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LENT IS A SACRED SEASON—an invitaon to pause, reect, and realign our hearts with God. It is a me of repentance, renewal, and re-commitment, as we prepare our souls for the celebraon of Christ’s resurrecon. Through prayer, fasng, and self-examinaon, we are called to deepen our love for God and walk more fully in His will. This devoonal, “Heart and Soul,” is designed to guide you through 40 days of spiritual transformaon. Rooted in Mahew 22:37-40, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27, Deuteronomy 6:4-7, John 14:21, and I Peter 2:1-25, it explores what it truly means to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others as yourself. These pages will challenge you to not only examine your faith but to live it out with greater devoon and purpose. Each day, you will be invited to engage with Scripture, reect on its meaning, and take praccal steps toward a deeper relaonship with God. You will be encouraged to confront the distracons, fears, and doubts that hinder wholehearted love and embrace a renewed sense of faith, obedience, and acon. As you journey through this devoonal, may your heart be puried, your soul revived, your mind transformed, and your strength renewed. May this be a season where you grow in inmacy with Christ, allowing His love to shape every part of your life. Let this Lenten season be more than just a ritual or tradion—let it be a true awakening of your heart and soul for God. With Expectaonand Grace,

page 4DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He didn’t hesitate: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. He followed this by saying that loving others is just as important. But noce that loving God comes rst—everything else ows from that.Loving God is not just an emoonal experience; it is a daily decision to put Him rst in every area of our lives. It means choosing obedience over convenience, worship over worry, and faith over fear. This kind of love is all-encompassing—it aects our desires (heart), our inner being (soul), and our thoughts (mind).Lent is a me to evaluate whether our love for God is truly wholehearted or if we have been holding back. Are we distracted? Have we been loving Him half-heartedly? True love for God is demonstrated not only in words but in how we live.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?2. In what ways do you priorize other things over loving God fully?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, help me to fully embrace Your greatest commandment. Teach me to love You with all that I am, and let my love for others ow from my love for You.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Spend 15 minutes reecng on your love for God. Write down what it means to love Him wholeheartedly and one way you can show that love today.

page 5DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:The Shema is one of the most signicant declaraons in Jewish tradion. It begins with “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One.” This was not just a command; it was a call to loyalty. In a world where Israel was surrounded by naons worshiping many gods, God commanded His people to love Him alone—with their whole being.For us today, the call is the same. We live in a world lled with distracons, voices, and compeng priories. Money, success, entertainment, and even relaonships can take priority over God if we aren’t careful. But the Shema reminds us: GOD IS ONE. He is the only One worthy of our complete devoon.Loving God with all our heart means exclusive commitment—not a divided heart. It means pung Him above everything else. Loving God with all our soul means giving Him our very life. Loving God with all our strength means taking acon to live out our faith daily.During this Lenten season, let’s ask ourselves: Is my heart divided, or am I fully devoted to Him?REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What are some “idols” in your life that compete for your devoon to God?2. How can you acvely remind yourself to love God rst?PRAYER PROMPT:“Father, You alone are God. Remove any distracons that pull me away from wholehearted devoon to You. Help me to keep You rst in my heart.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Choose one distracon (social media, TV, excessive work, etc.) to fast from for today and spend that me in prayer and worship.

page 6DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:The heart is the center of our emoons, desires, and aecons. When the Bible speaks of the heart, it’s talking about what drives us—our passions, intenons, and decisions. David understood this well. Aer he sinned, he cried out in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” He knew that a divided or sinful heart could not truly love God.A devoted heart is one that is pure and undistracted. But how do we keep our hearts clean? By daily surrender and repentance. Just as we clean our homes regularly, we must cleanse our hearts through prayer, confession, and seeking God’s presence.God wants all of our hearts, not just pieces of it. Loving Him with all our heart means making Him our greatest treasure. When our hearts are devoted to God, everything else falls into place—our choices, our priories, and even our relaonships.During Lent, ask yourself: Does my heart belong fully to God, or do I need to surrender something to Him today?REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What areas of your heart need cleansing and renewal?2. How does a pure heart inuence the way you love God and others?PRAYER PROMPT:“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Purify my moves, desires, and aecons so that I may love You with sincerity.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Take 10 minutes to journal a prayer of repentance, asking God to renew your heart.

