Devotionals

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

As we patiently wait to reside within our Eternal Home in the heavenly realm with Christ, we must hold firmly to His joy which is within us and surrounds us no matter what is going on, because the dark misery of this world will stop at nothing to try to extinguish the hopeful Light of Christ within each one of us.

“Either the day must come when joy prevails and all the makers of misery are no longer able to infect it; or else forever and ever the makers of misery can destroy in others the happiness they reject for themselves”
(C.S. Lewis; The Great Divorce)

In today’s psalm, David comes to the Lord in prayer and he gives his entire life to the Lord, so he gives his: soul (mind, will, emotions), body, heart, and spirit. He relinquished his own strength and placed his trust in God. When David did this he was surrounded by pagan nations, and so he knew that in order to remain faithful to the Lord that he could not trust or turn to anyone except the Lord, because He was the only One Who would guide David on the right path, others, who did not know God, would seek to steer him away from God.

You and I are in the exact same situation as David. We are surrounded by a pagan world that is seeking to deceive us so that the Satan can work to extinguish the Light of Christ within us. This realization is not something to fear, Paul teaches us about that within the next passage of today’s devotion, rather we are to remain joyful because we belong to Jesus, Who is the only One Who saves us and offers us His unfailing love.

Psalm 25:1-7 (NLT)

A psalm of David.
1 O Lord, I give my life to you.
2 I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

4 Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.

Paul tells us to do exactly what David did, we are to be led by the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit); and in order for the Spirit to have His reign within us, we must give all of ourself fully over to God. If we do not give our entire self to God we leave openings for Satan.

Paul goes on to talk about how our suffering now is nothing compared to our future glory. The closer we find ourselves to Jesus, the more we begin to see how He reveals to us those things that are from Him and those things that are of this world. The Holy Spirit guides us with a spirit of discernment to be able to spiritual know what is Truth and to follow it, it also guides us away from that which is not Truth.

Personal Story: My family traveled last week to celebrate my daughter’s accomplishment of being the valedictorian for her 2023 high school class. Although we had a beautiful time, there were so many moments that I found myself praying, more than normal, for the people around me. We were in a “big city” and although some people might think I’m being “dramatic” I felt the Holy Spirit continuously pulling on me to spiritually see what was happening around me. There were so many people hustling, and not just those who were working hard, but many who were attempting to work over one another. I witnessed a woman distraught after being pickpocket. I saw so much substance usage and heartbreaking homeless in freezing weather. People struggled to smile and to simply connect to one another. I’m not saying all of this is because I was in a “big city”, I’m saying this because the joy of the Lord in you and me (the Light of Christ) must prevail, because Satan’s misery can absolutely destroy in others the happiness they reject for themselves…and that “happiness” they reject is Jesus into their hearts. Friends, our Light of Christ MUST shine brighter than ever before, in big cities, small cities, our communities, our centers of influence, and in our own homes. PEOPLE NEED JESUS! if they aren’t exposed to Him than we aren’t doing what He commissioned us to do! If they reject Him, love them anyway, so a seed is planted that can one day serve as a reminder of Jesus’s unfailing love for them!

Romans 8:14-25 (NLT)

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

The Future Glory

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

Prayer: Jesus, we need Your help. Please guide us to be the ambassadors that You call us to be for Your Kingdom. Allow Your Light to shine brightly through us to expose the darkness of this world so that You can bring hearts to You! Help keep us filled with Your joy and to preserve through the things of this world that are painful, because they are temporal, but our future glory with You is eternal in our real Home, thank You for that Truthful reality. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

God is calling us into perfection by renewing us and making us like Christ.

“Why is God so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?” (C.S. Lewis/A Grief Observed)

In this passage, David is writing this psalm to give praise to the one true God and reminding us that He is the one who does the saving. People would turn to the things of the world for saving. Needless to say that those things would only provide temporary satisfaction. It will only last for a short amount of time. The life with Jesus will last for eternity. In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus says that if you acknowledge me before others, I will acknowledge you before my Father who is in heaven. If you deny me before others, I will deny you before my Father who is in heaven. Willie Robertson, star of the show Duck Dynasty, says that stuff is temporary, but Jesus is eternal. He will take care of our enemies so that they are not a problem to us. While I am not saying that those enemies will go away forever, He will take care of them as long as we are tuned into His word and His direction.

Psalm 68:17-21 (NLT)

17. Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots, the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary. 18. When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the Lord God will live among us there. 19. Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. 20. Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death. 21. But God will smash the heads of his enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.”

In this passage, Jesus offers a prayer of thanksgiving. During this prayer, He talks about we should turn to Him to find rest. As we go about living our lives, I believe that we would get to the point where we are on the verge of being burned out. In other words, we take our foot off of the gas pedal and start to wind down. When this happens, we would have the mentality to start giving up. I want to challenge you by saying this: rest, but don’t quit. When we are physically exhausted or tired, we would sleep in our beds. When we are spiritually exhausted or tired, we need to turn to God for our source of comfort and rest. As stated in the previous paragraph, we would turn to worldly things (alcohol, drugs, pornography, etc.). We need to turn to God, especially when we feel like quitting. Remember to rest, not quit.

Matthew 11:25-30 (NLT)

25. At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 27. “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 28. Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that we, as Your children, will be tuned in to what You say and not the world. I pray that we would take the time to rest, but not to quit. I pray that we would be reminded of this every single day. We cannot quit, especially when it comes to kingdom work. Lord, I pray that You will continue to fuel us every day with Your love, grace, wisdom, understanding, and mercy. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

Creator God is intrinsically good; therefore, his instructions or commands are good and it should be humanity’s delight to yield to this Creator in obedience.

“Human will becomes truly creative and truly our own when it is wholly God’s, and this is one of the many senses in which he that loses his soul shall find it.”
(C.S. Lewis; The Problem of Pain)

Because God is good, he will never ask us to do something that is not also intrinsically good. Our role as the created is to obediently yield to the Creator and it should be a joyous response for us since God is so good; but is it? Self-surrender and a return to God’s ways of righteousness is never “easy” for a human being unless we have made loving and pleasing God with our whole lives our primary goal. In our passage from the Psalter, today, David sings about the goodness of God to rescue and protect him from people who seek to maliciously slander him in order to create conflict in his soul (war). David proclaims God as Creator, so the response of his will is to seek God’s mercy, goodness, and deliverance to thwart the plans of evil being formed against him. Evil will arise, but like David let’s yield to God with our wills because God is greater and more powerful than anything evil tries to do. God has mysterious plans to save the lives of his children from evil.
Psalm 140:1-8 NLT A psalm of David.
1 
O Lord, rescue me from evil people.
    Protect me from those who are violent,
2 
those who plot evil in their hearts
    and stir up trouble all day long.
3 
Their tongues sting like a snake;
    the venom of a viper drips from their lips. Interlude
4 
O Lord, keep me out of the hands of the wicked.
    Protect me from those who are violent,
    for they are plotting against me.
5 
The proud have set a trap to catch me;
    they have stretched out a net;
    they have placed traps all along the way. Interlude
6 
I said to the Lord, “You are my God!”
    Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy!
7 
O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me,
    you protected me on the day of battle.
8 
Lord, do not let evil people have their way.
    Do not let their evil schemes succeed,
    or they will become proud. Interlude

We see God’s plan for salvation manifest in the life and anointing of Christ who defeats evil. In our New Testament passage today, Paul is writing to the church at Colosse about the Laodicean church [a few miles away]. Paul wants the two churches to come together in God’s love to grow stronger in their faith in Christ’s salvation and deliverance. Paul knows heresy is trying to rise up to rob God’s people of genuine faith; he reminds them about the deception of evil. When we accept Christ into our hearts and lives, we are just beginning the journey of new life and faith in God’s goodness to save us from evil. Every day we must choose to follow Christ knowing God is intrinsically good in his plans for us. If we are not careful to follow Christ and allow the Word to revive our souls each day, we may find ourselves becoming more like the lukewarm Laodiceans than like Jesus (Rev 3:14-22).

