We encourage you to read this devotion three times a
day. Start in the morning and reflect upon the morning reflection
question. Then in the afternoon, read it again and reflect using the noon
question for reflection. For the evening, take time to ponder how this
has resonated with you in the day and reflecting using the evening
question. We offer a prayer with each devotion for you to pray or we
invite you to pray what is in your heart.
Psalm 22
Selected verses: 1-8
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Selected verses: 1-8
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.
and by night, but find no rest.
3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried, and were saved;
in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8 “Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver—
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”
Reflection:
When did we become a society based on fear? Good Friday reminds us that even God knows the fullness of evil and fear. Jesus came to earth to show us in word, deed, and action what the Kingdom of God was like. The world chose to destroy Jesus instead of embracing his message of love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Even today the message gets distorted by fear. We live in a society where fear sells everything from the latest weather forecast to face cream. We are bombarded with messages that say “if we think the right things and own the right things”, we can protect ourselves and our families from the world. Jesus taught us that fear cannot be battled with fear. The only true weapon is love. Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of those who rejected him and for the perfecting of those who received him. Jesus loved all people, and prayed for them, even if they denied and rejected him; Jesus conquered sin because he knew the cost of pride and selfishness, of cruelty and hatred, both to people and to God. Why does this Psalm go from a declaration of trust to a question of despair? Unfortunately, this is how life is. We can know our eternal lives are protected by God, but that does not mean that we are never afraid again. Fear can surround us and make us doubt ourselves and God. We all know the feeling. But Jesus reminds us again and again, “Do not be afraid.” Nothing can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus our Lord. Others will try to sell us through fear. Psalms such as this one can help us pray and retune our hearts so that we are not caught up in the rhetoric. God’s mercy is more powerful than any human act of injustice, violence, or fear…that is the message of the cross. God conquered fear on Good Friday.
they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried, and were saved;
in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8 “Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver—
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”
Reflection:
When did we become a society based on fear? Good Friday reminds us that even God knows the fullness of evil and fear. Jesus came to earth to show us in word, deed, and action what the Kingdom of God was like. The world chose to destroy Jesus instead of embracing his message of love, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Even today the message gets distorted by fear. We live in a society where fear sells everything from the latest weather forecast to face cream. We are bombarded with messages that say “if we think the right things and own the right things”, we can protect ourselves and our families from the world. Jesus taught us that fear cannot be battled with fear. The only true weapon is love. Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of those who rejected him and for the perfecting of those who received him. Jesus loved all people, and prayed for them, even if they denied and rejected him; Jesus conquered sin because he knew the cost of pride and selfishness, of cruelty and hatred, both to people and to God. Why does this Psalm go from a declaration of trust to a question of despair? Unfortunately, this is how life is. We can know our eternal lives are protected by God, but that does not mean that we are never afraid again. Fear can surround us and make us doubt ourselves and God. We all know the feeling. But Jesus reminds us again and again, “Do not be afraid.” Nothing can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus our Lord. Others will try to sell us through fear. Psalms such as this one can help us pray and retune our hearts so that we are not caught up in the rhetoric. God’s mercy is more powerful than any human act of injustice, violence, or fear…that is the message of the cross. God conquered fear on Good Friday.
Reflection Questions:
Morning: As you look forward to this day, ask God to show you ways that you might favor love instead of fear.
Noon: At noon on Good Friday, darkness came over the whole land. How do you find God’s love in the darkness?
Evening: Before you sleep tonight, focus on God’s loving Presence. How can you trust God to counteract fear? How does Easter remind you that God is working even when you can’t see it?
Noon: At noon on Good Friday, darkness came over the whole land. How do you find God’s love in the darkness?
Evening: Before you sleep tonight, focus on God’s loving Presence. How can you trust God to counteract fear? How does Easter remind you that God is working even when you can’t see it?
Prayer: Holy God, this crazy world seems to be spinning out of control. Some days there appears to be no hope. I imagine the followers of Christ felt the same way on that awful Friday when he was nailed to a cross to die. Please show me you are still near. Please reassure me that nothing can separate me from your love. Please calm my fears and help me to hold on. Easter is coming! Thanks be to God!
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