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WATCH: Sisters Sing Bone-Chilling Easter Rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’

The young sisters from Fort Frances, Ontario sing an Easter rendition of Leonard Cohen's famous "Hallelujah," that is so beautiful, it'll bring tears to your eyes.

What Is Maundy Thursday?—How to Celebrate During Holy Week

As we celebrate Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter, you may start to wonder, what is Maundy Thursday? Three days before Easter, we come to Maundy Thursday. "Maundy" comes from the Latin word "mandatum," meaning command, order, or commission.

Abby & Brittany: Conjoined Twin Abby Hensel is Married!

They’re the most famous conjoined twins in the world, and now Abby Hensel, of the duo Abby and Brittany, is now married! 

20 Prayers to Pray Throughout a Busy Day

Prayer is our primary means of communication with God, and it is only through God that we have the strength, abilities and wisdom we need to face a busy day. But when we’re so busy, when is there time to pray? My answer may surprise you: Always. We don’t have to stop everything in order to pray. Instead, let these short, simple prayers run through your mind as you go about your everyday tasks — your conversation with God will become a soundtrack underscoring your ordinary days, transforming them into something extraordinarily beautiful and meaningful.

1. Thank you for this day.

“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 NKJV)

Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you that you hold all of our days and know everything that will happen today. Please, go before me today. Give me strength in the midst of weariness and hope in the midst of any frustrations or hurts. I need you Lord, every hour, I need you. I surrender this day to you, trusting in your mercy, strength and grace.

2. Be with me.

“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.” (Psalm 118:6)

Lord, be with me. Already I feel consumed with overwhelm as I think about all that is before me today. Feelings of frustration have already started to surface as little annoyances pop up. Lord, I give these to you. Be with me now. Spirit, protect me from myself — my tendency to anger or impatience. Help me see my life through your eyes, Father.

3. You are so good.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:34)

Lord, you are so, so good. There is no darkness within you, no meanness, no harshness. You are fully good and fully good to me, even as I know you allow trials to test me. Help me take each trial that comes and see it as an opportunity to faithfully give you glory.

4. Give me strength for this day.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Lord, give me strength for today. I am tired, mostly tired of battling my sinfulness and the brokenness of this world and all the ways it manifests itself: in heavy traffic, in injuries and insults, in small trials that get under my skin and get my focus off of you. I need strength to handle all of these things with grace. I am incapable apart from you! Give me strength, O Lord I pray!

5. Protect me.

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Luke 10:19)

Lord, protect me! Protect me from injury and harm, disease and painful words. Protect me from Satan and his attempts to despair. Protect me from myself and my tendency to do too much self-reflection. Protect me from my own sin of envy, greed, lust… you name it, I need your protection, Lord! Thank you for always protecting me. You are my shield, you hide me under your wing. Thank you, Lord.

6. Thank You for the work that keeps me busy.

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:17)

Lord, thank you for my job. Thank you that the work I do is important. I am making order out of chaos. I am doing good and I pray it blesses you. Help me see the goodness of my work. Help me see ways to bless others as I work. Lord, thank you for helping me provide for my family in this way. Help me bless others as you have blessed me. And help me, above all, be a good steward of what you’ve given me.

7. Lord, give me rest.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Lord, I’ll admit it: I am weary. So, so tired. I desperately need rest. But can I be honest? Even when I try to rest, my heart and mind race. But Lord, I know you provide a deeper rest. Your rest goes beyond sleep — it settles my heart, calms my spirit, soothes my soul. Lord, I’m desperate for that rest. Please, give me your rest! I surrender these stressful burdens to you. Take them, help me through them. Lord, help me rest in you.

8. Help me to love.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:9-10)

Lord, help me to love as you love me. Help me love you and love my neighbors. My neighbors include so many — friends, family, coworkers, actual neighbors, my community, my church community. Help me love these people. It’s so easy to love humanity and despise the person in the next house over. Help my love come from you. Help me see others as you see them — beloved.

9. Let me see You.

“You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

Open my eyes that I may behold your goodness and unfailing love, O Lord! Give me eyes to see your goodness. I know I can go all day and never acknowledge you. I repent of that now. Forgive me for walking without seeing. I don’t want to be blind. Help me see you.

10. Fill me with joy.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

Lord, you are joy! I love that you are a joyful God. I don’t think about that a lot, but you are. Lord, please give me a measure of that joy. Help me see all the blessings of life that deserve my joy and appreciation. Help me even see joy in the trial, as I know you are in it with me, loving and holding me. The trial is hard but your joy is my strength. Thank you, Lord.

Kelly O'Dell Stanley
Kelly O'Dell Stanley
Kelly O’Dell Stanley is a graphic designer who writes. Or maybe a writer who also designs. Either way, when she found the place where writing and design intersected, she discovered that was exactly where she wanted to be. The author of Praying Upside Down and Designed To Pray, Kelly loves to explore prayer and faith in creative ways because she knows that God is the Ultimate Creator. And when she puts her creativity into action, she always discovers more of Him.

WATCH: Sisters Sing Bone-Chilling Easter Rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’

The young sisters from Fort Frances, Ontario sing an Easter rendition of Leonard Cohen's famous "Hallelujah," that is so beautiful, it'll bring tears to your eyes.

What Is Maundy Thursday?—How to Celebrate During Holy Week

As we celebrate Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter, you may start to wonder, what is Maundy Thursday? Three days before Easter, we come to Maundy Thursday. "Maundy" comes from the Latin word "mandatum," meaning command, order, or commission.

Abby & Brittany: Conjoined Twin Abby Hensel is Married!

They’re the most famous conjoined twins in the world, and now Abby Hensel, of the duo Abby and Brittany, is now married!