Context: This prayer arrived very early one blessed Sunday morning. I chose it to share with you today after my priest visited me with home communion yesterday:
Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered (Hebrews 5:8; NLT).
I want your will to be done, not mine (Luke 22:42; NLT).
Like Jesus, I suffer,
Like Jesus, I yield;
Like him, I am wounded,
Like him, I’ll be healed.
Like Jesus, I bear it,
Like Jesus, I cry;
Like him, I submit,
And, like him, I will die.
For he’s my example,
My way, and my shrine;
My Priest and my Saviour,
My bread and my wine.
Like him, I will perish,
Like him, rise again –
So, with Christ as my goal,
I will not live in vain.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58; CSB).
References
Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).
I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting thepast and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us (Philippians 3:10-14; NLT).
I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church (Colossians 1:24; NLT).
I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14; CSB).
We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28; GNT).
“Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-4; NLT).
Father, You bring good from bad,
And peace from every fear we have;
Truth from lies,
And gain from loss –
Help us to overcome our unbelief.
Father,
You bring light from dark.
For growth from pain, you hit the mark;
Love from hate,
And faith from doubt –
Bring gain from all our troubles, Great High Priest.
Father,
You bring life from death,
And comfort from each final breath;
Hope from grief, And joy from woe –
Your resurrection, Lord our God, is sweet.
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25; NLT).
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies (Psalm 103:2-4; NLT).
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:30-32; NIV).
1. Lord, may you be born again
Within my heart today,
Then I’ll always walk with you – My life, my truth, my way.
2. May you dwell there, full of grace, And teach me to do good,
Then I’ll grow much more like you – In faith, and hope, and love.
3. May I share your grief and pain
Within my heart each day,
Then I’ll suffer at your side – And watch, and wait, and pray.
4. Buried in my willing heart,
Then resurrected there, May we always live as one – In joy, and thanks, and prayer.
Not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit’s work, and poured him out upon us, too (Titus 3:5-6; ISV).
References
1. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:4; KJV).
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6; NLT).
2. The child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him (Luke 2:40; NIV).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
All of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13; NLT).
3. Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons,James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:36-8; NLT).
If we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering (Romans 8:17; NLT).
4. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there (John 19:41-2; NLT).
Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed – for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead (John 20:8; NLT)
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying” (John 11:25; NLT).
I am with you every day, even unto the end of time (Matthew 28:20; ABPE).
For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him (Philippians 3:8-9; NLT).
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
You are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28; NLT).
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NLT).
He went on a little further and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
(Matthew 26:39; NLT).
I see you praying
All alone:
Begging God
To spare your life.
I see you dying
All alone:
The perfect, spotless
Sacrifice.
I see you lying
All alone:
Your triumph over sin
Complete.
I see you rising
All alone:
I run to you,
And kiss your feet.
💙
They ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshipped him. (Matthew 28:9; NLT).
They ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshipped him (Matthew 28:9; NLT).
May I run to you, as well, And grasp your feet,
For you are here.
May I never let you go, Worshipping with joy,
And fear.
May I, too,
Tell all the world About your perfect sacrifice,
And that you’re with us evermore, Lord God,
Our pearl
Beyond all price.
🧡
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it
(Matthew 13:45-6; CSB).
References
Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.
The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there” (Matthew 28: 5-10; NLT).
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20; NLT).
“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed (John 20:28; NLT).
Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-9; NKJV).
Lord,
You are our wayside shrine,
Our sanctuary, Our bread, our wine;
Our rest, our strength,
Our life, our breath,
Our resurrection,
after death.
Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life.
Anyone who believes in me will live,
Even after dying” (John 11:25; NKJV).
1. Your cross
Is part of me,
And I am part
Of you.
2. It’s always with me,
Day and night,
In all I think, and say,
And do.
3. It gives me courage,
Comfort, peace,
When I am anxious,
Or in pain –
4. Reminding me
How Jesus lived
And suffered,
Died, and rose again.
🌺🌺🌺
References
1. If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23; NLT).
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
2. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me (Psalm 23:4; KJV).
3. I am full of the courage that the Lord’s Spirit gives (Micah 3:8; NET).
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever (John 14:16; KJV).
Peace I leave you; my peace I give you (John 14:27; NIV).
In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years (Isaiah 63:9; NLT).
4. The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction. But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18; NLT).
“The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead” (Luke 9:22; NLT).
