Day 7 1 Kings 18 v 16-46 Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

1 Kings 18 v 16-46 Elijah and the Prophets of Baal    
(Click the link to get to the passage) 

Sometimes there are things that happen in our lives that leave us in no doubt that God has acted powerfully, reminding us of his awesome presence and Glory. Sometimes they are called mountaintop experiences, times when we are left in no doubt that Jesus is Lord and is all powerful. For Elijah, he called shamelessly on the name of The Lord to act to overcome the influence of the prophets of Baal, and The Lord answered with fire from heaven. The people were left with only one possibility - to fall prostrate on the ground and declare "The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!”

Take time today to think back over the things that God has done in your life that have spoken powerfully to you and others around you. Praise God for them, and let the memory remind you again of what he has done for you. Thank him for your salvation - the most amazing thing that he has done for you.

Almighty God,

whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect for the First Sunday of Lent http://www.churchofengland.org/

Day 6 Judges 16 v 1-31 Samson regains his strength

Judges 16 v 1-31 Samson regains his Strength 
(Click the link to get to the passage)  

It is sad when people get distracted from the ways of God by members of the opposite sex. It is worse when they find their lives badly affected, or even devastated by inappropriate, ill advised or wrong relationships. No matter what our relationship status might be, we must be on our guard from what might damage our relationship with God and others.

For those of you who are married, take time today to recommit your marriage to The Lord.  Ask for his blessing and protection on your wife, and your relationship with her.

For all of us, make a mental list of those we know who are married or who soon will be. Thank God for them, their relationships and families. Ask God to challenge and protect those who are tempted by unfaithfulness. Ask Him to reinvigorate the marriages of those who find it a struggle.

Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect for the First Sunday of Lent http://www.churchofengland.org/

Day 5 Joshua 6 v 1- 27 Joshua and the Walls of Jericho

Joshua 6 v 1- 27 Joshua and the Walls of Jericho    
(Click the link to go to the passage)

Sometimes God wants us to do the strangest things. He asked Joshua to march around a city for 7 days and then blow the trumpets and shout. Do you think he was expecting the walls to come tumbling down at that point? To the Israelites, the walls would have seemed impenetrable; they would have thought that walking around them would have achieved nothing. It is possible to imagine the jeers of the people in the city as each day they made their way around the walls.
But God wanted them to see the power of trusting him, and that he was their God. Sometimes we do things for Jesus that mean we do what others might consider crazy. Or receive jeers and ridicule from others because of what we stand up for.

Take time to consider what it is that God might want us to stand up for today. Someone he might want us to defend, befriend, lend an ear or listen to. It might seem strange or unexpected at the time, but at the end we will see how God achieves his purposes.

Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect for the First Sunday of Lent http://www.churchofengland.org/

Day 4 Exodus 3 v 1-21 Moses and the Burning Bush

Exodus 3 v 1-21 Moses and the Burning Bush    
(Click the link to get to the passage)

Moses had an unexpected and quite intense encounter with the living God. He drew close to the holiness of God and was never the same again. He received a calling that would change his life. He would have the ear of the most powerful leader, watch The Lord perform amazing miracles through him and lead the people of God for forty years through the wilderness. And it all started with the word of The Lord coming to him through a bush that didn't burn.

It is interesting to see the honesty that Moses shares with his God. He respectfully shares his worries and doubts, and God reassures him that he will be with him. He shares his name, and sends him out to the Israelites with the power of "I AM WHO I AM".

It is possible that God wants to meet with you in an unexpected and powerful way this Lent time. Take time today to be quiet and listen to His voice. Be willing to take off your metaphorical shoes and hide your face, excited to hear from the creator God of the universe who loves you.

 

Almighty and everlasting God,

you hate nothing that you have made

and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:

create and make in us new and contrite hearts

that we, worthily lamenting our sins

and acknowledging our wretchedness,

may receive from you, the God of all mercy,

perfect remission and forgiveness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect for the First Sunday of Lent http://www.churchofengland.org/

Day 3 Genesis 37 v 12-36 Joseph sold into slavery

Genesis 37 v 12-36 Joseph sold into slavery
(Click the link to get to the passage) 

Things don't always work out as we expect. Joseph would have had no idea what his brothers were going to do to him as he set off to find them. Things happen to us that we don't expect and certainly didn't plan for. Joseph found himself in a foreign country sold to a foreign master, but still he serves God faithfully.

When things don't go quite as expected, the emotion linked with the situations can be intense. Joseph's father declares that he will mourn until he dies. It can be hard in these situations to trust that God does know the big picture and will be by our side throughout.

Take time today to remember that Jesus has promised to be with us in all situations. Remember that in the workplace, home, family time, quiet times, lonely times, tough times and joyful times. And pray for those you know who find themselves "sold to the Ishmaelites".

Almighty and everlasting God,

you hate nothing that you have made

and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:

create and make in us new and contrite hearts

that we, worthily lamenting our sins

and acknowledging our wretchedness,

may receive from you, the God of all mercy,

perfect remission and forgiveness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect for the First Sunday of Lent http://www.churchofengland.org/ 

Day 2 Genesis 12 v 1-9 The Call of Abraham

Genesis 12 v 1-9 The Call of Abraham    
(Click the link to get to the passage)

A promise is a powerful thing. Being able to take people at their word is a valuable thing, and for our words to be trustworthy is equally important. Abram hears God's promise - a word from Him that is both amazing and far-reaching. In some ways we still live under the same promise that he received thousands of years ago. Abram was willing to action what he heard - setting off from what was known and familiar and arriving in a new and challenging place. 

Take a moment to reflect on verse 7. "The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him."
Think about something that you trusted God with recently, and how you have built an altar to thank and praise him for his faithfulness in it.

Almighty and everlasting God,

you hate nothing that you have made

and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:

create and make in us new and contrite hearts

that we, worthily lamenting our sins

and acknowledging our wretchedness,

may receive from you, the God of all mercy,

perfect remission and forgiveness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect for the First Sunday of Lent http://www.churchofengland.org/

Day 1 Matthew 4 v 1-11 Jesus in the Wilderness

Matthew 4 Jesus in the Wilderness 
(Click the link to get to the passage) 

This is where it all begins for Lent. Jesus is led out to the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. We'll never know what forty days of prayer and fasting feels like in the wilderness of Israel. But we can be sure that it was a vital part of Jesus' ministry here on Earth - or he wouldn't have done it! Luke 4:14 perhaps reveals how vital, suggesting that the pathway to knowing the power of the Spirit in our lives is the path through the wilderness and temptation.

Like Jesus, temptations are something that we face every day. As it says in the Lord's Prayer, spend time today asking Jesus to lead you, not into the cycle of continuing temptation, but rather ask him to deliver you each day, hour and minute from evil. God gives us strength to resist temptation when we call on His name. We need to set our eyes on Jesus and not wander away. Just as Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights so too we can also fast. Ask God to give you the power and strength to fast to the last.

Almighty and everlasting God,

you hate nothing that you have made

and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:

create and make in us new and contrite hearts

that we, worthily lamenting our sins

and acknowledging our wretchedness,

may receive from you, the God of all mercy,

perfect remission and forgiveness;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect for the First Sunday of Lent http://www.churchofengland.org/