Text: Colossians 1:15-23, Romans 5:1-11
For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly.
- Romans 5:6, HCSB
Confession: the She Reads Truth team is completely and enthusiastically addicted to Post-its. From the tiny kind for flagging pages of a book, to those colorful and ubiquitous 3”x3” squares, to the huge pages that magically turn any wall into a giant whiteboard—we love them all. The amazing gals who keep our office running use sticky notes in many Very Official SRT Processes. Me, I just use them because I’m super forgetful. If something is important, please write it on a neon piece of paper and post it right in front of my face. Then do it again tomorrow, please and thank you.
As I approach this season of Lent, I’m in need of big, bright Gospel post-it note. My mind and body are tired, my heart is numb, and I just feel… forgetful. Disconnected. Distracted. Remind me what we’re doing here again, Lord? Remind me of who You are. Remind me of what You’ve done.
Maybe you know this feeling of Gospel detachment, where you have to squint hard to see what you know is true. In my own squinting last week, the Holy Spirit brought me to this passage in the first chapter of Colossians. It’s packed with Gospel reminders!
Lord, remind me of who You are.
He is the visible image of the invisible God.
He is the firstborn of all creation.
He is the One by whom everyone and everything else were created.
He is the One for whom it was all created.
He is the One who holds all things together!
He is the head of the Church.
He is the beginning.
He is the dwelling place of all the fullness of God.
Lord, remind me of what You’ve done.
He reconciled all things to Himself.
He reconciled you to Himself!
He reconciled me to Himself!
He made peace through the blood of His cross.
The Holy One who possesses all the glory of God stretched out His body of flesh to become the Way that brings us back to the Father.
Friends, the season of Lent is about coming near to the cross of Jesus. Only at the Cross will we see the full weight of our sin. Only at the Cross will we see the full height of His glory. Only at the Cross will we grasp the full joy of our salvation. At the Cross we see clearly what is true.
We’re so excited to walk with you over the next 47 days as we travel through three phases of reading and prayer together—
We will Return, kneeling daily at the cross of our Lord.
We will Repent, mourning the depth and reality of our sin.
And we will Remember, tracing the path of Christ on His journey to the Cross.
We will take a long, hard look at our sin, and we will grieve at the sight of it. And we will lock our gaze on Jesus, the One who rescues us from death and despair! We’ll follow the instructions of 18th century Scottish minister Robert Murray M’Cheyne when he said, “For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely.”
You and I aren’t the only ones who tend to forget. In this same passage from Colossians, Paul warns the Church not to “shift from the hope of the gospel.” If you, like me, feel you’ve shifted a bit off of Gospel center, join me in asking our heavenly Father to bring us back to Him. Let’s ask Him to go with us, before us, and behind us on this Bible-reading journey we’ll begin tomorrow.
Lord, we are a forgetful people. May this Lenten season cause us to remember your glory and our sin, our guilt and your cross.
Jesus, we are the broken ones. May we know we’ve been washed clean, brought close, and made whole.
We are faithless wanderers and You are the faithful Father. Guide us through these weeks in your Word and show us more of You.
Jesus, keep us near the Cross. May it be our glory ever.
Amen.
Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross
Fanny Crosby, 1869
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.
Refrain
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and Morning Star
Sheds His beams around me.
Refrain
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadow o’er me.
Refrain
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
Refrain
Share the image above and invite a friend!
The “Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross” reading plan will begin Wednesday, Feb 18, at 12:01am EST.
Daily scripture readings and devotional will be posted daily. Follow along here on the site, on the She Reads Truth app, or via email.
I so enjoyed this read before I started my work day. It definitely help me amour the load of my job. Thank you.
Please help me to access the 2017 lent study online. Thank you
A newbie here to don’t know yet how this wk’s ?
Advise ? Thanks God Bless
Ppwworks
Waiting for plans. Newbee here. :) Godbless!
