News || A Prayer for Resurrection Certainty

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice. 1 Peter 1:3-6 (NIV)

Heavenly loving Father, we praise and thank for our risen and reigning Lord Jesus; we join the Apostle Peter’s declaration of living hope and great joy. For you have risen from the dead.

Your resurrection isn’t just another day in history, it is our only hope, it is a life-changing truth. Because of your resurrection, we’re no longer afraid to die, for you have conquered death. And we’re not afraid to live, for we’ve been raised to eternal life in you, with you, and for you.

We’re no longer enslaved to our sins and guilt; we’re robed in your righteousness and citizens of heaven. Because you were raised, we’re less to be pitied than anybody, and more to be grateful than everybody (1 Cor. 15:14-19).

Lord Jesus, you are the firstfruits and fulfilment of every promise God has made. The truth of God’s new creation, a world of redemption and restoration has now broken into history and, one Day, will come in fullness. Now we know that all things broken will be made new. 

Now risen, you reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. All evil powers have been defeated; and will be fully eliminated. The Day of no more death and dying, cancer and crisis, war and worry, meanness and illness is coming. That Day cannot arrive too soon; keep us firm in this hope until it does.

And help us Lord, to wonder, to marvel, to be filled with gratitude that in Christ, we might know that we are forgiven, beloved, and we are yours. And so free us now to spend the rest of our days living and loving to your glory. And this we pray in the name of the One who is the resurrection and the life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen