We’re making our way through the Lenten season, and we want you to continue feeling encouraged as you abide with God, serve your church and show up for your team.
We know you’re working hard planning and strategizing. We know you’re continuing to sprint to Easter Sunday. We hope the next few days’ devotionals can be a welcoming space for you to take a breath and be encouraged.
What a blessing we have to serve our church and community with the good news of Jesus! It’s such an honor to celebrate His death, burial and resurrection this time of year – and to be a part of sharing it with others.
In the days ahead, we’ll be focusing on the promises of God in our faith journey. These are steady truths He’s given us to cling to when the work feels heavy and the road feels long. God’s promises remind us that we are not alone. He is present, faithful and at work even when we can’t see the full picture! As Easter approaches, let these promises anchor your heart, renew your strength and center you on the hope of Christ.
We are praying for you as you move through days 21-30 of The Significance of ____: Spiritual Strength for Your Easter Season devo. May you be blessed!
Refocus
Fix your focus on this truth: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
What this truth says about God: God is the source of all grace! He not only gives it, but gives it generously to us who don’t deserve it.
What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: We are recipients of the goodness and grace of God! May we remember that we are in need of grace just as much as others. And, God gives generously to all!
Always remember: We are humble recipients of God’s generous grace.
Abide
Prayer of the day: Lord, thank you for your goodness and grace in our lives! We don’t deserve your kindness, and yet you lavish upon us. We thank you for Jesus and praise you for His kindness to us when we were still unworthy sinners. Amen.
We don’t deserve God’s goodness, favor, love and grace, and yet He abundantly gifts it to us!
Refocus
Fix your focus on this truth: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
What this truth says about God: God is both faithful and just. Even though we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, He is quick to forgive.
What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: During the Easter season, remember that the good news of salvation and forgiveness of sins is what we have the honor of sharing with others.
Always remember: You are forgiven, redeemed and restored because of Jesus.
Abide
Prayer of the day: Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins and creating a way for sinners to have fellowship with you. May we always keep in perspective our need for forgiveness and may we freely share your forgiveness with others. Amen.
Because of Jesus, our sins are forgiven!
Refocus
Fix your focus on this truth: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7)
What this truth says about God: God is our refuge and strength! He graciously protects us in times of trouble.
What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: We can rely on Him when we feel afraid, intimated, worn down or discouraged. No weapon formed against us will ever prosper!
Always remember: We have the Lord on our side! He protects us and helps us in times of need.
Abide
Prayer of the day: Lord, you are mighty and you are faithful. When everything feels urgent and we are being pulled in a variety of directions, you protect us as your children and keep us in perfect peace.
The Lord keeps His promises, He strengthens us with His might, He always protects us and will never let us fall.
Refocus
Fix your focus on this truth: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15)
What this truth says about God: Jesus is our good shepherd and the sacrificial lamb of God!
What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: We can rely on God completely, trusting that He knows us fully ... and even still, He cares for us deeply and loves us unconditionally.
Always remember: Our eternal life is rooted in Christ's care for us. We can’t earn salvation ... it is solely because of Jesus and His goodness!
Abide
Prayer of the day: Jesus, thank you for walking alongside us and taking care of our every need. You know every concern in our minds and hearts. We praise you for being our good shepherd! Amen.
We get the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus and the care of our good shepherd with others this Easter season!
Refocus
Fix your focus on this truth: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
What this truth says about God: God is near to us! We can be sure of His nearness because He is a kind and faithful father who never breaks His promises.
What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: Whatever life throws our way at work, with our families, in our homes and more, we can find encouragement in how near God is to our hearts.
Always remember: In the frenzy, hustle and running around that this time of year brings, we can find rest, comfort, hope and joy in God’s nearness.
Abide
Prayer of the day: Lord, thank you for being near to our hearts. Thank you for allowing us to know you and to trust you with every detail of our lives. We praise you for your faithfulness and nearness in the daily highs and lows. You are good to us, you are near and we are thankful!
God’s comfort and nearness is a sweet, good blessing from above!
Refocus
Fix your focus on this truth: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
What this truth says about God: When we pass through hardships and walk through fire like Isaiah 43:2 describes, God’s strength gives us what we need.
What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: When we are weak, because of Christ, we are actually strong! His strength is at work within us.
Always remember: We can be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might!
Abide
Prayer of the day: Lord, thank you for the stamina and strength that you provide for us when we're weak. In our human nature, we grow tired and feel frail. But, you strengthen and encourage us, and we praise you for it. Amen.
God has promised that He will always be with us. Even in our weaknesses, we don’t have to be overwhelmed or worn thin. God is our strength!
Refocus
Fix your focus on this truth: "So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27)
What this truth says about God: God, the ultimate Creator of all things, made us in His image and desires a right relationship with creation.
What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: We were made on purpose and with a purpose, to share Jesus' love with everyone and to reflect God's glory back to Him.
Always remember: Everyone has been created in God's image ... and the gift of eternal life is for everyone! We need to share about the life-changing story of Jesus with everyone this Easter season.
Abide
Prayer of the day: Lord, may we not lose sight of the wonder of your creation! We praise you for your creativity, we rejoice in your intentionality and we ask for your guidance as we share the good news with all this Easter season. Amen.
We were created in the image of God and can reflect His honor back to Him as we minister to others.
Refocus
Fix your focus on this truth: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
What this truth says about God: God is able and eager to offer comfort to our aching souls.
What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: We can be a source of comfort and encouragement to others during difficult or stressful times.
Always remember: When we are weak, we can draw near to God and find comfort in His goodness and mercy.
Abide
Prayer of the day: God, thank you for the comfort that you bestow on your children! We praise you for being near to our hurting and weary hearts. Amen.
Our heavenly Father is the only source of true comfort and peace.
Refocus
Fix your focus on this truth: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.'" (Lamentations 3:22-24)
What this truth says about God: Because of God's great love and faithfulness, we are exempt from getting what we deserve as sinners. God’s mercy is at the core of the cross and empty grave!
What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: Let's keep the mercy of the Lord at the center of our minds and hearts this Easter season. We can celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday because of God's mercy!
Always remember: Even when we were dead in our sins, Christ's gift of mercy saved us. This is the good news of Jesus that we get to share with others!
Abide
Prayer of the day: Lord, because of your relentless love, we have the opportunity to be in a relationship with you. Our salvation is rooted in your kindness and mercy! Thank you, Jesus! Amen.
We have many sins and shortcomings, but God has freely lavished His mercy onto us.
Refocus
Fix your focus on this truth: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight ... and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross ..." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
What this truth says about God: Because of the joy set before Him - our teams, our volunteers, our friends, our family, our community - Jesus endured the cross. He is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
What this truth says about your work/your church/your team: We can find endurance and encouragement in our faith this Easter season because of the confidence and hope we have in Christ!
Always remember: Jesus endured the cross so we could have faith in Him and share about that faith with others.
Abide
Prayer of the day: Lord, thank you for making a way for us to have a faith-based relationship with you! We praise you for choosing us. We ask that you sustain us as we share your gospel truths with others. Amen.
An invitation to faith is grounded in sharing the gospel ... the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus ... with others. We have the opportunity to extend this invite to others this Easter season. What a gift!