I just downloaded She Reads truth so I am late getting started with your lent devotions. But you spoke to my heart as I have felt so off of my walk with the Lord. Thanks for reminding me to look at Christ not myself!
Welcome to our community, Lynda! So happy you are here!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
I’m a guy but still here! We need a he reads truth! Hehe
Thank You, Lord , for bringing me here.
I need thee, oh I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Wow! This is so good for the soul!
Came in here late but so excited to join here from India. To be able to share my joy and struggles a sisters in Christ around the world is such a delight!!! :) Glimpse of heaven. Looking forward to savoring the scriptures with you all!
Angela, thank you for putting us on to this. I will follow you all of lent.
Does anyone know what I may be doing wrong??
I purchased this reading plan but for some reason it’s not coming up as purchased :(
Hi Deearn! Try this: open the app, click 'Settings' then 'Restore in-app purchases.' Let me know if that doesn't work!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Thanks heaps it worked! A bit behind now but I’ll have a read and catch up :)
I went to the doctors this past week and they notices two things abnormal which they then had to draw blood for a second time. This just gives me hope everything will be ok. Thank you Jesus.
my grandmother is very sick & has depression. she is very underweight & will only eat 2 foods. the part of the verse that said “My mind & body are tired, my heart is numb, and I just feel….regretful” explains her life. her mind & body are tired, her heart is numb, & she has been depressed ever since my great-grandmother passed away. I like that I can relate to many Bible verses.
My grandmother died this Sunday after 5 months of intense, post-stroke suffering. To read, " My mind and body are tired, my heart is numb, and I just feel… forgetful. Disconnected. Distracted. Remind me what we’re doing here again, Lord? Remind me of who You are. Remind me of what You’ve done" is so resonating and encouraging during this season of sadness for me.
I am going through a break up and found out on the 17th of February that the person whom I thought I was going to end up with has been seeing someone else and is sharing intimate emotional details about what we had. (I know this probably sounds like a young teenager wrote it, but I am in my mid-twenties).
I was sitting at work today with so much pain in my heart and began to pray for God to help me through this hurt. I got up and had the urge to check social media to see if I could see them but instead I searched daily devotionals and out of all the pictures that came up on instagram I was moved to select one associated with She Reads Truth. I downloaded the app and read this first entry and was moved to tears.
Thank you! I am so appreciative that God is using this website and organization to comfort people like me. I will be committing to your 47 days.
Glad to have u here. With God there is always hope. Real hope, that doesn’t disappoint.
Praying for sister! I’ve been there and I know exactly what you’re going through. But He is a God who brings beauty out ashes. He knows your pain and He is in control. Maybe you can’t see the purpose behind the situation right now but somebody the picture will be clear. Be strong in Him and lean on His word, claiming His promises. Love to you from Mumbai. :)
Thank you for this post! I am in such need of “reminding”, “returning” as I have failed lately to take captive my thoughts and make them obedient to Christ. I am weary and struggling to find my purpose.
Awesome. I’m gonna go ahead and get that!! Bless
Got my study pack. Finished day 1.. Here we go!! Do I still have to buy the app for the lent study to post or read YALLS thoughts??
Hi Janguay! So glad you are here!! There is a small cost for the convenience of following the study on the feature-rich app, but following along is free at SheReadsTruth.com!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
I had the same question…thanks for asking!
So excited!
I haven’t been able to add the plan thru the ap today… Something about being unable to connect with iTunes… Think it’s a connection problem on my end? Or too many people trying to get it at once?
Thank you for standing firm on Truth and for taking the initiative to lead us into these 6 weeks of preparation: preparation for despair, trumped by Hope. To ruminate on the beautiful dichotomy of the holiness of God wrapped in his perfect humility is mind-boggling, and to do so for 40 days will be powerfully life-changing. May our Father bless the words that pour forth to us and may the Holy Spirit yield breath-taking moments of holy surprise in the lives of all who ingest and digest those words!
