Perhaps you are grateful for many blessings yet quietly aware that this year asked more of you than expected. There may have been empty chairs at Christmas, health answers you are still waiting on, financial strain that followed you all year, or children who aren’t “turning out” the way you prayed.

The end of the year can be an emotional place – full of reflection, gratitude, grief, and questions about what lies ahead. In moments like these, Scripture gently redirects our hearts. It does not promise that the coming year will be easier or clearer, but it does show us where true hope is found.

Hope Rooted in God’s Faithfulness

When we look back over a year that felt uneven or unfinished, it is tempting to measure it by what we accomplished – or by what we did not. But the Bible consistently points us to a different measure.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

God’s faithfulness does not mean the year unfolded the way you hoped. It means He did not abandon you in it. Faithfulness looks like strength that met you on days you did not know how you would keep going. It looks like grace that sustained you when you were weary and mercy that quietly renewed you.

As you reflect on the past year, hope grows not from a perfect record but from the realization that God carried you through every page of it.

Hope Anchored in God’s Presence

Standing at the edge of a new year reminds us how little we actually control. The unknown can weigh heavily in these final days of December – or any time of the year.

Yet Scripture does not ask us to face the future alone.

Fear not, for I am with you (Isaiah 41:10).

Behold, I am with you always (Matthew 28:20).

Christian hope for the new year is not rooted in knowing what will happen, but in trusting God with the future. God does not promise us a predictable path, but He does promise His presence on it. Whatever the coming year holds, you will not step into a single day without Him.

Hope Held in God’s Promises

We often want clarity before we move forward. God, instead, gives us promises.

Promises like:

· My peace I give to you (John 14:27)

· My grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9)

· I will strengthen you and help you (Isaiah 41:10)

These promises do not erase uncertainty, but they steady us within it. They remind us that hope in Christ is not wishful thinking – it is confidence rooted in the character of a faithful God.

As the year ends and a new one begins, you may not have answers to every question or clarity about what lies ahead. But you do have promises that are firm and trustworthy.

An End-of-Year Invitation

It may help to pause and reflect:

· Where did God sustain me this year, even quietly?

· What burdens am I carrying that I need to place in His hands?

· What promise of God do I want to take with me into the new year?

The invitation here is not to reinvent yourself but to rest your hope where it truly belongs.

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God bless you. Stay hopeful!

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After spending time reflecting on the beauty and excellence of Jesus, it becomes clear that our admiration for Him is never meant to stay private. Our faith flourishes when it is shared, and our joy deepens when we seek Him side by side with fellow believers.

If you have ever spent any time in a foreign country where most people do not speak your language, you know how you perk up when you hear someone speaking your native tongue. The desire to speak to and listen to that person is almost too hard to resist. The desire to speak about the beauty of Christ and what He has done is even more overwhelming than a brief encounter over the weather or the news. Jesus has sacrificed all and given us everything.

Christ Brings People Together Who Would Never Meet Otherwise

Think about the people in your life whom you met only because you followed Christ. Our personalities, backgrounds, interests, and routines would never have collided on their own. Left to ourselves, we might have passed each other in the grocery store for decades and never spoken.

Around His table, in worship, in prayer, and even in everyday conversations, we find Him together – and in finding Him, we find one another. Christ is not only the object of our worship; He is the bond of our unity. The more we treasure Him, the more precious His people become.

People Are Searching for This Kind of Unity

Right now, search trends show that thousands of people are looking for answers to questions like:

• “Why do Christians disagree so much?”
• “How do I find Christian friends?”
• “I feel lonely at church – what should I do?”
• “How do I heal from church hurt?”

These questions tell a story: People long for connection. They want to belong and have real spiritual friendship. And many are confused by divisions within the church.

The truth is that Christians will differ on some doctrines and practices. The details that the Holy Spirit did not address can be understood in different ways. But unity does not come from perfect agreement – unity grows from shared adoration.

And those who love the same Savior are already on the path to loving each other.

Unity in Christ Is Something We Already Possess

We often talk about “Christian unity” as a goal – as something we need to build or restore. But before we even begin striving, Jesus has already given His people a profound, unbreakable unity in Himself. Our denominational differences are real, but secondary. Jesus didn’t pray that we would be one in an organization. He prayed that we would be one in Him. And the Father has answered that prayer.

Whenever we gather to worship, share communion, encourage one another, or bear each other’s burdens, we are living out the unity Christ has already established. It is not something we manufacture; it is something we enjoy.

So keep your eyes on Jesus. Think about Him. Talk to Him. The more lovely Christ becomes to us, the more tightly we cling not only to Him but also to one another. Everything else fades beside His beauty and worth. And those who love Him will keep finding each other – now and forever.

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It is always sad when someone is killed. Not only did he or she lose their life and opportunities, but their families, colleagues, and friends will never be the same again. We watched or listened to many, many reactions that week – from his wife, his friends, people he worked with, and from so many of the young people whose lives he influenced for good.

And strangers. Thousands and thousands of people who had never even met him were still strongly affected by the news of his death. Most people were saddened. Shamefully, those who did not understand his message or know his God rejoiced. But some, even some I know to be Christians, responded with anger.

Of course, when tragedy strikes, outrage, fear, and sorrow are natural. We feel so hopeless, and our hearts cry for justice. These reactions are just human. Anger itself is not always wrong. Scripture tells us, Be angry, and do not sin (Ephesians 4:26). The emotion itself isn’t wrong – but what we do with it matters.

The Pull of Anger

In moments like these, anger can feel like the only “right” response. We want justice. We want answers. We want to fix the wrong. But if we are not careful, that anger can harden into bitterness or boil over into destructive words and actions.

James reminded us: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires (James 1:19-20). Anger can pull us away from peace, away from love, and away from the witness Christ has called us to live out.

