Easter Day
EASTER DAY
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Lesson: Acts 2:22-39
Psalm: 118:15-29
Epistle: Colossians 3:1-11
Gospel: John 20:1-18
MEDITATION
God of ever new life, this indeed is the day on which You have acted! For on this day, as Your holy Word teaches us, You powerfully and wondrously delivered Your ancient people Israel from bondage in Egypt. But even more powerfully and wondrously, You also delivered us, and indeed all the world, from bondage to our faults and flaws through the glorious resurrection of Jesus, Your beloved Son. I believe with all my heart that Your deliverance, Your rescue, and Your saving power were not just for Your people of old, but are also for every person throughout all time—including me. The root of Your salvation is new life and hope, joy and freedom, and You open wide the gates, that all may come in.
God of ever new life, this indeed is the day on which You have acted! For on this day, as Your holy Word teaches us, You powerfully and wondrously delivered Your ancient people Israel from bondage in Egypt. But even more powerfully and wondrously, You also delivered us, and indeed all the world, from bondage to our faults and flaws through the glorious resurrection of Jesus, Your beloved Son. I believe with all my heart that Your deliverance, Your rescue, and Your saving power were not just for Your people of old, but are also for every person throughout all time—including me. The root of Your salvation is new life and hope, joy and freedom, and You open wide the gates, that all may come in.
CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, I confess that I do not always live a life worthy of this deliverance. I admit that I do not always extend hope and joy and freedom to others. I acknowledge that, where You open wide a door in grace and mercy, I close it shut in anger and selfishness. But Your perfect victory is more than enough to defeat my imperfect choices, and to raise me along with Your Son to the heights of Heaven itself. I affirm that, if You have delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into Your Son’s Kingdom, then Heaven is on earth right now. I am in that Heaven-on-earth right now, for the Kingdom of God is within me now.
Heavenly Father, I confess that I do not always live a life worthy of this deliverance. I admit that I do not always extend hope and joy and freedom to others. I acknowledge that, where You open wide a door in grace and mercy, I close it shut in anger and selfishness. But Your perfect victory is more than enough to defeat my imperfect choices, and to raise me along with Your Son to the heights of Heaven itself. I affirm that, if You have delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into Your Son’s Kingdom, then Heaven is on earth right now. I am in that Heaven-on-earth right now, for the Kingdom of God is within me now.
PETITION
In the Name of Jesus, Your Son, I set the intention to live a Heaven-on-earth life from this day forward. I ask that I may be able to stoop down and look into the empty tomb of my heart and immediately recognize and embrace the Risen One there. I do not cling to Him, that He may do all of this for me without any action on my part. But I reach out to touch His shining, white garment, that power of healing and strength may flow from His risen body into my hands, that I may freely choose to accomplish what He has purposed for me. I am risen with Christ, and so I resolve to seek those things which are above, where Christ is forever seated at the right hand of God the Father.
In the Name of Jesus, Your Son, I set the intention to live a Heaven-on-earth life from this day forward. I ask that I may be able to stoop down and look into the empty tomb of my heart and immediately recognize and embrace the Risen One there. I do not cling to Him, that He may do all of this for me without any action on my part. But I reach out to touch His shining, white garment, that power of healing and strength may flow from His risen body into my hands, that I may freely choose to accomplish what He has purposed for me. I am risen with Christ, and so I resolve to seek those things which are above, where Christ is forever seated at the right hand of God the Father.
THANKSGIVING
In the Holy Spirit, I bless You because You are my strength and my song, and You have become my salvation. I praise You because I shall not die, but live and declare Your works. You are my God, and I will thank You. You are my God, and I will exalt You. You help me now, You send me prosperity, and You shine Your light on me. You have not handed me over to death because You are gracious and merciful. I bear witness boldly and confidently that the crucified Jesus has been made my Lord and Savior. During these fifty days of Easter, and each day hence, I celebrate and manifest Resurrection-Life in my own life—in my spirit, soul, and body; in my thoughts, words, and deeds.
In the Holy Spirit, I bless You because You are my strength and my song, and You have become my salvation. I praise You because I shall not die, but live and declare Your works. You are my God, and I will thank You. You are my God, and I will exalt You. You help me now, You send me prosperity, and You shine Your light on me. You have not handed me over to death because You are gracious and merciful. I bear witness boldly and confidently that the crucified Jesus has been made my Lord and Savior. During these fifty days of Easter, and each day hence, I celebrate and manifest Resurrection-Life in my own life—in my spirit, soul, and body; in my thoughts, words, and deeds.
In the Name of the Great I AM,
to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit,
so it is. Amen, and Amen!
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