Get the Book Join the Mailing List
Day 1: Ash Wednesday
Scripture Verses:
- Psalm 23:1-6
- Matthew 28:19–20
- John 14:16–17
Questions to consider:
- What is your favorite part of Lent?
- What are you afraid to start?
- If you took a step of faith into something new, what fears would you need to set aside?
- How does Jesus help you overcome those fears?
- How will you pursue the presence of God this Lent to overcome fear?
Plan of Action:
Make a commitment for the next 40 days to confront a fear and take a step towards a calling you have been afraid to live out. Put your commitment in writing and share it with another person.
Reflection
Joshua takes over command for Moses. He had big shoes to fill. Would he be up to the task? No one would blame him for being afraid.
The first thing God says to him is:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
It’s the assigning of a new mission and the first thing God does is offer encouragement to be courageous in the face of fear. The hardest part is often starting.
We continually walk between faith and fear. These might seem mutually exclusive. But the reality is there is no faith without fear. Faith is taking that first step in spite of our fear. It is taking the leap knowing there is a chance we might fall.
The genesis of 40 Things to Give up for Lent was a commitment I made to write on my blog everyday for the 40 Days of Lent in 2014. It was fear holding me back. The writing is the easy part. The hard part is sharing. What if people don’t care or like what I have to say? Certainly there are other people who are better writers and have more worthwhile stuff to share. I had a hundred different excuses not to start. But I just started writing and sharing. A couple of days later, I shared 20 Things to Give up for Lent. It went viral on the internet. Because of the response to that original post, I began to write this 40 day devotional. None of this would have happened without taking that first step. The first step is the hardest. When you take that step, God opens amazing doors.
In the end, I hope this devotion is not so much about giving something up, but stepping into a greater calling. It is setting aside the fear of failure to grab hold of God’s calling on your life. Nothing worth doing will ever be easy. The best things are often the hardest things and the most fearful things.
It goes back to Jesus. Maybe that is why I love Lent so much. Lent for me is about the pursuit of God. It is the assurance of God’s presence that gives us confidence. In him we find the courage to overcome our fear of failure and to take the leap into this brave new world. The more we grasp the presence of God, the more we will have the courage to overcome our fears. When we go back to the words to Joshua, the reason to not be afraid is because God is with us wherever we go. Discover him and give up your fear.
Thank you for leaping out and sharing this devotion with us, and I look forward to ready your devotions for Lent! In Christ’s abounding love, Cynthia 🙂
Thank you for leaping out and sharing this devotion with us, and I look forward to reading your devotions for Lent! In Christ’s abounding love, Cynthia 🙂
Think this is great and it has blessed my day! Ignore negative, uniformed chatter. There is always someone who finds fault in things. Sharing of your heart in God’s word is a wonderful calling…live it!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful lesson! I really needed to here this at this time of my life & God bless all
I cannot thank you enough for doing this. I was at a loss….not able to decide what to “give up” this Lenten season. Everything seemed so insignificant and meaningless….something to be dreaded. I am really excited now to enrich my relationship with God by focusing daily on these devotions. Thank you and God bless.
Thank you. God bless you and yours.
My response is here: http://suslyngloscraps.blogspot.fr/2015/02/going-through-40-things-to-give-up-for.html
Pastor- last year’s devotionals were a lifeline. It was a joy to see these for 2015, and I was ready for today’s. God has blessed you with your ability to reach more than you know and we are most grateful.
Excitement is fiiling my soul as I embark upon these Lenten devotions. I long to be more connected to God during this time of reflection, repentance, and devotion. I can hardly wait to see how my life will become more enriched through this journey. God bless you for taking a giant step of faith.
What a Blessing, Brother! God is Good!
Thinking about Lent this year I decided that I would use your daily devotions rather than try to find something to give up. I know that each day through God’s word you will provide the very thing I need to work on. Thank you for taking the leap!
I feel very blessed to have found you and your Lenten reflections and devotions. Addie Comfort Dog posted your link and that is how I found you, well actually I think that the Lord just might have had His had in it!!
Supposed to be His hand in it!!!! Thank you very much for writing and sharing your blog. God bless you.
Finding this blog has been a true blessing. Thank you for taking that first step. Its truely what I needed and need. God bless you.
Thank you thank you thank you
Without your courage, none of us would have this. Thank you for your transforming words and heart of God.
Love, laughter, and many blessings,
Megan
Dear Pastor Phil,
I’m so excited to be on the verge of going through Your lenten devotionals (both “…to give up…” and “…NOT…”) for a fourth consecutive year! 🙂 Thank You very much and I wish You a blessed Lent!
Greetings from Poland!
Luke