Preparing Our Hearts For Easter

Reflection

Did March take you a bit by surprise, turning the calendar over from February and seeing Easter listed on the last weekend of the month? Or maybe you have been preparing for Easter for quite some time, with the Lenten season since Ash Wednesday.

As we head toward the most important holiday or “holy day” the Christian year, we have the opportunity to anticipate and meditate on the life of Jesus and His teachings recorded in Scripture. Celebrating Easter becomes a joy-filled gift, as our preparation gives way to deeper understanding and gratitude.

We also have the opportunity to go about life as normal, with our only thoughts about Easter centering around who to spend the holiday with, what to cook for the church potluck, or how soon we can return home to turn on the TV.

We must each decide what we want this time of preparation to look like and move toward. The best way to assess how prepared our hearts are for Easter, is to assess the words that come out of our mouths.

In Matthew 12:34, Jesus teaches “For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” Listening to our own conversations and what we contribute to discussions will be a direct indication of what is rooted in our heart and reveal what we are dwelling and meditating on. If complaints and outrage are the primary topics of our discussions, there might be cause to pause and reflect on what we are letting in to our minds and hearts. If we are meditating on Scripture and talking about seeking God in prayer or praising Him for our blessings, then we can see a heart ready to celebrate a risen Savior on Easter, in the fullness of joy.

We see this played out in Psalm 40 as David praises God, and in his praise, he models how his faith moves beyond his private prayer times or sacrifices, saying, “I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;

see, I do not keep my mouth closed—

as You know, Lord.

I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart;

I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation;

I did not conceal Your constant love and truth

from the great assembly.”

David publicly spoke about the attributes of God that were most impacting him: God’s righteousness, faithfulness, salvation, constant love, and truth. We see that David’s heart was captivated and rooted in the character of God, so much so that his words were constantly pointing back to God!

How We Can Pray

In the coming weeks, will our own words reveal our everlasting hope in Jesus? Together let’s walk through aspects of Jesus’s life and Scriptures we can meditate on, and look at some examples of how we can incorporate these truths into our daily conversations!

The Mission of Jesus – “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:17 HCSB

“Jesus was always about His Father’s business, so I get to follow Jesus’s example my sharing my faith with ____ today.”

The Message of Jesus – “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 HCSB

“I am entrusting Jesus, my Good Shepherd, to guide me in ____ situation.”

The Sacrifice of Jesus --But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Romans 5:8 HCSB

“I am grateful for Jesus’s sacrifice, that even when I am sinful in this ___ way, His grace covers my sins.

The Love of Jesus -- “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. John 15:9 HCSB

“I am so grateful for the love Jesus has shown me, and I get to show that same love onto others by doing ___.”

When our hearts are focused on Jesus, it will be impossible not to talk about Him in our conversations! Our parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, co-workers, friends ALL need to hear how faith in Jesus impacts every aspect of our lives. For believers, these Christ-centered comments are an encouragement, and for those who aren’t yet believers, they can see the authenticity of our faith, beyond church attendance, a transformation of our minds that overflows from our hearts.

Would you please pray with me now?

Jesus, You are my risen Savior, my Lord and my Comfort. I am grateful for Your sacrifice on the cross, that all my sins are washed away, and through faith, I am a co-heir with You in eternal life, where the Father will look on me and see Your perfection. In the coming weeks, show me where I can be more focused on the truths of Scripture, teaching me how to root the truths in my heart, that they would bear fruit in my words. Open up opportunities to talk about how I see You moving in my life, as a testimony of Your grace and mercy. Jesus, I want my faith in You to drive every action and attitude in my life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Peace and blessings,

Amy Parks

Communications Director