God’s gift . . .
Seven Days of Praying Through Holy Week
“Keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.
Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Hebrews 12:2
Holy Week . . . encompassing the closing days of the Lenten season, and the journey through the final days of Jesus’s life—from His triumphant entry into Jerusalem through His crucifixion and subsequent resurrection . . . each day encourages self-reflection and prayer as we journey toward the celebration of Easter Sunday.
This week’s Prayer Paths is designed as a blanket of prayer, reflective questions, and time talking and listening with God . . . You can work through each focus in a single day, over several moments, or stretch it out over the 7 days of Holy Week . . . May you be blessed by God’s presence, new insights and affirmation, and the peace that comes from knowing the love of Christ.
“Rejoice in our confident hope.
Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”
Romans 12:12
REST (Palm Sunday)
Sunday is Palm Sunday . . . the beginning of Holy Week that leads us to Easter . . . This is the day we remember and celebrate when Jesus entered Jerusalem as Savior and King . . . but while this was a triumphant entrance for Jesus, it was also Jesus’s first step toward His death . . . Jesus was a King coming to deliver the strangest sort of victory . . . the way He would save them—the way He would save us—would be by dying for them, dying for you and for me in a victory that took place through death . . . He arrived, not to conquer by force, but to give up His life.
We know what comes after that, but to get to Easter Sunday we must go through Good Friday . . . We need to understand His death before we can share in the new life . . . It’s only then that we can appreciate life in eternity.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
Psalm 46:10
Focusing your heart on rest . . .
Have you taken time for sabbath lately? . . . taken time to rest with God?
What practical steps might you need to take to carve out time for God and daily prayer?
Do you have a fruit bearing and prayerful faith? . . .
or are you just going through the motions?
Sit quietly for a moment . . . Let your body relax . . . tune out the distractions and just pause . . . our ability to focus, to give attention to something, depends on the mind-set and state of our body . . . when you feel ready, talk with God . . . ask Him to open your mind for rest.
“Have faith in God . . . whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Mark 11:22-24
♪♬♪ . . . In the Secret
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=126PB9K-9lg&list=RD126PB9K-9lg&start_radio=1
RELEASE (Monday)
The Lenten season has been a time of confession, surrender, and repentance . . . throughout Lent we have been looking at our lives and have seen what pulls us away from God . . . we have been striving for a closer relationship with our Lord as we come to understand and know Him more deeply.
“The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.
They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.”
Psalm 24:4-5
Focusing your heart on release . . .
Is there a habit or sin in your life that gets in the way of loving God
with your whole heart or loving your neighbors as yourself?
What needs to be removed, cleansed, or renewed in your heart and soul?
Since the beginning, our loving Creator has been pursuing us, drawing us closer to Him . . . He invites us to move closer to Him so we can be fully His . . . We freshly surrender our time, emotions, heart, mind, and soul, all we do . . . surrender and release to God, all that we are and all that we will be . . . take a deep breath in and slowly release it along with all that comes between you and God . . . when you feel ready, talk with God . . . ask Him to open your mind for release.
“Humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands . . . purify your hearts . . .
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”
James 4:7-10
♪♬♪ . . . The Wonderful Cross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBaVcaxnNBM&list=RDqBaVcaxnNBM&start_radio=1
REALIZE (Tuesday)
Each of us needs to clearly understand God love—God loves you! . . . So much so, that He sent His Son to earth to become a living sacrifice on the cross, so that you could have eternal life . . . He knows you, He cares about you, He listens to you, He watches over you, and He wants a relationship with you . . . When Christ looks deep into the palms of His hands, at the scars forever present—He sees YOU!! . . . Believe!!
“Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas,
“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side.
Stop doubting and believe.’”
John 20:26b-27
Focusing your heart on realization . . .
What do you see in the palms of your hands? . . . what scars, pain, or struggles are there?
What do you need to give to God again, and again, and again so He can help you find joy?
How hard is it to realize that God loves you just as you are, scars and all?