Colossians 2:2-6 NLT
2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. 5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.

Freedom from Rules and New Life in Christ
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for rescuing us from evil as we obediently stay in that safe dwelling place in Christ. We understand not everything that happens in our lives is good. Sometimes we just have to choose how we will respond when evil tries to rob our joy. Holy Spirit, help us yield to the Father’s plan for our lives each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

Father God has moved beyond all human understanding to love us, in Christ, and to make a dwelling place in the restoring work of the Spirit, so we can enjoy his divine presence and promises forever.

“For those who love God will desire not only to enjoy Him but ‘to enjoy Him forever,’ and will fear to lose Him.” (C.S. Lewis; Reflections in the Psalms)

In our passage today from the Old Testament Psalter, David sings praises to God who knows everything about him—even those things David tries to hide from others—and God still chooses to love him, anyway. In every season of life, whether David is walking through the darkest valley of death/failure or climbing the mountain of godly living/success, the Holy Spirit is there to be the Helper who comes along side him. Even though the kind of love and devotion God extends is hard for David to comprehend, the little understanding he has causes David to press on in hope and cling to God more intently. David begs for God to cleanse his sinful heart, so he can remain in God’s presence and not take his Spirit away (Ps 51:11).

Psalm 139:7-12 NLT
7
I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!
8 
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 
If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 
even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me.
11 
I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night—
12 
    but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you.

Let’s take this lesson further into the New Testament Gospel of John. Living in God’s presence—his house—should be the goal for every human being. In God, human lives are made whole. In Christ, human beings connect to the godly life of the Father and the promises of heaven. In the Spirit, humans enjoy divine fellowship and eternal life. In our passage today, as Jesus is planning to ascend to heaven, he seeks to comfort his disciples. Jesus assures his followers he will be making room in his presence (a place of indwelling) for them through the parakletos (Spirit). Eternity with God has been prepared for believing hearts. When we invite Jesus to dwell in our hearts and forgive our sins, he sends the Spirit to be our Helper. So, let’s open our hearts up to God’s beautiful indwelling presence and allow the Spirit to grow a greater depth of the divine life in us.

John 14:1-7 NLT Jesus, the Way to the Father
1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

Prayer: Lord, when you descended from heaven to save your creation, humanity prepared no room for your birth. Yet, in love, you still offered your sinless life in exchange for our sinful lives so we could enjoy the room in eternity you were preparing for us. As believers, we offer you room in our hearts; this is what we long to give. We welcome and praise you for the indwelling of your Spirit and the new birth of our salvation. Now, we can enjoy your beautiful presence today, tomorrow, and forever. We are holding onto you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

Christ is the Living Word, so when the Bible is lovingly and wisely taught through Spirit-led proclamation it leads us to Christ who is the One who can actually bring spiritual life and guidance to our lives.

“It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers will bring us to Him (CS Lewis; Letters).

Psalm 27:4-8 NLT
The one thing I ask of the Lord—    the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,    delighting in the Lord’s perfections    and meditating in his Temple.
5 
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;    he will hide me in his sanctuary.    He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 
Then I will hold my head high    above my enemies who surround me.At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,    singing and praising the Lord with music.
7 
Hear me as I pray, O Lord.    Be merciful and answer me!
8 
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”    And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”

Isaiah 56:1-2 NLT
1
 This is what the Lord says:
“Be just and fair to all.
    Do what is right and good,
for I am coming soon to rescue you
    and to display my righteousness among you.
2 
Blessed are all those
    who are careful to do this.
Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest
    and keep themselves from doing wrong.

