Rejoice  |  Reach  |  Remove  |  Reflect  |  Renew  |  Respond  |  Rest
Grace and peace to you!

 

Lent marks a season in the Christian calendar with special emphasis on the sacrifice our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ made for us. Many of us observe this time with fasting and other spiritual disciplines to foster greater reflection on the life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection of our Messiah. As a result, we often become more aware of our sins and shortcomings and experience a greater depth of repentance in our lives. The good news is that when we confess our sins, the Lord is faithful to forgive!

 

In addition, Lent reminds us that Jesus came for a purpose - to reconcile the world back to the Father. That includes you and me! And so, during this Lenten season, we reflect intentionally on the promise of Jesus brings us of reconciliation and the assurance of life in Him. He tells us that He is "The Way, the truth, and the Life." Christ is our Intermediary. Through Him, we are restored and can look forward to an even greater reward - an eternal place of our own in the Father's house. It is no wonder that early Christians referred to themselves as "followers of The Way."

 

This devotional is centered around this promise found in John 14:1-14 as well as the prophecy found in the Book of Isaiah. Each Sunday, with the exception of Easter, you will read through this entire passage. While this may seem repetitive (and it is), my prayer is that you will find yourself immersed in what our Savior has done for us. All the other days, you will read through passages from Isaiah and the Gospel according to John that further increase our understanding and immerse ourselves in God's will for the people of God to follow The Way.

 

I pray that you will use this devotional guide to help you reflect and to draw nearer to God during this season when so many distractions vie for our attention. Each day is divided into seven segments. You will be given a song (which may be found on youtube.com), a Scripture passage, and a reflective thought within each devotion. The rest comes from your own prayerful reflection and the Holy Spirit. I recommend that you utilize a journal or print the attached electronic version to record your thoughts and reflections. You may complete this time in 10 minutes or an hour-it's up to you! Below, you will find a summary of what each segment means and intends to accomplish. If you have further questions, feel free to contact me directly.

 

In Christ,

Rev. Cheryl 

Rejoice in the Lord:


Begin your devotional time in prayer and worship.   Say a prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to enter your heart and mind with insight and revelation. You will be given a song, but if God puts another song on your heart, feel free to move in the Spirit!
 
Alabaster Box - CeCe Winans
Alabaster Box - CeCe Winans

Reach for the goal to win the prize: 

Before moving on, note what you want or need God to do in your life. This might be to deepen your relationship with God, a new job, restored relationships or to develop more generosity or patience. Whatever you're looking for from God or with God, record it here. We know, of course, that the Lord is the ultimate prize!
 

Remove the garbage: 

We can be so distracted in our busy lives that it's important to remember that God should be our priority every day. Setting aside time to do this devotional is a step in the right direction, but we also need to confess what keeps us from reaching that goal we just named above. List that here. It may be as short as one word or as long as a paragraph.
 

Reflect: 

Take a moment to note what God has already revealed to you.
 
 
 

Renew your spirit:

You will be given a Scripture passage for further reflection.
 

Respond:

Take a moment to note what God has now revealed to you.

 

 

Rest in God's love:

You will be given a reflective thought to end your devotional time. There is also space available to record a reassurance of God's Love that you have heard in your devotional time.


 

The Father honors my service.  

Luke 14:1-14

1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?   3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going."   5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.