Day 1: Ash Wednesday – A Call to Repentance

📅 Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025

📖 Scripture Reading:

"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." – Joel 2:12

Devotion:

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent—a sacred season of reflection, repentance, and renewal. It’s a solemn reminder of our mortality:

"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." – Genesis 3:19

The ashes on our foreheads symbolize humility and the urgent need to turn back to God. But repentance is more than feeling guilty—it’s about transformation. Joel 2:12 calls us to return to God with all our hearts, not just through external rituals but through deep, sincere surrender.

Lent is not merely about giving something up; it’s about making room for God. What are the distractions, habits, or fears that keep you from fully embracing Him? Are you willing to fast, weep, and mourn over the things that separate you from His presence?

Today, let’s not just acknowledge our need for repentance—let’s act on it. God’s grace is greater than our sins, and He is always ready to restore us.

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Reflection Questions:

🔍 What areas of my life do I need to surrender fully to God?
💡 What habits or distractions are pulling me away from a deeper relationship with Him?
🙏 How can I practice true repentance, beyond words, through action?

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Action Steps for the Day:

✅ Attend an Ash Wednesday Service – Reflect on the words spoken as the ashes are placed on your forehead.
🕊 Spend 30 Minutes in Silence and Prayer – Allow God to reveal areas where you need to return to Him.
📌 Make a Lenten Commitment – Choose a SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to grow spiritually.
❤️ Perform an Act of Service – Reach out to someone in need as a tangible step of repentance and renewal.

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Prayer:

"Heavenly Father, I come before You with a heart that longs for renewal. I confess my sins and distractions that have drawn me away from You. Help me to return to You with all my heart, embracing true repentance. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. May this season of Lent draw me closer to You, transforming my thoughts, desires, and actions. In Jesus’ name, Amen."

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Lent begins today—how will you use this season to grow closer to God? Share your Lenten commitment in the comments!