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Republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, & research purposes.
The celebration of Easter is so much more than chocolate bunnies and dying eggs. Our Savior has risen! This Easter day, the resurrection of Jesus reminds us that God makes all things new. He has given us the same resurrection power to live free from sin and to receive eternal life. Offering Easter prayers of blessing is one of the most powerful ways to remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus and his resurrection from the grave.
We hope this collection of Easter prayers will bring you renewed hope and faith this Resurrection Day. Easter provides an opportunity like no other to renew your faith! Scripture tells us that "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3). Take time to meet with God today and speak these prayers of thanks to Him for the victory of Jesus and the victory we have over sin.
Easter Prayers for 2023
You can pray these Easter prayers and blessings at sunrise, around the Easter dinner table with family and friends, or share them on social media!
Get your free Easter Prayer and Scripture Guide to reflect on the meaning and importance of Christ's resurrection.
1. An Easter Sunday Prayer
O wonderful God, my soul is filled with joy as I celebrate the Resurrection today! Thank you that you’re alive, and that you want a relationship with me. I want to enjoy a relationship with you, as well. After Jesus rose from the grave on the first Easter, an angel told people “do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:5). I can rise beyond fear this Easter by trusting you. I’m looking forward to new adventures together day by day. I love you, Lord! Amen. - Whitney Hopler
2. To Remember Our Hope Through the Cross
Father, We praise You for sending Your Son to abide with us and be with us. Life can feel lonely, but the fact is…we are never alone. That is a truth we can cling to during the ugliest breakdowns. Thank You for giving us the grace to release our failed efforts and bottled up emotions to You, free of judgment and full of healing love.
Forgive us for walking through life without the joy that Jesus died to fill our hearts with. Help us to find You in the hard moments of life, and remember the comfort and truth of Your promises during seasons of suffering.
Jesus, You never leave us, and always guide us. Who we are becoming is no secret to You, You who formed us in our mother’s womb. You came down to earth to save us, love us, and show us how to live. May we chase after You all of our days, and experience the rich and irreplaceable Peace that allows us to overcome…to walk victorious…and to hold onto hope. In Jesus' Name, Amen. - Meg Bucher
3. A Prayer for Resurrection
Dear God,
Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for the victory and power in your Name. Thank you that you hold the keys over death, that by your might, Jesus was raised from the grave, paving the way for us to have new life with you. Thank you that you had plan, that you made a way.
We confess our need for you…fresh…new…again. We ask that you renew our hearts, minds, and lives, for the days ahead. We pray for your refreshing over us.
Keep your words of truth planted firm within us, help us to keep focused on what is pure and right, give us the power to be obedient to your word. And when the enemy reminds us where we have been, hissing his lies and attacks our way, we trust that your voice speaks louder and stronger, reminding us we are safe with you and that your purposes and plans will not fail. We ask that you will be our defense and rear guard, keeping our way clear, removing the obstacles, and covering the pitfalls. Lord, lead us on your level ground.
Shine your light in us, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world, for your glory and purposes. Set you way before us. May all your plans succeed. We may reflect your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs your presence and healing.
Thanks be to you God, for your indescribable gift! To you be glory and honor, on this Resurrection Day, and forever.
In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Debbie McDaniel
4. A Prayer for Easter Sunday
Lord God, you loved this world so much that you gave your one and only Son, that we might be called your children too. Lord, help us to live in the gladness and grace of Easter Sunday, every day. Let us have hearts of thankfulness for your sacrifice. Let us have eyes that look upon your grace and rejoice in our salvation. Help us to walk in that mighty grace and tell your good news to the world. All for your glory do we pray, Lord, Amen. - Maria Miriam
5. To Remember the Victory Belongs to Jesus
Ah Lord God, as I celebrate Easter and the triumphant victory of Jesus Christ over death and hell and sin, I fall down before You and worship You. I cry with others around the world, “worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” All of creation bows before You Lord Jesus because You are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords who has won the victory and conquered death! (Based on Revelation 5:12, Philippians 2:10-11). - Becky Harling
6. Say "Thank You" for Jesus
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to save me from my sins. Thank you that you loved me enough to send a perfect sacrifice, so that we could live together eternally. I confess that I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I ask you to come into my heart, and I commit to following Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Glynnis Whitwer
7. A Prayer for Gratitude and God's Blessings at Your Easter Meal
God, we pause with such gratitude for the gift of your undeserved, unfailing, and unfathomably love.
