My Thoughts on Lent.....

The Lenten season is not observed by many Protestant congregations, probably due to its origin in the Catholic faith centuries ago as a process by which a person found forgiveness of  sin. We know that no tradition, ritual, or observation of a special day or season is necessary for the forgiveness of sin and the attainment of salvation. However, it can be a good thing to take time out of our busy lives and schedules to focus on the spiritual aspects of life. To me, that is what Lent provides. These forty some-odd days before Easter represent the forty days and nights that Jesus spent in the Garden before He began His public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). During those days, He fasted and prayed - He was totally focused on God and God's plan for Him on this earth. He was also tempted three times by Satan himself to take matters into His own hands and use His power to rule the earth. Remember  that at this time, He was a human being. He was hungry and tired when Satan hit Him up. But because Jesus was focused on the Father, He was able to speak the Word to the devil, which allowed Him to repel those attacks. Those forty days of being alone with God and the many subsequent times He spent in quiet time with the Father empowered Him to be obedient to His calling, which was fulfilled when He rose from the dead on that first Easter morning. On that morning, Satan and all of his evil was defeated for eternity and salvation for each human being was made possible.

This is why I am giving Lent my attention this year. Not because it is necessary, but because it will be helpful to me as I refocus my attention on Jesus, the sacrifice He made for me, and the gift of  forgiveness and salvation that He has given me. It will prepare me to sing Hallelujah on Easter morning.

I am following a devotion series during this time from the website She Reads Truth. I encourage you to check it out. You can subscribe to it and get their devotions every morning. Read about the authors and the other devotion series they offer. It is a site recommended by many Protestant organizations. http://shereadstruth.com/category/plans/near-the-cross/

Whether you choose to observe Lent or not, challenge yourself to prepare for Easter in a meaningful way this year. In my way of thinking, it is by far the most important celebration of the Christian church. Without His death and resurrection, there would have been no reason for Him to be born in human flesh. Without Easter, Satan and all of the evil in this world would know no end. Without Easter, abundant life for the believer while still in this world would not be available. Without Easter, man's way to eternity with Jesus Christ would not be made possible.

Do not let this season of reflection pass without taking a long look at Who, what, why, and how God the Father sacrificed for mankind - and that sacrifice is offered to every living person. Believe me, it can be a life-changing reflection.

Praying More Than the Normal Routine Prayer

 
 

When we pray, we pray for people who fall into one of two categories: 1) they are unbelievers, or 2) they are believers. Should there be a difference in how or what we pray for these two groups? The answer is two-fold. Let me explain.

For someone in either category - saved or unsaved, we have the privilege of voicing our concerns about them to the Lord. Those concerns usually deal with health, safety, and help with pressing issues in their lives. And quite frankly, those are the items most on our minds. However, as important as any of those things are, there are things more important than any other that we should discipline ourselves to pray. For the unbeliever, it is salvation. Without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that person has no access to the power that will enable her to face whatever life brings. For the one who is already a believer, the most important thing we can pray is that her relationship with Him grows deeper each day.

It is pretty easy for most Christians to pray the routine, habitual prayers about daily life for ourselves and for those we know and love. It takes a deeper commitment to pray deeper prayers about growth. I am not sure why that is unless it is because we haven't grown deeper in our own personal relationship with Him. It is hard to pray for something we don't understand ourselves or think is not that important.

So, how do we learn to pray this kind of powerful prayer for those we love? We only have to look to Paul for instruction. When he was writing his letter to the church at Philippi, his heart's desire was that they would grow to know and love the Lord Jesus more deeply than they could even imagine. Paul was experienced in that kind of relationship with the Lord and knew of the great benefits and abundant life that results from knowing Him on an intimate level.

In Philippians 1:9-11, Paul prays for the believers in that church, and in so doing, teaches us how to pray for other believers. In those verses, he prays for spiritual maturity, godly character, and he tells what the results those two things will bring the believer.

Philippians 1:9 - And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment

Love - This means Christ's love in you! And your love for Christ! The love used here is the agape love defined in 1 Cor. 13. It is the unconditional love that is not based on emotion or circumstances that God has for us. For a believer, this love comes from the Holy Spirit living in her heart. In this verse Paul is praying that the believers' love for Christ will continuously grow and overflow. 

Knowledge - Knowledge of Him, meaning to know Him intimately - who He is, His character, His love for us, His desires for us. Remember, He knows each one of us so intimately that He knows the number of hairs on our head and our deepest, hidden thoughts. He wants us to know Him in the same, most personal way.

Discernment - Spiritual discernment is the ability to distinguish God's will, what is right and moral in His eyes, and the difference between good and evil. Spiritual discernment is only available to believers as it is directed by the Holy Spirit.

These three qualities that Paul prays for his believer-friends to have are each a characteristic of Christ. Ultimately, he is praying that as they grow spiritually, they will become more and more like Christ.

Philippians 1:10a - So that you may approve the things that are excellent,

Approve - "Approve" means to acknowledge and apply to one's own life....

Things that are excellent - Those things that are of God, those things He approves of.

Praying that our believer-friends grow spiritually and mature in their personal relationship with Christ is one of, if not the most important thing we can ask for them. Because as they mature, they will be better equipped to deal with life's issues no matter how tough or tragic. Their ears will be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit and sensitive to the attacks of the evil one.

 Philippians 1:10b - in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ,

 Sincere - In the original language, this word has two meanings that pertain to this context. One is "tested by sunlight." A sincere believer is not afraid to stand in the light - set apart from the world. The same idea as being a light in a world of darkness. The second is "to whirl in a sieve." The idea of winnowing process of removing chaff from the grain.

Blameless - This word means "without offense." Our lives should not offend our holy God!
As God works in our believer-friends maturing them spiritually so that they become more like Christ, they will reap results and blessings.

Philippians 1:11 - having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God.

Fruits of righteousness - Every believer has the fruit of the Spirit within her because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. But a growing, maturing believer is aware of the fruit and is able to live life in that fruit and exudes that fruit to those around her. As her relationship with Christ is "right" and intimate, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control are present and ever growing and overflowing. (Galatians 5:22-23) Other examples of the fruit of righteousness consists of winning the lost (Romans 1:13), holiness (Romans 6:22), good works (Colossians 1:10), and praise (Hebrews 13:15). 

So, as we think about how to pray for our believer-friends, let's remember to not only pray for their present needs and issues, but also to pray for their spiritual maturity. As one matures in Christ, everything else falls into place. She will take on more and more of Christ's character, and she will live more and more in the abundance of His fruit. And hers will be a life that brings glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ!