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This season, we’re focusing on the significance of Easter and the importance of what this time of year means!

• Without Easter, we are a wandering people with no hope.

• With Easter, we have all that we need for reconciliation with Christ and eternity with Him.

Because of Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection – we can have salvation, forgiveness of sins, an eternal relationship with Christ and an abundance of hope!

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17)

This is the good news of Jesus. And this is the good news of the Easter season! A lot can be learned about God’s characteristics through the various titles He has. As we kick off the Lenten season, we’re beginning our devotional series with a focus on some of the names and attributes of God.

Below are days 1-10 of The Significance of ____ :Spiritual Strength for Your Easter Season.

Be blessed!

Day 1: The Significance of God Incarnate

Refocus

Fix your focus on this truth: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

What this truth says about God: The purpose of Jesus taking on the likeness of mankind was to make a way for us to have reconciliation with Him.

What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: This Easter, we get to share about Christ coming to earth, dying for our sins, rising again and reigning victoriously. Because of the good news of Jesus coming to earth as a baby that we celebrated at Christmas, we get the opportunity to share about His life, death, burial and resurrection at Easter with others.

Always remember: God’s gift of His son, Jesus, is the greatest blessing we could ever receive and has the biggest impact on eternity.

Abide

Prayer of the day: Dear God, we praise you for sending your son Jesus to be the light of the world. We thank you that He took on human nature in order to redeem all of mankind. Help us to share this good news boldly and faithfully. Amen.

Jesus took on flesh and became man so that He could live a perfect life, die a horrific death and conquer the grave once and for all. The life we could never live, He lived in our place … and that’s the good news we get to share with others this Easter season!

Day 2: The Significance of God’s Omniscience

Refocus

Fix your focus on this truth: “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.” (Psalm 147:5)

What this truth says about God: The knowledge of God is limitless. We can trust Him to know us fully and love us unconditionally.

What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: Even when we can’t fully grasp something, God can. We can be encouraged that God is all knowing. Whatever problems we face or insecurities we feel, God is above all. He is on our side!

Always remember: God fully and completely knows everything about us; He knows what we are going through.

Abide

Prayer of the day: Lord, when we feel lost and don’t know what to do, you promise, as Emmanuel, to always be with us. Out of your love and sovereignty, you give us yourself as a source of comfort. Amen.

God is omniscient! We are limited in our understanding, but He is all knowing.

Day 3: The Significance of God’s Immutability

Refocus

Fix your focus on this truth: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

What this truth says about God: God’s character is unchanging. Because He is always the same, we can rely fully and completely on Him!

What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: When life doesn’t go our way, when plans are adjusted and things change, we may be tempted to question the immutability of God. But, God is unchanging in His purposes, power and plans.

Always remember: God is consistently perfect and perfectly consistent. In His perfection, He cannot change!

Abide

Prayer of the day: Dear God, in a world of constant change, you remain the same. Thank you for your immutability and the ways you’re faithful and kind towards your children. Amen.

Even when our plans change, God remains the same!

Day 4: The Significance of God’s Holiness

Refocus

Fix your focus on this truth: “And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’” (Isaiah 6:3)

What this truth says about God: The God we honor and celebrate during the Easter season — and always — is a perfect, matchless and holy God.

What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: As we prepare and plan for Easter Sunday, may we work with reverence of God’s holiness and keep in mind His purity and perfection.

Always remember: God’s holiness is worthy of our reverence.

Abide

Prayer of the day: God, you are holy! Your holiness deserves our worship. We praise your name, are thankful for your holiness and seek to honor you with all that we are. Amen.

This Easter season, may we revere the holiness of the Lord and share His majesty with others. He alone is holy!

Day 5: The Significance of God’s Mercy

Refocus

Fix your focus on this truth: “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.” (Ephesians 2:4-5a)

What this truth says about God: Even though all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, Jesus made a way for all to regain right standing with God.

What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: We have been given the greatest blessing: a second chance through the Father of mercies. The mercies of the Lord are new every morning and we get to share the ultimate act of mercy through Jesus with others.

Always remember: Because of the great mercy of God, we are forgiven, and can share God’s merciful, redemptive salvation with others, too!

