What’s so good about the Friday when Jesus sacrificed His life for us? Everything.
Around the world, that sacred day is known as Holy Friday, Mourning Friday, Silent Friday, High Friday, Sorrowful Friday, and especially, Good Friday, which some say began as God’s Friday. Yes, it certainly is. All His.
In Denmark, it’s called Long Friday — a fitting name for the brutal hours that stretched from sunrise to sunset, from His beating to His burial.
Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer… Isaiah 53:10
Of all the powerful verses in the Bible, this is the one that brings me to my knees. How much does God the Father love us? Enough to sacrifice His only Son.
I love you, dear sister, but I could never give up my only son, my only daughter, for your sake. I’m sure you feel just the same.
Yet “it pleased the Lord to bruise Him” (KJ21). Delighted Him, the original Hebrew tells us. God the Father “wanted to crush him and to make him suffer” (CEB), to “break him” (GNV) and “bring him to grief” (VOICE) for one reason: He loves us.
This is worth a listen: What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
…and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,… Isaiah 53:10
This is why those six hours on the cross were worth every agonizing minute. Our staggering debt of sin— past, present, and still to come — was paid in full when Jesus put Himself “in sin’s dark place, in the pit of wrongdoing” (VOICE). Separated from His Father, He was forsaken. For our sake.
Then at last, the hallelujah, Easter morning, the true “Ta-da!”
“He has risen!” Luke 24:6
Because of His sacrifice on the first Good Friday, grace poured out like living water, bringing the gift of forgiveness to a hurting, dying, sin-filled world. To each of us. To all of us.
…he will see his offspring and prolong his days,… Isaiah 53:10
God promises that His Son will have “a multitude of children, many heirs” (TLB). That’s you and me and all who love Him and call Him Lord. Millions upon millions will live forever because Jesus offers “life, life, and more life” (MSG).
Even in the face of imminent betrayal, abandonment, torture, and death, Jesus told His disciples without hesitation, “After I have been raised from the dead…” (Matthew 26:32 NLT). There was no doubt in His mind, and there must be no doubt in ours. He died willingly at the hands of men, and He rose triumphantly at the hands of God.
…and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10
It’s a lifetime guarantee, written in the blood of the Lamb. Since Jesus “did everything the Lord had planned” (CEV), you can be sure “the Lord’s plans will come to fruition through him” (CEB). As Matthew Henry wrote, “He has vanquished principalities and powers, sin and Satan, death and hell, the world and the flesh.” Oh, what a Savior!
On Good Friday – make that every day – may you experience afresh the wonders of His mercy.
From the pages of The Women of Easter:
On their last night together in Jerusalem, Jesus was preparing His disciples for the separation to come and informing them where their paths would next cross, telling them, “I will go ahead of you into Galilee” (Matthew 26:32).
Imagine how they felt at hearing their Teacher was to be struck down, raised from the dead, and then transported north to Galilee, where He would meet them! Their emotions had to be reeling, especially in view of the prophecy about their deserting Him.
Peter, the rock on which Christ would build His church, said what all of us might say, wanting to sound brave, hoping to encourage Him. “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matthew 26:33).
The Lord knew better and set Peter straight. “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” (Matthew 26:34). He didn’t mean Peter would deny His existence. Rather, he would deny their friendship. This is what matters to the Lord — our relationship with Him.
Peter wanted to believe that he would be faithful to the end. So do you and I and all who claim to know Him.
But then I remember a conversation I had with a businessman at the start of a long cross-country flight. After he regaled me with all his successes, punctuating his speech with vulgarities, he asked, “So what do you do?”
“I’m a writer,” I told him, hoping that would put an end to it. I was pretty sure this guy didn’t want to hear about Jesus and even more sure I didn’t want to broach the topic and risk a scathing attack.
“Oh yeah?” was his comeback. “What do you write?”
“Books for women,” I answered, certain that would shut him down.
“Really? What are they about?”
What are they about, Liz? “Faith,” I blurted out and then reached for the in-flight magazine, utterly ashamed of myself.
My responses were true. But all of them denied Jesus. Skirted around His name. Avoided His gospel truth. Because I was afraid the man might — what? Roll his eyes? Throw his drink in my face?
God forgave me, because He is good. And He has bolstered my courage, because He will not be denied. Now when a stranger asks what I do, I joyfully respond, “I love Jesus, and so I write books about Him.” It’s a conversation starter for sure.
Here are some free resources to enhance your reading:
Reading Plan for The Women of Easter
40 Days: A Lenten Journey on Facebook
How to Use The Women of Easter as a Bible Study (includes a recommended video)
Mary of Bethany Pinterest Board
Mary of Nazareth Pinterest Board
Mary Magdalene Pinterest Board
Our friends at (in)courage, Propel Women, Focus on the Family, and beautiful Ann Voskamp have featured bits and pieces of the book, should you wish a closer look.
If you need a copy or two to share with friends, order The Women of Easter today from Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and CBD. If you love fiction, check out my eBook exclusive, Mercy Like Sunlight. And I’m tickled to announce that 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart is a Finalist for both an ECPA Christian Book Award in Devotion & Gift and a Christian Retailing’s Best Award in Nonfiction: Women. So grateful.
Your sister, Liz
I love your honesty Liz. The story you shared regarding the flight you took is priceless. We are all guilty of such h behaviors. But God is truly forgiving and full of grace. A blessed Easter.
Thanking our Lord for his unconditional love and foregiveness of our sins and give Him all the praise and glory.
Can you imagine if Jesus didn’t want to die on the cross for our sins? We would all be toast! Thank you Jesus you did take away our sins!
The first time I ever even heard your name was last Nov at the pendel women of purpose celebrate conference in Hershey PA. Listening to you the first night when you told parts of your testimony and it was like hearing my own. You gave me hope and helped strengthen my faith. You are amazing and have helped me so much. Thank you. My Easter prayer is that we as woman continue to help bring other to the Lord and show them that no matter or past God has amazing things in store for our future as long as we trust in him and follow his word.
