Walking in meekness – having controlled strength – leads to blessing and abundant peace. Contrary to common definitions of meekness (e.g. docile, submissive, passive, etc.), Jesus shows that to be meek is a sign of strength and courage. According to Psalm 37:1-8, the meek find their strength in the Lord, are humble enough to always be learners, and are self-controlled even when angry.

Those who are truly happy are affected by the fear, dread, and hopelessness of others and are moved to action. Jesus modeled this heart when moved deeply in His spirit by those mourning the loss of His friend, Lazarus. He became indignant and wept, and then He got involved to the point of enduring death on the cross. Yet in His involvement and crucifixion, in being consumed by the mess around Him, He found joy and blessing. Genuine meaning, satisfaction, joy, peace, and deep comfort come from being affected by the needs of others and being moved to make a difference.

Those who are truly happy are those dependent on God. Despite our cultural tendency to see independence as a sign of strength and happiness, true blessing is found when are poor in spirit. To be poor in spirit means to have a sense of powerlessness, unworthiness, and helplessness apart from God. It means we depend on God and His grace for joy, purpose, and real happiness.

How deeply do you believe in Easter? In His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus offers us life – regardless of who we are or what we have done – if we believe deeply enough in Easter to actually follow Him with our lives. Mary Magdalene, who was the first to see Jesus after His resurrection, deeply believed because Jesus set her free from seven demons and gave her life. Her story testifies that it is never too late to have peace with God.

Communion provides an incredible opportunity to remember the sacrifice and promises of Jesus. In the hectic craziness of our daily lives, it is easy to forget all that Jesus accomplished for us through the cross and His resurrection. Participating in communion – which follows the example of Jesus during His last Passover meal with His disciples – helps us re‐center on what and who is really important in our lives.

What we are willing to be extravagant over is a measuring tool for what we truly value. After a woman from Bethany broke an alabaster flask of ointment and poured it completely over Jesus, the disciples were angry and indignant. They believed that the flask, worth nearly a year of wages, had now been wasted. But Jesus calls her act of extravagance beautiful, because it reflected a heart that simply treasured Him.