Friends,

It’s only one month until Easter!  As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the fact that the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive, use the prayer and Scripture passage below to cooperate with the Spirit’s ministry of guiding us into all truth!

From the Book of Common Prayer

Lord, strong and mighty, Lord of hosts and King of glory: Cleanse our hearts from sin, keep our hands pure, and turn our minds from what is passing away; so that at the last we may stand in your holy place and receive your blessing; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Luke 16:19-31 New International Version (NIV)
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Read the passage again slowly. (silently or aloud).
What did you hear? (word or phrase)
What do you think? (how does it apply to your life)
What is your prayer? (turn your thoughts into a prayer of response to God)

Day 31 – (Thursday, March 1) Luke 16:19-31
Day 30 – Matthew 21:33-44
Day 29 – Luke 15:11-32
Day 28 – John 2:13-22
Day 27 – Luke 4:23-30
Day 26 – Matthew 18:21-35
Day 25 – Matthew 5:17-19