While I am looking forward to this study, I also come to it with a feeling of dread. I think this is my 3rd Lent study with SheReadsTruth, and they have all followed the same format (which I love and appreciate). But, facing our sins and really looking at them and repenting of them is kind of hard and dirty work. When we ask God to reveal our sins to us, he will. I know what is coming over the next couple of weeks. THANKFULLY I know what is coming after that: a savior who died for me, who REALLY did the dirty work.
Finally someone who thinks as I do. Thank u for your honesty. God is too faithful to let us stay in our muck. Praying for us! That His mercy outshine our shame.
So looking forward to this. It's exactly what I need. Lately, I've been having a hard time, and my eyes have been looking, to and fro, and comparing and becoming jealous. I need to fix them, not on the things or events around me, but on Jesus. On the cross. On the gospel. On eternity. So so looking forward to this.
So very thankful for this ministry. So much commitment to truth, to excellence, to beauty. Thank you ladies. Keep up the good work. So thankful to have this study on the cross during the Lenten season.
Pumped!!!
This is my first study plan as well. I hope my spiritual journey will be fruitful with the help of this community. Thank you, SRT for doing all these things. Looking forward to return, repent, and remember with y’all.
This is the first time that I’ve done a study plan. I don’t belong to a church per say but I grew up Catholic. I’ve been trying to get closer and know God. I want to learn how to pray. I mean I know how to pray but you know REALLY pray and understanding about what I read in the bible. I’m excited to start this Lent study with all you wonderful women!
I'm over the moon excited about observing Lent alongside all of you amazing women in this community. Saying a prayer that the Lord will prepare our hearts tonight as we come together before the Cross during Lent. Hugs!!
A glorious and honest invitation. (Thanks, SRT.) My prayer this Lenten season – as I draw near the cross – is to really see (possibly for the first time) Jesus & His sacrifice for my redemption with a heart full of humility and love and grace. Praying God would fill those places in need of Him and His salvation to overflowing. Hopeful and eager to study and grow with you, ladies.
Near the cross I’ll watch and waitNear the cross I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Lord, thank you for this Lenten time, and this timely study…May I Lord, this ransomed soul, find all I need in in your Word Lord God, May I recognise, Remember and relate my life to your gift of rest to me..through the cross…May I Return, kneeling daily at the cross of our Lord.
May l Repent, mourning the depth and reality of our sin.
And may I Remember, tracing the path of Christ on His journey to the Cross…I look to you Lord…Thank you..Amen..
See you tomorrow Sisters…Love, Tina..x
I am very excited to start this tomorrow. I have never studied lent before. I’m anxious to learn and grow! Thank you SRT for coming into my life at the perfect time.
Excited! First time I purchase a study pack, just received it today!
I am so happy to see that I am not the only one completely obsessed with Post-Its! Truly, I laughed out loud when you said, “then do it again tomorrow…” Because that is totally me too! Haha :) thanks for making my day! Looking forward to beginning the Lent study tomorrow!
Perfect for today! Needed a reminder :)
Ah yes! I’m feeling a little tired and disconnected. I’ve heard this beautiful story so many many times growing up in a Christian home and so I fear that I won’t gain anything new.
Oh Jesus may I meet with you at the cross. May my eyes see new truths. May I get to know you more in the fellowship of your sufferings. Draw me to your heart I pray.
looking forward to this study. so need it in my time of life.
glad I found this today.
I cannot wait for this to start. So very excited.
Is anyone else receiving each post 5 times in a row on the SRT?
Hi friend! Hmm, strange! Email me at [email protected] and we will get to the bottom of this!
xoox-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Yes me too
Do we need to update or something?
Hannah
I just needed to read this today.
Looking forward to this study. I have been feeling so off and far from Christ lately. I am praying that I will draw closer to the Lord over the next 47 days.
My dad is a paster a Pickens View Wesleyan Church. In January my youth group then to swu.
God's so cool and amazing. So excited to walk alongside all of you for these next days and even more excited to see growth and change in my own heart with the help of God. Keep me near the cross, Oh Lord!
