Preparing Your Heart for Easter

Many years ago, a little boy named Brandon asked his mom why she was going to the church so often. She told him the choir was practicing for their Easter drama. He asked for more details, and she shared about Jesus’ death and resurrection. With a perplexed look on his face, he replied, “We’re telling that same story again this year?”

Easter Sunday is the “big game” for us as pastors. It’s the day we gear up for all year long. We anticipate new guests and forecast the number of people who’ll attend in hopes that it will exceed last year. We prepare for this sacred day in a variety of ways—prepping the right message, the right songs, and just the right outfits. But over time, it can become easy to just “tell that same story again” year after year—go through the motions without energy or anticipation.

Let’s add something to this mix this year. Instead of just preparing the building, selecting the right outfit, choosing the perfect songs, and crafting an impeccable message, let’s ask God to prepare us as leaders and pastors. To prepare our hearts. Let’s re-acquaint ourselves with the gospel first by getting back to our first love, the One who is forever and always faithful.

Samuel Johnson said, “People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.”

We need to be reminded of who our God is, what He’s like, and what He has done.

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In essence, it’s time for all of us, not just the ones far from God, to hear some good news.

According to the Psalms, God is our:

• Sun and Shield (84:11)
• Father, God, our Rock (89:26)
• Dwelling place (90:1)
• Refuge and Fortress (91:2)
• Great God and Maker (95:3,6)
• Salvation, Helper, Strength and Defense (118:7, 14)
• Maker of Heaven and earth (121:2)

And He is:

• Mighty and established forever like the moon (89:8, 37)
• The Most High (91:1)
• Upright (92:15)
• Robed in majesty and armed with strength (93:1)
• Holy (99:9)
• Compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love (103:8)
• Greater than all gods (135:5)

And He:

• Founded the world and created the north and the south (89:11-12)
• Fashioned the ear and formed the eye and knows all human plans (94:9-10)
• Sits enthroned forever (102:12)
• Does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities (103:10)
• Set the earth on its foundations and at His rebuke, the waters flee (104:5,7)
• Will not slumber but He will watch over your life (121:3,7)
• Determines the number of stars and calls them each by name and He delights in those who fear Him (147:4,11)

Watch this short video and use these scriptures to meditate on His goodness, His ways, and His might!

 

As you invest your time pressing into God, ask Him to impart Himself to you in a fresh way. With a prayer like that, you won’t be able to contain the revelation, hope, and power that will overflow from deep within you. Then watch your Easter experience come to life again. All because it came alive in you first.

As you prep to make this Easter weekend truly life changing, check out all the resources we offer to help you do it. Visit https://open.life.church/easter and find everything from messages to graphics to b-roll footage from the Holy Land, all designed so you can build an Easter service that points people toward Christ.