page 7DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Loving God with all our soul means oering our very lives to Him. It’s about surrendering not just what we do, but who we are. In Romans 12:1, Paul calls us to oer our bodies as living sacrices, holy and pleasing to God. This is an act of worship—not just in song, but in the way we live.Many people see worship as what we do in church—singing, praying, and listening to sermons. But true worship goes beyond Sunday. It’s the way we live our lives in obedience to God, reecng His love, mercy, and righteousness.A surrendered soul is one that trusts God fully. It means saying, “God, I trust You even when I don’t understand. I surrender my plans, my desires, and my fears into Your hands.” It means giving up control and allowing Him to lead.Lent is the perfect me to reect: What parts of my life have I not yet surrendered to God?REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What parts of your life have you not fully surrendered to God?2. How can your daily choices reect a soul dedicated to Him?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, I surrender my life to You. Let my soul be aligned with Your will, and may my life be a living sacrice for Your glory.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Write a short leer to God comming one area of your life to Him.

page 8DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Our minds are powerful. The thoughts we dwell on shape our emoons, our decisions, and ulmately, our lives. That’s why Scripture connually reminds us to renew our minds and focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8).Loving God with our minds means being intenonal about what we allow into our thoughts. If we feed our minds with negavity, doubt, and fear, we will struggle to walk in faith. But when we saturate our minds with the truth of God’s Word, we begin to see life from His perspecve.The enemy loves to aack our minds because he knows that wrong thinking leads to wrong living. He whispers lies like: “You’re not good enough.” “God doesn’t really love you.” “You will never change.” But God calls us to take every thought capve and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). This means replacing negave, anxious, or sinful thoughts with the truth of Scripture. When you nd yourself stuck in worry or fear, pause and ask: What does God’s Word say about this? Is this thought drawing me closer to God or away from Him?Lent is a great me to pracce mindful renewal—to intenonally replace toxic thoughts with God’s promises. When we do this, our faith strengthens, our perspecve shis, and we experience the peace of Christ guarding our minds (Philippians 4:7).REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What negave thoughts or inuences are prevenng you from loving God fully?2. How can you intenonally focus your mind on God’s truth?PRAYER PROMPT:“God, renew my mind. Help me to think on things that bring me closer to You. Fill my thoughts with Your wisdom and peace.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Replace one negave thought today with a Bible verse. Speak it over yourself when doubts or worries arise.

page 9DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Loving God isn’t just about what we feel—it’s about what we do. James 1:22 reminds us to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. Faith is meant to be lived out.When Jesus said to love God with all our strength, He was calling us to an acve, commied, and persistent love. This means using our energy, our talents, our me, and even our physical bodies to serve Him.So how do we love God with our strength?• By serving others – Whether it’s helping a neighbor, volunteering at church, or encouraging someone, every act of kindness is an act of love for God.• By persevering in faith – Life gets hard, and somemes we feel weak. But God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).• By honoring God with our bodies – This includes how we care for ourselves physically, through healthy choices, rest, and avoiding things that dishonor Him.Lent is a me to examine how we are acvely loving God with our acons. Are we merely talking about loving God, or are we actually living it out?REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Which aspect (heart, soul, mind, or strength) do you struggle most with in loving God?2. What steps will you take to grow in deeper love for Him this Lent?PRAYER PROMPT:“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Show me any area where I am lacking in love for You. Draw me closer to You in complete devoon.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Take 15 minutes in quiet reecon. Write a summary of what God has revealed to you this week and commit to growing in the area you need most.