I have read your children’s parable books many times for children’s ministry sessions. Always my favorites. I finally reread the women of Christmas, mNow onto Easter
Love ❤️
In our busy days, whether just getting off work, or speeding to the beach for a week during Spring Break, or running around town getting groceries, that Easter outfit and other things, this word today was the most meaningful time of my day. We are all running to and fro and to stop and see this post. Sit quietly and read it. Absorb it. My soul is refreshed. None of this other stuff matters. Only what God did – what Jesus did. I thank God that His Love is so great He would give up the Son of His Love in order for all of us to come into His kingdom. I am now balanced, quiet, groceries put away, and most of all, I am so thankful for you, Liz, helping me to stop and smell the roses – the Rose of Sharon. Thank you, Liz, for sharing what the Lord puts on your heart. For then we are able to go forth and share this same Love as well. And God is honored and glorified in all of it. Amen. Praise God.
Praying that I will appreciate God’s love for me, every day, and share that love with others. What an awesome God! What a sacrifice!
Liz, This is a beautifully written study; especially, as we begin the week before Easter. Father, help me to stay faithful to you.
I just really want to stop binge eating. I’ve struggled with it for 25 years now. It gets better but I haven’t totally broken free from it. It’s affecting all the members of my family and I don’t want to continue being such a poor example and witness to my children. I want to be free from this sin and overcome since I already the power that raised Christ from the dead living within me. I want to take the blinders off and stop giving in and going back to trying to do it on my own. I want to live like a slave to righteousness not sin. I don’t want to make light of Jesus’s death for me, nor grieve the Spirit any more.
Hi Kristine,
I identify with you and your desire to be freed from
binge eating. I have struggled with this and other areas of habitual sin for years. I’ve come to the awareness that in my flesh I won’t be able to conquer
sin, it’s only when I surrender to God and meditate on verses where Jesus says. “abide in Me cling to Me,lean
into me that I’ve started to sense the Holy Spirit’s enabling to resist temptation and have God confidence that as long as I’m abiding and conversing with the Lord throughout my day the Spirit is helping me desire to be obedient.
I hope this helps you I will pray for you.
Thank you Liz for sharing your heart ❤️!
My prayer is that God will use my life to share His love with others. That they may see Him and His good works!
I like Good Friday and got excited just reading this title.I remember when I was a kid and businesses actually closed on Friday from 12-3. A church near my college had a Good Friday service from 12-3. Ever since then I sit and contemplate the Easter story for those 3 hours every Good Friday. It is such a special time for me, I ask for the day off work way ahead of time.
Praying that everyone will feel God’s presence as they draw near to God this Easter.
Liz,
Your words always get to me (in a good way) thank-you for sharing them. I hope that you have a blessed Easter.
Easter is the most special time to me…a reminder of God’s love to us and the season of rebirth. I received your words in an email this evening at the end of a long and tiring day. I so appreciate them…Thank you and Happy Easter!
My sincere wish for THIS Easter, more than any before, is that I remember this past year of debilitating health issues, that I believe the powers of evil tried to use them to their advantage, will draw me closer to the sacrifice Jesus made for me and all mankind. It is my prayer that as I join Jesus in the Upper Room I will have the spiritual love for Jesus that will help those around me drink in that love and gladly unite with our Saviour. For no human suffering can compare to the tremendous pain of Christ’s suffering for us.
I just love all your books. My prayer for Easter is that my sons will return to the Lord.
My heartfelt prayer for this Easter is a bit different as I’ve been asked to do a monologue as Mary on that first Easter morning. I want to be able to be a character that will draw people back to that incredible morning…the heartbreak, the awe and the wonderful realization of Jesus being alive. Monologues are not easy! No one to play off of or help me if I get stuck! Wishing you a very blessed Easter Liz!
My prayers this Resurrection are for health for my father, husband, and son; for strength for myself; a deeper faith and more open heart so I can be a better servant. Most importantly praise and thanks for His sacrifice, love, mercy, grace, and blessings!
May the love of Christ show through me on Easter and every day upon everyone I meet. I pray His love will bring healing and restoration to my family. Thank you Liz for helping us keep our focus on how much the Father loves me and all of us.
May God bless us all during this Easter season. May His love for us be more evident than ever. May we all know his love and peace. Amen
Oh Father let us never forget how much You love us and how precious Your love for us is! May it sink deep into our spirits and work through us to all those we come in contact with. because You are LOVE!❤️ You gave Your only Son so that we could be Your sons and daughters and for that I give You praise, glory and honor. I surrender to You my Lord and ask that I would begin to understand that exceedingly great power You have for us who trust in You. That same power that raised Christ from the dead! Oh let us understand and begin to walk in that power, in a way that shines to those who still sit in darkness. Thank You Father for Your mighty love. I believe it, I receive it and I ask that I would always spread Your love to everyone. In jesus name Amen and Amen 🙏🏻
It’s difficult to think back to the women of Easter. These women were strong and brave and accepted the death of Christ.
I have been experiencing cancer for several years. When the moments and treatments become overwhelming, I think of Christ being beaten, carrying his cross and experiencing an impossible excruciating death to die for our sins, my suffering is little in comparison.
A blessed and glorious Easter to each person reading this.
My granddaughter is dying because of cancer. She is very close to going home. This Easter season has spoken to me loud and clear. The price Jesus paid for my sins is providing a homegoing for Audra through His resurrection. And provided for me as well. Hallelujah!
My group just finished “The Women of Easter” as a Lenten study. It was beautifully moving and resonated deeply within us, each of us uniquely different yet the same. What a perfect intro to Holy Week. Thank you again Liz for a magnificent writing. On Easter Sunday I will remember it is the ultimate TaDa of all time. Thank you God for the most lovely of lovely gifts. Grace and Mercy.
I have just recently discovered your book “Bad girls of the Bible” I absolutely loved it and the way you read it just brings it to life for me. I totally related to every girl in some way. I recently purchased “Women of Easter” in audio and hard back and as expected you have given me a new view through the eyes of the women at Jesus crucifixion. I feel my spirit growing and a deeper understanding emerging. I just want to thank God for His love and acceptance of me. Also thank you for using your gift of writing to help God’s people.
