Holy Saturday (Apr. 3)Rest in PeaceNarrated by Gwynne GonnermanWhen they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear. John 19:33-34 Rest in peace, dear Jesus. Your agony and suffering are over now; it is the Sabbath. You have earned this day of rest. Soon will be the day of resurrection, of new life beyond the grave.All who have been healed by his wounds will have a similar experience. When the days of tears and trouble are past, we, too, will be able to rest in peace, as we await the final day of resurrection that our wounded Savior earned for us. Truly, a glorious future awaits us.REFLECT: Rest on Christ’s words of promise that he will rise again.PRAY: Teach me, my Savior, to live faithfully without fear, confident of the rest and resurrection you have earned for me. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish. 

Waves

Final Episode: Rest in Peace • Day 45

Good Friday (Apr. 2)It Is FinishedNarrated by Rod MuenchWhen Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 Since the dawn of time, the curse and consequences of sin have victimized the human race. By his death Jesus has overcome the curse and brought life and immortality to light. As that Friday came to a close on Calvary, his triumphant cry pierced the darkened air: “It is finished!”By his wounds we are healed. Trust his word completely: It is finished! Jesus did everything necessary for your salvation. Do not allow doubt or feelings of guilt to sabotage your faith. Your eternal future is in his nail-pierced hands. Count on his sacrifice and promise, and live confidently, hopefully, joyfully until his triumphant return.REFLECT: Remember that Christ has put all evil to an end on this day.PRAY: Let my life be lived in loving praise of you, my all-sufficient Savior and Lord. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish. 

It Is Finished • Day 45

Maundy Thursday (Apr. 1)A Covenant Sealed by His BloodNarrated by Liz HagestadThis is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28 With his gathered disciples at the Last Supper, Jesus initiated the new covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34. It was to be a covenant of grace in which God would “remember their sin no more.” With the blood of his wounds, Jesus sealed and confirmed this eternal covenant for us and for all believers.Living under this covenant promise, we can be sure that the cancer of our sin has been healed. Yes, we will die, but only for a short time. On the day of resurrection, God will not remember our sin, but he will remember us as those who have been healed by Jesus’ wounds. Live now in hopeful anticipation of your final victory in Christ.REFLECT: Recall all that Christ has done for you.PRAY: Erase my fear of death, Lord Jesus, and replace it with faith in your healing wounds. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish. 

A Covenant Sealed by His Blood • Day 44

Wednesday of Holy Week (Mar. 31)The Name Above Every NameNarrated by Rebecca SeitchickGod has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord... Philippians 2:9-II Evil runs rampant in this life, causing anxiety, pain and death. We are not immune to the ills of this broken world, but because of Jesus, we know how our history will end. The Lord has laid on him the sum total of all sin and evil, and he endured it humbly and faithfully—for us! Evil put Jesus in the grave, but we know and believe the Easter sequel to his death—and we belong to him and with him for life forever.Life is never hopeless for us, for Jesus Christ is Lord of all! Bow before him, whose name is victorious over every other.REFLECT: Seek to do everything in the name of Jesus each day.PRAY: Tune my heart to sing your praise, O Lord, for your name is truly triumphant over my sin and death. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish. 

The Name Above Every Name • Day 43

Tuesday of Holy Week (Mar. 30)Humble ObedienceNarrated by Larry StiggeBeing found in human form, [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8 In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “Father, not my will but thine be done." He humbled himself, submitting obediently to the Father’s will—actually aligning his own will with what his Father most desired.That&apos;s hard for us to do. Our pride refuses to submit completely to God’s authority and commandments. Healing our stubborn hearts is a long process that continues to the day of our death. Take time during this Holy Week to allow your Savior to bring your will a bit more in line with his humble obedience to the Father&apos;s will.REFLECT: Consider how to be humble this week.PRAY: Your humble obedience unto death is my healing, Lord. Bend my stubborn will to your loving desire. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish. 