page 10DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is not a one-me decision—it’s a lifelong journey. Just as a gardener must regularly tend to the soil, pull out weeds, and nurture what has been planted, we must connually examine our hearts to ensure they are fully devoted to God.Psalm 139:23-24 is one of the boldest prayers in Scripture. When David asked God to search his heart, he was inving divine inspecon. He wasn’t just asking God to see what was inside but to reveal anything that needed to be changed. That takes humility and a willingness to surrender.This week, we have explored what it means to love God with every part of ourselves:• Heart – Devoon and purity of love for God.• Soul – Surrendering our very lives to Him.• Mind – Aligning our thoughts with His truth.• Strength – Demonstrang love through acon.Self-examinaon is not about condemnaon but about growth. The enemy wants us to ignore our weaknesses and remain spiritually stagnant, but God desires transformaon. He lovingly corrects and renes us so we can walk closer with Him.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Are there areas of your life that you have not fully surrendered?2. Am you growing in love for God, or have you become stagnant?3. Are your thoughts, words, and acons aligning with your love for Him?SPIRITUAL CHECKUP:Here’s a simple exercise to help examine where you are: ; Spiritual Pulse: How vibrant is your relaonship with God? ; Heart Condion: Are there any atudes, habits, or sins blocking your love for Him? ; Mind Alignment: Do your thoughts reect faith, hope, and truth? ; Acon Check: Does your daily life reect a love for God in what you do and say?Lent is a season of realignment. Today, take the me to sit with God, open your heart before Him, and in-vite Him to reveal anything that needs to change. Let this be a moment of renewal and re-commitment.PRAYER PROMPT:“Father, search my heart and show me any area where I am holding back from You. Cleanse me, renew me, and lead me in Your everlasng way. May my love for You grow deeper and stronger every day. In Jesus’ name.” Amen.

page 12DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Before we can grow spiritually and love God wholeheartedly, we must rst remove the things that hinder us. Sin weighs us down, clouds our judgment, dulls our spiritual sensivity, and creates distance between us and God. It acts like a wall, prevenng us from fully experiencing His presence.Peter commands believers to rid themselves of destrucve behaviors—malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These are not just acons but heart condions that reect a deeper spiritual issue. If le unchecked, they will poison our relaonship with God and others.• Malice – A spirit of ill-will toward others, holding grudges or desiring harm.• Deceit – A heart that is not honest before God or people, trying to manipulate or hide the truth.• Hypocrisy – Pretending to be something we are not, living a double life instead of walking in authenc faith.• Envy – Wanng what others have, resenng their blessings instead of trusng God’s provision for our own lives.• Slander – Speaking negavely about others, tearing down instead of building up.These things don’t just aect our relaonships with others—they also block our ability to love God freely. Imagine trying to run a race while carrying a heavy backpack lled with weights. Sin is that weight. To move forward in faith, we have to let go.The call to “rid ourselves” of these sins isn’t just a one-me event—it’s a daily commitment. We must acvely examine our hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to expose anything that does not align with God’s will.The Power of Repentance: Repentance is a beauful gi. It allows us to come before God, confess our struggles, and receive His cleansing grace. When we humble ourselves and acknowledge where we fall short, God doesn’t reject us—He restores us.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What sins or unhealthy paerns do you need to lay aside to grow in your love for God?2. How does holding onto sin aect your relaonship with God and others?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, reveal anything in my heart that is not pleasing to You. Show me areas where I need to repent, and give me the strength to turn away from sin. I don’t want anything to hinder my relaonship with You. Cleanse me, renew me, and help me walk in holiness.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Take ve minutes today to sit in silence before God. Ask Him to reveal any sin in your heart that you need to lay aside. Write down what He shows you, and then pray a prayer of confession and surrender.

page 13DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:King David, aer his deep failure and sin, cried out to God in genuine repentance. He understood that God doesn’t just want sacrices or empty words—He desires a broken and contrite heart.A contrite heart is one that is humble, sorrowful over sin, and willing to change. True repentance isn’t about feeling guilty—it’s about recognizing our need for God’s grace and allowing Him to cleanse us.Many of us try to hide our sins, either out of shame or fear, but God is never repelled by a repentant heart. He draws near to those who come to Him in honesty, desiring transformaon. A contrite heart is not just one that says, “I’m sorry”—it says, “I desire to be dierent.” It acknowledges wrongdoing but also seeks to walk in renewed obedience. When we truly repent, God doesn’t just forgive—He restores, renews, and strengthens us to walk in righteousness.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Do you truly bring your sins before God with a humble heart, or do you try to jusfy or minimize them?2. What does a contrite heart look like in your daily walk with Christ?PRAYER PROMPT:“Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me a truly repentant spirit, one that desires to be transformed by Your grace. Thank You for Your mercy and love.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Spend 10 minutes in quiet confession before God. Write a prayer of repentance, surrendering your heart fully to Him.

