I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance. Job 42:6b, NLT
While the world expresses love in extravagant ways on Valentine’s Day, we Christ-followers begin our journey to the cross. We declare with submission and humility that what we do from our own strength is nothing more than ashes. We ask for a burning in our hearts that overwhelms self-push in any direction. We wear the mark of our impotence and mortality. It is a day to remember who we are and who we are not. It is a day to bring our unedited selves to God so that we start this journey to the cross in the most honest way possible.
This humbling requires confession.
We confess that we are not enough and never have been.
We confess our need to allow Christ to live in us through his resurrection power.
We confess we have forgotten this and tried to push through on our strength . .
.
Lord have mercy on our self-centered pushes and forgive us.
We confess that we do not understand what is happening in our world and cannot stop its downward spiral.
We confess our fear and confusion and anger.
We confess we have allowed our broken world to bring us down in ways that reduce our ability to shine in darkness.
Lord have mercy on us and remind us that nothing happens in this world you are not using to bring about your Plan.
We confess that we want You to do more to change the world when You have always told us that we are Your instruments of change.
Lord, have mercy on our silence.
We confess that we have not always represented Who you are and sometimes fill that absence with who we are instead.
Lord have mercy on our misguided self-importance.
Confession without repentance brings no change. Our next step turns us around to focus on Who God is and how He wants us to live.
·
We are God’s servants.
We repent of words and actions that have not represented You.
May Your will and purpose never be under-served because of our delinquency.
We are God’s well-loved children.
We repent of blaming You for what our fallen world has inflicted upon us.
May we never live under-loved.
We are God’s army.
We repent of cowering at the privilege of sharing Your words.
May we never live under-powered unnecessarily..
Repentance renews our minds and hearts and aligns them with God’s. From this humbled place of new amazement at God’s kindness, acceptance, and empowerment; we are ready for a new journey to the cross.
May we daily pray for sunrises of new understandings that awake our souls to God’s great love that never fails.
Sharing this journey with you,
Debbie
For your personal journey to the cross . . .
Don't forget to download your copy of this year's Lenten Guide: Sunrise for the Soul. I have the first two weeks ready. More to come in my next post. Click here to download. Or write me if you would rather have me send it by email. debmgoodwin@gmail.com
Comments