Called to Peace

We may feel we are at war and need to harden ourselves – either so we do not get hurt ourselves or so that we can hurt or damage others. While Scripture does talk about us fighting, it is against spiritual forces, not people. Sometimes it seems almost impossible to do, but Paul wrote, If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18), and Jesus Himself said, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).

Choosing peace does not mean we ignore injustice. And it does not mean we brush off pain. It does mean we anchor our hearts in Jesus Christ – the Prince of Peace – and let His Spirit and His Word guide our response.

What Peaceable Action Can Look Like

• Prayer before protest – Bring your hurt and anger to God. Pray for Charlie’s family, for our nation, and even for those who commit violence.
• Service instead of shouting – Channel grief into action by helping neighbors, supporting church ministries, or helping an individual
• Gentle truth-telling – Speak with courage but season your words with grace
• Modeling calm at home – Our children and friends watch how we respond. When we choose peace instead of rage, we quietly teach them to trust God too.

Our Witness in a World on Edge

Our culture is drowning in outrage. Social media fuels it. Politics thrives on it. But when Christians choose peace over anger, we shine the light of Christ in a very dark place. Forgiveness, patience, and quiet strength speak louder than any outburst ever could.

This is the witness the world needs to see: people of faith who grieve deeply, long for justice but respond with grace and the calm strength that comes from Christ alone.

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Not everyone is an author, but journaling for spiritual growth doesn’t have to be perfect – or even good. You can write pages of heartfelt words and feelings – or sometimes I find just a brief list helps. Journaling does not have to be complicated – it is a faith-based tool to help you reflect, focus, and think more clearly.

Writing things down or even typing them out on a keyboard often helps clear out some of the mental clutter. You have a specific task and something to think about and answer. What started as scattered thoughts often leads to honesty and clarity and just a greater opportunity to focus on what you want to tell God and what you need to hear from Him.

A devotional journal becomes a place to express your fears, record your prayers and their answers, meditate on Scripture, and celebrate God’s faithfulness. Unlike scrolling or trying to multitask, journaling draws your heart into the present moment and asks you to stop, just for a while.

Why Start Journaling?

If you are new to the idea, here are a few reasons to add journaling to your daily routine:

• It helps you focus your prayers. Instead of vague thoughts, you can write specific requests – and come back later to see how God answered.
• It creates a spiritual record. Looking back on old entries reminds you of God’s faithfulness.
• It deepens your time in the Word. Writing about Scripture often helps you think more deeply than reading alone.
• It invites honesty. Sometimes we will write what we wouldn’t say out loud.
• It gives your soul rest. In a world that rarely slows down, journaling gives you a place to slow down and get the rest and encouragement your heart needs.

You don’t need a fancy notebook or hours of time – just a few quiet minutes, something to write with, and a willing heart.

How to Start a Devotional Journal

Begin small. Don’t worry about grammar or getting it “right.”  You can think of your journal as you writing to God, or you can use it more to talk to yourself – a place to be honest and open. You may just want to jot down a prayer. Other days you may reflect on a certain verse or passage and just write your response. And some days, you may need to write a single line like, “God, I don’t know what to do. Please meet me here.”

 Something I have found helpful is to use prompts. If you don’t know where to begin, prompts can help you gather your thoughts and give you a starting space. Some examples:

• How can I turn my fear into prayer?
• What do I often take for granted?
• If I fully trusted God, what is something that would change in my life?
• If Jesus sat beside me right now, what would I ask Him?

You don’t have to be an author. Just a few honest sentences a day can help shift your perspective. So, whether you are processing a hard week, praying through a passage of Scripture, or simply recording what you are thankful for, you don’t need a perfect plan – just begin.

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Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy. For when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.

However, during my last cross-country, multi-stops airline trip, I gained a new perspective.

As I stood at the ticket service counter getting rebooked for the final leg of my journey that I missed because of the multiple delays…I said to the agent, “Maybe I wasn’t supposed to be in the air at this time to my final destination.” I was quickly convicted in my spirit that I didn’t want anything bad to happen to the people on the flight I missed.

I checked later and found that the flight landed without incident. This opportunity, this out of the way rerouting, this accident provided me with a contemplation that “everything isn’t about me.”

What if God was redirecting my steps for His assignment?

I’ve long clung to Deuteronomy 11:24: Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. I’ve prayed that scripture when starting a new job, when praying for territories in which I used to live, and general prayer walking around my neighborhood.

I may never know the exact mission for which God directed me on this night due to the change of my destination and time. I have reminisced over every encounter of that night into the next day with a God wonderment…”Was that the reason for the delay and rearrangement of my expected schedule?” Allow me to share a few of those moments that I believe could have been the “God Wink” for my feet to be walking in places that were not of my choosing.

• The conversation with the ticket agent and my aha awareness of compassion and concern for those who did make the flight and that no harm would come to them
• The additional tip money received by the evening and morning hotel/airport shuttle drivers
• The protection of the city in which I slept (I was reminded of Abraham’s effort to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if a specific number of righteous could be found in the city)
• Kind words and smiles to everyone I met
• To learn the lesson of which I’m now writing that may never have impacted me to the core of my being as it has because of this delay

As I’m now on the rebooked flight, I still wonder why I’m on this flight versus the one last night. But my thoughts are less on me and my safety, and more on “To whom God do you want me to be a blessing and a TRUE representative of Your Gospel of PEACE, LOVE, and JOY?”

Allow your interruptions to be viewed as opportunities to be the LIGHT of Jesus in a dark world that desperately needs Him as the resolution and restoration to Godly sanity. Relax and don’t take yourself, or this world so seriously. God has given us reason in His word to trust Him.

Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10 (AMP)

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV)

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So, what does rest really mean when life does not slow down?

The Rest We Want vs. the Rest We Really Need

When we think of rest, we think of escape – a nap, a weekend away, or just a break from everything. But biblical rest, that kind that really refreshes, is deeper than that. It’s not just physical, it’s spiritual. It isn’t found in a place, but in a Person.

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

When Jesus said that, He was speaking to working-class Jews in the first century; they certainly were not taking vacations the way we think of them. He saw their weariness, the endless needs, and the long to-do-lists. They, too, were working long hours, caring for parents and for children – and without modern conveniences. But He offered rest, not just for the body but also for the soul.

Misunderstood Rest

Many of us think we are resting when we are really avoiding. We scroll social media and binge watch TV late at night. We avoid conversations or decisions that seem too much to deal with. But this kind of “rest” does not restore us – it just drains us more. Real rest is found when we go to Jesus. When we give Him our cares, our stress, and our insecurities. He promises to hear us, and when we trust Him and obey His Word, He will give us comfort and peace.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants sleep to those He loves.

Psalm 127:2

Those who seek help and guidance from God receive His blessings – even sleep.

While Jesus was on earth, He faced pressure all the time. People wanted healed, to ask Him questions, to attack Him – and even to kill Him. The Bible tells us several times that He went away by Himself or with just His close disciples to rest. But almost all of those instances mention that He prayed. Even Jesus found rest in talking to God. How much more do we need to follow His example?

And when we do rest, whether spiritually or physically, it is not wrong. It does not make us lazy. It is not a waste of time. From Creation, God built rest into our lives. God worked for six days and then rested on the seventh. He wasn’t tired – He was showing us a rhythm for living.

So, if you feel life just never gives you a break, if you are weary and tired, do not try to revive yourself with things that last mere seconds. Instead, make sure you are talking to the God who can take away your fear. Who can renew your strength. Who can carry you when you cannot walk yourself and who takes your heavy burdens and replaces them with rest.

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So how do the words, orchestra, symphony, and cacophony shape our daily lives? Let me share some of my journal writing to explain.

Journal Excerpt:

It is amazing and wonderful how God orchestrates our lives. Orchestrates is the key word. Since I’m a music person, orchestra has deep and significant meaning. It is a blending of different sounds (frequencies and vibrations) together to create a symphony…not a cacophony.

● Orchestra – noun, a group of performers on various musical instruments. Synonyms – sinfonietta (smaller and strings only)

● Symphony – noun, elaborate instrumental composition in three or more movements; harmonious combination of elements. Synonyms – concert, music, orchestra, harmony

● Cacophony – noun, harsh or unpleasant discordance of sound; dissonance; (caco – a combining form meaning “bad”), Synonyms – noise, discord, harshness

Psalm 148 chapter title: The Whole Creation (Cosmos) Invoked to Praise the LORD

This chapter parallels symphony and orchestra and the references in Ezekiel of 24/7 worship of all crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy, to who was, who is, and who will always be…”

Our praise (worship as incense) rises to heaven mixed and mingled with precision, not caco. What frequency and vibrations are we raising to our creator and our father? Are we expressing harmony or are we uniting our words with discord?

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.

Proverbs 18:21

I have made an effort to be more intentional with the words that I speak. I often repeat the scriptures, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing and acceptable to you” (Psalm 19:14)) and “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45). I only want my words to be life that permeates the atmosphere in which I live.

Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:1 references that all his words of eloquence without love are “only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Every word we speak creates frequency and vibrations of either praise of Heaven or discord of Earth.

Light also has frequency and vibration. Isaiah 60, 61 portrays the glory of God coming and resting upon us so that we can penetrate “a world that is in darkness and the people in gross darkness.” Just as Jesus came to change the world, we are His disciples and should be no less effective than His immediate 11 disciples (minus Judas, but he in his action also), they turned the world upside down. And it was said of them, “these men were with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

I have long remembered a song from my youth called “God Gave the Song.” The song recounts the history of the world through combining harmony, discord, and pure cacophony as it moves through creation, Roman occupation, Jesus’ crucifixion, world wars, and conflicts. The music volume rises and comes to a point that there is a silence as if the music had ended. But, there is a faint tinkle as on a piano of a soft high note that is eventually joined by other notes and harmonies that rise to a crescendo indicating that the song was not lost, but still lives on.

We are God’s workmanship created to radiate His frequency and vibrations in both sound and light to change the atmosphere and usher in His presence in every place we go. Let our symphony, our orchestra reverberate to the world that we have been with Jesus…and His music is that of love, reconciliation, restoration, and a wholeness of mind, body, and soul ONLY available through intimate relationship with Him.

If you want to know more about how to ask Jesus to become the conductor of your life, let us know!

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Nothing really changes when December 31st ends and January 1st starts. We might stay up later than usual to celebrate, but after the party, our problems are still there. Our concerns and our worries do not go away when we turn the calendar page.

But there is something “new” about a new year. Somehow it just feels like there is a chance for a new beginning. Perhaps there might be a different outcome this time, maybe something will change this year. It is why so many people resolve to try a new diet or join a gym or read more books and watch less TV at the turn of a new year.

God’s Mercy Is New Every Day

God knows our struggles. He sees us fall and fail time after time, yet He does not give up on us. He encourages us with the word new in Scripture to give us hope that the old can be forgotten and changed and He can make all things new. Here are five passages where God offers hope with the new:

1. Jonah 1-2: This first passage is a perfect example of a sense of the old and the new. You know that God told Jonah to go preach to Israel’s enemies. He refused because he did not see people the same way God did and ended up in the belly of a big fish. Jonah cried out to God and thanked Him for saving his life. God again told Jonah to go preach to Nineveh. This time he obeyed, and Nineveh repented and was saved. Jonah sinned and ran from God, but God’s mercies chased him down and gave him another chance.

