A Prayer to Remember the Power of the Resurrection - Your Daily Prayer - April 2
A Prayer to Remember the Power of the Resurrection
By Victoria Riollano
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3
Easter can be the most overwhelming Sunday of the year for a pastor’s wife. The weeks before Easter are full of planning, budgeting, and creating the perfect day for those who will fill the pews. The truth is, Easter is the one day a year that, even those who are not religious, will venture into the local church. Some come to church out of tradition, others to enjoy the festivities of Easter egg hunts, special prizes, or (at our church) the free family photos. Whatever the case, there is no doubt that the Sunday dedicated to sharing the good news of the resurrection can become clouded in meaningless programs and city-wide competition to fill the seats. Deep down in my soul, I wonder each year, “Have we forgotten the power of the resurrection?”
The good news of Easter Sunday is not in the perfect matching outfits or church celebrations but in the remembrance of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Jesus did not die on the cross for a yearly holiday but for an eternal celebration of each of us having the opportunity to go from death to life! What an honor to celebrate this daily! Jesus died so that if we repent and believe, we could accept the full benefits of the cross. Instead of paying the penalty of our sinful nature, the true joy of Easter is in recognition of the greatest gift ever bestowed to mankind, the gift of salvation.
My prayer today is that we celebrate the resurrection every day. I pray we share the joy of what Christ has done as often as possible, not just as a part of a one-day celebration. May we take to heart the severity of what God has done rather than get lost in the commercialism. Go and share the gospel with anyone willing to listen! The message of the gospel will outlive our momentary celebrations. The knowledge and acceptance of Christ’s resurrection truly have the ability to change lives forever!
Let’s pray.
Lord, I thank you for the finished work of the cross. I praise you for the resurrection that brings hope I will have everlasting life. Teach me to acknowledge what you have done for the world through salvation on a daily basis. Forgive me if I have neglected to share the gospel due to feeling incapable or uncomfortable. I pray for opportunities to share my faith. I ask for boldness to tell others about the resurrection. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/dndavis
Related Resource: Establishing a Routine of Rest
For a long time, rest felt less like a gift and more like a guilty indulgence — something to be earned, something to feel vaguely ashamed of, something that productive, faithful people did not really need. In a world that measures worth by output, the idea of stopping feels dangerously close to falling behind.
But what if rest is not optional? What if it was never meant to be? Tonight, lay down the hustle. Receive the gift. This is exactly what you were made for. Your Nightly Prayer is a daily Christian prayer podcast from the LifeAudio Podcast Network and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these nightly prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God as you end your day. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