I don’t understand why it says that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. When else would he die for us? If we weren’t sinners we wouldn’t have needed him to die for us. His sacrifice is still the greatest ever made but I don’t understand the emphasis on him dying for us when we were still separated from god. It’s like yes… That’s the whole point. He wouldn’t have needed to die for non sinners.
Megan, I think it makes sense in the context of the Old Testament, when people were trying to DO all these things to be good enough, and worthy enough, and cleanse themselves of sin. Having the full history in our hands, we can see that we are never capable of making ourselves good enough or worthy of God’s grace. To the Jews living in Jesus’ day, the emphasis of “while we were still sinners” was a new concept. By following Jesus, they were able to stop endlessly trying to reach an unreachable perfection. Even today, all other major religions have a component of earning one’s salvation. Jesus alone offers grace freely.
“By following Jesus, they were able to stop endlessly trying to reach an unreachable perfection.”
Thanks for sharing, Bonnie. What a beautiful reminder that still holds true today! And I appreciated the overall context.
Take into account the context. Who was this written to and why?
I think your right–that is exactly why his sacrifice was so amazing! But if you look at the verses before, it says that people may have died for a righteous man, but goes on to say that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. I think they are trying to emphasize just how special his death was through that contrast.
I am so ready to start this plan tomorrow!!! I’m excited for what God has in store for me. For all of us. Thank you, SRT, for doing all that you do. I’m forever grateful and don’t want to take any of it for granted. This truly is a huge blessing to me.
Reminds me of Jason Gray’s song Remind Me Who I Am. Love that song!
Verse 17, in Colossians, was a timely reminder for me. In Him all things hold together. He continually sustains his creation and He continually sustains me. I will not fall apart. I will not fall apart.
Oh that’s good!
So excited to start this and know that other people will be on the journey with me!
Jess, we are so excited to have you with us!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
I am ready for Lent. Ready to draw near to the cross and find a renewed hope in the Savior. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
So, so ready for this season of pressing in, of fixing my eyes, of pushing away distractions. A beautiful way to start this season.
I also wanted to hear the hymn so I found this on YouTube. Be blessed today, sisters.
http://youtu.be/bPtUwVoJsi8
Beautiful reminder. I will go into this Lenten season with a different perspective and focus: looking to the cross. Can't wait to start tomorrow.
I need this reminder too! Thank you for this study!
When your a church kid, the phrase, “Jesus died on the cross.” Can lose meaning. It gets repeated so so many times that you never stop to think what dying actually is. What suffering actually means. And then, one day you’re just like,” Holy cow, He DIED for me! He actually suffered, hung from his wrists, nails through his hands, a spear pierced his side, and he actually bore the weight of all the world’s sins. Including mine. He was actually laughed at, and spit on, and made to carry a cross in his complete and utter innocence. Wow.” And I think that’s kind of beautiful, but it’s sad that the words lose their meaning just bc of the amount of repitition.
So beautiful! I don’t usually observe Lent, but this year I can feel God tugging on my soul to really dive into the Lenten season and allow Him to fill me with his Spirit. I am so excited to soak in the Gospel during the next 47 days!!
Amanda, I'm praying for you this morning. I too know what it is like to squint at times. The Lord is using you so very much. You are touching lives for Jesus all over the place. I'm praying that even in times of distress or distraction that you will have a clear upward focus. I feel honored to pray for you, Amanda. Thank you so very much for serving the Lord and all of us here in the She Reads Truth community so very well! Love and Blessings to You!
Thanks so much, sharijune! Honored that you would pray for me. Grace and peace to you. xo, Amanda
When I read Romans 5:3-5 I thought about the struggle of a butterfly being born–
Don't try and push the hard stuff away too fast –the Lord has beautiful wings of endurance, character, and hope for me to adorn, but I have to go through the process (hard as it may be at times). I can rest in His peace.
