God's care

LENT

People and animals are in your care. ~ Psalm 36:6 (GNT)

Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. ~ Matthew 6:26a (CEV)

KEY IDEA:

Don't underestimate God's capacity to care for the greatest and the least -- and all life in between.

PRAYER:

Lord, my natural inclination is to underestimate your capacity to care. It's so easy to think that you have used up all your care on the big and successful people. Help me to trust you and to quit comparing myself to what I think others are getting. I know that you will take care of me -- and I'm grateful. Amen.

It's happening now

LENT

I, the Lord, will bring my people back from Babylonia and everywhere else on earth. The blind and the lame will be there. Expectant mothers and women about to give birth will come and be part of that great crowd. ~ Jeremiah 31:8 (CEV)

Jesus said to his apprentices, "The 'food' that sustains me is found in doing the things on God's to-do list. Indeed, that's why he sent me; and my job is to finish the work that he sent me to do. You might say that there is no great hurry because the harvest is still four months away. But look more closely and you'll see that these 'fields' are ripening rapidly right in front of your eyes and they are ready for harvest now." ~ John 4:34-35 (ABP)

KEY IDEA:

Don't get casual about doing the work of the Lord. He is really busy and ready for you to join him in his work.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank you for not being casual about saving me from spiritual death -- the permanent death that comes from sin. I, though, am casual about joining up to work alongside you. I'm blind and can't see how you are moving things along. So I ask that even if I can't see enough to understand, that you would light a fire under me to get me moving. I want to be a part of what you are doing. Amen.

Revenge

LENT

Don't take it on yourself to repay a wrong. Trust the Lord and he will make it right. ~ Proverbs 20:22 (GNT)

Make sure that no one repays the wrong that has been done to them. Those who do that are themselves in the wrong. Rather "repay" the evil doers with good deeds. Make this your practice, both among those in the church and those outside the church. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (ABP)

KEY IDEA:

Shower good on those who do you wrong.

PRAYER:

Lord God, thank you for being so gracious but this is so hard. How can you expect us to do good to those who do bad to us? I feel the need to payback the bad things so they learn to stop doing wrong -- and because it is such a satisfying feeling to topple bad people. But I know that justice needs to be left in your hands and so I am asking you to give me self-control and empathy toward my enemies. I really want to treat evil people in the same way that Jesus treated the bad people of his day. Amen.

Compassionate guidance

LENT

"Heaven’s my throne, earth is my footstool. What sort of house could you build for me? What holiday spot reserve for me? I made all this! I own all this!" God’s Decree. "But there is something I’m looking for: a person simple and plain, reverently responsive to what I say..." ~ Isaiah 66:1-2 (MSG)

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ~ Matthew 9:36 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God is guiding his lost people.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, you are the dilegent shepherd who looks out for his sheep. You offer wisdom and guidance that is way more advanced than anything anyone has ever heard. I still enjoy wandering too much -- looking for ways to satisfy my curiosity and to build my own personal kingdom. Please keep an eye on me. Remind me that I am not helplessly destined to live this way. I'm going to trust in your compassionate guidance. Amen.