Devotion for the First Sunday in Lent

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
And before you were born I consecrated you;
I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”


Then I said, “Alas, Lord God!
Behold, I do not know how to speak,
Because I am a youth.”


But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
Because everywhere I send you, you shall go,
And all that I command you, you shall speak.
“Do not be afraid of them,
For I am with you to deliver you,” declares the Lord.

Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

“See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To pluck up and to break down,
To destroy and to overthrow,
To build and to plant.” ~ Jeremiah 1:4-10

Just as He knew Jeremiah, God knows each of us. He knew us before He formed us in the womb, long before we were born. And He wants us to serve Him—regardless of our age or our abilities. We may think we’re too young or too old, not smart enough or talented enough. But He may us to serve Him, and if He made us, He equipped us to do what He wants us to do. He gives us what we need. If we rely on Him and not ourselves, we are capable of doing anything He asks of us.

Lord God, sometimes I think I’m too old to be of any use to You. But just as Jeremiah wasn’t too young, I’m not too old. As long as You have me on this earth, You have something for me to do—and You equip me to do it. I want to serve You, Lord, every day of my life. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/AndreyPopov

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