“Dear God, thank you for Jesus. He died on the cross. Amen.”

“Dear God, please help Jesus die on the cross. Amen.”

“Dear God, please help Jesus feel better because He died on the cross. Amen.”

Lauren has focused almost all her prayers lately talking to God about the cross and Jesus dying on the cross.

The more she prays and thanks God, the more I realize I don’t thank Him enough. I take the cross for granted.

Lauren may not fully understand the significance of Jesus’s sacrifice, but the cross has already touched her heart.

God’s love. God’s grace. How do God’s greatest miracles in our lives become common and expected? When do we become so comfortable with the cross that we no longer flinch at the whips, the thorns and the nails inflicted because of our sin. Instead of accepting the responsibility, we only embrace the mercy shown.

This Wednesday begins observation of Lent. What if for the next 40+ days, instead of giving up something, we add Scripture to our lives? To help us see Jesus and His great love for us through renewed perspective, we could read key passages detailing Jesus’s life the week He gave His life up on the cross. Below is a 40-day reading plan from YouVersion to help prepare our hearts to celebrate Easter. Sundays are scheduled off, allowing you to catch up if necessary. Print the plan (click here to print) and keep it in your Bible, or add the 40 Days of Lent plan in your YouVersion app.

EASTER READING PLAN
The Week of the Cross

▢ March 5     Matthew 21:1-11
▢ March 6     John 12:1-11
▢ March 7     John 12:12-19
▢ March 8     Mark 11:12-26
▢ March 10   Matthew 21:23-32
▢ March 11   Mark 12:1-12
▢ March 12   Matthew 22:1-14
▢ March 13   Luke 20:9-26
▢ March 14   Luke 20:27-40
▢ March 15   Matthew 22:34-46
▢ March 17   Matthew 23:1-39
▢ March 18   Mark 12:41-44
▢ March 19   Mark 13:1-13
▢ March 20   Matthew 24:15-35
▢ March 21   Matthew 24:36-51
▢ March 22   Matthew 25:1-13
▢ March 24   Matthew 25:14-30
▢ March 25   Matthew 25:31-46
▢ March 26   John 12:20-50
▢ March 27   Mark 14:12-26
▢ March 28   John 13:1-17
▢ March 29   1 Corinthians 11:23-26
▢ March 31   John 13:18-38
▢ April 1       Luke 22:24-38
▢ April 2       Matthew 26:31-35
▢ April 3       John 14:1-31
▢ April 4       John 15:1-27, 16:1-4
▢ April 5       John 16:5-33
▢ April 7       John 17:1-26
▢ April 8       Matthew 26:36-56
▢ April 9       John 18:1-18
▢ April 10     Mark 14:32-72
▢ April 11     Luke 22:39-62
▢ April 12     John 18:19-40
▢ April 14     John 19:1-16
▢ April 15     Matthew 27:27-44
▢ April 16     Luke 23:26-49
▢ April 17     John 19:16-27
▢ April 18     John 19:28-42
▢ April 19     John 20:1-31

The love that Jesus poured out on the cross continues to change lives today, including Lauren’s heart and mine.