It’s Lent. We are waiting–waiting to hear from God.
“God not only gives us something to hear,
but he gives us ears to hear with . . .
he that sends the tidings also opens the ears.“
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Voice Behind Thee, 1882
Spurgeon’s message was based on Isaiah 30:21 (KJV)
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
This is the way, walk ye in it.
Wait. Listen. You will hear.
Your Lenten wait should not be empty. It should be quiet, like the silence after a snowfall.
Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God.
The silence overflows with the presence of God.
What do you like most about snow?
We’re tired of shoveling the walks. We’re tired of the gray goop beside the road. We’re anxious for the green of spring.
Lent is a time of waiting, a time to prepare our hearts. It is fitting that it falls for us at the end of winter, when we are waiting for the new life of spring.
We tend think that waiting is a waste of time— unproductive, uninteresting, boring.
Your Lenten wait should be expectant, not empty. New life is just around the corner.
Author Johnnie Alexander invited me to guest post on her website:
johnnie-alexander.com
You can read the short story of our bathroom renovation here, complete with Before and After photos. 
Do you remember this prayer?
God is great,
God is good,
And we thank Him for our food.
Great = Lion
Good = Lamb
This week’s blog topic grew out of the intersection of the calendar and my Lenten meditation. We’re four days into March and on our third snow storm. March came in like a lion.
And as I ponder the “worthy is the Lamb” focus for Lent, Christ dropped an intriguing thought into my head:
I laid aside the Lion to become the Lamb.
Worthy is the Lion to receive honor and riches and glory and praise!
We are familiar with the lion/lamb analogy for March. We are also familiar with the Lion/Lamb depictions of Christ:
Revelation 5:5, 12 (NIV)
See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.
Our God is both Lion and Lamb.
Lamb: He is the willing sacrifice.
Lion: He abhors evil, He demands justice, He is all powerful.
lion & lamb: picture of peace.
Lion & Lamb: Prince of Peace.
So, how does March look so far?
As I write this, it is snowing. Again. The Lion is still here in NJ.
Our God is both Lion and Lamb. We tend to prefer the Lamb image, the God who sacrificed his earthly life so that we may have eternal life.
Don’t forget that our God is also the Lion. Awe-inspiring. Terrifying.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
May you grow in wisdom.
Tuesday, I suggested that you add prayer to your schedule as a Lenten sacrifice. Wednesday, I suggested that you make that a prayer for someone you don’t much like. Here’s another option.
Pray for a cause, a situation, circumstances that have been flying under your prayer radar–such as:
Did something on the list tug your heart? That would be your call to prayer.
