SEVEN DAYS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD – Day 8 – Easter

by Sharon
in 2020, Prayer, Prayer Lifestyle
on April 4, 2021

Day 8: Easter Sunday

AND SUDDENLY THE WORLD CHANGED

Key verse:

“Do not be afraid; for I know you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly” (Matthew 28:5-7). (What the angel said to the women that first Easter).

Be not afraid, is the greeting of angels that very first Easter. The women seeking Jesus thought they would find a dead body. Instead, they discovered He had been raised from the dead, just as He had promised. Their fear and sadness was suddenly turned to rejoicing and joy. Suddenly, quickly, in the bat of an eyelash, the world changed and changed forever. Jesus had conquered the darkness of the world, sickness, disease, even death itself was defeated that first Easter. Suddenly everything changed.

Two weeks ago, the world changed for us also. The beginning of March we were all making our plans, leading our lives, normalcy was the norm. Go shopping, go to church, meet with friends, go out and have dinner in a restaurant. And on March 13^th we all discovered that the Corona Virus had come to Washington County. And nothing was the same. Does anyone else feel like about two months has passed, but only a couple of weeks have elapsed? Even our plans for Easter have changed; in 40 years of ministry I’ve never had to have “modified worship” for Easter ever before. The phrase that everyone now uses is “in these uncertain times” …And suddenly the world changed…

But as a Christian and especially at Easter, we have certainty in uncertain times. Whatever else is going on we have promises made by Jesus which are unshakable and unchangeable. In truth the world REALLY CHANGED and changed suddenly and permanently on that very first Easter. Love had won. Death was defeated. Jesus is ever-present in our lives today because He escaped from the tomb of death. “Lo, I am with you always”, promises Jesus. “I will never leave you nor forsake you”, pledges the Lord. Life conquered death. Faith conquered fear. Uncertainty was conquered by the sure and certain resurrection to eternal life in Jesus. The world may change but Jesus’ promises never change.

That’s why the message of angels was “Fear not”, “Be not afraid”, “Do not be afraid”. We need not fear because Jesus’ promises are confirmed by Him rising from the dead and defeating disease and death once and for all. Coronavirus was defeated that first Easter. And suddenly the world changed. And we need never fear anything ever again. Amen and Amen.

Today’s Prayer:

Great and Glorious God, Father of Jesus, author of salvation, victor over the grave, source of all life and being: We praise You that Your Son Jesus has been raised from the dead on Easter and that we have sure and certain promises of life, new life, abundant life, and eternal life through HIM. We thank You that the grave could not hold Him; that death could not silence His eternal love for us. Lord, hear our prayers. We cry out to You, for there is no place else to go. Spare us and those we love and know from disease and death. Intervene through Your great power and mercy to keep our congregation and community safe and free from fear. Grant us a consummate faith in You and Your Son Jesus Christ to replace our fears with faith and strengthen our heart. Show Your hand of mercy this Easter as You showed Your power and love that very first Easter. This we ask and claim in the strong and powerful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is risen, Alleluia! He is here –Alleluia! Be not afraid, Alleluia! in Jesus name. Amen.

Additional Prayers:

Pray that every time we are tempted to fear we remember the promises of Jesus and choose faith over fear.
Pray for those on the front-line fighting disease –doctors and nurses, EMT’s, care facility workers, police and first responders –safety and a shield of protection over them.
Pray for our families that our homes are secure places free from disease, fear, and casting out fear with the perfect love of Jesus.
Pray for people to redouble their faith and return to the Lord during this time.

SDB 03/27/20