Thank you for walking around on this broken, dusty, and trouble-ridden planet for 33 years so that we might believe and have eternal life.
Thank you for communicating your love for us in a way that is so personal, so extravagant, and so gracious.
Thank you for dying and then rising from the dead so we could have hope.
Thank you for proving that you are real, you are powerful, and that only you give us the power to live our lives well through your incarnation, death, and resurrection.
Thank you for washing away our sins by offering yourself as the perfect and blameless sacrifice in our stead.
Thank you, Jesus, for all you have done for us and offer our lives as a living sacrifice to you in gratitude for amazing grace. Amen.
- Amanda Idleman, Easter Dinner Prayers
8. For Faith this Easter
Dear Lord, draw my thoughts upward toward You every minute of every day, but especially this Easter. Help me resist the temptation to focus on the painful things of this earthly life and learn to control my thoughts so they don’t sink my faith or joy in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Traci Miles
9. A Prayer to Remember the Depths of God's Love
Lord, You are so amazing! How can I ever thank You enough for coming into this world to give Your life for me? I'm sorry for the times I get so busy that I fail to remember the incredible love You willfully demonstrated to me by going to the Cross. You didn't have to do it, but You did it for me. I thank You from the depths of my heart for loving me so completely! I pray this in Jesus' name! - Rick Renner
10. For Sacrifice and Thanksgiving
To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: I offer a prayer of sincere thanksgiving for Your blood sacrifice. Thank You for being obedient to Your Father and going to the cross for me. May I never forget that You gave Your life for me, so that one day I might live with You in eternity. Because Your blood has redeemed us, we are now new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and by His blood we are freed from sin to serve the living God, to glorify Him and to enjoy Him forever. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Dawn Neely
11. For Love and Mercy
Lord, how can we ever thank You enough? You endured more pain, more shame, more sorrow, more grief than we can possibly fathom. Help us remember why You gave Your life. Because of love. Because of mercy. Because we desperately need them both. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Liz Curtis Higgs
12. Sharing the Real Meaning of Easter
Dear Lord, help me to tell of Your wondrous power and mighty acts to those generations that come after me. May I not let the season pass by without pondering the real meaning of Easter. In Jesus' Name, Amen. - Karen Ehman
13. A Prayer For a Heart Like Jesus
Dear Jesus, I plead for You to give me Your grief over the people who have missed You and rejected You. This Easter, remind me just how much I need You. Help me see Your grace. Grant me that divine combination of sorrow and tenderness that points people to the cross and to new Life. Dear God, give me Your heart for my world, to see the desperate need for salvation we all have. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.- Amy Carroll
14. Prayer to Receive the Cross
Almighty Father, thank You for the gift of Your forgiveness, for binding up my brokenness. Forgive me for the ways I try to "help" You save and fix me. Help me to simply receive what You have done for me on the Cross. "Simply" receiving sometimes isn't so simple. Give me the strength to be still and receive Your mercy and grace in this moment. Through the Savior who saves completely. Amen.
15. To Remind Us that Our Debt is Paid on Easter
Lord Jesus, how can I ever repay You for what You’ve done? Thank You for paying the debt for my life. Thank You for erasing my sin and calling me Your own. I am no longer a slave to sin or in debt to a holy God. I am a child of God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Arlene Pellicane
16. Celebrate The Good News
Dear God, thank You for the resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. We want to celebrate Him every day of our lives. In a world that grows increasingly dark, help us hold up His light. Give us the courage to speak as boldly as Mary Magdalene did, and never be ashamed of proclaiming Your Good News. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Liz Curtis Higgs
17. For Easter Hope in Troubled Times
These times are frightening, Lord. Headlines daily deliver troubling news. If we dwell there, Father, we will lose all hope. Thank You for Your protection and the promises we have in Your word. Nothing can separate us from Your love and the victory achieved by Christ at the cross. He is our hope and ever-present help in trouble. Thank You, Father. We have no need to fear. You will never leave nor forsake Your own! - Judy Fussell
18. An Easter Prayer from Matthew 28
- “Do not be afraid." God, I hand over to You those things that make me so afraid. Resurrect the parts of my faith squelched by fear.
