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When we travel to a destination we’ve never been to before, we drive mindfully. We follow the GPS. We pay close attention to the road signs and we stay focused. On the other hand, when we’re driving to a familiar place, we’re more nonchalant. We set the cruise control and relax. We don’t have to watch the signs too closely. Sometimes we don’t even think about where we’re going.
In a similar way, sometimes spiritually we operate on cruise control. We get set in a familiar routine and don’t think too much about where we’re going. We forget that our ‘destination’ is to grow closer to Christ and to attain the joy and peace of that close relationship. We become lukewarm with our prayers and nonchalant with how we treat the people around us.
Lent is a time for us to give up our ‘cruise control complacency’ and to do our part to strengthen our relationship with Christ. We remind ourselves that Lent is less about what we do and more about what we allow God to do in us through our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We remember that Christ wants us to experience His loving presence in more real and meaningful ways, and so we open our hearts to His Spirit so that He can strengthen us in His love.
Over the next 40 days, take a step toward Christ. Let Him move your heart. Ask Him to open your eyes to experience His love for you.
Here are a few suggestions as to how you may be more intentional in growing closer to Christ. Take a moment to let Him reveal to you more ideas:
* Schedule a few more minutes each day for prayer. Acknowledge Christ’s presence with you, speak from your heart – and listen.
* Write your prayers in a journal. Look back on it later to see how your prayers were answered.
* Let His compassion and peace detach you from your abundance and inspire you to give more of your finances or your time to someone in need.
* Let Him give you the courage to reach out in love to an estranged family member.
* Let Him soften your heart to remove fear and bitterness.
* Let Him move you to share His love and peace with others.
* Place your challenges on His cross and let Him use them for His purpose: the salvation of the world.
This Lent, give up your spiritual cruise control. Take a step toward Christ, Who is waiting for you. Offer Him a bit of your time and energy, and let Him fill your heart with His deep and powerful love.
“This, rather, is the fasting that I wish… sharing your bread with the hungry, clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.” –Isaiah 58:6-7
Open my eyes, that I may see You. Open my ears, that I may hear You. Open my heart, that I may love You in the people around me.
Thank you for reading my reflection. All thanks to God for giving me the ideas and guiding my words! © 2025 Gina Bedell
Through these reflections, I invite you, the reader, to reflect on a given topic and then seek deeper answers through prayer, additional spiritual reading, and/or consultation with clergy or other qualified persons in order to grow in your faith and understanding of God’s love and will for your life.
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P.S.
Pray for peace at home and around the world. Donate to a cause that tugs at your heart. Take care of those around you; take care of our planet. Pray for the people around the globe whose lives have been torn apart by war and natural disasters.
