April 18, 2014 Good Friday

Dear Heavenly Father,

Hallowed be Your Name! Blessed are You, dear Lord! Thank you for loving us so much that you stepped down from heaven to earth to save us. Thank you for becoming human enough to feel the beatings, the humiliation, the conflict, the torment and then the nails on the cross. 

You had the power to stop it, to clinch Your fists, and shout, “NO”! But instead, You opened Your Hands for us, just as You had always opened your arms to little children who came to You…and You took the nails. You were lifted up, on splintering boards, for your final agony, for me, for my husband, our family, for our friends and our enemies. For all, once and for all.

“Thank you” seems so shallow and not great enough to tell you how more than enough You are to me. So, I will live to be what pleases You so I may do what reflects Your Glory, knowing my horrible debt of sin is paid in full, with an intense desire to show You my heart of deep gratitude. I won’t be perfect and I will mess up from time to time but my life is Your’s to do what You want.

May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, in all the details from small to large, in our lives here on earth as it is in heaven. Give us THIS day a mind to remember all You have done for us. Yes, Lord, Yes!

And forgive us our sin as we quickly forgive the sin of others to us…and to You. Lead us not into temptations to judge, to doubt, to lose faith, to criticize, to be unloving, or impatient. Instead, lead us to “higher ground” thinking and behaving, with You living in us and us in You. Abide with us. May Your Holy Spirit guide us in all we do today and give us power to do what is right…even when no one cares or when no one is looking at us.

You have all power! You are God and we are not. We rely on You. All our trust is in You. So, please put Your power in us to do all that pleases You, makes You smile, brings You praise and helps others look to You, too, for their salvation. We praise You forevermore.

Bless all who reflect on Your salvation by way of the Cross today and then remember that in three days you rose again, defeated death, defeating the prince of darkness and that You are preparing a place for us…where You are…to live forever with You! Hallelujah! Blessed be Your Name!

How can I say thanks? With my life. Help us, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen

“LORD, give to me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me.” Psalm 119:41, NLT