The Gift Poured Out April 21

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
 
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; *he has risen,* just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
 
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew 28:1-10
 

Easter Sunday! Jesus is Alive! He is risen! God’s great rescue plan is now available for all who will receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

Where are you in all of this? What is your response to God’s great rescue plan? Will you respond as the followers did in today’s verses? “They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him.” Or will you choose to reject Jesus like one of the criminals who was being crucified with Him did in Luke 23:39? “One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him.”
 
God created us with free choice. As difficult and painful as it is for me to see and hear people I love rejecting Jesus, I know that God has granted them that freedom to reject His precious Son Who was sent from God’s heart of love for them.
 
“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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18
 
God loves you so much that He gave His Son. I hope and pray that you choose to accept Jesus today!
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

 
Thank You for sending Your one and only beloved Son, Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. I choose to bow down my life before You as worship. I am so grateful for this day! A day to remember that Jesus not only died for my sins, but was raised back to life by the same Spirit that now lives in me! This knowledge is so wonderful and powerful! As I walk in step with the Spirit throughout this coming year, continually bring to my heart and mind Your wonderful gift of life that You’ve given to me through Your son, Jesus Christ.

 

Special Note


I hope and pray that God has moved lovingly, significantly, and powerfully into your heart, as He has in mine through, The Gift Poured Out! I also pray that you keep your eyes on Jesus, crucify your passions and desires, and keep on walking in step with the Spirit as you follow Jesus throughout your life! Love and Blessings, Susan Henderson


The Gift Poured Out April 20

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

2 Thessalonians 3:5
 

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:18
 
God’s love and Christ’s perseverance are the very things we have witnessed this week as we’ve seen Jesus showing kindness and forgiveness in the middle of His pain and suffering. He showed such tender compassion to His enemies, the two criminals being crucified with Him, and to His mom. Yesterday, we were reminded that the moment Jesus died we were granted full access to God through Jesus Christ!
 
Because we have accepted Jesus Christ, God’s Son, we have received forgiveness for our sins, and the Holy Spirit lives inside of us. God’s Presence has moved right into our hearts. Now, we can follow Christ’s example of persevering to show God’s love with our actions because we have the Holy Spirit’s help. This is a struggle for us because we still have our old human nature to contend with.
 
Our old nature can be very frustrating as we fall back into relying on our own strength, our selfish ways, and our old motivations. But let us never give up. Instead, let’s allow our struggle with our old nature serve as a reminder that this is the very reason we need our Savior, Jesus Christ. Living out Jesus’ example is far too much for us to do on our own. But, we’re not on our own, we have the Holy Spirit alive inside of us! There is an encouragement for us as we battle our old nature. It’s found in Hebrews 12:1b-3 and Galatians 5:24-25
 
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1b-3
 
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25
 
These powerful verses give us the battle plan, enabling us to continue in the fight to replace our old nature with Christ’s nature. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, crucify our old nature with its passions and desires, and walk in step with the Spirit so that we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us! The race to show God’s love with our actions, not merely our words, just like Christ Jesus did.
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

Holy God, Come and direct my heart into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance so that I can love ALL the people You bring into my life. You have sacrificed so much for me. I know that You call me to follow Your example here of sacrificing my own passions and desires, setting my selfish nature aside, and moving forward to sacrificially and actively love everyone. Holy Spirit, rise up in me and enable me to follow Christ’s example every moment of every day of my life. When I fail, encourage me to try again and never give up.


The Gift Poured Out April 19

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. Matthew 27:50-52
 
The moment Jesus died the curtain that separated us from God was torn apart! We now have complete, unhindered access to God through Jesus Christ! Oh that we would open up our hearts completely to God, allowing His beautiful and powerful presence to fill us up to overflowing!
 
At this moment, right now, I am compelled to ask myself, “Have I been putting up a “curtain of separation” in my heart that is keeping God’s presence from fully moving into all of my heart?” Is there something I am hiding, holding back, or not being obedient in that needs to be given up? Is my heart divided? Let’s pray Psalm 86:11-13 right here.
 
Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; *give me an undivided heart,* that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with *all my heart;* I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; *you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.
 
The very moment Jesus died, He “delivered us from the depths, from the realm of the dead.” We don’t have to merely exist with a walled up, divided heart anymore. Because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, we are able to invite God’s full, beautiful and powerful presence to move right into our hearts. As He moves in, He tears down the curtains and the walls, shakes up the earth of our hearts, splits up the rock hard places in our hearts, and breaks open the tombs of death that are encasing our hearts. When we allow God’s Presence to be fully unleashed into our hearts, His Holiness will reign. God will make our hearts whole. We can then spend our lives, lifting up our whole hearts to praise our Lord and our God!
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

Oh God! I am so very grateful for Jesus! Thank You for dying on the cross so I can live with You forever! Come and show me if I am hiding, holding anything back, or being disobedient in any area of my life. Please come and give me an undivided heart so I can live my life filled to overflowing with Your Presence, bringing glory, honor, and praise to Your Holy Name!


