Day 20

John 20:21

Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.

Sometimes we treat powerful moments from the past as if they are meant to stay there. We remember them. We honor them. We celebrate them. But we do not always live from them. Over time, even life changing events can slowly become something we look back on rather than something that actively shapes how we move forward.

The resurrection can quietly become one of those moments. We celebrate it as a historical event, something extraordinary that happened once and changed everything back then. But the resurrection was never meant to be confined to history. It carries ongoing power, ongoing purpose, and an ongoing calling for the people of God.

What is important to remember about the resurrection is that it does far more than inspire us. It does far more than simply send us out. The resurrection changes us from the inside out. It transforms who we are at the core. It gives us a new identity, a new confidence, and a new life that could not exist apart from Christ.

When I think about American history, even though it represents a very short span of time in the scope of world history, I am reminded that the decisions made by the founding fathers still have real implications today. The freedoms many of us enjoy exist because of choices made long before we were born. But those influences shape us from the outside. They affect systems, structures, and opportunities.

The resurrection works differently. It does not merely influence our circumstances. It transforms our hearts. It reshapes our desires. It changes who we are, not just what we do. And from that transformation flows purpose. When Jesus sends the disciples, He is not sending them with motivation alone. He is sending them as changed people, filled with resurrection life.

To be sent with resurrection power means we do not move forward relying on inspiration that fades. We move forward rooted in transformation that lasts. We are not carrying a message we admire. We are carrying a life that has been made new. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work within us, shaping how we live, love, and serve.

As you near the end of this fast, remember that what God has been doing is not temporary. He has been forming something deep within you. Resurrection life is not just something we celebrate. It is something we live from. And from that place, we are sent into the world with confidence, courage, and hope.

Prayer
Jesus, thank You for the power of Your resurrection that changes us from the inside out. As we near the end of this season of prayer and fasting, help us live from the new life You have given us. Send us forward not just inspired, but transformed. We trust You to continue Your work in us as we step into what comes next. Amen.