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
Victoria Riollano is a mother of eight, veteran spouse, Psychology professor, and doctoral student, Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God’s ultimate purpose for her life. Victoria holds an MA in Child Psychology and is the author of two books- The Victory Walk: A 21-Day Devotional on Living a Victorious Life and Warrior Mother: Equipping Your Heart to Fight for Your Family’s Faith. When she is not writing, you can find her serving in her local church as the pastor’s wife, worship leader, and youth pastor. Ultimately, she desires to empower women to live a life of victory, hope, and love. You can connect with Victoria at www.victoryspeaks.org and on social media at Victory Speaks by Victoria Riollano on Facebook and @myvictoryspeaks on Instagram.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
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