Lent Guide 2023Sample

Thursday – I prepare for the journey

Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

Matt. 6 (Msg)

Are there special places where you feel closer to God?

Where you want to pray more, become aware of God in a different way?

Where you feel you should take off your shoes?

For a lot of people that place is in nature. For me, it is by the ocean. There is something about the greatness, the water coming in and out, the crash of the waves that calls me to reflect, leaves me in awe - that makes me want to pray. I also feel like this in places that are dedicated to prayer, like cathedrals, churches, and places of retreat. The fact that people have been going there for such a long time to pray, inspires me to pray as well.

Of course we can pray anywhere. God doesn’t live in man-made temples.

Jesus’ presence fills every part of the universe.

We can find him in our car, at work, in the kitchen.

But at the same time, certain places can help us to pray. It is true that God is present everywhere. The problem is that I am not always present where I am.

I get distracted easily, with so many things requiring my attention. Jacob’s words may as well have been mine: “Surely the Lord was in this place, and I was not aware of it.” (Gen. 28:16)

Of all the things the disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them, their only request was this: Lord, teach us to pray. He gives them the words of the Our Father, but not before giving them the guidelines which are our Scripture for today.

In this time of preparation, you are invited to think about the place where you will pray during Lent. It could be good for you to find a specific place to pray for these 40 days of Lent. Arrange the space so that you want to pray there. Your house may have a separate room you can use for this. But maybe there is a chair that you want to put aside, with a piece of art or a candle. That could also be a visual cue – something that reminds you and calls you to pray each time you see it.

Exercise: Take some time to prepare a space for prayer during Lent. Also decide on a time and a length of time which will suit you most days.

Grace:

Lord, give me the grace to be aware of your presence.