Third Thursday of Lent

Thus says the LORD:  This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces, to me.

We are all tempted to harden our hearts. We all disobey God in one way or another. We all blind ourselves with sin and deafen our ears to God’s Word with worldly noise. We all turn our backs on God’s Will and follow our own way. We all find things to distract us from the true and holy purpose of our lives. However, this is not what God calls us to do. He wants us to obey Him, to listen to Him, to acknowledge His role in our lives. He wants us to walk with Him, not against Him. He wants our good, in spite of all the evils we do. He loves us enough to forgive us our sins great and small. But He will not force us to follow His commandments. He will not make us know, love, and serve Him and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. He wants us to come to Him of our own accord, out of a realization that it is only by placing our faith, hope, and love in Him that we can become the best versions of ourselves and prosper.

Are we listening to God’s commandments, teachings, and inspirations? Are we walking in the Way He has prepared for us? How can we soften our hearts and become good and faithful servants?

O Lord, we have not always obeyed you, but we desire to become obedient unto death, even death on the cross.

Amen.