Preparing for Easter: 5 Ways Church Leaders Can Rest and RefocusSample

### Prepare to Be Pause for a moment and look outside. What do you see? What makes you smile? Whatever you just described, think about this: what you saw was always there — it was just waiting for you to notice it . That’s how God’s presence often is in our lives. He is always there, but we need to pause and create space to hear from Him in order to notice His presence. As a church leader, maybe this is something you’re already doing. But in the midst of busy schedules, family obligations, and leading people closer to Jesus, our day-to-day lives can easily get crowded and our vision can get distracted. And as Easter approaches, this only becomes more challenging. It can feel difficult to truly process Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday when there are people you need to lead and responsibilities that need to be handled. To prepare for those moments, give yourself permission to process Jesus’ sacrifice before Resurrection Sunday. Create space in the middle of life’s responsibilities to appreciate what Jesus did for you. Follow the example that Mary, Lazarus’ sister, set when she took the time to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him. Be with Jesus before you do anything for Jesus. Right now, take a deep breath in, and when you exhale, simply say, “God, You are holy.” Repeat this a few times, and then confess anything that might be preventing you from drawing closer to Jesus. Then, every time a thought comes into your mind, visualize bringing it to Him. This is your time to just be with the Creator who calls you by name, so allow Him to renew your soul and clarify your responsibilities as you enjoy His presence.