Lent 2019 – Page 11 – BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND

The First Four Days of Lent
Ash Wednesday

Lord, it feels like we are embarking
on a Lenten journey together, you and I.
The beautiful words in the today’s prayer talk about
the “quiet remembrance of our need for redemption.”
That feels like what I am looking for –
or what you are looking for in me.
I want to remember how much I need you in my life
and how much my life needs redemption.
I want to remember it clearly and
in the background of my day today
and all through Lent.

On this special day, Ash Wednesday,
may my small sacrifices in fasting be a way to clear away
the clutter in my life to see you more clearly.
May my longing for meat and other food,
help me to focus my life today more outside myself.
Let me be aware of those who are in so much more suffering than I am
and may I be aware of them as the brothers and sisters you have placed in my life.

Lord, I know there is darkness
within me and around me.
Bless these days with your Word.
Let your Light shine in the darkness.
Help me long for that Light
until we celebrate it six weeks from now.

And most of all Lord,
help me to honor this day.
Help me remember where I have come from
and where I am going.
May I acknowledge to you my sins
and my deep need for your
loving forgiveness and grace.
I pray that this Lenten season
will make me so much more aware
of how much I need your healing in my life.

Lent is coming.
In just 4 weeks, we enter these Holy 40 Days of prayer, fasting and service.

In the early church, this time was used to prepare new converts for baptism. They would spend extra time studying the scriptures and asking questions and praying, so that they would be ready on Easter to make their confession, and to die and rise in the waters of Baptism.

Some churches still do this. It is a great vision for a church, to be the kind of people who live and teach about Jesus and his grace in such a way that others want to know him, that people who are not baptized want to take the plunge, and be one of his followers.

For others, Lent is an opportunity to grow deeper, to learn to trust God more, to lean on the promises. Some people give up something for Lent, and others take on a new discipline.

There will be a daily prayer uploaded to our Website – look for Lent 2019. We hope that you can take part.

We offer a pray for each of us — a fruitful and a gracious Lent, time for prayer, and a transformed heart.

Category: Lent 2019

1st day of Lent – Ash Wednesday

LENT IS COMING!