Day 1 Easter Experience

It is Day #1 of the HCOG's Easter Experience.

The beautiful part of the Easter season is how it refreshes our soul. It brings much-needed hope to our lives. So the goal of today’s step in the Easter Experience is to allow the hope of Easter to start refreshing your soul. And as with most aspects of our walk with Jesus, that will begin in prayer. Let’s jump into a devotion on The 6 Prayers Your Heart Needs This Easter.

This devotion comes from a post by Lysa TerKeurst.

Let’s look at some of the first words spoken that first Easter:
“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.” Now I have told you.’” Matthew 28:5-7 (NIV)

Lysa shows us six different ways we can pray through this passage of scripture. We encourage you to take time and pray these as you read through each one:
 

• "Do not be afraid," — Dear God, I hand over to You those things that make me so afraid. Resurrect the parts of my faith that are squelched by fear.
• "I know that you are looking for Jesus," — God, when my soul is searching, may I know that the answer to every longing is found in You.
• "He has risen," — God, the fact that Jesus is risen should lift my head, my heart and my attitude. Help me live today as if I really believe this with every part of my life.
• "just as he said," — Dear Jesus, You keep Your promises. Show me how to live as though I believe that with every part of me. Help me trust You more, obey You more and resemble You more.
• "Come and see," — Jesus, You had the angels invite the women in to see for themselves that You had risen. You invite me into these personal revelations every day. Forgive me for sometimes rushing about and forgetting to come and see for myself … You, Your Word, Your insights.
• "Then go quickly and tell his disciples," — Jesus, I don’t want to be a secret-keeper with my faith. I want to be a bold and gracious truth-proclaimer. For You. With You. Because of You. Me, the girl whom You loved and redeemed.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

What a powerful way to pray as we kick off the Easter Experience. We love how this passage builds hope in our hearts and then helps us to start sharing hope with others. That is what Easter is all about.