Through the hills and valleys of this journey Lord, I cleave to the mystical union which the cross has offered me. I delight to allow Your holy breath to linger upon the flickering embers of love in my heart until faith is set ablaze within my soul. Whatever meager offering I bring to place upon Your altar, let it be given with the utmost devotion. For You have plunged Yourself into the depths of woe and burst my mourning into joy. Let me never take for granted the free will offering of bloodied prayers on my behalf that night in the garden when You submitted Yourself to take on my punishment. In repentant gratitude I set my gaze upon Your suffering as crimson stains flooded the ground beneath Your feet on the road to my salvation. Thank You Jesus for taking the weight of my sin upon Yourself until Your very life was crushed beneath it. My heart need not linger upon this spectacle of grief, sorrow and pain because You chose not to end the story there. With sweet triumphant victory You turn my head toward the empty tomb and offer me new life. Empower me to live in this resurrection which was so costly, Lord God. May I never take for granted the overflow of Your priceless love. Under the Word of truth found in 1 Corinthians 1:18 and the authority of Christ, I bow in humble prayer.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18, ESV