2. Philippians 3:13-14: But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Paul made just as many, if not more, mistakes than most of us, yet by God’s grace, he was able to let go of the past and press hard toward the future reward. He knew he had been forgiven and trusted God to reward his work and his faithfulness.

3. Lamentations 3:22-23: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Not just on January 1st, but each day of the new year and every year, God renews His mercy to us. No matter what our challenges might be, God’s love and care remain constant.

4. 2 Corinthians 5:17: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

In the verse above from Philippians, Paul was able to forget the past because he was a different person now. If Christ has saved you, you can step into the new year with confidence because your identity is in Christ, not in your mistakes or failures.

5. Isaiah 65:17: See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

Later, in the book of Revelation, Jesus again says, “I am making all things new” and says that God will wipe every tear away, and there will be no more death, sorrow, or pain. Even with the hope of a new beginning in the new year, we will always have pain here in this life, but these verses remind us of God’s ultimate plan for renewal and restoration. Those who know God will spend eternity in a new place, where nothing of the pain of our past will even be remembered.

As we move into and through this new year, cling to the hope that God’s promises are trustworthy and true. He can make something new and beautiful of our challenges and pain, both now and in the future. “I am making all things new.”

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Robert Cull, back in the 1960s and 70s observed unrest in his day surrounding the Jesus Movement, Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War. He went to a Christian school to conduct a concert, but none of the leaders wanted to talk about Jesus. Cull was heartbroken. Just before his concert, he sat down and penned the following song because he had such a desire for the youth of his day to be introduced to Jesus.

Do we have the same burden of heart as Cull? How do we create an atmosphere that allows us to simultaneously see the issues of the day, but to also see Jesus in the midst of the storm?

A song written almost forty years after Cull was “Open the Eyes of My Heart” by Paul Baloche and sung by Michael W. Smith. The song encourages us to continue to seek God through the eyes of our heart versus the temporal eyes of our body.

Attempting to see Jesus with the eyes of our heart takes time on our part. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). That may be our modern downfall. We are rarely still or have quiet time. (Jeremiah 29:13) states, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Let’s commit this year to start dedicating an extra 15-minutes (that may grow into longer amounts of time) to be still and seek the presence of God. We may sit quietly in our car. We may turn on quiet music. We may read our Bible. The most important aspect is to intentionally seek God. He promises He will be found. Keep the eyes and ears of your heart open so you won’t miss God’s presence enveloping you in a worship atmosphere that you won’t be able to deny is Him.

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Several previous blogs that you might find helpful if you desire additional perspectives on quieting your mind and focusing on God are Has Fear Nested In Your Faith? and Is Your Journey Hopefull or Hopeless.

I find for myself the following four steps help me quiet my mind and focus on God.

Step 1: Maintain a Schedule

Whether you are working, retired, or a student, set and keep a schedule. The regularity of routine reduces stress. Two important factors include sleeping and eating. You don’t always have to set an alarm to keep a wake-up schedule. In our area, the birds are the alarm clock. For others, it may be the angle of the sun shining through the window. Whatever regularly wakes you up, get up with anticipation of a good day provided by God.

You also need to decide what your regular eating schedule may be. Some people do intermittent fasting. Others believe in three meals-a-day. Some eat only when they are hungry. Whatever you choose, being consistent in your meal times allows your body to function in the balance between rest and metabolism. If on certain occasions you are hungry or there is an opportunity to eat “off your schedule,” don’t let that become your stress. Maybe a lunch or coffee with a friend is just the moment you need to quiet your mind.

Additional regularly scheduled events may include your bath/shower, teeth brushing, and other personal care activities. When you keep these at regular scheduled times, again your body and mind are able to relax. This is especially important as you wind down for your evening, bedtime routine. While some people might claim that a schedule confines them, a schedule can free your mind of the constant chatter of “what’s next.”

Step 2: Ability to say, NO!

This may be very difficult at first. Too many times we don’t want to hurt someone else’s feelings or think a task won’t get completed. No is your safety valve in protecting your time and your sanity. I spoke with a friend the other day, and the conversation was about getting people involved in an upcoming project. I told her I realized she was busy and I might need to ask someone else. She said, “You know, they say if you want to get something done, ask someone who is busy. You know they will finish the task.”

I’m getting better at saying no. Remember, if you set your schedule, you honestly can say “No” because you know it won’t fit into the time you have allotted. You are the only one who will protect you. One example in my life is being asked to bake treats for the Church Fellowship time on Sunday morning. I know that will take extra time on Saturday or early Sunday morning that doesn’t fit into my routine. I volunteered to give money on a regular basis to provide coffee, paper goods, and other items. I’m able to experience the comradery with the other ladies, and still protect my needed space.

There will be times that emergencies arise and we have no choice but to say yes. That is important in our loving compassion for those around us. But, if we are always saying yes, without regard for our own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health; we have become slaves to the acceptance by other people. Remember, Jesus said in Mark 12:30-31 and Matthew 22:37-39, that the second commandment after loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and strength is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” An anonymous writer states, “in order to be kind, compassionate, and generous to our neighbor, we must first be these things to ourselves.”

Step 3: Reduce Social Media and News

Check out the previous posts suggested. I look around and think that God never intended for humanity to be as busy as we are and as bombarded by electronic information that has mushroomed over the last several decades. This too can fit into your scheduled time. I can be a news junkie if left to my own devices. I have chosen not to start the day with news, because I wouldn’t find the “right” time to turn it off. I’d not want to miss the next “breaking news.” I have chosen to watch one-hour of lunch news and evening news. I avoid looking at FaceBook and other social media posts during my “working” hours. I give myself a limited time each evening to catch up on electronic news feeds or family FaceBook posts.

