Monday, April 1st

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.  The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.”  Now I have told you.’”  Matthew 28:1-7

Dear Jesus, Those women weren’t supposed to be there at the tomb.  You had told them that you wouldn’t be there to be found.  But even though they loved you deeply, they still couldn’t embrace the unthinkable, that you would rise from the dead.  At any moment in the story you and your angels could have given up on them.  They were slow to believe your words although not one syllable from your lips ever failed to come true.  I understand them because I doubt your word too when I don’t get to use my reason or my senses.  I find great comfort in the fact that the angel said, “Come and See the place where he lay.”  It tells me you are patient with my doubting heart too.  I cling to your resurrection and the grace that makes you coach me into believing the facts.  I get what they got, both the experience of seeing you alive after your death and the grace to process it as my greatest treasure too.  Thanks for loving me so patiently.  Amen.

God’s love waits for our hearts to catch up to his great blessings.

Saturday, March 30th

Living Lord and risen Savior, accept my alleluias and increase my joy that comes from knowing that you have risen from the dead.  Comfort me with the assurance that my sins are forgiven and eternal life in heaven is sure.  Let the joy of the Easter message lead me to go and tell the good news of your resurrection to the people who don’t know the true meaning of Easter.  Let the light of my faith in you shine brightly as I face each day in the future and the day of my death on earth.  I ask this in your name, who rose for me.  Amen.

(taken from There’s A Prayer For That…)

Saturday, March 30th

“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.  Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.  Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.  He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.”  Matthew 27:57-61

Dear Jesus, In Isaiah 53 you had him prophecy that although you would be killed with the wicked, you would be buried with the rich in your death.  No one could have guessed how it would all come true.  Joseph of Arimathea made it happen.  He was a member of the council that condemned you but he was not in compliance with them.  By handling your body he became unclean and could not celebrate the rest of the Passover festivities.  He was outed by his faith-filled actions.  His life would never be the same but somehow I think it was just fine with him.  He believed in you and had peace of mind and singularity of heart.  He was a Christian sharing in the hope of eternal life.  He didn’t really know you wouldn’t need his grave very long.  I wonder how he ever looked at his family grave the same.  His bones are buried there somewhere from where yours arose.  Thank you for leading him to fulfill Scripture and for giving Matthew the wisdom to tell us about it.  In this Holy Week, give me the brave and loving faith of Joseph so I will unashamedly show my devotion to you in any circumstance.  Amen.

Faith is like electricity.  It cannot help but generate power in a person’s life.  

Friday, March 29th

“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”  Matthew 26:39

Dear Heavenly Father, I was taught to fold my hands when I pray.  With these folded hands I’m humbly and confidently telling you, “It’s all up to you.  You answer as you think best.”  I don’t know about Jesus’ hands the night he prayed in Gethsemane.  I do, however, know how extreme anguish drove him face down into the dirt.  Before him stood a cup filled to the brim with the poison of the whole world’s sins.  Its every drop would be bitter right down to the dregs.  This horrendous cup was his to drink if he would save mankind’s souls.  And he would have to empty it alone.  No wonder he fell with his face to the ground in prayer that night.  Jesus’ deeply felt sin’s weight but did not refuse to bear it.  He prayed earnestly with tears but did not turn away from your will.  “It’s up to you,” he was humbly telling you.  He also was confidently telling you, “You answer as you think best.”  He trusted a Father who loved him.  How could Jesus do it?  The answer has to be divine love.  Out of love for you he came to this ball of mud where I live.  Out of love for me, a sinner, he stained Calvary’s dirt with his precious blood.  Because of your saving work, I can fold my hands in humble, confident prayer to you.  Even more so, I can live with you forever in your eternal home.  Amen.

Lord, teach me to pray. 

Thursday, March 28th

“So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.  Follow him.  Say to the owner of the house he enters, “The Teacher asks:  Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”  He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready.  Make preparations for us there.’  The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them.  So they prepared the Passover.”  Mark 14:13-16

Dear Lord Jesus, I’ve always wondered why you created such an austere way for the disciples to find a place for your last supper with your disciples.  But recently I read from a few commentators that said you most likely were keeping the place a secret so Judas couldn’t mess things up.  In addition, you wanted one last time to call him back to yourself in repentance.  So you kept him off kilter by not allowing him to know the place until you and your disciples walked in the door.  That explanation makes sense to me.  You were controlling everything for the greatest benefit of everyone involved.  How careful you were to make even the destiny of the betrayer your benevolent focus!  Your grace and love for each of us is overwhelming.  My heart is with you in the upper room that night.  I feel privileged to be able to read about what happened there and to connect it to every other time I take your Lord’s Supper.  Thank you for this sacred act that promises me time with you and my fellow believers in holy moments celebrating the grace we share that saves us forever.  Help me to always give your supper the respect you want it to have.  Amen.

