Lent – Day 37 Connected to the True Vine

“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

One chore that is ongoing at our house through the years was picking up sticks and branches from our yard. Those withered, scrawny sticks aren’t good for anything. While trees and vines in our yard produce beautiful flowers and fruit, a branch can’t produce anything if it isn’t connected to the tree.

I like to think of myself as independent, capable and self-sufficient. But the truth is, apart from Christ, I can’t accomplish anything, much less something of eternal value. I was born with a sin nature that separated me from God; I was a dead branch right from the start. Even my first breath on this earth, my first word and first step, were a gift of God’s common grace.

But Jesus’ death on the cross on my behalf enabled me to be united with Him. Miraculously, we “dead branches” have been grafted into the True Vine.

We can bear fruit — live out qualities such as love, patience, joy and self-control — when we stay connected to God through daily prayer and Bible study. And we can help other “dead branches” experience new life when we share who Christ is and what He has done.

Reflect and Pray

Are you grateful to no longer be a “dead branch” on the ground? Thanks to Jesus’ death and resurrection, you have life, purpose and hope here on earth. If you’ve put your trust and faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are no longer separated from God. You are united to Him like beautiful, fruitful branches extending from a steadfast source of life. Not only can you experience the joy of connection to Christ now, but you can also look forward to one day being fully united with your Lord in eternity.

Consider this prayer: “God, I acknowledge that apart from you, I can accomplish nothing of eternal value. Please help me to bear good fruit in my actions and attitudes as I stay connected to you.”

Lent – Day 36

What Was It About Moses?

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

“In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Are you ever amazed at the immense faith of a fellow believer? Or at how confident they are? Does anyone in the Bible come to mind? For me, it’s Moses.

Moses was one of the most important prophets in the Old Testament, leading the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt and acting as God’s mouthpiece to communicate His Law.

The crazy thing is that when God first called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt, Moses refused! In Exodus 4, as God speaks to Moses through a burning bush, giving him explicit instructions and encouragement, Moses continues to waver in his desire to obey, saying, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13). But God had patience with him and helped him embrace the faith and courage he needed for the job.

Moses’ confidence didn’t grow overnight, and it didn’t grow without him leaning into his fears and working through them. But he also didn’t have to overcome his insecurities alone. God was with him.

Only after Moses saw God miraculously free the Israelites from Pharaoh, divide the Red Sea and provide food and water for masses of people as they wandered in the desert could he confidently declare, “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

God led Moses from a place of insecurity to a place of confidence, bravery and faith. Moses’ confidence didn’t stem from himself, but from his firm foundation; he was rooted in God.

You may have moments of insecurity and fear, but because of who you are grounded in, you can walk confidently knowing that, although the ground may shake, God will be there to secure your footing.

There will be times in your life when Hebrews 13:6, “The Lord is my Helper, I will not fear,” will flow easily from your mouth. At other times, though, the process of growing in faith will not be easy. You’ll take steps along the way that are scary, and you’ll need to trust that God will meet you in a vulnerable place.

When you reach a decision point or a place that makes you feel insecure, just pause. Remember God’s faithfulness to Moses. Remember the great love Christ demonstrated for you on the cross. Remember the times His presence covered you and His strength filled you. Remember He did not leave you then and He won’t leave you now.

Reflect and Respond

What are some instances when God strengthened you and was your rock in the midst of a hard time? Write them down, praising and thanking Him that you can have confidence in His faithfulness and love.

After focusing on your past, focus on your present. In what area or areas of your life do you need to ask God to help you find your security and confidence in Him?

Strength for The Weak

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Most of my notions of weakness and strength come from what I’ve observed in the world. It seems that the big strong guy wins and the little weak guy loses. A scramble for success and power leaves no room for weakness. So most of us shun and avoid it in every form. In avoiding weakness, we can grow restless, willful, overly driven, stressed, impatient, isolated, unrelatable, harsh, selfish or unempathetic. A fun way to live, right?

