Day 28 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Glyn McKay

Judas and Peter both failed Jesus, but their stories diverge in what they did with their sorrow. Judas turned inward in despair, trying to deal with his guilt alone, while Peter’s grief led him back to the Savior, who restored and recommissioned him. This episode reminds us that true repentance is more than regret—it is returning to Jesus, where grace transforms even our deepest failures into the beginning of new life.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:3-11 and John 21:15-19

Reflection Questions

1. When have I responded to sin or failure with shame and isolation insteadof bringing it to Jesus?
2. What’s the difference between regret and repentance in my own life? Have I truly brought my heart to Jesus, or just felt bad about what I did?
3. How does Peter’s restoration help me see failure differently?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Have you ever messed up and felt like hiding? What do you think Jesus would say to you if He sat down next to you right now?

Spiritual Practice - Prayer

The “Prayer of Examen” is an ancient practice of reflectionwith Jesus. It helps you become aware of where you’ve drifted, where He’s been present, and where He’s calling you to return. Like Peter, we bring our failure to the shore and let Jesus meet us there with grace.

1. Invite God’s Presence

Begin in silence. Breathedeeply.

Pray: “Lord Jesus, You see me and love me. As I look back, help me see through Your eyes—truthfully, and with grace.”

2. Review with Gratitude

Look back on your day (or a specific moment of failure) with thankfulness.

Ask:

1. Where did I experience Your kindness today?
2. When did I feel alive, at peace, or aware of Your presence?
3. Give thanks for those moments.

3. Face What Was Broken

Now reflect honestly on any moment when:

1. You denied Christ in your words, choices, or silence
2. You acted in fear, pride, or selfishness
3. You carried guiltwithout turning to Him

Ask: “Jesus, where did I miss You today? Where did I turn away instead of toward You?”

Speak those moments to Him without hiding. If they don’t come immediately, wait until the Spirit reveals something you should confess.

4. Receive Restoration

Let His mercy meet you. Receive His forgiveness—not because you’ve earned it, but because He gives it freely.

Pray: “Lord, I’m sorry. I do love You. Thank You for loving me first.”

Day 27 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Jerrika Dickerson

Standing before Pilate and facing false accusations, Jesus offers no defense—fulfilling the prophecy of the suffering servant who “did not open His mouth.” His silence was not weakness, but quiet confidence rooted in the Father’s plan and the truth of God’s Word. This episode invites us to step away from the noise of our world, anchor our hearts in Scripture, and discover the steady peace that comes from trusting the voice of God above every other voice.

Scripture

1. Matthew 27:14

Reflection Questions

1. How would your week look different if you truly believed that God's Word could anchor your heart and guide your reactions? What one intentional step can you take to make Scripture a louder voice in your life?
2. What voices have been shaping your thoughts lately — social media, news, opinions, or God’s Word? What changes might you need to make to tune into God's voice more clearly?

Spiritual Practice - Meditation & Memorization

Jesus’ silence before Pilate wasn’t weakness—it was the Word alive in Him. Isaiah had written, “He did not open His mouth…like a lamb led to the slaughter.” Jesus knew Scripture so deeply that it shaped His response.

This week, let His Word shape yours.

1. Write it. Copy Matthew 27:14 and Isaiah 53:7 by hand.
2. Repeat it. Read them aloud morning and night, slowing down on each phrase.
3. Chew on it. When tempted to react or defend yourself, whisper: “He gave no answer.”
4. Keep it. Memorize both verses by week’s end. Let them anchor your peace and guide your tongue.

Day 26 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Maddie Huang

In Luke’s account of Peter’s denial, the moment turns when “the Lord turned and looked at Peter.” That piercing gaze was not condemnation but compassionate truth—an encounter that exposed Peter’s failure while awakening him to repentance and grace. This episode invites us to rest in the God who sees us fully and provides for us completely, reminding us that Christ’s gaze interrupts our striving and calls us back to the security of His finished work.

Scripture

1. Luke 22:54-62

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life are you still trying to prove your worth to God or others?
2. When you think of Jesus looking at you, do you imagine disappointment or compassion?
3. How might Sabbath rest—stopping, ceasing, trusting—reshape the way you see your failures and your identity?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. How do you feel when someone you love looks at you with kindness, even if you’ve made a mistake?

