Day 9 - March 14, 2025
New to the Lent, A Closer Walk with God 40-Day Devotion? Start with Day 1!
Take this time to enjoy a closer walk with God. Read a short devotion and a selected Bible verse each day.
It’s Day 9 of the Lent, A Closer Walk with God 40-Day Devotion.
DEVOTION
The prophet Joel, in a time of national crisis, calls out to the people of Judah, “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. (Joel 2:12-13, ESV)
These verses paint a powerful picture of true repentance. It's not just a superficial show, a mere tearing of clothes to demonstrate outward sorrow. No, Joel calls for something much deeper: a rending of the heart. A complete turning away from sin and a turning towards God.
Fasting is presented here not as a magical ritual, but as a tangible expression of this inner transformation. When we fast, we deny ourselves something we need, something we crave. This physical act mirrors the spiritual reality of denying our sinful desires, those things that pull us away from God. It’s a way of saying, “Lord, I am serious about this. I am willing to sacrifice even my physical comfort to show you how much I desire to be close to you.”
Fasting is not about earning God's favor. The verse reminds us why we should return to Him: because He is already gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love. God's arms are already open wide. Our fasting and repentance are our response to His incredible mercy, a recognition of our need for His grace.
Think about it: What are the "garments" in your life that you need to rend, or tear apart? What are the superficial things you cling to that give a false sense of security or righteousness? What distractions pull you away from God? This Lenten season, lets examine our hearts, identify those areas where we need to turn back to God, and express that desire through sincere repentance and, if appropriate, the discipline of fasting. We can allow our fasting be a genuine act of humility, a tangible demonstration of our longing for God, and an acknowledgment of His boundless love and compassion.
PRAYER
Lord, we confess that too often our repentance has been superficial, more about outward appearances than inward transformation. We thank you for your immense grace and love, for the open arms you extend to us even when we stray. Help us, this Lent, to tear apart our hearts and dispose of the parts that are not for you, from those that are. Show us those areas where we need to turn back to you. If we choose to fast, let it be a genuine expression of our desire for you, a way of denying ourselves the things that separate us from your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
VERSE
Verse Joel 2:12-13 (NIV)
Don't have your Bible handy? Click here to read online.
AUTHOR
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Chris Scotland
Chris Scotland adds to The Morning Show with Denise and Chris, and he is the Assistant Program Director at The Bridge.Hi! You should probably know this about me, first. I'm always 30 seconds away from crying. Just a heads up. You should also know that I love Jesus, my wife, coffee, my kids, coffee, and Star Wars. I also love coffee. If you had asked me 20 years ago what I would be doing as a career, I would have told you that I would be in the music industry. However, I would have been the one on the radio singing the songs, not the one playing them. But....God had a bigger and better story.