Please take time to read over our passages for today. I will be teaching on them and leading a discussion this evening during our Lenten Bible Study at 7PM. I hope you will plan to join us in person at Connect2Christ Church or online through our website as we explore the Scriptures together.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for life and the many blessings you extend to your children each and every day. Continue to lead us toward spiritual prosperity and growth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

God is love and creation was created to share that love in the world; therefore, we will find ourselves vulnerable to the pain love endures unless we choose the alternative and foolishly hardened our hearts with selfishness.

The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell. (C.S. Lewis; The Four Loves)

In our passage from the Psalter, we are reminded that God rejects those who sin [rebel] against his commands of love. God offers humanity unfailing love and as we live and love his way we are welcomed into his beautiful and glorious presence to enjoy fellowship and oneness. Many times people misunderstand the love of God as being unconditional acceptance, but that is not a scriptural stand in Truth. Actually, God accepts us where he finds us in the wilderness in order to lead us out of vulnerable selfish love and into godly sacrificial love. We must decide if we are going to protect and preserve our own selfish inclinations, or submit, trust, and obediently find our protective refuge in God’s glorious love.

Psalm 5:5-12 NLT
5
Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence,    for you hate all who do evil.
6 
You will destroy those who tell lies.    The Lord detests murderers and deceivers.
7 
Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house;    I will worship at your Temple with deepest awe.
8 
Lead me in the right path, O Lord,    or my enemies will conquer me.Make your way plain for me to follow.
9 
My enemies cannot speak a truthful word.    Their deepest desire is to destroy others.Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.    Their tongues are filled with flattery.
10 
O God, declare them guilty.    Let them be caught in their own traps.Drive them away because of their many sins,    for they have rebelled against you.
11 
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;    let them sing joyful praises forever.Spread your protection over them,    that all who love your name may be filled with joy.
12 
For you bless the godly, O Lord;    you surround them with your shield of love.

Since we are to imitate God, we are called to express his love in all we say and do. Jesus laid down his life of perfect love, so we could have the power to walk in the light or truth of God’s love with the help of the Spirit. Therefore, as worshipers, our selfish inclinations must be left on the altar to be burned by the consuming fire of God. On the path of righteous love, believers will step beyond mere affection into self-sacrificing service to God and neighbor.

Ephesians 5:1-6 VOICE
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.

Prayer: Lord, please help us to grow stronger in your love each day by making us more sensitive to sin. Make us aware of the sin that tries to hide under the cloak of complacency. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

All that we do and say must be for the glory of God…if it is not for the Most High God, then it is in alignment with the one who rules this world, and he is Satan.

“All our merely natural activities will be accepted, if they are offered to God, even the humblest, and all of them, even the noblest, will be sinful if they are not.”
(C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory)

During yesterday’s time of worship, we looked at the first two verses of Psalm 91 and today we will look at some more verses. I mentioned that the traditional Jewish thought is that Moses might have written Psalm 91 during the 40 years of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. Since there is no title, the author remains unknown, and others believe it shares some of the similar messaging found in a few of the Psalms written by King David.

Either way, the author repeats the promise of deliverance and the assurance of victory as long as you and I make the Lord our refuge in all that we do and say. When we are living our lives fully for the Lord He promises to rescue us, to be with us, and to reward us.

Psalm 91:9-16 (NLT)

9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,

10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.

11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.

12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.

13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.

15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.

16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

I read that as Christians we live as “the already but the not just yet”…meaning we are already redeemed, but not just yet completely redeemed. So, we must wait with both patience and eagerness for our resurrected bodies and our completion into the Heavenly realm of all Eternity with Jesus. In the meantime, while we know that all that we do and say must be for the glory of God, the Apostle Paul reminds us that we desperately need the Holy Spirit’s help because we have moments (and sometimes, we have many moments) of weakness. None of us are exempt from weakness, and so we need what the Holy Spirit does for us, in us, and through us because He is always in alignment with God’s will and His plan for our lives. We must remember that God uses ALL things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them (v. 28).

