Text: Joel 2:12-14
“O God of Second Chances and new Beginnings, here I am again.”
– Nancy Spiegelberg
Our hearts and minds continually wander from God. That’s the humanity – the depravity of sin – in us all. We are unable to let His grace and mercy rule our lives. We pull away, turn our backs, and seek our own way time and again.
Often, we get so wrapped up in the “giving up” process that we forget what is supposed to take its place during these 40 days. As we discuss on Day 6, observing Lent is not just about abstaining from coffee or sweets, it’s the symbol of turning away from those distractions to focus on our Lord.
We ought take this time to look and see what God has done, to rend our hearts before Him. There are many times God has forsaken the comfort of His children that they might return to Him in repentance and love, like a good parent with a wayward child (Zechariah 1:3).
The Lord longs for our hearts to return to Him, for only in Him does our hope for eternal salvation lie.
“Come, let us return to the Lord. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.” (Hosea 6:1, NASB)
Sisters, during this Lenten season – as we approach the cross – may our focus be drawing near to Christ. May we do so in a way that halts us in our tracks – a short, yet vivid reminder that we desperately need to return to The Lord. For all of us, in some way, need to return.
“For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.” (Psalm 51:3, NASB)
Lent is a time when we come back to Christ with repentant hearts. We know we will sin again, but as in any other relationship, time and love are never wasted. These 40 days should be a time that strengthens our love for what Christ has done for us, and increases our desire to know Him in a deeper way (Lamentations 3:40).
Rejoice that our Lord loves us so much that He waits, ever patiently, for us to turn and run back to Him.
I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord;
and they will be My people, and I will be their God,
for they will return to Me with their
whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:7, NASB)
Return to the Lord wholeheartedly. It requires all of me. Love this reminder.
I've noticed that after I did the "This is the Bible" devotional, and after writing my own devotional on Psalm 130 last week, I've gained such a hunger for Scripture! I love that there are so many times in today's reading that roots what is being said in the Word.
Sometimes as I'm reading through various passages, and frequently in the Old Testament when it's referencing Israel, I tweak it a little to make it resound more with me. I think putting ourselves in the place of Israel is a good reminder that, even though we have the gift of perspective when it comes to seeing the mistakes Israel's made, it's a good reminder that we continue to live as they do. BUT GOD (love it!) always called Israel back to Him, as we've just read He calls us back to Him. So with that, here's Jeremiah 24:7 again –
I will give [her] a heart to know that I am the Lord, and [she] shell be my [daughter] and I will be [her] God, for [she] shall return to me with [her] whole heart.
Blessings over your Wednesday sisters!
Reading this irked my spirit. Do you ever ask yourself, "Am I submitting all to Him? Am I giving absolutely all away to know Him more fully, closely, deeply?" Lord, I pray you'd show me where I need to repent and turn back to you. Remind me of your sufficient grace, steadfast love, and unfailing mercy; how ONLY YOU can redeem this story, yet again, and make it something I could never make it. Lord, I give it all up to you.
This passage is lovely. "“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love…" (vs 12-13). I think it's very important to absorb the rend my heart, not my garment part. Rend my heart towards my actions, not just my actions– for doing that only ends up in frustration as my heart wanders back again to the same sin. Rend my heart, Lord, my innermost parts; change who I am, what I do, and how I think, feel, and do things so that it more perfectly aligns with you. Show me the sin in my life; but father, more so, show me the condition of my heart when I commit that sin, and as I repent, heal that up. Make the wrong right. I submit to you, Father.
This completely reminds me of Next to Me by Civil Twilight, a song I hold dear to who I am in Christ and our relationship. This song is geared more towards a girl from the bands' perspective, but they definitely express a Christian undertone and God's truths, if you listen to there other songs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nJDvsre1rY
"It's beautiful, the way you love me, the way you take me back. Here [He, God] comes, around the bend, [He's] coming to take me back…"
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
I do ask myself this all the time, and the answer always seems to be – never enough! I guess we just have to keep trying!
Yes, Geri! May God show us how to do this more and more through His word.
" Rend my heart, Lord, my innermost parts; change who I am, what I do, and how I think, feel, and do things so that it more perfectly aligns with you" – and from yesterdays devotion – "show me that I can live without the things I have brought myself under"
My sweet friend – your words from yesterday were prayed to God this morning. Your words today, were almost identical to what I wrote in my journal.
