Best Easter Ever: Preparing with Prayer

It’s hard to believe there are just 3 Sundays left until Easter! With this “Super Bowl of Sundays” event presenting one of the biggest opportunities for visibility in your community, you’re probably scrambling to prepare. Fear not! We’ve got your back, and we’ll be publishing a series of blog articles between now and Easter to help you make this your best Easter Sunday ever.

This is a busy time, and many pastors and church staffs are working to up their game on everything from video production to guest parking to improving the facility — and all those things are important! In fact, this series will offer a ton of practical advice to help you maximize your opportunities.

Don’t Sacrifice the Spiritual

But my first piece of advice is this — don’t sacrifice the spiritual for the practical. Both are absolutely important, but you’ll never go wrong by starting your planning and approach with prayer.

Leonard Ravenhill, author of “Why Revival Tarries,” wrote:

“No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.”

The old adage “well begun is half done” holds true for our Resurrection Sunday preparation, and beginning with prayer is well begun, indeed! So the best advice I can offer you in the run-up to Easter is to season the next two weeks with prayer by introducing a focused prayer revival to your congregation.

What Does a Prayer Revival Look Like?

A prayer revival can be a series of evenings with time set aside for the congregation to come together in prayer, or just a concerted effort to dedicate a pre-determined amount of time to pray at home. The goal is to get everyone praying about the same thing at the same time.

To that end, consider giving each week a theme. Perhaps using the first week as a time of repentance and consecration, and the second week praying for the boldness to be personal evangelists.

All too often, pastors and church staff take sole responsibility for preparing for Easter services. Including the congregation not only helps to build excitement and momentum, but when coupled with a focused prayer revival, it can make a real and lasting impact on your church and community!

Want more tips on how to have your best Easter Sunday ever?