Easter, also known as Resurrection Sunday, is the most important holiday in the life of the church. That’s because its entire purpose is to commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our savior. It is the key event upon which the Christian faith is based. 

Resurrection means “a rising up,” as in restoring or reviving to an earlier state. In the Bible, the resurrection refers to the literal raising up by God of his son Jesus, who was crucified for our sins, died, and buried in a tomb. On the third day, Scripture tells us Jesus’ followers discovered his tomb was empty, the heavy stone blocking it rolled away (Mark 16:1-8). Soon after, Jesus appeared to his disciples, eating and drinking among them and even showing his wounds from the cross, and spent 40 days teaching them about God’s kingdom before his ultimate ascension to heaven. 

The time just before Easter is called Lent, and it runs from Ash Wednesday through sundown on Holy Thursday (the night of Jesus’s Last Supper and betrayal), roughly 40 days marked by a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. Then, on Easter Sunday — or Resurrection Sunday — we gather in joyful celebration over the good news that in Christ's death and resurrection we are made new by God's love and saving grace.

Here are five prayers to help us as we go through the Easter season, from Ash Wednesday to Resurrection Sunday and beyond. 

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Never in the Bible does it command slaveowners to end their practice. Never does it say, “Slavery is against God’s will,” and never does it say, “Thou shalt not own slaves.” Given all this, many people wonder: Does the Bible condone slavery? The answer is no — the Bible does not condone slavery, nor does it outlaw slavery. 

While the Bible doesn’t specifically contain the word “gambling,” a number of passages urge good financial stewardship and warn against being foolish with money or get-rich-quick scenarios.

I’d heard about prayer journaling, and I was toying with the idea of buying one of those beautiful, ready-made journals when I realized I should try a little experiment. Simple things have always seemed to work best for me, so I got an inexpensive spiral notebook and I started writing down my prayers every morning.

If I was going to serve the Lord as a wife, a mom, in my writing ministry, and wherever else God called me to serve, I needed to be strong, and I needed to take better care of myself so I could do his good work.

Sometimes today’s world can be a really scary place. People can be mean, and there are days it feels like I need to put on emotional, spiritual, and even physical armor just to go outside my door.

Over the years, I developed a notion that I needed an ironclad façade or I others would walk all over me like a dirty doormat. I convinced myself I needed to project the lie that I had my life together. Heaven forbid I show vulnerability or weakness lest I expose myself to attack.

Can you relate?

The trouble was that my ironclad façade started getting in the way of God’s intentions for me. For it was in moments of weakness that I began to feel God work in ways I’d never experienced, and the more I fought to maintain my emotional barricade, the slower the transformation.

It took time, but I slowly began to understand the spiritual value of being vulnerable — not only with the Lord but with other people.

Here, then, are five lessons I have learned about how being vulnerable can help our spiritual lives, deepening our relationship with the Lord and leading to powerful personal transformation.

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What if I do it wrong? What if I offend God or look like an idiot? First, it’s important to know that praying in public is not a requirement for any Christian. Jesus warned that we shouldn’t pray in a showy way but rather a simple, private, intimate manner (Matthew 6:5-15). But often, there are very good reasons to pray in front of others. 

Perhaps we think simple repentance isn’t enough — God wants some grandiose gesture or major sacrificial display on our part. Perhaps in a quiet corner of our heart, the devil’s lies blare, causing us to doubt the promises of Scripture and the debt Jesus paid. How can we be certain that our sins are forgiven? 

Perhaps while other kids were playing school, hospital, cops-and-robbers, or soldier games, you played “church,” setting up chairs for pews and pretending you were the pastor. Or perhaps you had no desire at all to go into the ministry, but one day God spoke powerfully into your heart, stirring your soul and setting everything into motion.

Whatever the reason, you have found yourself at a crossroads, and now you’re deep in contemplation: Should I go to seminary? Could I really pursue a career in God’s church?

Careers in ministry are often unique, and the needed skill sets vary, so unlike other career paths, it can be difficult to determine whether or not this is a good fit for your life and whether this is what God truly has in mind for you.

Given this, here are six questions to ask yourself before pursuing a career in ministry.

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Trauma isn’t just something unique to modern times. The Bible is filled with verses addressing trauma and recovery. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/sticker2you

We know the Bible is the word of God, and all of it is useful (2 Timothy 3:16-17). But I have my own list of special Bible verses, passages of Scripture I cling to when I need to remember the most important elements of my own faith. When times are tough, these can be a rallying cry.

The book is about a young Jewish woman, Esther, who is chosen to be the new queen of Persia. With help from Mordecai, they are able to save the Jews from destruction. At first she keeps her Jewish identity secret, but after a plot by one of the king’s advisors is uncovered, she reveals her background and thwarts the plan.

When we experience a distressing event, whether once or repeatedly, we sometimes exhibit a lasting emotional response that can impact our sense of safety, identity, relationships, and ability to regulate emotions. Trauma impacts people of any age, both children, adults, and the elderly.

God promises he hears our prayers. God does not lie. Indeed, God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 6:18). He is only and always good, truth, light, and love, the almighty and perfect, now and forever.