As we enter Holy Week, we not only have an opportunity to read the story of Jesus’ victory. We also have an opportunity to pray for unique things that will help us become better followers.
The following prayers are built around lessons from Holy Week’s events, to help you go deeper in your Christian journey.
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5 Holy Week Prayers for Palm Sunday
Bible Reading: Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-45, John 12:12-19
Lord, we know that like the disciples sent out to get a colt from the next village, there will be many times in this life where we are not sure what you are leading us toward. Sometimes the position you have brought us makes sense. Other times, we’re not sure why we’ve been brought to this place and time. Sometimes we understand why you command us to do things, and other times the commands only make sense afterward. Teach us to trust you in the confusing times, knowing that you have a plan and will guide us step by step. Amen.
Lord, we know that the crowds that cheered you on Sunday probably included people calling for your crucifixion on Friday. Help us to remember that praise is ephemeral and public opinion is fickle. Teach us to put our hope in you alone. Amen.
Lord, you could have entered Jerusalem on a proud warhorse to overthrow Pilate. Instead, you came on a donkey, a symbol of peace. Show us how to bring peace into situations, to subvert expectations with your message that fulfills when all else fails. Amen.
Lord, we know that in the same way the Pharisees missed what was important and criticized your disciples, people may criticize us for what they perceive as foolishness. Give us the courage to praise you, even when it seems undignified. Focus our eyes on your standards and what you want to accomplish, not on what others think is proper. Amen.
Lord, during your triumphant entry, you looked at Jerusalem’s gates and wept because you saw what no one else could see. You knew the good thing hidden from people’s eyes, and you knew that terrible destruction was coming when the Romans sacked the city a few years later. Open our eyes to see important things before they pass us. Grow our awareness and discernment so that we are not caught unaware when trouble comes. Amen.
5 Holy Week Prayers for Holy Monday
Bible Reading: Matthew 21:18-26:5, Mark 11:12-19, Luke 19:47-21:38, John 12:20-50
Lord, the last thing I want is to find out that I am like a fig tree that has not borne any fruit despite my resources and opportunities. Give me wise counselors to show me when I am stagnating and how to pursue growth. Help me bear good spiritual fruit so that others may see my good works and who is behind them. Amen.
Lord, when you went into the temple and threw out the money changers, you were consumed with a particular kind of anger. You were feeling righteous indignation at your Father’s name being cheapened, not arrogance or sinful malice. Help me be slow to sinful anger and careful to reserve my outbursts for those moments when genuine righteous indignation is coming. Teach me to be indignant at the proper time and not before. Show me how to use those moments for your will rather than my own. Amen.
Lord, teach me how to have faith and not to doubt. I may never move a mountain, but grow my faith and trust that you will always answer prayers. I know that you always answer, even if the answers to my prayers are not what I expect. Show me the path to deeper trust, beyond asking for what I want and asking for your will to be done. May I trust you even when you appear silent. Let me never be satisfied with asking for only a little. Amen.
Lord, when the Pharisees questioned your authority, you avoided giving a clear answer and presented a riddle. I know that I must be innocent as a dove yet clever as a serpent (Matthew 10:16). I know being innocent yet clever may mean giving a clever response to people who want to harm me, refusing to play the game they want me to play. Let me grow in the cleverness you showed and desire. Guide me deeper into a cleverness that never lies, but knows when to answer clearly and when to be careful. Amen.
Lord, as you spent time teaching in Jerusalem, you know what was coming and your heart was troubled. In spite of that fear, you said, "Father, glorify your name!" (John 12:28). Teach us to put your glory first, above our concerns and desires. Let us do things that magnify your name instead of our own. Let us rest in the security that you have glorified your name in the past, and that whatever happens, you will create good from it that glorifies your name anew. Amen.
5 Holy Week Prayers for Holy Tuesday
Bible Reading: Matthew 21:18-26:5, Mark 11:20-13:34, Luke 19:47-21:38, John 12:20-50
Lord, you made it clear when you spoke against the Pharisees that it is possible to get all the rules right and still miss the heart you desire us to have. Soften our hearts when we lean toward legalism. Purge us of any greed or arrogance and replace it with humility. Amen.
Lord, we know that your standards are not the same as ours (Isaiah 55:8). Sometimes the little a widow gives is so much more than the large amount a wealthy man gives. Teach us how to see your sometimes surprising standards, look beyond finery, and see true generosity at work. Teach us to look at the heart instead of outward appearances (1 Samuel 16:7). Amen.
Lord, we know that you command us to give generously like the widow in the temple, for you will always provide for us (Philippians 4:19). Give us generous hearts that aren’t afraid to give a lot to build your kingdom. Grow our trust in you so that we can give beyond expectations, knowing you will provide for our needs. Amen.