Spiritual Practice - Sabbath

Today, practice Sabbath by intentionally ceasing—not because your work is complete, but because Christ’s is.

1. Stop: Lay aside your to-do list. Put down the phone. Let the unfinished things remain unfinished.
2. Remember: Whisper this truth: “My worth is not in what I do, but in what Jesus has done.”
3. Behold: Take 5–10 minutes of quiet, picturing Jesus looking at you—not with condemnation, but with love. Let His gaze quiet your striving and calm your shame.
4. Delight: Fill your day with something that refreshes your soul—singing, walking, reading, or sharing a slow meal. Let your rest be worship.

Day 25 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Glyn McKay

After Peter’s devastating denial, shame could have been the end of his story—but Jesus meets him with grace on the shore and restores him with a threefold question of love. In that moment, repentance becomes more than forgiveness; it becomes recommissioning as Jesus entrusts Peter with the care of His flock. This episode reveals the gospel pattern: Christ not only restores the repentant heart, but sends it forward with renewed purpose in His mission.

Scripture

1. John 18:15-27 and John 21:15-19

Reflection Questions

1. Where have I let shame or failure convince me that I am disqualified from being used by God?
2. How has God already used past failures to deepen my compassion or shape my calling?
3. What “sheep” has Jesus entrusted to my care?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Peter messed up, but Jesus still gave him a job to do. What does that tell you about how much Jesus loves you—evenwhen you make mistakes?

Spiritual Practice - Community and Evangelism

Jesus didn’t just forgive Peter—Hesent him. The same is true for us. We are not only recipients of grace, but carriers of it. Below is one way to examine and pray for those whom God has placed in your life:

1. Who are some people God has asked me to pour into?

1. Jesus gave Peter people to love and lead. Ask: “Lord, who have You placed in my life that I can love, serve, or share the gospel with?”
2. Write down 2–3 names. These might be:
3. Neighbors
4. Coworkers
5. Classmates
6. Teammates
7. Family members
8. Someone who’s drifting or hurting

2. Pray intentionally for them.

1. Pray specifically for each person. Here are some intentional prayers to pray:
2. That God would soften their heart
3. That they’d encounterJesus
4. That you’d have the courage and clarity to reach out

3. Choose one action this week.

1. Take one small step to“feed His sheep”:
2. Send a text checking in on someone
3. Invite someone for coffee or a meal
4. Share a Scripture or story that encouraged you
5. Volunteer or show up for someone who’s struggling
6. Invite someone to church or a spiritual conversation

Day 24 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author: Arlene Sanabria

Voice: Maddie Huang

When the rooster crowed, Peter’s failure was exposed—but so was the mercy of Christ. In that moment of bitter weeping, the sound that marked his denial also became the first note of his restoration, awakening him to the grace Jesus had already promised. This episode reminds us that God’s grace often meets us at the lowest point of our failure, calling us to repentance, restoration, and renewed purpose in His kingdom.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:74-75

Reflection Questions

1. Have I denied or disconnected my faith in Jesus through my words, actions, or silence
2. What has been my “rooster crow”—that moment I woke up to my deep need for grace
3. Am I letting failure define me, or am I letting it lead me to repentance and restoration?
4. What words of Jesus do I need to remember today?
5. Am I extending the same grace I’ve received from Jesus to those who have failed?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Why do you think Peter said he didn’t know Jesus?
2. How do you think Jesus felt when Peter denied Him?
3. Have you ever made a mistake and then asked for forgiveness? What happened afterward?
4. Can you think of a time you felt God’s love even after doing something wrong?

Spiritual Practice - Silence & Stillness

1. Find a quiet place with no distractions. Sit in stillness before God for 5 minutes.
2. Breathe deeply, and when you’re ready, slowly pray this verse from Psalm 139:23–24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
3. Pay attention to what risesin your heart. Is there a word, a sound, or a moment God is using to draw you closer? Let His grace meet you there.