I know there are some people that live on their social media platforms. They are sitting and waiting to see the next comment or post. Too often this gets people trapped in the emotional drama that seems to permeate cyberspace that is far removed from the conventional norms of respectful discussion in a face-to-face environment. My husband has started to block and delete long-held friends. Not because they have differing opinions, but because of their hateful and nasty comments. Reading those types of comments created headaches, upset stomach, and sleepless nights. Again, you will be the only person who will take care of you. This is when repeating the Serenity Prayer can be helpful to detach from the actions of others.

Step 4: Surround Yourself with Positive People and Sounds

You really do have the ability to choose whom you surround yourself with. There are interactions that cannot be avoided, but you can limit the time spent with individuals that surround themselves with negative vibes. Begin to take assessment of the people in your life. Is it the people or could it be the location? There are some places you may find that are less than positive because of the music or the scenery. I’ve found that certain music in restaurants takes my mind back to the sadness of my adolescence.

This leads to your ability to choose the music or sounds within your environment. Make every effort to choose uplifting and encouraging sounds and sights that come into your eye and ear gates.

Furthermore, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are worthy love, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, or if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

So, I encourage you to take a deep breath next time your mind seems to be off to the races to be fearful, discouraged, or overwhelmed with negative thoughts that won’t stop.  After that deep breath, quote the Serenity Prayer to remind yourself that you (and I) have NO control over others and their actions or reactions.  The only thing we do have control over is ourselves…and often that is a FULL TIME JOB!  Let go and let God! 

In the craziness of our world, it takes tremendous effort to find a quiet place. It takes time to quiet your mind and your heart before the Lord.

Francis Chan

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God sent a letter to His people when they had just lost. Because of the Jews’ idolatry and sin, God allowed Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of Babylon, to destroy Jerusalem and carry most of the people captive back to Babylon. God told them that they were going to remain in Babylon for seventy years, but if they pray to Him and seek Him, He will hear, and they will find Him. He told them He has a hope and a future for them, and He would bring them back to their land.

But while God’s people were stuck in a foreign land, God told them to pray for the peace and prosperity of the city where they were held captive, because if it prospers, you too will prosper (Jeremiah 29:7).

Perhaps a more familiar passage is 1 Timothy 2:1-2. There Paul wrote that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives.

In both the Old and New Testament, we are told that our lives will be better if we pray for the leaders of our government. And in both cases, the government was the enemy. I know I often do not think about praying for our leaders, and it seems an even harder task when you do not like them, but according to the Bible, our peace and prosperity depend on it.

I want to give you a few prayers for leaders to help get you started. Those in government are people just like us, but they often have unique challenges and responsibilities:

• “God, please save them. Many of our leaders do not know you. I may never have the chance to speak to them, God, but You can. Convict them of their sin and bring them to You. Show them Your love so that they may lead out of love and godliness.”

• “God, give our leaders wisdom. I sometimes have a hard time deciding what to wear, but those in government make decisions on behalf of thousands and millions of people. God, the Bible says that wisdom comes from You. Please give them wisdom and the humility to seek the advice of wise people around them.”

• “I pray for their families, God. Many leaders are under so much stress, have very busy schedules, and are away from home for extended periods of time. Their families are of course going to be affected by this. Protect them from those who would physically harm them and keep their families intact and strong.”

• “God, I ask that You enable our leaders to do their jobs and to do them well. Please let them work for our protection and peace. You have said that the government is to punish those who do evil and praise those who do good, so I pray that our leaders pass, enforce, and uphold just laws and provide an environment that allows people to do good and flourish. When government rules well, we can live in peace and open godliness. God, You said that this is pleasing to You because You desire all people to be saved. When Christians can live openly godly lives, loving their neighbors as themselves, more people will be drawn to You.”

And that is what we all want. We want to see our family, our friends, our co-workers, our country turn to God and experience His blessing. Don’t give up if our politics and government look bleak. Ask God to bless and change our leaders and turn our discouragement into praise.

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There are so many facets to this consideration that they certainly cannot be covered in a blog post, but yesterday I heard some things from Jeff Myers, the president of Summit Ministries, that I found helpful and wanted to share two of them with someone else who might be struggling to find a reason to vote.

Voting With Principles in Mind

The first is that there are principles, policies, and personalities. The founders of our country tried to form the nation based on principles we could all agree on, such as our rights do not come from the government but from God. From those principles, they made policies, and then the people elected the personalities to carry out those policies. But the personalities will always be in conflict, and what we have currently done is to put the personalities above the principles. We don’t like the person, so we won’t approve of anything they say or do. We have forgotten the principles that can unite us and are the unchanging basis of our laws and our very existence.

Good government, chosen on those principles, allows more people to be blessed and be a blessing. So the first takeaway is to vote on the basis of principles rather than the person.

Why Voting Matters Even When the Candidates Aren’t Perfect

The second idea is that the times will always be evil. The apostle Paul called his day evil (Ephesians 5:16), and they are certainly not good now. The evil doesn’t change. What changes is how we live in the time God placed us. With our vote, we aren’t to choose between the lesser of two evils but use our choice to lessen evil. Who will encourage standing up for the defenseless? Encourage policies that set people free, not seek to control? Insist on taking responsibility instead of taking away responsibility?

Mr. Myers related that in ancient Rome baby girls were not valued and would often be abandoned on the street to die. Christians would walk the streets, pick up these baby girls, and take them home to raise as their own because they believed all life was valuable. When the boy babies grew up, where were all the marriageable girls? They were in church. Many men converted to Christianity, some legitimately and some probably not, in order to marry the women. But either way, it enabled Christianity to spread throughout the Roman empire and through it, the gospel. Those Christians were not trying to change the world, but by their simple actions, they did.

