Lenten Devotions
Tuesday, February 12
One thing I asked of the LORD, that I will seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
Psalm 27: 4
Perhaps we have been approaching this all wrong. Maybe we shouldn’t think of daily devotions as something to be onerously taken up, like some dreadful burden we must bear. Maybe they should be more like awaiting the visit of the love of our lives. Maybe we could approach daily devotions as acts of loving hospitality and friendship. Try this.
- Mark a time on your calendar tomorrow. It can be 10 minutes or half an hour. However you want to begin. Write something like: “Time with God.”
- Arrange a lovely place to meet. A comfy chair. (God probably doesn’t need one, but if it makes you feel better…) A candle with a soothing scent. Some flowers? A mug for coffee? A prayer shawl or small blanket to snuggle in? A Bible is a good idea, for sometimes God speaks to us that way. A journal—anything to write upon—is another excellent idea, so you’ll need a pen or pencil. God speaks through the words inside us. You may have a prayer book or devotional you’d like to use. Set the stage as any good host or hostess would. Someone you love is coming because you are beloved.
- Look forward to it. This will be good.
- Show up. You must keep your word. Do not disappoint your guest. The Lord of the Universe, the heart of your heart, will be there. You need to show up.
- See what happens. Don’t put a lot of pressure on the time. Pour out your heart, or be silent and listen. Don’t monopolize the whole conversation either way. God likes to talk, too. Be still and know that God is God. Everything between you does need to happen in these few minutes. Enjoy the time. If you feel for at a loss for words and want to say something, open up the Bible to the middle and pray some of the psalms. It will do your heart good, for in the same words you speak to God and God speaks back.
- Do it again the next day.
For more information or to continue the conversation, write to Katie at katherinekinnison@covenantpcusa.org.
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