page 14DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Have you ever felt spiritually distant—like your love for God isn’t as strong as it once was? The church in Ephesus had good works, sound doctrine, and perseverance, yet Jesus rebuked them for one thing: they had lost their rst love (Revelaon 2:4-5). Their faith had become roune rather than relaonal, more about duty than devoon.It’s possible to be acve in ministry, faithful in service, and knowledgeable in Scripture yet sll dri from the deep, personal love we once had for God. We can become so focused on doing things for Him that we forget to simply be with Him. When that happens, our faith can feel like a task rather than a relaonship.Jesus calls us not just to remember our rst love, but to return to it—to rekindle the passion, joy, and devoon we had when we rst experienced His grace. He doesn’t invite us back with condemnaon, but with open arms, longing for inmacy with us once again.Lent is the perfect season to reect: Has my heart grown cold? Have I replaced inmacy with God with mere religious acvity? If so, He is calling you back—not to a checklist of spiritual dues, but to a renewed relaonship lled with love, worship, and surrender.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Are you sll as passionate about your relaonship with God as when you rst believed?2. What “rst works” do you need to return to (prayer, worship, Bible study, serving, etc.)?PRAYER PROMPT:“Jesus, rekindle my love for You. Restore the passion and devoon I once had. I choose to return to You, my rst love.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Take 10 minutes today to reect on when you felt closest to God. Write down one thing you used to do when your love for Him was stronger, and commit to doing it again this week.

page 15DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Confession is a powerful spiritual discipline that frees us from the weight of hidden sin and restores our inmacy with God. Many of us carry unspoken guilt—things we regret, choices we wish we could undo, sins we’ve pushed aside rather than surrendered. But God’s forgiveness is always waing. He doesn’t demand perfecon—only that we come to Him with honesty and humility.True confession goes beyond merely adming our sins; it means agreeing with God about the seriousness of sin and its impact on our relaonship with Him. Sin isn’t just wrong acons; it’s a barrier between us and God. It dulls our spiritual sensivity, robs us of peace, and keeps us from walking in freedom. But when we confess, God cleanses, restores, and renews us—not because of anything we have done, but because of Christ’s sacrice on the cross (1 John 1:9).Many mes, we avoid confession out of fear or shame, but the beauty of God’s grace is that He already knows everything—and yet, He sll invites us into forgiveness and healing. Confession is not about condemnaon; it’s about cleansing and restoraon. When we confess, we are set free from the burden of sin and refreshed by God’s mercy.Lent is a me to examine our hearts and bring everything into the light of God’s presence. Don’t carry unnecessary guilt—lay it before Him today and receive the cleansing grace that only He can give.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Is there any unconfessed sin weighing on your heart?2. How does regular confession keep your relaonship with God strong?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, I confess my sins before You. Thank You for Your faithful forgiveness. Cleanse me and restore my heart.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Find a quiet space and speak your confession out loud to God. Instead of just thinking or wring it, verbally acknowledge your sins and ask for His forgiveness. Speaking it aloud reinforces the reality of God’s grace and helps you fully surrender any hidden guilt.

page 16DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Repentance isn’t just about turning away from sin—it’s about turning toward God and walking in the new life He has given us. When Christ saves us, He doesn’t just erase our past; He transforms us from the inside out. We are no longer dened by our failures, mistakes, or old paerns—we are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17).Yet, even aer experiencing God’s grace, many of us struggle with fully embracing this fresh start. Shame whispers that we are sll bound by our past. Regret convinces us that we are unworthy of God’s forgiveness. Fear keeps us from stepping into the fullness of life that Christ has for us. But the truth is: You are not who you used to be.God doesn’t just want to forgive you—He wants to restore you. He wants you to walk condently in His grace, knowing that you have been redeemed. The enemy wants to keep you trapped in guilt, but Jesus invites you to live in freedom, joy, and purpose.Lent is a me to reect on where you are sll holding onto the past and to fully embrace the new identy you have in Christ. Today, make the decision to leave behind the old and step forward in faith.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Are you sll holding on to past guilt or shame?2. What does walking in newness of life look like to you?PRAYER PROMPT:“Jesus, thank You for making me new. Help me to let go of my past and fully embrace the life You have given me. Teach me to walk in Your grace and live in the freedom of Your love.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Take a step of faith and renewal today—whether it’s leng go of a past mistake, forgiving yourself, or starng a new spiritual habit. Declare aloud: “I AM MADE NEW IN CHRIST.”

