Prayer for Easter peace and promises
By Heidi Beg
Bible Reading:
“God loved the world so much that he gave him his only born son. – John 3:16
Read or listen to the following:
As Easter approaches, we begin to think about the rich sacrifice that Jesus is dying on the cross and rise again to forgive our sins. This is the heart of the gospel and we should remember this truth every day, but Easter is a special time when we can look back on this promise and allow God’s peace to fill our hearts.
When I was little, my family and I attended Lutheran Church. When we arrived at the church on Easter morning, the stage was covered in black sheets. It seemed sinister and unattractive. The black sheet was slowly removed as the service continued to reveal the large bubble stones covering the cave. Slowly, the colour began to enter the room as the flowers and plants were revealed, and at the end the stage was lit up by life. We sang Hosanna and praised God’s sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection.
Often we feel like a black sheet covers things. Difficulty and confusion have overtaken us, and we feel buried under the weight of everything. If you are in such a season, take a step back and remember what Jesus did. God knew that when we spent our days on earth we were all drowning in the darkness. His miraculous love story was revealed when he sent one son to Earth to spend his days in the flesh of humanity. Jesus experienced hardships, rejection and heartbreak through many difficult circumstances, but he ended at the expense of himself so that he could one day live in perfect existence in heaven. We don’t have to carry the weight of the world, believing that this is all there is. There is peace in this promise.
He will support you when you put your burden primarily on you. He will never allow the righteous to move” (Psalm 55:22).
God knows our world is dark. Our culture is increasingly anti-God, and we often feel that there is no hope left in the evil that we win every day. When we fight for justice and truth, we feel hopeless, but we seem to be trampled down. So, remember that God will fight for us this Easter season. In the Old Testament, God fought for his people. He trampled on his enemies, and his glory won.
In Nahum 1:3, “The Lord is slow in anger, but he is very powerful. The Lord should not punish guilt; His way is a whirlwind, and the storms and clouds are dust on his feet.”
God revenges us. When Jesus returns, all evil will be washed away. There is hope in this lost, dark world. I hope that one day I will live in perfect peace in heaven with Jesus.
Let’s sink it. Remember, no matter how helpless and overwhelmed you or overwhelmed you in life, God promises peace in your relationship with him and we have heavenly hopes.
Let’s pray:
Lord, thank you for your epic love story. Thank you for sending your son Jesus to die the death of a criminal so that he does not have to pay a fine for my sin. This is the miraculous and brilliant truth that I want to live every day of my life. As I leave all the difficult things on this planet, I pray that I can carry this truth in my heart. I hope that this life is not everything, so I pray that I can live with peace that surpasses all understanding. Jesus, life is tough. Life is overwhelming and when I’m still in you, I can immerse myself in that truth. When the world swirls around me, don’t forget to stop and recognize you. I will be hostile to evil that will let me down and threaten to fill me with lies. I lie about what is not important, this is everything, and I lie about what is hopeless. Share this peace and promise with those around this Easter. Invite your friends to the church and tell them the truth about the gospel about Easter. Thank you for loving everything I do, even at my worst. Remember your sacrifices every day and walk through your peace. Your precious name, Jesus, we pray, Amen
Photo Credit: ©getTyimages/dndavis
Heidi Beg is a writer, speaker and ministry leader living in West Washington. She is the remarried mother of four who navigated mixed family life after losing her first husband to cancer in 2013. She longs to use her writing as a way to encourage others who have experienced loss and have led her path to healing. She contributed to her blog found at www.mrsheidivegh.com and shares stories and devotions of her loss and healing, her mother, and her mixed and complicated family. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in creative writing and English, and is working on her first book. Heidi is the director of the local church’s Women’s Ministry and has a deep heart to share Jesus with women and encourage them on walks of faith. When she isn’t writing, she loves to travel, read, craft and experiment in the kitchen. For more information, visit her Facebook and Instagram (@mrsheidivegh).
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