[Download a pdf of this entry along with printable journal page for today HERE.]
40 DAYS OF LENT: DAY #1 Ash Wednesday
WORD OF TODAY: Joel 2:12-13 (ESV)
12 "Yet even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
THOUGHTS ON THE WORD:
On this first day of the Lenten Season, many will be marked on the forehead with ashes mixed with blessed unction oil. The ashes are produced from the burning of the blessed palm crosses remaining, or returned, from last year’s Palm Sunday. It’s a sobering moment that puts our very lives into perspective and brings forth a conviction that we are sinners and face the curse of sin, which is death. “Yet even now,” declares the LORD....
Yet even now we remember that the LORD our God is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. The LORD our God desires the sinner to rend their hearts for Him, it is His desire that we be truly penitent.
Today is the beginning of this season of devotion to do just that, to be truly penitent; to rend our hearts, and to return to Almighty God. And the LORD desires that we return to Him with all our hearts, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. What is it in your heart that keeps you from returning? Will you commit to a fast-denying yourself something today that is temporally satisfying to the honor and glory of God? Will you weep for the wrongs you have committed? Will you mourn for the distance your sin has caused between you and Almighty God? Will you turn away from your sin, and return to God?
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IN YOUR 40 DAYS OF LENT JOURNAL:
Take time to reflect on today’s message recording your personal reflections, and make a note of how much time you meditate on God’s Word and today’s message. Next, record in your journal what convictions were revealed to you. Then record your confession(s) and make your confessional prayer before Almighty God, recording your prayer in your journal also. Finally, commit to a fast along with alms-giving for the day and record this also in your journal.