Today we begin the season of Lent, a time of inward reflection and discernment. We mark the 40-day journey of Jesus into the wilderness, taking time to pause and think about the wilderness in which we often find ourselves. Throughout this season it is my goal to write and offer a daily devotion. My prayer is that this will challenge you as it also challenges me to spend daily time in Scripture. Thank you for joining me on this journey!
I never really thought Lent was a big deal until I ended up with a devout Christian roommate in college. She was involved with one of the more conservative chapel groups on campus and started talking about "giving something up for Lent." At that time in my life I was not focused on anything religious and would joke about "becoming a pastor" just to tease her. (Oh how life throws you curve balls sometimes!) She was serious about her faith and Lent was a part of growing and challenging the "comfort zones" and "boxes" in which she lived it out. So I decided that I would join in and would stop eating chocolate until Easter.
A few evenings later I was up until the wee hours of the morning writing some sort of paper. On my desk sat some Hershey Kisses. The temptation was calling out to me, and my first thought was, "No one will ever know." I don't remember if I ate them or not, but I probably did. The absurdity of thinking that I was "hiding-out" now makes me chuckle. That is what Ash Wednesday is all about: recognizing that before God nothing is hidden. Today we mark our foreheads with ashes made from the Palms waved last Palm Sunday. We remember that it is from dust we came, and to dust we will return. We are confronted by our mortality, and begin to think about God's love for us, our need for forgiveness, and what it means to be "living sacrifices." (Romans 12:1)
Aside from giving something up, or adding something in to your life, what possibilities does Lent 2014 hold for you? What disciplines will lead you to experience the joy of new life and resurrection on Easter? What meaningful soul-stretching might you embark upon today?
The Scripture reading for today is Psalm 51. I encourage you to read it in your own Bible and mark it up, reflect on what it says to you. Below you will find this Scripture from The Message version, one of my favorites.
Psalm 51
1-3 Generous in love—God, give grace!
Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been;
my sins are staring me down.
4-6
You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen
it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.
7-15
Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
I’ll let loose with your praise.
16-17
Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.
Prayer for Today: Gracious God today I come before you as an open book. You know my heart and mind. Create in me a clean heart, help me to receive the gift of forgiveness. Draw near to me as I draw near to you. Amen.
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