Gospel Prayer During Lent
As Easter draws near, let us steadfastly fix our eyes upon Jesus each day. I was encouraged by this prayer. Be encouraged as you continue to depend upon the Lord in prayer:
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Holy and loving Father, as I continue to pray my way through Lent, it’s portions of your Word, like this one, that make me want to weep and dance, at the same time. I feel like weeping over the years I spent in gospel-ignorance—a stranger to the ways of grace. Grateful that you brought me to Jesus, but clueless about how you actually change your sons and daughters. I suffered much under the hands of bad theologies, man-centered remedies, and Christ-less formulas.
This one passage alone tells us that you are the God who called us to life in Jesus; you are thoroughly transforming us to be like Jesus; you are keeping our whole being blameless until the Day you send Jesus back to finish making all things new, including us! Indeed, you are God of peace. Nowhere else can such peace, joy and assurance be found.
How did I miss the really good news of the gospel for so long? Why was I such an easy target for performance-based spirituality? Why wasn’t I able to recognize corruptions of the gospel sooner? I lament the years spent in seeing Jesus more as my perfect model than as my perfect Righteousness; rededicating my life to Jesus, trying to make him Lord of all things; holding out for a 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 17th baptism in the Spirit, instead of savoring a life of union and communion with Jesus. How did I miss so much of the gospel for so very long?
Enough of looking back in sadness. we choose to look up in gladness, for you’ve turned our mourning into dancing, Father. You’ve removed the sackcloth of our self-righteousness and have clothed us with the wedding garments of the Lamb. With the music of a nuptial banquet already emanating from heaven, our prayer is simply this, dear Father, more and more, and through and through, make us like Jesus. You are faithful and you will do it. So very Amen, we pray with profound gratitude and holy assurance, in Jesus’ name.