On the side of our refrigerator you’ll find a handy magnetic notepad. Getting low on milk? Need some apples? Out of toilet paper? Put them on the list. College students coming home for the weekend? Put all the things on the list. Taking inventory is essential when it comes to figuring out what we have and what we’re missing. It may take some time, but it’s time well spent.
Lent invites us to take spiritual inventory. It invites us to ask God to reveal what we have and what we’re missing. Am I regularly experiencing God’s guidance, strength, and comfort, or do I feel like I’m running on empty? How is God shaping my worldview, relationships, work, and habits? Where am I missing Him? Maybe we need to admit where we’ve wandered. Maybe we need to pause and listen to His call to return.
In Ezekiel we see God’s people disoriented by disobedience. Their forced exile from home echoed their own willful exit from God and His ways. They had wandered far. In their anguish they cried, “Our transgressions and our sins are heavy on us, and we are wasting away because of them! How can we survive?” (Ezekiel 33:10). In desperation, they took inventory, confessed their sin, and cried out to the Lord.
We have an opportunity right now to take inventory, to confess our wandering, and express our desire to return home. Maybe we’ll find ourselves crying out with the ancient exiles, “Oh God, my sin and unbelief are wearing me out. I’m lost and hopeless apart from you! How can I survive?”
God takes no pleasure in our pain, and He does not abandon us. Instead, He makes a way for us to turn away from our wanderings and return to Him. God takes “no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways!” (v.11).
God gives what He commands: a way of repentance. How do we pivot toward this path of return? We begin by taking an honest inventory that includes resisting denial and recognizing where we’ve strayed. Then, we can confess our sin and our need for Jesus who paid the price for our unfaithfulness. We must take care not to turn in on ourselves, attempting to beat ourselves up or shape ourselves up. Instead, we rely on God’s provision of His Son, so that we can “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
Will we accept this invitation to take spiritual inventory this Lenten season? If we do, we’ll find that it’s time well spent.
Jesus, I confess that I stray every day in my thoughts, words, and actions. I’m prone to wander. In Your mercy, stop me in my tracks and show me where I’m missing You in my life and in the world. Thank you for reminding me of all that I have in You, including Your guidance, strength, and comfort on the path back home.
After today’s reading I can’t help but wonder…maybe our world came to where it is today, this corrupt culture, because we as Christians failed to watch over it. Where were we, where was I as the watchman? This study is blowing my mind wide open. Thank you SRT.
Should we take inventory just at Lenten season or should we not be taking inventory other times throughout our lives? Patti brought up many good points that we need to consider and really ponder deep down in our hearts and souls and spirits.
BUT GOD, BUT JESUS, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT,…..do we not wander away and then come back always asking forgiveness, but we should be watching so we don’t wander to begin with. Our FAITH should be strong enough that we don’t need to turn anywhere else.
God, YOU ARE SO GOOD and I thank You for sending Your Son to die for my sins. I also thank You for filling me with the Holy Spirit so I can let others know about You and Your Son. Amen.
Sisters, be blessed and take inventory of what God has done for you and where you have wandered every day.
Amen
What a great prayer.
Beautiful and spot on prayer thank you Patti! Todays reading was so so so good and I absolutely LOVED the passages from Romans and Ephesians included in todays reading. Boy does this sound like our culture & some being swept up in cultures idea of justice and righteousness “17 “ ‘But your people say, “The Lord’s way isn’t fair,” even though it is their own way that isn’t fair. – Ezekiel 33:17 || Jennifer Anapol, how beautiful for you!! I will be praying for your pregnancy as well!! ❤️ we are only a couple weeks apart! I’m 18 weeks and 5 days today! Victoria E. That is so encouraging. I am so thankful for you and your sweet baby Elijah. Prayers for y’all!! Adrienne, praying for you !! GramsieSue and Lynne from Alabama you and your husbands are in my prayers daily. Searching, Angie, Taylor, Kelly Neo, Maria V. And SO MANY OTHERS, I’m praying for you and I’m sorry for forgetting to mention a name but all you She’s here are covered in my prayers, the Lord knows what is on your hearts and what you’re in need of❤️
Love this, very true.
The devotion and NT scripture was taking form in my mind when I looked up and noticed my iRobot aimlessly wandering, vacuuming up “stuff”, running into walls and furniture trying to “clean-up”. I realized how like that thing I am! I run around doing what I think I should, try to fix things, whisper a breath prayer and move on. Bumping walls and trying to fix things. After all these years I should have learned that if I just stop bumping into walls God’s voice will guide me through the Holy Spirit. If I will just quit moving aimlessly I will know what should be done. Too often I run on what I think should be done and all too often wind up neglecting what is truly needed for myself and others. (And yes I know the iRobot is a first world issue but a sweet gift since I cannot use a vacuum). Have a good week She’s!
Happy Monday! I was reading Acts yesterday and loved 3:19-20, which also ties in well with today’s readings…”Repent, therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” Peter was speaking to unbelievers, calling them to repent and be saved, but I think the concept still applies to us as believers…when we repent and turn away from our sin and toward the Lord, seeking His presence, He offers sweet refreshment to our souls. Praying for that refreshment for all of us this week.