A Lenten Reflection by Beth Horsager

April 5, 2022

Reflection and Renewal

Lent is actually my favorite church season. Unlike Advent, during Lent I give myself permission to plod along, to be thoughtful in my daydreams, to delight in my successes, to ponder my shortcomings and to wonder about God’s purpose for me in the world.

Return to God with all your heart,
The source of grace and mercy,
Come seek the tender faithfulness of God … “Return to God” by Marty Haugen

Music is the way I connect with God. Music stirs my soul and becomes a meditative practice. You can gauge my mood by my Spotify playlist or my piano repertoire each day. Old and new pieces take hold in me, rising up as spontaneous prayers when I least expect them.

Let my prayer rise up,
Like incense before me,
The lifting up of my hands,
As an offering to You. … Psalm 141: “Let my Prayer Rise Up” by Marty Haugen

Lent. It’s my time to be still, to listen to the silence, to cleanse self-doubt and to reach up to God. It’s my time to let God talk; a time to allow God to encourage, to heal and to plant new dreams. Jesus knew his path to the cross would be difficult and lonely, but he also knew that God walked beside him. Therefore, Jesus prayed for the strength to carry on and fulfill the Easter promise of new life. I, too, pray for the strength to be faithful even when life’s journey is full of unknowns and I can’t control the direction.

Oh, God, grant me new strength,
New strength to share your Word.
Lord, grant me new vision,
New vision in this year.
Lord, grant me a new heart,
A heart to hear your love.
Calling us from the shadow,
Renew us in this time. … “Renew Us” by David Lanz III

I’ll continue my thoughtful plodding and musical meditative musings for Lent’s 40 days, but not without reflecting on the message of renewal and the nudging of God’s still small voice.