Humble Obedience • Day 42

Monday of Holy Week (Mar. 29)Christ Came to ServeNarrated by Brad RohlfsenThe Son of Man came not to be served but to serve... Mark 10:45 God’s Law can enforce obedience, but it cannot heal the sinful human heart.Jesus did not come to enforce the Law but to fulfill it, and to heal our hearts by his death on the cross. Here Jesus shows God’s true nature: to serve and to save, to heal and to help.As you are healed by his wounds, you will be changed; little by little, you will become like him, wanting to serve, to help, to love, to give. Make this your goal in life, to become more like your heavenly Father and his Son, your Servant and Savior.REFLECT: Ponder ways to serve others in a Christ-like way.PRAY: Help me see, Lord Jesus, how I can become more like you, and make me what you want me to be. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish. 

Christ Came to Serve • Day 41

Palm Sunday (Mar. 28)Where Sin BeginsNarrated by Peter BayeYou shall not covet ... anything that is your neighbors. Exodus 20:17Sin does not begin with our lips or hands. This last commandment reminds us, as Jesus said, “Out of the heart come evil thoughts,’ and more (Matthew 15:19). If we are to be healed, it must begin with a change of our sinful hearts.Only the wounds of Jesus can heal a sinner’s heart. Jesus knew that as he entered Jerusalem, intent on going to the cross. This week we follow him through the upper room and Gethsemane to Golgotha. There we meditate on the wounds of whip and thorns, nails and spear—agonizing, blessed wounds he willingly endured to heal our hearts. Open your heart again to welcome the new life he came to gain for you. He will heal you from the inside out?REFLECT: How can you open your heart to Jesus this Holy Week? PRAY: I welcome you, my Savior, as did the Palm Sunday throng. Cleanse me, heal me, renew me. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish. 

Where Sin Begins • Day 40

Saturday, The Fifth Week of Lent (Mar. 27)A Healed HeartNarrated by Renea GernantZacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” Luke 19:8 This tax collector&apos;s heart had just been healed by Jesus. Before this, his diseased heart felt “The more I get, the better off I am.” Now he understood the true values of earthly and heavenly treasures, and his healthy heart knew “The more I give, the better off I am.”It takes a long time for the healing power of Jesus’ wounds to heal the toxic virus of “stuff-ness” in the diseased heart. With extended exposure to the Christ of the Cross, however, miracles can happen in the most stubborn heart. Perhaps you can make that a goal for yourself in these last days of Lent.REFLECT: In what ways can you be as generous as Zacchaeus? PRAY: Continue to heal my heart, Lord, with your love and grace. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish. 

A Healed Heart • Day 39

Friday, The Fifth Week of Lent (Mar. 26)A Poor Rich ManNarrated by Kimberly HordJesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” Matthew 19:21 The rich man asked, “What must I do to have eternal life?” In reply, Jesus said, "To ‘earn’ a treasure in heaven, give away all your earthly treasure.” The poor rich man was unable to do that—and so are we!Jesus has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves. He gave his life to earn a treasure in heaven for us. That heavenly treasure is now his gift to us, making us poor people incredibly rich. “Healed by his wounds," we have a whole new perspective on the value of the “stuff” we own, what earthly people call riches. What riches we have!REFLECT: Think about what makes us rich in Christ.PRAY: When I feel anxious about my earthly riches, Lord, remind me of the true treasure you have given me. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish. 

