This Lenten Season
Wednesday’s Verses:
From Psalm 51:3-4 ESV
“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”
Today is Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten season. Our walk together over the coming weeks moves us from the despair of our sinfulness to the joy of forgiveness and of Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and the devil.
During this season, we pray for a focused understanding of the sin that separates us from our Lord. No one can fulfill the demands of God’s Law—especially not a pastor. In the coming days, we will tackle the power of sin together and look to God for our strength.
This year, I have decided to confront the sin of procrastination—the habit of putting off what I must accomplish and instead wasting time on the unimportant. I am not giving up chocolate, as many do; instead, I will work on the sin that cuts at the heart of my vocation by delaying the important tasks of life.
Procrastination is a sin that has slowed me down from being a better pastor, friend, brother, and neighbor. To tackle it, I must see my time-wasting for what it truly is: a symptom of a heart in need of renewal. This is why today’s Bible verse from Psalm 51 speaks so directly to me, and perhaps to you: we know we sin against God. All of our sin is a turning away from our Lord, and He would be justified in casting us away from His presence forever.
Yet, our Father in heaven does something different. Because His love for us is beyond understanding, He sends His Son to save us. He created us to be with Him forever. Jesus’ life, suffering, death, and resurrection are the ultimate signals that we are loved. In the coming weeks, our eyes are set firmly on the cross, where Jesus paid for every sin—even my sin of procrastination.
May this Lenten season be a blessing to you.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Almighty God, as we enter the Lenten season, open my heart to see my sin ever before me and hold firm to Your grace and mercy where You’ve forgiven me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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