Lenten Reflections #1

I attended the Ash Wednesday service at St. Margaret's last week and was deeply touched. The opportunity to confess my sin and receive God's mercy was very beautiful. How needy we are... and how graciously God provides.

I wanted to share one of the prayers we prayed as it sets a meaningful tone for Lent:

“Lord, for thy tender mercies' sake, lay not our sins to our charge; But forgive that is past, and give us grace to amend our sinful lives; To decline from sin, and incline to virtue; That we may walk with a perfect heart before thee, now and evermore.”
Book of Common Prayer p 614

God not only forgives us, but He also gives us the grace to change and improve our lives. And the prayer tells us how to do it: “To decline from sin, and incline to virtue.”

 

I love that line. Why? Maybe because it gives me visual images that help me understand what it means to repent. I can imagine moving my body away from sin like a child who doesn't want to eat what is being brought towards her mouth.... leaning way back to get as far away from it as possible. “No, no, no! I don't want that!” is to be my attitude toward sin. This enables me to stay away from it. On the other hand, I am to incline or press into holy living. When asking myself what option do I “lean” towards, it is to be the virtuous one.

 

Do you need this grace to amend your life? Do you need the Lord to give you the ability to refuse sin and change your heart so that you prefer righteousness?

 

Then you are in the company of us all. Romans 3:22b-24 tells us: “There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” And you are in good hands. Jesus said, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand.” (John 10:29)

 

Secure in God's forgiveness, we can trust Him for more:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:17-18)

 

In Christ, we are free to refuse sin and free to obey God. We are forgiven for sin and given grace to live our lives right before God. We become more and more life Jesus. How fabulous is that? This is why I love the Lenten season. Self-examination and repentance, although a sorrowful and painful road, are the path to really living. So, this Lent, I encourage you to go for it! Face your sin, ask for God's mercy, and receive His grace. You'll be glad you did.

 

In Christ,

Tracy