Page 63 – Guideposts Articles

5 Ways to Find the Good in Good Friday

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

I remember singing a service in chapel choir back in college with a friend who knew nothing of the Crucifixion story. Her eyes widened as she heard it read. At the end she turned to me, in tears, and said, “It’s so sad.”

It is sad. Good Friday feels like the saddest day of the year. Quite frankly I don’t look forward to going to church on Good Friday at all. I’d almost rather skip it and rush headlong to Easter. And yet, how can you really celebrate the Resurrection without fully acknowledging the Crucifixion? It’s a bit like skipping dinner and going straight to dessert. Good Friday is part of the Feast of Easter.

1) Read the story.
Even if you don’t go to church on this holiest of days, find some time to read or listen to the story. It’s in all four gospels (Matthew 26:47-27:66; Mark 14:43-15:47; Luke 22:47-23:56; John 18:1-19:37). Every time I look at it, I find there is a different part that speaks to me. Perhaps the saddest aspect of the story is the way the disciples simply disappear. Even if Jesus knew that would happen, how awful it would be to feel abandoned by those you love most.

2) Meditate on a line.
These are the words that define our faith, whether it be Peter suddenly remembering Jesus telling him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times” or Pilate wishing to wash his hands of the whole thing asking, “What is truth?” or the crowd crying “Crucify Him!” or the repentant thief asking, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” or Jesus’ own words on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” Not for nothing is this story called “the Passion.” It engages our passions for forgiveness, understanding, love, peace.

3) Put yourself there.
We always sing the spiritual “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” on Good Friday. The answer to that rhetorical question is a resounding and disturbing yes. In an average week–and not Holy Week–I can find myself as scared as the disciples, evasive as Pilate, as angry as that crowd, as in need of repentance as that thief and yes, as despairing as Jesus.

4) Shed your tears.
There was an ancient Armenian woman who would come to our church to pray, often in the middle of the week when no one was there. We have a startling image of a young dreadlocked Jesus on the cross in the back of the church, and she was known to stand before the painting with her face pressed against the glass, praying. Once after she left the minister walked over to it and noticed her tears left on the glass, right at Jesus’ face.

5) Pray.
Our Lord is one who understands our suffering, not simply from a pie-in-the-sky abstract notion but from a first-hand experience of extreme mortification. When my friend Nigel Mumford says “If you’re throwing a pity party, invite Jesus to it,” he means this Jesus, this God who became man so that He could walk with us through any suffering we would face. It is the hardest and most profound lesson of Good Friday. Cry with Jesus. You’re not crying alone.

4 Ways to Welcome Advent

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

Advent comes from a Latin word that means “coming,” and at this time of year it refers to the coming of Christ. It’s a way of waiting spiritually, of looking forward to Christmas and all that Christmas promises.

There is a paradox inherent in the Advent season. Why wait for something that’s already here? Christ has come. Christ is among us. But then, are there not prayers that are still unanswered and hopes we still yearn for?

This is the season to hold on to them, every one of them.

1) Light a candle.
Create an Advent wreath with four candles and some greenery. Light each candle on the Sundays of Advent so that by the end you’ll have all four illuminated. You can put one red candle at the center for Christmas Eve.

But even without a wreath, put candles in your windows or on a table or by your bedside. They still speak of your hopes and expectation. You are anticipating the Light of the World coming.

2) Set up an Advent calendar.
Open a window in the calendar each day. The one I had as a child showed a snow-covered village with a different scene inside each window. Of course our favorite window came up at the end. But no peeking in advance.

Advent is about waiting. Hopefully, expectantly, joyfully.

3) Read an Advent devotional every day.
I would recommend any of the daily devotions on this website. Read a Bible verse, look for an inspirational quote, say a prayer.

4) Pray a carol.
This time of year it’s hard to avoid Christmas carols. You can hear them in the background when shopping at the mall or the grocery store, they drop out of phones (sometimes as someone’s ringing tone), the next-door-neighbor is practicing them on the piano, the radio just played one.

