Lenten Devos
The following devotionals were written as blog posts for the Northwest Texas Conference e-newsletter during the 2021 Lenten season.
Empty & Filled - Week 1
Growing up in the church, Lent seemed so watered down of just giving up chocolate or sodas for 40 days. (Disclaimer: Not from the pulpit – sorry, Dad – but probably from my youth leadership, which was up and down inconsistency and depth). It was almost like we would pick things that we knew we could easily do, or we would give up on day one and move on—kind of like new year’s resolutions. As I have grown as an adult, I have tried to sink deeper into what this season is preparing us for. I love the Christmas season. It is not hard at all for me to dive into the waiting and anticipation of Christ’s birth. But anticipating his death, even though it is ultimately his resurrection, just always seemed more challenging to me. Bringing back an Ash Wednesday service in our home church brought space to open myself deeper for the journey. The journey to the cross. To the ultimate sacrifice. Wondering what new story was on the horizon to the end of the story. It has become one of my favorite services that I look forward to, with my top two still being Good Friday and Christmas Eve. Don’t get me wrong, I love Easter, but there is something in the waiting through the journey that brings great growth and strange joy to my soul. Plus, I am always drawn to a good song in a minor key.
Through Lent, this mini blog series will provide a space for reflection, scripture, and a song or two to meditate on. Feel free to share each week! I hope it brings you peace and depth and strange joy as we continue living in ministry together in a season of isolation and distance.
Scripture to Meditate on:
Psalm 51:1-17, ESV
1 Have mercy on me,[a] O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[b] spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Others to read: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16- 21
Song of Meditation:
Brokenness Aside by All Sons and Daughters
Week 2
How often do we try to rush through a season in the wilderness or plain ignore that we are there? When Christ performed his first miracle, he made his presence known. It was the beginning of the end of the story the people of Israel had known. Even though they did not immediately recognize Jesus as the Messiah, each interaction that followed more and more began to see what was to come in Christ.
Hope began to arise for those in the wilderness. Psalm 25:4 – 6 says, “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you, I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” After Christ was baptized and the Spirit came down on him, Mark 1:9-15 tells us that the Spirit sent him into the wilderness. Not to the temple, not to the people, but to the wilderness where he was tempted for 40 days and the angels ministered to him.
How often do you find yourself ready to move forward in the direction you know you are supposed to go towards but feel like God is holding you back and asking you to wait? How can you dive deeper into a season of waiting during Lent? How can you seek the Lord in a journey through the wilderness?
Scripture to Meditate on:
Mark 1:9-15, ESV
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;[a] with you I am well pleased.”
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;[b] repent and believe in the gospel.”
Others to read: Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22
Song of Meditation:
Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher
Week 3
Imagine the disciples for a minute. This man named Jesus said, follow me, and they stopped everything they were committed to and followed. If we experienced that today, we would look at someone like they were crazy and keep on with what we were doing. I want to think that I would drop my nets and leave my family and follow, but would I? And then, as they would have been learning from Jesus, suddenly he starts to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer and be rejected and even killed as we read in Mark chapter 8. I would probably be right there with Peter beginning to speak of how that couldn’t be true and indeed wouldn’t happen. Who would want to kill Jesus?
One of my favorite scriptures is in this passage, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” Mark 8:34-35. Or find it in the end. To find your life means letting go of yourself and living as Christ did.
Take space this week for that verse to speak to you. Ask the Lord to shed light on where you are struggling to take up his cross. Ask for areas in your life to be illuminated that you need to let go more of. How can you continue to die to yourself as you become more Christ-like?
Scripture to Meditate on:
Mark 8:31-38, ESV
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Others to read: Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16, Psalm 22:23-31, Romans 4:13-25
Songs of Meditation:
This is True Life by Justin Rizzo
Week 4
Where do you seek wisdom from? Is it wisdom of the world or wisdom found in God? I think we often get caught up in seeking knowledge and discernment. Sometimes it is easy to learn from more concrete sources in the world. But we know that the wisest man is still foolish compared to God’s wisdom.
