L.Y.F.E. is………

Blessings and greetings L.Y.F.E. family!

This month, “L.Y.F.E. is…” shifts its focus on Lent. Lent is a season of preparation, self-examination, and repentance as we Journey to the Cross with Christ. This time period begins on Ash Wednesday (February 17th and ends on April 3^rd (Saturday) leading up to Resurrection Sunday. During this 40 day journey, we prepare our hearts and reflect upon God’s love and God’s gift of salvation by God’s grace.

We hope and pray that your hearts are encouraged and that you are blessed by this Lenten devotional!

We Do Not Lose Heart!

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 (NIV)

Devotional: Our Lenten Devotional takes us to 2 Corinthians, Chapter 4, where we find the Apostle Paul writing his 2^nd letter to the church at Corinth. The church at Corinth is a church in which Paul founded during his missionary journey to Corinth (Acts 18) and now the church is struggling and experiencing some difficulties. As our beloved Pastor Jackie has ministered and taught us, “there are no perfect churches because there are no perfect people”; yet Paul writes to the Corinthians and encourages them~ “we do not lose heart.”(v.1)

Who knew struggle and affliction better than Paul? Life has been difficult for Paul as he writes this letter. Up to this point, the apostle had suffered many beatings, arrests, several imprisonments, shipwrecked three times, and even bitten by a poisonous snake; Paul had plenty of reasons to lose heart. He had many reasons to be discouraged. But Paul also had many reasons to remain inspired and hopeful which he provides in this particular passage of scripture. (v. 2-15)

The Apostle Paul provides further consolation by declaring that our inner person is being renewed daily (v.16); our present afflictions are “light” and “momentary” in comparison to eternity (v.17); and to keep our focus on things eternal. (v.18)

Just as Paul encouraged the hearts of the Corinthians then; he is also inspiring us today. ~“we do not lose heart.”

The Lenten Season is a time of self-examination, repentance, and spiritual renewal. Lent is a time dedicated to prayer, almsgiving, and self-denial; where we often give up something as we seek to follow Jesus. It is a time where we too Journey to the Cross with Christ in preparation of being renewed, restored, and rejuvenated in the Resurrected Jesus.

Some of us may be losing heart during this Lenten Season. While we’re not in the exact same place where we were last year when the pandemic began; we’re not totally “out of the woods” yet, either. This Lenten Season has been characterized as an “in between time and in between space” for all of us. Perhaps you may be suffering from pandemic fatigue. Or maybe Zoom tiredness. Or perhaps you are still processing the events from last year such as the loss of a family member or loved one. Whatever your current affliction, situation, or difficulty~We Do Not Lose Heart!

It is easy for us to become discouraged, disheartened, and disappointed. But God promised to never leave us nor forsake us. (Deut. 31:6) God promised to always take care of us. (1 Peter 5:7)

We do not lose heart is our declaration today to say like Job, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:” (Job 13:15) by it our hearts are resuscitated, our hope is restored, and our strength is renewed.

This Lenten Devotional is about not losing our heart in this “in between space” in our Journey to the Cross with Christ-not “throwing in the towel”, not quitting, and not giving up on God. Remember through it all, God never gave up on us!

Be encouraged and don’t lose heart in this in between time and Lenten Season!

Let us pray.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Parent, we ask that You help us as our bodies age. When life becomes difficult, may Your Holy Spirit be with us as our inner selves are renewed by Your grace. Now God, renew our minds, refresh our souls, and uplift our spirits so that we do not lose heart during this in between time and in our current situations. This we ask in the mighty, matchless name of Jesus the Christ, Our LORD and Saviour. Amen and amen.

GOD bless and love you all!

Reverend Will Brown