Sunday, February 3

“Exalt the Lord our God
and worship at his holy mountain in Jerusalem,
for the Lord our God is holy!”
Psalm 99:9

One day the four of them – Jesus, Peter, James and John – took a hike up a mountain. Lo and behold, once they got there, not only did long dead Moses and Elijah appear, but Jesus turned dazzlingly white. It must have been stunning, awesome, practically incomprehensible…..and scary. One thing seems certain: This kingdom-bridging event called for a response. No questions asked, these three disciples seem to be able to do nothing other than respond and respond they did – with an offer to build booths or dwellings – one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

Of course, booths and dwellings are not what Jesus had in mind up there on the mountain. From what happens next, it looks like Jesus is also interested in the disciples knowing who he is and that they follow his lead back down the mountain.

Could it be that worship and the act of following Jesus are kind of like two sides of the same coin? Could it be that we need to both worship in a sacred space shoulder to shoulder with other believers and also be willing to follow Jesus back into the ordinary stuff of daily life where both we and others need the proclamation of grace, mercy, and peace that is the Gospel?

Prayer: Gracious God, we give you thanks that you call us to revelations of who you are. Help us respond with lives that are given to following and serving you. Amen.

Monday, February 4

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening.
Psalm 92:1-2

It may be good to give thanks to the Lord, but, at least in my experience, it is not always easy to give thanks to the Lord. I can get moody, grouchy, mean-spirited, anxious, angry, frustrated, withdrawn, rueful, and despairing – sometimes over something very insignificant. Like a pall, these conditions of my heart have the potential to darken my spirit in such a way that I am less than eager “to give thanks to the Lord.”

Yet, when I begin to pray prayers of thanksgiving, it seems that very quickly Christ goes to work softening my heart, calling me to repentance, and assuring me of both his presence and forgiveness. Part of it might be that once reminded of how God has showered me with grace, mercy, blessings and everything good in the past, I am more able to trust that God will also be present now and in the midst of whatever it is that is upsetting or unsettling.

Prayer: Loving God, you have promised to be with us to the end of the earth. Cause our hearts to be grateful for your many gifts and blessings and enable us to give thanks in the midst of all things. Amen.

Tuesday, February 5

Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.
Psalm 16:1

FAT TUESDAY is an affectionate name bestowed upon the day before Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. Many of us will be – in some way, shape or form – practicing the ancient spiritual discipline of fasting. Some will “give up” a favorite food, such as chocolate. Some will strive to prepare more simple meals. Some will give up one or two meals a week and offer the money saved on those meals to hunger ministries close to home or around the world. We are accustomed to “giving up” something for Lent.

How about “letting go” of something for Lent, so that we will have a bit more time and/or space to “take on” a spiritual discipline for the next 40 days plus Sundays? How about giving up a meal (or an hour of TV or internet time), but at the same time, using the time we would spend preparing, eating, and cleaning up to visit a homebound neighbor, volunteer at a soup kitchen, read scripture, quietly sit and meditate on God’s grace, pray, turn off the TV and read a Christian devotional or inspirational book, or a thousand other things that may help us go deeper into a relationship with Jesus until we join the psalmist in the prayer: “Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.”

Prayer: As we come to the time of Lent, help us to embrace the opportunities provided by the disciplines of Lent to be drawn closer to you. You are our refuge and strength. Continue to make us mindful of this. Amen.

Wednesday, February 6

Lent Devotions 2008
ELCA Partner Synods Pray Together
Click to view

Thursday, February 7

Lent Devotions 2008
ELCA Partner Synods Pray Together
Click to view

Friday, February 8

Lent Devotions 2008
ELCA Partner Synods Pray Together
Click to view

Saturday, February 9

Lent Devotions 2008
ELCA Partner Synods Pray Together
Click to view