A Prayer about the Good in Good Friday

by | Mar 28, 2024 | Easter, Lent

A Prayer about the Good in Good Friday

‘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.



Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Learning to Forgive

by | Mar 25, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Easter

A Prayer about Learning to Forgive

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.

Note: This prayer is based on my Holy Week devotional, The Gospel Day-by-Day. Get your Holy Week devotional e-book free now. Link in profile or copy/paste link into browser: http://eepurl.com/b__teX.

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about Becoming Fruitful Fig Trees

by | Mar 25, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Easter

A Prayer about Becoming Fruitful Fig Trees

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.

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

A Prayer about the Humiliation Jesus Endured

by | Mar 22, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Easter, Lent

A Prayer about the Humiliation Jesus Endured

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,” 

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.

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

 

A Prayer about Joy on Easter Monday

by | Apr 9, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Easter

A Prayer about Joy on Easter Monday

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”…Matthew 28:8-9

Risen Lord,

On this Easter Monday, 

the day after we celebrated your resurrection, 

enlarge our imaginations and renew our wonder. 

May we see Mary Magdalene and the other Mary 

trembling before the angels who startle them with their news, 

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 

He is not here, for he is risen, as he said” (Matthew 28:6). 

I love to imagine their astonishment 

as they saw the angels; 

I love even more to think of how amazed 

they must have been to meet you 

along the road as they ran back toward Galilee. 

What joy they must have felt as you called out to them, 

“Greetings,” 

which translates the Greek word for “joy.”

Lord, this Easter Monday, 

fill us with the best Monday motivation 

for whatever lies before us this week: 

the joy that you have truly risen from the dead. 

The hope that because of you, 

we have been made into new creation. 

The faith that you are even now 

making us more and more like you every day. 

In your risen name we pray. Amen. 

Read Matthew 28:1-10.

A Prayer about the Surprise of a Risen Lord

by | Apr 8, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection, Easter, Lent

A Prayer about the Surprise of a Risen Lord

Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ John 20:15

Gracious, Powerful, Startling, Risen Lord, 

It is almost funny to think of how your unbelieving enemies 

might have scurried around on that first Resurrection Day, 

making last-ditch attempts to cover up the truth about the one who covers our sins. 

We confess, we could have been them, 

or we could have been Peter, who denied you three times, 

or we could have mistaken you for the gardener, 

or we might have had a long theological discussion 

with you and not realized 

you were the King of theology, 

the walking, breathing, theology we always need.

Help us, we pray, to humble ourselves, 

to be willing to ride on a donkey or in a thirty-year-old Datsun, 

for love of our risen Savior. 

Teach us the difference 

between your righteous anger and our often self-righteous anger.

Free us to worship you with abandon, 

anointing you with precious perfume or lavishing you with unending praise.

Work in us so that we may work for you, 

washing dirty feet or changing smelly diapers.

Draw us daily nearer and nearer to you that we might live boldly, 

as a resurrected people raised from the death of our sins 

by the Savior who descended to the dead 

to put them to death. 

May we shout with triumph 

on this marvelous day, 

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

In your transforming name. Amen. 

Read John 20:13-29. 

Note: This prayer is based on my Holy Week devotional, The Gospel Day-by-Day. Get your Holy Week devotional e-book free now. Link in profile or copy/paste link into browser: http://eepurl.com/b__teX.