Lent Devotion - The Challenge

The Challenge
by Leslie Ward

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay them for their deed." Proverbs 19:17

During Lent a common practice is to give up something that you enjoy. I understand the idea behind that: to experience, in an infinitesimal way, the sacrifice that Jesus made. If this helps you to feel closer to Jesus, I commend you. I however would like to ask you to add something to your already busy life. 

I challenge you to add one or more of the following:
One more Bible verse reading
One more devotional reading
One more random act of kindness
One more compliment to a stranger
One more prayer for a difficult person
One more call to someone lonely
Find a Christian song that you love and live it
Forgive someone
Offer grace to someone
Listen when you want to talk
Thank someone

Use your imagination and add something to this list!

I love to praise Jesus as I listen to music on the way to work in the morning. I am quite sure that people think I am crazy. One of my favorite songs right now is “Less like me” by Zach Williams. I think music can speak to us and sometimes for us.

Dear Jesus, May I accept the challenges of each day and may I become more like you each day. Amen.

Less Like Me 
 
Oh I have days I lose the fight
Try my best but just don’t get it right
Well I talk a talk that I don’t walk
And miss the moments right before my eyes

Somebody with a hurt that I could have helped
Somebody with a hand that I could have held
When I just can’t see past myself
Oh Lord help me be
 
A little more like mercy
A little more like grace
A little more like kindness, goodness, love, and faith
A little more like patience
A little more like peace
A little more like Jesus
A little less like me

Yeah, there’s no denying I have changed
 I’ve been changed from who I used to be
But even at my best I must confess
I need help to see the way you see

Somebody with a hurt that I could have helped
Somebody with a hand that I could have held
When I just can’t see past myself
Oh Lord help me be
 
A little more like mercy
A little more like grace
A little more like kindness, goodness, love, and faith
A little more like patience
A little more like peace
A little more like Jesus
A little less like me

Oh to feed the beggar on the street
Love to be your hands and feet
Freely give what I receive
Lord help me be

I want a friendship first above all else
Love my neighbor as myself
In the moments no one sees
Lord help me be

A little more living 
Everything I preach
A little more like Jesus
A Little less like me