A Prayer of Gratitude for Jesus' Sacrifice This Holy Friday
By Christine Perry
"Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:4-6 NKJV
Friday was a dark and dismal day. The disciples had abandoned Jesus as He was arrested in the garden. Yet, before that, he was in the garden pleading with the Father for a different way. Jesus was so distraught that he sweated drops of blood while He prayed, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." Luke 22:42.
I think we have all experienced physical reactions to stressful situations, but typically, these situations only affect us. On the Friday of his crucifixion, Jesus faced the wrath of God not for himself but for us. He took on our sin, our shame, and our humiliation. When I think about Jesus' sacrifice, which I would do better to meditate on frequently, I am, more often than not, left speechless.
- Because of His sacrifice, I will never be alone or forsaken (Hebrew 13:5). I may feel alone, but I will never be out of God's sight (Jeremiah 12:3a).
- Because of Jesus' sacrifice, no matter who rejects me, I will always be accepted by Him through His shed blood (Romans 15:7).
- Because of Jesus' sacrifice, I have someone advocating on my behalf (1 John 2:1).
- Because of Jesus' sacrifice, I am now a child of God, and because of that legal and relational standing, I am an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).
- Because of Jesus' sacrifice, I can be reconciled to the Father (Colossians 1:21-22), and I am an ambassador of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:20).
J.I. Packer said in his book, Knowing God, "The Christian's secret of a God-honoring life is that we take the following truths and say it over and over to yourself first thing in the morning, last thing at night, as you wait for the bus, and any time your mind is free. Ask that you may be enabled to live as one who knows it is as utterly and completely true.
- I am a child of God.
- God is my Father.
- Heaven is my home.
- Every day is one day nearer.
- My Savior is my brother.
- Every Christian is my brother, too."
Let's pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for sending Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice. Thank You for providing a way for me to be able to communicate with You but also to live with You. Father, I'm sorry for my selfishness when I've gotten so caught up in myself and my situation that I forget about what it cost You to save me. Please forgive me. Lord, without You, I am helpless. You give me the air in my lungs, the beat in my heart, and the ability to speak. Your love is what drew me first, and You loved me even when I was dead in sin. God, that kind of love is hard for me to understand. Apart from You, there is nothing lovable in me. You're worthy of everything I am and everything I ever hope to be. Help me to live each moment for you. Help each task that I do today bring You honor. And let what the hymn writer wrote be true of my life, when he said:
Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
O Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.
Even though we fail so often, and it may not seem like we do, we love You.
In Jesus' name, Amen!
Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website: Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.
Related Resource: How to Choose Your One Word for 2026
This month on the How to Study the Bible Podcast, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year. In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.
Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.
This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