page 17DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Fasng is more than a religious tradion or self-denial—it’s an opportunity to clear distracons and draw closer to God. In Isaiah 58, God rebukes those who fast out of roune but remain unchanged in their hearts and acons. He teaches that true fasng is not just about what we give up, but about what we gain—a heart that is aligned with His will.Many people fast for the sake of discipline, but without spiritual transformaon, fasng becomes meaningless. It should lead us to greater dependence on God, deeper compassion for others, and a renewed hunger for righteousness. A true fast does more than deny the esh—it strengthens the spirit, soens the heart, and shis our focus back to God.Fasng is also a powerful weapon against spiritual strongholds. When we empty ourselves of distracons—whether food, social media, or anything that competes for our aenon—we create space for God to speak, heal, and move in our lives. True fasng leads to repentance, restoraon, and revival, bringing clarity where there was confusion, breakthrough where there was bondage, and renewal where there was weariness.During this Lenten season, are you simply going through the moons, or are you allowing fasng to transform you from the inside out? Let this be a me of renewal, where you don’t just refrain from something but acvely pursue more of God’s presence.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How can you use fasng to deepen your inmacy with God rather than just giving something up?2. Are you allowing this me of fasng to truly change you, or are you just going through the moons?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, let my fasng be more than a ritual—let it be a me of true transformaon. Empty me of distracons and ll me with more of You. Align my heart with Your will and renew my spirit.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:As you fast today, take 10 extra minutes to pray and ask God to reveal what He wants to teach you during this season. Write down any insights He gives you.

page 18DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Spiritual renewal is not a one-me event but a connual process of cleansing and transformaon. Just as a river stays pure by remaining in constant moon, our souls must be regularly puried through confession, repentance, and renewal in God’s presence.II Corinthians 7:1 calls us to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, striving toward holiness. This means removing what hinders our spiritual growth, whether it’s sin, unhealthy habits, or distracons that pull us away from God.This week, we have explored what it means to walk in repentance and renewal:• Confession – Acknowledging sin and seeking God’s cleansing.• Contrion – A humble, repentant heart that longs for transformaon.• Fasng – Removing distracons to make room for more of God.• Newness of Life – Walking boldly in the freedom Christ has given us.Repentance is not just about turning from sin; it’s about turning fully toward God. The enemy wants us to stay trapped in guilt or complacency, but God calls us to freedom, holiness, and purpose. He doesn’t just forgive—He restores, renews, and empowers us to walk in His light.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. In what ways has God been cleansing and renewing you this week?2. Is there anything you are sll holding onto that God is asking you to release?3. How can you commit to walking in connual renewal beyond this Lenten season?SPIRITUAL CHECKUP:Here’s a simple exercise to help examine where you are: ; Heart Condion: Are you allowing God to cleanse your heart of anything impure? ; Soul Alignment: Are you walking in the freedom and renewal Christ has given you? ; Mind Renewal: Are your thoughts being shaped by truth rather than shame or doubt? ; Daily Living: Does your life reect the holiness and transformaon God desires?Lent is a season of cleansing and realignment. Today, invite God to search your heart, remove anything that does not belong, and lead you into a deeper, renewed relaonship with Him.PRAYER PROMPT:“Father, cleanse me from anything that hinders my walk with You. Purify my heart, renew my mind, and strengthen my soul to live fully for You. I surrender every part of my life to Your rening work. In Jesus’ name.” Amen