Put the words in your head and use a phrase or two as a prayer. “All is calm, all is bright,” there’s a prayer that needs answering. “Sleep in heavenly peace…” don’t we all wish that? “Joy to the world!” yes, now! “O Come all ye faithful…” Yes, come into our world now!

It’s all a way to welcome Christmas into your heart right now. Advent means coming. Advent is here.

4 Short Prayers for Holiday Travel

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Many of us plan to travel this holiday season. To visit family. To see sights. To find a place of rest and recreation. If you are traveling—whether by planes, trains or automobiles—consider using one or more (or all!) of the following short prayers for travel:

1) For an Emmaus Road

God, You know what awaits me as I travel today. You know every bend and bump in the road, every sunbeam and cloud in the sky. So, Lord, please, make straight paths for my feet. Grant safe and successful travel. Please help me reach my destination. Save me from worry and stress. Make me patient and polite along the way. Make me kind and attentive to others and please give the blessing of somehow being helpful to someone else. And especially, Lord, make this day an Emmaus moment, that I may travel in Your company and, when I reach my destination, know You better than when I began, in Jesus’ name, amen.

2) For Friendly Skies

Father, grant me safe and successful travel today.
Be my vanguard,
rear guard,
and constant companion
as I travel.
Make smooth paths (and flight schedules) for my feet.
Let me make my connection.
Protect me from airborne infections.
See me (and my luggage) to my destination in a timely, safe and healthy manner,
in Jesus’ name, amen.

3) A Talmudic Prayer for Travel

May it be Your will, Lord, my God and God of my ancestors, to lead me, to direct my steps, and to support me in peace. Lead me in life, tranquil and serene, until I arrive at where I am going. Deliver me from every enemy, ambush and hurt that I might encounter on the way and from all afflictions that visit and trouble the world. Bless the work of my hands. Let me receive divine grace and those loving acts of kindness and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all those I encounter. Listen to the voice of my appeal, for You are a God who responds to prayerful supplication. Blessed are You, Lord, who responds to prayer.

(The Traveler’s Prayer, prescribed in the Talmud).

4) A Traveler’s Prayer of Faith

I know, O God,
that wherever I travel,
You will be with me.

There is nowhere I can go,
no situation I can face,
that is outside Your love and strength;
and so I submit to Your care and keeping on this journey,
knowing that at all times I am safe in Your hands.

4 Prayers for Tax Day

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

If you are anything like me, your taxes and your prayers are closely intertwined—mostly because you pray for a miraculous provision to be able to pay your taxes. But tax day—whether April 18 (this year in most of the US), April 19 (in Maine and Massachusetts), April 30 (in Canada), or some other day—presents multiple things to pray about. So here are a few suggested ways to pray on tax day this year:

1) Here is a prayer by Michael Kelley, author of Boring: Finding an Extraordinary God in an Ordinary Life (B&H Publishing):

Lord Jesus –

With that very title, I am reminded that you are indeed “Lord.” You sit at the right hand of the Father, and everything that I see is yours. Everything in the universe you have laid claim to. You fling the lightning bolts and stir the seas, and you own cattle on a thousand hills. These are things that I know… and yet I do not know.

I know that I don’t know these things because of days like today. These are days that remind me of my claim of ownership. These are days of white knuckles and resentment. These are days when my grip tightens and the resounding cry of my heart is “mine.”

For me, days like today are about money, but I ask you in Your grace to help me see that today is also about my heart. This is an opportunity for me, today, right now, to be financially sanctified. I know, Lord, that not every dollar I am taxed will go to worthy causes. I know, Lord, that not all in my government acknowledge Your Lordship and are praying this morning over the mighty responsibility You have given them. But I also know that, in Your sovereignty, You set up kings and depose them. And because You do, there is a way today that I might give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to You what is Yours. I know today is about my heart.

Forgive me, Lord, for the times in years past when I have zealously sought after financial loopholes not so that I could give more away to those in need but so I could pad my bank account. Forgive me for hiding behind claims of generosity when I know at the root is selfishness. And thank You for an opportunity this day to be reminded that You provide daily bread along with life, breath, and everything else.

Again, Lord, I ask you today to remind me that I own nothing but have been entrusted with much. Help me, Lord, to have the heart of a faithful steward rather than of a greedy miser, and thank you for Your grace when my grip will tighten once again.

Amen.

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2) A prayer of Tabitha Arnold, author of Worship for Vital Congregations (from the United Church of Christ Stillspeaking Daily Devotional):

Thank you, God, for everyone who paid their taxes in years gone by. Because of them, my childhood was blessed with:

• mountains to climb and parks to explore

• an education offered by public schools and libraries

• safe drinking water and clean air to breathe

• a home even after my father died, because my mother could get a low-interest FHA mortgage

• Medicare for my grandmother when she got sick

• free vaccinations against polio and other diseases

• the county extension service and its 4-H programs for youth

• and most importantly, the assurance that my country cared for me and my family

Thank you, God, for those who have blessed our lives through their taxes in the past and for the chance to bless the lives of others with ours. Amen.

3) A prayer of the Rev. Anne Rush, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Argenta, North Little Rock, Arkansas:

May those who have waited until the last minute be swift and safe on their way to the post box (or at least be fleet of finger on their keyboards)

May those who turned in their forms weeks ago resist the urge to be smug

May those who feel taxed by the work that comes their way during this season find some relief

May those who receive a refund spend it wisely

May those counting on a refund that never quite manifested find other solutions to financial problems

Nothing is for certain except death and taxes

…except perhaps the reality that life, itself, is taxing

May all who are taxed by the ins and outs of everyday life find some rest and relief.

May all who are taxed by the decisions of our world leaders and local law makers find a way to make a difference and usher in some peace.

May all who are taxed with the struggles of figuring out how to give to God what is God’s and to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s find wisdom by cultivating a spirit of gratitude.

May all who grumble about where our tax dollars go, find some cheer while driving down a paved road and over a bridge, pulling over for a firetruck, dropping a child off at public school, sending a care package to someone serving overseas and hiking a trail at the local park.

May God’s hand guide the hearts and minds of those who decide where the money goes, and help us all to be good stewards of all that we have and all that we are.

In the name of the God to whom we all belong,

Amen

4) And, finally, here is my prayer for tax day:

Father God, thank You

for placing no greater burden on us

than to do justly,

to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with our God.

Grant that I may also fulfill my civic duties,

pay my taxes,

and still provide for my family

while generously supporting Your work in this world,

in Jesus’ name, amen.

4 One-Word Prayers for Advent

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

‘Tis the season to be…busy. Overwhelmed. Stressed, even. Maybe exhausted, already?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but if your mind and heart haven’t already filled with noise and activity, it’s probably just a matter of time before they do. But that doesn’t mean prayer has to be pushed aside. In fact, just a few one-word prayers can set the tone and make a difference in your Advent and Christmas celebrations. Here are four I suggest:

1) Oh!
You may be familiar with the Magnificat, the famous prayer the young Mary prayed when the angel Gabriel announced to her that she would be the mother of Jesus, the Messiah. I love how the prayer begins in the New Living Translation: “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord” (Luke 1:46, NLT). It’s a useful word through this special season; it can be a syllable of surprise, wonder and praise. Make it a prayer when you see, hear or experience something extraordinary: “Oh!”

2) Come
You’ve probably sung the carol, “O Come, O Come, Immanuel.” The hymn incorporates the ancient “O Antiphons” of the church, which date to the 8th century—perhaps farther back in history. There is perhaps no more appropriate prayer for Advent, as we anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ coming. Try praying this single word, “Come,” when you feel alone or stretched to your limits. Whisper it to invite the gracious, calming presence of Jesus into the rude stable of your life.

3) Shhh
Does anyone doubt that one of Mary’s or Joseph’s first prayers to Jesus, as they “wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger” (Luke 2:7, NIV), was “shhhh?” It seems as certain and fitting as everything else we know about that strange and wonderful night. Two thousand years later, it can be turned into a reminder to our own souls, a plea for quiet amid all the tumult, all the distractions, that tend to crowd out the music and beauty of our Savior’s presence.

