A few years ago, every so often, my grandson and I would meet for lunch just to “catch up”. In reality, Alec ‘s teen years was a full season of challenges, joys, and passions, and he wanted to tell me all about it. These lunches with my Grandson were treasured occasions for me and I would let nothing interfere with them. I cleared my calendar, turned off my cell phone, embraced my anticipation, and made certain no distraction would … disturb our time together.
Reflecting on those sweet encounters, I have begun to wonder if I could visit with Jesus that intimately in hopes of knowing Him better and feeling more deeply His love. It is with this intent that I am going on a “Prayer Pilgrimage” during Holy Week.
With trepidation and anticipation I asked the LORD to share with me His conversations with His Father as He walked through the most difficult and glorious days of His life. I believe as I embrace my time with Him each day of Holy Week, I will learn vital truths about living and dying intentionally - just as He did. Perhaps, I will understand more fully how to pray with confident trust-through despair, danger, and discouragement.
The Bible tells me, with Jesus we can call to our Father and know we have His attention.
“And because you are His sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4-6)
This motive of a Spirit-directed and Christ-mediated prayer connects us deep into the heart of God, so we can know beyond any doubt He is a Father of good promises.
Is it possible to be so intimate with our Savior to grasp His passion, agony, and victory through His prayers the last days of His life? Perhaps the Holy Spirit will give us a revelation of God’s goodness and trustworthiness that Jesus knew and experienced.
By reading and grasping the events and essence of each day during Holy Week…we can learn how to pray for 1) trust and obedience, 2) purification and passion, 3) wisdom, knowledge, and boldness, 4) peace, 5) surrender to God’s Sovereignty, 6) trust in the darkest hour, and 7) the everlasting promises of God (see John 5:5).
What will those prayers, teach us? Perhaps they will release us from bondages and free us into a deeper relationship with God. Surely, just as the love I felt from my grandson during our deep conversations and uninterrupted visits time together, we can come to know and feel the Father’s love in a very real and lasting way.
Let us all embark on Holy Week’s Prayer Pilgrimage, first with a cleansing prayer to clear away obstructions of guilt, anxiety, and disillusioning distractions. Second, with the assurance that it is because of the Victory of the Cross … all guilt and sin is wiped away.
“…by grace you have been saved – and raised up with Him and seated us with Him in heavenly places.” (Ephesians 2: 5-6)
We are welcome to enter into Jesus’ conversations with His Father. This is our privilege and His Promise.