How have you sought out wisdom during this Lenten season? Where have you asked God to shed light on a path for you to follow? I fully believe that true wisdom comes from seeking the face of God. I picked today’s song, “Give Us Clean Hands,” because the basics of this prayer always strike powerfully. “Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts, let us not lift our souls to another.” May we stay focused on where God is leading us. “O God, let us be a generation that seeks, seeks your face, oh God of Jacob.” This is my prayer for generations to come. No matter where we are, in the wilderness or on the mountain top, may we humble ourselves down and seek God’s face. God’s wisdom. God’s love.
Scripture to Meditate on:
1 Corinthians 1:18-25, ESV
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[a] to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Others to read: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19; John 2:13-22
Song of Meditation:
Give Us Clean Hands by Shane and Shane
Week 5
It is easy when you are journeying through the wilderness or a dark season to lose sight of the underlining truth that never fails or changes from the Lord. Love. Steadfast love. Love that endures forever! Sit in that love this week. Connect with someone who might have forgotten what that unconditional love feels like. Or maybe they have never experienced it. Let them experience Christ’s love through you.
We were dead in sin, in bondage from this world, but by God’s great love, mercy and grace, we are saved. Not because of our actions. Not because we said the right thing or did something nice for someone but because it is God’s gift to us. Because you are enough.
Let all the redeemed prophesy and sing God you are holy. Let your anointing fall on your church. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17.
Scripture to Meditate on:
Ephesians 2:1-10, ESV
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Others to read: Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22, John 3:14-21
Song of Meditation:
Fresh Wind by Hillsong Worship
Week 6
How are you with surrendering? I think some things come easy to surrender, but others are a lot harder to surrender truly. That is one of the things I love/hate about walking through the Lenten season. We start ready to go, fully committed to surrender something for a short period, but we struggle even in that.
Think about the hard things for you to surrender. Name something this week that you know the Lord is asking to take, but you have resisted fully submitting it. Is it a relationship? Finances? Rest? Sabbath? Time?
When you have identified what the Lord is calling you to surrender, make an action step for you to step into that surrender. Lord, help us empty ourselves so we can be filled with you! Not my will but yours be done, Lord!
Scripture to Meditate on:
Psalm 119:9-16, ESV
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! 13 With my lips I declare all the rules[a] of your mouth. 14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Others to read: Jeremiah 31: 31-34; Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20 – 33
Song of Meditation:
I Surrender by All Sons and Daughters
Palm Sunday
Sometimes I think there is a temptation to rush through Holy Week. We all know it is not a slow week for pastors or church staff! For many of us last year, Holy Week quickly had to be adapted when we could not meet in person. Even if you are not altogether in your churches this year, make sure you create space to not rush to Resurrection Sunday! There is so much to process during Holy Week. Take time for God to speak to you each day as we continue to journey to the cross. The new story is about to start. In the in-between, we wondered in the messy middle as Christ was making his presence as Messiah known among the Jews and the Gentiles. Christ empties himself being born in human form and humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. All of this, so at the start of the new story, every knee can bow, and every tongue confesses that Christ is Lord. Our Savior has come. Creation can be united again with the Father.
Scripture to Meditate on:
Mark 11:1-11, ESV
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus[a] sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” 11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Song of Meditation:
All The Poor And Powerless by All Sons and Daughters
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday brings us special moments into Christ’s last few hours with his disciples. Break apart Christ washing the disciple’s feet for a moment. They must have been so thrown off and confused by what Christ was doing. How do you think you would have felt or reacted at that moment? Would you have questioned or hesitated? Would you have felt uncomfortable or been so drawn into the Lord?
What do you think was running through Judas’s head at that time? Scripture tells us that he had already decided to betray Jesus. What do you think was consuming him during that last supper?
