Christ: "Come to Me This Lent"

Photo credit: Free-images.com

The season of Lent starts today. Unlike New Year’s Resolutions such as quitting smoking or losing weight, which focus only on our physical well-being, our Lenten sacrifices are meant to help us grow spiritually. Through our fasting, prayers, and almsgiving we get out of ourselves and our attachment to worldly comforts, allow ourselves to be drawn closer to our Lord, and strengthen us to become more loving and more compassionate people – more like Christ. 

We fast during Lent to create space in our hearts, and time in our day, for God. We fast to remind us how temporary the things of this world are and how dependent we are on Him for all of them. We fast from something good that we’ll joyfully allow again on Easter. What to give up? The suggestions are endless. Some people give up Starbucks and donate to charity the money they save. Some give up listening to music in the car and use that time to talk to, and listen for, God. Some give up using the elevator and think of Christ carrying His cross to Calvary while they climb the stairs. Search your heart; what can you give up that will be meaningful for you?  

Remember, what we do for Lent is less important than what we allow God to do in us. You were created by Love and for love; great potential for loving has been planted in your heart. Christ is always with you, drawing you toward Himself and a deeper experience of His love. Lent is a time for taking steps toward Him. 

Imagine Christ saying to you today:

People in a crowded bus may not have any emotional attachment to each other. They might not even look at each other. I am with you always. I want you to be close to Me.

Set aside your distractions and look for My love inside you. Listen to the loving words I say in your heart.

Let My love influence how you treat the people around you, and how you treat yourself. I want you to know how much I love you and how precious you are to Me.

Come to Me this Lent.

“Rend your hearts, not your garments. Return to the Lord, for He is gracious and compassionate.” – Joel 2:13

On another note… I’m going to take a break from writing for the next couple weeks. I started writing these weekly reflections in December 2020 and sent them out via email. In July 2021 I moved my writings to the blogspot domain and have written a reflection nearly every week since. Thank you for reading them! I’m thankful to God, Who gets all the credit for giving me the ideas and the words; it’s amazing to see how He directs what I write. If something touches your heart, I’m happy to know that I’ve conveyed the message clearly. Some readers have let me know when something struck a chord with them, and others have asked me questions. I appreciate and welcome all your comments! 

Over the next couple weeks, I invite you to go to my blog page at  https://intoflame.blogspot.com.  and search past posts based on topic or date written. Pay attention to which reflections our Lord may be leading you to. To get you started, here are some readers’ favorites from the past three years:

A True Story

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2022/05/a-true-story.html

The Game of Life

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-game-of-life.html

Change, Learn, and Grow

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2021/07/change-learn-and-grow.html

Campfires of Love

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2022/08/building-campfires-of-love.html

God Needs Us

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2023/02/god-needs-us-to-work-his-miracles.html

Faith Is Not a Feeling

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2023/03/faith-is-not-feeling.html

Christmas Is Just the Beginning

https://intoflame.blogspot.com/2023/12/christmas-is-just-beginning.html

“Lord, draw me close to You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.

He Hears You

Photo credit: Free-images.com

The small child grabs a toy off the shelf and puts it in the shopping cart. Dad takes it out and puts it back. The child doesn’t know why, and starts wailing. Maybe the toy isn’t age-appropriate, is too expensive, or will be given to him for his birthday. Dad could be showing his love by not giving him the toy. The child doesn’t know this; he knows only that he isn’t getting what he wants right now. His cries grow louder.

God hears all our prayers, whether they’re whispered or cried aloud in pain. Sometimes we get the answer we hoped for; sometimes we don’t. We might never know, in this lifetime, why God answers the way He does. Sometimes, we look back and thank Him for not giving in to our demands. Sometimes, we realize that our challenge prepared us for something better. When we pray, ‘Thy will be done,’ we trust that whatever God answers will bring about the greater good for ourselves and our loved ones. 

It’s natural to ask, “Why?” when we’re suffering. It’s natural to feel discouraged when the problem doesn't go away.  

“The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Either he will shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.” – Francis de Sales

Remember, God doesn’t give us difficulties and illness, but He does permit them. In His wisdom, He knows that challenges draw us closer to Him. We may be complacent while things are going smoothly and then, when we’re struggling, we call on Him for help. Struggles also tend to bring about our greatest growth: it’s not until after the storm has passed that we see how much we’ve learned by going through it. This experience might help us later. Also, others’ challenges often bring out our most generous selves: We might be the answer to their prayers.

Imagine our Lord saying to you:

You feel anxious and are worried about many things. I hear you and see you. I know what that feels like because I, too, felt agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I know what it feels like to be frustrated and discouraged because I felt that when my apostles didn’t understand what I was trying to teach them.

I hear you. I am with you. Come to Me and open your heart to what I want to tell you.

Put your worries on My cross. Let Me share your burden, and then your suffering will have purpose. Let Me use it for a greater good: your salvation and the salvation of the world.

Every prayer you utter, I hear and I answer. Listen in your heart for the answer I’m giving you. 

I love you.

“Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people… Listen from your heavenly dwelling...” – 1 Kings 8:30

“Lord, I trust in You.”

Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2024 Gina Bedell     Comments are always welcome! 

Please share this with your friends by clicking on one of the icons below. Blogspot doesn’t have a ‘subscribe’ feature and so I appreciate your help in sharing my reflections. Thanks!

If you or someone you know would like to receive these writings directly to your inbox, please email me at ginabedell1@gmail.com and I will add you to my ‘BCC’ email list.

You can also find my posts on Facebook!

P.S.

Pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and around the world. Donate toward a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the families around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.