Devotions for Lent: Week One

The First Week of Lent

As Lent begins, consider the things that come between you and God, and starting with the words below, hold them up to God as a confession. Confession causes us to face our nature, and can be a frightful thing, but it is also a bridge to God. Sincere confession is always followed by God's drawing near in forgiveness. As you read, don't be limited by what is written here. Add your own words as you are moved to.

Confession

Holy and merciful Father: We confess to you ... that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven. We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us ... We have grieved your Holy Spirit. (BCP)

Father, by way of the cross and passion of your Son our Lord, teach me the joy of resurrection.

Psalm 51
(For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.)

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds – they haunt me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner – yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice. Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you.

Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you. You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it. The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise. Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with worthy sacrifices and with our whole burnt offerings; and bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar. (NLT)

As the scripture says, "If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong" (1 John 1.9). Now is the time to search our hearts and to be fully known by God. As we approach Easter we need to be honest with God, hiding nothing. Remember as well that there is no darkness too deep for God: his own son suffered death on a cross under the burden of the darkness of the whole world. And he suffered this so that no matter how deep we were buried in it, we would not have to be punished according to our sins.

Prayer
Father, I often find myself buried under the weight of my own dark thoughts, and so fearful of these thoughts that I cannot even face them. But Lord, you promise that because of what Jesus did, I am not to be punished according to my sin. With this promise and the hope of freedom, God help me to face my own heart: shine your light inside of me. I want to be known by you. Help me, this season of Lent, to let you in.

Practice
(See the page on fasting for some important considerations before you begin a fast. And remember that these are suggestions: you are encouraged to modify this practice in any way that will lead you more readily into God's presence.)

In this first week of Lent, consider taking one fast day: skip a meal or two on that day (don't avoid liquids, though). For the entire week (Monday-Saturday) begin cutting parts of your diet and/or routine. The first week is a good week to cut junk food (dessert, soft drinks, candy, burgers and fries), and cut back on helpings in general. Ideally what you cut out this week will stay out of your diet until Easter. Try cutting TV, movies, or other electronic habits. Don't eat meat on Friday. End your weekly fast on Sunday.