Lent

Spiritual practices are activities that make space for God to transform us and our lives. Spiritual practices or disciplines help to usher us into deeper relationship and intimacy with God in order to grow and mature us in our faith. When we regularly engage in spiritual practices, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we begin to orient ourselves and our daily lives to the things of God. We become more like Christ by following Christ and doing the things he did: prayer, meditation, silence and solitude, fasting, practicing generosity and fellowship. Each day of this devotional includes five suggested spiritual practices to engage in. The intention is not to lead you into a legalistic, striving, check-the-box daily routine, but rather it’s an invitation to explore and engage as the Lord leads you each day. Lastly, we become like Christ together. As we journey through these practices and devotional together as a church, we encourage you to connect with a friend or a small group to go through together.

Fasting is choosing to abstain from food or anything else for a period of time to more intently focus on God. We choose to abstain or deprive ourselves from something in order to hunger after God and increase our dependence on God. Each day of this devotional includes an opportunity to choose to fast from food, alcohol, social media, entertainment or whatever the Lord may lead you to abstain from for the duration of the day, part of the day, or not at all. We encourage you to fill this time and fill yourself with Jesus through prayer, worship, and scripture. 

Scripture: Psalms 35:13-14; Isaiah 58; Daniel 9:1-3; 10:1-3;
Joel 2:12-15; Matthew 6:16-18; Luke 4:1-4; Acts 14:23

Each day of this devotional includes a prompt for confession by answering the question, “Are there areas in my life where I need to agree with God on?” This includes an admission of and confession of sin that leads to repentance, or any other areas of your life you may need to confess Jesus as Lord over by applying God’s word, truths, and promises. Take time to share what’s on your heart with Jesus, knowing He accepts you and loves you unconditionally and has already paid the price for your sin on the cross. Receive His grace, forgiveness, freedom and joy with gratitude and thanksgiving. 

Scripture: Leviticus 5:5; Psalms 32:5; Matthew 10:32;
Acts 3:19; Romans 10:8-19; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9

As followers of Jesus, we are called to love and serve one another. We practice generosity by serving and caring for those who are in need of food, shelter, comfort and justice. Investing and stewarding our time, resources, prayers and finances in the things of God is how we share the love of Christ with the world and grow the Kingdom of God. Each day of this devotional includes an opportunity to bless others through an act of service or generosity. 

Scripture: Proverbs 19:17, Matthew 5:16, Acts 20:35;
Galatians 6:7-10, Philippians 2:4; Hebrews 6:10

Meditation is the act of slowing down to gaze upon God, His word, and His works. Each day, we encourage you to spend a few minutes reflecting upon the scripture of the day. It may help to read through text slowly, noticing any words or phrases that stand out to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to receive revelation from the Lord. As you meditate on the Scripture, ask how might God be speaking to you through His word? Take time to journal, pray, or reflect on how God spoke to you through His living word. 

Scripture: Joshua 1:8; Psalms 1:2; Psalms 119:14; Isaiah 26:3;
Romans 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 4:12

As Christians, we share in special fellowship and communion as the family of believers. We join together as the body of Christ, and the body cannot operate in full strength without each member or part. We are not meant to live life alone. We need each other, and we get to do life and be on mission together. The Bible tells us not to neglect meeting together and to continually encourage and pray for one another. Our God is a communal God and Jesus modeled what it looks like to live life in community with his disciples. We become like Christ in community by discipling and sharpening one another, carrying one another’s burdens, breaking bread together, and worshiping together. Each day of this devotional includes a prompt to connect or fellowship with another or a group of people- it can be as simple as a text or meeting up for coffee, or anything that brings you together with other believers. Consider engaging in one or more of the spiritual practices together or sharing about your experiences with another.

Scripture: Matthew 18:20; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27;
Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 John 1:3-7

These devotions use Fill-In Notes.

To be sure your notes are saved, best practice is to email them to yourself or use this within the Zion • Clear Lake app.