As Resurrection Sunday approaches, these two words come to my mind: gratitude and praise.
I want to give gratitude and praise to my heavenly Father above.
Easter is a time of celebration in a Christian’s life because Christ is no longer dead but alive!
However, I am sobered and grateful that a penalty had to be paid for me to be made right with God.
Nothing I can do or try to do on my own would have been enough to satisfy God’s requirement.
“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”
Isaiah 53:5-6 NLT
I am truly grateful that God loves me enough to make a way for me to be forgiven. I certainly don’t deserve His love, but I have been given it. I am so humbled to accept this great act of love for me.
So while I am grateful for God’s gift to me, I will sing praises to God my Father for His love, grace, and kindness!
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:3-8 NLT
God knew before the world began of the plan, He would set in motion.
Praise God for His sovereignty.
Praise God for His greatness.
Praise Him for His kindness.
Praise God for His grace.
“Dear Father in Heaven,
Thank you for your kindness to me. I am humbled and grateful that you loved me enough to save me. Thank you for sending Jesus to take the debt of sin for me. I am grateful that you had a plan before the beginning of the world to save me. I praise you for your greatness and grace. In the name of Jesus, Savior and King, Amen.”
He is Risen indeed! Praise God!