Thank you for your special words, so thought provoking. My heartfelt prayer is for our nation to turn to God and repent. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
My earnest prayer for this Easter is spiritual and physical healing in my family. Praise He is Risen!!
Every year as Easter approaches I am filled with thoughts of the extreme agony that Jesus experienced on the cross. I find it difficult to look at the crucifiction instead of the bare cross…the cross that is bare because He lives. Every year I rejoice on Easter because I know He lives . God sacrificed his only Son for me.
Thank You Lord!
Thank you God for sending your only son Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for my sin. Thank you Jesus for coming to earth to die for my sin and conquering death.
Well Hello Sister Liz! Our Bible study group here at Traverse Bay UMC, just finished reading and discussing your “Women of Easter”this morning!! Wow! What a wonderful read, we learned so much, and really are amazed how our Lord honored women by having them by His side to nurture Him. To stand near Him when He was beaten down, when most of his disciples had disappeared. Your question on page 207 , “In what ways does their faithfulness challenge you to deepen your relationship with God?”This question out of all in this book was ‘really deep’ for me!
To me, if they could stand by our Lord and Savior when He was being tortured, I must strengthen myself, my faith with His help, with prayer and supplication and fasting to withstand any testing that I may be held to in this day and time, because we don’t know what is to come. Just look at the Christians in the Middle East in this present time. We must pray for them, too. We must remember, God is everywhere, we just need to remember to connect with Him always, and in everything. Amen.
P.S.
When are you scheduled for your knee surgery?
Thanks for the reminder! How can I be so timid about my faith when He gave His life for me!? It makes no sense! I will live for Him because He died for me.
Thank you sister Liz for posting this beautiful encouragement!
Our Father and Almighty God, my prayer is for women around the world to realize how blessed we are by Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Forgive us our weaknesses. Help us to know we are protected by Your amazing grace and provision. Thank You for the awesome sacrifice of Your love and life for our sake. May our eyes be opened to the strength You give us so we may share Your love with one another, in the power of His Holy name. Hallelujah and amen.
Dear Liz,
My prayer is for those people who show up this Easter having rarely stepped in a church, if ever. I pray they make a connection between their heartfelt needs and the One who can meet them.
Liz, I love the way you share God’s gracious love. May it be increasingly clear to all of us.
Blessings to you and your readers, Pam Erselius
Liz ,
I found the Savior this past year after being in the lds church for 51 years. I was so dry and thirst for His love and grace that I resigned from that church . I walked into a little Church about a year and a half ago to be embraced with song and praises for the Lord Jesus. I now have a lovely church family and most of all I have all the promises that are given to all of us through the Lords sacrifice on the Cross and His Redeeming blood . I found your website and I think I could teach a bible study from your list of beautiful books teaching on the love that Our Lord shares with us as women of faith. Please advice me which ones you would use first.
I will celebrate my one year baptism on Easter Sunday . Praise be to God.
Peace and blessing to you and yours,
Meg. Scotland is my homeland , I came to the States in !965 but my heart is often in Scotland ,more so the older I get.
New hope, new life. I want God to bring forth these things for our country, for our world. We need God back in our lives. I want this Easter to bring forth a renual of our love and devotion to Him.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO END MY FRIDAY …READING ABOUT MY SAVIOR…HE DIED FOR ME TO LIVE TO SHARE TO LOVE…HE CARRIED MY CROSS ALL THE WAY TO THE END ….THE END OF LIFE…HE GAVE FOR ME….NOW HE LIVES IN ME….SO I CAN SHARE,LOVE,LIVE…PRAISE GOD PRAISE GOD…FOR GIVING ME HIS SON TO CARRY ME ALL THE WAY TO THE END…AMEN…PEACE
May we all remember the path and trials Jesus experienced and endured, all for our benefit, so we may be with him and our Father in Heaven!
My prayer this Easter is that my oldest son would remember the faith he was taught as a child. That God’s knock on his heart’s door would be loud, and the noises of the world would be quieted.
Thank you Liz for reminding me that just like Peter I often don’t tell others that Jesus is my friend
Holy Week is hard in so many ways for us Kord, but it ends in the triumph or all triumphs!! Our glorious Savior risen that we might have eternal life. Thank you Jesus! One thought that occurred to me a couple of years ago is that even if I was the only person who would ever sin, God loved me so much He still would have sent Jesus to die for my sin! Hard to comprehend but true because He is not willing that ANY should perish.”
Lord, help us to recognize the height and depth and width of your grace. Help us to understand what it cost You to provide it to us.
Lord God,
Make us ever mindful of your RESURRECTION POWER & what it truly means for each of us. Help us to grasp that there is nothing – absolutely N.O.T.H.I.N.G. that we will EVER have to face/deal with that will require more of Your Power than it took for You to raise Jesus from the dead!! Help us to always know & believe the Resurrection Power is there for us, too! Thank you for GRACE. Thank you for using the Women of Easter. Thank you for choosing women to get the Greatest News out quickly, fervently, efficiently & effectively.
We love you Lord God & we Praise Your Holy Name.
Amen
My mom passed away on this day 27 years ago and I still feel the pain. I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child…my only child. I praise God everyday for his amazing love that he would give up his only Son for me. What wondrous love indeed! I pray that God would give me the boldness and courage each day to witness for him and that I would be obedient to His perfect Will.
Thank you, Liz, for your down home way of presenting the truth. I love this post.”Thank God It’s Friday”. This is an excellent reminder of Jesus’s suffering, dying, and glorious resurrection. How much He loved us first!!!!! We have so much to be thankful for. He is an awesome God!!!!!! God bless you and keep up the good work.
Since the church I’d been a part of all my life closed a couple of years, I’ve missed the Sunday School ladies I’d taught for so many years. Their favorite Bible studies over the years were from you, Liz, so it was wonderful to read this lesson about Good Friday. This brought back many wonderful memories of those friendships and the times we shared during our years together. I belong to a different church now, but my years at St. John’s–and my dear friends there–will always be a special part of me. Thanks for sharing these thoughts with us. Have a blessed Easter!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog post about the different names of what we call Good Friday. My prayer this Easter season is that I would have the boldness to share with others the story of Christ and what he has done in my life. Thank you for your encouraging words.
