, misuse of authority. So today we pray, comforter of the abused, strengthen those burdened by corrupted rule or injustice; rescue the overwhelmed; be present to those who call on your name, to those we name on our lips, and in the silence of our hearts, those whose concerns are known only to you; Amen. —Bob Hostetler
7. May I be a true follower of Jesus. The temple has been cleansed of all its wrongdoing. I come to you, God, to cleanse my soul. Amen. —Rick Hamlin
Holy Week Prayers for Holy Wednesday (Day 4)
8. Lord Jesus, it was on this day that Judas Iscariot conspired to betray you. Remembering that, I pray the prayer of Augustine: “Lord Jesus, don’t let me lie when I say that I love you…and protect me today, for I could betray you.” Amen. —Bob Hostetler
9. Who would ever betray, You, Lord? Not I, not I. Let me pour the ointment of my love on all You call me to do and all those I am called to love. Amen. —Rick Hamlin
10. Gracious Lord Jesus, this day is traditionally called “Spy Wednesday,” because we remember how Judas Iscariot conspired with the religious authorities to betray and deliver You into their hands. Yet also on that day You were lovingly anointed with precious oil as an act of sincere worship. What highs and lows You endured for the sake of the purpose that was set before You: to suffer and die for our sake. Walk with me through the highs and lows of my life, reminding me that whatever troubles come my way, You are worthy of my trust and adoration. Amen. —Bob Hostetler
Holy Week Prayers for Maundy Thursday (Day 5)
11. Lord, on this Maundy Thursday (so named for the “mandate” You gave to your followers to love and serve each other), as I remember your last supper in the upper room, I pray, as Simon Peter did: Please wash, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head (John 13:9). —Bob Hostetler
12. Before I eat the supper of Your body and Your blood, I am prepared to wash the feet of all Your followers, and willingly let You wash my feet. Amen. —Rick Hamlin
13. Lord Jesus, I pray today with Peter, who recoiled when you stooped to wash his feet: “Lord, wash, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” And my heart. And my mind. And my life. Amen. —Bob Hostetler (based on John 13:9)
14. No Cherub’s heart or hand for us might ache,
No Seraph’s heart of fire had half sufficed:
Thine own were pierced and broken for our sake,
O Jesus Christ.
Therefore we love Thee with our faint good-will,
We crave to love Thee not as heretofore,
To love Thee much, to love Thee more, and still
More and yet more.
—Christina Rossetti
15. “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” I was there. I’m still there. The sorrow is so great it causes me to tremble. Is there any greater sorrow? Amen. —Rick Hamlin
17. Lord Jesus, Jesus, I await you. Be risen anew in my heart as the light of Easter dawns tomorrow. Amen. —Bob Hostetler
18. It is finished. All is silent. Jesus promised more…but I can’t even recollect those words. Stay close to me, Lord, as I suffer this loss. Amen. —Rick Hamlin
19. Lord Jesus, this day is called “Silent Saturday” in the memory of the Church, for on that day after Your crucifixion, Your body lay in the tomb while those who had loved and followed You spent the day filled with crushing grief, confusion, and doubt. So, Lord, remind me today that, however sad, confused, and doubtful I may feel, in my flesh, You are always at work, and Your plans for me are good. Amen. —Bob Hostetler
Holy Week Prayers for Easter Sunday (Day 8)
20. The tomb is empty, and at first, I didn’t even recognize my Lord. At last, I understand. Death is no more. I sing Hallelujah. The Lord is risen indeed. —Rick Hamlin
21. It is only right, with all the powers of our heart and mind, to praise You, Father, and Your Only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ: Dear Father, by Your wondrous condescension of loving-kindness toward us, Your servants, You gave up Your Son. Dear Jesus, You paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal Father by Your Blood poured forth in loving-kindness. You cleared away the darkness of sin by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection. You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave as a Conqueror. You reconciled heaven and earth. Our life had no hope of eternal happiness before You redeemed us. Your Resurrection has washed away our sins, restored our innocence and brought us joy. How inestimable is the tenderness of Your love! —Saint Gregory
You may choose to pray these to begin each day in this Holy Week. Or you may pray each prayer several times a day. How ever you utilize these Holy Week prayers, I hope they will enrich your walk with God and make this week truly holy.
I should explain. I don’t give my cell phone number out to anybody, just family and friends.
