Lent Devotions: Week 5
This year, we encourage our FCBC family to practice Lent together by joining the 40 Days of Spiritual Breakthrough:
- Consider fasting (giving up something) for the duration of the 40 days. For example, lunch everyday or sweets for 40 days or television/media, etc. Fasting allows us to uncover our need for God and to instead, turn to God to supply our needs. It is a physical action with a spiritual intention.
- Set aside time to read, reflect, and pray with the weekly devotional.
- Commit to attending our weekly corporate prayer time after worship service (12:10 pm) in the Worship Center along with our weekly prayer meetings on Wednesday (7:45 pm) in the Hall of Truth.
- Missed previous prayer weeks? You can find them here.
RELATIONSHIPS
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DAY 29
READ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
REFLECT
The Bible says that a life with companions is a wonderful thing. Working together can bring better results and support for each other. If we desire to have this kind of relationship, what aspect of my character may hinder the growth of a good relationship with others? What areas do I need to grow in?
PRAY
Dear Heavenly Father, teach me how to relate well to others and even be a blessing to others. May my relationships allow others to see that I am a follower of the Lord Jesus.
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READ 1 Corinthians 12:23-27
And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect...
REFLECT
The media and the web report more and more the failures and mistakes of people. If we are not careful, our hearts can be polluted to judge others. However, the Bible teaches us to bless those we consider less honorable because we are redeemed by Jesus and are all one body in Christ.
PRAY
God, grant me a humble heart to see others as You do and to help others with the gentleness and humility of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus fills my lacking with His life, please make me perfect in Him.
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DAY 31
READ Romans 5:6-8
But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
REFLECT
Jesus Christ died on the cross not only to pardon us from our sins but also to demonstrate God’s love for sinners. He has also reconciled us to God and overwhelmed us with His selfless love. Is my life empowered by His love today?
PRAY
Father, thank You for sending Your beloved Son as the Word who became flesh to live among us. His death on the cross for my sins has allowed me to return to You. Help us to live by this restored relationship with You and be empowered to restore our relationships with others.
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READ Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
REFLECT
Honoring our father and mother is the first command about relationships and also the first command with a promise. We can see God’s value of parent-child relationships. Do we value what God values?
PRAY
Dear God, thank You for giving me parents on earth. Grant me knowledge and wisdom to know how to honor my parents and to love them. May they see Your great love for them in my life.
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READ Genesis 4:8-12
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
REFLECT
This is Cain’s response to God’s question. It is surprising that Cain not only failed to perform the basic task of guarding his brother, but killed him because of jealousy in his heart. Do we neglect others, hurt others, or even allow evil to happen to others because we are jealous of them?
PRAY
Heavenly Father, grant me a loving heart for others. Fill my heart with more love from You so that I am no longer jealous of others. Instead, I would rejoice when others rejoice.
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READ Luke 10:25-37
He answered, “Love theLord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind;” and “your neighbor as yourself.”
REFLECT
Jesus answers the expert of the law (God’s standard) with the answer to love the Lord and to love your neighbor as yourself. Therefore, to love our neighbor is not something to do only when we feel like it, but is God’s command so we inherit eternal life.
PRAY
Dear Heavenly Father, we admit that our love for our neighbors is not deep enough. May Your Holy Spirit help us to obey Your command to step out of our comfort zone. Help us to learn how to love our neighbors with Your love.
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DAY 35
READ Exodus 22:21a, 23:9a
You must not exploit a resident alien or oppress him, since you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt. You must not oppress a resident alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be a resident alien because you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt.
REFLECT
If it were not for God’s salvation and grace, Israel would still be slaves in Egypt. Similarly, if the
Lord Jesus Christ did not die on the cross on our behalf, we would still be enslaved to sin.
PRAY
Heavenly Father, help us not to be proud in our hearts but know our true nature. If it were not for Your grace, we would still be hopeless. Lord, help me to guide others to You so that they may see the hope of eternal life.
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