A Prayer about a King who Wins by Dying

by | Mar 23, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection

A Prayer about a King who Wins by Dying

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.

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 Faithlessness and Faithfulness

by | Mar 21, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Death and Resurrection

A Prayer about Faithlessness and Faithfulness

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 shot straight with him.

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.

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

author, life and legacy coach, speaker

 

A Prayer about Watching Jesus’ Sorrow

by | Mar 19, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Grief, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Watching Jesus’ Sorrow

“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. 



 

A Prayer about the Hope of the Last Supper

by | Mar 18, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Hope of the Last Supper

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take, eat, this is my body.’ Matthew 26:26

Lord God,

I confess, I too often read past Jesus’ profound words 

to his disciples without stopping to think 

how revolutionary they were (and still are).

The disciples were enjoying a Passover meal with Jesus. 

(They didn’t know it would be their last Passover with Jesus.) 

At Passover, the head of household 

recounted the day the Lord “passed over” the Israelites 

when he rescued them from the Egyptians. 

On that day, the Israelites marked their doorframes 

with the blood of a lamb, 

the sign to pass over that house 

and spare the firstborn sons (Exodus 12:12-13). 

Now Jesus says to his disciples, 

“I am becoming that lamb offering; 

I will be the substitute who takes the penalty for your sins.” 

Today, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, 

the cup of communion and the breaking of the bread 

are the sign and seal of his eternal blessing on us.  

May we settle our hearts in the hope and security 

this meal promises to every believer.

In the name of Jesus’ holy blood and body. Amen. 

Read Matthew 26:17-29.