O Suffering Christ, during the season of Lent, teach me how to open my heart to understand the depth of Your love which You expressed in the suffering and loneliness You felt on Your journey to Calvary. Help me grasp the magnitude of the agony which You experienced so I can experience the true joy you want me to feel on Easter Morning. It must emanate from knowing that You conquered Hell, death and the grave for my sake. How hard it would be for me to voluntarily place myself in Your position knowing the magnitude of suffering that you were required to endure to pay the price for all sins for all times. It would be a tough command for me to obey, yet You “who for the joy set before You endured the cross and, scorning its shame, took Your place at the right hand of the Father.” I must never let the image of Your suffering fade from my memory so I do not get weary and lose heart when I encounter difficulties.
I must never lose sight of the fact that when I face hardships and disappointment … You traveled that road first. I should not lose hope and feel abandoned when things do not go my way because You are my faithful and powerful Advocate. I know that many who have gone before me have experienced hard times and, like You, they made it through by enduring and trusting in their God. I’ve come to understand that suffering is the training ground for my growth and maturity. Through the experiences that I go through, I develop the patience to persevere and my ultimate victory is made sweeter. I believe that if I follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, I will find the power and endurance required to overcome the struggles I face. In the same way You looked to Your Father and the Holy Spirit to overcome Your obstacles, so will I depend on You and the Holy Spirit to help me overcome mine.
To eliminate my stumbling, I must stop focusing on myself or the circumstances that surround me. Instead, I must always keep You in my line of sight and trust that You will do what You have promised. Realizing the pain of the scorn and rejection You faced as Your own people condemned You to death on the Cross … I acknowledge, that each time I choose to sin or ignore Your instructions, I too am yelling “Crucify Him!! Crucify Him!!” Help me not forget that it is my sins, along with others, which were the ones that nailed You to the Cross. And, it was the sacrifice You made to free me from those sins, that provided me a way to worship and praise You through unselfish acts of obedience and spontaneous good works. When I look at all You’ve done, it becomes so much easier to love and serve You. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Psalm 73: 28 But as for me, it is good to be near to God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all He has done.