I feel like maybe this is the ameteur speaking, but I feel like Day Two of lent may be one of the hardest days of the season. Day One it was on my mind the entire time… I was anticipating the opportunities to make a change in my life and the multitude of chances to screw up. Day Two seemed to fly up behind me while I was still exhaling from the excitement of Day One. Maybe it was pride, maybe it was stupidity… but I would file Day Two under “Failure”. What is ironic is that the majority of the day I thought to myself, “wow, Im doing good…” Then I started to over analyze things and dared to say to God, “well maybe Im only doing good because I havent really been faced with a challenge yet today…” Figures by the end of the evening, when faced with that “challenge” I failed.
As I sit here beating myself up over one small moment of weakness… a moment of spiritual “I told you so”….a moment of complete humility I see this:
“You are mine for all time- and beyond time, into eternity. No power can deny your inheritance in heaven. I want you to realize how utterly secure you are! Even if you falter as you journey through life, I will never let go of your hand.
Knowing that your future is absolutely assured can free you to live abundantly today. I have prepared this day for you with the most tender concern and attention to detail. Instead of approaching the day as a blank page that you need to fill up, try living it in a responsive mode being on the lookout for all that I am doing. This sounds easy, but it requires a deep level of trust, based on the knowledge that My way is perfect.”
Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”
Psalm 37:23-24 “If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”
For all of you out there who are attempting to survive 40 days of sacrifice, humility, love, joy, praise and struggle… hopefully this brings some comfort. No matter how bad I mess up or how much I beat myself up for doing so, God will still love me deeply and truly. Because I believe this with all my heart, I can pick myself up again and start Day Three with a renewed spirit and hopeful heart that maybe, just maybe… today will be the day I truly honor Him in all that I do.
Good Luck Everyone!!