Heavenly Father,

You are the Source of all life and the Creator of all things. And we understand that you gave your Son to suffer death in our place so that our sins would be forgiven.

We thank you for Jesus, who died, but was always planning to rise from the dead. He is now risen, just as he said.

He has conquered the grave and the gates of hell cannot prevail against his church.

Though we may feel sinful, dirty and lost, we trust that our sins are forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ.

Though we may feel forgotten and alone, we understand that he is Immanuel, God with us, and he has promised to be with us always.

Help us to constantly keep that in mind as we wait for his soon return.

Thank you in Christ’s name,

Amen.