Presenting the Fifth edition for 2007 of the WEEKLY DEVOTIONS:
Keep on praying, this world is in great need of it. "Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
This edition is dedicated to Lent, 40 days of preparation that leads us to Easter Sunday.
It starts on Ash Wednesday and the Priest anoints the forehead of every believer and says, Turn away from your sin and be faithful to the Gospel or remember that you are dust and to dust you will return. These words can also be sung. We are also reminded that we will one day return to dust. We are also told to Repent and Believe each representing a different aspect of our Lenten journey to Easter Sunday. We must first Repent which means to turn away from our sins recognizing that we have turned away from God and then changing our direction, turning ourselves around and heading back to God. True Repentance involves a change of Heart. We are also called to believe in the Good News, that we are already forgiven!!! We do not have to earn God"s forgiveness. Our task is to believe this and accept God’s Gracious Mercy poured on us.
"Be Reborn again, Put on the New Man, get rid of your old evil nature and its wicked deeds!!!!!!!" God proposes a new alliance with humanity, Jesus Christ, providing new life and transforming us everyday. We are heading towards Easter Sunday and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are being regenerated and given a new life.
We need to remove the dirt that blinds and leads us away from the eternal truth and give our souls a true and good springtime cleansing.
Be faithful in your rendez- vous with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Fasting
Fasting is not only the mechanical exercise of giving up certain foods. We must incorporate the nature of a Spiritual Fast, that is, it is a conscious and self-disciplined attempt to create tangible space in one’s life for the Creator of Creation, God our Father. We need to spend everyday a special time apart and alone with God through His Son Jesus Christ by reading His Word, the Bible, or by praying or just spending some quiet time listening to Him, meditating on the Scriptures and the events happening in our lives and see what the Lord is telling us through these events. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.
Be Doers of Good Works, of Giving, of Prayers and of Fasting
"Be careful not to do 'good works' in front of others. Don't do them to be seen by others. If you do, your Father in heaven will not reward you. "When you give to needy people, do not announce it by having trumpets blown. Do not be like those who only pretend to be holy. They announce what they do in the synagogues and on the streets. They want to be honored by others. What I'm about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward. "When you give to the needy, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Then your giving will be done secretly. Your Father will reward you. He sees what you do secretly.
"When you pray, do not be like those who only pretend to be holy. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners. They want to be seen by others. What I'm about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward. "When you pray, go into your room. Close the door and pray to your Father, who can't be seen. He will reward you. Your Father sees what is done secretly. Matthew 6:1-6
"When you go without eating, do not look gloomy like those who only pretend to be holy. They make their faces very sad. They want to show people they are fasting. What I'm about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward. "But when you go without eating, put olive oil on your head. Wash your face. Then others will not know that you are fasting. Only your Father, who can't be seen, will know it. He will reward you. Your Father sees what is done secretly. Matthew 6:16-18
Psalm 51
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.
Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me, and my tongue
will sing of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
This Easter let us take this engagement together
Rid yourselves of all your sins and make a new heart and a new spirit.
Ezekiel 18:31
Glory and Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