4) Bless
The pastor and hymnwriter Phillips Brooks included these words in “O Little Town of Bethlehem”:

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

So, as you walk (and maybe run) through this season of celebration, let the word “Bless” be often on your lips. You need not say much more; surely God will fill in the rest. When you see a weary traveler at a rest stop: “Bless.” As you wait in line for a cashier: “Bless.” Whatever else you may be doing or thinking, reach out to those around you with a simple prayer to God: “Bless.”

4 Christmas Carols That Prompt Us to Pray

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Among the delights of the Christmas season is the music. On the radio, in businesses, at home and at church we hear the sounds of silver bells, herald angels singing and yuletide carols being sung by a choir. Everyone has a favorite, but many miss the beautiful and timely prompts to prayer offered by some Christmas carols.

Whether you’re driving, shopping, working or waiting, here are a few Christmas songs that are prayers—or lend themselves to prayer:

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1) “Away in a Manger”

The last verse of this familiar carol is a sweet prayer for children of all ages:

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven to live with Thee there.

2) “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Phillips Brooks’s enduring classic is another carol that turns to prayer (in the fourth stanza):

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel!

3) “In the Bleak Midwinter”

This Christina Rossetti poem, set to music, is one of my favorites. I like to turn the tender final verse into a prayer by changing the pronoun Him to You:

What can I give You,
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 You,
Give my heart.

4) “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

Every verse of this ancient carol is a prayer (in fact, the verses follow the pattern of the “O Antiphons,” prayed or sung during Vespers in the last seven days of Advent in some liturgical Christian traditions). The last stanza (“O Rex Gentium” in Latin; “O King of Nations” in English) is a fitting climax:

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of peace.

These are just four carols, of course, but they’re the ones I pray most often and fervently during this holiday season. They not only put a song in my heart, but a prayer as well, and that makes my Christmas celebration all the more meaningful.

3 Ways to Celebrate Palm Sunday

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

Holy Week begins on Sunday with joyous cries of “Hosanna” and a flurry of palms. It seems an odd way to begin a week that is filled with sorrow and agony. At week’s end we will all exclaim “Happy Easter!” but we’re much less likely to wish each other “Happy Palm Sunday!” It’s a day filled with ambivalence and yet rich with spiritual rewards.

1) Step into the story.
Jesus’ ministry on earth is reaching a crescendo. All that He has said and all that He has promised is about to come true. Enter into the Holy Week story.

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As Jesus and His disciples approached Jerusalem He gave His disciples a task. They are to fetch the donkey for Him to ride on (in the gospel of Matthew they are also to fetch a colt, too, for good measure). If anyone asks them why they are taking it, they are to say, “The Lord needs it.” That is enough.

Often in our faith journey we have to do things on trust. The higher purpose of some action might not be at all apparent to us. We follow God’s call, even if the role we’re taking is not immediately clear.

I like to think that the owner of that donkey or that colt got the animal back, but at this moment all he can do is obey. The Lord needed something from him, and he gave it.

2) Shout your “Hosannas.”
At our church on Palm Sunday, we gather at a playground outside and march together to the church, carrying palms as that crowd did on the first Palm Sunday.

I’m always a little embarrassed by it. What are people going to think when they look out their windows at us? I wonder. Don’t we look a little silly? It’s one thing to sing “Hosannas” inside the church, but marching around beneath a cross on the sidewalks of New York City…?

And yet, stepping out in faith takes courage. It can mean shrugging off embarrassment. Perhaps some of those people looking out their windows on a Sunday morning might just want to join us today or another day. Perhaps they will be reminded of a holiday they had long forgotten.

“Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid,” goes an old saying.

3) Take on the different roles.
The whole power of Holy Week becomes clearer when you identify yourself with the different players in it, when you see yourself in the cast.

