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7 One-Word Prayers for Lent

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

Very early in the life of the church, followers of Jesus began observing a season we now call Lent, a 40-day season of spiritual preparation for the holiest of days in the Christian calendar: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Silent Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Lent often involves spiritual discipline and practices such as fasting, meditating, or giving something up. It is a time of intentional, focused prayer and contemplation. Could using one-word prayers for Lent be helpful?

In the clamor and frenzy of our daily lives, it’s difficult to mark this season of confession, repentance, and humility as we’d like. But it’s not impossible if we have a Lent plan. One way is to select one-word prayers for Lent. Use one each, starting on Ash Wednesday and ending just before Maundy Thursday.

Lent one-word prayers can be offered silently or whispered during daily activities—while dropping kids at school or waiting on hold. They can offer a prayerful respite in the most mundane moments. All it takes is a little intention, a momentary awareness, and sometimes a helpful trigger or reminder. Maybe before opening the mail. Or after hearing a car horn or barking dog.

So, here are seven one-word prayers for Lent I suggest for praying throughout the days and weeks leading up to this year’s observance of Christ’s Passion. Let them bring meaning to the Lenten season.

Week 1 of Lent: Confess

In the first week of Lent, cultivate a heightened awareness of your own frailties and shortcomings by regularly praying “I confess…”

Week 2 of Lent: Silence

The next week, speak this word into the busyness and noise of your life. Make it a prayer for quietness. Use it as a reminder to calm your own mind and heart. Let it be a request for more moments of silence during this holy season.

Week 3 of Lent: Surrender

In the third week of Lent, take every opportunity to say “Surrender,” submitting to God in humility, obedience, and worship. Let it remind you of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Week 4 of Lent: Mercy

Let this word make your fourth week of Lent a continual cry for mercy, for yourself and for others.

Week 5 of Lent: Break

As you pray into the fifth Lenten week, you may have become more aware of your sins and shortcomings, habits and tendencies that aren’t helpful to you or pleasing to God. Speak the word “break” often in the course of your days, asking the Lord to break up those patterns and proclivities.

Week 6 of Lent: Need

Among the blessings of Lent is a deeper and broader awareness of how much we need the powerful presence of Jesus in our lives. Repeating the word “need” as often as possible can become a petition for God to “meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

READ MORE: Is Lent in the Bible?

Week 7 of Lent: Jesus

In the final week of Lent, as you prepare for the events of Holy Week, speak the name of Jesus, invoking His presence, praising His beauty, and asking for His blessing and working in your life and in the lives of those around you.

Try it. Sprinkle each of these seven one-word prayers for Lent through your days, hours, and minutes between now and the annual observance of Christ’s Passion. Then you may be more ready than ever for the glorious celebration of Resurrection Sunday.

READ MORE ABOUT HOW TO DO LENT:

20 Lent Bible Verses for Reflection and Guidance

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

Lent is a season of reflection and spiritual growth, of sacrifice or contribution. These uplifting Bible verses can help guide you through the 40 days of Lent and lead you to contemplate the meaning of this sacred season as you incorporate the Bible’s teachings into your life.

READ MORE: Is Lent in the Bible?

Popular Lent Bible Verses

1) Matthew 6:16-18 – Keep a Secret

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites…But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)

No need to tell everybody what you’ve given up for Lent–if you’ve given up anything. Keep it in secret. It’s a secret between you and God. What could be more powerful than a secret like that?

2) 1 Peter 5:6 – Reveal Your Struggle

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. (1 Peter 5:6)

Humility gets a bad rap in our culture. After all, aren’t you supposed to let the world know how great you are so that you get some credit for all the good stuff you’re doing? What if you actually revealed how much you struggle, even in your faith? Be guided by this Lent Bible verse. God can help us when we let God know how helpless we are.

3) Isaiah 58:6-7 – Take on Something

Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house…” (Isaiah 58:6-7)

Giving up something to celebrate Lent? You could also do as these verses suggest: take on something. Volunteer at that soup kitchen. Make a donation to your favorite charity. Donate some clothing or food for the poor. Giving can be another way of doing a Lenten fast. Taking on as you give up.

