A Season of Hope – Preparing Our Hearts for Easter
Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Let us join together to pray on this holy Sabbath day and in this season of hope, asking God to prepare our hearts for Easter. Wherever you are today, whether you are alone or with another, attending church or viewing a service online, join with The Church all over this nation and the world to lift up prayers to the Lord. Pray for: our country, our families, friends, and our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering from persecution, and those who are lost and need the Savior.
Our most gracious heavenly Father, giver of life and every good gift, we praise You for Your mighty power and Your love for us. We acknowledge that some of us at times have taken our eyes off of You and we have placed our faith and hope in other things besides You. Our trust in Your sovereign will has wavered a bit. We have placed blame where it wasn’t warranted; we have demonstrated greed; we have put ourselves first and ignored the needs of others. We humbly beg for forgiveness.
Please, Lord God, we ask that You would protect the weak and vulnerable, strengthen those who care for the elderly, sick and infirm. Provide wisdom to our President, and all those in authority, that they may always look to You for wisdom and lead us accordingly. Instill a spirit of unity throughout our land so that we have a common purpose of moving beyond our differences to support the greater good for our country and live in peace and security.
Mighty God, use us to shine the Light in the darkness and speak the truth of Your Love. Remind us of Your command to love our neighbors as ourselves and to put selfishness aside. During this season as we prepare for Easter, may each of us have a renewed sense of Your resurrection power that heals the body, mind, soul and spirit. Touch us, O God. We pray in the name of Your Son, Jesus, who died on the cross so we can experience that resurrection power in our own lives. Amen.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
“Now may the LORD of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The LORD be with all of you.”
– painting via The Macneil Studio
I am honored that you have read my devotion and joined in praying today. May it be an encouragement to you and bring glory to God. To receive Devotions For All Reasons in your email every day, go to the homepage and simply click on “Subscribe.”
Good morning Marsha,
I was wondering if you might be able to recommend a good Bible study to be done at home? Love your daily devotionals.
Catherine Schmidt
Hello, Catherine ~ let me ask a few questions to get an idea of what are looking for. What do you have a desire to learn more about? Are you interested in a topical study, or particular book of the Bible? Perhaps a study that has additional streaming (online or on your TV) videos as commentaries such as what Lifeway offers? Let me know and I’ll provide some ideas. Blessings on your day! ~ Marsha
Good morning Marsha,
I suppose a better question might have been: how do I read the Bible every day and glean God’s message? I have read Genesis 1:1- Revelation 22:21, but now it’s like” what do I read now?” Do I pick and choose throughout His Word, or follow a guided study? Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Have a blessed day.
Catherine
Good questions! You have choices, and sometimes it takes trying a few things to see what suits you the best. One option is to buy a Bible accompanied by devotions, such as a “Quiet Time Bible.” Some have more commentary than others. I also like having a good study Bible that has lots of commentary, such as the Ryrie Study Bible. A more in-depth approach is to study a book of the Bible that interests you. There are many out there I can recommend, including study books by Warren Weirsbe’s on a particular book of the Bible. He takes you through, let’s say, Romans, chapter by chapter with commentary. You don’t have to do the part where you answer the questions unless you want to. I have used his books for years in preparation for many of the Bible studies I have led. Another option is to study a topic, such as The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. I can recommend a book for that. The possibilities are endless, really.
Thank you Marsha for your suggestions. I will look into Warren Weirsbe’s commentaries. It’s sometimes hard on your own; our ladies Bible study broke up and I haven’t found another, so I’m on my own . Thanks again. Stay well.
Catherine
Good morning, Catherine ~ I understand totally. Staying motivated and disciplined to forge ahead independently is a challenge sometimes. Another suggestion is to check into The Bible Recap by Tara Leigh Cobble. I’ll send you a link to your email. 🙂
Good morning Marsha.. it is a challenge to carve out that special time to fellowship with the Savior and not allow the distractions of everyday life to interfere. Thank you for taking the time to reach out with your suggestions.. they are much appreciated. A blessed Easter to you and your family.
Catherine
You are most welcome! Easter blessings to you and yours! ~ Marsha