Lent 2024 | Day 1

Day 1 (Ash Wednesday, Feb 14)
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.

“My soul thirsts for God, the living God.” (Psalm 42:2)

Think about it.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, 40 days of preparation for the great celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. Our theme at UCC this Lent is Dying and Rising with Jesus. In his book J-Curve, Paul Miller makes the bold claim that it is when we enter into Jesus’ death that we truly get to know him.² As we enter into Lent, let’s start with a very basic question: Do you truly want to know Jesus better? Do you want to say along with the psalmist in Psalm 42, “My soul thirsts for God, the living God?”

Pause and pray.
Consider.

Today, if you are able, we invite you to join the community of the church by coming at 9:30 am or 6:00 pm to mark this special season with ashes to remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Make this a day of committing yourself to this Lenten season and praying to be willing for the Holy Spirit to lead you on a journey of faith to know Jesus better.
Pray.

Come, Lord Jesus.

“I want to know Christ.” Philippians 3:10

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), 68.