Thank you! Your joy in the Lord seems to leap from the words you write and always encourages me.
Praying that I will not focus on the commercial trappings of the season: the egg hunts, the bunnies, the candy or the new clothes we get for Easter, anything that takes my eye off of Jesus. But that I will really understand the magnitude of his sacrifice for me & feel the weight of what Christ actually did on that day.
So thankful to find this post this morning. I love how you help me to focus on Holy Week. I have not had a chance to read the book yet. I want to begin this week being mindful of what Jesus truly sacrificed for me. You are such a blessing Liz. Thanks so much!!
My heartfelt prayer is for more to know you, Lord. To be confident in their future with You.
And for my friend Pat. I love her and know she will soon come to be with You. That she may have peace and no more suffering.
I, too, would have a hard time giving up my son and am so grateful that I was not asked to do so. I thank God for all of the blessings he has given me, as well as the challenges. I have lost many friends in the past year, but none so close as the one who is dying now. I pray that the Lord will surround her with His love and take her home with him where she can sing forever.
Praying for our 2 adult children to see Him this Easter. Our son in law to been healed in the deep hurt from childhood. So thankful that another family member cried out during an illness and has sought a relationship with Christ, praying for her to contiune seeking Him and for the words to encourage her.
My heartfelt prayer for this Easter is that God is with my husband on the one year anniversary of his brother’s death. I pray God gives Greg His love and comfort and peace.
My prayer is that my children will develop a personal relationship with Jesus as their father and I have (and are, it’s an on-going process, as any friendship).
Oh how He loves us! If only I could truly grasp this! I love this time of year when I sit extra long at Jesus’ feet.
My Easter prayer is one of thanksgiving to our Lord, for His son, my life in this beautiful world that He created and my salvation through Him!
Dear Lord, Thank you for all blessings. You are the only one that can save my soul and you have done that. Please help me to always reach out to you and show my faith to others.
In Jesus’ name,
Your Child
Lord, thank you for using Liz to share your truths. Thank you for loving us so so much that you would Suffer and DIE for us. Forgive me, it was my sin that put you on that cross. I love you Lord. Make me strong to live for you forever. In your Name, Amen.
God forgave me , for He is good! Praise His name , His mercies are new every morning.
Thank you, Liz for this great reminder of who our God is and what He did for us (me). Only God would love each of so much that He would give his only Son. I have an only child, a daughter and there is no way (as you said) could I sacrifice her life for anyone. When I think of God sacrificing his only child, a Son I can NOT even imagine in my wildest thoughts how He did that. ONLY TRUE LOVE FOR ME, FOR US ALL. Have a blessed Easter, sister. Carolyn Barnette
The Joy of Easter…thank you Lord for your sacrifice, your suffering, your love, your mercy, your grace, your forgiveness and your gift of eternal life.
I always enjoy reading your books. God blessed you with the ability to bring to life the characters in the Bible. And while that allows my mind to picture the stories it also allows God’s love for me to seep deeper into my soul. Thank you!
Father in heaven, thank you for this devotion and the woman who wrote it. Lord, your amazing, wondrous creativity and deep, deep love for us are shining through — Ta-da! Please make me bold to testify of Jesus Christ to my unsaved family this Easter in such loving, creative ways so that you get glory and honor and praise ever-increasing ever-more in His sweet, powerful name. Amen!
My prayer is to grow stronger in my faith & knowledge of Christ. I pray blessings on all my family & friends. Liz you & your books are amazing. It would be awesome to win these books. Thank you for this opportunity.
I’m praying blessings and good health for my family and friends and that we, as a family, find a way to be Christ’s hands during this Easter season.
God bless you sweet Liz, and all you do for God’s kingdom. My prayer this Easter season is that I draw closer to my precious Saviour so that He may use me to draw more people to Him. I pray that people’s relationships with our Saviour are healed and many more souls are saved. Health and family relationships are healed in the name of Jesus, the name above All names, Amen🙌
Your thoughts were both timely and personal. I pray for God, my Father, to help me be the beacon of light I know I can be, and I know He wants me to be. So often, real life gets in the way of this, and I once again find myself begging His forgiveness just like you on the plane. May God help me focus on the true joy that cometh in the morning! Freely given and easily acquired if only I put in that little bit of effort. God bless your ministry, Liz. You always express my thoughts so eloquently!
You always hit at the heart, where it is needed most. I am grateful for the gifts God has given you to reach me and many others. My prayer this Easter is to have a deeper love for Christ, and to better know His love for me!
Your vulnerability in sharing a time when you denied the Lord was so impactful. We read the account of Peter’s denial often wondering how he could do such a thing having walked and talked with the Savior, his Friend. Then you brought it home to where you live, where we live. Truly humbling. Praise God for His boundless love, grace and mercy. Thank you for sharing your heart.
Hi, Liz-It’s been a hurried and harried year here in the desert region of the evergreen state. Your post gently clasped me by the hand, invited me to sit and reflect on the season for the reason I fell in love with Jesus.
Like you, I’ve deflected direct inquiries about Him.
Good Friday always seemed an oxymoron for all that He suffered. But now I see. Long Friday to God’s Friday. Yes.
My prayer for this Easter is to believe God well and love Him well and obey Him well.
He has risen indeed!
He’s risen indeed! Your words in couraged meb; thank you!
Thank you Liz for the insights that you share. I enjoyed the different names that Good Friday is given. It’s helpful to have a different perspective sometimes.
Praying that I will never take for granted those 6 hours on the cross Jesus suffered for my salvation. Sometimes I still cannot imagine how much He loves!
Thank God for Easter. If our Lord had not died and arose on the third day, we would have no hope and joy. I pray that more people will accept Jesus as their Savior.
My Easter prayer is a prayer of Thank”full”ness. My life is so filled because of who Jesus was and what he has done for me. I am part of an amazing bible study, I am a part of a wonderful church family and I am part of an exciting “love filled” life because of him. I pray that everyone could experience this, be a part of this fullness that comes from knowing Jesus and his life, take a piece of this fullness and pass it along. I imagine that is truly what Heaven must be like.