The Lord’s Supper is supper with your Lord who is both the host and the meal. 

Wednesday, March 27th

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission .  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”  Hebrews 5:7-9

Dear Jesus, It’s Wednesday of Holy Week.  We don’t have anything recorded in the Gospel accounts about what you did on Wednesday of that last week just two days before you died for us.  We only know that on Thursday you came back into Jerusalem from Bethany.  I think you spent the day in prayer.  You had been contemplating the great sacrifice you were about to make for millennia.  You talked about it in detail as if it had already happened in Old Testament times.  (Isaiah 49, 50, 53, Psalm 2, 22, 69, 110, Zechariah 3).  You had been telling your disciples this was coming.  You even said this was your last trip to Jerusalem.  So, I think you spent the day wrestling with God in prayer.  Your verse in Hebrews describes how in your earthly life you had fervent prayers, cries and tears to your father who could save you from death.  You prayed not in defiant anger but in broken hearted obedience.  You perfected obedience by doing the unthinkable for the Father and for me.  You were fully engaged and fully aware of what it cost.  It took perfect faith that God the Father would accept the sacrifice for all humans and raise you from the dead.  Today as I spend Wednesday, help me to learn how to obey from the heart and how to suffer all the painful circumstances of my life with faith, hope and love.  Make me a man of God in all circumstances.  Amen.

Jesus was fully engaged his whole life right to the end so that we might have a reason to fully engage with him.

Tuesday, March 26th

“’Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’  When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.  They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.”  Matthew 21:44-45

Dear Jesus, You pulled out all the stops on Tuesday of Holy Week.  You preached pointed words in an effort to give the Jewish leaders what many others were receiving.  You wanted them in heaven with you but they would not admit to themselves their need for grace.  You called yourself the stone that they (the builders) had rejected.  And you said if they would not let you break their pride into pieces then you would crush them in judgment.  It’s judgment now while we can be forgiven or it’s judgment on the last day when it will be too late.  You don’t care what we have wasted when it comes to salvation.  You just want us to be honest and admit our need for you.  I know my sins.  I am broken by your law.  I need your grace.  Forgive me and heal my heart from guilt and shame.  Give me a pure heart that does not pride itself in anything.  But also give me a pure heart that believes it is truly forgiven.  Finally, help me reflect this humble but liberated posture to those with whom I live and move today.  Amen.

Nothing compares to a soul cleansed of self-made pride or guilt. 

Monday, March 25th

“For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteousness, that he might bring you to God.”  1 Peter 3:18

Lord Jesus, Such freedom and joy is mine.  You suffered for all my sins, all of them.  All of the sins of this week, all of the sins of my past, even for all the sins of my future.  You suffered for all of my sins just once.  And you did it all righteously and innocently.  You didn’t deserve a single lick that you got from your enemies.  You didn’t deserve a single stroke of the justice that your Father doled out to you.  And yet you suffered all of that for me.  You suffered all of that so that you might bring me to God.  You have opened the way for me into God’s presence so that I might see him, live with him, and come to him.  This next week, dearest Jesus, as I see you make your way into Jerusalem to suffer for all of our sins, help me to see what you’re doing.  You’re going into Jerusalem to take away my sins.  You’re going there to die for all of my sins.  You’re going there to bring me to God.  Lord Jesus, thank you for this your deepest passion.  It is my salvation.  It is my entry into God’s presence.  Amen.

Saturday, March 23rd

“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.”  Proverbs 25:21-22

Dear Lord, My natural inclination is to get even or to reject people that rub me the wrong way.  I am challenged by your word here to love them boldly.  I understand that if I was an ancient person it would be like giving my evil neighbor a full jar of coals for his fire if he came by and asked for them to warm his house and cook his food.  It would be a testimony to your unconditional love living in my heart.  I do want people to meet you.  Help them to meet you in me.  I trust you will bless me as I love others hugely in your name.  Amen.

Strive to say with Jesus, “If you have seen me you have seen the Father.”

