Apr 3 – The Daily Prayers this week are Easter Prayers on Jesus’ Suffering.

Lord Jesus, during Your arrest and subsequent trial, darkness appeared to dominate – to Your enemies You did say, ‘this is your hour, and the power of darkness’ (Luke 22:53).

When Judas Iscariot left You at the table, after he had received the bread from Your hand, ‘…it was night’ (John 13:30), he went into the darkness to betray You.

Lord Jesus, we thank You that You are the Light of the world, and the one who follows You shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. May Your light and life dispel the darkness around me, my family, church, loved ones, street, community, town and county. May many, many new people begin to follow You during this Easter period. Amen

Apr 4 – Lord Jesus, during Your arrest, there were soldiers, swords and clubs, all things which speak of violence and the threat of violence. After Your arrest we see You being led and handed over to hard-hearted men who delivered You to be crucified. They bound, seized, and laid hands on You with force.

This is the language of captivity and violence; and yet, You were the One who came to redeem the violent, set the captives free from a life of bondage and slavery to sin.

Thank You that the violence You experienced was part of Your Passion or suffering. This was suffering that You endured because of Your divine mission which opened the door to true freedom, healing and wholeness for all who will repent and believe into You – including for me!

We pray for the violent, hard-hearted and those held in bondage to sin in our Borough/County; may they come to find new life in You as they hear the Good News of the Gospel this Easter. Amen

Apr 5 – Lord Jesus, throughout these events, there is an almost frenzy of activity in order to get You to the Cross. Nothing could prevent the Cross.

Compared to the privacy of the Upper Room, the loneliness You undoubtedly felt as Your Father began to withdraw His corporeal presence. ‘My God, My God why have You forsaken Me,’ was Your cry on the cross.

You were made a public spectacle and became a figure of mockery and ridicule. You opened not Your mouth; as a lamb You were led to the slaughter. Your trial before a ‘kangaroo court,’ a court where injustice and lies were used to ensure that You should be destroyed, reveals the terribleness of the unrestrained human heart.

Only regeneration by Your Spirit can truly change the human heart. As God’s Paschal Lamb, You suffered for my salvation and justification – thank You! May that New Birth in the Spirit be the experience of many in Telford & Wrekin/Shropshire. Amen

Apr 6 – Lord Jesus, You only responded a couple of times during this period, and yet, during this hour of darkness we will still get an amazing sense of Your awesome authority – You were still the Lord of all.

Thank You that this is especially evident in how You disdained to answer Herod, ‘cast not your pearls before pigs’ comes to mind.

Thank You that You have conferred such authority on Your people so that in You – they can also overcome Satan, his cohorts and the enemies of Your cross. Teach me, and us as a church, to rightly use this authority.

On this Maunday Thursday, we remember that You humbled Yourself and washed Your disciple’s feet. Thus, You set an example for us in taking the humble place. Teach us what true service is, and how we can worship and serve You to the glory of Your name. Amen

Apr 7 – On this Good Friday – thank You Lord Jesus for all You accomplished on tha cross. We give thanks, praise and all the glory to You for Your great atoning service.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for how You also inspired the Gospel writers to allow the Passion story to develop. In each scene is a visual image which made it easier for people to recount the scenes from memory.

Today, this is still absolutely relevant in our Digital Age. May these scenes, so vividly portraying the Passion, continue to loom large in our nation’s psyche as it is acted out and retold through Passion plays and movies today.

As we put on the Silent Disco in The Minster for young people, have our morning service, and show the Passion movie in Telford Elim Men group this evening – may Your Spirit go before us preparing the way, blessing the activities, and creating many divine appointments which point people to Jesus. In Jesus’ name & for His glory. Amen

Apr 8 – Lord Jesus, the authorities may have thought that You were the victim and them in charge; yet, You, as the victim, was still the One with all the authority and pose. Even before the Sanhedrin You replied, ‘Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God’ (Luke 22:69). 

You said to Pilate, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here;’ and ‘You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above’ (John 18:36, and 19:11 respectively).

Thank You, Your Words, under the Spirit’s anointing, are life giving and life transforming. The sword of the Spirit is still the means of overcoming the evil one. Teach us how to apply them aright. Amen

Apr 9 – Lord Jesus, on this Easter Sunday, the force of what You accomplished still has the urgency of something only recently done, but which is still very important to us, even crucial. 

On this Easter Sunday, may many more people in our nation accept the truth of what You achieved through Your redemptive suffering, death and resurrection. For all those who will become Your people this Easter – may they develop into an amazing cohort of passionate Disciples; Lord, our nation needs their witness and love for You.

May we in Telford Elim, in person and online, live today as You intended for us to live – in and with Resurrection Life. It is that important! The Passion, Cross and Your Resurrection are that important for our salvation, discipleship and witness to the world.

We pray for non-believers to be drawn to You this Easter, and in the coming season. Amen