The Upper Room 6 March 2024 Devotional Message
Read The Upper Room 6 March 2024 Devotional Message for Wednesday wriiten by Judy Hoyt Pettigrew (Florida, USA)
TOPIC: Let God In
TODAY’S READING
Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. – Matthew 4:1 (NIV)
What are you giving up for Lent? I know I am supposed to give up something in order to reflect on Jesus’ 40 days in the desert and to prepare for the commemoration of Jesus’ death and resurrection. My immediate answer for way too many years has been “chocolate” and “playing pickleball.” But if I knew I was going to die in 40 days, giving up food and fun would not make the list at all! So, what would I give up?
I’d give up wasting time. I would focus on all the people I haven’t seen or talked to enough and tell them how much they mean to me.
I’d give up trying to tell my grandkids what to do! Instead, I would write down my life’s story — hopefully to leave answers to questions they will surely have after I am gone.
I’d give up harbored anger, resentment, and frustration over my failures, the relationships that turned out badly, and the opportunities I ignored.
I’d give it all up to let God in — not just for Lent or 40 days, but from this day forward. Let us renew our commitment to follow Jesus’ example of obedience as we seek fullness of life in God.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, help us to appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Give us the courage to follow his leading toward wholeness of life. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
I will practice the disciplines of Lent every day.
PRAYER FOCUS
To give up what separates me from God
The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. The meditations are stories of real people working to live faithfully with the Bible as their touchstone. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together.
