The glory of Easter is demonstrated each year to all Christians who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This demonstration takes place during the weeks leading up to, and including, the days of Holy Week through our preparation for the death and rising of Jesus. The preparation for Easter is called Lent and it is during this period that Christians are asked to cleanse their minds, hearts, and souls. This cleansing is performed in various fashions on an individual basis and it is through these individual efforts that some find themselves in direct communication with the spirit of God. Through prayer, meditation, and other practices we solicit God to come into our lives for direct inspiration, healing, and cleansing. Those fortunate enough to have mastered the ability to quiet themselves in dedicated prayer and meditation are more apt than others to gain the spiritual benefits that the Easter season can provide. It is this commitment to prayer and the ability to contact God that is yearned by so many of us but realized by so few. The struggle to "find" God out there is often discouraging to many Christians. It is only when each of us realizes that God can be found in each of our individual hearts when we make the effort to look deep within that we understand the closeness of our everyday relationship with Him. God is with us always! There is no separation from Him. It is not only on Easter Sunday that His son Christ Jesus rises in our souls. He rises in our souls everyday if we only call on Him to do so.

It is in this realization that new life springs forth for each of us. Our daily lives are energized and we become "alive" in Jesus Christ. How do we know this? How do we know His presence is near? One of the ways this becomes clear is in acknowledging the Christ presence in all of the people and objects in the universe. God lives in and is represented in everything before us. When we recognize His closeness we begin to see life, its triumphs, trials, and tribulations in a whole different light. We begin to measure the importance of events that take place on a regular basis in a different way. And we quickly come to the realization that most of the things that we encounter on a daily basis aren't that important after all.

We should gain pleasure and comfort in knowing that God is with us. It is indeed He that grants us the freedom to express and execute our God-given talents in any way we choose. Of course, He does wish for us to use those talents in an appropriate way and in accordance with the divine plan He has for each of us. Just what is that plan and how are we to know? Do we have any input? How do we tap into it and how do we know if we are on the right path? The answer lies in our trust in God and in our belief that through active prayer and meditation He will guide us to fulfill His divine plan for us. God is the Way-Shower. It is our responsibility to demonstrate our love for Him in our willingness to submit and release our ego desires to His Will. Many of us struggle with the idea of giving up our false concept of "control". Many of us have lost sight of the basic laws which govern our spiritual existence. It is in this "lost" existence that many of us find ourselves not living up to expectations. Or, we find other false gods that are not so worthy of our focus and love. The pursuit of these false gods often result in heartache for ourselves and our loved ones. Whether it be the lure of money, alcohol, drugs, or some other earthly temptation, these troubled pursuits can all be eliminated when we accept Christ Jesus and the Most High God as our true sources of strength, courage, and love. Make room for Christ. Discover His presence in your heart. Recognize His desire for you to realize He is always there for you. It is our spiritual objective to come to this realization and live accordingly.

So how do we reach this spiritual objective and why don't we see witness to more people having successfully attained this understanding? Great questions. The answers are contained in each of our individual pursuits of our own hearts and souls. The great discovery within! And the confidence to live in "spirit", not ego. God isn't in some far off heaven. He is right here, right now! We need to dedicate ourselves to reaching Him in our own hearts, and we do this through quiet prayer and meditation. I'm sure you're saying, easier said than done. You are right. But, without the effort to reach Him we can never fully realize our true purpose in this life. And that is the mission of "Easter". With great faith we embark on this spiritual journey in the human form to know, to love, and to serve God. Our pursuits take us to the quiet places in our own hearts where we search for that silent place where God can communicate with us. That silent place where we can experience the touch of God's own hand guiding us along the divine path He has created specifically for each one of us. We can only imagine that this place is filled with nothing but love, beauty, and peace where we are united and one with our God.

The beauty and new hope of each passing Easter season is in the knowledge that more and more of God's children are coming to the realization that it is in God that our true strength and spiritual inspiration exists. God is our one source of all that is good. The beauty is in the realization that our God exists right here and right now in each of us. The beauty is in the realization that heaven is not some far away place that exists for only a chosen few but that it can exist right here for ALL of us. The spiritual revolution that is currently gaining momentum throughout the world comes at a time when it is much needed. Through the continuing courage and strength of world leaders around the globe and through people that believe in the existence of a Higher Source, the world can reach new heights where God Himself can continue to expand His territory and His love for ALL. Through the belief in God can the realization of a world that exists in peace become reality.

Easter is a season of renewal that should remain with us each passing day. Why can't everyday be marked with the blessings and happiness of the risen Lord on Easter Sunday? Isn't it possible? Of course it is. With the assistance and guidance of God, each of us must take personal responsibility for "expanding" His territory. I encourage all of us to join in this spiritual journey. Yes, Christ is risen! Yes, earth is now redeemed! God Bless! Happy Easter.

Bob Rosbury is a personal life coach and founder of Bluechip Lifestyles - Life Coaching Services. Bob specializes in several areas including personal growth and development, spirituality, relationships, and grief/loss. He is currently enrolled in ministerial school with plans to become an ordained minister in 2008-2009 and is involved with several local volunteer groups assisting those in need. You can reach Bob on his email address rrosbury@wowway.com or via his website at http://www.bluechiplifestyles.com.