page 20DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Love and obedience are inseparable in our journey with Christ. Jesus clearly teaches that genuine love for Him is revealed through our willingness and desire to follow His commands. Obedience is not simply an act of duty or obligaon; it’s a hearelt response to the deep love Christ has shown us.When we truly love someone, pleasing them becomes natural and joyful, not burdensome. Likewise, our obedience to Jesus should ow from a transformed heart, changed by His grace. As our love for Jesus deepens, obedience moves from something we feel we must do into something we want to do, out of gratude and devoon.Yet, obedience can be challenging at mes. It requires humility, surrender, and trust—especially when God’s commands push us beyond our comfort zones. But the beauty is this: as we choose obedience, our relaonship with Christ grows deeper. Jesus promises that those who obey out of love will experience His presence in greater measure. Obedience invites inmacy.Today, consider how your daily acons demonstrate your love for Jesus. Is there joy in your obedience, or has it become a duty? Let your obedience today be an intenonal act of love, deepening your closeness with Christ.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How do you express your love for Jesus in daily life?2. Are there any areas where you struggle to obey His commands?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, help me to love You fully by joyfully obeying Your commands. Align my will with Yours, and let my acons clearly reect my devoon to You. Strengthen me in the areas I struggle to obey, and deepen my inmacy with You.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Idenfy one command of Jesus to intenonally follow today (e.g., forgiving someone, showing kindness, or serving others). As you obey, focus on doing it as an expression of love toward Jesus.

page 21DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Jesus, though He was fully God, willingly set aside His glory and humbled Himself, subming enrely to the will of His Father. His obedience was more than just a duful response; it was a profound act of love, humility, and surrender. Jesus knew that obeying the Father’s will would cost Him deeply—leading Him to suering and ulmately the cross—yet He embraced it willingly for our salvaon.Christ’s obedience provides a powerful example for us. It teaches us that true obedience isn’t always convenient or comfortable. Somemes, following God means stepping into uncertainty, sacricing personal comfort, or even enduring hardship. Yet Jesus demonstrates that in the pain of obedience, there is purpose. His willingness to submit to the Father’s plan brought redempon to humanity, demonstrang that our acts of obedience, even in dicult circumstances, carry signicant spiritual impact and blessing.As followers of Christ, we are called to mirror this obedience—to humble ourselves, trust God’s purpose, and yield to His will even when it’s challenging. When obedience feels dicult, reect on Jesus’s ulmate sacrice. His life shows us that humility and submission to God’s plan is not weakness but profound strength, leading us deeper into relaonship with Him.Today, allow Christ’s example to inspire you toward a deeper level of obedience, trusng that God’s plan is good—even when it leads through trials or discomfort.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What does Christ’s obedience teach you about humility and submission to God’s will?2. In what specic ways is God calling you to obey, even when it’s challenging or uncomfortable?PRAYER PROMPT:“Jesus, You demonstrated perfect obedience, willingly enduring suering and death. Give me the humility and courage to follow Your example, fully surrendering my will to the Father, trusng His good purposes even when it’s hard.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Take a moment today to honestly reect on an area in your life where God is calling you to humble yourself in obedience. Take one praccal step forward in faith and surrender, trusng that your obedience has purpose beyond your current circumstances.

page 22DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Following Jesus is more than a decision made once—it’s a commitment renewed daily, oen requiring sacrice. When Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross, He is inving us into a life dened not by personal comfort or convenience, but by devoon and surrender to His will.In Jesus’ me, the cross symbolized suering, sacrice, and death. It was not an easy path but a costly one. Today, taking up our cross means willingly surrendering our own plans, desires, and comfort to align with God’s purposes. This might mean making decisions that others don’t understand, resisng temptaons we once freely indulged, or stepping out in faith even when the future feels uncertain.Discipleship comes at a cost because true obedience always involves leng go—of control, of pride, and somemes even of our dreams—in exchange for something greater: deeper inmacy with Christ, purpose that outlasts temporary comfort, and eternal reward. It means trusng that the cost is worth the closeness and clarity we experience when walking in step with Jesus.Today, examine your life honestly: Are you willing to pay the price of true discipleship, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable? Jesus never promised an easy path, but He promises His presence, strength, and ulmate fulllment to those who choose Him above everything elseREFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What does it mean praccally for you to “take up your cross” every day?2. Are you currently holding back from full obedience because of the potenal cost or discomfort involved?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, strengthen me to truly follow You—not just when it’s convenient, but also when it’s costly. Help me willingly surrender whatever is necessary to walk faithfully and closely with You every day.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Reect honestly on something that may be hindering your complete obedience to Christ. Make a conscious, prayerful decision today to surrender it fully to Him, trusng that His way leads to abundant life.

