Lent Day 18: A Spiritual Makeover (II)

On this eighteenth morning on our journey, I am grateful to see Lent as a season of spiritual mindfulness. It is a time set aside to remind all sojourners of the invitation Christ sends them to turn away from sin and look to the Savior. As believers repent, they are also led to prepare their hearts for Passion Week culminating in the celebration of Resurrection Sunday. 

Lent is a season dedicated to reflecting and celebrating the grace and love of Christ manifested through His coming to earth, connecting with human beings, being crucified as a sacrificial lamb in our stead, rising again to conquer death and sin on our behalf, and returning to the Father to prepare a place for His bride (the Church) and reigning at the right hand of God.

Having said all that, let us turn our minds to what we discussed yesterday. 

The Holy Spirit revealed to us that “walking with Christ is akin to an extreme makeover”—confessing that we were once blind, now we can see; once perishing, now we are living in Christ; once hearing and not perceiving, now hearing and heeding the Spirit’s prompting. 

This makeover goes beyond the Lenten season. After all, the practice of Lent is only pointing to something of much greater importance—a continual Lent, a constant state of confession and preparation as we await the return of our Lord.

Let us, like the Lord declared through the prophet Joel, “rend our hearts (Joel 2:13)” in prayer:

Lord, 

no matter how intentional we are 

about turning our hearts and thoughts heavenward, 

only You can prepare us to be a sanctuary 

that is pure, holy, tried, true, 

and worthy of the calling You have given to us. 

It is abundantly clear in Your Word 

that we all fall short of Your glory 

and that sin separates us from You—

“there is no one who does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3b). 

Holiness is found in You 

whereas we are bent on wretchedness. 

Naturally, 

ever since the rebellion of the first human couple in the Garden of Eden, 

we have inherited a life of sin. 

It often seems dull and “no fun” at all 

to live the kind of life that You would have us live. 

Our perceptions have been warped over the years 

to prefer sights, smells, and sounds 

that offer nothing good or of eternal value 

while You offer us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). 

Indeed, 

we have become shortsighted 

and cannot see past our death. 

We keep going back to old thinking patterns 

and sinful habits of the past. 

Oh, how we thank You for loving us so much 

that You came to save us 

from this place of separation from You! 

Precious Christ, 

You are indeed the bridge 

that connects us from darkness to light, 

from fragmentation to wholeness, 

from chaos to order. 

Thank You for providing a way for us to connect with You 

and help us to remember 

that because of this new nature we have in Christ, 

we are to bid farewell to the past 

and delve into the present with joy and thanksgiving. 

Guide us to see You. 

Help us to be sensitive to the voice of Your Spirit. 

Draw us ever closer to You. In the holy name of Jesus, 

the Mender of the broken-hearted, we pray. 

Amen.