A Prayer about Perfect Peace

by | Mar 28, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Perfect Peace

How can you have perfect peace?

Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ John 20:21

Heavenly Father, 

Even as Holy Week begins, 

may we remember its conclusion. 

In the days leading up to his death, 

Jesus suffered physical, mental, and emotional pain. 

And yet, he always remained at peace, 

because he knew he had been sent by you to complete a mission—

to bring your people back to your loving embrace.

Now, we your people carry on that mission. 

And sometimes we too will suffer physical, mental, and emotional pain. 

When we do, 

may we remember Christ’s words 

and know his profound comfort: 

‘Peace be with you.’

In Jesus’ peace-bringing name. Amen.

Read John 20:19-23.

A Prayer about Becoming Fruitful Fig Trees

by | Mar 27, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Becoming Fruitful Fig Trees

How can we truly be changed?

And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once. Matthew 21:18

Creator God,

We confess, 

many of us are as confused 

as the disciples about why you cursed the fig tree. 

What we don’t understand 

is that the fig tree represents Israel, your people, 

who had been saved for a purpose: 

to bear fruit (grow figs); 

yet they repeatedly turned away from you, 

the God who saved them: 

“What I gave them has passed away from them” (Jeremiah 8:13). 

Their leaves of life had withered 

and their figs of fruit had passed away.

Lord, save us from our wayward hearts. 

Help us to grasp 

that Christ’s death and resurrection 

alone will change us into fruit-bearing trees, 

flourishing in your kingdom, 

waving our bright green leaves 

and offering others a taste 

of the rich juicy fruit of your glory. 

In Jesus’ fruit-bearing name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14.

A Prayer about a King Who Wins by Dying

by | Mar 26, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about a King Who Wins by Dying

Have you ever thought about what a strange story it is?

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

Author God,

Who would think to write such a story—

the hero completes his mission by dying? 

And yet, this is just the true story you wrote. 

“It is finished,” 

Jesus proclaimed with his final breath.

What is finished?

Jesus’ work. 

The mission you sent Jesus to complete: 

The debt for sin is

 paid up. 

Our debt for sin is paid up

when we trust in Jesus.

The punishment for sin is over. 

Our punishment for sin is over

when we trust in Jesus. 

The victory over death is complete. 

Our victory over death is complete

when we trust in Jesus.

Lord God, thank you for this ending to the story of redemption

that is the beginning of an eternal story of restoration. 

In Jesus’ sacrificial name. Amen.

Read John 19:28-30; Hebrews 9:12, 9:25-28; Colossians 2:15.

A Prayer about the Humiliation Jesus Endured

by | Mar 25, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the Humiliation Jesus Endured

Have you ever been humiliated?

And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. Mark 15:19-20

King of the Universe,

Open our minds and our hearts

to take in the humiliation 

you endured on our behalf. 

You had already submitted 

to scourging and a mock trial. 

You had been condemned to death by Pilate. 

But before you could die the death you must die, 

some rowdy soldiers wanted to have some fun with you. 

They dressed you in a purple cloak 

and a makeshift crown of thorns. 

They mocked you, 

kneeling before you and shouting, 

“Hail, King of the Jews!” 

(How little did they know how right they were — 

King of the Jews, and the Romans, and the Gentiles, 

and every nation, tongue, tribe, and people group.) 

They spit on your face 

and beat your head with their clubs. 

As we imagine such coarse brutality against you, 

may we adore you all the more,

awed that you endured such suffering, 

“for the joy set before” you, 

“to sit at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2) 

knowing you have won our victory 

over the brutality of sin forever and ever. 

In your humble and kingly name. Amen.

Read Mark 15:16-20; Hebrews 12:1-3.

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A Prayer about Watching Jesus’ Sorrow

by | Mar 24, 2026 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Watching Jesus’ Sorrow

Have you ever stopped to look at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane?

“And he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.’” Mark 14:34

Father God,

This scene in the Garden of Gethsemane 

the night before Jesus’ arrest 

both challenges and comforts me.

Jesus first confessed to Peter, James, and John 

that he was “very sorrowful”

and then commanded them to remain with him 

and watch with him (Mark 14:33-34). 

And yet, he knew they could not

provide faithful companionship 

in his profound suffering. 

It was to you he turned for that. 

He “fell on the ground and prayed,” 

asking you to remove the cup of suffering from him (Mark 14:35-36). 

What did the disciples do? They fell asleep (Mark 14:37, 41). 

What did Jesus do? 

He ministered to them, 

knowing they would soon face the fiercest spiritual battle of their lives. 

He reminded them how desperately 

they would need to depend on God in a season of doubt, 

“Watch and pray, that you might not enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38). 

Lord, God, wake us up! 

Open our minds 

so that we may fully understand Jesus’ kindness 

to his followers in the midst of his suffering. 

Lord, God, wake us up! 

May we hear and heed Jesus’ call to “watch and pray,” 

knowing that he has empowered us 

through his death and resurrection to resist temptation of all kinds.

In Jesus’ suffering name. Amen.

Read Mark 14:32-42.