With Easter right around the corner, the minds and hearts of many are set upon the resurrected Christ. While focused reading is of great benefit to the Christian, prayer must never be neglected or the Christian will find himself worn out and depleted. Praying through the Scriptures can be a helpful way for the Christian to find help in his times of prayer. With that being said, note the following Scripture:
“And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (KJV, Luke 24:38-39).
“And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled?”
Father, I thank You that in this world You give me consolation. I see that Jesus asked His disciples, “Why are you troubled?”. I look into my own life and see many things that trouble me. I am weak and worn. I am met with many trials. I find that as I gaze into Your Word, I am not who You called me to be. My heart is often dead and dull, and it seems at times that You are distant. When I seek You in Your Word, it appears at times as though I do not find You there.
However, You bring to my remembrance those sweet times of intimate fellowship. You help me to remember that for those who wait upon You, Lord, You will renew their strength. I suppose that times of intimate fellowship and times of drought are simply a part of living in a fallen world. I thank You for the little tastes of heaven that You give me in this life. I am a troubled soul, but You are a good God.
“And why do thoughts arise in your hearts?”
In these words, I recognize the uniqueness of what the disciples went through after Your death, Lord Jesus. I recognize that the thoughts that they had after your death may have been somewhat different from the thoughts that I have in this life. However, I would imagine that they would have been thoughts of discouragement, hopelessness, fear, and despair, all of which are thoughts with which I am all too familiar.
I thank You that in the lives of the disciples, I can see You, Lord Jesus, as a comforting and loving Savior. You never turned them away in the midst of their fears. Rather, You calmed the storms that were raging around them. You never turned them away in the midst of their pride; instead, You told them to follow You and encouraged them in the cup they soon would take.
I recognize that I need Your help in the midst of my conflicting thoughts that draw me away from You. Speak to my heart this day, Lord Jesus. Teach me Your ways that I might walk closely with You, and do so with an undivided heart.
“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see”
Father, I thank You for the testimony of the disciples this Easter. What a blessing it is to be able to read the many accounts in Your Word pertaining to the resurrection of Christ. Jesus told the disciples to “behold” His hands and His feet. Father, I pray that Your Spirit would open my eyes that I might behold Jesus more clearly this day.
I recognize that in my flesh, nothing good will come. My flesh cannot produce life; it can only produce that which leads to death. I need Your help, God, and I pray that You would help me to realize this fact more and more. Work in my heart that I might be more dependent upon You than I have ever been. Teach me to believe, Father, and increase my faith. Open my eyes this Easter that I might know that Christ is risen with a firmly grounded assurance in Your Word.
In this verse, I see the intimacy that Jesus shared with His disciples. I see that which I want. I want to know You, Lord Jesus. I want to see You, Lord Jesus. I want to touch Your hands and feet like the disciples did. Please rid me of whatever is getting in my way of knowing You more and experiencing Your love in my life.
I see the workings of sin in my heart and the way that I am torn between You and the flesh, between Your majesty and the world’s lies. But You are the risen King, and You are a jealous God. I must never seek the things of this world before seeking the kingdom of God and Your righteousness.
I need You, Spirit, for this work, and I pray, Lord, that You would meet my need. Your Word says, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:17-18). It is Your Spirit that will open my eyes. It is Your Spirit that will help me to see. It is Your Spirit that will take me to greater heights with You, Lord Jesus, and it is Your Spirit that will conform me to Your image.
“for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have”
Father, I thank You for what the resurrection of Christ means to me. There are times in this life when I can get worried about death. There are times in this life when I find myself asking questions that appear to run contrary to Your Word. There are times when I wonder if my faith is real and if it will count for anything after I depart from this world.
Then I look upon Christ, and my worries are lifted from off my shoulders. I see my Savior born in a manger. I see my Lord walking upon this earth as a humble servant. I see my compassionate God feeding thousands, healing the sick, cleansing the leper, making the lame walk, giving the blind their sight, making the mute talk, and casting out demons. I see this Pearl of Great Price taking upon His shoulders the cross that I deserved. I see Him high and lifted up, His back bruised, His hands pierced, and His feet covered in blood.
I see Him, Father, but often, only for a little. I am carried away yet again back to this world. Draw me close, God. I need You. I need Your help that I would behold the Savior yet again. May I never depart from my Savior’s side. May I lean upon the bosom of Christ like the disciple whom Jesus loved.
Finally, I see in Christ a Savior that I will one day see in eternity. Your Word says that You, oh God, are a Spirit. I cannot see a Spirit, nor will I ever be able to see a Spirit. The closest that I will get to seeing You may very well be the light that shines forth from Your presence. However, I see in Jesus a God Who took on flesh, and my heart begins to rejoice in this truth. For I see a God by faith in this present world that I will one day see by sight.
I thank You for taking on flesh, Lord Jesus. I thank You for bearing my sin and shame upon the cross. I thank You that You did not stay in the grave but rather rose from the dead and defeated death. You led a host of captives free, and I was one of those captives.
I could never repay You for what You have done, but I give You praise this day and this Easter for rising from the dead that I too might walk in newness of life. I thank You for the day when I will behold Your glorious face and worship around Your throne. You are worthy, Lord, to receive glory and honor, for You are the Lamb of God Who was slain, and You are the conquering King Who rose from the dead.