I enjoy your studies. I met you at one of your conferences, Loved By God.
My grandfather was born on Easter and actually celebrated his birthday on Easter once or twice during his lifetime.
My prayer for this Easter is one that I’m not too hopeful of being answered. It is that the Resurrection Sunday would be as important as Christmas is in our culture. The birth of Jesus has practically been lost in all the commercialism of Christmas. Yet, it’s still the Biggest Holiday of the Year to most people.
I think the blessed resurrection of Jesus Christ, which was meant to save all mankind, is even more important than the way His birth is celebrated today. Most people don’t look forward to Easter the way they look forward to Christmas, and many young people don’t even know why we have Easter, except to hide plastic eggs full of candy and play a game in search of them.
Yes, my prayer is that some day Easter will be celebrated with at least as much enthusiasm, preparation and excitement as Christmas generates in world culture.
I pray that this Easter more people will come to know and accept Christ as their own personal savior.
Thanks once again Liz, for making the Scriptures come alive, and helping us to dig deep into it’s true meaning for us. I love all your books and can’t wait to read “The Women of Easter” next!
My prayer this Easter is for all my family to come to know Jesus as their Savior and have a deep relationship with Him. And also for the Lord to give me boldness and His words to tell others about Jesus, the only One who can give them true purpose and Eternal Life!
Bless you my friend!
My prayer for this Easter is for my boys to grow to love Jesus and worship Him all their lives.
I serve a living Savior in the world today. I don’t know where I would be today without him. I pray others will know the peace and hope he brings to all of us.
Liz I have enjoyed the Women of Easter. You help it come alive in my heart. I thank God for your ability to write. Such a blessing
Thank-you Jesus for being a willing sacrifice for me, and for everyone who yet has need of your mercy. May your love soften each heart so the glory of Easter–the resurrection of our risen LORD–becomes a fresh revelation. May today be the acceptable day of salvation.
Love, because of Jesus, Laurie Diggins
There is absolutely NOTHING we go through on this earth that is as grueling as what Jesus did. “The Women of Easter” has been a blessing to me during this Lenten season and a great reminder we should always be “all in” with Jesus no matter what our circumstances. Thank you Liz for this amazing book and your words of the accounts of Jesus during Holy week-
I pray peace and blessings on all and pray that those who don’t know Jesus will come to seek Him out and to know more about Him.
“The Women of Easter” was such a blessing to me. Thank you for writing it.
Father, thank You for the women Liz has touched through the writing You have given her. Bless her and all her readers, especially as we remember Your great sacrifice all because You love us and gave Your own dear Son to pay the price for our sins.
May the Easter be a season of renewal and intimacy with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This is my hearts desire this year as I come upon this time of suffering, misery and death of my Lord and Savior…that I am able to unite with Him in His death, for the forgiveness of my sin, that I may share in the resurrection life; i.e. the new life that Jesus Christ now lives in the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. I can believe many things, but unless I am born again into the newness of life that Jesus now lives in His resurrected power, which can only come as I am identified with Him in His death, then I will never succeed in living my life as God intends me to live as an obedient child…one with Him in all things. Many feel this is an impossibility. Is it, really? Not to the one born again of the Spirit. For such as this was the purpose of everything that Jesus suffered, that we could all live peacefully in relation to the Father as His son or daughter. And as the two shall be one, so too, I want to be one with my beloved, my Lord and my Savior, Jesus Christ.
I’ve never had a season of my life where I desperately need Jesus’ presence more. He gave His life so I could live with Him eternally. I love my Jesus and pray for His presence daily to give me comfort in a time of unsurety. I praise Him for knowing my situation and feeling Him as my Savior who never leaves me. His Resurrection gives me hope.
Liz, I have had the privilege to lead our Women’s Bible study (30 women) through the Women of Easter book over the past 7 weeks, and we have been so incredibly blessed. Our FAITH has been strengthened and our TRUST in God has deepened. Oh, to have the heart of MARY. Thank you for sharing your passion for the Women of the Bible!
Your writings are so encouraging! I pray that I can show others God’s love through my words and actions.
My Easter prayer this year is that we all may wait with expectation and joy. HE HAS RISEN.
I am enjoying this book. This is the first time I have read one of your books.
My prayer is that each one of my family will take a step closer and walk with Jesus and that I will do His will.
I read Isaiah 53:10 with brimming eyes, overwhelmed with emotion as though my heart would burst. That my heart and soul- and very physical being- responds so profoundly to this Scripture supports the astounding truth of God’s spirit living in me. (My internal response reminds me of Elizabeth’s baby leaping in her womb at her friend Mary’s greeting! )
How can I even begin to offer thanks to the Lord for this immeasurable gift?!
Thank you for writing wonderful books and devotions. I enjoy reading each one and as I read they touch my heart as I struggle during this period of grieving.
My prayer for Easter is that I see Christ in His glory once again and that my family who does not know Him will sense His presence and glory.
Resurrection Sunday means so much more to me than it used to. I knew what it was about but I never really took it to heart like I do now. Last weekend I went to a ladies retreat and the topic was archeology from Creation to Jesus. Jan Sessions presented this based on her book “Fables Don’t Leave Footprints. What an awesome feeling knowing that what you have always believed without seeing is true. Especially seeing the path that Jesus walked on Mt Olive and the Garden of Gethsemane. Oh how I would love to walk that path. God is great for many reasons but mostly because he gave us his only begotten son.
I pray that I will truly look to God for all things and that this week will be a reminder of the great sacrifice and blessing that Christ is to me and all people.
I pray that my lost family and friends will one day share in my hope. As I have prepared for Holy Week, the Lord has reminded me, humbled my heart to all the ways He shows His LOVE to me every single day. As we prepare for the hardest, sweetest, ugliest and most beautiful week in our Christian walk, I love the Lord more and more. Thank You, Jesus! You are Alive!
Liz,
Thank you for always encouraging us and sharing your love for our Lord. My prayer this Lenten season has been:
Dear Lord, thank you for sending your Son to save us; help us to be worthy of this GREAT gift you gave us.