Yet God offers us an entirely different way. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul shares from his own struggle that God’s way is not the world’s. God chooses the foolish to shame the wise, taking what is nothing and making it grand 1 Corinthians 1:27-28

Just think of the disciples Jesus chose. A bunch of normal people — fishermen, farmers and a tax-collector — were his selected team to spread the kingdom of God to the world.

Ultimately, God uses the human weakness of His own Son, Jesus Christ, to show off His strength. At the Cross, Jesus willingly becomes worse than weak — a curse (Gal. 3:13) — and in so doing displays God’s strength in the form of love, sacrifice, redemption, resurrection and adoption. At the Cross, God reverses the curse of the Fall, including the world’s way of thinking. Strength, once associated with power, becomes strength bound to surrender and alignment with God’s ways. Weakness, associated with vulnerability and loss, becomes weakness associated with infinite gain.

His presence with you changes everything. So don’t be afraid to be weak today. Take it as an opportunity to rejoice that God uses weakness and humility to revolutionize the world.

Respond

By exercising your awareness of God’s presence with you and by meditating on His Word, you will discover an inner strength that will not only carry you through the trials of life but will bring with it a joy that will grow in eternity.

Take a minute to read Hebrews 4:14-16.

How does Jesus’ sympathizing with your temptations and weakness make you think about your own weakness?

When reading the Bible, look for examples of how God chooses the way of weakness to display His strength.

If you have extra time, look at Jesus’ blessings in Matthew 5:1-12. Do you see yourself in the progression of these verses?

Lent – Day 31

God Brings Hope Out of Despair

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in Him.” Psalm 40:1-3

“Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.” Psalm 107:13-14

We are coming out of a season of such unknowns. Our world is swirling in unrest. Things that were once certain seem fleeting and unreliable. Food supplies have dwindled and the shelves at the grocery store less dependable than ever before. Not the mention price increases on everything. Covid and it’s aftermath has triggered doubt and fear in our world. And trust has been broken on every level. Relationships strained to the breaking point.

It has been wearying for so many. Small businesses have closed, family members lost and the world turned upside down has created an environment for even the strongest of faith to fear and worry. Spiritually defeated as we were unable to gather corporately. The isolation alone has given satan ground to work his evil way into the minds and hearts of us all. None of us immune to the spiritual warfare that has ensued.

People have been weary and heavy laden. But God. This season is the reminder of life. Fronds unfurl and are poking up thru the forest floor. Fresh greenery springing up as a reminder that God is only one who can do that. I cannot will the daffodils return. I have no power over the sweet smelling flowers that open on my Carolina Jasmine. I am reminded of His power. New life. Hope. The promise that with the seasons, there will always be the hope of Spring.

I hear your stories. I see your discouragement. I have known your grief and sorrow. I know the doubts and fears that feel like they will take the last breath you have.

But God. His love so real. The promise of a Savior when He could have just turned His back on us.

Jesus.

Serving. Suffering. Surrendering. Dying. Living. Comforting. Loving.

He came that WE may have life.

Salvation. Things eternal.

Today, let’s bow down together at the foot of the cross. Grab your Bible. Saturate your mind with worshipping Him. Set your mind on the things that you know are true not what you think are true. Pour out your heart to God and seek His way. Claim the promises in His Word as trustworthy. Pour out your feelings and struggles in a prayer, journal or conversation with a trusted friend.

Read, memorize and pray through Psalm 91 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

Finally, as a follower of Jesus Christ, use Jesus’ delegated authority (Matthew 28:18-20) to resist and rebuke any spiritual attacks.

Lent – Day 29

Learn to “Sleep Like a Baby”

Your Daily Lent Devotional

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.” Isaiah 49:15-16

People often use the phrase “I slept like a baby.” I’ve always found that funny. When my children were babies, they woke up every three hours and cried, which didn’t exactly make for a restful night’s sleep.

