As our devotions for Lent continue, the focus shifts just a bit. We began pondering the question, “Why the cross?” and rested on sin as the heart of the reason. Last week, we asked God to help us to uncover any sins that we have either overlooked or ignored. Once we come face-to-face with our…
Test Me, O God?
“Did you study for the test?” Do you enjoy taking a test? Research shows that most people do not enjoy the process. They associate tests with high stress, anxiety, pressure, and the fear of failure. Surveys indicate that about 40% of students experience significant test anxiety that negatively impacts their health and the scores on…
Search Me, O God
The other day I was helping a friend search for a set of lost keys when he made a quip that struck me funny enough to laugh out loud. My friend offered the comment, “I come from a long line of losers.” I laughed because I, too, had family members who had special talents with…
Know My Heart
Somewhere in the writings of esteemed Biblical scholar, J.I. Packer, there is a reference to Puritan theology as theology that is “older, better, wiser and of a more practical sort.” His statement applies to Puritan theology, but it applies even more to Psalm 139 – its theology is “older, better, wiser, more practical.” It is…
Freedom from the Guilt of Sin
Our devotions for this first full week of Lent have centered on sin. We have talked about what sin is and about the deep need inside us to confess that sin to God – to agree with him about the nature and impact of sin in our lives. Today we want to think about the…
Confess – Saying the Same Thing
We are continuing our thoughts from Psalm 32 about the depth of our sin. David begins the Psalm by reminding us, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven” (Psalm 32:10). He goes on to explain that when he kept silent about his sin, when he tried to cover it up, he was is torment and…
The Depth of Our Sin
As we move into the first full week of the Lenten Season, we want to focus our thoughts on the reason for the Easter season. Though we can point to the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden, the truth is Easter is about all our sin. Our Bibles are opened to Psalm 32…
Reasons for Studying the Psalms
This Lenten season we are striving for spiritual growth and development by taking three steps during our devotions. We want to resolve to take action; to recharge to have the strength to succeed; and to renew our minds to approach living out our faith in a new and vibrant way. But we also want to…
Renewal
Have you ever had a movie that you loved but you were almost ashamed to admit that you liked it because it was so utterly stupid? My life is filled with those movies. One of my all-time favorites that I am embarrassed to admit that I like is the movie “Dodgeball.” I am laughing tears…
Recharge
As we proceed through forty days together in a time of devotion for the Lenten Season, we need to recognize three steps to assure spiritual change and growth. Yesterday we talked about the first step – our need to resolve to take specific steps. Today, we want to look at the second step. If you…