My prayer is in thankfulness to Our Lord, for the sacrificial act on the Cross. I pray the Lord sees in me a pure heart …a sincere heart worshiping my Jesus. May I always see others the way Jesus sees them. My prayer. Amen 🌸
My prayer for this Easter is that the revisiting of Jesus’ death and resurrection will lead me..draw me closer to Him. And as my heart discovers a love anew it will believe ..really believe..in a hope and a future for myself. I am in a fog of grief after losing my husband and I want Jesus to be enough for me. He paid it all for me and I want to believe that he is enough. Heal my heart Lord. Free me! Help me to believe in my spirit that Jesus as my only husband is enough! My head knows it..but my heart doesn’t know anything except the anguish of grief in this season.
Thank you,Liz for the way you have used your God given gifts to help others find Him and follow Him. You are such an encouragement to me. My prayer is for my son-in-law. He has an alcohol addiction and it has gotten worse. We only found out recently because our daughter doesn’t want to worry us. He needs the salvation of the Lord!!!
My prayer for this Easter is to find balance within my families life. In the last 8 months we have added a new baby, new jobs, a new home, new school, and more. Finding out footing again while maintaining Christ as the center of our home is our greatest longing.
In need of renewing strength in my faith especially as I prepare to go cross country to visit family and my husband is now having panic attacks and will be home. I, too, have anxiety and been on medication and prayer. Praying generational bonds on both sides of our family are being broken as Jesus lives in my heart and our home. Praying for Christs miracle of showing His great love to my husband while I am gone. Thank you for your encouragement of stepping out for our Savior.
Thank you for sharing your journey with Jesus, the Lover of our souls. As I travel alongside, reading His heart as it is revealed through you, my thoughts turn to my sister, my blood sister by birth. We share a common mother, a broken past, a Beautiful Savior…but she lingers just outside the full light and freedom He offers. As a single mother of a surprise mid-life gift from heaven, my beautiful niece, my sister is timidly reaching for more. Feeling unworthy and unqualified herself, she wants more for her daughter and longs to be more for her daughter. My little sis has bravely ended years of separation and silence to reconnect with me, a growing vulnerability, honesty and maturity emerging as she strives to be more and to provide more for the daughter who is her joy and treasure. My prayer is that my sister give herself, trust herself, to the the One who loves her Truly just as she is. I want her to see and know the look of pure Love in His eyes as He stands from drawing in the dirt and speaks to her heart, “Neither do I condemn you…” All she longs to give her daughter, He longs to give her, lavishly, extravagantly. I pray that my sister plunge deep into the waters of His love and forgiveness and splash around with child-like abandon! The little girl we both love, the little one through whom He has brought such healing to my sister’s heart and life, can’t help but get wet in the overflow! I pray that I may be an extension of His heart to her, a sister and auntie through whom He may love completely.
Thank you again for sharing His heart and your own with such grace.
This Easter I am praying for wisdom in difficult situations.
This Easter means so much more to me than before, my walk with Jesus has grown so much closer!! 2years ago in March my husband of almost 30 years met Jesus face to face!! This March I found out I have cancer and in April began chemotherapy, then will have radiation, then chemotherapy again… .God has prepared me since the beginning of the year for this cancer. My word for 2017 is Grace, and my verse is 2 Cor 12:9- And he said unto me, Myrna grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. That last phrase brings tears to my eyes!!!! The power of Christ may rest upon me!!!! Who knows who I will be showing Christ to in this journey I’m on, exciting, huh!!!! Christ died for me, that I might have His power!!! Wow!!
Liz, Thank you so much for writing the Women of Easter, I have been sharing it with the women at work. What a blessing to share our Christian life in such a secular place. This week we re-read chapter 4 of his riding in to the city. We all caught something different that touched each of us, but when sharing we all expressed how we all had seen different things. God is so good!!! He can take a story that we think we know and show us something new that we needed today. Thank you for being so faithful in sharing you gift.
Oh my friend Liz your words speak volumes of truth. How many times have I not responded with a loud resounding God is Lord of my life. Not anymore!
I’ve been walking through the ending days of my 30 year marriage. With each step, each decision I’ve drawn closer to my Heavenly Father and have boldly proclaimed that it is with His strength that I made it through each step and trial over the past few months. He has honored and blessed me as I’ve leaned on Him and not me.
Now entering this very holy week my heart aches that my sin is in part of why God sent His Son to earth but ever so grateful for His unexpected and unending live for me.
Continue doing what you do for the Lord. We women of God need the truth poured out into our lives.
Hugs
You always touch me, Liz. Thank you for answering your call.
Father, your Love is hard to comprehend at times. I ask that you open our eyes to see and understand the Truth of its greatness; and then help us to express and show that love to others. Thank You, Lord. I pray in the name of Jesus.
My prayer this Easter, and every Easter, is that I will take time to reflect on and really soak in the magnitude of what Jesus did. What He went through. All for us. It is unfathomable. It is easy to get caught up in Easter activities, new dresses, pretty flowers… and therefore so easy to really miss the importance and meaning Easter.
I have so loved this study, Liz. I am going to do it every year.
Liz, I am thankful you wrote this book and for your daily posting and reading schedule. It has made loom at Easter in a different way this year and has definitely drawn me closer to Jesus. Dear God, thank you for Jesus, His death and resurrection. I know I am undeserving but regardless You still love me. Amen!
Thanks for sharing. I pray we will all grow closer to Christ and become more like Him as we remember His death and resurrection.
That my family would stay strong and enjoy each other as they reflect on Christ.
I am praying that my mom will come to Easter service with me and meet Jesus.
My prayer is that we would all experience Jesus in a new way this Easter.
I have been so moved reading The Women of Easter. It’s thought provoking and tender. Thank you for sharing their stories in this way
My prayer this Easter is for unity among Christians. Before He was crucified, Christ prayed that the disciples would be as one, and the same is true for us today. I pray that we all can focus on becoming more like our Lord and Savior, and enjoy the unity that focus brings with other Christians. What a powerful witness we would be to the world!
