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Dear God, is there something poetic about being Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day on the same day? As I profess my love to my wife and my children, should I also be taking the opportunity to profess my love to you?

I do my best not to, but I know I take you for granted. I’m sorry for that. You are an amazing God. And I’ll confess that, having grown up Baptist, I don’t have a lot of reverence for Lent the way others do. I’m not even sure I had heard of Lent or knew what it was until I was older and met my wife. But now we are entering into the tragedy and the redemption of the Easter season. Tragedy in the telling of the story of the evil way we treated Jesus 2,000 years ago, but redemption in the way your plan allowed for our failings.

I was thinking this morning about last year at this time and how we had a relative who was dying. In retrospect, he had about seven weeks left to live. I remember praying for him and his wife. I also remember feeling like my faith wasn’t adequate to carry him through or to bring about your healing. But as I thought about it this morning, I think that a lack of faith has been given a bad connotation. Charlatan preachers have shamed people for not having enough faith for their healing. But to think that you would allow my lack of faith to disrupt your plans for the world is foolish. You accounted for Judas’ sin in your plan with Jesus. You can surely account for my lack of faith.

So, Father, I approach you in joy and freedom this morning. I also approach you in worship and love. Be glorified in me through my faithfulness. And please never never let me get in your way.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen