“Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” This statement that is greeting, affirmation, and statement of resurrection hope has come down to us throughout the ages. Indeed Christ is risen. Many of us sang this just last Sunday. We read the accounts of Jesus’ resurrection and were reminded of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus.
“Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” God showing him to be both “Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). In Christ we see the love and power of God and we anchor our hope. Yes. We have resurrection hope for the present and the future. The question is, how does this impact our praying.
Resurrection hope for all circumstances
Resurrection hope is based on what God has done in Jesus Christ—through his death on the cross and his resurrection. It is therefore not based on the circumstances around. Indeed, if it were the latter persecuted saints would have no hope. Yet, we find Peter writing to the saints in their time of trial saying:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3–5).
Indeed, the hope is based on what God has done through the finished work of Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, to whom we look (Hebrews 12:1–2). Again the question, what impact does this have on our praying?
Praying with resurrection hope
Four things are necessary to pray with resurrection hope.
- Decenter your situation/circumstances. Your ability to pray with resurrection hope will be limited by the level of focus you give to your prevailing situation. This is not to say ignore or deny it but put it in perspective. Instead,
- Focus on the hope that you have for the present and the future; for this life and the one to come. It’s remembering God’s love and power as shown in Jesus Christ, desiring that in all things God will get the glory, ever trusting in the God who is able to deliver.
- Pray to God and not to the situation. Don’t be so overwhelmed by what is happening that when you pray that’s all you see and you miss God. Yes, pray about the situation but speak with God and enjoy God’s presence.
- Pray with unshakable confidence in the God who loves you so much that God sent God’s only son. Pray with the expectation that God will act as needed, thus worry and stress are eliminated and you pray with surrender.
“Christ is risen! He is risen indeed”” Pray as if you believe this to be true and pray with resurrection hope.
Removing your boundaries to a full and free life through honest, whole-hearted praying.
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