We don’t always understand God’s ways or plans, and that is okay . . . All we need to realize is that He loves us . . . And it’s okay to question God—everyone does at some point . . . Maybe you need to ask why? . . . or how? . . . or even when? . . . When you feel ready, talk with God . . . ask Him to open your mind for realization.
“Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.
When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father,
and you are in me, and I am in you.
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.
And because they love me, my Father will love them.
And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
John 14:19-21
♪♬♪ . . . Jesus Paid It All (current)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9d9a13YUP8&list=RDS9d9a13YUP8&start_radio=1
RELY (Wednesday)
We hear it said and we say it ourselves, “Let go and let God” . . . we imagine it means more prayer and trying harder to lean on Him in every moment—just focusing on God is enough—right? . . . but it isn’t that easy . . . Reminders to rely on God are true and good . . . But our minds wander to fears and uncertainty, and we frequently rely on our own willpower, believing we’re relying on God when we aren’t.
Trusting in God is not just thinking about God . . . relying on God is not a matter of willpower—it’s a lifestyle . . . Through faith in Christ, we can know God personally, and have a living, breathing relationship with Him . . . When He knows us intimately, empathizes with our suffering, He empowers and encourages us.
“We know and rely how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”
1 John 4:16
Focusing your heart on reliance . . .
Where are you weak and where are you strong in relying on and trusting in God?
Are you able to give your fears and doubts to Him? . . . Why or why not?
Is it easier to trust in God in the light of day? . . . Do you struggle in the dark of night?
We need to remember that God is a God we can trust . . . we can rely on God’s faithfulness . . . If all we have left is God’s love—we have enough!! . . . Close your eyes and picture your fears—put a name or identity on each one . . . fears hidden in the darkness are dangerous . . . bring them into the light and let God deal with your fears with you . . . when you feel ready, talk with God . . . ask Him to open your heart and mind for reliance.
“You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.”
Psalm 59:17
♪♬♪ . . . In Christ Alone/ The Solid Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR_A2pGPrY&list=RDAjR_A2pGPrY&start_radio=1
RECEIVE (Maundy Thursday)
Maundy Thursday is believed to be the day when Jesus celebrated His final Passover with His disciples . . . It marks the establishment of the Eucharist (Holy Communion) and highlights the themes of servant leadership and love through the washing of the disciples' feet.
"Maundy" comes from the Latin word ‘mandatum,’ or commandment, which refers to Jesus's words, "I give you a new commandment: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (John 13:34).
Focusing your heart on receiving . . .
Do you feel God’s presence in your life?
How is your prayer life?
Are you listening for God . . . listening to God?
We “hear” God in many ways . . . through the bible God reveals His will, teaching, and corrections . . . The Holy Spirit guides believers to understand truth . . . through prayer and meditation we can listen and align our hearts with God . . . God will use fellow believers, teachers, and wise counsel to provide messages, He speaks through events, often using challenges or "open/closed doors" to guide life paths, and nature reveal God's power and creativity . . . and there is that “still, small voice”—
a quiet, inner prompting of what is right or needed.
Be aware of all of your senses—seeing, touching, smelling, tasting, hearing, and your inner heart and soul—to know He is with you always . . . when you feel ready, talk with God . . . ask Him to open your heart and mind for receiving.
“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
Lamentations 3:22-23
♪♬♪ . . . Turn Your Radio On
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSuPET8iNAg&list=RDeSuPET8iNAg&start_radio=1
REMEMBER (Good Friday)
No one was less deserving of death than Jesus . . . Even Pontius Pilate testified repeatedly, “I find no guilt in this man” . . . And yet evil men conspired together, using false and trumped-up charges, and condemned Christ to death and killed Him in the most brutal manner imaginable.
Jesus did not threaten, He did not condemn, He did not pronounce doom on His crucifiers
. . . Instead of lashing out against them, He prayed . . . surrounded by this shameful, undeserving group, Jesus prayed for them with mercy and love . . . “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” . . . Submitting to indignity and injustice, He surrendered His life without resistance, without threat, and without retaliation . . . Forgiveness filled His heart, not condemnation or revenge.