Our single vote may not change the course of our nation overnight, but consistently taking a stand for good, for principles and not so much the people, allowing the government to make more room and space for good for more people, can and eventually will make a difference.

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The father quietly told the other man that he would have to back up. The man argued that the father and his son could back up just as easily as he could. They began to argue about it, and finally, the father looked the other in the face and said, “If you do not back up, I’m afraid I am going to do something I’m going to regret.”

The man looked at the father and began backing his horse and buggy down the road. The father and his son remained still, giving the man the opportunity to get out of their way. The son, who had been raised in a Christian tradition that taught that the use of force, violence, and power was not right, was astonished. He turned to his father and asked, “Dad, what were you going to do that you were going to regret?”

His father answered, “I was going to back up.”

This is a humorous story about regret, but regret is usually not very funny. Sometimes, we’ll say, “I wish I had painted the walls blue” or “I really wanted chocolate ice cream,” but more often, regret kind of kicks you in the stomach and takes your breath away. The word regret comes from a word that means “to look back with distress; to grieve on remembering.” That more closely describes how we feel when we truly regret something.

A long time ago, I said something to my dad, and it wasn’t until many years later that I found out he didn’t understand and was hurt that whole time. Now, I would give anything to go back and clear things up, but – I think this is the hardest thing about regret – I can’t. Once we do or say whatever it is, there are no takebacks. It is forever out there, and there is often nothing we can do. Is there anything we can do to move past those feelings of regret?

Sometimes, I think we can. If it was a wrong we committed, a sin against someone, God offers complete forgiveness when we admit our wrong and confess to Him. The feeling of guilt will be replaced by forgiveness. Perhaps, we aren’t able to make amends to the person we’ve wronged, but God can give us peace about the things we cannot change.

But what if it wasn’t a sin that can necessarily be “fixed” by confessing? Maybe it was just a mistake or a misunderstanding – but it did forever change the way things went. I find it helps to remind ourselves that we are human and we sometimes do dumb things. I know my dad would forgive me if I could talk to him and wouldn’t want me to hurt this long. Another help is to know that God can turn bad into good. I know I try to be more careful with my words so that the same kind of misunderstanding doesn’t happen again, and I also know God comforts us so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4). Helping another person through the pain of their regret will be beneficial for you both.

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Our world is being bombarded by information overload every day. Most of this information can generate fear. The question is, “What do we do with this fear?” Do we let it fly over our head, or do we let it settle and make a nest within our life?

God would have us to acknowledge the information, discern the truth, and TRUST in Him for the outcomes. Trusting God for the outcomes doesn’t mean we are without responsibility.

Let’s look at each of these steps to avoid allowing fear to nest in our lives.

Acknowledge the Information

We cannot be uninformed and put our heads in the sand because the news is overwhelming. We may need to regulate the amount of information ingested per day and attempt to get a wide range of sources so as not to be one-sided in the “slant” of narratives that fill the airwaves.

In our modern world of technology we must take greater responsibility to realize that just because it is on TV or print does not guarantee that it is truth.

This leads to our next step of preventing fear from nesting in our lives.

Discern the Truth

We are told in 2 Timothy 2:15 (MSG) to “Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.” Discernment usually should include additional research on your part and continued prayer asking God to open the eyes of your heart. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We need to become mature Christians and “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12 NIV).

Maturity feeds our trust in God.

Trust in God

In one of my devotionals I found the following quote of Jesus speaking: “I am nearer than you think, richly present in all your moments….The more aware of my presence the safer you feel.”

What have we been doing in our life to cultivate the presence of God? His presence in our lives casts out fear. His presence is based upon us knowing His love for us. (1 John 4:18 NIV)

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Our job as Christians is to take what we see and hand it over to our God who is unseen. Our job is to gain confidence in God; above and beyond what we see. (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The Bible goes on and gives us practical action to build and protect our faith against the flaming darts of fear. (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Final Thoughts

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 8:13). Since we know that, we also have evidence that supports God’s declaration in Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Paul exhorts the Christians of his day with the following words (Philippians 4:4-9 NIV). May these words also comfort you as to the alternate thoughts that will assist you to not allow fear to nest in your life.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

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True hope is not a wishful thinking of something desired; true hope is found in a personal relationship and covenant with God through Jesus Christ.  That is a mouthful that often gets stated, but the true meaning and impact of that hope is lost in the rote repetition and mindless rehearsal we often give to scripture.

Music is a great way to infuse your whole being with the meaning of scripture.  One song that resonates with hope for me is “The Solid Rock.”

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood  and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In ev’ry high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found: Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: All other ground is sinking sand.

(Lyrics Edward Mote and Music William B. Bradbury 1863)

Look at the date of the writing of “The Solid Rock.”  It was written during the American Civil War.  Our current world conditions may push us into a dark and hopeless direction if we ONLY look at the physical world surrounding us.

God wants us to look at Him and place our HOPE in HIM and not our circumstances. Circumstances will rise and fall.  If our hope is attached to those circumstances our emotions will also rise and fall.

God has established Himself to us as THE SOLID ROCK.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He has known and knows history from the end to the beginning.  He knows the plans He has for each of us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

As we approach this New Year, let our glimmer of HOPE for a fresh start, of “off with the old and on with the new” be grounded in making Jesus the center of our focus.  With Him as our focus and foundation “all other ground will be sinking sand.”

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I didn’t learn from my parents how to be a “perfect parent” so that I could teach “perfect parenting” behavior to my children.  However, I have learned if parents have a loving heart, they do the best they can at the time raising their children.

