Month: March 2022

Read Isaiah 55:1-9.

This passage invites us to ask ourselves what it is we devote ourselves to going after in this life. For what do we truly hunger and thirst? Do we desire the admiration of others? Appreciation for small sacrifices? Maybe we want to have the biggest house on the block or the nicest car or the latest gadget. Maybe we strive after always being right or having all the answers. Hear the prophet asking, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”

Admiration, respect, fancy things, certainty about everything…while these may feel nice in the moment, they do not sustain us, nourish us, or lead to lasting satisfaction. Instead, we are invited to listen, to seek, and to call upon God. We are invited to work towards closing the gap between our thoughts and those of God’s, between our ways and those of God’s. According to the prophet in this reading, God’s thoughts and ways involve generosity, trustworthiness, mercy, and forgiveness.

To what degree do you seek to make those traits hallmarks of your own life? Are there any that come more easily to you than others? What practices might be helpful in strengthening those aspects of your own character?

Today, offer a prayer of confession for the thoughts and ways in your own life that do not align with those of God’s. Find assurance in God’s promise of pardon.

Read Luke 13:31-35.

This reading is rich in imagery and foreshadowing One must wonder why the Pharisees told Jesus to leave Jerusalem. Was it to save Jesus from Herod or was it to save themselves from the annoyance and disruption Jesus was causing? There is also his use of the phrase, “On the third day I finish my work.” Is he talking about his immediate plans or about what will happen after his death? There’s the competing image of the fox as predator and the hen as nurturer and protector. Even as the fox preys on the hen, the hen is protecting her brood.

Today in prayer, lay before God any concerns about your life, about people you know and/or love, about the state of the world, etc. After each one you name, imagine Jesus gathering it all in as a mother hen gathers and protects her chicks. As the final breath of your prayer, say the words, “All will be well.”

Read Philippians 3:17-4:1.

Here, Paul urges the people of Philippi to center their hearts and minds on Jesus. This is helpful as we consider our approach to Lenten disciplines. As we remove something from our life, we might ask why that’s what we’ve chosen. If we give up sweets, is it to use those moments of craving as a call to prayer? If we give up TV or social media, is it to make more time for intentional, authentic connection with God and others? If we forego the fancy coffee, is it to channel the money we would have spent towards a worthy cause?

Today, spend time examining the motivations behind your spiritual practices. Offer each one to God and ask for clarity around your motivation and practice.

Read Psalm 27.

In vs. 14, we are encouraged to “wait for the Lord.” It’s an interesting bit of advice from someone who has enemies all around (see vs. 6). When I feel surrounded by troubles like deadlines, the expectations or disappointments of others, fear around the state of the world, health concerns, or financial concerns, the last thing I want to do is wait. I want God to fix it right now. In the high-speed world we have created, we expect every need to be met in an instant.

When have you had to wait for God’s answer to prayer? Looking back, was there any benefit to things unfolding according to God’s timing? To what degree do you agree with the statement, “God’s been on time, in time, every time”?

In prayer, lay before God a situation about which you are feeling impatient.

Read Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18.

Abram seems ready to believe God’s promise that he will not only have an heir, but he will have countless descendants. He had just returned from the mission to rescue his nephew Lot from kings who were determined to expand their territories. It was more difficult for Abram to believe the land would belong to those promised descendants. To combat Abram’s doubt, God institutes a ritual to commemorate the covenant.

What rituals do we use today to commemorate important commitments in life? How do these rituals affect a person’s dedication to upholding their end of the covenant? To what degree does remembering the ritual bind you to promises you have made?

Think of a commitment you might make to God during this time in Lent. What sort of ritual might you create to symbolize and celebrate this commitment? Today, perform this ritual as an offering to God.

Read Luke 4:1-13.

After his baptism, we read that Jesus is led by the Spirit into the desert for a time of fasting and praying. It is at the end of the 40 days, when he is weak with hunger, that he is tempted by the devil. He may be physically weak by this time, but his spirit is strong. He is tempted by the physical pleasure and self-reliance by filling his belly with bread. He is tempted with power at the expense of his morals. He is tempted with prestige as he is asked to test just how important he is to God. At every turn, Jesus uses scripture to resist the temptation.

In what ways does your faith inform the way you respond to temptation? Think of a particular temptation in your life. Are there any scriptures that might help you to resist? How might Jesus’ responses help you in your moments of weakness?

Set aside time for silence today and take stock of what activities, thoughts, and attitudes get between you and the person God wants you to be.

Read Romans 10:8b-13.

In vs. 13, we read, “For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” We might be tempted to subconsciously (or maybe consciously?) say to ourselves, “Well, except for…” These verses are a great argument against that type of judgment of others, against self-righteousness, and against certainty about who is in and who is out when it comes to God’s love and mercy. You’ve probably heard the phrase “All means all.” Here, the author is saying, “Everyone means everyone.”

What do you think it means to call on the Lord? Is it possible to call on the Lord, but then run the other way? What difference does a confession of Jesus as Lord and a belief in his resurrection make in the way you think, speak, and behave? Has your confession led to an inward-out transformation in your life?

In prayer, ask the Spirit to scour the corners of your heart for any relics of self-reliance, self-righteousness, or pride.

Read Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16.

Verses 11-12 are the verses the tempter will use when he tells Jesus to test God by throwing himself off the pinnacle of the temple. Jesus might have thought about this psalm which speaks of the protection God offers, about taking shelter and finding refuge in God. What a comfort this image would have been as he sweltered in the desert, hungry, thirsty, and under attack.

What, in your life, threatens to leave you vulnerable and exposed, fearful and ashamed? Imagine yourself living in the shelter of the Most High and abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. What practices might draw you into that place? What difference might it make in your life? How might making the Lord your refuge affect your attitudes and behaviors?

Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s promise of protection and care.

Read Deuteronomy 26:1-11.

As the Hebrews are receiving the Law from Moses, they are making their way through the desert. By this time in their journey, they have been travelling for years, moving from place to place, threats to their survival coming one after the other. There may have been some among the people who doubted that they would ever see the day they reached their destination. But then in this reading, he paints a picture of what life will look like – one where they have put down roots and planted and watered and tended fields. It is a picture of abundance where the first fruits of their harvest are offered to God in thanksgiving. It is a picture that they would have carried in their hearts and minds as they continued to wander.

Think of a time when life seemed bleak – a time when you may have felt like you were wandering in the wilderness. Maybe it was a time in your personal life or maybe it was during a turbulent time in history. Maybe it is now. Who are the people who have helped you to hold on to hope? Who are the people who have helped you to trust that things will eventually be better? What kind of picture do you hold in your heart and mind for better days ahead?

Today, make a list of what a more hopeful future for your life or for the world would hold. Offer it to God with the words, “May it be so, Lord. May it be so.”