Good Friday . . . remember the meaning of the cross, the love of God, and the power of the message that brings hope and redemption . . . Let the message of the cross transform and inspire you to love and serve others, just as Christ loved and served each of us.
“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and
believe in God who sent me have eternal life.
[You] will never be condemned for [your] sins,
[you] have already passed from death into life.”
John 5:24
Focusing your heart on remembering . . .
Are you living a Christ-like life or will you “get around to it”?
Are you sharing what God has done for you with others?
Who needs your prayers? . . . Who needs your forgiveness?
Is there anyone in your life that you need to forgive?
Reflect on the cross . . . claim and renew your faith and trust in your heart and soul . . . pray for others, reaching out to those who don’t know Christ, mercy, grace, or forgiveness . . . simply pray . . . when you feel ready, talk with God . . . ask Him to open your heart, mind, and soul for remembering.
“I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
Bend down and listen as I pray.”
Psalm 17:6
♪♬♪ . . . Watch The Lamb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADohQAsaz38&list=RDADohQAsaz38&start_radio=1
REDEDICATE (Holy Saturday)
Holy Saturday falls on the day before Easter Sunday and is the last day of Holy Week, it commemorates the time Christ lay in the tomb between His death and Resurrection . . . Holy Saturday sits between the pain and sorrow of Good Friday and the joy of Easter Sunday . . . The silence of Holy Saturday is a powerful reminder that death isn’t something that can be avoided . . . but we remember to keep our focus toward Sunday and the promise of eternal life! . . . Let’s pray that our hearts and souls can come together at Easter’s dawn, hopeful and joyful that it is Sunday that holds our future.
“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said,
‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way,
take up your cross, and follow me.’”
Mark 8:34
Focusing your heart on rededication . . .
Do we want “our will” or do we accept “God’s will”?
Can you honestly say, “Here I am, Lord?” . . . “Thy will be done?”
Every day has its own problems and opportunities . . . Every day is God's day! . . . rededicate yourself to Him . . . We all should serve out of love and desire, not obligation . . . Resist conforming to the world and instead, align your thoughts with God's will . . . You have been bought with a price, so admit that you are not your own, but belong to God . . . ask God to show you the way to keep focus on Him . . . when you feel ready, talk with God . . . ask Him to open your heart and mind for rededication.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—
this is your true and proper worship.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—
his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2
♪♬♪ . . . The Old Rugged Cross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z93jWBbmXCA&list=RDZ93jWBbmXCA&start_radio=1
CLOSING INSIGHT & ILLUMINATION
"O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God!"
Psalm 25:1-2
This week we commemorate and celebrate what Jesus did for us. . . . His death, the sacrifice He made to pay for our sins, to take our guilt away, to rescue us from the kingdom of darkness, to cancel our death penalty, and to make the way for our relationship with God to be restored.
Sunday we will celebrate His victory over sin and death by way of His resurrection from the dead, that definitive act that completed God's redemptive mission, secured our freedom, and ensured our salvation . . . All of this, not because we somehow earned it, but because God, in His grace and mercy, made the way for us to meet the Man on the middle cross.
The Man on the Middle cross, our Lord and Savior . . . It's all about him.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.—Amen.
♪♬♪ . . . Glorious Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xODpgyqGCYM&list=RDxODpgyqGCYM&start_radio=1
**Easter Sunday there will be a simple “Prayer Paths” celebrating Easter!
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Prayer Paths (written by Dr. Debbie Parcel)
is a weekly email letter designed to “fuel”
your active prayer life, help you stay engaged in
focused prayer, and encourage a
growing relationship with our Triune God.
To receive Prayer Paths by email each week—send a request,
with your name and email,
to BarnabasRoad2025@gmail.com
(Prayer Paths is offered through Barnabas Road Ministries)