Opening Prayer: Psalm 81

¹ Sing for joy to God our strength;
    shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
² Begin the music, strike the timbrel,
    play the melodious harp and lyre.

³ Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,
    and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
⁴ this is a decree for Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
⁵ When God went out against Egypt,
    he established it as a statute for Joseph.

I heard an unknown voice say:

⁶ “I removed the burden from their shoulders;
    their hands were set free from the basket.
⁷ In your distress you called and I rescued you,
    I answered you out of a thundercloud;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.^[c]
8 Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
⁹ You shall have no foreign god among you;
    you shall not worship any god other than me.
¹⁰ I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

¹¹ “But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.
¹² So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

¹³ “If my people would only listen to me,
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
¹⁴ how quickly I would subdue their enemies
    and turn my hand against their foes!
¹⁵ Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
¹⁶ But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

God’s Voice:

• Old Testament (covenant): Gen. 45:16-28 
• Psalm (song): 82
• Epistle (letter): 1 Cor. 8:1-13
• Gospel (good news): Mark 6:13-29

Pursuing Holiness

• Prayer: What is God saying to me today? How will I respond?
• Fasting: What can I deny myself today (food, drink, behaviors) as an act of worship?
• Charity: How can I help someone in need today with my time, money, or goods?

Closing Prayer: Psalm 119:97-120

מ Mem

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your law!
    I meditate on it all day long.
⁹⁸ Your commands are always with me
    and make me wiser than my enemies.
⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,
    for I meditate on your statutes.
¹⁰⁰ I have more understanding than the elders,
    for I obey your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from every evil path
    so that I might obey your word.
¹⁰² I have not departed from your laws,
    for you yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from your precepts;
    therefore I hate every wrong path.

נ Nun

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
    that I will follow your righteous laws.
¹⁰⁷ I have suffered much;
    preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.
¹⁰⁸ Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
    and teach me your laws.
¹⁰⁹ Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
    I will not forget your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a snare for me,
    but I have not strayed from your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your statutes are my heritage forever;
    they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹² My heart is set on keeping your decrees
    to the very end.^[d]

ס Samekh

¹¹³ I hate double-minded people,
    but I love your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my refuge and my shield;
    I have put my hope in your word.
¹¹⁵ Away from me, you evildoers,
    that I may keep the commands of my God!
¹¹⁶ Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live;
    do not let my hopes be dashed.
¹¹⁷ Uphold me, and I will be delivered;
    I will always have regard for your decrees.
¹¹⁸ You reject all who stray from your decrees,
    for their delusions come to nothing.
¹¹⁹ All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;
    therefore I love your statutes.
¹²⁰ My flesh trembles in fear of you;
    I stand in awe of your laws.

How do I use this Devotional?

1. Read the “Opening Prayer” from scripture to the Lord as your prayer
2. Choose one or more of the scripture passages under “God’s Voice” for further reading
3. Answer the questions under “Pursuing Holiness”
   1. Your reflection on the scriptures and how you sense the Holy Spirit leading you today
   2. Identify how you will practice self-denial today based on God’s leading
   3. Identify how you want to practice giving today
   4. prayer, fasting (self-denial), and giving be your living, spiritual worship
4. Keep notes in a journal or planner to enable your follow-through and create a record
5. Read the “Closing Prayer”

Since the third century, Christians have used Scripture, Prayer, Self-denial, and Almsgiving as spiritual preparation for Easter.

What is Lent?

Lent  is the season in the Christian calendar that leads up to Easter. Lent is 40 days long because Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days before his public ministry. The Israelites, because of their disobedience and rebellion, were made to wander for 40 years in the wilderness before arriving in the promised land. Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai engaged with God in receiving the Ten Commandments. In the Bible, the number 40 is often used to indicate a period of preparation and testing.

In the wilderness, nothing is hidden. We are laid bare to God. We do not have our creature comforts. We are separated from common distractions. We ultimately will return to our lives when the time of preparation is complete. We focus our passion on God while He refines us to fulfill his calling.