- "I know that you are looking for Jesus." God, when my soul is searching, help me know the answer to every longing can be found in You.
- "He has risen." God, the fact that Jesus is risen should lift my head, my heart and my attitude. Help me to live today as if I really believe this with every part of my life.
- "Just as he said." Jesus, You keep Your promises. Help me live as though I believe that with every part of me. Help me trust You more, obey You more and resemble You more.
- "Come and see." Jesus, You had the angels invite the women in to see for themselves that You had risen. You invite me into these personal revelations every day. Forgive me for sometimes rushing about and forgetting to come and see for myself ... You, Your Word, Your insights.
- "Then go quickly and tell his disciples." Jesus, I don't want to be a secret keeper with my faith. I want to be a bold and gracious truth proclaimer. For You. With You. Because of You. Me, the unwanted girl whom You loved, redeemed and wanted.
In Jesus' Name, Amen. - Lysa TerKeurst
19. Easter Children's Prayer
God made you and God made me,
He made the world for us to see.
God loves you and long ago,`
He sent his Son to tell us so.
Jesus showed us many things,
To love and share and dance and sing.
To learn and pray, to help and care,
He promised he'd always be there.
He died but then came back to life,
Let's celebrate for he's alive!
Amen.
20. A Good Friday Prayer
Lord God, Jesus cried out to you on the cross, “Why have you forsaken me?” You seemed so far from his cry and from his distress. Those who stood at the foot of the cross wondered where you were, as they saw Jesus mocked and shamed and killed. Where were you then?
Lord God, we, too, ask where you are, when there is trouble and suffering and death, and we cry out to you for help. Be near to us, and save us so that we may praise you for your deliverance.
Lord God, we wait, on Friday, for the resurrection of Sunday and sometimes our lives seem a succession of Fridays and we cannot see what is “Good.” Teach us to call your name as Jesus did. Make us to trust in you like little children. In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Maria Miriam
21. For Family Encouragement
Father God, Easter is also a time when we have the opportunity to come alongside those in our family. Some family members may celebrate Easter by tradition, not fully understanding what Easter represents and means. Lord, guide us as Your followers in lovingly helping to encourage these people we are surrounded with in what You want them to know in this time. Perhaps it is the love of Christ, or maybe it is the hope that although things can look so dead and hopeless as they did on Good Friday, there is joy in the morning as in Easter Morning. Perhaps it is in coming alongside others in sincere love and loving them as Christ loved us, showing them the authentic truth of what it means to not only say you are a Christian but to genuinely follow Christ in attitude and action. Lord, use us in the ways You see fit to help those in our circles and communities to truly know Your heart through us. May we represent You well. In Jesus' Name, Amen - Cally Logan
22. To Celebrate Victory Every Day
Father, Thank You for the miracle of life – abundant life here, and eternal life with You in Heaven. Help me celebrate that life every day as I seek You and follow Your plan for my life. Today, I say with the Apostle Paul, “Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?” In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Mary Southerland
23. Of Gratitude For Jesus Coming to Earth
Father God, Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to this earth. We recall the words of John 3:16, "For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Lord, we do not take that lightly. Knowing that Jesus came to this earth as a baby to take on the punishment we deserved, was tortured, and died for us is overwhelming. And then to keep Your promise in that He did not remain dead but instead rose again. Father, help us not overlook or ever stop saying in the most sincere fashion, "Thank You." May our hearts come to a place of genuine and complete gratitude in that which You have done, and may we take this attitude of thankfulness with us into this season of Easter. In Jesus' Name, Amen - Cally Logan
24. For the Spirit to Pour Afresh
Almighty God, I praise You for Your power, presence, and purpose in my life. I confess my unbelief and unwillingness to press on when hope seems dead. O Lord, please pour Your Spirit afresh on me. May Your resurrecting power shine forth in my life and the lives of my loved ones. In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray, Amen. - Carla Lake
25. To be Grateful for Victory Over Death
