Honoring Easter Every Day

Easter is a unique holiday because its lead-up is often difficult. Whether we’re abstaining from a specific pleasure or bad habit for Lent or participating in church services that remind us of the suffering Jesus experienced, our excitement is saved for Easter morning. 

Do you still find yourself experiencing post-holiday blues? It’s a strange phenomenon when the meaning of Easter is meant to be carried with us each and every day. I’ve found myself frustrated time and again when my awe and gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice becomes muddled throughout the year. 

How can we best honor Jesus’ death and resurrection when the Easter service concludes and loved ones head home? 

Besides being intentional about spending time with Jesus each day and embracing others with His love, here are a few more specific ideas for honoring Easter after the festivities are over.

Read Through One Gospel Each Season

There are four gospels and four seasons — how convenient! You can certainly choose the order in which you want to read them, but one example is reading John in the winter, Matthew in the spring, Mark in the summer, and Luke in the fall. This keeps Jesus’ ministry, teachings, and sacrifice present in your mind throughout the whole year, not just during the holidays.

Keep a Gratitude Log

You could get really creative with this. Consider decorating a jar, journal, or box and writing something specific you are grateful for every day to put inside. Constantly in the Bible, we are commanded to remember all God has done for us. This is one of the many wonderful ways to praise Him!

Memorize an Easter Verse

To be honest, I’m not the best at Bible memorization, but there is something beautiful and authentic about learning a verse word-for-word to recall when times are tough and we need to be reminded of Jesus’ promises. Here are a few suggestions of verses to memorize, though you should choose a verse that particularly resonates with you!

• “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25)
• “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)
• “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
• “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.’” (Matthew 28:5-6)
• “‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” (1 Peter 2:24)

Volunteer for Those in Need

The love we receive from Jesus is meant to be shared. Serving others, whether through church, a humanitarian organization, or in organic relationships, brings such joy to not only us, but Jesus. Needs can vary, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. Don’t discount someone God is calling you to serve just because they don’t fit your perception of being “in need”. Whoever you are helping, if you do with the love of Christ, your gifts and time will not be wasted.

Acknowledge Jesus’ Gift of Life in Prayer

Do you have a typical format in which you pray? Regardless of how structured or unstructured your prayer time usually is, consider being intentional to thank Jesus for saving you and offering you a life with Him. We often get caught up in asking Jesus to bless others or meet our needs, which is important. But we will experience greater peace when we remember that He’s already met our greatest need with His love.

I hope this Easter is particularly meaningful for you! Remember, Jesus loves you so much and He is ready to walk alongside you as you grow to trust in Him.

 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

John 20:19-21