Lent Reflections
Daily Notes to inspire and encourage over the Lent period.
Week 4
Thursday 11 March – Wednesday 17 March 2021
Written by Emmanuel church members
Each week over the 40 days of Lent, we are adding a new set of reflections to encourage and inspire.
Here are the fourth set of reflections.
REFLECTION 23 - 11 MARCH
Walking with God
written by MS
MICAH 6:8
What does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
REFLECTION:
This verse follows on from a discussion on whether God is pleased with sacrifices. Micah does not deny the desirability of sacrifices but shows that it does no good without obedience and humility. Many people give up something during lent such as chocolate, perhaps giving money otherwise spent to a good cause. I prefer to think of how I spend my time and usually read a Christian book. One positive outcome of this last year has been more time to read and many people have turned to the Bible for inspiration.
PRAYER:
Lord, help us to keep close to you and to be obedient to your word.
Amen
REFLECTION 24 - 12 MARCH
Wellbeing
written by PD
PSALM 8
Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
…When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
REFLECTION:
Oh, the strangest of times, when we are given permission to exercise. When WELLBEING is the aspirational buzzword. But we already have the secrets to our Wellbeing laid out in the scriptures!! And one of these is all the wonders of God’s creation. So let’s exercise all our senses to savour and enjoy his creation. Listen out for birdsong, wind in the trees, or just precious periods of silence. Look out for the wonders and beauty of light and form in scenery and changing weather. Feel textures as you roam and breath in your surroundings.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, Help us to marvel and ponder anew on your creation, to transform our minds and re-energise our bodies in service for you. Amen
REFLECTION 25 - 13 MARCH
Waiting
written by AN
ISAIAH 30:18
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore, he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
REFLECTION:
Lent is a period of waiting. We are waiting to reach holy week, where we go through the events that lead to Jesus’ death and end with our Saviour rising gloriously from the grave. It is then that we come to know of God’s full and boundless compassion, sacrificing his Son in order to save us.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, we pray that during this time of Lent and lockdown, you instil us with strength and patience. Strength to help us maintain our faith and patience that allows us to wait for what you have planned. We ask that during this Lent, in what is a difficult period, we are still able to see the value in waiting for you. Amen
REFLECTION 26 - 14 MARCH
God’s Purpose
written by LC
JOHN 11:1-44
I am the Resurrection and the Life.
REFLECTION:
Martha, the busy one, in her bereavement, rushes out to Jesus saying that if He had come sooner, then none of this would have happened. Jesus reassures her that Lazarus will rise again and she is able to tell Him what she understands already about her faith. It is then that Jesus reveals to her the most important truth about His purpose on earth. Mary, the holy one, also then rushes out to chide Jesus for not coming sooner.
As we see God appearing not to answer our prayers soon enough for us, let us pray that He is working a better purpose for us to reveal Himself fully.
PRAYER:
You are the Resurrection and the Life.
Help us trust in you.
Amen
REFLECTION 27 - 15 MARCH
Anchors
written by SGC
GENESIS 1:1
In the beginning, God…
REFLECTION:
In times of doubt, here are some anchors for our faith:
1) In the beginning, God… (Gen1:1). Before anything else existed, there was God.
2) The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands
(Psalm 19:1)
3) Jesus certainly existed – we have eye witness’ accounts. (2 Peter 1:16)
4) The coming of Jesus is foretold hundreds of years before His birth.
For unto us a child is born… (Isaiah 9:6)
5) The Bible records 13 Resurrection appearances of Jesus to over 530 people. (Acts 1:3).
6) The transforming presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and those around us.
7) Our own spiritual journey.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you that we can trust in you. Amen
REFLECTION 28 - 16 MARCH
Love
written by SNC
JOHN 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
REFLECTION:
What incredible, mind-blowing Good News: God’s mercy and loving kindness towards the whole world overcomes death itself through one selfless, sacrificial act on the torturous cross. God himself identifies with our suffering and pain, bringing hope of salvation. Hope in life eternal when all tears will be wiped away and all suffering will be gone. (Revelation 21: 4)
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for your astounding loving-kindness through the sacrifice of your beloved Son. Help us to share your steadfast hope of saving grace and healing love with all those we meet today
Amen.
REFLECTION 29 - 17 MARCH
Cling on
written by WB
LUKE 8:23-24
…[ Jesus] got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.
REFLECTION:
Years ago, when I was in America, I watched groups of people ‘white water rafting’ down a canyon. At times they drifted along, paddling occasionally and enjoying the ride. Then the current would quicken, pulling them towards the rocky areas where the raft would tumble and roll in quite an alarming way. All the riders could do at that point was to hang on! Of course, they were doing it for fun, but how like this life it can be. Sometimes calm with a good view, and then, perhaps suddenly, all we can do is to cling on to the God who loves us!
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, you are faithful. Help us and others to trust you in every situation.
Amen
“Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way.”
Jesus answered
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
John 14:5-6