This past weekend I had the opportunity to “Be still in the Lord.” As a part of my call to West Emory Church, there are two weekends a year that I am to devote solely to Sabbath Rest and Renewal. This time of healing and wholeness for both the body and the spirit offers me a quiet and uninterrupted time to read and rest, pray and worship. With the Advent and Christmas season not long behind us and Lent and Easter just ahead, I am thankful for this time apart to reflect upon the spiritual discipline of Lent and the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord.
“What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6.8 The Lenten season gives us the opportunity to enter into a deeper commitment to Christ. I invite you to join me in considering how we might as a community of faith and as individuals mark this time with intentional discipleship. You might want to participate in a fast from particular luxuries, material consumerism or various forms of entertainment, and take each opportunity to refrain as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and a call to prayer. You might want to add a spiritual discipline such as morning or evening Bible reading, daily prayer for church/community/world, or actions of service and compassion. Let us together prayerfully commit to keep this Lenten season holy. May we set it apart from other times and make of ourselves and our very lives an offering to our gracious and loving God. Let us take up our crosses and follow Jesus.