Lord Jesus Christ, I rejoice and rejoice continually in Your glorious and triumphant victory over death. For Your victory is my victory. Help me to live by it, in it, and for it. I am grateful to my depths - grateful forever. Amen. - Selwyn Hughes
26. A Prayer to Remember the Power of Resurrection
Lord, death could not hold You. And because of You, the resurrection, we, too, can live. Thank You that the grave is only a journey into the presence of God. You have removed the sting of death and empowered this thing called life. Now I will live in Your presence forever. Amen. - Rebecca Barlow Jordan
27. For Forgiveness and Freedom
Dear Lord, may I realize afresh today what Your death and resurrection mean for me. Forgiveness … Freedom … and the ability to walk with You through this fallen world into eternity. May I always find my satisfaction in You and Your willingness to offer Yourself to me. In Jesus' Name, Amen. - Rachel Olsen
28. A Jelly Bean Prayer for Kids
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for creating me and everything in this universe (green jellybean). I admit that I have sinned (black jellybean) and have fallen short of your glory. But I want to thank you for going through with God’s plan, even when it was scary for you (purple jellybean). Thank you for dying for my sins and the cross (red jellybean) and shedding your blood for me so that I could become pure as snow (white jellybean). I know that you will do everything you said you will do and that one day I will be in heaven with you (orange and yellow jellybean). For now, I wait in hope and excitement for when I will see you face to face (pink jellybean). Amen. - Hope Bolinger
29. To Reflect that Jesus is the Son of God
Father, please help me to act in a way that accurately depicts who You are. You are not merely a moral, historical person. You most certainly are not a fictional character. May my words and actions say to others, “Truly this man is the Son of God!” In Jesus’ Name, Amen. - Karen Ehman
30. A Prayer of Repentance
Heavenly Father, our hearts are so prone to hardness. Please break up that fallow ground and search us, oh God, show us the hidden places that offend you so that through repentance we can offer you the praise you so richly deserve. Our sacrifices and celebrations are meaningless if they aren’t dedicated to you with a contrite heart. Thank you that Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at Your right hand interceding for us. Thank you that His blood covers our sin and makes a way for us to enjoy the bounty of Your presence. Forgive us, Lord. Turn our hearts back to You. Replace our arrogance, ignorance, and self-sufficiency with a pure, Holy, reverent fear. Enable us once again to tremble with awe at your life-giving Word. Create in us a clean heart, Lord, and restore a right spirit within us—so that with that renewed spirit we can celebrate Your Holiness that has made us whole. - Annette Griffin
31. A Prayer for Lent
Heavenly Father, Thank you for the gift of this season. Thank you for knowing our hearts and our need for rhythms in our lives, and for drawing us into a deeper communion with you throughout the coming 40 days.
Lord, it can be disheartening to read on Ash Wednesday that all come from dust, and to dust all return (Ecclesiastes 3:20), yet we know that there is more to our stories. We know that you created man and woman from the dust at the very beginning of time (Genesis 2:7) and that you breathed life into them to transform them into living creatures. We know that you are in the business of resurrection-- your very Son went to the cross to show us that no death is final and that ultimate transformation comes through your gift of salvation. Though we were made from dust, and our bodies will return to dust again, we can live in eternal glory with you through the blood of your Son.
May we remember the gift of salvation in this season. May these weeks leading up to the tragedy of Good Friday and the glory of Resurrection Sunday remind us of who you are, how you love us, and who you have created us to be as your followers... Read more of our Prayer for Lent
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Read more about the meaning, origin, and history of Easter, the celebration and remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion, at our article What is Easter?
When Is Easter?
The early Christians began remembering the Resurrection every Sunday following its occurrence. In A.D. 325, the Council of Nicaea set aside a special day just to celebrate the Resurrection. The problem with an official day was deciding whether the Resurrection should be celebrated on a weekday or always on a Sunday. Learn more about the reason behind Easter being celebrated on a Sunday and when Easter is this year at our article When is Easter?