A Daily Holy Week Guide: Verses and Journaling Prompts To Reflect On From Monday to Easter Sunday
- Kemi Kodja
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
Holy Week is almost here and this year I wanted to be intentional about sitting in the magnitude of what this week represents. It’s easy to move quickly to Easter, but there’s something powerful about slowing down and reflecting on the days leading up to it, the weight of the cross, and the silence of Saturday.
Journaling is usually my go-to tool for reflecting, so I've curated a list of prompts and anchor verses for each day that I will be reflecting on. If you want to join me, check out the verses and prompts below:
Monday: Give Jesus permission to cleanse your life
Anchor Verses: Matthew 21:12-14
In this passage, Jesus walks into the temple and begins to "clean" it, by getting rid of things that are clouding what the temple was supposed to represent: a house of prayer.
As you reflect on these verses, think about where in your life you may need to give Jesus permission to do a cleansing. Just as it wasn't a pleasant process when He did it then, it won't be a pleasant process when He does it in your life either, but it will restore your heart and highlight the things clouding your ability to fully blossom into who you were created to be.
Journal Prompts:
What in your life feels cluttered or misaligned right now? Write to God about it and ask Him to help you get rid of the clutter in your life.
Write a letter to Jesus inviting Him to do a cleansing in your life as He did in the temple. Surrender any fears you may have about that process to Him and ask Him to help you through it.
Tuesday: Stewardship over your talents
Anchor Verses: Matthew 25:14-30
In this passage, Jesus shares the parable of the three servants and it serves as an important reminder that we are called to steward well the things that the Lord has placed in our hands. As you reflect on these verses, think about which of the servants you relate to the most and why. Then take some time to unpack the journal prompts below.
Journal Prompts:
What has God entrusted to you in this season?
Where are you tempted to play it safe instead of being faithful?
What does faithfulness look like in your day-to-day life?
Wednesday: Giving Jesus the honor He deserves
Anchor Verses: Matthew 26:6-13
In these verses, a woman anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. And while she was honoring Him, the people present criticized her actions and called them wasteful. Mind you, these were the disciples who saw this moment and were indignant, which implies that she was in a space where people should have cared about giving Jesus honor, but instead, she was criticized.
As you reflect on these verses and see how in the midst of others criticizing her, Jesus defended her, think about spaces or relationships in your life where you feel tempted to hold back from fully honoring God out of fear of judgment. Then take some time to unpack the journal prompts below.
Journal Prompts:
In what spaces or relationships (work, family, friendships) do you feel tempted to hold back from honoring God out loud? What do you think is causing that temptation? What are you afraid of?
Do you worry more about others’ opinions of you than being obedient to what God is calling you to do?
What would it look like for you to love Jesus extravagantly this week?
Thursday: Following Jesus' model of humility
Anchor Verses: John 13:1-16
In these verses, Jesus models humility to us by spending one of his last moments with His disciples washing their feet. If anyone deserved to be served in that way, it was Jesus. And yet, He models humility to us by washing the disciples' feet -- including the ones of the one who would betray Him.
As you reflect on these verses, think about how you can follow in Jesus' footsteps and practice humility in your relationships. Then take some time to unpack the journal prompts below.
Journal Prompts:
What would it look like for you to practice humility in your relationships the way Jesus modeled it towards His disciples?
Where are you being called to serve, even if it feels uncomfortable?
Is there something you need to surrender right now, even if you don’t fully understand it yet?
Friday: Sitting With the Weight of the Cross
Anchor Verses: John 19:1-37
These verses recount the torture Jesus endured leading up to the cross, as well as His death on the cross. As you reflect on these verses, sit in the weight of them. Allow yourself to grieve what Jesus went through. Then take some time to unpack the journal prompts below.
Journal Prompts:
What thoughts or emotions came up as you read John 19:1-37?
What does the cross mean to you personally?
What are you still holding onto that Jesus already carried on the cross for you?
Saturday: The silence after the storm
Anchor Verses: Luke 23:50-56
These verses recount the burial of Jesus and the preparation that was done by the women who followed Him to anoint His body. Verse 56 though, shows that they weren't able to immediately do it because the Sabbath (which ran from Friday at sunset to Saturday at sunset) had begun. This shows us that Saturday was a day of rest for them, which probably made the noise of their grief, pain, and fear louder.
As you reflect on these verses, think about what that day of stillness must have felt like for those who loved Jesus. Then take some time to unpack the journal prompts below.
Journal Prompts:
Where in your life do you currently feel hopeless?
Knowing that Resurrection Sunday is coming and that the hopelessness of Friday and Saturday was temporary, where in your life can you use this hope that better days are on the horizon?
What would it look like for you to rest in God in the areas where you're feeling hopeless?
Sunday: Resurrection & New Life
Anchor Verses: Luke 24:1-8
He is risen!!!! Hallelujah!!! We can breathe and take a deep breath again because Jesus is aliiiive!
As you reflect on these verses, bask in the joy of the Lord's resurrection, then take some time to unpack the journal prompts below.
Journal Prompts:
What does the resurrection mean to you personally?
How can you live differently in light of the resurrection?
What areas of your life need resurrection right now?
