Daily Devotionals for the Fourth Week of Lent

Let me know my end… Let me know how fleeting my life is! The Hebrew word “fleeting” also means to “leave off,” to be “frail,” to be “forsaken,” or “ceasing to live.” This Psalm describes the length to which the poet’s feelings have driven him. Here, our poet, King David, may have been driven to despair. This is conjecture, but perhaps he was in the same place as Elijah was when he said in his agony, “I have had enough, Lord. Let me die” (1 Kings 19:4). Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever been so distraught with your own disappointments, broken heart, rejections, tragedies, failures, pain or suffering, that you thought this? David knew many days like this. The Historical Books and his Lament Psalms record it. Tremper Longman wrote about David’s Lament Psalms: “The lament is the psalmist’s cry when in great distress and he has nowhere to turn but to God.”

In each Lament Psalm, David confesses his honest despair, doubts or emotions to God. However, he always makes a shift in focus from himself and his circumstances to what is right and true about the nature and character of God. His turn-around in this Psalm is verse 7: “And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.”

Consider Elijah. After he said, “Let me die,” the Lord sent an angel to strengthen him. If your life is in a mess right now, perhaps it is time to emulate King David and create your own lament.

Last year, after a semester of living through the most difficult relationship I had yet to experience, I created my own lament. Through that process I found healing, forgiveness, and ultimately reconciliation with the other person.

I encourage you to do the same. Empty your burdens, doubts and anger to Him. He is a kind and patient Father who absorbs our raw and unfiltered complaints. Then, make that shift in focus from yourself to what is right and true about His nature and character. Write it all down as your own Psalm of Lament. As you emulate King David, may God meet and heal you in a new way. Other examples of Laments are Lamentations 3 (turn-around in verses 21-26). Psalms 44, 90.

If there is something in your life that you are running from or hiding from Him, bring it up in the most real and honest way you can in prayer. In a sense, hash it all out to Him. Then, turn the focus off of yourself and turn towards Him. Claim His promise that you are forgiven and free because of what Christ did for you. If you don’t feel any different or better, remember that you don’t live by feelings. You live by faith in His truth. Claim the truth that even “if we are faithless, He remains faithful.” Amen!

“Then He said, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.’ And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened’”.

What a unique passage of scripture! Here we see Jesus abstractly describing a vision of Heaven in a synagogue. Jesus compares Heaven to a mustard seed. But why a mustard seed? The black mustard plant can grow up to 9 feet tall. But every single black mustard plant that grows, regardless of its height, begins as a very small mustard seed. Something so small, so defined, yet it turns into a magnificent creation. So, yes, Jesus compares heaven to the small mustard seed but, reading closer, Jesus also defines Heaven as the transition from the mustard seed to the plant. How amazing that God can take such a small insignificant seed and mold it into a beautiful creation. If we look at a mustard seed as ourselves, God cleanses us of our sins (the hard shell of the seed), works in our heart (the actual seed), and transforms our being (the growth from seed to plant).

This transformation, I believe, is what this passage is trying to highlight. Just like a mustard seed, God calls us, His sons and daughters, to grow and mature through Him so that we may become a large tree (spiritually). We become a large tree for Christ, so that we may touch those who come into contact with us with God’s unconditional love. Just like the birds of the land, who flock to trees for rest; we should be that resting point. A resting point for those that are in pain, helplessness, and despair. A resting point for those to come and listen to the Truth that God provides for each and every one of us. We, as Christians, should strive to be that tree, rooted in faith, to provide a place of rejuvenation, so that others may go out and proclaim the way, the truth, and the life everlasting. Amen!

Our Heavenly Father. Thank You for this week that You have given us. Thank You for placing opportunities in our lives to grow and mature through You, to accomplish Your plan for us. Lord, strip us of our hard sinful shell. Lord, cleanse us of our impurities. Lord, guide us in our actions so that we may grow to be a refuge for those that are seeking Your love. We love You, we praise You, and we thank You, for it’s in Your name that we pray. Amen!

When we acknowledge our sin to the LORD he forgives us. When we uncover what we would like to keep covered, he removes his heavy hand from us and lifts us up from the great waters that surround us. He hides us from trouble and delivers us from sin. All that we must do to receive this salvation is trust in the LORD. If we do, he surrounds us in his unending love and we are free to rejoice and shout for joy. So even if we are being buffeted by the troubles of the world and it seems that nothing is going our way, take comfort in knowing that the LORD is on your side if you trust in him and he will help you through any storm you might be going through.

When our sins have been forgiven and the debt has been covered by the butchering of Jesus of Nazareth, we are seen as blessed. When we are sanctified and genuinely trust in the LORD as our savior, we are blessed. Perhaps the hardest part of the process is having total confidence in our salvation; however, when we pray to GOD ceaselessly, he will surround us with shouts of deliverance. He promises to teach us and guide us. HE promises to watch over us continuously wherever we go and whatever we do. Lastly, just like King David, we are going to mess up.

