As I sit in my office on Valentine’s Day this year – a day that also happens to be Ash Wednesday, signifying the beginning of Lent, our Christian season of self-examination, self-denial, or reflection on our relationship with God, a lot is going on in my heart today. I was thinking about those in my life whom I love so dearly on this Valentine’s Day, and I could not help but also be moved to reflect on my love for God ”who first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) It occurs to me in a special way this year that so much about our Lenten observance draws us to reflect upon our love for God and God’s love for each of us.
I am awed by the love that God has extended to us in the form of Christ and his sacrifice for us. It is overwhelming to fathom the whole concept of grace, unmerited favor, and unconditional love that God extends to us through Christ. Then it is fascinating to imagine having, as Paul describes,”the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge…” (Ephesians 3:18-19)
How do we examine where our love for God stands at this point in our lives? What are the many ways that God’s love is still being extended to us? In the spirit of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s famous phrase from her classic poem “How do I love thee, let me count the ways…;” how do we count the ways in which God is currently made manifest in our lives? What difference can knowing this make in our encouragement to stride forward in ministry on Christ’s behalf in this season of many challenges and opportunities? If this thought continues for me during Lent this year, it could be a most meaningful season. I pray that your Lenten observance will be especially meaningful for you as well and that love will flourish in your walk with God.
Here is a special Lenten Prayer that I ran across that captivated me, and I offer it to you as well for this season of Lent:
Oh God, whatever we can give up for Lent will never match what you gave. Whatever challenges that we vow to take upon ourselves will never match the burden that you shouldered for us. We’re not able to do what you have done, and our small actions serve only as desperate wildflowers waving in an open field of your mercy, in awe of your profound love for us, in surrender to your majesty and glory. But as meager as they can seem, we can claim that all that we are and all that we offer will always be known and sheltered in your loving presence and care. As we clear away distractions you invite us to let go of, please hear our prayer of gratitude. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice of our Savior Jesus, so that we can know that no matter what the world tempts us with…there is grace to understand, your Spirit to minister to us, and the power that you give us to overcome. In Jesus’ name, Amen.