Day 23 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Becky Teixeira

After Peter’s denial, the rooster’s crow forces him to confront the painful truth of his failure—but Jesus had already spoken a deeper word over his life. Long before Peter fell, Christ had prayed for his faith and promised his restoration. This episode reminds us that our failures do not surprise the Savior; instead, they become the place where grace meets us, leading us from shame to repentance and from brokenness to worship.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:75

Reflection Questions

1. How do I usually respondwhen I fail - do I run from God into shame? Or do I run to Him in humility?
2. Do I believe that God loves me not because of what I can do or what I can earn, but because Christ already made a way on the cross for my restoration?
3. How can I praise God when I’m faced with failure? What are some practical steps I can take to not let my failure speak to my identity, but allow the gospel to remind me of my identity?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Have you ever made a mistake and felt really bad about it? What did you do next?
2. What does it show about Jesus that He still loved Peter even after Peter messed up?
3. What’s one way you can thank Jesus today for forgiving you?

Spiritual Practice - Sabbath

Spiritual Practice - Thankfulness & Worship

After fasting strips you bare, worship reorients your vision. You remember who sits on the throne—and it’s not you.

1. Begin with gratitude. List three ways Jesus has already met you in your weakness this week. Thank Him for praying for you. Let gratitude lead you into worship.
2. Name who God is. Pick a name of God and declare it out loud.
3. YHWH-Jireh, my Provider.
4. YHWH-Rapha, my Healer.
5. The Lord my Shepherd, who restores my soul.
6. As you speak these truths, let your heart realign with His authority and goodness.
7. Sing or speak your praise. Play a worship song orread apsalm aloud—Psalm 100, Psalm 103, or Psalm 145. Each declaration dethrones the idols of shame and self-reliance.
8. End in recognition, not performance. Sit quietly and whisper: “You are worthy.” Peter’s story didn’t end in silence—it ended in song. Let worship rise not from earning, but from beholding. Let your praise be the sound of a restored relationship. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and Hiscourts with praise.” As you do, may your eyes lift from your failure to your faithful King—Jesus, the One who already planned your return.

Day 22 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Molly Inskeep

Both Judas and Peter failed Jesus. Both felt deep sorrow. But their stories diverge in what they did with their shame. Judas turned inward in despair, trying to fix his guilt alone, while Peter’s bitter weeping became the doorway back to grace—reminding us that the difference is not the depth of our sin, but whether our remorse drives us away from Christ or back into His mercy. This episode invites us to lay down self-condemnation, confess openly, and trust the Savior who carried our shame so it would not carry us.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:75; 27:3-5

Reflection Questions

1. What does your moment of confession reveal? Do you believe He is waiting for you to come home?
2. Do you trust His grace more than your guilt and shame?
3. Am I more focused on feeling bad or being made new?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Have you ever made a mistake and tried to fix it yourself? What would it feel like to tell Jesus the truth and trust that He still loves you?

Spiritual Practice - Confession & Fasting

When shame rises, you have a choice: to hide like Judas or to return like Peter. Fasting gives space to see which way your heart is leaning. In confession, we stop running and face what we’ve tried to conceal—trusting that Jesus already carried our shame to the cross.

Use each empty meal not for striving, but for surrender.

1. Begin with prayer. Ask the Spirit to reveal what you’ve been hiding—your fears, sins, and self-sufficiency. (Psalm 139:23–24)
2. Fast from food. As your stomach aches, let hunger remind you that your deepest need isn’t bread—it’s grace.
3. Let what surfaces speak. Irritation, anxiety, or restlessness aren’t failures of fasting; they’re windows into your heart. Write them down. Bring them to Jesus.
4. Confess instead of conceal. Don’t try to fix what you find. Bring it into the light. Say aloud, “Jesus, You already carried this for me.”
5. Share with a trusted friend. Like Peter returning to his brothers, let community hold what shame tempts you to hide.
6. Break your fast with gratitude. As you eat again, remember: your freedom was bought with broken bread and poured-out blood.

Expect resistance. Shame will whisper, “You can’t go back.” But Jesus’ cross silences that voice. Hebore your shame, so failure doesn’t have todefine you. Fasting andconfession are how werefuse despair and return to grace—how we, like Peter, let our sorrow become surrender.