Despite our best efforts, we will fail countless times before we are brought forever into GOD’s kingdom. It is important to try to prevent making mistakes, but it is far more important to avoid dwelling on the past and letting it impact both our own performance and, more importantly, our helpfulness to other people. When we sin, it is best to repent. When we do not, we waste away and sink lower and lower. When we repent, GOD lifts us up and immediately helps us get set on the path in the right direction, but this requires us to repent and turn around so that we may begin moving in the proper direction again. In short, pray to GOD for his guidance and protection, and when we sin, ask for HIS forgiveness, which HE will never withhold, so that we can be best equipped to carry out HIS will.

Dear LORD, we ask that You be with us today as we go forth to live according to your commands. Grant us the peace that only You can as we face yet another day of tumultuous events. Please guide us through the day and allow us to be a beacon of light to those we encounter. Most importantly, allow us to build deeper relationships with those people close to us. Let us love our neighbors and help us to love You. To you be the glory, the power, and all of creation. Amen!

The basis for this passage is the important place that God should have in our lives. Verse six begins by explaining that while we are in our human and physical bodies we are away from the Lord and our spiritual body and that this does draw us apart from the Lord and the plan he has for us. This is also what shows us the need to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

However, this passage also tells us that we aim to please God and that is our purpose weather we are at home in our physical bodies, or in our spiritual bodies in prayer. We seek the judgment of Christ so that each of us may receive what is due to us. This is why we seek God’s forgiveness, and this is the theme of the season of Lent. The main idea behind Lent is that we, as humans, are sinful and in need of God’s forgiveness. This passage explains that the “love of Christ controls us… one has dies for all therefore all have died… those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him.” We are very simple people. And though very often we think that we need a lot to satisfy us, we alone need God and his wisdom and promise that he will give us what we need. It is just as Joshua. The Lord kept his promise to Joshua and he became a great and wise leader, and because of this, he was raised up by his people to become the leader that they needed. God gave him what he needed in order to be successful and God guides Joshua and “dried up the sea until they passed over” (Joshua 4:23).

God does everything that he does in order to show that the “LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever” (Joshua 4:24). The underlying message of both of these passages is that we have to trust in the Lord and the power that he has to give us everything we need. It is our job to please God in a way that shows our gratitude for what he has given us. God will forgive us and we seek his judgment so that he may forgive us.

God, I thank you for this day that you have made for us, and the beautiful people you have surrounded us with. In this season of Lent, please remind us to take time to reflect on what we have done, both the good and the bad. We ask that you forgive us of our sins, and lift our success up in order to praise you. We pray for those with problems in their lives that you may reassure them of the support they have in their classmates, co-workers, family, and in you. Let us rejoice and praise you for everything you have blessed us with. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

The prodigal’s return symbolizes deaf ears restored and tuned to the voice of God; eyes healed from the blindness of sin to see; one more stone heart turned to flesh to experience life changing love. Salvation is a miracle of God: “He was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” This is a work that only God could do for us and it is only right to celebrate His grace and His power towards us, as well as our surrender to His love once and for all.

The brother’s reaction to the prodigal’s return is very real and very human. This was a man who had faithfully served his father all the days of his life. He had his father’s trust and love and the responsibility along with authority to manage his father’s fields. He had been working hard in the fields that day, in fact, when his wayward brother returns to their father’s house, covered in the filth of the world. So when the righteous firstborn sees the joy with which his father greets the prodigal, he is confused and angry. God’s grace troubles us. For some, like the prodigal, it is an undeserved reward. For others, such as the brother, it represents an unequal playing field. It seems unfair that the good works of a hundred are not as worthy of celebration as the salvation of a single man or woman. And because God’s grace seems unfair, it becomes easy to wonder if a life of righteousness is worth it. This doubt is only magnified by the temptations of the world, and could eventually kill our faith with lies of futility. But the Lord assures us that our rewards are stored in heaven (Matt 5:10); everything done in secret will be brought to light (Luke 8:17), and the Son of Man will repay every man according to his deeds (Matt 16:27).

Dear Lord, enable me to desire and to fulfill Your will for my life. Help me to accept Your grace for myself and for others. Help me to trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Take a moment to clear your mind of the noise of the day. Take a few deep breaths and allow your heartbeat to slow down, your shoulders to become relaxed, and your breathing to become steady and deep. Rest on these words, spoken by the loving creator God that made every fiber of your being: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” With each intake of air, ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart to truly believe these words. With each exhale, breathe out any fear or anxiety that has been keeping you from the loving presence of God.

Be thankful. The Psalmist writes, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” What great things has the Lord done for you? Perhaps He has led you to a friend, saved you from an inner struggle, or healed a broken relationship. So often, God does great things for us and we forget to turn our eyes up towards Him and say “Thank you.” We become focused only on ourselves, our feelings, and our own hopes and dreams. But our Creator wants us to be like His son Jesus. So, as you allow yourself to become filled with gratitude, think about the gifts that God has given you: a friend, a beautiful experience, a dream come true. Let your gratefulness fill you with a desire to, as Paul writes, look out for the interests of Jesus Christ and not just your own. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart to see and feel the struggles and the aspirations of the people in your life. These people are gifts from God who were summoned by name and are in need of love as much as you are. Let the selfless love of Jesus guide you as you seek to emulate him in this world by loving your neighbors. And especially today, remember that you are a beloved child of God.

God teach us how to be thankful and always to remain in Your Presence. Amen!