4) Mark 1:12-13 – Find Your Wilderness

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” (Mark 1:12-13)

The gospel of Mark is so succinct. In two verses the writer describes all that happened to Jesus for those 40 days. We often get fixated on how Jesus went without food but notice here how the wilderness part of the experience was also crucial. To be alone. To be tested. To be with the wild animals and the angels. Before Jesus could begin His ministry, He needed that wilderness time. Can we not find a way to do the same as we look to grow in faith? Look for a Lenten retreat in your community.

5) Colossians 2:16-17 – Honor Your Choice

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17)

Okay, so maybe you gave up desserts for Lent, and now Easter is coming, and you can’t wait to gorge on some jellybeans or chocolate eggs. There’s always going to be some worthy soul out there who will say, “Shouldn’t you just give up those things anyway, all year round?” You can respond with this Lent Bible verse. It’s not about what’s healthy or not. It’s about Christ. You made that choice for Lent to remember God. And to honor God.

6) Daniel 9:3 – Seek Inward Things

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. (Daniel 9:3)

All these outward things we do for Lent, the fasting, the time of silence and stillness, even wearing some different clothes, they are simply ways to help us do the inward things. That is to seek God in Lenten prayers, asking for God’s mercy.

7) John 3:16 – Remember His Sacrifice

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

This was what came out of Jesus’s wilderness experience. This was what all those trials gave Him the inner strength to share with the world, even as He knew what suffering would be ahead. A timeless message, always, for Lent.

More Lent Bible Verses to Reflect On

8) As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Psalms 42:1-2)

9) Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6)

10) In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

11) 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)

12) The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:25-16)

13) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… (1 Peter 1:3)

14) Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. (Psalm 62:5)

15) Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? (Matthew 6:25)

16) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

17) But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. (Hosea 12:6)

18) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)

19) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)

20) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

READ MORE ABOUT LENT AND BIBLE VERSES:

7 Favorite Hymns for Lent

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

We don’t necessarily think of Lent—a season of reflection, prayer and often fasting—as a time to sing. Don’t we have to wait for all those “Alleluias” of Easter? No, we don’t. There are so many hymns of Lent that can carry us through this lovely, spiritually rich season. They can show us the true meaning of Lent. Here is musical inspiration for this transformative time. Try one of these beautiful Lent hymns:

1) “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

What great reminder that God’s grace is there to carry us through whatever trials we face. The verse that always moves me the most:

Let thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to thee.

That powerful imagery of being chained to God’s own goodness pulling me back from my wanderings. May I be the Lord’s prisoner forever.

2) “Forty Days and Forty Nights”

Just that title alone says “Lent.” We’re being called in this season to remember the Lord’s suffering and to share the journey with Jesus:

Shall not we your sorrow share
And from worldly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Strong with you to suffer pain?

Whatever fasting we undertake, whatever we decide to give up for Lent, we do it with prayer and grow stronger in the process as we face our own struggles.

3) “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”

The lyrics are by the great American poet John Greenleaf Whittier, a Quaker of deep faith. He understood how necessary it is to turn to God, asking for forgiveness, for God to “reclothe us in our rightful mind.” Prayer is at the heart of that process. My favorite verse:

Drop thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease…
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

What a perfect prayer for Lent.

4) “Take My Life, and Let it Be”

There’s an old saying (I remember seeing it posted in our choir room as a kid): “When you sing you pray twice.” The words of a Lent hymn, like this one, stick in your soul. If you just said the words, that’d be one thing. But singing them resonates with your heart, body and soul. Like Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). When I sing “Take my life…” the promise is rich and deep.

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5) “Be Still, My Soul”

Lent is a great time to practice contemplative prayer. Choose a time for day—first thing in the morning works best for me—when you can be quiet, be still, to listen to God. Our minds can be noisy with distractions. But when we give all those worries and concerns over to the Lord, we can be still:

Be still my soul thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Amen.

6) “’Take Up, Thy Cross’ The Savior Said”

These words come straight from the Lord’s mouth: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). How wonderful to have a Lent hymn to help us claim that. Often sung in community. All the more powerful to make that pledge with others. That last verse:

Nor think till death to lay it down;
For only those who bear the cross
May hope to wear a golden crown.

