He Is Risen
He. Is. Risen.
Part of me is relieved that Lent is over so I can resume the consumption of chocolate and binge watch television. You would think after 46 days the cravings would be gone, but they taunt me. I have repeatedly whispered, “God, I want to long for you like I long for candy bars and Netflix.”
The glorious discipline of Lent has brought me closer to God and has transformed some of my strongholds into mere indulgences. I have experienced God in powerful ways over the past 40-plus days.
But Lent isn’t just about overcoming temptations or even establishing new patterns. It’s meant to take me to the place where I anticipate the celebration of an an empty tomb. To synchronize my trust and faith with the RESURRECTION of Jesus. To really believe that because HE is risen, I will too.
More than get out of hell insurance.
Jesus’ resurrection has to be more than get-out-of-hell insurance. It has to be the assurance that all the things wrong in my life (and in yours) can be resurrected.
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, I need to know that what’s wrong in my life right now isn’t permanent.
- Finances can be resurrected.
- Health can be resurrected.
- Marriages can be resurrected.
Do you want to know that? Do you need to know that it’s not always going to be like this?
Weary of restrictions.
Lent has ended but the pandemic continues and the stay-home-stay-safe orders seem increasingly oppressive. Keeping at-risk people healthy is important, but the isolation is hard. I want freedom, not rules. I’m weary of the continuing constraints. I want a resurrection moment!
I want to hug my friends and fill my house with people and go back to work. I want to eat at a restaurant and go see a movie and drop by the neighbors. I want a resurrection moment.
He’s in your waiting.
Friend, have you grown weary waiting for your resurrection moment to come? Does it feel like resurrection Sunday is still a long way off? I know the feeling.
Hang on. Your resurrection moment may be closer than you think. Do not give up hope. He is risen today and He sees you. He hears your cries. He is working on your behalf, closing the gap between heaven and earth.
Leave me a comment with the resurrection moment you are waiting for. I will pray over each one.
Verse for today: Alleluia, He is risen. Now, to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Mark 16:6, Eph. 3:21-22
Prayer: Jesus, how thankful we are that you are alive. Thankful for an empty tomb. Thankful for the possibility of a resurrection moment at any moment. Quash this coronavirus and abolish the isolation. Help us to trust you as we wait for it. Amen.
Thank you for your encouraging email! I AM waiting on a resurrection moment! Besides the obvious of this regulation filled pandemic we are having, there is a relationship within our family that causes contention in me that I wish would be resolved.
Father God, you know better than anyone how hard it is to watch contention and acrimony grow among family members. I pray for the cycle of contempt be broken. Prompt forgiveness. Lead them to reconciliation that grows and restores. Thank you Father. amen
I fear we may lose our home to flooding. And flood insurance is not available here.
Oh Lord, fear grips us as we face so much uncertainty. Stay the waters around Connie. Push back the flood waters and dry out the land. Protect her and keep her safe. In Jesus name amen.
I needed this message more than you know. Thank you for your reminders and prayers. You too are in my prayers.
Thanks Michelle. 🙂
I want my health back. Physically, mentally and spiritually.
Lord, put your hand of healing on Ronwynn. Give her a sound mind and strong body. Restore her to better than original. Lead her to wholeness, Lord. In Jesus name amen
I am waiting for the moment I can hug my daughter and grandchildren again. They bring food as they did again for Easter, but we are 6 feet apart and it is not the same. I miss that.
Arlene, I feel that, too. In agreement with you for proximity boundaries to be cast down. amen.
Dear Robyn,
Happy and blessed Easter to you.
Thank you for being so open, honest and real, and yet have such a love and zest for Jesus. Jesus has become more real to me during this period of isolation and rigid rules of what we can and cannot do. I am saddened by all this but somehow feel a peace, which is normally not like me. I don’t know what life in the US is going to be like when all this is over, but I do know that I must trust more in my Savior and know that whatever comes He will be with me. Does this mean that I will be some holy Christian woman at all times. I fail everyday and have to ask for overs more often than not. I was at your seminar in Flagstaff a few months ago, and was so touched by your message.
