For so many of us, these are the most difficult times we have faced. Fear and anxiety have seeped into our existence as we seek to find a new, safer normal – at least for now. We are constantly making more difficult decisions. Life is uncomfortable and admittedly, that is an understatement. We are never really sure when things will ‘let up’ and what it will look like when they do. With all of this going on, we can find ourselves more angry and more unsettled.
How timely that we are at the starting point of the Lenten Season. It is the beginning, just celebrating Ash Wednesday. We are here and it couldn’t be a more appropriate spot to be. Lent gives us a time of self-evaluation. We are given an opportunity to check ourselves out, where we are and what we are doing. It is a season of reflection, lamenting when we have not been all we could. We can redirect, listening to God. We can refocus, setting ourselves on a new path. But it takes real work – a real effort to evaluate ourselves. It isn’t easy. We don’t often what to admit how anger has gotten the best of us. We don’t want to look at the times when we said things we shouldn’t have or did things which we are not proud. But really looking deep, we can seek God’s forgiveness. We can seek his redemption, his cleansing. We find we are not stuck where we thought we were. And we seek the way of Jesus – the way of love.
How will you begin your time of self-evaluation? What can you do to begin to see where you are and where you have missed it? For me, it begins in quiet reflection, listening to God. He knows. He knows when I have not been who he created me to be. He knows where I struggle. He knows how I have allowed toxic things to seep into my life. And he knows how to clean me up. He can do the same for you.
Today, may we begin to look deep within. Where are we? And how do we get to where we were created to go?
Focus Scripture:
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Ephesians 4:26
Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger
Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery. Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery
SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY 