Here’s a fun fact: The common understanding of the forty days of Lent doesn’t factor in the Sundays of the season, which are excluded. Why? Because even in this time of penitence and general existence in our dark, fallen world, we still get to celebrate Easter! The Church Year is full of so many interesting features and practices like this that can help us better understand our faith—that’s why I wanted to share about a devotional resource that actively engages you in it.
Lent has only just begun (despite the early-market presence of chocolate eggs, baskets, bunnies, and that horrible plastic grass that gets everywhere), so it’s not entirely natural to consider the celebration of Easter just yet—at least, not as far as the context of the Church Year is concerned. But it’s not hard to imagine how we might celebrate this year either, since we are well acquainted with the peak theological significance of the season, and especially when we’ve got a guiding hand in the form of a gorgeous new devotional resource.
If you want to hit the brakes on premature Easter celebration, I hear you. But don’t worry—the season of Lent isn’t going anywhere. I only wish to highlight a way both to anticipate the joy of Easter now and to immerse ourselves more comprehensively in the resurrection of our Lord when Easter comes.
Besides, don’t we often hear from the pulpit that every Sunday is a little Easter? I know I have. I would venture to say that every day is a little Easter when that old Adam is drowned and we get to live in the joy of Jesus’ triumph over the devil! As we read in Romans 6:4,
We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
It was earlier this year that my family got ahold of the devotional resource of which I speak, Enduring Grace: A Church Year Journal. The journal is comprised of devotional thoughts, hymn texts, and room for notes—or doodles!—for the start of each church season, as well as the readings, collect, and theme of the readings for each Sunday in that given church season. There is room to write down your reflections on God’s Word and what you’re praying about each week, which I love as someone who has much to pray about but all too easily loses mental track of such things.
The grown-up version of the journal is excellent, but the fact that there is also a kids’ version of Enduring Grace makes this resource extra wonderful, especially for families. As a parent, I 100 percent appreciate the fact that my daughters can bring this journal with them to church to color, draw in, and follow along with during the service on Sunday, as well as use it together with our family during devotional time later on. The aesthetics of both versions are highly appealing to their respective users as well, which is a bonus for retaining a child’s focus (crucial in our family!) and which appeases the grown-up interest in visually appealing things (truly, it’s a beautiful book).
What a lovely manner of weaving together intergenerational fellowship at home with one another—and what a lovely way to make Easter memories together in a tangible way as well! Suffice it to say that using Enduring Grace is one way our family will wholly steep ourselves in the joy of Eastertide when it comes, and it is a way that we will continue to look forward to Jesus’ resurrection every Sunday until we have our alleluias back again.
During this penitential time, using the Enduring Grace journals helps draw us closer to God’s Word and Christ’s comfort. This resource reminds us that, despite this fallen world, there is hope in Christ and His resurrection during our forty(six!)-day season. This sets the pattern for our daily lives as well. For those dark moments, this beautiful journal points us to the hope we have in our risen Lord.
Scripture: ESV®.
Are you ready to spend this season—and the rest of the Church Year—reflecting, journaling, and praying? Order your journal(s) today.