Don't Go For Just The Surface

"Yahweh says, 'Yet even now, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Rend your heart, not your garment.'" - Joel 12:12-13

We're all thinking about Lent and these sacrifices we're making but it's important that each of us understands what this time is really about. This is a call for us to realize that we need God and work on letting Him in to change our lives for the better. The fasting, the weeping, the mourning described are all outward signs of what's going on inside of us and that's why what God says here is so important. Don't let this time be only about what's on the outside, what you're doing out of routine. God doesn't want us to rend our garments, what's on the outside. He wants us to rend our hearts, seek a true conversion from within. He wants to see a real desire in you to follow Him. What you do on the outside for Lent, going through the motions, does not count for anything if the change isn't going on in your mind, heart, and soul. Don't give up soda, candy, smoking, or anything else you can think of if these Lenten sacrifices aren't practiced out of a sincere desire to seek God's will for your life.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to the things I do only in a superficial manner. Help me to put value on what You really want out of me. Help me discover what in me needs to change so that I can be a much better person in You. In Your Name we pray, amen.