So, for the both of us, I pray here and now, that we seek only in Him, what will satisfy the deepest cravings of our souls. I pray we find in Him, all that we have wandered and sought in the World. I pray we be emptied of all that separates from Him – and filled with desires that align perfectly in His Will.
Oh my sweet sister – I thank God for you today.
Amen, Janee. Amen. It's breathtaking, it's awesome, how God has some of His children going through the same things/relative seasons, writing down the same thoughts. So thankful for the friendship, the fellowship, and the feeling of being relatable that God has given us as a community, and us, my dear friend. May He continually bless all of us. I'll continue to pray for you. Love you, sister!
I am right there with you AnnaLee. I have to continually ask myself if I'm really giving it all to Him, if there is anything I'm holding back. Thanks for sharing your heart today! Praying we both continue to ask the hard questions so that we may grow ever closer to Him, abiding in Him each day.
Amen Abby! It's hard to do… but so worthwhile. Lord, hold us fast to you.
After all he has done for me, why is it so easy to turn away? To go about my day, thinking I'm in control, and forgetting to keep my eyes upon my Lord? Thank you lord for being merciful, forgiving, and waiting for my return to you over and over.
I've had a real crisis of faith this Lenten season. Digging deep is unsettling, and is a reminder that no matter what I do, it's not good enough. I can't earn my redemption. Fasting isn't about what I can do; it's about adjusting my focus.
We've all been there sister. Stay encouraged knowing that God loves you and so do we! My Mom says often, "how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!" Be patient. You'll get there. Just keep praying and seeking His help!
As I read scripture today, that commentator mentioned how we are "living sacrifices." Unlike the sacrifices of the old testament that were dead when offered, we are living, and have the ability to get up off of that alter and walk away; as I so often do.
Especially during these days leading up to Easter, help me God to stay on your alter, and be a pleading SACRIFICE to you. Take my life and let it be always only all for thee.
That was a pleasing sacrifice.
Amen, Lord. Let us all be pleasing sacrifices, submitting to your every word and will.
We are called to return to him without knowing (vs. 14 – who knows …?) what reward may come. The reward of the return may be just that — that we are reconnected with God — which is enough. But so often when we return to God, it's about what's in it for us. My commentary on this passage notes: "Prayer is surrender to his will, not insistence on our own will."
So, as I turn over those things that keep me from living a completely surrendered life, may my return be about turning away from my own desires and not what good may come from doing that. Lord, help me to surrender those areas I'm holding onto and return with all of my heart. And may my return be totally about you and not how good it could be for me.
Amen, Jessica. Let us love Him and live for Him, for the sake of Him.
Thank you, for another excellent pointing to Christ! I love this passage in Joel! And verse 14 reminds me that when the Lord relents in His discipline for a time, the blessing He leaves behind is for His glory, not for our enjoyment alone. It is to be humbly accepted, not as deserved for all the pain we've been through, but in order to lift it back to the God who would be just if He destroyed us rather than deal with our sin. Yet instead of immediately condemning us (We condemn ourselves by our unbelief, John 3:18), He deals lovingly with us, saving us, and only invoking temporary pain upon us, no matter how harsh that pain may seem. And that brings me back to Hosea 6:1. He has torn, but He will heal. He has wounded, but He will bandage. Our sin does not throw a wrench into the workings of God or His purposes. He is not taken by surprise when we fall away. Rather, He is all-knowing, and He uses His effective tool of painful discipline to turn us back to Him. That may be what this Lenten season is for some of us. Or, as it is for me, it can be a season to come openly and humbly before Him in a less painful way, seeking intimacy with Him, so that I may not need the painful discipline this one time. It's as if He gives us this opportunity to repent before He inflicts pain. May I act according to what He shows me and not be guilty of deliberate defiance.
"May I act according to what He shows me and not be guilty of deliberate defiance." That's the cry of my heart too, Christina. In this temporary pain, this trial, God is here. He is faithful and good to forgive us of our sins and to bandage us back up if only we come to Him fully. Lord, take this heart, and "make it new, make it true. Make it like you."