Prayer Call: Preparing Our Hearts for the Journey
Good Morning, BFB!
This is a day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Today's scriptures come from Joel 2:12 - A Call to Return; Hebrews 12:1 - A Call to Release; and Psalms 51:10 - A Call to Receive
Lent begins this Wednesday. Lent is period in which we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. This is a time of reflection, repentence, and renewal. It's a time to set our hearts on God; release those things that hinder our relationship with Him; and make ourselves available to receive His gift of grace.
Lent offers us a time to return to Him. It's a call to come home. Joel 2:12 "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." - return to a more intimate relationship with Him. It's easy for the distractions around us to pull us away from the nearness of God. God is calling us back to Him; He's waiting with open arms. He's giving us an open invitation to do an examination of our hearts. Identify those things that may be taking our focus from God. It's a call to return to realign our lives so that we can center ourselves on our relationship with God. Not just for a moment, but intentionally making opportunity over and over again to center ourselves on Him.
This time of Lent is also a time of release - letting go of what we don't need. Hebrews 12:1 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entagles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." As we return to a more intimate relationship with Christ, we are called to loosen our grip on things that hinder us from making that return. Release those things that hinder us from holding on to the hope we have in Jesus. When we release we make ourselves available to be filled by God. We make room for Him to strengthen us. When we release these things, we make room for God's grace.
Third, Lent invites us to receive God's grace. Psalms 51:10 - "Creat in me a pure heat, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." As we prepare to celebrate the great resurrection of our Savior, it's not just about our sorrow, but it's about our renewal. It's an opportunity to receive God and allow Him to transform our hearts and our very being. This is a time when we can surrender all of our fears, burdens, sorrow, doubts to God and in return He will renew His spirit with us. He will refresh our strength. He will draw us in closer to Him. He will greet us with new mercies and new grace. Lent is a time for a Holy reset.
As we reflect this week and during this period leading up to our Savior's death, burial, and resurrection, let us ponder in our hearts: Will we return to God with all our heart? Will we release whatever is weighing us down? Will we receive the grace that our Savior has to offer us as we go on this journey?
#Lent #Reflection #Return #Repentance #Release #Receive #BacktotheBasics #BrickbyBrick #PrayerCallThought #Center #Connect #Contribute #WithOneAnother25 #BFB #CORE
This is a day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Today's scriptures come from Joel 2:12 - A Call to Return; Hebrews 12:1 - A Call to Release; and Psalms 51:10 - A Call to Receive
Lent begins this Wednesday. Lent is period in which we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. This is a time of reflection, repentence, and renewal. It's a time to set our hearts on God; release those things that hinder our relationship with Him; and make ourselves available to receive His gift of grace.
Lent offers us a time to return to Him. It's a call to come home. Joel 2:12 "Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." - return to a more intimate relationship with Him. It's easy for the distractions around us to pull us away from the nearness of God. God is calling us back to Him; He's waiting with open arms. He's giving us an open invitation to do an examination of our hearts. Identify those things that may be taking our focus from God. It's a call to return to realign our lives so that we can center ourselves on our relationship with God. Not just for a moment, but intentionally making opportunity over and over again to center ourselves on Him.
This time of Lent is also a time of release - letting go of what we don't need. Hebrews 12:1 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entagles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." As we return to a more intimate relationship with Christ, we are called to loosen our grip on things that hinder us from making that return. Release those things that hinder us from holding on to the hope we have in Jesus. When we release we make ourselves available to be filled by God. We make room for Him to strengthen us. When we release these things, we make room for God's grace.
Third, Lent invites us to receive God's grace. Psalms 51:10 - "Creat in me a pure heat, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." As we prepare to celebrate the great resurrection of our Savior, it's not just about our sorrow, but it's about our renewal. It's an opportunity to receive God and allow Him to transform our hearts and our very being. This is a time when we can surrender all of our fears, burdens, sorrow, doubts to God and in return He will renew His spirit with us. He will refresh our strength. He will draw us in closer to Him. He will greet us with new mercies and new grace. Lent is a time for a Holy reset.
