As I prepare my heart for Easter, the Hillsong Worship song “New Wine” comes to mind. My favorite words in it says:

In the crushing
In the pressing
You are making
New wine
In the soil, I
Now surrender
You are breaking
New ground

I say that I’m preparing my heart for Easter because it keeps me focused on what this season is all about. If I’m not careful, I’ll get caught up in the bunnies and spring theme only. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with those things. I love the warmer weather, the beautiful flowers, as I mentioned in a recent post, my granddaughters dressed up in pastel colored dresses on Sundays, all of it. It’s beautiful. It’s such a hopeful season.

But the real reason that it’s so filled with hope for me, is because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. The reality that reaches down into my heart that He did this for ME, fills me with renewed hope and courage. I have served God for over 35 years so I never want to let a celebration like Easter pass by without meaningful thought, prayer and reflection.

Because of what Jesus did for me on that rugged and brutal cross, I can live with peace, joy and hope. I can feel His presence as I lift my hands in worship because of His ultimate sacrifice.

The words to that song “New Wine” remind me of the pressing, the crushing that Jesus endured for me. There was a price to be paid but it would cost Him everything. He was betrayed, belittled and abandoned. The Bible says that Jesus experienced every emotion that we ever will, yet without sin. I know you, dear friend, have been through some experiences that you felt one or all of these emotions. We don’t have a Savior who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses or one that doesn’t know how we feel because He was tempted in every way that we are. He knows what it is like to feel what you’re feeling right now. He’s been where you are, Hebrews 4:15 says, but again He endured it all without sin.

 I can enter into each new challenge with the reassurance that He will never leave me because there is an empty grave!

I’ll use the powerful lyrics from Hillsong’s newest worship song to bring this truth to light:

 There is another in the fire
Standing next to me
There is another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
What power set me free
There is a grave that holds no body
And now that power lives in me

 There’s a grave that holds no body…oh what emotions this evokes! What joy comes from knowing that I don’t serve a Savior that is dead but One that is risen and that same power lives in me. When the dark times come, I can stand on that promise and be reminded that not only I am not alone, I have resurrection power living in me. What a truth! What a Savior!

 Yes, I love that this season brings new life and feelings of a new beginning. But I love even more the knowledge that each new beginning comes from God!

 May the God of Heaven, speak these truths deep into your weary soul today, dear reader. May His resurrecting power, bring you hope and courage. My prayer for you is that this Easter your heart will be prepared and really believe all that He did, He did for you!