NOT SO FAST

 APRIL 23, 2022

Matthew 28:5-7

"The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him." Now I have told you.'"

Earlier this week I came across the following Prayer Ideas that offer us some time to linger with the Easter message. I have found, that so much builds up toward Easter Sunday and the Day of Resurrection, that we move past this event to quickly. But Easter Sunday is just the beginning of a time called EASTERTIDE, in which historically the followers of Christ in many Christian traditions spend several weeks letting the message of Resurrection sink in and transform.

Today I just wanted to post some ideas from Lysa TerKeurst blog that I thought were a helpful way of praying through the Easter story in Matthews Gospel. I pray that you may find it helpful too. What follows is Lysa presentation.

I keep my Bible open to the place where the angel spoke to the women at the tomb. And I tangle my thoughts around His words from Matthew 28 as six prayers emerge ....

• "Do not be afraid," - God, I hand over to You those things that make me so afraid. Resurrect the parts of my faith squelched by fear.

• "I know that you are looking for Jesus," - God, when my soul is searching, help me know the answer to every longing can be found in You.

• "He has risen," - God, the fact that Jesus is risen should lift my head, my heart and my attitude. Help me to live today as if I really believe this with every part of my life.

• "just as he said," - Jesus, You keep Your promises. Help me live as though I believe that with every part of me. Help me trust You more, obey You more and resemble You more.

• "Come and see," - Jesus, You had the angels invite the women in to see for themselves that You had risen. You invite me into these personal revelations every day. Forgive me for sometimes rushing about and forgetting to come and see for myself ... You, Your Word, Your insights.

• "Then go quickly and tell his disciples," - Jesus, I don't want to be a secret keeper with my faith. I want to be a bold and gracious truth proclaimer. For You. With You. Because of You.

AMEN!