I think of Jesus’ faithfulness as He heads to his destiny, one that will involve pain, unimaginable suffering and worst of all, utter abandonment by his followers, those He loved most. I think of the disciples getting it all wrong before they ever get it right. “His disciples didn’t understand these things at first,” says the gospel of John. They wouldn’t until after the Resurrection.

And I think of the crowd shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” They want a king, but is He the king they want? Are they ready for the peace He has to offer? Will they be calling “Crucify Him!” on Friday?

Soon the palms will become greenery among the lilies of Easter. Soon we will all exclaim, “The Lord is risen!” and sing “Alleluias.” But for now there are these “Hosannas” and palms.

Happy Palm Sunday. Easter is coming.

3 Prayers to Help You Make a Fresh Start in the New Year

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

It’s here. A new year. To paraphrase an ancient writer, “the old year has gone; the new has come!”

There’s no better time to find ways to prayerfully wrap up the past year and face the new year with a clean slate. Won’t that be nice? You betcha. So, let me suggest three prayers that will help us start the year strong.

1) Reevaluate

Speaking to His people through the ancient prophet Haggai, God said, “Give careful thought to your ways” (Haggai 1:5, 7, NIV).

It’s a perfect prayer exercise for the threshold of a new year. Ask God, “Show me where I went wrong. Show me where I’m not pleasing you and help me to confess and repent. Show me where my priorities and practices need to change.”

If you’re sincere, you can count on God to answer. He told His people in Haggai’s day:

“You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it” (Haggai 1:6, NIV).

So, reevaluate. Look back at the past year, perhaps even writing down things you would like to change. While you’re at it, ask God to also show you things you did right, things you did well, things you might find satisfaction and blessing in doing more of. Write down those things too.

Then…

2) Recommit

Haggai’s prophecy records (in verse 12) that, once they examined their ways, “the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God” because “the people feared the LORD.”

In the Bible, “fear of the Lord” is an attitude of reverence toward God that leads to trust. Fear of the Lord is loving God with all our hearts, serving Him with all our passion, and obeying Him as best we can. This is the response God looks for from His people, both then and now. If Israel had reevaluated without recommitting, they could not have launched ahead with the Lord’s blessing. Their efforts would probably have been unproductive and disappointing, to both them and God.

So it will be with us. But we can make a new beginning in this new year by prayerfully recommitting ourselves to serving God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength, renewing our allegiance to Jesus, and affirming our commitment to live under His Lordship. Then, when we’re fully submitted and open to the Lord, He can stir our hearts and bless our efforts to turn a corner in our lives.

Then, finally, like the Israelites of Haggai’s day…

3) Refocus

In Haggai’s day, their reevaluation and recommitment resulted in the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem (see Haggai 1:14-15). What new focus will result from your reevaluation and recommitment?

Will it be rebuilding something? Reconnecting in some way? Reversing something? Reviving something?

Here again, ask God to show you. “Show me where I should focus in this new year—and where I shouldn’t focus. Show me what will please You. Show me when to say “no” and when to say “yes.” Show me where to invest my attention, my efforts and my resources. Show me what will make this year the best possible year.”

Turning those three prayer corners can bring to pass in this new year what the poet Robert Browning envisioned many years ago: “The best is yet to be.”

3 Church Prayers to Enrich Your Christmas Spirit

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Christmas is a nostalgic time for many. We remember childhood celebrations. Family gatherings. Memorable gifts.

So it’s fitting at Christmas to pray nostalgically, too, in a manner of speaking. The following Christmas prayers are part of the collective memory of the church through the ages. So why not make one—or all—your prayer this Christmas?

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1) Saint Ephraim the Syrian
The feast day of Your birth resembles You, Lord, because it brings joy to all humanity.
Old people and infants alike enjoy Your day.
Your day is celebrated from generation to generation.
Kings and emperors may pass away, and the festivals to commemorate them soon lapse, but Your festival will be remembered until the end of time.
Your day is a means and a pledge of peace.
At Your birth heaven and earth were reconciled, since You came from heaven to earth on that day.
You forgave our sins and wiped away our guilt.
You gave us so many gifts on the day of your birth:
A treasure chest of spiritual medicines for the sick;
Spiritual light for the blind;
The cup of salvation for the thirsty;
The bread of life for the hungry.
In the winter when trees are bare,
You give us the most succulent spiritual fruit.
In the frost when the earth is barren,
You bring new hope to our souls.
In December when seeds are hidden in the soil,
The staff of life springs forth from the virgin womb.