Looking foward to keeping nearer the cross even if this means some face-to-face heart business with sin.
Oh goodness, my heart is full from reading this. I'm praying today that the Lord will prepare and open my heart to experience the fullness of Lent. I want to deepen my understanding of what happened at the cross, I want to deeply grieve the sin that brought Him there, and I want my heart to burst with joy at the fact that I've been saved. My spirit has been sort of like those heart monitors that are turned on, but nothing is attached to it so you just see the dead, flat line going by. But once you are attached, the line starts jumping with life as it detects your heartbeat. I want to be attached to the gospel so that my spirit can jump back to life and reawaken.
I'm excited to experience Lent for the first time and I pray that this season will be a life changing experience for all of us. Oh, how I wish I could just sit in a room of comfy couches and coffee with all us SRTers and pour our hearts out!
Lori, that comfy couches and coffee idea is THE BEST! So glad you're here! Praying for you today!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
I'm so excited! But then again, I always am with these studies! Just to think of all my Savior has done, is doing, and will do! His amazing grace, His saving grace, His steadfast love for us! Even as we were yet sinners, He was willing to suffer and die for us…to take on our sin, to heal, to deliver, to set the captives free! While we were in our own world of darkness, He became our marvelous light!
"At the cross, at the cross
Where I first saw the light
And the burdens of my heart rolled away!
It was there by faith
I received my sight
And now, I am happy all the day"!!!
So glad I chose the cross! So glad Jesus chose the cross! THANK GOD FOR THE CROSS!!!
I’m assuming tomorrow we will be able to purchase the iPhone version. Just checking. Thank you. I am part of 5 women that will be doing this study together. We are excited to see what God will do during this time. That our hearts will let go of sinfulness that gets in the way of a true relationship with our Christ. Thanks again. Ann
Hi, Ann! Yes, the plan will be available on the app tomorrow (midnight EST!). So glad you'll be joining us!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
This is my first study with you all, and I am excited to see how it draws me nearer. I am new to the bible study world, and I’m excited to see how it works in my life. Thank you for your time invested for others.
Welcome!
Welcome, Angela! We're so excited you're here!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Welcome Angela…glad to be journeying with you through this season…x
angela this is really good. I'm going to try to keep up. I'm so glad you put me on to this. send it to aunt patty because we were just talking about the fact that they don't talk about lent.
My Lent study pack arrived here in the UK this morning – just in time and right after a very stressful meeting with the bank. Very excited!
YAY, Lauren! Happy mail day! So glad you'll be joining us!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Yes I would like to purchase the lent reading as well and I can not find the link to pair chase it?
They're sold out.
Hi there! Just to clarify – the Lent books are sold out but the plan itself will be published here on the site and on the She Reads Truth app beginning tomorrow, Feb 18th. You can purchase the plan on the app at midnight EST tonight, or follow along here on the site or via email! (shereadstruth.com/subscribe)
Hi Cindy! I'm so sad to tell you we're sold out of the study packs, but the good news is that all of the devotional content can be found online or on the app! So glad you're joining us!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Please pray for my friend Michele whose husband passed away this week. We are all grieving. I’m asking all my friends and her to join in the next 47 days. Praying for truth and hope in Jesus for these girls.
Connie, I'm praying for Michele, her girls and all who know and love them. Asking God to wrap a blanket of His peace around you all. Love to you, sister!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Connie, I will be praying for you both and your friends and family.
Lifting all affected by this sadness and heartache in prayer, Connie…God. be with you all, May HIS every loving arms be wrapped around you all…xx
can’t wait!
*47 day
How do I find the 47 study for Lent. I don’t see where to purchase it. Thx
I can’t find it either. I am looking forward to it!!
Hi friends! The reading plan and daily devotionals will be published here on the site and on the She Reads Truth app one day at a time, beginning tomorrow – Wed, Feb 18. We hope you'll join us!
thank you :-)
Romans 5:1-11 have been words I have found peace and hope in time and time again. I am looking forward to this Lent season and in turning my focus entirely to Christ.