The glory of it.

7) “Amazing Grace”

Everybody’s favorite hymn. For good reason. During our Lenten journey, it feels especially appropriate, as we call on the free gift of grace that we’re all offered:

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
And grace that will lead me home.

Those toils that Jesus endured in the wilderness, that we honor at Lent, can only be endured through God’s grace. May it be with you.

READ MORE ABOUT THE LENTEN SEASON:

7 Bible Verses to Pray First Thing in the Morning

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

I make a practice of meeting God in the morning. When my mind is clear, when the day has yet to begin, when the to-do list has yet to be done, when first things can be sure of coming first. When I turn to the Bible, first thing, the meaning of morning comes up again and again. Here are a few verses I like to read and pray.

1) O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you and watch (Psalm 5:3). God hears our voices at any time of day, but in the morning, we can hear our hearts’ yearning before the distractions of a busy day loom. Speak up. Plead your case. Then watch and wait with the morning.

2) Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn…(Hosea 6:3). The rising of the sun changes with the seasons. Sometimes, it seems to come too early (“Not yet, God,” I’m tempted to say); sometimes too late. But its appearance is as certain as the Lord’s. To look is to know God, as certain as the rising sun.

3) O God, you are my God I seek you, my soul thirst for you…as in a dry and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1). As the Psalmist reminds us, our prayers often come when we are worried, full of doubts, at a loss, parched. We seek comfort, reassurance. We need to go back to the Source and drink up.

4) Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust…(Psalm 143:8). The bad news is always there, screaming out from my phone, all those scary headlines in the press. All the more reason to look for what I can trust, God’s good news of love eternal.

5) The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day (Proverbs 4:18). My prayer life is continually inspired by and supported by others, the righteous, whose commitment is unswerving. I might be physically alone in my room when praying but I’m never alone spiritually. Many others are right there with me.

6) In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle…(Ecclesiastes 11:6). Mornings are my most creative hours. Time to start a new project, time to write an article—like this one. Time to call on the Spirit, planting a new seed. The gift of a new day can never be wasted.

7) Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning (Psalm 30:6). Haven’t we all had nights where we were kept awake or woke up filled with anxiety, worries, or sorrow? We call upon God then, giving up our tears, letting them go. Making us ready to discover the joy that comes with the morning. Always there.

7 Bible Verses for the New Year

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Pablo Diaz

As December comes to an end, most people reflect on the past, anticipate the New Year ahead and consider how it will differ from this year. We may feel mixed emotions. While some had to say goodbye to loved ones, others said hello to newborns. Some felt they accomplished a lot, while others felt a sense of disappointment. With all that happened throughout the year, the chance to begin fresh in the New Year can be exciting. If we pray, work hard and keep our faith, we can accomplish many things.

Without a strong and positive mindset, reaching our New Year’s goals and facing life’s obstacles can be more difficult than need be. Life has a way of throwing things our way that we often can’t anticipate. As we prepare for the New Year, let us focus on the Word to sustain us through life’s ups and downs. The Word increases our faith and gives us spiritual strength. Here are seven biblical verses for the coming year:

1) “…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

2) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

3) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

4) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

5) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

6) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

7) “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

As we close one year and begin another, let us move forward with confidence as God is always with us. And let us turn to scripture in good and bad times to help us maintain a positive faith-filled mindset. As the psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). What is your Scripture for the New Year? Please share with us.

Lord, let Your word light our path in the New Year.

5 Psalms for Praying Through Depression

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

Depression. It can come on as quite a shock. Often with no rhyme or reason. “What’s wrong with me?” I’ll ask. “Why do I feel so blue?” It can linger, too. Not like a cold or a sore throat that you get over in a matter of days. What to do?

Working with a therapist can be very helpful. Although I’ve never had to take medication, I understand that it can offer relief. But for me, prayer is essential. Praying through the depression with the help of Scripture.

Every morning as I eat my oatmeal, I read a few Psalms. I can hold on to a verse and feed on its healing words throughout the day, as nutritious as the oatmeal. Here are a few I’ve prayed over the years.