A Poor Rich Man • Day 38

Thursday, The Fifth Week of Lent (Mar. 25)Your True TreasureNarrated by Kate AllenWhere your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ... You cannot serve God and money.Matthew 6:21, 24 Test yourself: Is it easier to find an excuse to give less to God (church, charity) or an excuse to spend more on yourself (pleasure, treasure)? My heart and mind argue constantly between serving God (denying self) and serving self (stealing from God).It’s really a question of where our heart is, and where we want it to be. This debate is never fully resolved: should my true treasure be determined by my human nature or by my new self made in the image of Jesus?The healing wounds of Jesus can give you strength to overrule your human instincts and focus your heart on the true treasure that is yours eternally. Keep that in focus as you decide daily whom you will serve.REFLECT: How will you serve Jesus today?PRAY: Fill me with your Spirit, Jesus, and help me remember my true treasure. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

Your True Treasure • Day 37

Wednesday, The Fifth Week of Lent (Mar. 24)Treasures in HeavenNarrated by Steve TrustyDo not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19, 20Everything you own is yours—but only for a short time. Someday it will all pass on to someone else, for there are no trailer hitches on hearses. Time steals all your stuff eventually. Jesus died to give you a treasure that will outlast all your earthly possessions. You can add to that heavenly balance sheet by using your earthly goods for eternal purposes. What you give to help the needy, to advance the kingdom of God on earth, to increase the population of heaven—all that will live on after you leave earth.Live for the future that goes on forever, not for the present that dies with you.REFLECT: What treasures in heaven are you looking forward to the most? PRAY: Expand my vision, Lord, to see beyond the here and now. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

Treasures in Heaven • Day 36

Tuesday, The Fifth Week of Lent (Mar. 23)Healing a Stingy HeartNarrated by Jennifer PetersonWhen you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4We all know that “God loves a cheerful giver.” The cynic (often one with a stingy heart) says, “If I can’t give cheerfully, I won&apos;t give.” Jesus suggests a sure cure for such a stingy heart.For one, giving to help the needy (or for a worthy cause) is an act of love that honors your loving Savior. It also pleases the Father, who is delighted to see his children being motivated by his merciful love.Here&apos;s a thought: Do not give till it hurts. Instead, give till it feels good and brings you cheer. Your Savior is ready to heal you and to help you know the joy of giving love.REFLECT: Think of new ways to give to the Lord.PRAY: Lord Jesus, take away my false love of stuff and enable me to give with loving cheerfulness. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

Healing a Stingy Heart • Day 35

Monday, The Fifth Week of Lent (Mar. 22)Healing, Not MisleadingNarrated by Tami BoesigerThey began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” Luke 23:2Jesus, of course, was not misleading anyone. He was all about healing people and leading them in the right direction. His intent is still the same for us, seeking to redirect our lives in God&apos;s intended direction.Satan&apos;s aim is to mislead us away from God&apos;s loving will. When we expose our attitudes and actions to the healing wounds of Jesus, he can redirect us to the path of healthy godliness. Turn to the Savior, whose healing wounds reconcile you with the Father, and submit to his will for your life.REFLECT: Who or what may be trying to lead you away from Christ? PRAY: I repent, Lord Jesus, of my misdirected life; heal my deadly sinfulness and lead me to new life. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

Healing, Not Misleading • Day 34

The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Mar. 21)Becoming a Better PersonNarrated by Amanda WoodYou shall not steal. Exodus 20:15The devil, the world and our sinful self poison our minds: If we have more “stuff, we are better off—we are even a better person! Stealing “stuff” then becomes an easy shortcut to becoming a better person. How toxic is that! Jesus sets us on the true path to becoming a better person. His wounds heal our poisoned minds. He “steals” our deadly sins, replacing them with God’s gracious love and mercy. There is no better person than one who thinks and acts faithfully as a child of God.We are engaged in a lifelong healing process. Our poisoned human sinfulness is forgiven daily. In its place, God injects the healing medicine of his Holy Spirit who makes us better not because of what we have but because of what we are—beloved children of the heavenly Father.REFLECT: What is in need of healing in your life?PRAY: Cure my poisoned mind, Lord, with the healing wounds of your beloved Son, Jesus. Amen.Devotional content provided by Creative Communications for the Parish.

Becoming a Better Person • Day 33

Listen as host Jon Bartels and special guests discuss what’s happening in the world around us, and how we as people of faith can respond. Waves is a podcast of King of Kings Church in Omaha, NE. Learn more about us at kingofkingsomaha.org.

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