The Gift Poured Out April 18

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27
 
“Jesus saw His mother.” Over the last couple of days we’ve been watching Jesus as He was hanging from the nails that were pounded into His hands and feet, suffocating because that’s what happens when you’re on a cross. What have we seen? We’ve seen Jesus, choosing not to focus on His pain and suffering. Instead, Jesus was focused on the people surrounding Him, the ones right in front of Him. Jesus’ heart was filled with love, patience, forgiveness, gentleness, and kindness toward them all. First, to His enemies, then to the criminals surrounding Him, and today we see Jesus focused on His mother and friend.
 
Jesus shows such kindness in the middle of His pain and suffering again, this time to family and friends. Jesus made sure that His mom, who was at the foot of His cross, would be taken care of after He was gone. His words, “‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother,’” remind us that our Holy Savior, was also Jesus, the son of Mary.  Jesus was a good and loving son.
 
How are we going to respond to this example set today? Again, I am completely humbled as I watch Jesus pouring out His love while hanging there, dying on the cross. Because of what I see Jesus doing, I must take an honest look at how I’m treating my family and friends. Am I pouring out love into them, or am I withholding love from them? Am I so focused on what I need and want that I don’t even see their needs? Am I withholding my love when they don’t perfectly meet my needs or don’t act the way I want them to? Do I need to go to a family member or a friend and ask for forgiveness or offer forgiveness to mend the relationship?
 
In Philippians 2:3-5, we’re instructed to, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
 
Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, Who humbly and gently loved all of those people surrounding Him, including His family and friends, as He was dying on the cross for our sins. How can we, His children, do anything less? Again, another command to humbly reach out and love as Christ Jesus loved, which is impossible for us to do on our own. But not impossible with Jesus, Who knows how to lay down His life for others.
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer


Jesus, again I am amazed by You! Help me follow Your example of pouring out love into my family and friends. It’s hard! But I am determined to lay down my wants and needs, just like You did, and allow You to teach me how to humbly love those closest to me. Please show me if there is someone I need to go to and forgive or ask forgiveness from. Fill me with Your courage, strength, and words to be able to do what You’re calling me to do. Thank You for showing me how to humbly and selflessly love the people in my life.


The Gift Poured Out April 17

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43
 
Jesus was surrounded by sinners when He was being crucified. One of the criminals, being crucified with Jesus, “hurled insults” at Him, calling for Jesus to physically save Himself and them from the cross. Even though Jesus was in great pain and agony, He did not retaliate when this man was insulting Him. This criminal was blinded to the truth of Who Jesus was, and to the truth of His true need to be saved spiritually, not physically.
 
The other criminal who was being crucified with Jesus saw the truth. He saw Jesus as His Savior. He accepted the truth that Jesus was the Son of God, and asked Jesus to remember Him. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” Jesus listened and spoke love and life into this man’s heart, even in the middle of His great suffering.
 
As Jesus was hanging on the cross in great pain and agony, He was setting another impossible example for us to follow when we are relying on our own strength. When we are in pain, and when we are suffering, our natural tendency is to hide away, lash out, or complain. Reaching out and showing kindness and love to those around us does not come naturally when we are suffering. However, because we are surrounded by people who desperately need to see, hear, and feel Jesus’ love through us, even in the middle of our pain and suffering, Jesus is calling us to be patient and to reach out in kindness and love to those around us. Jesus calls us to crucify our own wants and desires so that the people surrounding us may see Who He really is and believe in Him as their Savior.
 

Today’s Verses

 
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer


Oh Jesus, thank You for setting such a powerful example for me to follow as You were hanging there, dying on that cruel cross. Please enable me, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to reach out with Your kindness and love during my pain and suffering. Remind me of the example You set for me to follow in today’s verses. Empower me to be kind and show Your love to all of the people surrounding me.


The Gift Poured Out April 16

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:33-34
 
Right here, these soldiers are pounding nails through Jesus’ hands and feet. Then they lift the cross up so Jesus is made to hang by those nails, such cruelty! These soldiers are causing Jesus excruciating pain and suffering that will only end when death comes.
 
Then Jesus astonishes us all! Right in the middle of His pain and suffering, Jesus shows undeserved kindness and compassion to these soldiers by praying for them. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Shocking! Jesus’ response challenges me to the very core of my being.
 
When I’m in the middle of pain and suffering, my natural response is to focus inwardly, just trying to get through it. My natural response to those causing my pain and suffering is to lash out at them, and I feel very justified in doing so. However, Jesus’ response to His pain and suffering was just the opposite. He was focused upwardly, on God, and outwardly, showing love to His enemies. Jesus sets such a powerful example for me to follow, and I must learn from Him and follow His example.
 
Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:43-45
 
This is not a suggestion. As Christ followers, this is how we’re commanded to live. It’s an impossible way to live in our own strength, and our love will never be enough to love our enemies as Jesus loved His enemies. I am so very thankful that Jesus set this example and impossible command for us to follow. Since Jesus loved and prayed for His enemies as He was being crucified, He will be the One Who makes it possible for us to love our enemies and pray for them.
 
Let’s ask God to do His miraculous work in our hearts today, making it possible for us to love and pray for our enemies. I know this is one of the hardest things to do, but it will bring so much peace and freedom into our hearts, and it will bring glory to the Father as we choose to love and pray for our enemies, as Jesus did.
 

Today’s Verses

 
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:33-34
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

 
Oh Jesus, when I read about Your humble, forgiving reaction to the very ones who were pounding the nails into Your hands and feet, I am undone. I am so selfish, self-centered, and have justified hating my enemies. Please forgive me. Help me start over today. Through Your power, strength, and Your love I am choosing to forgive my enemies. I pray that You would help them turn from their sins and come to You as their Savior. Help me today as I am tempted to fall into my old hatred for them, remind me of how You forgave the soldiers and prayed for them. Remind me of how You have forgiven me. I want to follow Your example of loving my enemies and praying for them. Thank You for this new challenge. (If you have someone specific in mind, I want to encourage you to place their name into this prayer.)


The Gift Poured Out April 15

The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

 Mark 15:16-20

 

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

 Isaiah 53:5

 

The sweet Baby Jesus that we celebrate at Christmastime grew into adulthood, lived a perfect and sinless life, poured out His unconditional love into all the people who came to Him, and taught us all about Who our Heavenly Father truly is. Jesus, the Savior of the world, is now receiving the punishment, the crushing, the mocking, and the piercing that has brought to us victory over sin and death!
 
Jesus’ suffering portrayed in today’s verses is shocking and difficult to take in! But let’s open our hearts and allow these words to sink deeply into us so that the depth of suffering Jesus went through for us can draw us close to His heart of love for us. This heart of Jesus, being filled with so much love for us and for The Father, enabled Him to willingly stand still and receive the strikes on His head, over and over, stand still and listen as the soldiers mocked His Holiness, stripped Him, and then led Him out to be crucified.
 
He took the punishment you and I deserved for our sinful and willful ways, so that we could be rescued from certain death and separation from God. This is where truth comes! This is where the life that is filled with peace is found! Because Jesus suffered, bled, and died, He is now The Way, the only Way to the Father! Let the lies slip away as you read this simple truth, “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:35-36
 
Jesus is the only way we can be saved from God’s wrath that sin has brought upon us. Jesus is God’s great rescue plan to bring us into His powerful love! “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

 

Oh God, Thank You for sending Jesus to receive the punishment I deserve. The punishment that has brought me peace and saved me from certain death and separation from God! I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I receive Jesus as my Savior. Jesus, thank You for willingly taking such horrific blows of pain, thank You for standing there as they mocked Your Holiness, and thank You for walking up that hill, that You created, allowing them to nail You to the cross so I can be free from the destruction, devastation, and death my sin has brought into my life. Oh Jesus! I am free from the power of sin and death because of Your horrific, but beautiful sacrifice! Thank You!!



The Gift Poured Out April 14

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Matthew 21:6-11

  (A few days later, after Jesus was arrested)  

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

Matthew 27:20-23

 

First, the crowds gathered to praise Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. They shouted, “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!” When asked, “Who is this?” They answered, “Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” They didn’t understand the whole truth of Who Jesus was, “The Messiah! The Son of God!” They hadn’t opened their hearts to the whole truth. They were stuck in their own way of thinking, caught up in their feelings toward this prophet. They liked to listen to Jesus when He spoke to them. They were amazed when He miraculously healed people. But, sadly their hearts weren’t completely open to the full truth.
 
So it’s not surprising that soon after their praises were shouted out to Jesus, came their shouts of, “Crucify Him!” The crowd listened to the words of the chief priests and elders and turned against Jesus. They were deceived, drawn away from the truth by their own way of thinking and feeling.
 
Where are you with Jesus? Are you watching from afar, like the crowd of people in our verses today? Has your heart been closed to the truth of Who Jesus really is? I encourage you to open your heart to Him, step out of the crowd and into Your Savior’s waiting arms of love.
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

Jesus, You are The Messiah, The Son of God. There is no one like You! I am ready to step out of the crowd and into a relationship with You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me for sinning and living my life in rebellion against You. Come into my heart and be my Savior and Lord over my life. Thank You!
 
(If you prayed this prayer, let someone know about your new relationship with Jesus. Begin reading your Bible and praying every day. I would also encourage you to begin going to a church that humbly follows Jesus’ teachings from the Bible.)