1) I waited patiently for the Lord: he inclined to me and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1) Waiting. So much of life is waiting. When you’re feeling blue you want God—somebody—to flick a switch and bring the light back into your life. Now, now, now. But there’s power in the mere waiting. Give yourself time. Put yourself in a prayerful place where God can find you.

2) I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2) I remember visiting an elderly woman, the widow of my pastor. All she had was a small studio apartment with a view of the mountains. She gestured to view and said, “I lift up eyes to the hills…” What a poignant reminder. Healing comes from on high.

3) The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18) Nobody knows better how we feel than God. The Lord has a special calling for the brokenhearted, for us when we feel crushed in spirit. What you can’t explain to a loved one, or struggle for words to tell a talk therapist, you can share with God. No need to hide anything. The Lord is right there with us, all the more so when we’re suffering.

4) But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. (Psalm 3:3) Don’t get all caught up in the distractions that fill our days—our phones, emails, the news on TV or our computers. Wherever I look around at a crowd, everybody’s staring down at their phones, heads and shoulders slumped over. The Lord is there to shield us from the worst. God lifts up our heads. Look up.

5) You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. (Psalm 30:11) Sometimes we forget to mourn. In Biblical times mourning was rigorously practiced. Feeling the excruciating pain of a loss. Feeding it. Sackcloth was a rough, coarse cloth people wore to mark their humility, their suffering. Lowering ourselves, dropping down, asking for God’s mercy, can be exactly what allows us to step back into the dance of life. Allowing ourselves to be clothed with joy.

5 Biblical Prayers for a Dry Season

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Rick Hamlin

A hot, dry summer can sometimes lead to a parched spirit. The Bible is full of reminders that God is present in times of drought and times of plenty. It is as good to pray for rain as it is to pray for the living water that Jesus spoke of.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout;
I the Lord have created it. (Isaiah 45:8)

He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs. (Psalm 107:35)

For this is what the Lord says: “You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.” (2Kings 3:17)

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38)

5 Advent Prayers for Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

The season of Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues through Christmas Day. Some churches and some Christian households mark each Sunday with Advent prayers and by lighting candles that represent the blessings that come to us by way of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection.

The first Sunday traditionally celebrates hope; the second, peace; the third, joy; and the fourth, love. Typically, the center candle of an Advent wreath or display is white, and is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, signifying the gift of Jesus Himself, the Light of the World.

Whether or not your church or family lights Advent candles, you can beautify these coming weeks with your prayers for hope, peace, joy, and love. Here are some suggestions, drawn from an assortment of Bible verses, as well as a prayer for Christmas Day by Henry Van Dyke, author of The Other Wise Man.

1) A Prayer for Hope

God of hope, thank You that in Your great mercy You have given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. That we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand—in the hope of the glory of God…to such a degree that we can even glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not put us to shame, because Your love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Remind us often that everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Grant that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit and that we, who put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. Amen (1 Peter 1:3-4; Romans 5:2-5, 15:4, 15:13; Ephesians 1:12).

2) A Prayer for Peace

God of Heaven, at the first Christmas Your angel announced, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” Thank You for the peace Your Son Jesus promised, not as the world gives, but willing, deep, lasting, and abiding peace. Thank You that, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord of peace Himself give us peace at all times and in every way.

Grant that, as far as it depends on us, we may live at peace with everyone, making every effort to do what leads to peace. So, let the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, now and forever more. Amen (Luke 2:14; Romans 5:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Romans 14:19; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:15).

3) A Prayer for Joy

Heavenly Father, let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Please fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Grant that as Jesus promised, His joy may be in us and our joy may be complete.

Fulfill His promise that, though we may grieve, our grief will turn to joy, and no one will take away our joy. Teach us to always pray with joy, giving joyful thanks to the Father, Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light. And grant us such love and faith in You that we may be filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. Amen (Psalm 5:11, 16:11; John 15:11, 16:20, 16:22; Philippians 1:4; Colossians 1:12; 1 Peter 1:8).

4) A Prayer for Love

Loving God, You demonstrated Your love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. I trust in Your unfailing love; surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Teach me to love You with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and with all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself.

