Devotions For Lent – Day 32

Tell Yourself

“You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s.”
(Deuteronomy 1:17)

Read Romans 5:12-21.

Getting to the altar was not an easy journey for this woman, but she got there. I imagine the angels high-fives each other.

Months later, she gave her testimony in church. Standing joyfully, where before she was afraid to enter, she said, “Judgment belongs to God, and, in Christ, He has declared you and me not guilty. Before you tell anyone about the love of God, before you proclaim to the world what you have learned about Jesus, tell yourself that He has forgiven you — of all your sins. There is a huge difference between knowing and feeling. I do not always feel forgiven, but I trust His Word and His Word tells me it is so.”

Today, think or write: “Sin is sin. Paid is paid. Forgiven is forgiven. I am not worthy, but I am wanted!”

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, when I forget, speak to my heart Your words of . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 31

He Is Running Toward You

“His father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced
him and kissed him.”        (Luke 15:20)

Read Luke 15:11-32.

I didn’t say a whole lot to the lady that night at church. I sensed the need to just get out of the way of what God was already doing. But I did tell her about the prodigal son returning home in shame. On his way, before he could get a word out of his mouth, his dad ran toward him. In the culture of that day, the dad was bringing shame upon himself by running, but he didn’t care — his child was returning home! Then with a robe, sandals, and a ring, the father restored the dignity of his child.

The man running in this parable is Jesus. He is running toward you. In love, He has taken all your shame upon Himself. None of us is worthy, but we are wanted. We are treasured by our Savior! In your reflecting or writing today, pray for the prodigals in your life — that they would see Jesus running toward them.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, I am not worthy, but You love me anyway. Thank You for running toward me when . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 30

Forgiven Is Forgiven

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before Him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything.”             (1 John 3:19-20)

Read Psalm 19.

Believing God forgives me is one thing. Forgiving myself is often harder. You and I may not always feel forgiven, but God’s Word is our anchor behind the veil. God has the final word. It is a settled issue. It applies to past, present and future sin.

The details of what we have done and why we did it are irrelevant. Sin is sin. Paid is paid. Forgiven is forgiven. Go beyond your personal thinking or journaling today and consider writing a letter to someone you know who is struggling with guilt and shame. Let that person know that God is greater than feelings.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, I know You forgive me. Help me to forgive myself for . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 29

Greater Than Our Heart

“Whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart.”
(1 John 3:20)

Read John 21:1-17.

Christian philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once wrote, “If you hear it rightly, take the forgiveness of all your sins quite literally, then you will be able to go away from the altar, divinely understood, as light of heart as a newborn child, upon whom nothing, nothing weighs heavily.”

Life is sweet when this is true. But in order to go away in peace, you have to realize your need in the first place. The shame and fear in our hearts often hold us back from this peace that God promises.

But God is greater than our hearts. He knows the feelings that haunt you. Be at peace! — not in your promises to do better, but in His promises, promises that He keeps because of the cross. In your thoughts or writing today, make a list of the things from your past that rob you of peace. Then, remember that because of the cross, you can have peace in those things.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, help me to take You at Your word of forgiveness when it comes to . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 28

If I Only Had The Nerve

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.”         (Psalm 56:3-4)

Read Psalm 56.

“If I only had the nerve,” sang the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. What gives us the nerve to come into God’s presence, assuming He wants to listen? The words of Hebrews 4:16 invite us to come: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace.”

That’s just what the lady I’ve been talking about needed to hear and trust. She was carrying so much grief, so much guilt, so much fear. But even in the midst of fear, especially in the midst of fear, we take God at His word: “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust” (Psalm 56:4).

When I was young, one of my Sunday School teachers gave me a wooden plaque printed with some yellow ducks and this verse: “I will trust, and not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2). I can still see that plaque in my mind and in my heart. Today, think about what Bible verses help you conquer fear.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, Lion of Judah, You are no cowardly lion. Give me courage in my life right now so that I can . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 27

Fourth Sunday In Lent

On the evening of the resurrection, the disciples hid behind locked doors out of fear. Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you”(John 20:19). And then He showed them His hands and His side. On this 4th Sunday of Lent, this little Easter, where do you need Jesus to speak this word to you: “Peace be with you”?