"We will Return, kneeling daily at the cross of our Lord.
We will Repent, mourning the depth and reality of our sin.
And we will Remember, tracing the path of Christ on His journey to the Cross."
Such a beautiful way to celebrate this season and recall what Christ did for us. ~ B
How wonderful is it that we can come here each day and share in a common truth! What a blessing.
Perfect introduction to this series. Exactly how I feel and what I want.
Thank you.
So looking forward to returning, repenting and remembering with all of you.
so thankful for how God is using SRT…..I am continually blessed by the study of His Word through all of your hard work and efforts….thank you….
may we all find courage to make our way to the cross and remain there until our heart work is done……I know I’ll remain there for much longer than these 40+ days…..
thank you Father in advance for what you will teach us as we draw near to you.
Amen!
Yes I too want to thank the Blessed souls at She Reads Truth who have provided this beautiful avenue to seek God. I have been wandering due to a busy schedule and hope to go through this Lentan study to be with my Lord. Thank you!
I just want to say thank you for these studies. I have struggled a lot with Bible reading over the last while but I discovered your website a while ago and have been using some of your studies. I loved the Esther one and it is the first time for ages I have actually looked forward to reading the Bible each day. I'm excited for this Lent series now. I think it's what I need- to get my eyes back on Jesus. I was so scared I was drifting away but I feel like I've found a way back, so thank you for all you do.
so awesome Carly! His Word is so precious isn’t it? hugs to you.
Carly, thanks for sharing this with us! He is such a good Father, isn't he?! We love having you in our community!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
Excited to see how a God will work through this study! I was wondering the questions ect are they in the study pack or Cani get that through the app too? Just wondering.
I'm not sure there are reflection questions. I asked that too and never got an answer, but the preview didn't seem to show any reflection questions.
Hi Emily! No, there are not specific reflection questions, but we hope you'll continue to join in the community discussion here!! So happy to have you!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth
No questions – only scripture readings, reflections and prayer. xo
I am so excited about this!
The Cross still offends today, some 2,000+ years after Jesus died for mankind. We see it again in the papers this week…over and over people have given their lives for the Cross. They did not deny Him! I could not help but think of the song, "I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross…and exchange it someday for a crown." (of course I realize we will cast our crowns at His feet, amen!) But the world is not worthy of those that give their very lives for the cause of Christ. If we are going to take up THIS Cross, it will cost us something.
Will we hide it or will we share it?
Use it or lose it?
I want to remember WHY the Cross. WHY I chose to follow Him in the first place and WHY I am willing to stay until the end…whatever it may be.
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
Have a blessed Tuesday dear sisters as we join together in prayer for Christianity around the world and an open door to share Jesus. ♥
Beautifully said friend! ~ B
Amazing, God’s timing, in the news that should call us all from our lazy and wandering ways. It is good to remember that the Cross comes with a cost, and to die is gain. The worldwide church should be moved back to the center of the gospel hope in its mourning. Lord, may that begin with me. I lift up to you the families that are grieving, the wives, children, parents, friends, who lost their loved ones. I likewise lift up to you the men who were there and did not loose their life, may You raise up the next Paul, may their lives be altered by the encounter with those whom they martyred. Thank you, Father, for this relentless HOPE. For this supernatural PEACE. For this offensive CROSS that is the embodiment of Holy and True love. Amen.
Amen..sis…Amen..remind me Lord..remind me…
Sending g you a hug…xxx
Thank you for this beautiful invitation to Lent … I love the three steps or phases of RETURNING // REPENTING // REMEMBERING … beautifully written and like a gorgeous garden gateway leading into the beautiful season of Lent.
Looking forward to the new study starting tomorrow :D
me too! i almost get giddy waiting for a new study to begin! :)
me too!
Me too, Alison! So glad you're here!
xoxo-Kaitlin for She Reads Truth