Teach me even to love my enemies, and do good to those who hate me, as Jesus commands. Help me to remain in Your love. Help me to do everything in love, as I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Amen (Romans 5:8; Psalm 13:5, 23:6; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 6:27; John 15:9; 1 Corinthians 16:14; Galatians 2:20).

5) A Prayer on Christmas

The day of joy returns, Father in Heaven, and crowns another year with peace and good will. Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the doors of hate and open the doors of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil, by the blessing that Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our bed with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake, amen (a prayer by Henry Van Dyke).

4 Traditional Ways to Observe Good Friday at Home

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Olivia Abel

It’s the holiest day of the year. But for the second year in a row, Good Friday— and the rest of Holy Week—are happening under the cloud of the coronavirus pandemic. So, while your church’s procession or service may not be happening this year, there are plenty of ways you can strengthen your faith and enjoy some family time (and delicious treats) while observing this important day. Read on for some simple solutions.

Prepare Traditional Foods. Good Friday is traditionally a day of fasting; many people eat one small, meat-free meal and two smaller snacks. Hot Cross Buns, a lightly-spiced sweet bun with raisins, marked with an icing cross, have long been the traditional Good Friday breakfast. The origins of this custom are not completely clear, although it is believed that a 12^th century Anglican monk first baked the buns in honor of the crucifixion. In 16^th Century England, Queen Elizabeth I passed a short-lived law limiting the sale of sweet buns to funerals, Christmas and the Friday before Easter. Superstitions abounded, including that buns baked on Good Friday would never go stale and that they could be used for medicinal purposes. Don’t forget to buy or make enough to enjoy these sweet treats on Easter morning too.

It’s the final fasting Friday of Lent—the perfect day to upgrade your weekly fish dish. Why not try something new? We recommend Baked Lemon Cod and Broccoli or Joy Bauer’s recipe for Baked Tilapia with Spicy Tomato-Pineapple Relish.

Go for a Walk. Throughout the world many people mark this Holy Day by joining a procession through the streets. Frequently, participants dress as Jesus or other Biblical characters and volunteers take turns carrying a large cross. The walk commemorates Jesus carrying his cross to Golgotha where he was crucified. While some churches or communities will be holding socially-distant walks and processions this year, you can also walk on your own or with your family. It is an ideal time to contemplate Jesus’ suffering and remind yourself of His ultimate sacrifice.

Observe three hours of silence. The most sacred hours of this day occur between noon and 3:00 pm to honor the time when Christ was on the cross. Turn off all devices—you can do it!—including phones and TVs and immerse yourself in silence. Pray—one option is to pray the Stations of the Cross; read the Bible and encourage children to draw religious pictures. You may want to write a letter to Jesus thanking him for everything he has done for you.

Attend Guideposts 50th annual Good Friday Day of Prayer. For half a century the Guideposts staff has come together for a day of fellowship and to pray for thousands of prayer requests received from every corner of the country. This year, the program is remote, but it features a powerful lineup, including pastor and best-selling author Mark Batterson. Don’t miss it at 1:00 pm EST on Friday, April 2, on OurPrayer Facebook.

10 Wedding Blessings and Prayers

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Sabra Ciancanelli

Looking for the right words for a marriage ceremony? Having difficulty coming up with wedding speech ideas? Whether you are writing your own vows or planning a speech for the wedding reception, we’ve got you covered. These inspiring and uplifting prayers, Bible verses and wedding blessings can help you celebrate this special occasion.

10 Wedding Blessings and Prayers:

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1. A Biblical Wedding Blessing

My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. —Song of Solomon 2:10-13

2. A Traditional Wedding Prayer

Most gracious God, we give You thanks for Your tender love in sending Jesus Christ to come among us, to be born of a human mother, and to make the way of the cross to be the way of life.

We thank You, also, for consecrating the union of man and woman in his Name. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, pour out the abundance of Your blessing upon this man and this woman. Defend them from every enemy. Lead them into all peace. Let their love for each other be a seal upon their hearts, a mantle about their shoulders, and a crown upon their foreheads. Bless them in their work and in their companionship; in their sleeping and in their waking; in their joys and in their sorrows; in their life and in their death.

