Lent Devotional - Day 11 - March 6, 2023

Daily Devotional Philippians 4:6 Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Julie Hamilton

Reflection: Each year as Lent approaches I begin considering what I might "give up" for this season. As Christians we accept this time of reflection and preparation for Easter as a period of sacrifice, a symbol of the great love Jesus demonstrated as he went to the cross and bore the weight of our sins. We look for areas in our lives where we can lessen or omit something that isn't good for us, like sweets, coffee, fast food, watching too much tv, and so on.

Even in this modern world where we can quickly search the internet for lots of ideas for how to tackle the sacrifice of Lent, I had never considered giving up something less tangible, like worry. I mean if you think about it, it fits the bill, right? It isn't good for me, it keeps me from the things of Christ, it is a useless waste of valuable time I could devote to kingdom work, and it is down right exhausting. But giving up worry doesn't feel sacrificial, in fact the idea of not worrying sounds liberating. 

As I have thoughtfully considered the idea of "giving up" worry, I have come to a simple conclusion; though the outcome may be liberating, the journey of Lent may be one of the hardest ever. It's not like the cup of caffeine charged coffee I can watch swirl as I pour it down the drain; it is inside me, ingrained in my imperfect human brain. It's a part of how I plan, how I interact with the world, how I handle stress, even how I define the control I have over the everyday.

I'm powerless against it, yet I somehow feel completely out of control with just the thought of it being absent. It's mine. It's part of who I am, right? The Bible tells us over and over again (300 plus times) that God doesn't want us to worry. He didn't design us that way and he doesn't want that for us. But the Bible doesn't just say, "don't worry", it also tells us what to do when worry tries to take hold. Pray with gratitude to a loving Father who will gladly remind us He is in control of every detail of our lives. It is all in His hands. 

Prayer: Father God, lead me. Show me those things that prevent me from being all you have designed me for. Love me Father, when I press you away with my fears and worry and forget YOU ARE IN CONTROL. In this time of remembrance may I be washed with the knowing that your sacrifice was made so that I might live fully and abundantly for your kingdom. Amen .

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