Oh my, after reading all the comments I just sit and ponder life and my relationship with Jesus. Thinking how many times I have denied Him. So glad He is a loving merciful Savior. My prayer is He will forgive me and help and guide me through this life. That I can serve and love Him with all of my being.
God bless you Liz and thank you for allowing Him to use you.
Oh, Mrs. Higgs,
My prayer is to show Christ’s love at the Charter Academy inner-city school that I am at.
I’m praying for my family to come together and for Jesus’ resurrection to remind us of His unconditional love.
Thank you, Liz for this book and the powerful impact that it has had on my heart tjis Lenten season. I pray that this Holy Week is a time for all of us to reflect and draw closer to our Amazing God and his incredible grace.
Through all the sermons, books, Facebook posts, it brought to my mind the real man Jesus. His skin looks and feels like ours. He bleeds and bruises like we bleed when cut or bruised. I realized, really sensed the humanness of Jesus but realized He is also God! Perfect in every way but He still died a painful death because He really loved me that much! Thank you God for your Son Jesus and for loving me so!
I’m praying that God will humble me more to see His true love towards me by sending His son to die for me on the cross.
My heartfelt prayer for this Resurrection Passover season is that I can find my way back to Jesus. I met him in person, I saw Him when I was 13 years old. I saw Him and had such extraordinary experiences with Him that changed my life forever. I had an out of body experience where I was actually In Him, looking back at me through His eyes. When I looked down where my feet should have been, I saw His feet in brown leather Roman sandals. When I looked back at me I saw me as He sees me with total unconditional love, such as the world cannot describe. I was washed clean, white than snow, a white foamy ocean wave washing down over me, I was made clean and new.
That was many many many years ago, and now after all these years, I still believe, I still love Him, He is still everything to me, but I feel like I have lost my way, lost my zeal, lost my joy. I want that relationship back.
I am praying that I can find the meaning of it all, again.
It has been a lot of years. I was a Jesus People before there were Jesus People. I miss Him, miss the closeness that we had. I miss hearing His voice like He used to speak to me. I want Him back.
There are things going on in my life right now, a daughter who is out there somewhere behaving totally like the world, and unlike the Christian home I raised her in. A husband who said he is a Christian, but he has no clue what it really means to know Jesus. He is religious but he is not a Christian. How could I have not seen it?
It is Resurrection Passover Week. And I am all alone. I have no one to share it with.
And sometimes the greatest prayer I can pray is just two words :
Jesus help !
Maranatha ! Come Quickly Lord Jesus
Praying for you, for your husband and your daughter. I can relate to your story and walk completely. God bless you and I pray that you will feel the “washed over, completely covered” Love of Jesus again this Easter Season.
Ms Liz Curtis Higgs, you have a way of writing that brings beauty and pain. I love your pinterest boards too – they make me smile widely and then I read your plane story and my heart is simply crushed….cos that’s what I do.
My prayer for this years Pesach is this: Father I so want to brag on you but I fail so often. I am so grateful for your forgiving and loving heart. I want a heart that says joyfully that I love Jesus and therefore I do…. Thank you for allowing me to walk with you and for not leaving me on the dark paths but for ever being the light guiding me to the correct and light filled paths. My prayer is one of deep gratitude for what you did for me simply because you loved the thought of being my friend.
I love you.
Liz, your gift of writing of the Scriptures is a fresh wind of blessing every day of this 40 of Lent. My prayer this week, that as Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, and Mary of Magdala stayed close to Jesus even at the most difficult and to death, I will stay close to Jesus. And not only I, but all we “Women of Easter” in this 2017 Lent season. Blessing upon you, Liz, and all of us women.
Prayers for peace.
Oh dear Liz how I love your words!
You are such an encourager and I am so grateful for what you do!
I am praying for healing for my step dad who has cancer and for strength for my mom who is his caregiver.
Thank you for the chance!
Thank you for these beautiful words. I’m struggling with my faith right now, and this was so reinforcing.
Thank you for your words about Good Friday. My Sunday School class of about 10 women just finished “The Women of Christmas.” A little past Christmas but it did keep us in the wonder of the birth of our Lord many months past Christmas. I always started my lesson preparation by singing the hymn listed for each chapter.
We already have our plans for next year – Bad Girls of the Bible and the Women of Easter.
Liz, thank you for your writing and your teachings. We have all learned so much from all of your hard work researching the Women of the Bible. Thanks to our Lord for affirming his love for all, even women young and old.
My prayer is that I would be a beacon of light for the Lord!! Thank you for this book!!
Praying that all of my friends and family that don’t know Jesus as their personal savior, will come to know Him soon! Praying also for all Christians around the world that are being persecuted for their faith. Thank you for all my many blessings! Amen.
This morning I called my mother (she lives in England and I live in the Caribbean). Yesterday I had so many misgivings in my heart. I felt that I did not wish to speak with her as it may make me feel dejected all over again. My mother left our home when I was very young.
I must say I am so glad I did. Her simple comment. “I am so happy you called, I can now sit comfortably and have a cup of tea.”
I wish to thank you for the way your article made me feel. I too can now comfortably sit back and enjoy a cup of tea.
My prayer is simple.
Thank you, for my life, my family, the years that I have been given. You have always been with me, so you know my joys and my sorrows. You hold my hand through them all.
Thank you.
Easter…How marvelous, How wonderful..How he showed us His Love on this glorious day..I wish it was not about programs and egg hunts, but, about true worship for the one who loves us the most!!!!
Friday’s message was beautiful!!
Most gracious, Heavenly Father, We stand is awe of YOUR sacrifice for a lost and dying world that would deny You and Your precious son. We celebrate your goodness, Lord. Help us to remember, not just during THIS season, but each day how very much You loved us. Thank you, Father. Amen
That we would lay all earthly distractions aside; and focus on Him. Focus of Jesus’s sacrifice that He made from pure love. That we won’t let ourselves be ensnared in the trappings of preparations and festivities that don’t always honor God as well as we should honor Him.
My prayer is that there would be more peace among us and all around us.
My kids are grown now have all recently flown the coop. My daily prayer for them is that they would continue to follow in God’s path and never give up the daily personal fellowship with Jesus in this face paced busy world we live today.