Day 21 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Chase Akin

Peter’s first denial was not his last—and that is the tragedy. Though Jesus had warned him, Peter drifts step by step, revealing how sin rarely erupts in a single act of rebellion but unfolds through small compromises that harden the heart. In this episode, we confront the subtle momentum of spiritual drift and cling to the mercy of Christ, who sends His Spirit to awaken, convict, and restore us before the spiral goes further than we ever intended.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:70

Reflection Questions

1. Where are you sensing spiritual drift but telling yourself it’s not serious enough to address yet?
2. What would it look like to turn toward Jesus now instead of waiting for your “rooster crow” moment?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. If you were walking away from home and realized you were lost, would it be better to turn around right away or keep walking until it got dark?

Spiritual Practice - Prayer

Today’s prayer focuses on early recognition and quick return to Jesus. Remember: The goal isn’t perfection; it’s quick return. The moment you sense yourself drifting, that’s the invitation to come back home.

Step 1: Quiet Examination

Sit quietly and picture Jesus looking at you with love, not condemnation. Ask Him: “Where am I drifting from You? What small compromises am I making that could lead me further away? Where is there sin that I can not even see?”

Step 2: Listen Before Defending

Don’t immediately justifyor excuse what comes to mind. Just listen. Let Him show you areas of drift you might have minimized or ignored. Remember, this is correction from a loving Father, not condemnation.

Step 3: Early Return Prayer

For each area He shows you, pray: “Jesus, I see where I’m moving away from You in ___ . I don’t want to wait until this becomes a bigger problem. I turn back to You now. Help me stay close.”

Step 4: Preventive Accountability

Choose one trustedperson to share what God showed you. Ask them to help you stay alert to spiritual drift instead of waiting for crisis to wake you up.

Day 20 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Jared Yates

Peter, bold enough to walk on water and confess Jesus as the Christ, crumbles before the questions of a servant girl—revealing how quickly fear can overpower even sincere faith. His three denials expose the fragility of self-reliance and the painful spiral of shame that follows failure. Yet this episode reminds us that our worst moments are not the end of our story—because the same Jesus Peter denied would later restore him, proving that grace is greater than fear and calling us to place our faith not in ourselves, but in Him.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:69-75

Reflection Questions

1. What lies did Satan say to you in that moment? Are any of those lies still with you? What truth from Jesus do you need to replace those lies with?
2. Is your faith in yourself and what you can do for Jesus? Or is it in Jesus and what He can do through you? If it’s in you, what are some things you need to start doing to transfer your faith to Jesus?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Can you think of a time when your fear caused you to shrink back from what God was calling you to do?

Spiritual Practice - Meditation & Memorization

1. Spend a few minutes thanking Jesus for restoring you, like He restored Peter, after any failures.
2. Write down any lies from Satan you are believing about your worth and value. Then write down the truth of who Jesus says you are.
3. Read over 2 Corinthians 5:17. Try to memorize it and speak it throughout the day. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Day 19 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Chase Akin

At the Last Supper, every disciple asks, “Is it I, Lord?”—but Judas’ subtle shift to “Rabbi” reveals a heart already drifting. Though Jesus knew the betrayal that was coming, Judas still bore responsibility for his choice, reminding us that conviction is both a warning and an invitation. This episode calls us to examine our own hearts, respond to the Spirit’s prompting, and ask with sincerity, “Is it I, Lord?”—while there is still time to turn and be made clean.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:53

Reflection Questions

1. What situations in your life reveal that you don’t really believe God has unlimited resources available to you?
2. How might your week change if you truly believed the Father has all power—even when He chooses not to use it the way you expect?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. If your dad were the strongest personin the whole world, would you worry about bullies? How does knowing God is the strongest help us not worry?

Spiritual Practice - Sabbath

Today, practice resting in God’s available power rather than your ownlimited strength.

Begin your Sabbath by reading Matthew 26:53 aloud. Write down three things you’ve been trying to control this week. Next to each one, write: “God has 72,000 angels available for this.”

Set aside 30 minutes to solve zero problems. No phone, no planning, no fixing. If anxiety aboutundone tasks surfaces, remind yourself: “The God who commands legionsof angels can handle this while I rest.”