Easter is a big deal. Jesus died to free us from our sin and rose up to give us hope.

But is it a big deal because we make it a big deal? Or is it because we actually believe that what Jesus did for us on the cross is indeed, a big deal?

Christians feel pressure during this special week in particular. We feel like we have to get our spiritual lives together in order to praise God in "the right way". This sometimes leads us to force the idea of Easter instead of humbly celebrating what He has already done.

The truth is, we should be making God's miraculous act of love a big deal everyday. Such a big deal that we can't help but thank God for it every time we go to Him in prayer. So much that we can't help acknowledge it in our thoughts and actions. This truth isn't to be lightly taken and so easily forgotten. I think that we feel such pressure during this Christian holiday season because we try to gulp down the cup of His blood only once a year. But in the holy prayer given to us by our gracious Father we ask, "give us this day our daily bread". The proper praise for a God that gives new mercies everyday is to be given everyday. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

While we can give God praise everyday, it is also important to remember that we can never fully reciprocate the boundless love He has for us.

Sometimes instead of worrying so much about cleaning up to come to God, let's take a step back and quietly appreciate what He did for us. He died for us so we don't have pressure to measure up ever again. Christ has made it so we are free from the standards and free from our own sin.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved ... For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works" - Ephesians 2:4-9