We Begin


With the arrival of Ash Wednesday we switch gears for the 40 days of Lent. During this time, the devotions will center around the Scripture readings for the up-coming Sunday. After Easter, we will return to Daniel.

Many in Christendom "give up" something during the Lenten season as a part of their preparations for Holy Week and the Passion of Jesus. This year, we will be encouraging people to instead "take up" something - one or more of the spiritual disciplines. These ancient disciplines, used throughout the centuries by the faithful, have much the same purpose of giving something up - they center our thoughts and actions on the Lord. Join us during these 40 days as together we examine more closely what the life of a Christian looks like. Blessings on your journey!
 
Prayer - Dear Heavenly Father, You are my wonderful Creator. Before you began time, You had a plan for my salvation through Your One dear Son, Jesus. I worship and praise You for this plan and thank You for yet another opportunity to remember His perfect life and sacrificial death. Please use these devotional times for my benefit and to Your glory. In the name of  Jesus I pray. Amen. 

Read - Deuteronomy 17:18–20 
http://www.esvbible.org/Deuteronomy 17:18-20 

Think about It - This year for the Lenten season we will be exploring the spiritual disciplines that have been practiced over the centuries by God's people as they seek to walk with The Lord. These disciplines are  varied and there is something for everyone. The first practice we will examine is that of keeping a spiritual journal. For many, this is a life-long journey of keeping track of their walk with The Lord by writing their experiences down for future reference and to help them remember what they have learned.

Our Old Testament reading for Sunday will be an accounting out of the book of Deuteronomy where the king is admonished to write out the words of Deuteronomy for himself so that he could continue to study it and be completely familiar with it. There is some question as to whether this was literally done by most kings in their own hand (because in fact we know that most of them didn't care whether they followed God or not). But the point remains the same, they were to be closely in tune with the Word of The Lord. The king was expected to review frequently every legal covenant he was a part of and the covenant with God was seen as the most important of them all.

Does this mean we are to start making our own copy of the Law? Probably not. But it does stand as an excellent example to us to remain close to the Word. Journaling simply helps with that goal. When we intentionally fill our minds with the Word our lives will change. When we take the time to write about our thoughts concerning what God has to say to us we will  remember it even more effectively. 

Prayer - Dear Lord, please take these 40 days of Lent and draw me closer to You. Use the disciplines that I will learn to teach me how to spend more of my time with You and let that time be of greater benefit to me. Thank You for the generations that have gone before me who loved You and left these practices behind for me to use. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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