His peace is there for you, there in His wounds. It’s there that you can find healing and hope. Sometime during this day, look for the opportunity to speak this word to someone in your life: “Peace be with you.” It may prove to be the key that unlocks the doors of fear and guilt in their life. It can be for you as well.

Devotions For Lent – Day 26

Redemption Rock

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
(Isaiah 26:4)

Read Psalm 46.

In Princeton, Massachusetts, you’ll find Redemption Rock. At this site in 1676, the release of a minister’s wife from her native captors was negotiated atop the rock. Long before that moment, our redemption was secured upon the Rock, Jesus. The anchor of our hope is securely fixed on Him. Reflect and give Him praise through the words of the hymn, “Rock of Ages.”

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me — Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood — From Thy riven side which flowed.
Be of sin the double cure — Cleanse me from its guilt and power.”

Take a moment to pick up a rock small enough to carry with you. Let it remind you of the times that Jesus is your Rock and make note of those times.

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, You are my eternal Rock. My hope is fixed on You. I need to remember this right now in . . .

Devotions For Lent

Throne of Grace

“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand.”     (Romans 5:1-2)

Read Isaiah 6:1-8.

Picture it: you are standing before the throne of God Himself. What gives you the right? In the palace of any king, one must be introduced and invited. In today’s reading we see how Isaiah responded: “Woe is me for I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). But then his lips were touched with the burning coal. Suddenly, he has the boldness to volunteer for an unknown assignment: “Here Am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

What made the difference? Mercy and grace. The throne of justice and power has become the throne of grace. God’s invitation was given that night to the lady in our church. Could she trust that this was now a throne of grace? Can you? Absolutely. Today, write a prayer to thank your Heavenly Father for the hope He gives you through grace.

Prayer Starter:
God, Your mercy and grace surround me. Give me the boldness I need to . . .

Devotions For Lent

The Forerunner

“Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become
a high priest forever.”         (Hebrews 6:20)

Read John 14:1-14.

In ancient times, if the tide was low, ships would be unable to enter a harbor. A smaller vessel, called a forerunner, would then carry the ship’s anchor into the harbor and find a secure place to drop it. Then, with the rising of the tide, the ship could enter the harbor safely.

Jesus is our Forerunner — what a beautiful image! Normally we think of dropping anchor to the bottom of the sea, but here our Anchor dwells in glory in heaven. Just like an anchor to a ship, Jesus draws us to Himself. As our soul longs and thirsts for Him, He feeds us with living water and the bread of life. And soon, He will draw us to our eternal home, into the mansion He has prepared for us (John 14:2).

Reflect today on a storm that you’ve experienced in your life. How was Jesus your Forerunner?

Prayer Starter:
Jesus, guide the choices I make this day to be a reflection of my hopes and not my fears, especially with . . .

Devotions For Lent – Day 23

The Soul’s Anchor

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.”         (Hebrews 6:19)

Read Psalm 130.

Everyone has an anchor. The only question is how well does it hold? A fat bank account, a successful career, a four-bedroom cottage in the country. These can be lost without any warning. Then what?

Etched on the walls in the catacombs of Rome are at least 66 different types of anchors. As Christians buried their loved ones, they held onto this ancient symbol of hope. Hope in what? Hope in God’s Word, described in Hebrews 6:17: “When God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath.”

When my kids were growing up, they would constantly remind me, “Dad, a promise is a promise!” This is the confidence that Jesus’ entry through the veil gives to us. We can boldly say to our Father, “A promise is a promise!” Reflect on one or more specific promises God gives you in His Word.

Prayer Starter:
Abba, Father, a promise is a promise. Right now, I lean on Your promise to . . .