As Pastor Mary reminded us yesterday, we need to let Jesus drive the car of our lives. He wants what is best for us, and in that highest place no one can ever be against us. Even when (not if, but when) they are against us, we have peace (shalom) because the Highest God is for us, so nothing anyone says or does matters above the love of our God.

Romans 8:26-34 (NLT)

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Prayer: Jesus, please help me to do things that are in alignment with what You would do, and please help me to say things that You would say. I want my actions and words to glorify Your Holy Name. Please forgive me for not allowing the Holy Spirit free rein over my actions and words all of the time. Help me, Father, to press into You so that You can nudge me to call on the Holy Spirit more and more, and to trust the direction He is guiding for my life. I ask all of this in Your Holy Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

God is the one who is in control of all things, and He is the one who can guide us in the right direction when we are led astray.

“God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.”
(C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

In this particular passage, David is addressing that the glory of God is displayed through creation. Back in Genesis 1, it talks about how the world was formed and the who created it. David is addressing that God’s glory is revealed through everything that we see in creation. From the tress in the park to the white sand beaches along the gulf coast, we are witnesses to the glory of God through what we see every single day.

Psalm 8:1-9 (NLT)
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.

1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.

9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

When it comes to this particular passage in Hebrews 2, it is reminding us of what was mentioned in Psalm 8:1-8. There is a direct parallel between these sets of passages talking about how how the son of man, Jesus, was made made lower than the angels. But because He had taken the ultimate punishment for all people, He was crowned with glory and honor. In both Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2, it talks about how everything in under the authority or the subjection of God. We need to remind ourselves that He’s the one who is in complete control, not man.

Hebrews 2:5-11 (NLT)
Jesus, the Man

5 And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. 6 For in one place the Scriptures say,

“What are mere mortals that you should think about them,
or a son of man that you should care for him? 7 Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor. 8 You gave them authority over all things.”

Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. 9 What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. 10 God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

11 So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, I pray that as we move forward through this journey called life, You will continue to lead us in the direction that You have called us to. Remind us of how valuable we are in Your eyes. No matter what the world tells us, You say the exact opposite. Lord, I ask for Your continuous guidance as we journey through life. We know that this journey is a marathon, but we ask that You will continue to show us what we need to see and do the things that You have called to do. In His name I pray, amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

Being invited into a relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is like waking up from a nightmare [wilderness] and finding ourselves immersed in divine joy with the assurance we will be safe in the love of God from now on.

“Bliss is not for sale, cannot be earned.” (C.S. Lewis; English Literature 16th Century)

In our passage from the Psalter, Israel has faced national defeat in battle and the psalmist cries out to God for help and understanding. This writing is a lament—expression of sorrow—because the people do not understand why God would allow their enemy to conquer them. They are suffering because, in a land filled with sin, they have chosen to remain faithful to God even though it appears God is silent. However, our passage ends with the psalmist trusting God and recognizing divine love.

Psalm 44:20-26 NLV
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God, or put out our hands to a strange god, 21 would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart. 22 But we are killed all day long because of You. We are thought of as sheep that are ready to be killed. 23 Awake, O Lord! Why do You sleep? Rise up! Do not turn away from us forever. 24 Why do You hide Your face? Why do You forget our troubles and our suffering? 25 For our soul is brought down to the dust. Our body holds on to the earth. 26 Rise up and help us! Save us because of Your loving-kindness.

Human effort can never bring us salvation nor give us the ability to retain divine joy. Only God can bring something beautiful out of the suffering of his children. Evil is all around us, but God continues to work his purpose in and through those who love him. God will bring something good out of every circumstance; we can trust because God is always with us.

Romans 8:26-39 VOICE
26 A similar thing happens when we pray. We are weak and do not know how to pray, so the Spirit steps in and articulates prayers for us with groaning too profound for words. 27 Don’t you know that He who pursues and explores the human heart intimately knows the Spirit’s mind because He pleads to God for His saints to align their lives with the will of God? 28 We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. 29-30 From the distant past, His eternal love reached into the future. You see, He knew those who would be His one day, and He chose them beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of a new family of believers, all brothers and sisters. As for those He chose beforehand, He called them to a different destiny so that they would experience what it means to be made right with God and share in His glory.

