Lent 2024 | Day 34

By Janet Nygren
Day 34 (Saturday, Mar 23)

As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.¹

Pause and pray.

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” 
(2 Corinthians 9:10-12)

Think about it.

Paul is commenting here on the generous promise of giving that one community, Achaia, made toward another, the Macedonians. He is anticipating the resurrection moments that will come as a result. Not only will the Macedonians experience and learn about the generosity of the Achaians, but Paul is confident that God will bless Achaia, both materially and spiritually, and many others will overflow with generosity and praise for God.

Consider.

We have seen over and over again how choosing to suffer with Jesus is a constricting action. As we die to ourselves, we accept a narrowing of our ability to act, a powerlessness while we rely on God’s power. The suffering we experience is a form of shame, just as Jesus experienced shame on the cross. But Paul Miller also points out that resurrection moments do the opposite–they produce an ever-widening expansion of power and glory–not of ourselves, but of God.² As we participate in these resurrection moments, as we hunt for them around us, joy and hope bubble up in us as well. The kingdom of God is unstoppable. Do you see glimpses of it today as you prepare for Holy Week?

Pause and pray.

Jesus, help me have faith to follow where you lead.

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
(1 Peter 1:6)

Notes

1.  Prayer used daily in Lectio365 found at https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/
2.  Paul E. Miller, J-Curve (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 172.