For our Good Friday service, we have set up prayer stations for prayer and contemplation, focusing on five different themes. These themes are major components that were related to the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.
We have created these virtual prayer stations, each centered around one of the five themes. We invite you to take time on each theme, read the devotional thoughts, then pause for prayer about this theme before moving on to the next theme.
As we look at these given themes, we may be confronted with how these themes relate to our own lives in our walk with God. Identifying these themes may help us sharpen our faith and grow in our awareness of sin.
If in your prayer time you find anything that you would like to talk through or receive prayer over, please feel free to reach out to Pastor Charles or any of the elders.
Pride
We see Pride on Good Friday as we look at the response of the Religious leaders.
The Religious leaders exhibited pride in that they thought that they knew better than God. They rejected Jesus because they had a picture of who the Son of God should be and what He would do. In addition to this they despised the attention Jesus was receiving, and the ways in which it challenged their authority.
The Religious leaders demonstrated Pride in not yielding to or acknowledging God Himself, or the work He was doing. As they succumbed to their pride, they moved to kill Jesus.
What are some ways in which we may also exhibit pride? Are there areas in which we believe we know more than God? How do we move according to our timeline as opposed to God’s? Where do we think this will lead us?
As we ponder these questions, and as you pray, ask God to reveal some ways in which we may exhibit pride in our own lives. Then, ask God for forgiveness. Afterwards, in our acknowledgement of the love and forgiveness of God, think through some ways in which we might overcome the Pride that may be within ourselves.
Abandonment
We see Abandonment on Good Friday in the response of the disciples.
Jesus and His disciples often encountered hardship in their ministry. Various forms of danger were likely fairly common in their time spent with Jesus. However, on the night Jesus was betrayed, when guards came to take Jesus away, the disciples ran away, leaving Jesus in the hands of His betrayers. We can understand why they might have ran away, they were afraid for their own lives! However, when they ran away, they also abandoned Jesus, the Son of God.
What do we do when we encounter difficulty? What do we do when we encounter difficulty that challenges our spiritual lives? Do we stick to what God has for us? Do we remain where He has led? Do we run to what God has for us and is leading us to, or do we run from it? As we ponder these questions, and as you pray, ask God to reveal ways in which we might abandon Him, our faith, or His desire for our lives. Then, ask God for forgiveness.
Afterwards, in our acknowledgement of the love and forgiveness of God, think through some ways we might choose to run to what God has for us rather than run from it. Also, think through some ways we might run to God in our faith when we encounter difficulty, rather than run from Him in the challenge.
Doubt
We see Doubt on Good Friday in the ways in which the disciples, Judas, and the religious leaders responded on the night of Jesus’ betrayal.
The disciples doubted God in that as opposed to remaining with Him in His betrayal, they thought it was a better idea to run.They had a moment of doubt that Jesus was worth sticking with in the challenge. Judas doubted God in that he believed it was more beneficial to betray God than follow Him. The Religious leaders doubted God in that they didn’t believe Jesus was who He said He was. They decided it was better to crucify Him rather than acknowledge who was standing before them.
Doubt, in and of itself however, is not a sin. It is human to doubt, and to wonder if God is really listening, and has things under His control. We encounter a problem with doubt when we choose to react to a situation out of doubt in God, rather than our faith in Him.The Disciples reacting out of their doubt in God, led to their abandonment. Judas reacting out of doubt led him to betray Jesus.The Religious leaders reacting out of their doubt in Jesus, led them to putting the Son of God on the cross. Reacting out of our doubt in God often leads to choices that end in pain or regret.
What are some ways in which we doubt God? How do we often respond when we are faced with doubt? How can we acknowledge the naturalness of doubt without reacting to it poorly? What are some things we can remind ourselves of when we encounter doubt?
As we pray, ask God to reveal the ways in which we might doubt Him, and react out of that doubt. Then, ask God for forgiveness for the negative ways in which we react out of doubt, and show us how to move forward in the midst of it. Afterwards, in our acknowledgement of the love and forgiveness of God, think through some ways in which we can respond to our doubt in healthy, God-trusting ways.
Fear
We see Fear on Good Friday in the reactions of the Disciples.
In tandem with abandonment, it was the fear of the disciples (fear for their lives, the unknown, etc.) that led to their abandonment. Similar to doubt, fear, in and of itself, is not wrong to feel. Fear is often a natural response to an intense situation, new, or alarming situation. Fear can sometimes even be a tool that can influence wise decisions. We can often encounter an issue with fear when it becomes the only or loudest voice we listen to. Fear then often influences us to make decisions that can hurt ourselves or others. As it has often been said, “Fear can be a good resource, but makes for a terrible leader”. Listening to fear drove the disciples from their Savior, and led to their abandonment of the Messiah.
What are some ways in which we listen to the voice of fear? In what ways can we follow the lead of fear in our lives? How can we acknowledge the presence (and sometimes wisdom of fear), while choosing to let God lead us in how to interact with it?
As we pray, ask God to reveal the ways in which we listen to the voice of fear. Then, ask for forgiveness for the ways in which we have listened to the voice of fear that distanced us from God, or resulted in hurting ourselves or others. Afterwards, in our acknowledgement of the love and forgiveness of God, think through some ways in which we might identify the voice of fear in our lives, and how we can respond in ways that honors God and honors others.
Betrayal
We see the theme of Betrayal on Good Friday in the actions of Judas.
Scripture tells us that Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas had a relationship with Jesus, they traveled together, and shared life together for over 3 years. Yet Judas received an opportunity to choose something he wanted, and chose his desires over honoring Jesus. Luckily, God knew the betrayal of Judas was coming and it became the catalyst for the redemption of humanity. Nonetheless Judas betrayed his Savior.
What are some ways in which we can relate to the theme of Betrayal? Are there any ways in which we hand over our faith in Jesus for something else we desire? Are there ways we turn from Jesus to edify ourselves? As we pray, think through and ask God to reveal any ways in which we exhibit betrayal in our relationship with Him. Then, ask God for forgiveness. Afterwards, in our acknowledgement of the love and forgiveness of God, think through some ways in which we might acknowledge betrayal in our lives, and what we can do to choose differently when betrayal arises.