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Walking by the Sea
If I were Jesus’ therapist, there is one moment in particular that I’d love to process Read More
Candice Marie Benbow | Read Psalm 51:1-17
Psalm 51 is regarded as David’s plea for God’s mercy after he has raped Bathsheba and murdered her husband, Uriah (see 2 Sam. 11). In David, we see the depth and breadth of the human condition, from the best to the worst. After the prophet Nathan confronts him, even David...
Understanding and compassionate God, forgive me when I walk in contradiction to your ways. Forgive me for every time my actions break someone’s heart—including my own. Guide me as I learn to forgive myself. Amen.
As we begin the Lenten season, the practice of fasting and denying ourselves for forty days can seem harrowing. All the texts for this week remind us that we do not embark on this journey alone. God goes with us. We start the week with the texts for Ash Wednesday, with Isaiah admonishing us to ensure that we are on this journey for the sole reason of drawing closer to God. As we step deeper into Lent, the remaining passages emphasize the humanity that we bring to this season of fasting. Luke reminds us that we are not walking a new path. Jesus has already gone before us.
• Read Psalm 51:1-7. How do you work to free yourself of any guilt you may have from past mistakes? How do you help to foster that same feeling in others?
• Read 2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10. What kinds of problems have you endured because of your faith? How have those struggles influenced your understanding of what salvation is and how it is received?
• Read Luke 4:1-13. Are you aware of times when distractions derailed previous fasts? What did you learn from those experiences? How can those lessons help you on this fast and in the future?
• Read Deuteronomy 26:1-11. Remember a time when God answered a prayer and a deep longing of your heart. How did it make you feel? How did you mark the experience?
Respond by posting a prayer.
