Good morning Jesus, I surrender all to you as I begin this day.
Today is Ash Wednesday. The first Day of Lent. Lent is my favorite season of the church. It is a time of 40 days before Easter we, the church, set aside for self-reflection, prayer, fasting as Jesus did for 40 days in the wilderness after he was baptized before he began his ministry, and as the Israelite spent 40 years in the desert before entering the promise land. I would like us all to spend these forty days praying over our churches, and each of our roles and calling in our church and in Christ.
Jesus, at the beginning of the Lord's Supper states, "And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." (Luk 22:15) Jesus in complete love earnestly desired to be with and reach out into the lives of those around him. And he earnestly desires to be with you. A good question for each of us to honestly discern this Lent is, "What do I earnestly desire?" Because what you desire will control the one thing that controls everything else in your life, your heart.
In Lent, People traditionally give up or take on something. The giving up of something, or taking on of something, is to aid us in daily focusing in on Christ, his life, his sacrifice, his death and his resurrection at Easter, and how we are to live into the salvation these events provided for us. Please post what you are going to give up and/or take on during Lent so we can pray each other.
What is Lent? At Jesus' baptism the sky split open, the Spirit of God, which looked like a dove, descended and landed on Jesus, and a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, My Beloved, with whom I am pleased." Afterward, as told in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus was driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. There he fasted and prayed for 40 days over upcoming ministry his plan and purpose for taking on flesh. During his time there he was tempted by Satan and found clarity and strength to resist temptation. Afterwards, he was ready to begin his ministry.
As we are in a time of reflecting on the Holy Spirit, this passage reminds us that Jesus was completely connected to, led by and driven by the Holy Spirit. And as He exampled, Lent is a time we set aside for 40 days to reconnect to and let our life be driven by the the same Holy Spirit. We can use Lent to set aside time with God to sort through the major changes happening in our life. Maybe we need to get away from family, friends and the familiar routine in order to see God (and ourselves) more clearly. Perhaps we want some intentional time with God as we searched for direction and answers. Like Jesus, we need to take some serious time to pray and listen for God. Or maybe because of Covid, social distancing, and other changes caused by the virus in your life your connection with Jesus and your church has weakened., Maybe your devotion time reading the Bible and in prayer and acts of mercy in service to others has slipped.
During Lent, as we intentionally try to be reconnected and filled with the Holy Spirit, to do this we must empty ourselves and die to our fleshly desires. Christians use three things as aides to help them die to themselves, and focus, listen, reconnect and pray to God.: Fasting, Service/taking on things, and Prayer
FASTING: Going without food is the traditional form of fasting and what Jesus did. With holding what your body needs to receive what your spirit needs and using meal times as time of prayers. But that's not the only way to fast. You can fast by cutting out some of the things in your life that are physical cravings on idols and distract you from God. Some Christians use the whole 40 days to fast from candy, tv, soft drinks, cigarettes or meat as a way to purify their bodies and lives. You might skip one meal a day and use that time to pray instead. Or you can give up some activity that controls your time like TV, social media, gaming and other such things to spend that time outside enjoying God’s creation and in prayer. What do you need to let go of or “fast” from in order to focus on God? What clutters your calendar and life? How can you simplify your life in terms of what you eat, wear or do? Read Isaiah chapter 58
SERVICE: Besides giving up, Christians at the same time take something on forChrist. You can commit to take on more times set aside to read your Bible. You can collect food for the needy, volunteer once a week to tutor children, serve in an out reach ministry or food pantry in you community. Instead of time spent on TV, gaming and social media You can commit to prayer walking your neighborhoods, going to the ER of your hospital and sit and pray with people, helping a different stranger, co-worker or friend every day of Lent. Call a person each day to listen and pray with them. Serving others is one way we serve God. Read Isaiah chapter 58.
PRAYER: Christians also use Lent as a time of intentional prayer. You can set aside times to pray daily, prayer walk, use the Prayer Wheel daily, create music, art, poetry as a prayer to God, or savor a time of quiet listening. Attend The Well Night of Worship or other places of prayer. All can be ways of becoming more in tune with God.
We are holding our Ash Wednesday service this evening at 6:30pm at Toney United Methodist located at 5465 Old Railroad Bed Road, Toney, Al and are welcomed to attend. I hope you will attend the gathering at your church or if your church does not hold one, look up and find one in your community. We will also live stream the Ash Wednesday service on the Toney United Methodist Church Group and my personal Gary Liederbach FB pages.
Post your thoughts and reflections and what you are giving up or taking on so we can pray over them.
I would appreciate your prayer and any financial support for myself as we reach out to our neighbors with the gospel through setting up a monthly donation or a one –time gift by clicking the link below. Donation checks can be made out to ODC, PO Box 1293 Madison, Al 35758. Thank You!