Thank you again for reaching out and sharing your story.
Donna, what wonderful news you share. I praise God that you are drawing near to Him in these days of social distancing from people. And that you have peace. Supernatural peace. That you can have indefinitely.
We all fall short – over and over. We all ask for overs – and over and over. When this is done, may we all have the clarity to share how God ministered to us during the COVID19 pandemic and every day since then.
Thank you for posting.
Exactly what Arlene said above! We were snowbirds in Florida for 3 months and are now back in Illinois. I can’t see my granddaughter who will be 3 next Sunday…..prayers that this isolation thing is over soon!
Joan,
It is so hard to embrace Skype and Facetime and our only options. I get that. I am praying in agreement with you that this virus is flattened.
Resurrection power to ignite my marriage! I want so desperately to be united on mission with my husband and to FEEL the connection within our home.
Krista,
Praying in agreement for agreement in your marriage for mission minded unity. For hearts yielded to God and for perfect clarity of His call for both of you in this season and the next. Amen!
I am waiting for the day my marriage will be resurrected, if that be God’s will for us. And I am waiting for the day my two daughters can resolve their differences and speak to one another again. I thought that their relationship was on the mend but this Easter has shown me differently. And as a result of what the younger daughter tells my husband about the older daughter, his relationship with our older daughter has suffered tremendously. I am looking for the resurrection of my husband’s relationship with our older daughter.
Jesus! You know how hard it is to see relationships strained. God, I ask for your miraculous power to invade all the members of the Starkey family. I pray for an overflow of Holy Spirit love and forgiveness to facilitate good will and reconciliation. Nothing is impossible for you. We know you can and ask that you will. Amen.
I am waiting for the day my husband is totally healed and cancer free. IN JESUS NAME AMEN. PRAISE HIS HOLY AND WONDERFUL NAME.
Lord, God we call you Healer. We ask in the Name of Jesus that Shannon’s husband be healed and cancer free. We ask for this healing miracle on this side of heaven. We ask for a long healthy life. Amen .
In December my husband and had made plans to go to Columbia South Carolina to get our grandchildren 4 boy aging from 3-12 we have other grandchildren but they live the greater distance away. This is the time of the year that we celebrate all 4 boys birthday, we go shopping for their presents cake and ice cream. I know now that time was for me as well as for them. Now I have to add a ( but ) But GOD
KNOWS I TRUST HIM THROUGH it all I am sure this too will pass.
Our resurrection is on it’s way like Daniel when he prayed and the angel says GOD HEARD You AND ANSWERED YOU THE FIRST time you prayed. We do have an enemy and we still win I like to say we WON because of the resurrection
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST WE WON!!!!!??????????????
No matter what we WON!!!!!!!????????????????????
Amen to that Georgetta! Thanks for your affirming post!
I finally got married again after being a widow for 6 years. My hubby and his 2 sons moved in but 10 days later he and the boys were back in Michigan doing something that we both felt the Lord was calling us to do. Then the virus hit and now we are once again living apart for who knows how long. Please pray with me for patience.
Stinko timing! Dorothy, I do pray for you to have patience and for the safe return of your man. Praying for safe keeping of the family and for creative ways to stay connected and travel. In Jesus Name, amen
I am waiting for my resurrection moment when all fears will be overcome. When my marriage will be made new. When my place of service will be revealed and established. When He will be glorified in me.
Whatever that will look like…idk. The Lord whispered to me months ago that “You will see it when it come, you will know when it transpires.” Waiting, watching, fully assured it will come. Blessed be the Name of the Lord…..thankful for His great mercies!
Sherry, agreeing with you in prayer for perfect peace in the waiting and awareness of the fulfillment. In the messy middle, I ask for fears to be displaced by God’s presence and peace. I ask for revelation to make your marriage new. In Jesus Name amen.