Preparing for Easter

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him 

shall not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

This was the first Scripture I memorized as a child in Sunday School. I often think of it as I approach the Easter season, because Jesus’ sacrifice was motivated by his great love for us. In response to this demonstration of God’s love, many Christians around the world spend time preparing to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter. Because Jesus sacrificed for us, the Easter season has been a traditional time for believers to sacrifice something for Jesus. We give up something, or abstain from something, to help our hearts and minds focus on what Jesus did for us.

Not all church traditions or Christian individuals prepare in this way; but I think there can be great merit in taking time and effort to change a habit, or a routine, for a spiritual reason during this spiritual season.

We live in a culture of self-absorption, excess, and desire. Many people – including many followers of Jesus – have trouble seeing a connection between their choices and their interior life. In today’s world, denying ourselves almost seems counter-cultural. Whether it’s what we watch, what we purchase, what we consume, or how we live, we seem to automatically embrace our indulgences without much thought or reflection.

Professor and author Lynne Babb makes a strong case that we are addicted to consumption; we have an insatiable drive to get what we want, when we want it, and how we want it. An Easter-season sacrifice is a way to push back. As we re-arrange a component of our daily lives for a time, we see more clearly the condition of our hearts. Our denial of some physical desire (better called an “appetite”) can help reveal how our desires influence us, and help us yield instead to the influence of the Holy Spirit.

What are some spiritual practices of abstinence – of sacrifice – that can help us prepare to celebrate Jesus’ great sacrifice on Easter weekend?

We can remove ourselves from noise (such as constantly listening to podcasts and music), shopping, eating or social media. We can take a walk without being “plugged in” through our earbuds. We can stop filling idle moments by surfing the net or wandering in a clothing store. Removing such things for a time may be uncomfortable or even difficult, yet these acts of sacrifice can help set us free from our compulsion for busyness, purchasing and consuming. Best of all, as we regain time by setting aside some of our indulgences, we then can spend some additional time – precious time – in prayer or reading the Bible.

In my own life, whenever I choose to abstain from something, it creates an opportunity for God to work within, re-arranging my life for transformation. It also makes me more cognizant of God’s sustenance in my life, and creates a greater sense of thankfulness toward the God who gives me the great gift of forgiveness and his constant love.

These words are meant to encourage you, and to invite you – during this Easter season – to refrain from something that you do all the time. This act of short-term sacrifice will help you prepare prayerfully and reverently to celebrate Jesus, who died – and rose – for you. What can you sacrifice in the next 6 weeks to honor our crucified and resurrected Lord?

Let me pray for you as you begin your day. Dear God, thank you for your amazing love for us; sending your Son to die on our behalf and be resurrected to give us eternal life. I pray that we would – in whatever way works for us – lay aside some additional time usually occupied by busyness, purchasing and consuming to instead spend with you. I pray that our hearts would be open to the ways you wish to reveal yourself and to help us grow to love you more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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