A Reflection Prayer for Holy Monday
By Heidi Vegh
Bible Reading:
"Create a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit" - Psalm 51:10-12
Read or Listen Below:
The miracle of Easter occurs every year. We often refer to the week leading up to Easter as Holy Week, which commemorates the last week of Jesus' earthly life, including His passion, death, and resurrection. Monday of Holy Week is just coming off of Palm Sunday. On this day, we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem for the last time, with the crowds waving palm branches and shouting “Hosanna,” acknowledging Him as the King they had been waiting for. Jesus knew His journey was coming to an end, with His final walk to the cross only a few days away.
As we enter Holy Week, let us set aside the next few days to truly reflect on the life, passion, and ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. We can walk with Jesus during this week, reflecting on His quiet journey through Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and what He was thinking as His death grew closer.
These quiet days are an opportunity to prepare our hearts—examining our faith, priorities, and relationships in light of the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus is about to make. As we reflect this week, let us examine our own hearts and remember that He lives inside of us. In 1 Corinthians 3:16 we read: Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s spirit dwells in you”?
In the Old Testament, God dwelled in the Garden of Eden, a beautiful paradise that He prepared for His creation. Next, God dwelled in the Tabernacle, a mobile space that the Israelites carried through the desert. After that, God dwelled in the Jerusalem Temple. God longed to dwell in us, but we had one problem. Sin. For a while, priests were appointed to help us cleanse ourselves of sin, through flesh and blood sacrifices, so that we could be holy and blameless before God, but we needed something more powerful and permanent.
Enter Jesus. When He came to earth, He bridged the gap. We no longer needed a man-made temple or animal sacrifice because the ultimate high priest, Jesus, fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. With His final breath and resurrection, God’s spirit could finally live inside of us. God loves us so much and meets us right where we are. This week, let us reflect on the beautiful story we are now woven into. God dwells inside us and longs to use us as vessels to share the greatest story ever told—the Gospel. We are a Holy place for God to dwell.
Reflect this week on what needs to be cleaned out. Pride, bitterness, selfishness, anger, or unforgiveness. Is there a sin that has you bound that you need to surrender? Is there a relationship that you need to mend? Ask God to examine your heart and show you what needs to go. Ask God for His beautiful forgiveness.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." - Psalm 139:23-24.
Let’s Pray:
Jesus, I set aside this Holy Week, this Holy Monday, to search for what needs to be surrendered. Please examine my heart, test me, and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything ugly in my life that is hindering my deep relationship with you. I can’t thank you enough for the brutal sacrifice that you made to allow me to be close to you. I don’t want anything to be inside my heart, mind, or actions that prohibit you from using me fully to share your truth and your love. Help me remember to reflect on your experience this week. Teach me new things about you and highlight details as I read your Word and story. Help me examine my entire life, my priorities, my thoughts, and my relationships. Bring to light hidden sin that I live with and don’t recognize. Please give me the strength to say no to the things of this world. Bring new people who can keep me accountable and help me walk in a God-honoring way.
Please forgive my sins. Forgive me for all the times I turn to the world instead of you. Please forgive me for the ugly, worldly things in my heart. I long to be a vessel for you, a tool for you to share your love with those around me. Please give me the boldness and courage to share the Gospel with those around me who are hurting and lost. Thank you, Jesus, for not having to walk out of life alone. You are with me every step of the way, guiding, leading, and filling me with peace and joy that can only come from you. In your precious name, I pray, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Aramyan
Heidi Vegh is a writer, speaker, and ministry leader living in Western Washington. She is a remarried mother of four, navigating the blended family life after the loss of her first husband to cancer in 2013. She longs to use her writing as a way to encourage others who have experienced loss and guide them on the road to healing. She contributes to her blog found at www.mrsheidivegh.com , sharing stories and devotionals of faith stemming from her loss and healing, mothering, and her blended and complex family. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Creative Writing and English and is working on her first book. Heidi is the Women’s Ministry Director at her local church and has a deep heart for sharing Jesus with women and encouraging them in their faith walk. When she is not writing, she loves to travel, read, craft, and experiment in the kitchen. Visit her Facebook and Instagram (@mrsheidivegh) to learn more.
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