Between Sundays: A Lenten Message

Lent began on Ash Wednesday. It consists of 40 days of preparation for Easter Sunday, which is the joyful Christian feast that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death into eternal life. Lent includes Good Friday, which commemorates the sorrowful death of Jesus of Nazareth by crucifixion.

Lent is a time for soul-searching, and Psalm 51 can be a guide in our search. It tells us that God desires truth in the inward being and the psalmist prays that God would give him wisdom in his secret heart. The psalm refers to the heart as “the inward being” and “secret heart,” the place where God is truly known. Among the truths God desires for us is to know who God is and who we are. We may learn truth from external resources, but God also desires that we learn and assimilate truth deep within ourselves. God desires that the truth that we know and understand with our minds be also in our hearts.

The digital media of information and misinformation can provide us with access to knowledge instantly. However, the accumulation of knowledge does not equal wisdom, which is the ability to apply knowledge to life’s circumstances. When we find ourselves in a crisis or need direction to make major decisions, we may need wisdom.

The heart of the matter is that God desires to teach us truth and wisdom in the inner person. During Lent we can take time to be mindful of what is going on in our hearts. The result may be that we will discover wisdom and joy in our hearts from being renewed by God.