Lenten Devotional – March 24, 2023

Friday, March 24, 2023
Receiving the Day: Christian Practices for Opening the Gift of Time 
by Dorothy C. Bass 
Devotions by Pastor Travis Norton

I really appreciate Bass’ emphasis on “receiving.” She reminds us that the day begins anew when the sun goes down.  

She writes “Perceiving the day’s beginning at the darkening point teach us something important about who we are as human beings.” Eugene Peterson says, “the Hebrew evening/morning sequence conditions us to the rhythms of grace. We go to sleep, and God begins his work.” The first part of the day passes in darkness, then, but not in inactivity. God is out growing the crops even before the farmer is up and knitting together the wound before the clinic opens. when farmer and physician awake, they will join in, contributing mightily, but only because grace came first. Likewise, God has been working on and in them, body and mind, while they slept; yesterday’s bruises and slights have begun to heal. Entered this way, morning is new, worth being grateful for even before we have but our human touches on it.”  

So to receive the day is to wake up with a prayer on your lips of gratitude for all that God has done. Bass then encourages us to receive the day free from yesterday’s worries and free from tomorrow’s anxiety. There is reason why Jesus said we can’t add any time to the day by worrying. Our focus is on today, to pay attention to what God has already been doing and then to join in with all the gifts God has given us. I find that so refreshing. God is the one at work before, during and after my participation.  

Prayer: God, as I greet this new morning, I thank you for the work you have already begun. Give me eyes to see what you have started that I might jump in enthusiastically knowing that you are the beginning and the end of the work. Free me from worry and distraction and fill me with the joy of this new day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.