With the Easter season beginning, I wanted to share an amazing Easter Devotional with you today.
Although Christmas seems most celebrated with the birth of Hope in Emmanuel, God is with us, it’s Easter that brings us the ultimate sacrificial gift in Christ that was wrapped in that hope. From Ash Wednesday up through Easter Sunday, Christians honor this holy season by sacrificing something in their own lives, in worship and praise of all Jesus endured so that we would be redeemed.
For Christians, the painful crucifixion of Christ can be difficult to embrace, but we must. The deeper we dive into this agonizing journey, the more we will understand the profound love that poured out from the cross. It would be much easier to deny ourselves the excruciating details- the unthinkable betrayal, the horrific torture, and weight of the grief that comes with understanding Christ’s death…
But it’s in those details we discover the truth, the answers, and the inconceivable love God has for us.
I have the perfect Easter Devotional that will help you do just that. In fact-
It will bring you to your knees.
“Reflecting Easter: Living and Understanding the Resurrection” is written by my beloved friend, Stacy Voss. In it, she shares 40 short devotionals that lead you through the Easter story with inspiring details and insights that will draw you closer to Christ. Each daily devotion offers a new Biblical account of the Easter story, Stacy’s personal and relatable reflections we can apply in our daily lives, and prayerful challenges to consider in growing a more intimate relationship with Christ. With her wise understanding of scripture, her personal way with words, and her compassionate and gentle nudges, you will be blessed with the rich nourishment you need to fully experience Christ’s love for you.
While reading through the book, I discovered so many new layers to the Easter story that truly awakened my faith. One of my favorite perspectives Stacy shares brought tears to my eyes and opened my heart to fully recognize the birth of the lavishing mercies poured onto us every day by our beloved Savior…
Take in a piece of it below.
“Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophecy!” And the guards took him and beat him.” Mark 14: 65
Can you imagine being slapped, spit on, hit while blindfolded, and being struck with a staff over and over? My brain can’t comprehend that level of pain, which doesn’t even account for the anguish of having a crown of thorns pressed against His brow and nails driven through His wrists and ankles.
If that was me, I’d be doing good to mutter a few words here and there, yet Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
…Luke 23:34 is written in the imperfect tense, the verb form used when something occurs over and over.
Father, forgive them.
Father, forgive them.
Father, forgive them.
The physical anguish was vast, yet perhaps there was something even more compelling that pushed Jesus past the pain in order to recite these heart-breaths over and over:
We need to know we’re forgiven.
We need to know we’re forgiven.
We need to know we’re forgiven.”
***
Ah…
Soak it in, my friends.
Jesus tells us over and over again…
We are forgiven.
Does that hit your heart hard too?
Over and over again, we sin…
And over and over again…
He forgives.
The blood of Christ reveals this unending, irreversible, incomprehensible truth we all can receive, embrace, and live out in our daily lives. “Reflecting Easter: Living and Understanding the Resurrection” will guide you through this holy season with a newfound intention that will inspire you to reach deeper into your own heart to embrace and celebrate the power of God’s relentless love and endless mercies for us all.
Over and over again.
Buy this amazing Easter Devotional HERE on Amazon.
You will be blessed when you do.
I was honored to receive a copy to read for this review.
And by the way, Stacy also has an inspiring Christmas devotional out too. Savoring Christmas is one of my favorites. 🙂
With Easter season definitely just about upon us, appreciate you sharing and will have to look into this book further now. Thanks Chris!!
—I cannot watch or read what happened to our Father w/out crying, not believing it happened, not becoming emotional and moved and lifting my arms to the heavens.
Thank you for always bringing me back to where I should be w/ my Papa!
xxx luv u.
PS. the books sounds wonderful and SO SO SO relevant in today’s society.
Thank you for sharing, sweets!
I’m longing to be brought to my knees–to get to that place again from which I keep drifting. This is a beautiful review and inspires me to not only order this book today but to also begin preparing internally for Lent. I love Lent as it gives me focus, reigns me in, holds me accountable, reminds me of our Christ’s sacrifice, love, and grace. Thank you, Christine, for this post, which I’m so grateful to have read now, just two days away Ash Wednesday, Valentine’s bday and my mom’s 84th bday! 🙂 It’s a big day.
This is a beautiful reading recommendation, Chris. Thanks for sharing this. I’ve never really been an Easter celebration enthusiast but this really sheds light on the reason for the holy-day. Her Christmas devotional sounds intriguing as well and much needed.
Hi Chris! You are such an encouraging friend, I’m sure Stacy so appreciates your kind words.
I can’t stand spit. I hate seeing people spit on the streets, open their car doors at a stop light and spit…the list goes on. When I think about Jesus being spit on, it truly nauseates me. It’s on the more powerful images for me in the Passion.
Gaining new perspectives on the suffering of Christ is a way to grow in faith and in love with the Lord. Thank you for sharing another way to grow through this book.
Blessings,
Ceil
I can hardly believe we have already started our lenten season in this 2018! But what a great way to start reading your words here, sharing deeper reflections guided by Stacy’s book. Thank you for the recommendation!
I really need this. I’m ashamed to say the last few years have been more about Easter baskets and candy in my home than the true meaning. Thanks so much for the recommendation, Chris. I’m definitely checking this out!