2) Saint Augustine of Hippo
Let the just rejoice, for their Justifier is born.
Let the sick and infirm rejoice, for their Savior is born.
Let the captives rejoice, for their Redeemer is born.
Let slaves rejoice, for their Master is born.
Let free men rejoice, for their Liberator is born.
Let All Christians rejoice, for Jesus Christ is born.

3) Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Let Your goodness, Lord, appear to us, that we, made in Your image, conform ourselves to it. In our own strength we cannot imitate Your majesty, power and wonder, nor is it fitting for us to try. But Your mercy reaches from the heavens through the clouds to the earth below. You have come to us as a small child, but You have brought us the greatest of all gifts, the gift of eternal love. Caress us with Your tiny hands, embrace us with Your tiny arms, and pierce our hearts with Your soft, sweet cries.

20 Christmas Prayer Prompts

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

What will make this Christmas season more meaningful for you? A visit from family? A favorite Christmas song? A children’s program at church? Something else?

Whatever your answer(s) may be, a sure-fire way to make the countdown to Christmas more meaningful is prayer. There is no better time to turn your heart to prayer than this season leading up to the celebration of the Incarnation. So here is a list of 20 Christmas prayer prompts to follow, one each day perhaps, to point your heart to the Bethlehem manger:

1. Give thanks for the joys of family and friends this season.

2. Ask God to “close the doors of hate and open the doors of love” this Christmas (from a prayer by Henry Van Dyke).

3. Give thanks for your favorite Christmas carol.

4. Pray for Salvation Army bell ringers and others who help the needy during this special season.

5. Pray for gifts you give to be well chosen and well received.

6. Give thanks for your favorite fragrances of the season.

7. Pray for those who are lonely this holiday season—widows, widowers, invalids, etc.

8. Give thanks for the Gospel writers—Matthew and Luke—who recorded the story of Jesus’ birth.

9. Pray for those who will be working over the holidays—police, firefighters, hospital and nursing home staff, etc.

10. Give thanks to Jesus, who though He was rich, for your sake became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9).

11. Pray to be shielded from the noise, turmoil and empty promises of the season.

12. Ask God to protect and deliver those who must celebrate Christmas amid persecution and oppression.

13. Give thanks for your favorite Christmas movie.

14. Pray for the children you know and love to grasp the true meaning and blessing of Christmas.

15. Pray for health and strength to meet the demands of Christmas week.

16. Pray for refugees, immigrants and other travelers who will be far from home at Christmas.

17. Give thanks for the obedience of Mary, who submitted to the privilege and challenge of giving birth to God’s Son.

18. Give thanks for the faith of Joseph, who believed the angelic message and provided and cared for Mary and Jesus amid bewildering circumstances.

19. Give thanks for your favorite holiday foods.

20. Ask God to make your Christmas celebration reflect the beauty and wonder of the first Christmas and for the miracle of the Incarnation—“God with us”—to be a reality in you and those you love.

Feel free to adjust or add to the list above. You may even want to print it and post it on your refrigerator or bathroom mirror to prompt a different prayer each day between now and Christmas. Or you may come up with a list that is all your own. Whatever you do, let it move your mind and heart closer to Jesus.

10 Ways to Pray on Black Friday

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, when millions of Americans (who the day before gave thanks for their many blessings) race to stores, wait in lines and spend money to acquire more. This is not a post to make you feel guilty about taking advantage of Black Friday “deals and steals” but just a few words to suggest ways to make Black Friday not only a shopping extravaganza but also a prayer experience.

Do you have your Black Friday shopping list? Let me suggest adding to it—not more stuff to buy but a few things to pray. You might write or print this list on the flip side of your shopping list. Or staple the two lists together. Or cut and paste these prayer prompts as reminders in your smart phone, to notify you every so often during the day.