1 Corinthians 11: 23-26, ESV
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for[a] you. Do this in remembrance of me.”[b] 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Have you ever imagined what this first communion was like? Did they understand? Were they going through the motions? Was there a level of knowledge deep within them of understanding this Covenant or what was about to come?
And then Jesus tells them they cannot go with him where they are going next. How weird would that be to hear! After all this time of always being with Jesus, witnessing his teachings and miracles, all of a sudden, they can’t come? This must have been such a confusing time for them. I like to think that the peace of the Lord radiated between all of them during these final hours.
Scripture to Meditate on:
John 13: 1-17, 31-35, ESV
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet,[a] but is completely clean. And you[b] are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Others to read: Exodus 12: 1-4, 5-10, 11-14, Psalm 116: 1-2, 12-19
Song of Meditation:
Remembrance by Hillsong Worship
Good Friday
This was it. The day that Jesus’ time was amounting to on earth. This was the final act of the end of the story they knew. He would either rise or not. I think they were all still caught up in his arrest and rush to death on a cross that no one really sat there trying to analyze what was coming next. But here it was. The death that had been predicted by scripture and Christ himself foretold.
Read through the scriptures. Spend time in meditation. Ask God to reveal something new to you this Good Friday. For truly He was the Son of God. If you have been skipping some of the songs recommended for meditation, I would highly recommend listening to these two on repeat today.
Scripture to Meditate on:
Psalm 22, ESV
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises[a] of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet[b]— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. 19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued[c] me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation, I will praise you: 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted[d] shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. 28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. 30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.
Song of Meditation:
Oh, The Power by Kari Jobe
Holy Saturday
The day of darkness, Holy Saturday. The day we often rush through. Because darkness can be uncomfortable, it can spur on fear. But there is also growth that can happen in the darkness. Christ’s death ended the story as the Jews, and the Gentiles knew it. But they thought the Messiah was to come and conquer, not die on a cross. How could a man rise from the dead now? We know Sunday is coming because we get to see the whole picture.
Imagine what that Saturday must have felt like. Where did people turn to? Was it back to business as usual? Were they lost in sorrow, lost in the darkness?
They were stuck in the messy middle - the space between the story that just ended and the one about began. Dawn brought the new story found in Christ’s resurrection. The story we get to share day in and day out as the church with non-believers. But that day of darkness, I sometimes wonder what that really would have felt like to be present.
How has this season of Lent been for you? Do you feel like you were walking through a wilderness? Do you feel like you walked better in surrender? Sunday’s coming! Where is God calling you to go as we celebrate his resurrection?
Scripture to Meditate on:
Job 14:1-14, ESV
1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. 2 He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not. 3 And do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment with you? 4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one. 5 Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass, 6 look away from him and leave him alone,[a] that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day. 7 “For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. 8 Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil, 9 yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant. 10 But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he? 11 As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up, 12 so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep. 13 Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal[b] should come.
Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16, ESV
In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! 2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! 3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; 4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me for you are my refuge.
15 My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!
Others to read: 1 Peter 4:1-8, Matthew 27:57-66
Song of Meditation:
Buried in the Grave by All Sons and Daughters
Easter Sunday
Happy Easter!! Happy Resurrection Sunday! Christ is Risen!
I hope this journey through Lent has brought growth and peace and strange joy to your walk with Christ and for your church. We celebrate this day and the weeks to come as we continue to surrender to the Lord and grow in who he has for us to be. Today we celebrate life and second chances found in new life. We celebrate reunion with our creator.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow! The one we thought was dead has come to life again! He is risen indeed! Amen!
Scripture to Meditate on:
Mark 16:1-8, ESV
1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Song of Meditation:
Miracle by Mosaic
Scripture to Meditate on:
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24, ESV
1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
14 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, 16 the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!” 17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. 18 The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. 21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[a] 23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Song of Meditation:
Living Hope by Phil Wickham