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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 Perfect Peace

by | Mar 24, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Lent

A Prayer about 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.

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 the New Things God Will Do in 2024

by | Dec 31, 2023 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Seasons & Holidays, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the New Things God Will Do in 2024

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

Lord of New Things,

On this New Year’s Day, 

we celebrate all of the new things 

you have already done, 

and all of the new things 

you will one day do 

when Jesus returns.

We thank you for the very new thing 

you did at Christmas over 2000 years ago—

You sent your Son as a weak and weeping infant-king. 

We praise you for the redeeming work 

he has already done in our lives. 

We look forward to the new things 

you have planned to do in us this year.

How will we fulfill our created and re-created purpose 

to enjoy and glorify you this year?

May we not scribble shallow “resolutions” today 

that we will break by next week; 

may we write prayers of purpose, 

seeking your creative power 

to radically transform our lives, 

to make us people 

who love our families, our friends, 

our neighbors, and our enemies. 

May our resolutions be far less 

about what we will do in the coming year 

and far more about who we will become.

In Jesus’ transforming name. Amen. 

Read Isaiah 43:1-4, 19-21.