Finally, in Your mercy, bring them to that table where Your saints feast for ever in Your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen. —Book of Common Prayer

3. The Corinthians Wedding Reading

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. —1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4. A Short Wedding Prayer

Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank you for this place in which we dwell, for the love that unites us, for the peace accorded us this day, for the hope with which we expect the morrow, for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen. —Wedding Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson

5. A Wedding Bible Verse About Love

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. —1 John 4:16-19

6. A Short Wedding Blessing

May you each bring your best self to the other. May you each bring intelligence and commitment as well as faith to the task that is set before you. May you maintain enduring respect and trust. May all who follow your lives with interest and affection have cause often to rejoice, not only in your happiness, but also in your brave and generous living. —Unknown

7. A Short Bible Verse About Marriage

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. —Proverbs 3:3-4

8. A Wedding Dinner Blessing

May your love grow like a beautiful tree, sending roots deep and branches high, with new beauty every season of your life together. May you dare to dream dreams not yet dreamt. May you find constant reward and challenge as you pursue the ongoing adventure of learning who you are and where you want to go. May you always have a special sense of your mission in life together, and may you never tire of the endless possibilities of exploring your shared existence. —Unknown

9. An Irish Wedding Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. —Irish Blessing

10. A Wedding Blessing Quote

Lord, help us remember when we first met and the strong love that grew between us, to see the good within the other and find answers to all our problems. Help us to say the kind and loving thing and make us big enough to ask forgiveness of the other. We put our marriage into Your hands. Amen. —Norman Vincent Peale

10 Bible Verses for Wedding Blessings:

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. —Ephesians 4:2
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. —1 Thessalonians 5:11
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. —Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. —Song of Solomon 6:3
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. —Hebrews 10:24
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. —Romans 12:10
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. —1 Corinthians 13:2
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. —Proverbs 21:21
I found the one my heart loves. —Song of Solomon 3:4
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. —Colossians 3:14

READ MORE ABOUT WEDDINGS AND MARRIAGE:

10 Powerful Bible Prayers of Affirmation

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

We all know there are different kinds of prayers: petition (asking for oneself), intercession (asking for others), praise (telling God how great He is), lament (complaining and crying out our sorrows to God), and confession (admitting our sins to God), and so on. But one of the more neglected forms of prayer is affirmation.

Prayers of affirmation are telling ourselves (while God listens, of course) things that are true and helpful. They’re a way of obeying the command to focus on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable . . . excellent or praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8 NIV).

I’ve found affirmations to be an important part of my prayer life, and I have a number that I pull out repeatedly. For example, when I’m feeling troubled or stressed, I’ll often pray, “I’m in your hands.” It’s not a request; it’s a reminder of something I know to be true, and something that tells my heart and mind to settle down and trust in God. Another frequent affirmation is, “Here I am,” reminding myself that I’m always in God’s presence but need to be aware and available for Him to speak to me and use me.

Along with that prayer, I turn often to Bible affirmations such as the following:

The Lord is with you, mighty warrior (Judges 6:12 NIV).
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8 NIV).
The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need (Psalm 23:1 GNT).
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 NIV).
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul (Psalm 94:19 NASB).
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2 NIV).
In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 NIV).
When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV).
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (Ephesians 6:10 NIV).
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer (1 Peter 3:12 NIV).

You may choose to print out this list and keep it handy. You might memorize one a week, repeating it often throughout your day. You may even want to compile a list of your own affirmations—say, for times when you need courage or peace, or a list focusing on some recurring situation.

Whatever affirmations resonate the most with you, keep in mind that the best affirmations are those that counter the lies you tend to believe about God, yourself, and the world around you with the truth and beauty of what God says.

