Wednesday - Because He Lives

Welcome to Daily Prayer. This is Week 2 of the Because He Lives series—encounters with the risen Jesus. Today we come ready to be taught by Jesus. As we listen to this passage, ask the Lord to open your mind, strengthen your faith, and help you see His ways more clearly through His Word.

Luke 24:13–35

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?”

And they stood still, looking sad.

Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

And he said to them, “What things?”

And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

A Word of Encouragement

Jesus opened the Scriptures and helped these disciples understand their pain in light of God’s larger plan. What looked like defeat was actually part of redemption. We need that help too. Left to ourselves, we often interpret life through fear or disappointment. But Jesus uses His Word to steady the heart, correct our thinking, and help us see more clearly.

A Prayer of Confession

Lord Jesus, I confess that I can be slow of heart to believe. I can hear Your Word and still let fear have the loudest voice. I can know truth in my mind while struggling to trust it in my heart. I confess that I often interpret circumstances more quickly than I interpret Scripture. Bring my heart back under the authority of Your truth. Teach me not only to read Your Word, but to receive it deeply.

A Prayer of Petition

Jesus, open the Scriptures to me. Teach me to see You more clearly in Your Word. Give me wisdom where I have been confused. Encourage me where I have grown weary. Meet me in Your Word in a way that steadies and reshapes me. Let truth become living bread to my soul.

A Prayer of Promise

Lord, today I choose to trust that Your Word is true. Your Words are not empty. So I place my questions under Your wisdom. I place my disappointments under Your larger purposes. Teach me to live with a heart anchored in Scripture and warmed by the presence of Christ.

Closing Prayer

During these last few moments, ask Jesus to open His Word to your heart. Bring Him any area where confusion, fear, or disappointment has shaped your thinking, and invite Him to re-anchor you in His truth. Ask the Lord to remind you of a scripture today that you need to cling to in this season.