Heavenly Father,

During this Holy week keep me focused on the path Your Son walked. It was a path that brought Him from heaven to earth as “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” It was a path that caused Him to wrestle with the same temptations and stresses I face — but His path led to the Garden of Gethsemane and the cross of Calvary.

Help me to understand the plan your Son fulfilled. It was a plan You had in mind long before I was born — a plan foretold by the Old Testament prophets and further revealed by the New Testament apostles. It was a plan to restore my hope, forgive my sin, and bring me back into fellowship with You and with others.

As I approach Good Friday, help me to keep in mind the pain your Son endured. The physical pain of crucifixion — nails pounded through His hands and feet. The scourging of His back, the crown of thorns upon His head. The emotional pain of rejection and betrayal, loneliness and abandonment. The spiritual pain of bearing the weight of the world’s sins and paying the price for sinners’ disobedience, even though as a flawless Passover Lamb He never committed a sin Himself. May I always be filled with gratitude and wonder as I contemplate His sacrifice.

Most of all, help me to remember the purpose your Son achieved. Thank You, Father, that the cross is not the end of the story. Thank You for the empty tomb, the good news of Easter, and the life-changing reality of grace.

You are the author of new life. This is a holy week, but because of Your Son, every week and every day are holy times. Help me to remember that Jesus’ resurrection is a fact, not only on the brightest morning but also during the darkest night. Help me to remember the resurrection hope isn’t a once-a-year holiday; it’s an everyday reality.

Let me live every day in the afterglow of the resurrection. Prepare me to “give an answer to anyone who asks the reason for the hope that I have” (1 Peter 3:15). I pray in the name of our risen Lord Jesus. Amen.

Written by Rev. Biff Moore

“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” — Matthew 16:21

Happy Easter!