But there may be another way to understand this phrase. You see, when babies are awake, they are generally demanding, needy and completely helpless. They are also incredibly fragile, and the world around them is too large for them to grasp, understand or navigate.

Maybe that’s not so different from your everyday experience. The world is too big — it’s too complex, too intense and too mysterious. You’re ultimately out of control. That can make you feel deeply anxious, restless and insecure.

In Psalm 131:1, the author gives you a helpful way forward. He says that he chooses not to “concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.”

He chooses to surrender his proud need to know and control everything around him. Instead, he quiets himself. And what does this feel like?

Picture this image: a sleeping child melted into the safe, protective arms of the one who has already met and will always meet its needs. This is the image of complete peace.

With God, you are like a child in its mother’s arms. In a few hours, you may wake up screaming and demand to have your needs met yet again — and God will be there, ready. This is the image of God the Scriptures present — moment by moment, whenever you feel anxious, restless or insecure, come and surrender your need to know everything and to be in control. He’ll be there to give you the nourishment, comfort and rest you need so you can “sleep like a baby.”

Respond

Go to a quiet place to pray, and hold your palms out in front of you. As you do this, acknowledge every thing or situation in your life that is causing anxiety, restlessness or fear. Tell Jesus how each thing is affecting you. Ask Him for what you need — not what you need Him to make happen, but what you need as you’re going through it. It might be peace, rest, freedom from fear or something else. At the end of this prayer, turn your palms over symbolically, as if you’re dropping something out of your hands and into His. Practice this every day for a week, asking the Holy Spirit to help you release your cares to Him (1 Peter 5:7).

It’s Sunday — a day to rest.

Did you know that ever since Jesus died and rose again, each Sunday is like a mini Easter? In addition to resting, like God commanded in the Old Testament, the first Christians remembered and celebrated Christ’s resurrection every single week.

Today, God invites you to celebrate and rest in the finished work of Christ — for you and for everyone who trusts in Him.

Lent – Day 28

Serving Others out of Gratitude

Every Saturday during this study, you will learn about common spiritual disciplines that many followers of Jesus practice during Lent. Today you will learn about service. These disciplines are valuable tools to draw near to God when they come from a heart seeking to do just that — rather than a heart which hopes to justify itself through these works or simply check a box on its Lent “to-do” list. We hope these insights will encourage you and help connect you to the Father throughout these 40 days.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4, English Standard Version)

Ipeered into a mostly dark storeroom. Light glinted off of coins filling 21 large plastic buckets. It looked like my eight-year-old self would have expected a pirate’s cave to look, plastic aside. 

Two of the stronger men grabbed a bucket. Struggling together, the bucket just inches from the ground, they moved it outside. Men and women wearing plastic gloves — instead of eye patches — pulled out coins.

Coins went onto a screen laid over a trough. Small rocks and trash fell through. The coins were rinsed. 

Next, they poured the coins into a pan of cloudy liquid that emitted a mild chemical odor. They massaged the coins, removing accumulated corrosion and grunge. Then the coins were sorted by value and, in a few cases, country of origin. 

As they worked, the men and women chatted cheerfully. Words about children, grandkids, gardens and lawns filled the air. But instead of working on their own yards or spending time with their families, they were there to serve. 

The coins came from fountains at a local theme park. The park donated them to a home for children with serious disabilities. But in the buckets, the coins weren’t bankable. Only after sorting and cleaning would they be usable. 

The joyful afternoon ended with treasure for the children living at the home. And for the adults there to help, it didn’t feel like work. They’d experienced the love of Jesus, shown by His willingness to give His life on Good Friday, and they shared that love in a small way with others. As the home’s staff members and residents saw the volunteers work, they were seeing Jesus’ love in action.

Respond

How would you like to share your experience of Jesus’ love in action? Today, would you pair up with a friend and find a way to show the love of Jesus through a nonprofit organization in your community? Serve a meal, clean a lawn or, if you’re fortunate, sort a bucketful of coins.