What I’ve learned is from hindsight.  I stood at the dedication of my children when they were very young with unwavering faith and declared, “For me and my house we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

However, my children did not take the straight and narrow way of safety that I would have desired for them.  Broken relationships, skirmishes with the law, and self-destructive behaviors later, I am so proud of my adult children’s hearts for God and their acknowledgement of the right path I espoused, even with all my flaws.

I was the rebellious child to my parents.  What helped me to nurture my communication with my children was knowing how much I loved God, how He protected me, and how God steered me back to His loving embrace, even though my choices were less than positive.

Now, let’s be honest.  That better communication came way too late and contributed to the conflict and push back by my children against God values.  I was too often harsh, judgmental, and legalistic.  What was important, in spite of my errors, was a heart of LOVE.  My children tell me to this day that they always knew I loved them.

When they were in their “wayward” life choices I always kept the line of communication open. As God worked in my heart, I grew less harsh in our discussions, less judgmental, and less legalistic. I found that there were many things I needed to learn from my adult children and their perspective of the world. I was greatly humbled and have told my children how sorry I am that I often couldn’t hear what they were saying because I was so stuck on my “rightness of opinion.”  I couldn’t see that God was using them to open my eyes to see Him beyond myself.

I believe God intended for us as family to love each other in a manner that builds, not tears down.  Patience, kindness, and a tender heart covers a multitude of errors.  “I told you so” and blame games NEVER accomplish the end result of redirecting a wayward child (young or adult).

What I am sad about is that after I moved away from the area in which my children and grandsons live, the grandsons don’t regularly attend church.  That breaks my heart.  Sunday School and VBS (Vacation Bible School) were ALWAYS Grandma’s invitations.

My ability to influence and encourage my grandchildren now has challenged me to realize new and creative ways.  The burden for my grandsons’ souls seems even deeper than I remember for my own kids (but it could be just the matter of MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED) or that I’m so far away and I can’t be a regular influencer as I was with my children.  But, this has caused me to pray more specifically for my grandsons, send them encouraging words through digital messages, and to video chat as often as possible.  I tell them how much I love them, that I’m proud of them, and I’m praying for them.  I most often ask them to tell me what they want to talk about first.  During most communications I do a “Grandma Check” and ask them serious questions where I can gauge if they have their “heads on straight.”  As often as I can I remind them that God has a plan for them and He put us in family together to encourage one another.

I think that is what I missed as a kid.  I knew God loved me.  I knew my parents loved me.  I knew my choices reflected on the “family name.”  But, what I didn’t learn until way too old, was that God has a plan for me and my choices reflect on His family name.

We as parents need to nurture our children and grandchildren in the truth that God loves them and loves us.  God created us with a purpose that is fulfilling and exciting if we choose to pursue Him and His righteousness.  I believe together as family we are unstoppable for the positive purpose that God has designed for us.

‘I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘they are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.’

Jeremiah 29:11

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them (children); They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127:3-5

What’s in your family quiver?  It is never too late to open communication and love on your children and let that love steer them in the direction of God’s perfect plan for them and your family.

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Time Keeps on Slipping Into the Future and Time in a Bottle

Or what about the music groups Journey and Foreigner?

We have a certain attitude as we move through this journey of life. The attitude is either one of hope or hopelessness.  An attitude of looking at the glass half full or half empty.

Definitions:

Hope – (noun) the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best; (verb) to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence; to believe desire or trust.

Less – (adverb) to a smaller extent, amount or degree; most certainly not; (adjective) smaller in size, amount, degree, lower in consideration, rank, or importance; (noun) something inferior or not as important.

Full – (adjective) completely filled; containing all that can be held; filled to utmost capacity; (adverb) exactly, directly, very; (verb) to make full as by gathering, pleating, or tucking material.

Too often we place our hope in what we can see, things like our spouse, job, government, education, or healthcare.

However, our real hope to gain “fullness” rather than “lessness” is in looking to Jesus.  Colossians 1:27 tells us that the Christ within us is the HOPE of GLORY.  Our hopeFULLNESS is in “Jesus BLOOD and RIGHTEOUSNESS”

(Think of the hymn: “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”).

HopeLESSNESS is when we look to “chariots and horses… governments and banks (Psalm 20:7)” to be our resource, rescuer, or our savior.

My hope is in King Jesus, and Jesus alone.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, not yet seen.”

(Hebrews 11:1)

Let us begin to believe what the Bible says, “God is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Let our faith arise to believe and then live as if we believe that God is FAITHFUL to Himself and His word. What He says He will do, will be done!

What promise in God’s word do you need to latch onto and hold on unwavering in hope until you see God moving on your behalf? Once you’ve seen God work in your life it stirs the inner you to have hopeFULNESS in God, not hopeLESSNESS in your circumstances.

In God’s economy Hope equals FAITH and Hopelessness equals FEAR. A Hope filled journey is not one without trouble. Jesus himself said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!  I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).

Jesus also said, “…for he (God) makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).

Begin to look at God’s ability to create beauty for ashes in whatever the circumstance you are facing…God alone brings HOPE to the hopeless.

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Why do we care?

Why do we care so much? It is estimated that Americans will bet about $15.5 billion on this year’s NCAA tournament (right there is your madness). We care with our money. And we care with our time. Many of us will be checking scores during the day and staying up late watching games at night. None of us have a chance of actually participating in these games. It’s been a long time since most of us were twenty. Or tall. Or athletic…. So what gets us so involved?

Unity

I’m sure there are many reasons, but let’s talk about two. I think one reason is that we feel involved. We feel like we are a part of the games, and we feel like we are participating with other fans even if it is only through the television or our phone. Remember how dreary it was to watch the Olympics during Covid with no fans in the stands? A sense of unity and togetherness is important for us not just for how we feel, but for how much we care about something. If this were a March Madness devotional, I might mention here that perhaps the Bible, in telling the body of Christ to work together in unity, is on to something.

