And as the word relent defines, more lenient, compassionate and forgiving, milder, less severe etc., I shall endeavour to be those things to myself and others as we struggle in whatever form our bondage takes on. Mine is definitely emotional eating.
Today's Question: "What will your soul searching and repentance lead you to change?"
As Lent began yesterday so I began my journey to change, turn, knock it off, smarten up. Oops I relent, forgive yourself it's done, be compassionate you are human, don't be so hard on yourself or too severe. Two words that work so well together to remind me that balance is good when making the necessary effort to change. Two words that tie so wonderfully into the reason this Western Christian observes Lent.
Sundays are a day of rest from whatever form your Lent takes, I love that we take them off because Sunday is Resurrection day. The forty days with Sundays excluded reminds us of the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, hungry, cold, thirsty, lonely, perhaps angry, maybe a little depressed and maybe a little frustrated by the nature of the people He would die for. But then the other "L" word comes to mind. Love!!!!
Lent to me is about love, my love for Jesus and the sacrifices He has made for me. I fast and think I'm so Christ like, I mean really fruits and vegetables people, ok I add rice, and some whole grains, alright nuts too. Practically starving for sure. Last night I had popcorn with only salt, no butter. It was yummy, you see the things I do for the Lord. I know I"m a sad case. Remember Love.
My first full day of Lent led me to a wonderful insight about what I truly need to become. I was working hard to incorporate prayer into my Lent as God reminded me that I do fast, but I don't pray anymore than normal. So I've been stopping to pray more. I had gotten up from praying, due to kidneys and it was then that I felt the Spirit drop some wisdom into my head. "You need to learn to make every conversation a prayer." And there I sat thinking ...now you speak, while I'm...well I said I got up due to kidneys. Then it hit me. What would I be like if every conversation I had with any person was a prayer. Not..."Oh Jesus and my friend hi, I pray you be blessed today, I'd love to chat but I don't know how to do that and pray at the same time. But rather hearing every word spoken and appropriately applying prayer in the quiet of my mind whether I'm silent or speaking. Wouldn't I be a better person? Don't you think it would be difficult for me to keep praying and be critical at the same time. Perhaps that gossip we do for the sake of prayer could be silenced if we believed our prayers were enough for that person who shares there pain and foolishly trust us with it.
Oh relent Jenny please relent. I think that a part of the battle I need to win is to silence my mind, to stop justifying my sin, to look at exactly who I am, love the good parts and continue to grow them, the not so lovely aspects of who I am, treat more severely but with compassion. No point in beating myself up for my mistakes, the point is to change them, learn from them and for goodness sake....stop repeating them.
I love what Jesus did for us in that desert those forty days, we will never fully comprehend how great the victory was until that glorious day when we are face to face with Him. We have a future and a hope and my prayer for all is that they would come to know the One who so willingly laid down His life for such an unholy and often selfish bunch. Of which I am one.
Be blessed with a Wonderful Day :)
Today's Question: "What will your soul searching and repentance lead you to change?"
As Lent began yesterday so I began my journey to change, turn, knock it off, smarten up. Oops I relent, forgive yourself it's done, be compassionate you are human, don't be so hard on yourself or too severe. Two words that work so well together to remind me that balance is good when making the necessary effort to change. Two words that tie so wonderfully into the reason this Western Christian observes Lent.
Sundays are a day of rest from whatever form your Lent takes, I love that we take them off because Sunday is Resurrection day. The forty days with Sundays excluded reminds us of the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, hungry, cold, thirsty, lonely, perhaps angry, maybe a little depressed and maybe a little frustrated by the nature of the people He would die for. But then the other "L" word comes to mind. Love!!!!
Lent to me is about love, my love for Jesus and the sacrifices He has made for me. I fast and think I'm so Christ like, I mean really fruits and vegetables people, ok I add rice, and some whole grains, alright nuts too. Practically starving for sure. Last night I had popcorn with only salt, no butter. It was yummy, you see the things I do for the Lord. I know I"m a sad case. Remember Love.
My first full day of Lent led me to a wonderful insight about what I truly need to become. I was working hard to incorporate prayer into my Lent as God reminded me that I do fast, but I don't pray anymore than normal. So I've been stopping to pray more. I had gotten up from praying, due to kidneys and it was then that I felt the Spirit drop some wisdom into my head. "You need to learn to make every conversation a prayer." And there I sat thinking ...now you speak, while I'm...well I said I got up due to kidneys. Then it hit me. What would I be like if every conversation I had with any person was a prayer. Not..."Oh Jesus and my friend hi, I pray you be blessed today, I'd love to chat but I don't know how to do that and pray at the same time. But rather hearing every word spoken and appropriately applying prayer in the quiet of my mind whether I'm silent or speaking. Wouldn't I be a better person? Don't you think it would be difficult for me to keep praying and be critical at the same time. Perhaps that gossip we do for the sake of prayer could be silenced if we believed our prayers were enough for that person who shares there pain and foolishly trust us with it.
Oh relent Jenny please relent. I think that a part of the battle I need to win is to silence my mind, to stop justifying my sin, to look at exactly who I am, love the good parts and continue to grow them, the not so lovely aspects of who I am, treat more severely but with compassion. No point in beating myself up for my mistakes, the point is to change them, learn from them and for goodness sake....stop repeating them.
I love what Jesus did for us in that desert those forty days, we will never fully comprehend how great the victory was until that glorious day when we are face to face with Him. We have a future and a hope and my prayer for all is that they would come to know the One who so willingly laid down His life for such an unholy and often selfish bunch. Of which I am one.
Be blessed with a Wonderful Day :)
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