1. Give thanks that you have money to spend and loved ones to buy for.

2. Pray for other shoppers (instead of mowing them down in the parking lot to get a better shot at the limited supplies inside).

3. Pray for the store clerks and others who are working–perhaps under stressful circumstances–to meet the needs of Black Friday shoppers. Do so even as you approach them, pass them, are served by them or walk away from them.

4. Pray for wisdom and patience to spend wisely and be a good steward of the financial resources with which God has entrusted you. If you have a budget, pray to stay within it.

5. Give thanks for “things I can do without” as you pass them by.

6. Pray for those who cannot participate in Black Friday because they lack the resources even to put food on their table or gas in their car.

7. Give thanks for “things I can enjoy without acquiring or possessing them” (e.g., a sunrise, library books, etc.).

8. Pray for those throughout the world whose needs are just as acute on Black Friday as on the other days of the year. Pray for a way to remember their suffering and do or spend something to relieve it.

9. Pray to be delivered from greed, impatience and unkindness from others and toward others.

10. Pray for an opportunity to bless someone—a fellow shopper, a frazzled clerk, another driver—at least once today.

Decluttering as Part of Your Lenten Spiritual Practice

Posted on March 11, 2026March 12, 2026 by Alikay Wood

The English word “lent” comes from a Dutch word referring to the season of spring. It’s the 40 days (not including Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter, traditionally associated with giving up food or, in more recent years, social media.

Some denominations refrain from meat on Fridays, while other people give up one food category, perhaps sugar or coffee, for the full 40 days.

But the “Great Fast,” as referred to by some church traditions, can also be a time to do a spiritual reset by decluttering and re-focusing on what really matters.

The purpose of Lent is to give up the things keeping you back from God. Decluttering can be a way to release physical and spiritual clutter and focus on developing your relationship with God.

Like any fast, this is a two-step process. It’s not only about giving something up, but connecting with a higher power. Here are three strategies to incorporate decluttering into your Lenten season:

1.Toss out one item every day for 40 days

Start small by committing to get rid of one item a day for the next 40 days. To help yourself remember, set a daily alarm—perhaps for first thing in the morning, during your normal prayer time or during an evening loll. It may feel small, but by Easter you’ll have removed 40 unnecessary items from your life.

2. 40 bags in 40 days

In 2011, Ann Marie Heasley, who blogs at White House Black Shutters pledged to l declutter during Lent—she called it the 40 Bags in 40 Days Decluttering Challenge. The challenge is simple: fill one bag with items to discard every day during Lent.

3. Clean out one area every day

Another way to approach decluttering is to make a list of areas in your home, office or life you want to declutter and then work on one space a day. These could be as small as a junk drawer or bathroom cabinet. If you declutter one small space every day, you’ll have made major progress at the end of 40 days.

Once you’ve decided how you want to declutter, it’s even more important to remember what Lent is truly about: connecting with God. Here are a few ways to keep your focus on God as you declutter:

1. Use cleaning time to pray

It might sound obvious, but the purpose of decluttering isn’t just to make more physical space—it’s to make spiritual room for God. Try practice this by praying as you clean, fill bags or tidy up spaces.

2. Don’t forget the non-tangibles

Just because you have a clean house doesn’t mean there aren’t spaces in your life that need a fresh look. Perhaps you’ve been feeling disconnected from God and need to take a hard look at your social calendar and find ways to free time. Or maybe you feel debt is holding you back and want to make a plan for decluttering your finances. Decluttering isn’t only tied to physical belongings. Use this season of penitence to re-assess your mental and spiritual health as well.

3. Set aside time for God

No matter what you decide to do for Lent—even if you do nothing at all—you can dedicate yourself to prayer and quiet time this season. Commit to a daily devotional or prayer practice, like Guideposts 40 Days of Prayer Program. Click here to sign up for the Lent prayer program.

How do you commemorate Lent? Comment below and let us know.