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DAY 11
Aware of his love
I don’t want to be alone during the darkest times in my life. Even though I am one of those people who has the tendency to withdraw when facing difficult times, deep inside I long not to be alone.
I want to be aware of God’s love – the knowledge that He is my Father, that He is with me and loves me.
I find comfort in the fact that my suffering is not the result of God punishing me. God’s grace and forgiveness guarantee this.
It is noticeable that when Jesus faces the darkest times of his life, He asks his Father to forgive others when they act wrongly. God’s wrath and retribution should actually be inflicted on those who curse and torture Jesus. Jesus is indeed the Anointed One (Ps 105:15) but yet He asks God to forgive and not punish them.
It is a mystery that Jesus was prepared to take the punishment on himself so that I can have the assurance that God will never punish me. This is so different from what I have read in the Bible. Adam and Eve sinned and as part of their punishment they lost paradise. The angels in heaven rebelled; they had to leave heaven and turned into demons. I sin, but have the assurance that God will never reject me, that He loves me unconditionally and will be with me in my darkest times.
EXERCISE
During your quiet time, think back to a specific time that was dark for you.
• What was your internal dialogue during these times?
• What did you say about God (your image of God)?
• Take this to God in prayer.
Aware of his love
I don’t want to be alone during the darkest times in my life. Even though I am one of those people who has the tendency to withdraw when facing difficult times, deep inside I long not to be alone.
I want to be aware of God’s love – the knowledge that He is my Father, that He is with me and loves me.
I find comfort in the fact that my suffering is not the result of God punishing me. God’s grace and forgiveness guarantee this.
It is noticeable that when Jesus faces the darkest times of his life, He asks his Father to forgive others when they act wrongly. God’s wrath and retribution should actually be inflicted on those who curse and torture Jesus. Jesus is indeed the Anointed One (Ps 105:15) but yet He asks God to forgive and not punish them.
It is a mystery that Jesus was prepared to take the punishment on himself so that I can have the assurance that God will never punish me. This is so different from what I have read in the Bible. Adam and Eve sinned and as part of their punishment they lost paradise. The angels in heaven rebelled; they had to leave heaven and turned into demons. I sin, but have the assurance that God will never reject me, that He loves me unconditionally and will be with me in my darkest times.
EXERCISE
During your quiet time, think back to a specific time that was dark for you.
• What was your internal dialogue during these times?
• What did you say about God (your image of God)?
• Take this to God in prayer.
Scripture
About this Plan
Lent is a time when we prepare ourselves for Easter. Lent Journey consists of 38 devotions to accompany us on this journey. We are invited to the undertake the journey with Jesus and thereby prepare ourselves for the two big events that are the pillars of our belief system - the crucifiction and the resurrection.
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