LEAN INTO LENT DAY 8
Our plea as Christians is, God, Use Me. A few words about what that means:
In the book of Romans, Paul teaches that there is no such things as “works righteousness.”
We cannot, indeed do not, earn our way into heaven. That was a hard lessons for the Jews, concentrating on keeping the law perfectly, to understand They thought they could earn God’s favor by doing good works. Some churches continue this legalistic measurement system.
Nothing we do, say, practice, or plan can save us because God knows our every thought, our every plan, and the sin in our lives creates motives of pride and a haughty, boastful attitude. We cannot boast except in Christ’s atonement for our sins, a gift to those God calls to be His children. Scripture teaches, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Let us be clear that we are saved by God not by our works, but only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That alone. God’s gift of grace is given, not earned, not rewarded. The thief on the cross teaches that lesson. We can’t earn our way into heaven. We can’t just “be a good person” so God notices us and says we’re His. We cannot make a confession of faith in our youth and then live as we please, thinking we’re assured of heaven as our eternal destinaiton. We drift away unless we walk with Christ each day in humility and thanksgiving for His sacrifice. That’s why Lent is important. We reset our attitudes and focus on His gift of salvation.
However, in gratitude for the price of Christ’s atonment for us, Christians through the ages have built hospitals, served the poor, cared for widows and orphans, and loved others more than themselves. But know our plans are simply that. ..our plans. God may take us in a totally different direction, according to His plan for our lives.
From my book Lean Into Lent: Today’s scripture: (Proverbs 16:9) The heart of man plans his ways, but the Lord establishes his steps.
God places us where He wants us to use our God-given talents and abilities, and guides our every footsteps. So, how do we discover what He wants us to accomplish for Him on this very day?
Has He been teaching you something lately, tugging at your heart, maybe developing new talents, clearing your calendar? Lean into Lent means examining ourselves and seeing more clearly God’s sense of purpose for our lives. He’s growing us to reach others for Him in our personal spheres of influence. Like Esther, is it for just such a time as this? He can, and does, use everyone for His purposes. We need to be open to His promptings, swift to respond to needs, and available to His opportunities to serve others.
PRAYER: Lord, I pray You will use me just where you’ve placed me, to share the gospel in whatever way You choose. Make it be so obvious that I can’t ignore Your hand’s presence. I trust You and thank You for leading me every footstep to serve You. In my sphere of influence where you have put me, let me bloom where I am planted and brighten someone else’s life today. Let me see Godincidences as Your plan unfolds. May it be to Your glory. Amen.
From my other Lenten Book: Restore My Soul Psalms: A Lenten Journey, My Psalm 308 Repentance
MY PSALM 309 REPENTANCE
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come to You in repentance,
Asking forgiveness for the times I have lived my life
As I wanted to, not heeding Your laws and direction.
I make no excuses
Such as, “I didn’t know what I was doing,”
Or “I didn’t think anybody cared about me,”
Or “What did it matter what I did?
I didn’t hurt anyone,” or so I thought.
Now I know I betrayed You and hurt Your Kingdom
By ignoring the very laws of the universe,
By not embracing Your covenant promise
That You would be our God
If we promised to follow You.
Now that I know Your law is absolute,
That You are entirely holy,
That You created the entire universe
And I have a part to play in Your kingdom,
I need to repent. I beg Your forgiveness.
I now know that even the best of us
Cannot stand in Your Holy Presence.
I now know that without Christ’s salvation
I cannot even bow down in Your Presence.
I have not one plea, not one word I can speak
In my own defense, without Jesus’ pleadings
On my behalf.
Forgive me for my past sins,
For unfaithfulness,
For unworthiness,
For false motives,
For self-centeredness,
For ignoring Your Presence,
For dismissing Your influence
And for refusing the promptings of conscience.
I call out to You
In humble repentance,
With this plea:
Help my unbelief.
When I slip into my former ways,
Wake me in no uncertain terms
So I am aware of Your expectations.
Let me never forget
I can do none of this by myself.
I am sure to fail.
But give me Jesus’ strength,
And the Holy Spirit’s guidance
So that I can follow hard after You.
In Jesus’ redeeming power, I pray. Amen.
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