Lord, when someone asked you what was the greatest commandment, you said it was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. We may not know what that looks like, but give us a hunger to aim for that goal. May we never be satisfied until our love for you dominates our lives. Amen
Lord, as you spoke to your disciples about the coming destruction and persecution, you told them to expect the worst but not to fear. Make me ready for the pain that could come at any time, but firmly trust you so that I stay faithful until the end. Amen.
5 Holy Week Prayers for Holy Wednesday
Bible Reading: Matthew 26:6-16, Mark 14:1-11, Luke 22:1-6, John 12:1-8.
Lord, as Mary poured the expensive perfume on you, she did something extravagant. Help us remember that we often appear to be giving foolishly when we do things for you. We give when it’s hard to see what we are getting back. We give in ways that involve us being vulnerable. Our vulnerability may shock others. Give us the courage always to love you in extravagant ways. Amen.
Lord, as you spent time with friends in Bethany, your enemies were gathering on the horizon. We know that the world will hate us as it hated you and that we will experience much unexpected suffering in this life. Give us alertness that we may see the dangers around us. Give us wisdom that we will know how to handle those dangers. Show us always how to be wise as snakes, yet innocent as doves. Amen.
Lord, while we may not be guilty of Judas’ particular sins, we all have moments where someone else’s good actions remind us of our vices. We may see people who forgive easily and realize how quick we are to hold grudges. We may see people who are generous with their time and realize how little time we have for anyone but ourselves. Whatever our vices or weaknesses may be, they are things that we need to turn over to you. Open our ears to hear when you ask us to let vices go. Give us the humility to admit secret areas of selfishness. Bring others into our lives who can give wise advice and point out our weaknesses before they become repetitive behaviors that control us. Amen.
Lord, we know that money is not the root of all evil, but is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). It’s hard to resist the temptation to take a little and then do drastic things to hide our theft. Guide us to avoid Judas’ weakness and refuse the temptation of mammon. Grant us the strength to turn away from greed, even if others think we are being harsh on ourselves. Teach us to put our stock in heavenly things rather than things of this earth. Amen.
Lord, thank you for having a special place in your heart for the downtrodden, forgotten, and frowned-upon. In a time when you entered Jerusalem like a king, you chose to stay at a leper’s home. Help me see those around me who are struggling with disease, show them value by spending time with them, and bless them in whatever way I can. Amen.
(Excerpted from “Holy Wednesday Prayers for Remembering Jesus’ Anointing and Betrayal” by G. Connor Salter)
5 Holy Week Prayers for Maundy Thursday
Bible Reading: Matthew 26:17-75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-65, John 13:1-18:27:27
Lord Jesus, thank you that in the Garden of Gethsemane, you did not turn from what had to be done. You knew the coming pain, but you asked only for escape if it was God’s will (Matthew 26:39). Help me have a spirit of obedience where I, too, can ask, “not my will, but your will be done.” Amen.
Lord Jesus, far too often, I am distracted by concerns about whatever problem could be coming soon or is clearly on the horizon. On Maundy Thursday, in a little room where you ate with your disciples, you knew what was coming ahead, and you still found time to wash people’s feet (John 13:1-7). Help to remember that whatever troubles are ahead, there are opportunities now to serve. Amen.
Lord Jesus, we know that your holy wisdom is foolishness to humanity (1 Corinthians 3:19), and sometimes your ways are strange. In the middle of a meeting where you were the master, you washed your servants’ feet. In the middle of a Passover celebration, you created a new tradition with the bread and the wine. Grow my wisdom so that I know the time and the place to do something shocking that serves you. Give me the insight and humility I need to follow you, even when that requires surprising people. May my sometimes-shocking actions point not to me but to the truths you want to reveal to people. Amen.
Lord Jesus, thank you that your Word shows us your moment of struggle on the Mount of Olives. We often forget that you were not just God; you were also a man. You walked on this earth in human flesh, tempted, and suffered. Help me better appreciate your mysterious nature, the combination of fully God and fully human that made your sacrifice possible. Amen.
Lord Jesus, as you prayed with your disciples at the Last Supper, you mentioned those who would follow them in your service (John 17:20). From before your crucifixion to your ascension, you spoke about future followers who would become your church. Help us have the unity you prayed we would have, to be your obedient children working together peacefully to do your work. Our fellowship is in you. Amen.
(Excerpted from “20 Maundy Thursday Prayers from the Bible and Classic Sources” by G. Connor Salter)
5 Holy Week Prayers for Good Friday
Bible Reading: Matthew 27:1-61, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 22:66-23:54, John 18:28-19:42:42
Lord, you not only endured the cross, but you also endured all the abuse leading up to it. From priests slapping you to soldiers flogging you, you consistently refused to give in to anger. Help us exhibit peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7), even in the most chaotic times. Remind us that we are ultimately in your hands, which places our trust in things above rather than on our current circumstances. Amen.