As we reflect this week and during this period leading up to our Savior's death, burial, and resurrection, let us ponder in our hearts: Will we return to God with all our heart? Will we release whatever is weighing us down? Will we receive the grace that our Savior has to offer us as we go on this journey?
#Lent #Reflection #Return #Repentance #Release #Receive #BacktotheBasics #BrickbyBrick #PrayerCallThought #Center #Connect #Contribute #WithOneAnother25 #BFB #CORE
Posted in Prayer Call Devotional
Posted in Prayer Call, Prayer Call Devotional, Monday Morning Prayer, Lent, Preparation, Return, Release, Receive, Joel 2:12, Hebrews 12:1, Psalms 51:10
Posted in Prayer Call, Prayer Call Devotional, Monday Morning Prayer, Lent, Preparation, Return, Release, Receive, Joel 2:12, Hebrews 12:1, Psalms 51:10
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Archive
2026
January
Day 1: The Stretch of FaithDay 2: Stretching to Seek FirstDay 3: The Man in the MirrorDay 4: The Early StretchPrayer Call: Reach OutDay 5: Worship That LiftsDay 6: Fasting That FreesDay 7: The Presence That TransformsDay 8: Being Visible for GodDay 9: Won't You Be My NeighborDay 10: The Heart of Your ServiceDay 11: Crossing BoundariesPrayer Call: Let Him Get CloseDay 12: Praying for the Lost: Burden for SoulsDay 13: The Stretch of CompassionDay 14: Witness That ShinesDay 15: We Over MeDay 16: God's Blessing in HarmonyDay 17: Choosing GraceDay 18: Carrying One Another's BurdensPrayer Call: Reaching ForwardDay 19: Encourage DailyDay 20: Different by DesignDay 21: Guard the Fellowship - Protect This HouseDay 22: Letting Go of the PastDay 23: Pressing OnDay 24: You Can Come Back From ThisDay 25: A Vision That See Beyond NowPrayer Call: Check Your DMsDay 26: The Recipe for Hope for the Generation That FollowsDay 27: Courage for New GroundDay 28: Finish Strong - Completing the AssignmentDay 29: Run with EnduranceDay 30: Our Next Stretch - Commissioned to Continue
March
April
2025
January
2025: Growing With One AnotherPrayer Call: The Purpose of PrayerWhy I PrayPrayer Call: Humble Hearts and Healing HandsTaking Care of You to Care for OthersDay 1: Center on Christ's LoveDay 2: Center on the Word of GodDay 3: Center on PrayerDay 4: Center on FaithDay 5: Center on ObedienceDay 6: Center on WorshipWorship in AssuranceDay 7: Center on SurrenderDay 8: Connect In UnityDay 9: Connect Through FellowshipDay 10: Connect Through Serving One AnotherEmbracing the SilenceDay 11: Connect Through ForgivenessDay 12: Connect Through HospitalityDay 13: Connect Through Encouragement
February
Day 14: Connect Through Unity of MissionDay 15: Contribute Through ListeningA Strong FinishDay 16: Contribute Through StewardshipDay 17: Contribute Through RestDay 18: Contribute Through ReflectionDay 19: Contribute Through PrayerDay 20: Contribute Through WorshipMy Prayer For YouDay 21: Contribute Through GratitudeDay 21: Contribute Through GratitudePrayer Call: A Kingdom's PerspectiveKeep Your Fire BurningPrayer Call: Faith That EnduresPrayer Call: Altars Before Answers
March
April
Prayer Call: Reflections on RebuildingPrayer Call: Flipping Tables & Bearing FruitLet Me Flip The TablesWhen They Question YouSpy Wednesday - The Cost Of BetrayalMaundy Thursday - A Table - A Towel and A TestLove Poured OutSilent Saturday - Trusting God in the WaitingHe Is Risen Indeed - Hope RisesPrayer Call: The Power of a Selah Moment
May
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