Prayer Tip--The Past, Future and Present of Easter
Daily Scripture
1 Corinthians 15:3-8a (CEB), 54-55a (NRSV), Colossians 3:1a (NIV)
I passed on to you as most important what I also received: Christ died for our sins in line with the scriptures, he was buried, and he rose on the third day in line with the scriptures. He appeared to Cephas [Peter], then to the Twelve, and then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once—most of them are still alive to this day, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me.
When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Finish then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.
–From “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” by Charles Wesley
Easter, Resurrection–what a wonderful time of the year! Every year, I hope I am coming closer and closer the person God created me to be. I pray God’s grace is shaping my heart and life towards his will and perfect restoration.
Easter is a time of rebirth. If we find we are not living in a way that is pleasing to God, it is a chance to be reborn and begin again. It is a time of beauty and fresh starts. Below are some prayer tips to welcome in this new season of Resurrection.
–Write a letter of what you have learned or been through during the season of Lent. Then write a letter welcoming spring and write down things you hope to accomplish with God in this new season.
–Journal and pray over your blessings between Christmas and Easter. Journal about what you hope to see from Easter until next Christmas.
–Take time to reflect on what Jesus’ resurrection means to you and how you live your life differently because of it.
–Close your eyes. After a few breaths in and out, through imaginative prayer imagine what it must have been like for the two women to see the stone rolled back, to hear from the angel and then to see Jesus in person again. Imagine in your mind what it must have been like when the disciples saw Jesus that day. Did they surround him with embraces or stand in shock? Imagine yourself as a disciple getting to experience seeing the Resurrected Christ. How do you think you would react? Last, imagine yourself meeting Jesus in Heaven. What do you think that experience will be like?
Let’s pray:
Prayer
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Ashly Cooley
This week's prayer tip is by Ashly Cooley. She has been on staff at Resurrection since 2015 and says this is the best job she has ever had. She is passionate about serving the Lord, normalizing mental health care, and is a self-proclaimed bibliophile. She enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, extended family and friends as well as dancing badly and snuggling her dog, Bessie.
