Devotions

Jesus didn’t just rise to secure eternity; He rose to give us life now—a life overflowing with grace, joy, and purpose. In Him, our brokenness becomes wholeness.

Silent Saturday reminds us of the gravity of Christ’s death. The Son of God bore the weight of our sin, took the punishment we deserved, and endured the separation from the Father we could not.

In one of history’s most profound moments, an innocent man endured a brutal, criminal’s death. Hope crumbled, and a mother wept at the foot of the cross. It doesn’t sound like a good day, does it?

This moment paints a breathtaking picture of worship—an act of complete surrender and extravagant love. A woman, broken in spirit yet bold in faith, pours out her most valuable possession on Jesus. She holds nothing back.

Obedience is hard. It asks of us, demands of us, and costs us. To walk in obedience takes sacrifice. It is servanthood, trust, and sacrifice all rolled into one.

Lent is a season of preparation. It’s a time to reflect, recalibrate, and ready ourselves for Holy Week, when we commemorate the most profound events in history: the crucifixion and the victorious resurrection of our Saviour.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the final steps toward the cross, where Jesus’ love was poured out to secure our freedom. As we continue through Lent, let this freedom inspire us to live boldly, gratefully, and purposefully.

As we’ve begun to explore the freedom Christ has given us, we now have the opportunity to let that freedom shape and flow through our lives. In other words, we are free so that we can fully live in and enjoy the freedom He provides!

Discipleship isn’t limited to Sunday mornings or missionary trips to far-off lands. It’s woven into the fabric of our everyday lives. It means taking the message of hope and freedom into your workplace, home, neighbourhood, and community.

Jesus came to set you free. He set you free to enjoy the benefits of that liberty. We are meant to live in the freedom that Christ’s blood purchased for us.

At the point of salvation, the instant transformation of our lives from sinners to saints marked the death of our old selves and the birth of a new creation in Christ.

When we know how the story ends, we release the worry about what happens next. When we know where we are going, we can operate from a place of freedom and not fear.

The molding process is called sanctification, and it’s the process of being shaped into the likeness of Christ, requiring daily surrender and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

As we journey through Lent and look toward Easter Sunday, we have spent this week reflecting on the theme of Hope in Christ—a hope that is not fleeting or wishful but sure, steadfast, and rooted in Jesus.

When something great happens, who do you call? Maybe it’s a parent, spouse, friend, or child. We naturally want to share good news with the people we love.

There’s no greater reminder that we live in a fallen, broken world than when we celebrate Easter. The crux of Easter is celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

The truth is that in our lives, we can often feel like we are going around in circles, too. We all need someone to come alongside us and show us the right way.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, His victory over death, and His resurrection from the dead means we have hope in a life beyond what we see here on earth.

Throughout our lives, we will face storms. It’s unavoidable. If you haven’t yet faced a storm, then be assured that it’s coming. No one is immune from facing trials and difficulties.

Believing in Jesus is the greatest single decision you will ever make in your life. It’s a shift from one kingdom, that of darkness, into a new kingdom, the Kingdom of Light.

This week, we’ve looked at what it means to cultivate a servant spirit. This counter-cultural calling challenges us to put others before ourselves, modeling the humility and love of Jesus Christ!

A servant spirit begins with availability. It’s not about being perfect or having everything figured out—it’s about surrendering our hearts to God and being willing to say yes.

Lent is a time when we refocus on God as we ready ourselves to celebrate the most incredible story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. It reminds us that what we do here in the temporal will fade away and that only the eternal things truly matter.

Being a servant is a balancing act. We do not want to become doormats to every whim of another, every ministry area, small group, or service. We don’t have to say yes to every request to have a servant spirit.

As we look toward the cross this season of Lent, let’s examine our hearts and motives inwardly. Are we serving sacrificially? Are we serving where God has called us despite the uncertainty?

Preferring others, when rooted in and motivated by love, is devoted and honouring. It does not seek to “get one over” or increase the tally of good deeds. It is the decision to elevate someone else’s needs over my own agenda.

If ever there was a time in history when the idea of servanthood swam stronger against the tide of culture, it is now. Our world clamours for the satisfaction of self, yet so many times in God’s Word, we are told to be counter-cultural by denying ourselves and putting other’s needs first.

As we continue our Lent email series, let’s reflect on this week’s focused topic: prayer. We discussed the vital role of prayer in our relationship with God and unpacked the notion that prayer is part of our foundation of faith.

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this Easter season, we are reminded of the incredible power of prayer. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God invites His people to humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their sinful ways.

What does it mean to be faithful in prayer? Prayer is simply speaking with God. It’s an opportunity to reverently come before our holy God, seeking His wisdom and guidance and entering into fellowship with Him.

In a world filled with uncertainties—relationship tension, political and economic challenges, and conflicts near and far—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But amidst the chaos, we can find peace in the unchanging truth that God holds it all.

There is great power in confession and prayer. When we humble ourselves before the Lord and acknowledge (confess) the thoughts and actions in our lives that don’t align with His will, we open ourselves up to being continually changed by Jesus.

After a time of prayer, Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. How humbling to sit at the feet of Jesus, hear Him pray, and have the opportunity to gain more wisdom and knowledge from Him as they sought to emulate Jesus in every way—including the way He spoke to His Father.

While prayer fosters intimacy with God, it is also a way to honour and worship Him for all He does, did, and will do. He’s the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all created things, including us.

Today, as we reflect on decisions we’ve made to put God first in our lives, let’s praise Him for all He has done for us and for teaching us to fast and pray.

Throughout this week, we have been exploring the discipline of fasting, but today, we’re going to flip things on their head a little. For the next few moments, we are going to look at the power of the table.

Not only does He promise light and healing, but He says His righteousness will go ahead of us and His glory as our rear guard! What an escort He provides for the believer who turns aside from ungodly pursuits and seeks Him with a contrite heart.

Biblical fasting is abstinence from consuming food. Modern fasting is still predominately abstinence from food (in various methods). Additionally, many Christians abstain from spiritually misplaced priorities.

Fasting, together with prayer, unlocks something in the spiritual realm. It is the precursor to repentance, wisdom, and breakthrough.

The discipline of fasting is the laying down of our own needs, wants, and desires and instead the preferring of the desires and ‘hunger’ of the spirit within us.

As we explore fasting, let’s pause to reflect on the meaning behind it and think about why Christians consider it an important activity.

Throughout the week, we studied the three temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness. These attacks from the enemy challenged His flesh, loyalty to His Father, and sense of self.

In today’s Scripture, we encounter the third temptation, where Satan offers Jesus power, glory, and riches in exchange for worship. This scene gives us reasons to examine our priorities and desires for worldly success.

Do we sometimes treat God’s promises as conveniences, vending what we need and taking His power and majesty for granted? When we approach faith this way, we miss the beauty of abiding in Him.

Lent is a time of reflection and alignment. It serves as a reminder of Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness as a preparation for ministry.

At the beginning of Lent, there is a special day called Ash Wednesday. Traditionally, small palm crosses, made from last year’s Palm Sunday palm leaves, are burned to ash.