“Lent is not about endless repetition of the fact that we are sinners.Instead, it offers us over and over the chance to see the beauty of life with God, a beauty that has been obscured by a multitude of compromises. Lent is a quieting of the soul and a lessening of the distractions so we can again hear the voice of God”
Esau McCaulley
I don’t know about you, but as we start the fifth week of Lent, I am experiencing that lessening of distractions and a renewed relationship with God. It is definitely a season of repentance where the Lord is showing me areas I need to allow Him to work and shape me. But it is also strangely a season of joy in that I’m seeing His work in my life. How about you? What struggles or joys are you finding?
Back in my Ash Wednesday reflection, I shared a prayer of surrender that I have continued to pray. I was talking about that prayer with a friend this week. She pointed out to me that for some people that prayer might trigger feelings of inadequacy or even worthlessness. If that’s you, let me encourage you that you are of infinite worth to God! Jesus voluntarily gave His life for you. You are a member of “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved” (Col 3:12, NIV).
Back to my conversation with my friend – what we also talked about was that the prayer can also be understood as a relinquishing of control. Or maybe better relinquishing our illusion of control. God has given us so many things. But He remains sovereign. To acknowledge that, seeking His will in all things, honors Him and confesses our dependence on Him.
In case you have been following the BCP collect(s) that I’ve posted, here is this week’s contemporary version of the Sunday collect::
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly
wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to
love what you command and desire what you promise; that,
among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts
may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
This idea of needing God to shape our “wills and affections” is what I have in mind by that prayer from Ash Wednesday. Lord, help us to be satisfied with You and to follow You more closely, because that is what we truly need.
The Psalm reading for today is from Psalm 51.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
Ps 51:10-15
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
I pray that as you navigate this season of repentance and connection, you are seeing God work in your own life. I’d love to hear your stories about what He is doing and how I can be praying for you!
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© 2019-2024 Jennifer Brown Jones
Life Beyond #Blessed 