Joel 2:12


“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning” ~ Joel 2:12

“Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer, fasting, and repentance. It is preceded by Shrove (Pancake) Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter. Ash Wednesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Old Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics, and some Baptists. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants to either the words "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or the dictum "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The ashes may be prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations. Because it is the first day of Lent, many Christians, on Ash Wednesday, often begin marking a Lenten calendar, praying a Lenten daily devotional, and abstaining from a luxury that they will not partake of until Easter Sunday arrives” (Wikipedia).

I don’t know if you follow the Lenten season in your church or personal life, but today as we begin Lent, this scripture leads us into the way and days of Lent. I had a discussion yesterday about this season, and it led to us talking about what we repent of, and what do we give up? Is it ice cream until Easter comes that goes by the wayside? That will be my big sacrifice! Or, do we give up something more physical for the spiritual? Do we give up our time for someone else, or even finances to bring relief to someone in need? Do we give up an hour of television, or internet, or Facebook so that we can spend more time in prayer? Do we give up our morning routine and spend more time in the word of God? I know I am not touching even close to what we need or must give up in our lives as we contemplate the great love shown to us on the Cross. And, truthfully, the most precious asset we have to give the Lord is ourselves in following of Jesus, the problem being so often we hold back. Draw close to Jesus, even now, and find ways and means of changing old habits into making new ones. The Lord desires your heart, fully and completely. “Repent,” the Lord says. “Come back to Me.”
Devotion by Pastor Julia

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