If you’ve ever had to say goodbye to someone, you treasure the last words spoken. You remember what was said. You hold on to those final words. For Lent in 2021, we are focusing on the last words of Jesus from the cross. What did he say? What does it mean for us? How do those words change us? Today we focus on the word “trust.” Jesus called from the cross, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Lk. 23:46). What does it mean to trust someone? Why do we often hold back? How do we know God’s hands are trustworthy?
Invitation Prayer
O Lord, your scars are your trophies, proof of your unfailing love for me. You have earned my trust. I come to you in faith. I cease my worry and mistrust. I set aside all fears and faltering. I place my life into your hands. Receive me. Amen.
Confession
It is hard to trust someone with the most vulnerable parts of our lives. We hesitate to share our secrets, sins, and shame. David gives us a model to follow. He said in Psalm 31:14, “But in you I trust, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’” We can trust the One who sees our sin and still stays. So we approach God in faith: Father, I confess all my sins and failings to you. I am haunted by the guilt of my past, the sins of my present, and my fear of the future. Forgive me, God. I trust you. Amen.
Word
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5)
Meditation
We all lean on things that act as crutches. These include things like wealth, power, and our own reason. We take stock in our job, our abilities, our experience, our reputation, or our exceptional understanding. They make us feel secure. And they cover up our insecurities. Like a crutch, we lean on them because our own two feet are unsteady.
Unfortunately, good things can become crutches. Blessings from God become the things we put our trust in. Proverbs identifies this pitfall, and asks for the whole of you: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” Knock out all the crutches you lean on. Fall upon Christ. Jesus is more than enough to hold you up. We stand upon him, our Rock and Redeemer. What “crutches” have you trusted in?
Lord, cut down all my false crutches. Be the sole Rock upon which I stand. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Sending Prayer
Into your hands, O Lord. We place our fears and failures.
Into your hands, O Lord. We place our present and future.
Into your hands, O Lord. We commit our bodies, souls, and all we have. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
*Today’s devotion is taken from It Is Finished by Jeff Cloeter, published by CTA – Christ to All at ctainc.com