Day 29

               Lord your plans are perfect and your ways are just. You knew that Your wrath would have to be poured out on Christ so that we might be able to live in His blessed atonement. You know how terrible sin is and the fact that it leads to both physical and spiritual death. Christ had to die in order to take my place to fulfill Your perfect justice. Christ also had to live a perfect, sinless life so that His sacrifice would be acceptable in Your Holy sight. The absolute nature of who You are is difficult for me to understand since I live in a world full of margins and gray areas. Thank You that Christ’s sacrifice was complete and enough for me and all who would believe. In Christ name.

 

                                                                            Day 28

               The blooming dogwood outside my door has opened its buds to reveal the beautiful white four petal bloom. God, I know that all of creation points to You and reveals You as creator God. I am also reminded that it was on a tree, perhaps even a dogwood tree, that You hung for my sin. Lord, your death was not swift and definitely not certain. At any time during this awful ordeal, You could have commanded ten thousand angels to release You and bring justice on those that nailed you to the cross. Your love and will saw not only those gathered there but the billions that were waiting in the future for a Savior for their sinful state. The beauty of such an ugly death can only come from Godly love. In Jesus name.

 

                                                                    Day 27

               God thank you for the promised return of Your Son. Lord, I know it is your intent that all should be saved from your terrible wrath and judgement for sin. I know that Easter is the only way that I can bridge the gap between a sinless God and my sinful self. God, you saw my need before you even spoke the universe into place. I have no way of understanding your unlimited mind and how you transcend time, a concept that you created. I do believe there will be a day that Christ will return and gather all those that believe on His Name. His is worthy to do this because of his perfect life, guiltless death and glorious resurrection. I wait anxiously for that day or when he might transform me through death. Glory to His Name, Amen.

 

                                                                    Day 26

               Lord, thank You for your Word that tells the story of Your Son’s life in the Gospels. I examine my life in light of the perfect life of Christ and I am humbled. I realize that all my works are as dirty rags when compare to Your Holiness. Jesus Your story is my story as well. You were hunger, you got tired, you slept, you rejoiced, you wept and you experienced the full range of emotions as any other human. However, your Word said that you went through this difficult life without sin. I can’t wrap my mind around this feat since I can hardly go through the day without slipping into sinful thoughts and ways. Your Holy Will to remain pure amazes me. Thank You that You inspired men to chronicle your life and the gospel so that Your Holy Spirit might draw all men to You. In Jesus name.

 

Day 25

               Lord as we wait for the days to pass before the Holy Week, keep us mindful of Your Holiness. The Bible says you are an unapproachable light, blinding, piercing and pure. Though You stooped in the garden to form Adam and Eve with Your own hands, because of their sin, they had separated from Your fellowship. You were not surprised by this separation and anticipated the need Your creatures would have for a Savior to span the gap between ourselves and Your Holiness. We confess we are marred by sin and live in a world slowly being destroyed by the consequences of sin. Help me to hold fast to the power of the cross, the hope I have for deliverance from my sin and death. Amen.

 

Day 24

               Be still and know that I am God, the scriptures say. So often times Lord, I confess that these words I don’t apply to my life. I excuse my lack of commitment to You because good intentions, work, helping others, being productive. I desire to do Your will but fail in the simplest step, stopping whatever I am doing and being still before You. Even when I do still myself, my mind wanders to the list of things to do, the anticipation of things to come and other distractions that might rob me of knowing You deeper and fuller. Guard my mind and heart each day so that I might be purposeful in my stillness and knowing of You as God. You know what is best for me and this instruction by Your word is key to making sure my day is complete. Thank You for Your willingness to meet with me. Amen.

 

Day 23

               Lord God, point my heart toward Easter. Help me experience the great sorrow for sin and shame that my Savior suffered even before the cross. I know from the scriptures that Jesus spoke of his coming death well before Good Friday. In the garden, Christ literally sweated blood on my behalf as He considered the great price, He would have to pay to cover my sin. How terrible the separation was when His Father turned His back on Him as He hung on the cross, experiencing the full wrath of God for my sin. Easter is most certainly about life and renewal of life, but renewal comes from death. As I experience the joy of Easter, help me to process the cost for the joy that resides in my soul. In Jesus name.