A Prayer about the Good in Good Friday

by | Apr 2, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Good in Good Friday

Have you ever wondered why it’s called “Good Friday”?

‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Matthew 27:46

Tear-wiping God,

Many people have asked through the years, 

“How can we call it ‘Good Friday’ 

when it’s the day our Savior died?” 

In the same way, grieving friends may ask 

if there is anything good in these days,

the days of shootings, sickness, war, and death. 

Your answer to why Good Friday is good 

is your answer to all who mourn 

and to all who hate the brutality of sin and death. 

The Good in Good Friday comes from you, 

the through-and-through good Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Yes, Jesus was wrongly convicted in a mock trial.

Yes, Jesus was beaten and bloodied by Roman soldiers.

Yes, Jesus was mocked by many who previously praised him.

Yes, Jesus was subjected to the brutal death of crucifixion.

But God. But through it all, you were in control. 

Through it all, you were carrying out the plan 

that you, the triune God made from the beginning of time. 

It was a good plan. 

It was the only plan that could finally and forever 

restore your people to you. 

And in the moment that Jesus cried from the cross, 

“It is finished,” 

it became a completed plan. 

You had won victory over sin and death, 

and just three short days later, 

the “Son of Righteousness” would rise 

with “healing in [his] wings” (Malachi 4:2).  

Yes, it’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming. 

In the worst of our days on this earth, 

may we never forget the great hope of Good Friday.

In Jesus’ victorious name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 26:57-65; Matthew 27:1-61.

A Prayer about Faithlessness and Faithfulness

by | Apr 1, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Faithlessness and Faithfulness

Do you thank Jesus for his faithfulness to us?

Peter answered, ‘Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, the very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’ Matthew 26:33-34

Faithful Lord,

How like Peter we all are, 

thinking we will be more faithful than we will ever be, 

wanting to be more faithful than we are. 

We think we will never forget you, 

wander off from you, deny you, desert you.

And yet, like wayward and stubborn sheep, we do. 

You knew Peter would deny you, 

and you didn’t try to pretend he wouldn’t. 

But even as you told him the truth about himself, 

you also knew the day would come 

when you’d rise from the dead 

and meet Peter on the beach.

On that day, you would forgive and restore him, 

calling him to tend your sheep (John 21:15-19). 

Lord, forgive us for our faithlessness to you.

Embolden and empower us 

to live and love out of your faithfulness to us. 

In your true name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 26:30-35; John 21:15-19.

A Prayer about Doing the Father’s Will

by | Mar 31, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Doing the Father’s Will

Do you sometimes find it hard to do God’s will?

‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.’ Luke 22:42

Author God,

How we thank you for writing this tragic scene into your story, 

that we might know the grief 

Jesus suffered as he contemplated 

fulfilling the mission you had given him.

Our Savior begged you to “remove this cup” (Luke 22:42). 

In his humanity, he dreaded the horror of crucifixion. 

As your sinless Son, 

he dreaded even more 

bearing your wrath for our sins. 

And yet, he prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). 

You did not remove the cup. 

You sent an angel to strengthen him.

And our Savior cried more tears, 

prayed more prayers, 

sweating blood in his agony. 

From him, we learn that it’s okay 

to name the horror of death. 

From him, we learn to pray 

as we grieve. 

And from him, we learn that even in grief, 

we look to glory, 

for Jesus “endured the cross 

for the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). 

How we thank you for the joy you gave us

through our Savior’s death and resurrection. 

In his wonderful name we pray. Amen.

Read Luke 22:29-46.

A Prayer about Learning to Forgive

by | Mar 30, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Learning to Forgive

Do you need help forgiving someone?

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25

Heavenly Father,

On this Tuesday of Holy Week, 

as Jesus taught his disciples essential lessons 

they would need in the coming days, 

he chose to highlight forgiveness.

May we never misunderstand Jesus’ command to forgive:

It is not our forgiving others that earns your forgiveness. 

It is your forgiveness alone through Christ’s death and resurrection 

that empowers us to forgive. 

And yet, you have made your design clear:

there is no room for bitterness and unforgiveness 

in the Christian’s heart. 

You have shaped our hearts 

for your contra-conditional love, 

undeserved mercy, 

and costly forgiveness. 

Almighty God, help us. 

Help us to name the harm that seems unforgivable.

Move mighty mountains of bitterness 

far from our hearts; 

toss them into the depths of the sea. 

Free us to run in the boundless love 

which flowed fully down from the cross. 

In Jesus’ forgiving name. Amen.

Read Mark 11:20-25; Matthew 6:7-15.

A Prayer about the Hope of the Cross

by | Mar 29, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Hope of the Cross

Have you ever betrayed anyone?

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?’ And they paid him thirty shekels of silver.  Matthew 26:14-15

Merciful Father,

This scene ranks right up there 

as one of the saddest moments in all of Scripture.

 Judas, disgusted with Jesus’ mercy, 

makes his final decision to betray Jesus, 

and for a pittance. 

While it’s tempting to point fingers at Judas and ask, 

“How could he,” 

we must also look in the mirror and see 

our own betrayal of you, of Jesus, 

our rebellious hearts that Jesus died to restore. 

Even as we see the darkness of our own sin, 

may we step back and survey the wondrous cross 

on which our Prince of Glory died. 

May we truly comprehend 

the depth and breadth of your love for us 

and your complete forgiveness of our sins. 

As we do, may we fall at your feet to worship as Mary did, 

extravagantly and spectacularly. 

In Jesus’ loyal name. 

Read Matthew 26:6-16.