TIME – it is always mind-boggling to me how time is supposed to be the most consistent and regular dimension to our lives, but somehow when we focus on time, it appears to be anything but regular! Sometimes it drags on. Sometimes it races by. And sometimes, somehow, we are completely unaware of its passing. We find ourselves looking to a calendar and asking, “Where’d it go?”
I love the season of Lent. Not because I believe it is a requirement of Christian belief, but because it has become a reminder for so many of us to be intentional about appreciating God’s presence in our lives. Like many who choose a diet or exercise plan for their physical bodies as a New Year’s resolution, Lent is that time for many Christians to focus on those spiritual exercises where we practice both reflection and repentance, drawing us closer to him. He’s always around us, in us, before, and behind us – but sometimes we forget, we get distracted, we lose time. This Lent season, I pray we remember all that He’s done for us.
Reflect on who God is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what we know He will do.
Repent on how we, as individual images of God, as His children, often miss the mark!
My Personal Reflection/Repentant Thoughts:
As our Heavenly Father and King of the Universe, only He sets the standard of what is good and what is right. He gives us His Word to teach us. He gave us His Son, Jesus, as our Lord and Savior, to enable us to come to Him and be in His presence. He gives us the Holy Spirit to empower us and guide us. He makes us able to do great things in His name.
But I am often guided by a different voice – Satan and his cronies! The deceiver and father of lies. He distracts me from God’s truth and tells me that my self-focused activity is important – that I am doing ‘good’ and I should stay busy in all those endeavors that promote myself. God might even like me better with those efforts. WHAT A CLEVER LIE!
How do I know it’s a lie? Because any activity that draws my heart and mind away from God begins to take on the form of idolatry. And when focused on myself, I allow the roots of pride to begin growing. (Dang – Pride is like dandelions for me. Pull one out and seven more show up! ) When I am self-focused, I forget that He is God and I am not. I am only an image – not the other way around. When I allow these thoughts to linger, I begin to reshape and redefine God, as I imagine. The devil laughs. And I must run back to the cross… and back to His Word… and back over my thoughts to see where and why I was so easily led astray.
How else do I know it’s a lie? Because God loves me already, without the activities that are done to prove my worth to Him. I remember the cross! Even before I was born, I was saved for eternity – not because I was good, but because He loved me so much, He sacrificed Himself for me. 💖
Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit – You, God, saved me for all eternity when I heard the Word and believed. And nothing is the same again! You loved me THAT much and all I can respond with is… RIGHT BACK AT YOU! With all I have, such as it is, I will forever love You. 💞
AMEN!