My heartfelt prayer is that I will hear and experience the resurrection story afresh and anew, that I won’t simply nod my head and think I’ve already heard it hundreds of times before, that I won’t allow the story’s familiarity to overshadow the unimaginable love displayed on the cross, that I will be amazed at the sacrifice made for sinful, rebellious me. I’m also praying this prayer for the youth Sunday School class I will teach on Easter morning.
I pray that my family grows closer to Him, to understanding His word, to changing places in our lives to better serve Him.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for sharing your Son with us so we may not be apart from you due to our sin. Thank you also for teachers like Liz, who share their knowledge with us and help us to grow. Amen.
My prayer for Easter 2017 is for world peace, I pray each day for our U.S.A. And for our leaders. I keep reminding myself that our awesome GOD is in control. Staying in the word has helped to keep me calm . Come Lord Jesus.
Because He lives, we have hope for eternal life! I pray for legal victory and that God will answer additional prayer requests and provide guidance in my life.
I pray for safe travel for all of our family members so that we may celebrate Easter together and that God would turn the hearts of those who have turned away from him back to him.
Friday in the grave He lay but Sunday is a comin’! Praise be to God He loved me to send His Son, the most precious Jesus!
Lord, thank You for sending Your son to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins. Thanks for saving us. You have given us faith to believe in You, to know truly who You are. Thank you for Your grace in accepting us as Your dear children. Thank You that we will have eternal life with You. This Easter especially be in the hearts of everyone who knows you in order for them to reach out in Your love to our family members and others who need You. Help us all all to truly love one another. In Jesus name, Amen
Holy Week is a special time to study and reflect. These books would be a help in adding to my learning.
Father God…
Thank You seems so inadequate for the the decision You made and gifted to me… yet thankful I am…
I pray Father that You would remove the scales from the eyes of the unseeing and the plugs from the ears of the unhearing so that all may full well realize the greatest sacrifice and gift we will ever know.
In Your Son Jesus name, Amen…
Thank you for sharing. Recent teachings I’ve read and heard have reminded me that God wants a relationship with us. The reason for Jesus and the cross was so he could have his children back. I also was reminded today and have quoted you saying that the “Bible is the heart of God”. How blessed we are to be able hold the heart of God.
Praying for a deeper understanding of the miracle of the Easter season.
I know that when I need encouragement the most, that you will have spirit lifting words.
Thank you for being so tenacious in your purposeful attitude to share the Good News!!
Happy Easter Liz!!
Ta-da . . . He is Risen!!!!!
Always appreciate your encouraging words. This morning I listened to the Sisterhood podcast with YOU! I sipped my cuppa coffee and enjoyed every jot and tittle! Thank you Liz for being an inspiration and a faithful, online friend. xo
I’m so delighted to have come across your thoughts and writings. I will be sharing you piece about Martha at our Women’s Association group at church, as a devotion, and just know that the ladies will love it. Thanks so much for sharing your insights about our Lord!
Thank you, Lord, for your grace and mercy. I am lifting up special prayers for families I love who have lost loved ones. One of my best friends will spend Easter in Heaven. I praise God for her life and for the lives touched by her years of faithful service and witness. I am praying for another friend battling an illness now. Thank you, Father, for your peace that passes all understanding.
Liz, thank you for your words of wisdom and witness!
Thank you for loving our Lord and sharing Him!
May every human hear God’s Truth, be convicted of their sin, repent and be redeemed.
Praying for a peaceful resolution to the strive that is going on in the Middle East and that my God would show up and give the President of our US guidance this Easter
Thank you, Liz, for being honest and sharing. My Easter prayer is that my adult kids would again realize the huge sacrifice God made for us and they would trust Him with their every day lives.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for the gift that Easter is – for sending your only son to die on the cross that our sins may be forgiven. Father so many are hurting in this broken world today. Please be with all those who mourn, who are sick, who are in pain and those who need our forgiveness. Thank you for sending your steward Liz into our lives with her amazing insight into Your Holy Word. Amen!
May God’s glory shine throughout the earth this Easter! May His name be praised! And may many people come to know His deep love for them.
Heavenly Father, there are no words that I could ever speak that could be eloquent enough for your ears to hear other than I am sorry and I repent from this day forward. The price you paid for me is immeasurable and I cannot even comprehend the fullness of it. Help me to worship in this vessel that your words would spring forth and bring life to others to the Glory of your Name. There is no greater love than Jesus, and no greater work than Jesus and All Glory to Jesus. Amen.
My prayer for Easter is always the same….that my children would *know* without doubt and *feel* the love that brought the good into Good Friday. I love my kids and would do anything for them, sacrifice myself without a thought. God loves us even more, which is hard to fathom. Jesus sacrificed himself. For me? That’s what I want my children to know. That depth of love He has for us.
Liz,
I pray that you and your family have a blessed Easter, knowing that Jesus loves us so much that He gave his life for our salvation. He rose to acknowledge to us, that His love and sacrifice was given freely so that we could understand that He had a choice–just like we do. That He chose to do his father’s will–just like we should. He knew that God would make it right.He completely trusted His father & ours. Just like we are to do!
Sister’s in Christ
Cheri W.
Dear Mrs. Liz,
I am so grateful for all Jesus was willing to suffer for all of us.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
He found Joy in loving us to this depth!
I have a prayer request. I was visited yesterday by my Neighbor and friend. She told my husband and I, if things didn’t change soon she has a date set on her calendar , and she will take her life. I have a number of people who are praying for her, but I would like to have as many prayer warrior as I can to pray for her. I told her I love her and put my arms around her. I have told her before that Jesus loves her, and I will continue to check on her and send out help to check on her. Thank you Sister’s so much.
This Easter week would be a wonderful time for her to give her life to Him.
God bless you all.
I just love ALL of your Women of the Bible books! And I love you sweet sister! I’m so in awe that our Savior so often mentions women – by name – in His Word. I’m also thankful that Jesus showed Himself to one of His women followers before He came to any of His disciples. In This broken world where women are still viewed by many as just a sexual object, or simply as property, it is so encouraging to know that our Savior sees us as His own – sees us for who we really are. My heart swells ❤!