Lord, on the old rugged cross, you did not show spite to someone who picked the worst possible time to ask for your favor. You could have ignored or spited the thief, who admitted he deserved his fate (Luke 23:39-43). Instead, you looked with love at someone who had defied you for so long and finally reached out for your help at the last moment. Give me a loving heart that gives charity to those who repent at the last hour. Show me how to provide kindness, instruction, and mercy to those who seem the least worthy. Amen.
Lord, as you were on the cross, when anyone could be excused for forgetting others, you still found time to make sure your mother was taken care of (John 19:25-27). Show us how to care well for our relatives and Christian brothers and sisters. Give us charitable hearts to put others first and ensure they receive what they need. May we be known for our love for others, even as we endure suffering. Amen.
Lord, as you were lifted onto the cross, you still forgave your killers because they did not know what they were doing (Luke 23:34). Help us have grace for those who mock and harm us, and forgive when it seems ludicrous. May our ludicrous grace show others the love you extend to all your children. Amen.
Lord, like the centurion who saw you were God’s son at the very last moment (Matthew 27:54), we often miss the truth until it is almost past us. Give us the humility to admit when we discovered what you were doing long after we should have noticed. Show us how to give loving-kindness to others who find themselves in this place. Most importantly, remind us that it is never too late to turn to you and begin a relationship with you. Amen.
5 Holy Week Prayers for Holy Saturday
Bible Reading: Matthew 27:62-66, Mark 16:1, Luke 23:55-56
Lord, I know there will be times when you seem absent, as Christ did when he was lying in the tomb. I may feel in those times that all hope is lost. Help me hold onto your promises and remember that the present is not the end. Amen.
Lord, we know that, like the women making burial ointments before Holy Saturday started, there will be days when all we can do is the simple thing that serves others. Whether that means making something for a loved one’s funeral or talking to someone grieving, these little service actions can seem insignificant against the pain around us. Help us be good servants and know that doing little actions that honor others is never frivolous. Show us how to bring a little light even as the world is (apparently) collapsing around us. Amen.
Lord, we know that while your followers were hiding and feeling abandoned on Holy Saturday, you were doing something great in the spiritual realm. You descended to the lower parts of the earth (Ephesians 4:9-10) and put all things under your feet (Corinthians 15:26-27). We don’t know what it looked like when you descended into hell and defeated death. We do know it shows us unseen things are going on that we do not realize. Help us remember that things occur in the supernatural realm that we do not see, things that are working for our good. Teach us to trust that we are never as alone as we think. Amen.
Lord, in the story of the women resting on Holy Saturday before going to anoint your body, we are reminded there are times for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). There are times when we do the little thing that honors others. There are times we need to rest. Both will be hard to do in those dark times when hope seems lost, and we are tempted to panic. Help us see the times when we must rest. Give us the peace we need to rest in you, even when calmness and rest seem absurd. Amen.
Lord, the religious leaders thought posting guards at Jesus’ tomb would stop your plans. We know that not only did this measure not work, but the way the Roman soldiers fainted when the angels appeared also makes the idea seem so silly. Remind us that no evil can stand against your plans (Psalm 1:6). All obstacles to your will end up seeming absurd in the end. Amen.
5 Holy Week Prayers for Easter Sunday
Bible Reading: Matthew 28:1-15, Mark 16:2-13, Luke 24:1-49, John 20:1-23
Lord, sometimes we do not understand your messages until after events fulfill them. This may be because you have plans that you do not want us to interfere with or simply that we are not as wise as we think. Help us to see the truth when it finally becomes clear. Further, help us have a sense of humor about what we should have seen earlier. Amen.
Lord, after you resurrected, you could have shown yourself to anyone. You chose to reveal yourself first to women, in a culture that saw women as foolish and wouldn’t take their testimony seriously. Teach us not to be surprised when you reveal yourself in ways we don’t expect. Guide us deeper into the truth that you are not only a god of grace but a god of the unexpected. Amen.
Lord, we know that evil will always look for ways to deflect from the truth, in the same way that religious leaders tried to cover up your resurrection with stories about guards sleeping and the body stolen (Matthew 28:11-15). We thank you that those lies didn’t stop your church from growing. Give us the courage to speak the truth as lies spread and to trust that your truth will triumph. Amen.
Lord, sometimes your miracles are frightening as well as amazing. The first people to see you resurrected were “afraid yet full of joy” (Matthew 28:8). We may never see someone rise from the dead, but we may well have moments where your power shows up in ways that leave us simultaneously happy and frightened. Grow our trust so that we won’t be paralyzed in those times, but continue doing what you will. Amen.
Lord, Easter Sunday began with a miracle and ended with a promise: wait in the city for more to come (Luke 24:49). Give us patience in those moments when you tell us to wait for something to be revealed. Amen.
Further Reading:
16 Reflective Holy Week Prayers to Remind Us of the Beauty of the Cross
25+ Prayers for Easter Dinner to Give Thanks to Christ
8 Prayers to Pray Each Day of Holy Week
8 Holy Week Prayers to Lead Us into Easter
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