It’s called “Holy Week,” because for Christians, the journey from Palm Sunday to Easter commemorates the world-changing events that also change the life of anyone who identifies with Jesus Christ in His sacrificial suffering, death, burial and resurrection. For many, the week is characterized by much thought, worship and prayer. So here are eight prayers that can be prayed at any time, but may be helpful in driving home to your heart the profound meaning and blessing of this coming weekend:
Four Good Friday Prayers
1) Lord Jesus, as you were crucified between two thieves, one who ridiculed and one who repented, so let any sacrifice and suffering I may offer be a testimony both to skeptics and seekers (see Luke 23:33).
2) Since my old self was crucified with Jesus, so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, grant that I may no longer be a slave to sin, because anyone who has died has been set free from sin (Romans 6:6-7, NIV).
3) God, Your Word says that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires; show it to be so in my life today (Galatians 5:24, NIV).
4) Father, in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world; remind me of that truth today (Galatians 6:14, NIV).
Four Resurrection Sunday Prayers
1) Lord God, thank you that I was buried with Jesus through baptism into death in order that, just as He was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, I too may live a new life. For if I have been united with Him in a death like his, I will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His (Romans 6:4-5, NIV).
2) God, I died to the law through the body of Christ, that I might belong to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that I might bear fruit for You. Please let me fulfill Your purpose today (Romans 7:4, NIV).
3) Thank you, Lord Jesus, that because You were crucified in weakness but raised to life by God’s power, let me, though weak, live by God’s resurrection power in all I do (2 Corinthians 13:4, NIV).
4) God, thank you that I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
These are just eight simple (and biblical) suggestions, of course, and there are many ways to incorporate these prayers into your worship this week. You may walk “The Calvary Road” by praying one a day for the next eight days. Or pray the first four at intervals on Good Friday and the other four at intervals on Easter. Or you may print them and have family members read the prayers before a meal. However you use them, these prayers are offered in the hope that they will enrich not only your Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday celebrations, but that they will also find permanent lodging and exert transforming power in your heart and life from this day on.
