Good Friday Prayer

My God, my God!
Why have I forsaken Thee?
Beaten, haggard, bloodied, raw;
For me your loving arms extended
To draw me home into your life;
You hang on that cross for me.
Painful, painful, painful day!
When I at last can see
My sin, my part, your agony.
You say forgive because
I do not know;
But God, today I do!
Your love, your care
For me it hurts
To see you there upon that curse;
To know that I have done my work
That holds you there with nail and wood.
Today I pray that you will grant
A few more days of gracious space
For me to meet your gaze from there.
And with your eyes to lift me up
To die with you and wait
For Life to dawn with mercy’s light.
A life of love; a heart of grace
Craft in my soul to see your face.
In furtive hope I grasp at you
To feel your arms no longer pinned
But wrapped me round and firmly gripped.
Brought to and into you at once
And molded sure like your own love;
Patient and kind despite my sin
Welcome and hold me safe within.
My Lord! My Lord, forgive you me!
Lest I faint and ne’er refresh
To live with you in love for’er.

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