31 So what should we say about all of this? If God is on our side, then tell me: whom should we fear? 32 If He did not spare His own Son, but handed Him over on our account, then don’t you think that He will graciously give us all things with Him? 33 Can anyone be so bold as to level a charge against God’s chosen? Especially since God’s “not guilty” verdict is already declared. 34 Who has the authority to condemn? Jesus the Anointed who died, but more importantly, conquered death when He was raised to sit at the right hand of God where He pleads on our behalf. 35 So who can separate us? What can come between us and the love of God’s Anointed? Can troubles, hardships, persecution, hunger, poverty, danger, or even death? The answer is, absolutely nothing. 36 As the psalm says,
On Your behalf, our lives are endangered constantly;    we are like sheep awaiting slaughter.

37 But no matter what comes, we will always taste victory through Him who loved us. 38 For I have every confidence that nothing—not death, life, heavenly messengers, dark spirits, the present, the future, spiritual powers, 39 height, depth, nor any created thing—can come between us and the love of God revealed in the Anointed, Jesus our Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that nothing we face will ever separate us from your love. We do not need to suffer or deal with our problems alone. Thank you for providing everything we need to live for you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: During this Lenten season, every devotional will begin with a quote from C.S. Lewis (author and theologian), followed by two readings: 1) A passage from the Psalter and 2) a writing from one of the Old Testament prophets or New Testament authors. We will look at both passages as a whole through the fulfilling work and wisdom of Christ—Truth.

Moral effort is using human strength to live for what we value most whether it is the priority of self, religious or society norms, or a relationship with God.
“The price of Christ is something, in a way, much easier than moral effort—it is to want Him.” (C.S.Lewis, Present Concerns)

According to biblical history, Israel turned away from God’s instruction [law] for how to love Him and others in a righteous way; therefore, the people reaped the separation or distressful exile into which they had actually sown by their moral efforts. They were living [sowing] with a wrong or divided priority hoping they could still reap the blessings from God. Think about Adam and Eve and the exile they faced from the blessings in the Garden. Consequences come with our deliberate sin against God [knowing it is wrong but doing it anyway]. When we deliberately sin, let’s be honest, accept the consequences for our rebellion and call on the Lord for mercy and help to deliver us. Despite our foolishness and weakness, God is faithful, good, and strong. In our passage today, the psalmist returns to prayer because life is so difficult it leaves sickness in his soul; he seeks the true Cure for his distress.

Psalm 102:1-2 NLT
1
Lord, hear my prayer!    Listen to my plea!
2 
Don’t turn away from me    in my time of distress.Bend down to listen,    and answer me quickly when I call to you.

Humanity typically views life from one of three perspectives and has a choice to make: 1) Live for self; 2) Live divided between allegiance to God and society norms; and 3) Live as Christ. We were created to live in fellowship with God and live as Christ who wholeheartedly placed himself into the Father’s divine care. Christ helps us live in that wholehearted place—holding nothing back. He offers the power to leave our selfishness behind and want Him more than anything the world has to offer. In our passage today from the gospel of Luke, the widow wisely chooses to live as Christ.

Luke 21:1-19 NLT
 Looking up, [Jesus] saw the rich people putting their gifts into the treasury.
2 And He saw also a poor widow putting in two mites (copper coins).
3 And He said, Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them;
4 For they all gave out of their abundance (their surplus); but she has contributed out of her lack and her want, putting in all that she had on which to live.

Prayer: Lord, with all the world has to offer, it constantly leaves the human soul wanting and distressed. We are tormented when we try to live with a divided allegiance. Only you can fill and satisfy us. We live in a place of spiritual exile if we do not make the choice to be completely devoted to you. Please help us to take personal responsibility and release our unholy wants for the world in order to grab ahold of your glorious grace. We choose you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.