No fear

GOOD FRIDAY

Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. ~ Exodus 14:21 (NLT)

I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. ~ Romans 8:38-39 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God's love can drive back waters and raise the dead. We don't have to be afraid.

PRAYER:

Lord God, on this Good Friday I am always refreshed to hear that your love is more powerful than death. It even defeats death. So why am I afraid? Why do I act irresponsibly because I act out of that fear? Help me to see that Good Friday really is good -- that your love always breaks through -- and that I do not need to act out of fear. Amen.

Room for all

MAUNDY THURSDAY

All lives are mine... ~ Ezekiel 18:4 (CEB)

There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. ~ John 14:2 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

The Lord is responsible for all people -- and has made room in his presence for all.

PRAYER:

Gracious God, no one slips through the cracks because you have a place for everyone. Of course, some of us -- including me at times -- pushback against the way you do things. We're rebellious and would rather have homes where we're totally in control. It's not always that we don't like how you do things but that we'd like to be in charge ourselves. Don't give up on us. Don't let me slip away just because I'm stupid. I going to try to allow you much more access to my life so that I can experience the new life in Christ. Amen.

Peace

HOLY WEEK

Your enemies will stay far away. You will live in peace, and terror will not come near. ~ Isaiah 54:14 (NLT)

I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid. ~ John 14:27 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Jesus is giving us his peace so we don't have to be afraid.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Lord, for sharing your peace with us. You continue to extend it to us -- even when we prefer to figure things out on our own and live with the fear of all that. It does not make sense that we are so easily caught up in the fear of our times. Intervene and step me through the process of embracing your peace. I'm not going to entertain fear any longer. Amen.

God's generosity

HOLY WEEK

His love has taken over our lives; God’s faithful ways are eternal. Hallelujah! ~ Psalm 119:2 (MSG)

God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else? ~ Romans 8:32 (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

God never stops being generous because he loves us so much.

PRAYER:

Hallelujah, Lord! I'm so thankful for your generosity -- especially the gift of your Son Christ Jesus. He gave up his life to die on a cross, so that we might have victory over sin and death. I take your generosity for granted. But when you bring it all to mind, which I trust that you will continue to do, it captures my thoughts and my imagination. I then want to join the psalmist in shouting "Praise the Lord!" Amen.