Saturday, March 23rd

“They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”  “Blessed is the king of Israel!”  John 12:13

Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of lords and King of kings, on Palm Sunday in the long ago the multitudes at Jerusalem hailed Thee with their glad “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna the highest!”  But a few days later the people shouted their angry “Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!”  O God, forbid that I should ever be so unfaithful to Thee, my Savior!

Abide in my heart, Lord Jesus, and rule as my Lord and King.  Enable me, I pray Thee, by thy Holy Spirit to remain steadfast in my loyalty to Thee.  Keep me also from presumptuous sins, lest I crucify Thee anew with unholy living.  Above all the temptations of the unbelieving world, let me hear Thy gracious promise, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” 

(Taken from My Prayer Book)

Friday, March 22nd

“Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.  Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.  The poor are shunned by all their relatives-how much more do their friends avoid them!  Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.”  Proverbs 19:4, 6-7

Lord Jesus, When I consider true friendship as Solomon teaches me, I’m tempted to identify people in my life who are my truest friends and those who are not.  But that isn’t Solomon’s intent.  He isn’t teaching me whom to avoid.  He is teaching me how I might befriend people.  He calls me to be a true friend even when there is nothing in it for me, but only something in it for them.  He teaches me to be present especially when something is needed from me.  I pray, Lord Jesus, give me these kinds of friends to walk with me in life and toward eternity so that I might live with you forever.  Make me this kind of friend and put me in people’s lives so that I can walk with them toward eternity.  And, most of all, be this kind of friend for me.  Stay close to me Jesus and walk with me until I live with you forever.  Amen.

Jesus is this kind of friend to you.  He has promised that he himself will be with you always to the very end of the age.  He has promised that he will be with you through the valley of the shadow of death.  He has promised to send you the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who will teach and remind you of everything God has spoken.  He will not abandon you.  And he will send you the little “f” friends that you need to support and strengthen you.  He has not let you down yet and he isn’t about to start.

Thursday, March 21st

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.  Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”  Proverbs 23:4-5

Dear Heavenly Father, When I read your proverbs, I sense that you are guiding me in the middle road between two disastrous ditches.  The one ditch is laziness and the other is selfish ambition.  Here you are helping me with the latter.  It’s so easy to get out of balance.  Sometimes I can make seizing opportunities the only thing.  That’s when I start to work too many hours and tend to neglect relationships.  It’s not long before I’m tired, cranky and feeling isolated.  I love how you demote the accumulation of wealth to its proper place in my heart.  I love your word, Lord.  That line, “Don’t wear yourself out to get rich” says it all.  My health and relationships are more valuable than wealth.  Oh God, help me to live a balanced life as you have so graciously taught me.  I want to be industrious but balanced.  Your wisdom for your finite creatures is worth more than all the gold in the world.  Amen.

Don’t let time, your most valuable possession, be wasted will you try too hard to accumulate more stuff.

Wednesday, March 20th

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.  The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale.  One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”  Proverbs 18:10-11, 24

Lord Jesus, I am tempted to put up walls in my heart and life just to stay safe.  I bury things in my heart so that people don’t really know me.  I live in fear that people might learn these things about me.  I live in fear that people would stay away from me if they really knew me.  I also set up safeguards in other parts of my life too, walls to keep me safe.  I trust my saving, my security system, in short, I trust all sorts of things in my life to keep me safe.  But those walls crumble and fall.  And in the end, I am still scared even when the walls are standing tall.  Help me, dear Savior, to run to you in every fear.  Help me, dear Savior, to find my true and complete security and safety in you alone.  Surround me with friends who will lead me to trust in you and to run to you in every trouble.  You alone keep me safe in time and for all eternity.  Amen.

I have true security in Christ.  He is the true friend who sticks closer than a brother (v. 24).  With him I am not fearful, with him I am confident and will face life with courage and confidence. 

Tuesday, March 19th

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”  Proverbs 20:5

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you that you have used your words over many years to draw out of the deep places of my heart what are my motives and purposes.  For a lifetime you have revealed, forgiven and redirected my patiently.  Also, thank you for the wise people you sent to draw out the deep waters that run within me.  Thank you for giving me the pleasure of learning how to draw deep waters out of others too.  Please, please, please, continue to give me people who can draw out of my heart what I need to see in order to stay emotionally and spiritually mature and on the right path in life.  Help me to live in the truth about both you and me today.  Amen.

Hang out with people who are honest about God and you and leave the happy fools to their own folly.

