This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.

1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.

Today is the third day of Lent. 
 
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”  
 
Today’s reading is from the Book of Jonah, chapter 4.
 

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”


Jonah, after a time of running away from the call of God, obeyed God’s commands to declare judgment to the city of Nineveh. To his surprise, the King and the citizens of the city repented, and God showed mercy to them, withdrawing His hand of judgement. Jonah was angered by God’s demonstration of mercy, so much so that he told God He wished he were dead. Keep in mind: Jonah himself had just been shown God’s mercy himself! And now, he was angry that God would extend the same mercy to others. Can you identify with Jonah? Have you ever experienced anger at how merciful God is to those who have offended you, to those you feel are undeserving of mercy?
 
The season of Lent holds a space where we are aware of both judgment and mercy… and where we grow in awareness that judgement belongs to God, and not to us. God reminds Jonah that Jonah is not the creator or sustainer of life, and therefore he is not the judge, either. As you hear the passage again, think of someone in your life who is difficult to extend mercy to, and pray for them.

God seems to be reminding Jonah of who Jonah is, and who God is. Jonah is a man, in need of mercy. God is creator, sustainer, and the only perfect judge. As we end, give God permission to remind you who you are… and who you are not….  
 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Music: Slow To Anger - Vineyard Soul - (YouTube)

This is the second day of Lent.

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. 
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”  
 
Today’s reading is from the Psalm 51.

 
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.


I know my transgressions, says King David. David was a paradox in many ways. He was called a man after God’s own heart, and he was a murderer and an adulterer. He was a shepherd and a King. He was a poet and a soldier. He demonstrated great bravery, and tremendous cowardice. These 40 days of Lent give us time to consider our own personal paradoxes: To thank God for his many blessings, and also to look at our own sinfulness, and our need for God’s mercy.

When you are ill, receiving a right diagnosis is a gift.  It means that you can receive the proper treatment. In this psalm, David says that the diagnosis of his sin is a gift. He seems aware of his great need for mercy, and he’s doesn’t cover it up, deny it, or try to pretend. Instead, he calls out to God for a pure heart, for a steadfast spirit, and for restoration. As you listen to this psalm again, take a moment to consider your own diagnosis of sin, and confess a specific sin to the Lord.

Many Christians fast during this season, as a demonstration of repentance, and as a way of causing our attention to be drawn toward God instead of toward created things. As we end, thank God for His mercy, and if you have not yet done so, consider committing to a practice of fasting from one thing during Lent.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Music: Merciful - Samuel Lane - (YouTube)

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
  
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through the power of the Holy Spirit.   
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”  
 
Today’s reading is selections from Joel chapter 2:1-3; 10-13 .


Let all who live in the land tremble,
    for the day of the Lord is coming.
It is close at hand—
     a day of darkness and gloom,
    a day of clouds and blackness.
Like dawn spreading across the mountains
    a large and mighty army comes,
such as never was in ancient times
    nor ever will be in ages to come.
…
 Before them the earth shakes,
    the heavens tremble,
the sun and moon are darkened,
    and the stars no longer shine.
 The Lord thunders
    at the head of his army;
his forces are beyond number,
    and mighty is the army that obeys his command.
The day of the Lord is great;
    it is dreadful.
    Who can endure it?
 “Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
 Rend your heart
    and not your garments.
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
    and he relents from sending calamity.


The Old Testament prophet Joel here paints a frightening and apocalyptic picture.... days of darkness and gloom, clouds and blackness. How does this reading make you feel? Do you struggle when you read scriptures like this? If you do, invite God into your struggle.
 
Here is a famous scripture, familiar to many: Rend your heart, and not your garments. People used to tear their clothes as a sign of repentance, but the prophet tells us that what God wants is a 'rent heart’, a torn heart. As we reflect on Ash Wednesday, consider that God wants an internal shift in our hearts, not an external signal. God doesn’t want a religious performance. He wants transformed hearts. As you hear the passage again, consider how you can transform and soften your heart to the things of God over Lent. Ask God to soften your heart over these 40 days of Lent, that you might fully return to the Lord over this season.

Ash Wednesday begins the Christian season of Lent which is marked by repentance. Joel says, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” As you enter into Lent, think about something that you can refrain from over these 40 days. We often think of fasting from food, and that can be a starting point. But you may want to think about something that you do that takes up too much of your affections, or that crowds out your love for God. Ask God to bring something to mind that you can fast from, and ask him for the grace to make more space for him this season.
 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Music: Prayer of Consecration - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Today is March 4.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.        
  
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”     
    
Today’s reading is from the Book of Exodus Acts chapter 10.    
   

23 ...The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 
  
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” 
  
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” 
  

Welcome to prayer today. At first glance, this passage describes a simple meeting between two men. But let's consider it more deeply: Peter is a Jew, and Cornelious a Gentile. There is a religious and cultural barrier between them that in their time would have been considered unbreakable. But Peter has had a revelation from God: that through Christ – the old barriers have been torn down. And not only torn down – but what once had been a dividing wall has been replaced by a bridge. A bridge to God, through Christ... and also a bridge to one another, through Christ. When was the first time you realized that Christ came not only to reconcile you to God, but also to transform you into the sort of person who can cross boundaries or division or prejudice?  
 
Listen to the passage again and pay particular attention to how Cornelius describes himself. Not a Jew, he’s yet a man of prayer, a man who cares for the poor, and a man who hears from God! God has given Cornelius a holy curiosity about the gospel of Christ. As you think about Cornelius, ask yourself this question: is there someone in your world who may be in the same sort of space? Not a believer, yet filled with holy curiously?  
   
Peter would have been disinclined to see Cornelius as his brother. He would have initially been disinclined to go to his house even! But Peter’s heart had shifted in posture by the radical realization that the good news of Jesus is that God has invited all people into relationship with him. The old dividing walls and mean to be torn down by the grace of God, and replaced with bridges, with reconciliation... both to God, and to one another.  As we end our time of prayer today, invite the Lord to help you learn to stretch toward others, even if it might make you feel a bit uncomfortable... with grace, and with the message of the gospel.  

This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.

1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.