Easter is for reveling in the triumph Jesus purchased for us. Good Friday is for remembering what we cost him. As we do let our words be few and well chosen.<\/p>\n
Here is a prayer from Valley of Vision <\/sup>for Good Friday to help us repent again of our pride and remember that the cross guarantees pride’s destruction:<\/p>\n O Lord,<\/p>\n Bend my hands and cut them off, I am not yet weaned from all created glory, Let me not only speak the word sin, Give me to view a discovered sinfulness, Hatred, malice, ill-will, O my crucified but never wholly mortified sinfulness! Destroy, O God, the dark guest within Yet thou hast not left me here without grace; I thank thee that my remembrance of it The memory of my great sins, There is no treasure so wonderful Give me more of it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n AMEN.<\/p>\n\n
The Dark Guest<\/h4>\n
\nfor I have often struck thee with a wayward will,
\nwhen these fingers should embrace thee by faith.<\/p>\n
\nhonour, wisdom, and esteem of others,
\nfor I have a secret motive to eye my name in all I do.<\/p>\n
\nbut see the thing itself.<\/p>\n
\nto know that though my sins are crucified
\nthey are never wholly mortified.<\/p>\n
\nvain-glory that hungers for and hunts after
\nman’s approval and applause,
\nall are crucified, forgiven,
\nbut they rise again in my sinful heart.<\/p>\n
\nO my life-long damage and daily shame!
\nO my indwelling and besetting sins!
\nO the tormenting slavery of a sinful heart!<\/p>\n
\nwhose hidden presence makes my life a hell.<\/p>\n
\nThe cross still stands and meets my needs
\nin the deepest straits of the soul.<\/p>\n
\nis like David’s sight of Goliath’s sword
\nwhich preached forth thy deliverance.<\/p>\n
\nmy many temptations, my falls,
\nbring afresh into my mind the remembrance
\nof thy great help, of thy support from heaven,
\nof the great grace that saved such a wretch as I am.<\/p>\n
\nas that continuous experience of thy grace
\ntoward me which alone can subdue the risings of sin within:<\/p>\n