When our hearts lean toward pleasing God alone, we discover that obedience cannot flourish where reconciliation is absent. This devotion invites us to return to God, allowing Him to restore what sin has strained.
"So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God."
2 Corinthians 5:20
When most people prepare for Lent, they begin by deciding what to give up—sodas, sweets, habits, or comforts. Others choose to take on a ministry or mission. These practices can be meaningful, but they are not the best place to start.
The truest beginning of Lent is reconciliation with God.
Before you deny yourself anything, confess your sins. Name them. Lay them before the Lord. Refuse to carry them into another season of your life. Paul warns us not to receive God's grace in vain—meaning we should not continue in the very sins Christ died to free us from.
The greatest outcome of Lent is not a completed fast or a successful ministry project. It is freedom. Freedom from the sin that binds you. Freedom from patterns that keep you distant from God. Freedom to walk in the newness Christ offers.
Devotion, service, and mission all have their place. They strengthen your faith and bless others. But reconciliation is the foundation. Everything else grows from a heart restored to God.
Lent becomes powerful when it becomes personal—when you allow God to cleanse, renew, and realign your life with His.
Reflection Questions:
- What sin do you struggle with most consistently?
- How do you imagine you would feel if you finally overcame that sin?
- How would your relationship with God deepen if that sin no longer held power over you?
Prayer:
Father, I come to You with honesty. Reveal the sin that keeps me from You and give me the courage to turn from it. Reconcile my heart to Yours and set me free to walk in the life Jesus offers.
Daily Assignment:
Choose a trusted friend and ask them to help hold you accountable in the area where you struggle most.
Lent's most powerful start involves reconciling with God, not abstaining from something.
Continue Your Journey
This devotional is part of the 40-day book Beyond Giving Up: A Lenten Journey into Obedient Faith by Toby Lofton.
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