Romans 5:4 (GNV)
As Christ was raised up from the dead to the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life.
Walk in newness of life. Step out on a new path.
My problem: I’m used to my old paths. New is unknown, and I like to know where I’m going.
Walk with me, Lord. Show me the way.
Ephesians 4:24 (ISV)
Clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God’s image in righteousness and true holiness.
Clothed in an outfit created in God’s image.
My problem: This is a new nature for me. I’m used to selecting clothes off the rack in a store. Righteousness and holiness feel foreign.
Clothed in Your image, God . . . it’s hard to imagine.
Make it so.
God says:
Isaiah 43:19
See, I am doing a new thing!
He offers a new thing, a new life.
My problem: When I try to do a new thing, I get same-old, same-old.
Lord, I want the new thing, the new life.
Let’s do it Your way.
Repentance leads to revival.
Isaiah 57:15 (EXB)
I give new life to [revive the spirit of]
those who are humble [lowly]
and to those whose hearts
are broken [contrite; repentant].
I repent. God revives (in that order.) 
“I learn from the Scriptures that repentance is just as necessary to salvation as faith is, and the faith that has not repentance going with it will have to be repented of.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Lent is a season of reflection. As I consider my actions and attitudes, I notice how often I make excuses for my poor decisions. I blame them on circumstances, or I tell myself it’s someone else’s fault, or I decide it’s no big deal.
O Lord, I repent of my lack of repentance.
Some married couples decide to renew their wedding vows. Maybe they’ve been taking each other for granted. Maybe they’ve broken trust. Might be they’ve just drifted apart.
The same thing can happen between us and God. We find it in Christ’s words as revealed in the last book of the Bible.
Revelation 2:4 (ESV)
But I have this against you,
that you have abandoned
the love you had at first.
Lent is a good time to renew our vows with God.
Forgive me, Lord, for neglecting You.
I renew my vows to love and serve You.
Lent is a season of self-evaluation,
a time to identify our sins.
Matthew 6:12 (ERV)
Forgive our sins,
just as we have forgiven
those who did wrong to us.
Self-evaluation may uncover old hurts and grudges.
Forgive my unforgiveness, Lord
Teach me to forgive as You do.
It’s a time to fix broken relationships — with God and with others.
“Lent is a time of going very deeply into ourselves…What is it that stands between us and God? Between us and our brothers and sisters? Between us and life, the life of the Spirit?”
Catherine Doherty (1896-1985)
What stands between us and God?
Sin.
What to do?
Luke 3:19 (NIV)
Repent, then, and turn to God,
so that your sins may be wiped out,
that times of refreshing may
come from the Lord.
