1st day of Lent

As we begin Lent we will be reflecting on the words and images of Psalm 103. This is ancient poetry from around 3000 years ago and written by David who became King of Israel. Read slowly the first seven verses below:

Psalm 103 (New International Version)
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good thing
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

Lent is a time of soul searching and honesty. A season where we allow ourselves to be stripped down to what is real; to what we really think and what we really feel. As you set out at the beginning of this Lenten journey, what is your honest reaction to the beginning of this Psalm? How does it make you feel? The Psalm is full of positive thoughts about God and encourages our souls to praise God. Take a few moments to be calm and quiet and try to honestly express (both to yourself and to God) how you feel. If you were to express all your “inmost being” would it be praise for God (v1) or do you feel something else welling up? Don’t try to evaluate or judge your thoughts or feelings, just be honest. Are you very aware of God’s benefits (v2) or do you feel you have been given a raw deal? Do you feel forgiven and healed (v3) or do you feel distant from God? Do you feel redeemed from the pit (v4) or do you feel trapped in your circumstances? Take a minute or two to acknowledge (without judging yourself) the posture of your “inmost being” towards God. Stay there for a moment and don’t try to defend your position or pretend this is not how you really feel right now. This might feel uncomfortable.

Now read v5 again. These are words of hope. No matter how distant from God we may feel, no matter how trapped, no matter how hungry or thirsty we are, God wants to truly satisfy us and breathe new life into us. For the rest of this day, try to stay in the tension of your honesty (where you are) and your hope (where you want to be). You could pray this prayer:

Lord, you know me completely, my true self. You know where I am today. Oh God, only you can truly satisfy the longings of my heart and renew my life. I reach out to you, My Hope. Amen

You could try saying this simple prayer every hour today as a way of focusing yourself and submitting to God at the beginning of Lent.

Please add an entry to this blog to share any thoughts or reflections about today’s Lenten devotion.