Tuesday February 16, 2021

In the busyness of our everyday lives, we often fail to prepare our hearts and minds for reading God’s word and experience God in this time. Take a moment to allow this prayer to lead you into your time with God today.

As I enter into this time of prayer and reflection, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly; to re-center my scattered senses upon the presence of God.

Holy and loving God, in this new season I invite you to shape my soul with your words and inspire my life with your works. Teach me to walk in the way of peace and grace. AMEN.

Philippians 2:5-11

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!o death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

After Jesus says in John 14:4, “You know the way to the place where I am going,” his disciple Thomas replies, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Thomas wanted direction. He wanted a map. Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

For those seeking the way to the Father, Jesus himself is the map.

Paul expresses here in Philippians 2 that we are meant to be “emptied” of everything. God “exalts” us with Christ to a new life worth more than anything we leave behind.

Lent is a season where many intentionally “give up” something. On the eve of the beginning of that season, I want to encourage you to approach it a bit differently and consider this question.

What needs to be “emptied” in your life?

Father, help me to live this day to the full, being true to You, in every way.

Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, being kind to everyone I meet.

Spirit, help me to love the lost, proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.

Amen.

*Our opening and closing prayers are adapted from Lectio365, a mobile application developed by the 24-7 Prayer Network. To find out more about this resource, visit this link.