Lent 2024 | Day 25

By Janet Nygren
Day 25 (Wednesday, Mar 13)

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.

“[Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:6-7)

Think about it.

As we think about dying to comfort, we are re-enacting Jesus’ descent into suffering for the sake of love. The first step was recognizing God’s care for us, as his children. The second step is recognizing that dying to comfort is a choice.² Jesus chose to leave heaven and empty himself for the sake of love. As we walk in his path, we have a choice as well. When we empty ourselves of comfort, it is a choice of love, not suffering that is forced on us.

Consider.

If we listen to the wisdom of our culture, or our unredeemed nature, it makes no sense to give up our comfort. Our natural tendency is to be self-seeking. But Jesus models something different. He sees our situation and makes a commitment to do something about it. He is willing to act in love. Paul Miller says that this move always starts with prayer.³ What, or who, captures your heart with the wonder of love enough to consider giving up what comforts you?

Pause and pray.

Jesus, help my love for you grow more and more.

“Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”(C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves)

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), 157.
3.  Miller, 157.