Monday, March 18th

“To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.  All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.  Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.  The Lord works out everything to its proper end-even the wicked for a day of disaster.”  Proverbs 16:1-4

Lord, Thank you for your wise rule and your good purpose.  I’m trying really hard to figure out my life, to lay out a plan for it, and then to carry it out.  But the longer I live here the more I realize that my plans are not that great and my ability to carry them out is so limited.  I want to make plans that are good.  I want to lay out an agenda for my day and weak that seeks to serve you and your kingdom.  So, Lord, make me wise by your Spirit to lay out wise plans for my day and for my life.  Then, teach me to commit my plans to you, to hand them over to you, for your editing and for your guiding.  I trust that you will re-write my plan to serve your saving purpose.  And when you do, Lord, hope me to submit to and accept the purpose you have ordained.  You are wise in your rule and good in your purpose.  Carry it out today through me.  Amen.

Saturday, March 16th

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”  Romans 1:16

Dear Jesus, On this day when the world drinks green beer and eats Irish food to remember St. Patrick’s Day, I remember that he was a brave soul who brought your good news to a dark and dreary island.  He so loved you and people that he dedicated his life to telling the Irish that you had saved them through sacrifice.  He changed the course of thousands of lives forever.  I’m not ashamed of your gospel either.  I want this scared and harassed generation to know you and how much you love them too.  Give all believers and me the spirit of St. Patrick, to boldly help lost people be found and held safe in your word.  Amen.

Sat;urday, March 16th

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’S purpose that prevails.”  Proverbs 19:21

Dear Lord, I have had many plans just like you said.  Only a few really panned out the way I had hoped.  You used your almighty power and omnipotent intelligence to twist even the smallest of events to work for my salvation, spiritual growth, or ability to bless others.  You have moved and positioned me for better living, stopped me from terrible mistakes and have used mistakes for my learning.  Looking back I can see the road that led to you and for you.  It gives me peace to face the rest of my life with confidence.  I will work my plans today trusting that your purposes will make them useful however you wish.  Amen.

God loves to work our plans into his purposes. 

Friday, March 15th

“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”  Proverbs 15:1

Lord God, I recognize that the words from my mouth have a tremendous power to savew or to kill, to heal or to destroy, to stir up trouble or to bring calm to the trouble.  I also see how my mouth has caused me and others tremendous pain.  Forgive me for a sinful, hurtful and hateful words.  And then, work in my heart, Lord, so that my heart might be wise.  Help me to think carefully about ky words.  Help me to control the words that come out of my heart so that I stop words that should not be said.  Control my tongue by your Spirit so that my words are pleasing in your sight and helpful, yes, even saving for those to whom I say them.  Amen.

There is such power in the tongue, in the words that we use, in the words that we choose, in the words that we don’t say.  There is such power in the tongue to serve and to save. 

Thursday, March 14th

“A person’s riches may ransom their life, but their poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.”        Proverbs 13:8

Dear Heavenly Father, Even in this ancient text you remind people that you give everyone an opportunity to make profit from their efforts and to save money.  Keep me from being self-righteously poor in my own perspective of myself.  Give me the wisdom to find the balance between saving and sharing.  Help me to keep away from wasteful spending that prevents me from being positioned to help myself and others later.  Make me money-wise in a faith-based way.  All I have comes from you.  Don’t let me waste any of it.  Amen.

Managing possessions is a privilege and responsibility.

Wednesday, March 13th

“Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways….The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure….Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress and for their children it will be a refuge.  The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death….A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.  Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.  When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.”  Proverbs 14:2, 16, 26-27, 30-32

Lord, Sometimes as I make decision during the day I make them without giving much thought to you.  Sometimes my thoughts run wild in my heart and mind and I do not take the time to take those thoughts captive to you, O Christ.  There are times when I find myself chasing and pursuing things that are not you.  Forgive me for this, O Savior.  And help me to live my life today in view of what you give me, in view of the purpose you have poured into my life, and in complete view of your rule for me.  You have given me all good things, even heaven.  You have given me a purpose for my life.  You rule over all things for my good and for your eternal purposes.  As I live with my eyes on you, give me a content heart.  As I live with you today, give me generous hands.  As walk in this world today, keep me safe from all evil.  As I walk out my life today, keep my feet on your path as you guide me by your Spirit.  Amen.

The one who lives their life in view of the Lord lives an entirely different life and lives for an entirely different reason.