I had failed. I like many others have fallen out of the discipline I felt compelled to do for this season of Lent. I wanted to be immersed in scripture every single day, and see where I came out at the end. Initially, I was able to do it, but now two weeks after Ash Wednesday I have found myself having not read in days. I have excuses: I was sick, I am exhausted, I'm overwhelmed with class readings, and I simply don't have time. Hmm. What has this taught me about my relationship to God?
I realized that my excuses surrounded my inability to make space. I need to reprioritize, and I need to reevaluate the importance of this discipline. So I went back and looked at the purpose of Lenten devotions to see what happened. What's the purpose of doing this in the first place?
The purpose of Lent is a season to prepare for Easter, and to remind us of the importance of Jesus Christ's ministry, passion, and resurrection. The 40 days reminding us of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, and the 40 days the Israelites spent in the wilderness. 40 days, 40 days becoming immersed into relationship with God. I wrote a sermon on this last year. Sometimes its good to look back on where you had traveled before you take another step. The sermon was called In the Wilderness, you can read it by clicking on the sermon tab above.
I realized that my excuses surrounded my inability to make space. I need to reprioritize, and I need to reevaluate the importance of this discipline. So I went back and looked at the purpose of Lenten devotions to see what happened. What's the purpose of doing this in the first place?
The purpose of Lent is a season to prepare for Easter, and to remind us of the importance of Jesus Christ's ministry, passion, and resurrection. The 40 days reminding us of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, and the 40 days the Israelites spent in the wilderness. 40 days, 40 days becoming immersed into relationship with God. I wrote a sermon on this last year. Sometimes its good to look back on where you had traveled before you take another step. The sermon was called In the Wilderness, you can read it by clicking on the sermon tab above.
I remembered how this is a time to look critically at the relationship I currently have with God, and where to go from here. Then I realized that it was the act of failing that really taught me something about this season of Lent. I am not Jesus walking in the wilderness, and I am not expected to be. I need Jesus walking with me in this wilderness. It reminded me that even though I might be "studying" God, I might not be actually taking the time to listen to God. Sometimes its about standing still and allowing God's voice to come to us.
So if you have failed with your Lenten Discipline or Devotions, don't give up, but revisit it. See what the Spirit of the Living God is revealing in you. Your disciplines and devotions are not always about being successful, but are sometimes about falling on your face. Take a moment and see why. It might be the most important lesson for this season.
So if you have failed with your Lenten Discipline or Devotions, don't give up, but revisit it. See what the Spirit of the Living God is revealing in you. Your disciplines and devotions are not always about being successful, but are sometimes about falling on your face. Take a moment and see why. It might be the most important lesson for this season.