Night Prayer
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Inspiration
Sometimes, even as Christians we struggle to grasp how much we depend on God. After all, we don’t see Him and hear Him, so it is easy to perceive Him as distant. But we are reminded by Paul’s words that God not only created us, but He continuously sustains us. God didn’t just create us and then step aside. Rather, He actively maintains the universe, continuing to make a place for us to live and glorify Him.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for creating me, in Your image and as Your offspring. Thank You for faithfully watching over Your creation and holding all things together. Thank You for making a place for me in Your creation, and as Your child. Please remain with me and sustain me, so that my life may bring You honor and glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Devotion
Repent and Believe the Good News
Frances Taylor
We have heard these words many times as they were said to us while ashes were placed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesdays over the years as a sign of repentance. What is the "Good News?"
For Noah, it meant that God had made a promise to never allow floods to destroy the earth. For Abraham, it was a promise that he would become the father of a great nation and that he would be a blessing for his people. For Moses, the Ten Commandments were the sign of a new covenant with the people as they formed a nation. Throughout the Old Testament, God made covenants with the people and with Jesus, those covenants came to fulfillment.
For us, the Good News is that Jesus has come to save us through his life, death and resurrection. When we come to a true, conscious belief in this truth, our lives must change. We see the need to repent, to examine our lives, take stock and see what we can do to be better witnesses of Christ. Lent is the time the church...
Morning Prayer
And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Inspiration
It is not enough to simply tear one's garments or perform some other outward act meant to indicate repentance. Repentance must be from the heart. God is merciful and will turn from the judgment he would have sent if a people truly turn from their iniquities. Whether that people be in Israel, Nineveh, or your own home country, the same principle applies.
Prayer
O God, you are the seer of hearts and the weigher of motives. You do not overlook anyone who turns from their old ways in true contrition; nor are you ever fooled by even the most elaborate outward show. We come to you in holy fear and in loving trust of your goodness. Amen.
