Infinitum Lent JourneySample

Today we consider Surrender & Me in the context of Lent.

This is our second last day of Surrender & Me. We will revisit the use of the One Word Wonder practice to ascertain God’s will for us regarding surrender in the text. Remember that we are gazing through the lens of Surrender & Me.

There is an old tradition in which we camp out on just one word or one verse during our spiritual rations. It’s been described as similar to eating a piece of food.

First, you take a bite. You pick a portion of today’s reading—usually just a verse—and read it. Read it several times. God will often highlight a word or phrase or you. Scribble down the word and other words that come to mind related to it.

Our text (John 12:1-11 MESSAGE):

“1-3 Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus’ feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.

4-6 Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them.

7-8 Jesus said, “Let her alone. She’s anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don’t always have me.”

9-11 Word got out among the Jews that he was back in town. The people came to take a look, not only at Jesus but also at Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead. So the high priests plotted to kill Lazarus because so many of the Jews were going over and believing in Jesus on account of him.”

Then you chew it. You ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you; you’re looking for revelation as to what God is saying in this word or phrase and what he is saying to you. You might find other verses with complementary perspectives on your word. You might get a fuller understanding of God’s heart.

Then you savor it. You pray this word or phrase over your current situation—your pressures, hurts, hopes, and sin—back to God. Our experience is translated through this word or phrase, and we can see it from God’s perspective.

Then you swallow it. You take your enhanced understanding of God and focus on him through the lens of this word or phrase and rest in his presence.

Then you digest it. Scribble or type a note to yourself about how you see this revelation applied to your life.