There’s probably all kinds of things wrong with looking this far ahead especially when the year is so new.  It’s probably like starting to advertise Christmas before Halloween.  Or, advertising Back to School specials before the kids have received their final report cards from the Spring.  So, if I’m breaking some type of etiquette I hope you will excuse me.

Here’s why:  We are 97 days away from celebrating Jesus’ resurrection.  Now, you’ve probably not even thought about that, have you?  It’s all right.  It’s just when you work within the leadership of the church you often find yourself moving quickly from planning Christmas to preparing for Easter.  So, while it probably hasn’t crossed your mind I’ve been doing some thinking and here’s what I’ve thought:  Wouldn’t it be great if you and I really started to pray for Easter and all that it encompasses sooner rather than later?  Wouldn’t there be a fairly significant chance that something out of the ordinary would happen during that celebration if you and I would bathe it in prayer?

Here’s some ways we could do that:

  1. Start to pray that God would keep it at the forefront of our minds.  There’s probably nothing more appropriate to stay before us consistently than the resurrection of Jesus and the hope of our own resurrection into eternity.
  2. Take some time to pray that God would show you who might be willing to join you in this celebration.  I can tell you that we are already planning a great presentation of the Gospel.  Once again, it’s going to be one of the most clear articulations of what happened at the tomb and the potential change it has presented to every soul since.  So, ask God to show you who He already has planned to be your guest.
  3. Keep your spiritual eyes peeled.  In other words, as you pray that God would show you . . . keep a watchful eye out for who it might be.
  4. Once you know or sense who it is . . . pray for them.  Pray for an opportunity to extend an invitation.  Pray for an openness of mind and heart.  Pray for a “yes.”
  5. When they say “yes” pray for them every day.  Put them at the top of your list and every day pray, “God, use this coming moment to reveal yourself and your hope to them.”

I know it probably seems like a long way off, but it’s really not.  In fact, you’re probably considering putting this whole thing off until it’s closer.  DON’T!  Trust me, it’ll come sooner than you think.  It’ll be here before we know it.  And no one wants to be the one who finds themselves saying, “I was going to invite so and so, but I just didn’t get around to it.”  Eternity may hang in the balance!

Anyway, I intend to keep this in front of us and I hope to continue to give some different ways we can be praying and preparing for Easter.