Page 25 - Lenten Devotional 2021 updated 01-21

Day 13 - How Can We Delight The One Who Loves Us Above All?

Scripture:
A cheerful heart does well like medicine, but a broken spirit makes one sick.
Proverbs 17:22

Reflection:
In the movie “The Shack,” one character asks the other one, rhetorically, if he
was back in the judging business, or as we would say, “Are you trying to be
God?” The character being questioned represents you, me, and all of humankind
when we feel hurt, rejected, lonely, and afraid. We are fearful of who we think
we are or who we think God sees when He looks at us.

Reverend Matthew L. Watley, in his book Ignite: 50 Days of Prayer That Will
Change Your Life, challenges those who want to have a closer walk with God to
tell Him something about themselves that God already knows. This telling will
help to move from hurting to healing. Yet, many of us choose pain and suffering
over help and relief. We hold on to our hurts: the pierced ego that says, “My
way is best; I know I am right!” and the pride that convinces us we have been
disrespected and “no one does that to me!” Or, the feelings of rejection yell, “no
one cares about me.” Add, “I am a failure! I messed up and I don’t deserve any
better!” and you can start the countdown because a knock out is coming for us
on our blind side.

If any of this sounds familiar, you are not alone. These are the thoughts that
wound us and leave us open for more jabs and stabs. We take the beating and
refuse to fight back with right hooks and left jabs powered by God’s Word.

In this Lenten season each day is a gift—a wonderful chance to love someone
the way God loves us. He accepts, forgives, and shows mercy and grace to us
every day. Should we then, do the same to one another? Being right with God
should be our goal; not just being right.

Prayer:
Dear Father, we thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus the Christ, to save us.
Help us to be obedient to Your word so that we may love one another as You
have taught us. Love is patient and does not keep score. Forgive us when we
fail and remind us of what we are to do to please You and honor Your plans for
our lives. We thank you for Your mercy and goodness in the precious name of
our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

About the Contributor:

Rev. ShaRon Gibson, Associate Minister
Fair Haven AME Church, Baltimore, MD
Potomac District WIM Caucus Leader

A 40-day Journey through a Season of Fasting and Praying 30