As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
(Psalm 103:13-14 NIV)
Today is Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent, which lasts for forty days (excluding Sundays) leading up to Easter. Traditionally, Lent is a time of repentance and preparation for Easter. For many years, our family attended Ash Wednesday services, where we left with a black ash cross on our foreheads. This symbol reminded us of our mortality and our need to seek forgiveness from God. As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:20, “All come from dust, and to dust all return” (NIV).
Our current church does not observe this tradition, choosing to focus on other things. However, for many in the wider Christian community, the ash cross remains an important symbol. Whether or not Ash Wednesday holds significance in your spiritual life, I encourage you to take some time today for quiet reflection and meditation. Ask God to reveal areas in your life that need spiritual attention. I invite you to hear God’s invitation:
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. (Joel 2:12-13 NIV)
Forgiving God,
How wonderful it is to praise our God! You created the stars, determined their number, and call each one by name. Great are You, Lord, and mighty in power; Your understanding is limitless. Thank You for building up Your children, gathering the exiles, healing the brokenhearted, and binding their wounds. Thank You for sustaining the humble and casting the wicked down.
On this Ash Wednesday, we thank You for calling us to repentance, inviting us into Your presence. We confess our sins to You and ask that You cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Help us to embrace the forgiveness and grace You offer through Jesus Christ.
Spirit of the Sovereign Lord, pour out Your anointing on us, Your forgiven and beloved children, so that we can proclaim Your Good News to the poor, the captives, and those who grieve and despair. Empower us to shine Your Light and share Your Love with those who struggle, replacing their ashes and mourning with a crown of beauty and joy. Strengthen us to become oaks of righteousness, displaying the splendor, majesty, and glory of Your Name.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NIV)
Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
The Lord sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground. (Psalm 147:1-6 NIV)
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)
[adapted from February 17, 2021 post]