Abide

Prayer of the day: Lord, you are rich in mercy! Thank you for the impact of your forgiveness and mercy on each of us. We praise you for your greatest act of mercy — sending Jesus to earth to die on the cross and rise from the dead – so that we could be reconciled to you and share your saving power with others. Amen.

God’s mercy gave each of us a second chance to have communion with Jesus. This Easter, we get to live out our redemption story!

Day 6: The Significance of Jehovah Jireh

Refocus

Fix your focus on this truth: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

What this truth says about God: The Lord will provide! Out of His kindness towards His children, God always provides. From the saving mercies of Jesus to the encouragement and help He gives us in times of need, God is Jehovah Jireh.

What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: This Easter, the to-do lists are bound to get long and our patience and energy will inevitably run short. But, Jehovah Jireh will provide us with the stamina and strength to serve Him as we care for our teams and prepare for Easter Sunday.

Always remember: The Lord will meet every single one of our needs!

Abide

Prayer of the day: Lord, thank you for the encouragement, help, comfort and hope you give us. Even when all feels hopeless, we praise you for being our provider and making a way for us and our church teams. Amen.

The Lord has provided salvation for our sins and will continue showing up for us in big ways as we walk through this Easter season.

Day 7: The Significance of Abba

Refocus

Fix your focus on this truth: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8:14-17)

What this truth says about God: God is our Father and we are His children! We are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ Jesus.

What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: Being a child of God is significant and impacts our lives! Because of our adoption into God’s family, we can serve with joy, find gentleness in times of impatience, be comforted in hurtful situations and gain strength in hardship.

Always remember: We are sons and daughters of the King!

Abide

Prayer of the day: Father, we thank you for the encouragement, hope, peace and joy we can have because you are our Abba! We praise you for adopting us into your family and calling us your children. Amen.

As children of God, sons and daughters of our heavenly father, we worship Him through our work for our church and care for our local community.

Day 8: The Significance of the Good Shepherd

Refocus

Fix your focus on this truth: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” (Psalm 23:1)

What this truth says about God: The Lord is a good shepherd to His flock, His children. God provides all that we need in an all-encompassing way. He cares for us personally and directs our steps out of His lovingkindness.

What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: We can trust that the Lord knows us intimately and cares for us deeply. His ways lead to peace, comfort and true rest for our souls.

Always remember: God is the good shepherd. He knows, cares for and loves His sheep.

Abide

Prayer of the day: Lord, thank you for being the good shepherd! Just as John 10 talks about, you lay down your life for your sheep. We confess that it’s easy to lose sight of your goodness. Thank you for being kind, merciful and gentle towards us as your children.

The mercy and love of the Good Shepherd will follow us all the days of our lives!

Day 9: The Significance of God’s Sovereignty

Refocus

Fix your focus on this truth: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

What this truth says about God: God’s authority is above all. His rule is sovereign, His control is limitless and He has the final say! Because of the sovereignty and power of the Lord, He can use all things for His good. Everything … the good, bad and ugly … can bring glory to His name and fulfill His purposes.

What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: No matter what you’re going through, no matter how difficult, last-minute, or confusing something may be – God can use it all to carry out His plans.

Always remember: God can work in and through your circumstances to share about His love and to bring light to a dark world.

Abide

Prayer of the day: Lord, you are in full control. We honor you for your might and sovereignty. We know that you have good plans for us. We ask that you use your sovereign power to restore what is broken and to bring healing and hope to the lost. Amen.

God is over all! There is no situation that is ever too far gone from His sovereignty and saving grace.

Day 10: The Significance of Emmanuel

Refocus

Fix your focus on this truth: “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

What this truth says about God: God is always and forever with us!

What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: No matter what comes our way this Easter season, we can be confident that the Lord is with us and the Holy Spirit is helping us in our times of need.

Always remember: We are not alone! God is with us. And, just like Psalm 60:12a says, with God we will gain the victory.

Abide

Prayer of the day: God, thank you for the essence of Emmanuel! Thank you for being with us. We are grateful that you sent Jesus to earth and have given us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us to recognize the power of your presence in our lives and worship you always. Amen

Because of Emmanuel, we have the chance to live life with Jesus, abide with God and keep in step with the Spirit.