The Gift Poured Out April 13

Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 26:38-39
 
“Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Jesus chose to speak the most powerful words we can speak to God in light of our circumstances. These words blew away the desires of His human nature so that He could move forward, actively participating with the Father in His rescue plan through the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of Him. Was this easy for Jesus? Is this easy for us? No!! It was not, and it is not easy, but oh so necessary!
 
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” “He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.'” These are feelings, actions, and words born from a desperate and overwhelmed heart. Jesus was not only facing the pain, suffering, and humiliation of His impending death on the cross, he was also facing all of our sins, over the course of humanity, being thrust upon His perfect, Holy, God nature that cannot be where sin is. We cannot even begin to comprehend the level of suffering Jesus experienced as He died. Oh Jesus, Thank You!
 
As always, our Lord Jesus Christ is setting the example for us to follow. This time in the middle of His most desperate hour. If you’re not in tough circumstances now, you will be. It’s the way of this broken life we live. Let’s be prepared, with God’s strength, to follow Christ’s example of, “Not my will, but Yours be done,” in every situation we’re either in now, or that’s coming our way in the future.
 
Jesus set another heartwarming example in the Garden of Gethsemane. Even though Jesus knew it was God’s plan and will for Him to walk into the horrendous circumstances coming His way, He still prayed and asked God to provide a way out of the circumstances. This is so beautiful because it shows us that God doesn’t get angry with us when we ask Him to release us from unwanted circumstances. Even if He knows the unwanted situation is something we need to go through, God still wants us to be honest with Him, come to Him, and then walk with Him, in complete surrender, through the trial. This is the most difficult thing we’re called to do, but the most beneficial thing too.
 
James 1:2-4, 12 shows us the benefits and promises, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
 
God knows that trials, when persevered through *with Him,* will make us, His dear children, mature and complete. After we’ve persevered through this life with God, we will be blessed by receiving the crown of life, and will get to live with our Heavenly Father forever.
 
This way of living with our Heavenly Father makes sense, especially when we look at how we raise our own children. We see the things our children don’t want, but need in order to grow and mature. So, even when they complain and want us to release them from their “trial,” we walk through it with them so they can receive the benefits and blessings of growth and maturity.
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

 
Dear God, Thank You for listening, with a loving heart, to me as I complain about, and ask to be released from the unwanted, sometimes horrendous and tragic, circumstances that come my way. You completely understand because of what Jesus had to go through as He died on the cross. You allowed Him to go through that horrible death because I needed to be rescued from my sin. My heart is so overwhelmed with thanksgiving for Your Gift, Poured Out! But I still hate it when it’s my turn to go through the trial. But right now, because of Jesus’ example in that Garden of Gethsemane, I choose to pray, “Not my will, but Yours be done, Holy Father.” Come and be my strength as I persevere through the pain and suffering of my trials. Teach me Your ways through the trial (Name the specific trial here.), so I can become mature and complete in Christ Jesus. Thank You for giving me the promise of eternity with You! What joy this brings to my heart. I love You forever and ever!


The Gift Poured Out April 12

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

Psalm 22:14-18
 
The horrific pain and suffering displayed in these verses was penned hundreds of years before Jesus actually experienced the crucifixion that is so graphically prophesied about here.
 
From the very beginning, God had His plan in place for redeeming us. He knew we would fall away from Him and into sin. He knew He would have to send Jesus to be our Redeeming Sacrifice. So, just like we find prophesies about Jesus’ birth written hundreds of years before Jesus was born, we find prophesies written to describe Jesus’ death and resurrection hundreds of years before He died on the cross and rose again. God generously gives us glimpses into His plan throughout the Bible.
 
You don’t have to have a blind faith to believe that God is the One and only True God, Creator, Father, Savior, and Comforter. You just need to read His Word, and then walk into an informed faith, choosing to believe, choosing to surrender, and choosing to enter into your beautiful relationship with God.
 
I know that so many of you have been lied to, mistreated, and driven away from God. I hope and pray that, as you read the verses in this Easter Blog, The Gift Poured Out, you begin to see Who your Heavenly Father truly is. He is loving, gentle, kind, the One Who is chasing after you because He loves you so very much.
 

Today’s Verses

 

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

Psalm 22:14-18
 

Scripture Inspired Prayer

Jesus, today’s verses show me the intense pain and suffering You went through to save me. It’s hard for my heart to dwell on the horrific death You went through to get me back. But it’s so important that I see it written in Your Word so I can believe. So, thank You for Your descriptive, prophetic Word. Keep filling my heart with the truth of Your redeeming sacrifice, even after the Easter season has passed. Help me keep my eyes on You, Jesus every day of my life. Thank You for chasing after me so relentlessly, and for loving me so deeply.