The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 14 February 2024 – First Day In Lent
TOPIC: First Day In Lent
READ: PSALM 51: 1-19 (NKJV)
- To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
- Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
- For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin [is] always before me.
- Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done [this] evil in Your sight — That You may be found just when You speak, [And] blameless when You judge.
- Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
- Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden [part] You will make me to know wisdom.
- Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- Make me hear joy and gladness, [That] the bones You have broken may rejoice.
- Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
- Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
- Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
- Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me [by Your] generous Spirit.
- [Then] I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
- Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, [And] my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
- O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
- For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give [it;] You do not delight in burnt offering.
- The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise.
- Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
- Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.
THE MESSAGE:
In this passage, the Psalmist pleads for God’s mercy and forgiveness. He acknowledges his sin against God and reminds Him that he was born in sin. He asks God to have mercy on him by:
(i) Washing and cleansing him from sin,
(ii) Creating a clean heart and renewing a steadfast spirit in him,
(iii)Not taking away the Holy Spirit from him, (iv) Restoring his joy of salvation,
(v) Opening his mouth so that he would praise the Lord.
Today is Ash Wednesday or the first day in Lent when Christians are to look into their lives and sinfulness. Ash Wednesday is a holy day of fasting and prayer. Christians are expected to humble themselves before God during Lent by drawing closer to Him, confessing their sins, abstaining from food and drinks, and pleading with God for forgiveness and cleansing from their sins (1 John 1: 8-10). Decide to fast and pray from 6am to 6pm if you can, throughout this Lenten season. If, for any reason you cannot fast that long, you can start at 6am and end by 12 noon or 3 pm, but make out a time to fast and pray this season. Your spiritual life will be greatly improved.
PRAYER: Hear my humble cry O Lord; and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
