fbpx

A Prayer about Doing the Father’s Will

by | Mar 27, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Doing the Father’s Will

‘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 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. 



 

A Prayer about Doing the Lowly Things

by | Mar 17, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Doing the Lowly Things

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

John 13:14

Lord Jesus,

You know not many of us in Western culture 

understand about washing feet. 

Most of us wear shoes and take showers regularly. 

Help us to see you 

performing the act of the lowliest servant, 

kneeling before your disciples, 

taking their dirty, dusty feet into your hands, 

and wiping them gently with a clean towel. 

Help us to understand the relief you gave them, 

the cleansing they felt. 

Help us to understand 

and obey your call to “wash one another’s feet.” 

May we not avoid the most undesirable tasks; 

may we instead seek to serve one another 

by doing the hard things, 

whether it’s changing out dirty diapers, 

handing out food to the homeless, 

or working out math problems with an angry teenager.

Show us today and every day

what it means to follow your command 

to serve this world wherever you call us. 

Read John 13:1-20.



 

A Prayer about Being Betrayed

by | Mar 16, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Being Betrayed

And as they were eating, he said, ‘Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’ Matthew 26:21

Faithful Lord,

Being betrayed makes our hearts sick. 

When someone we confided in, believed in, trusted in—

a friend, a spouse, a co-worker, a sibling, 

turns on us, 

we want to make like a turtle 

and pull our head and our heart into a hard shell. 

We ache to think of how you were betrayed 

by your disciples—

Judas, who sold you out; 

Peter, who denied ever knowing you; 

and probably most of the others too. 

We are amazed that you submitted to such betrayal, 

and you did so for us, 

we who have betrayed you. 

Lord, may the true story 

of your betrayal on our behalf 

radically transform us. 

Make us willing to risk again, 

to poke our heads and hearts out of that shell, 

that we might live and love as you have led us to do. 

In your faithful name. Amen.

Matthew 26:20-25; 30-35.



 

A Prayer about Dying to Bear Fruit

by | Mar 14, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Dying to Bear Fruit

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

John 12:24-25

Lord Jesus,

I’m not much of a gardener, 

but I do know that you begin by burying a seed in dirt, 

and then, if all goes well,

a few days or weeks later, 

something green starts to poke out of that dirt. 

I also know that if properly nurtured, 

that green poke 

will turn into a stalk 

and eventually bear the fruit 

of a cherry tomato 

or a mammoth sunflower 

or a juicy piece of corn. 

As we approach the days 

when we celebrate your death and resurrection, 

may we remember our calling 

to be buried with you 

that we might rise with you. 

May we learn to let go of the things 

we think are so precious and necessary in our daily lives 

in order to discover 

the precious and necessary life you have for us, 

a flourishing life of bearing fruit, 

an eternal life of joy and glory. 

In your fruit-bearing name. Amen. 

Read John 12:20-26.