10 Great Places to Take a Prayer Retreat

Posted on March 11, 2026April 10, 2026 by Bob Hostetler

If you’ve never taken a prayer retreat, you are missing a great opportunity to draw closer to God and experience blessing and breakthrough in your spiritual life. I’ve certainly experienced that in my own life, and so I am often on the lookout for new and welcoming places to take a prayer retreat. I’ve enjoyed the hospitality of several Catholic monasteries and retreat centers, thanks to the monastic tradition in Orthodox Christianity. Below is a list of some of the places I have visited and others I hope to visit someday (you don’t have to be Catholic or Orthodox to schedule a retreat at any of them):

1. The Abbey of the Genesee (Piffard, NY)
The Abbey of the Genesee is home to approximately 30 Trappist monks. It is located in the picturesque Genesee River Valley of western New York. The monastic enclosure encompasses about 1,200 acres of forest, ravines, rolling hills and a meandering creek. They provide three houses for retreats: Bethlehem retreat house is ideal for individual silent retreats, while the Bethany and Nazareth houses are used for group retreats.

2. Mepkin Abbey (Moncks Corner, SC)
This silent Cistercian monastery was established in 1949 on the historic Mepkin Plantation on the Cooper River, north of Charleston. It offers silent retreats both short (1-6 nights) and long (30 days). Vegetarian meals are provided. Retreats can be booked online.

3. The Abbey of Gethsemani (Trappist, KY)
Founded December 21, 1848, and made an abbey in 1851, Gethsemani is situated on more than 2000 acres of farmland and considered to be the “mother house” of all Trappist and Trappistine monasteries in the U.S. It is also the oldest monastery in this country that is still in use and is famous as the home of Thomas Merton. They schedule Friday-to-Monday retreats or Monday-to-Friday retreats in their air-conditioned guest house.

4. St. Meinrad Archabbey (St. Meinrad, IN)
St. Meinrad Archabbey in south-central Indiana (near Evansville) was founded in 1854 by monks from the 1000-year-old Swiss abbey of Einsiedeln, where St. Meinrad lived and died. Today, it is a thriving community of 90 or so monks which also includes a seminary (more than a 100 seminarians studying for the priesthood), theological school, publishing house (Abbey Press), gift shop and extensive grounds. The guest house at St. Meinrad is very comfortable and the meals are top notch.

5. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit (Conyers, GA)
This monastery, begun in 1944 by 21 Trappist monks from the Abbey of Gethsemani (above), offers weekend and Monday-to-Thursday retreats, for which they request a donation of $80-$100 per person, per night. Most rooms have a shared bath.

6. Saint John’s Abbey (Collegeville, MN)
Located in central Minnesota on 2,740 acres of woodlands and lakes, Saint John’s Abbey welcomes guests of all faiths and accommodates 12-15 people. Single and double rooms are available ($70/$95 night), as well as suites ($120/night). Group rates are also available. Meals are provided (extra cost). You can also arrange to meet with a spiritual director regularly (usually once a day).

7. The Monastery of Christ in the Desert (Abiquiu, NM)
The Monastery of Christ in the Desert is located in the beautiful Chama Canyon wilderness in northwestern New Mexico, about 75 miles north of Santa Fe. The Benedictine monks there maintain a guesthouse for private retreats where men and women can stay for a minimum of two days and two nights (shorter stays would not help guests enter into the experience). Guests usually stay several days, a week, or even longer (stays of longer than a month require the approval of the abbot). There are nine single and three double rooms for a maximum of 17 people at the main guesthouse. A ranch house also offers three double rooms.

8. St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery (Florence, AZ)
This beautiful monastery, begun by six monks from Greece in 1995, can be enjoyed by non-Orthodox Christians. A dress code (long sleeves, long pants or skirt, head scarves for women) is observed. Separate quarters and meals are provided for men and women.

9. The Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux (Vina, CA)
This monastery is a community of Cistercian monks living the Rule of Saint Benedict. They offer one-day, weekend and week-long retreats, as well as a long-term guest program. It is small, though—only six single guest rooms and two rooms for married couples (each guest room includes a private bathroom).

10. The Monastery of the Redwoods (Whitethorn, CA)
Begun in late 1962 by four Cistercian nuns, The Monastery of the Redwoods is located in a breathtakingly beautiful area of the Lost Coast of northern California. The sisters—not monks—offer their hospitality either from Thursday until Sunday or full week retreats from Monday until Sunday. The meals are vegetarian.

If none of these strikes close to home for you (literally or figuratively), there are many more that can be found using a quick online search. Chances are good that a welcome awaits at a monastery, convent or retreat center near you.