13. Growing in Prayer – Easter

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.  And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.    --Romans 8:11.

This time of year, many people think of the Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunts, new and fancy clothes…...new shoes and in the South one begins wearing white shoes.  But this time of year, is the celebration of the risen Christ!

Just as Romans 8:11 says the Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead and lives today in our very Christian core; all who repent and receives Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We have a celebration that is good, loving, and the grace of God.  We do not deserve the goodness and grace that He bestows on us for we all fall short of the Glory of God.

Jesus gave us HOPE and that lives in us as we live a life that Jesus gave us.  We all are born with a purpose and to live that purpose is the life given us in Jesus Christ.

I quote you from an article written in “Decision” magazine by Paul Blackham.  “The Apostle Paul was caught up in mere self-improvement before he knew the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus.  When we trust Jesus, we press on, work hard, and run with all our strength—not because the Lord, Jesus Christ, calls us (and draws us) to the finish line to give us the prize freely (Philippians 3:14).”

This doesn’t mean we don't live the consequences of our actions as Ruth Bell Graham says regarding the thief on the cross beside Jesus, “He died the thief and yet, before, he’d cried for mercy and, what’s more, his tortured soul had found relief.  He got death that he deserved; a Life that he did not.”

One may feel desperate in this life on Earth, but we have the Hope of Jesus.  All one must do is accept by faith in the risen Lord, Jesus Christ!

I close with this quote from Paul Blackham, “This very day, no matter how dead our heart might feel—Christ and the power of His resurrection can bring us back to life.  Back to fruitfulness and joy.”

Let us celebrate this Easter with power and might in prayer of thankfulness and praise to our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.

Let us pray!