“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.” ~ Jeremiah 23:7-8
Israel was exiled because they turned from worshipping the one true God to worshipping idols, but He promised to return them to their homeland. He promises to forgive us our sins, our worship of idols—money, fame, sex, achievement, family, whatever we put before God. Lent is a time for self-examination and repentance. What is more important to us than the Lord? We can look at how we spend our time and money to see where our values lie. Let us examine ourselves and vow to put God first.
Father God, I want You to be first in my life. You are my Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. No one and no thing is more important—indeed nowhere near as important. Let me listen to the Holy Spirit within me, read and inwardly digest Your Word, and spend time with You in prayer and worship rather than serve the false gods of this world. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.