Hope

A second reason we care so much is because of the power of hope. We know how strong hope is. We hope for all kinds of things. A better job, better health, better relationships. And at this time of the year, we hold out hope that the other team will lose and our team will win, even if we are a fifteen-point underdog. And if not this year, then next. We long for, we hope for, something that sometime might happen. I understand there are still Cleveland Browns fans.

But because many of you will be disappointed again this year when your team doesn’t win, I want to leave you with a bit of real hope. The Bible speaks of a sure hope, a real hope based not on something that might happen, but something that did happen. Jesus Christ has already made it possible, by His death and resurrection, for us to know and have a relationship with God, to have our sins forgiven, and to spend eternity with Him.

If your team wins this year, celebrate and enjoy the happiness that brings, but even more, remember to rejoice in the victory won by Jesus for you.

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1. To give something to someone and receive something in return.
2. A marketplace where financial securities are bought and sold.
3. A conversation or discussion between two or more people.
4. A point where passengers, cargo, or vehicles change from one form of transportation to another.

You have probably experienced each form of exchange listed.  Can you imagine what the number of exchanges is per day worldwide?  I asked the app to tell me.  It replied that based upon the four listed definitions, it could be billions or trillions.

The Great Biblical Exchanges

Did you know Biblically there have been only two great exchanges?

• The first exchange was when Adam traded the Glory of God as his covering and inheritance.
• The second exchange was Jesus redeeming and buying back the covering of God’s Glory and the inheritance God intended for His children.

Every account within the Bible demonstrates God’s interaction with humanity as individuals and as nations.  The Bible proclaims God’s communication in an effort to showcase how Adam’s and Jesus’ choices affect humanity’s lives today.

Many people live day to day without awareness they are living in a spiritual realm governed by God. This spiritual realm is governed by the choices we make regarding our belief or not in God.  Our day-to-day living is a constant marketplace of whether we receive or deny the gift of Jesus’ redemption to buy back our inheritance.  The destination of one’s soul and spirit after the physical body dies is a transition to either Heaven or Hell. This is an example of the transportation of exchange.

What Are the Great Exchanges?

If you are like most stock traders, they never make an exchange without researching the commodity in which they are interested.  Here is a brief overview of the GREAT EXCHANGE that governs the lives of humanity.

Adam and Eve

• Made in God’s Image

“So God made man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Genesis 1:27

“This is the book of the generations of Adam.  When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.”

Genesis 5:1

• Communicated With God

Genesis Chapter 2 and Chapter 3

• Administered God’s Authority (Inheritance)

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Genesis 1:28

• Forfeited Inheritance

“The ground is cursed because of you.  Through hard work you will eat food that comes from it every day of your life.  So God sent the man out of the Garden of Eden to farm the ground from which the man had been formed.”

Genesis 3:17, 23

GOD TO THE RESCUE

• We are His Children

“Know that the LORD is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”

Psalm 100:3

• This is My Father’s World

“The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it.”

Psalm 24:1

• Plans to Provide for Your Future

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

• Knew You Before Your Birth

(King David speaking of God) “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb….Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Psalm 139:13-16

Jesus and the Cross

• Significance of ATONEMENT (EXCHANGE)

Definition of Atonement: Noun – Satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.

• Jesus the PERFECT SACRIFICE (EXCHANGE)

“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood – to be received by faith…”

Romans 3:25a

“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”

Romans 5:19

What is Our Response?

Not making a choice is choosing to remain in the separated state from God that was initiated by the transaction of Adam and Eve.

God knew His love would be spurned even before time began.  But, He provided the exchange to align His children with the Glory and inheritance He planned from the beginning.  A choice to believe that God has loved us since before time began is the BEST choice we could make.

When we choose to believe in Jesus’ transaction of redemption, we also now choose to allow our lives to be transformed into His image and reflection of His character here on Earth.  We become part of the Great Exchange and tell others of the unimaginable, but free LOVE gift of being brought into the family of God.

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What Is Lent?

At its simplest, Lent is a forty-day period that usually ends sometime during the week preceding Easter. It is meant to commemorate the forty days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness, so some Lenten traditions do include self-sacrifice and special acts of charity during this time. Most involve confession and repentance. But for all religious traditions, Lent is a time to prepare for Easter, a time to actively prepare ourselves through Scripture, prayer, and repentance. We know there is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor and His love, but I think the very idea that we can do nothing, that it was all the work of God, sometimes causes us to take it all for granted.

Because we were, through God’s grace, crucified and buried with Christ – with no pain and suffering on our part – it seems easy. And it is:

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.

Acts 16:31

But if we don’t remember what that gift cost, we can also forget its value. We perhaps forget what sinners we were, how desperate our need was, and how great a sacrifice Jesus made for us, not just in His death, but in His very life here on earth.

But the other part of the story, the reason why Lent has an end, is because we were not only crucified and buried with Jesus, forgiven and made righteous, but we were also resurrected with Him into eternal life.

I Can

Attending this new church forced me to think about Lent. Whatever it was in my mind before or maybe what it is for others, it did not have to be for me. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the most important events in the history of the world. Believers, hopefully, are always mindful of this, but it is not wrong to spend a little extra time focusing on Jesus, the cross, His love and sacrifice for us that allows us to experience the amazing unearned and unending joy of Easter morning.

By the time you read this, Lent this year will have already begun, but the number of days doesn’t matter. Use whatever time you can to reflect on what a selfless gift Jesus gave us. The reflection, meditation, and prayer of the days of Lent can lead us to appreciate and value even more Christ’s sacrificial death for us.

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God bless you. Stay hopeful!

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