page 23DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:King David, aer his deep failure and sin, cried out to God in genuine repentance. He understood that God doesn’t just want sacrices or empty words—He desires a broken and contrite heart.Obedience to Christ involves more than just agreeing with His teachings—it requires pung them into pracce through concrete, compassionate acon. True faith is not merely believing the right things; it’s allowing those beliefs to shape how we live, serve, and interact with others.James makes it clear: faith without works is not alive—it is empty and ineecve. Our love for Christ should be evident not only by the words we speak but by how we acvely care for those around us. When Jesus walked the earth, He consistently demonstrated love through acts of healing, kindness, generosity, and service. If we claim to follow Him, our lives should reect that same love through tangible deeds.It’s easy to speak of love, compassion, and obedience, but our acons truly reveal the depth of our commitment. God calls us not to passive faith but to faith that moves, gives, serves, and sacrices. This might mean helping someone in praccal ways, extending generosity when it’s inconvenient, or simply pausing to noce and encourage someone who needs it.Today, ask yourself honestly: Does my daily life visibly reect my faith in Christ? If someone observed only your acons today, would they clearly see your obedience and love for Jesus?Let your faith become vibrant by expressing it in acve obedience—reecng God’s love in praccal, life-giving ways.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How does your faith visibly show itself in your everyday life?2. Are there areas in your life where your acons don’t fully match what you profess to believe?PRAYER PROMPT:“Father, empower me to live out my faith authencally. Help me move beyond words into acon, reecng Your love and compassion to those around me. Open my eyes to see opportunies today where I can acvely serve and honor You.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Perform one intenonal act of kindness or service today—help a neighbor, oer encouragement to someone struggling, or generously support someone in need. Let your acons clearly display your love and obedience to Christ.

page 24DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Obedience to God isn’t just about following rules or performing religious dues—it’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts, producing within us the characteriscs of Christ Himself. As we connually surrender our desires and align our lives with God’s will, the Spirit culvates His fruit in us: love, joy, peace, paence, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.Each fruit represents a visible expression of God’s grace working inside us. When we choose obedience over our own preferences, the Spirit shapes our reacons, our atudes, and our relaonships. We begin to respond to life’s challenges with paence instead of frustraon, show kindness rather than indierence, experience joy despite circumstances, and pracce self-control even when tempted.Obedience isn’t simply measured by outward behaviors but by inward transformaon. The evidence of our obedience is a life marked by increasing spiritual maturity and Christ-like character. Like a tree planted by streams of water, our obedience helps us ourish spiritually, bearing fruit that blesses both ourselves and others around us.Today, consider how the fruit of the Spirit is evident in your life. Which characteriscs are clearly visible, and which need further culvaon? Allow obedience to God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s guidance to connue shaping your heart and character, producing lasng fruit that brings glory to God.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Which fruit of the Spirit is currently most visible in your daily life?2. Which fruit do you nd yourself struggling to culvate, and how can you intenonally nurture its growth?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, let my obedience to You result in lasng spiritual fruit. Culvate in me the character of Christ, helping me reect Your love, paence, and goodness clearly and consistently in my daily life. Fill me afresh with Your Spirit.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Choose one fruit of the Spirit today and intenonally pracce demonstrang it in every interacon. Reect at day’s end on how this intenonality impacted you and those around you.

page 25DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:The call to obedience oen feels challenging, especially when it requires sacrice, courage, or endurance. Yet, God never intended for us to face these challenges in our own strength. He has given us the Holy Spirit, a constant companion and source of divine strength, to empower us from within.When we rely on ourselves, obedience can quickly become overwhelming and draining. But when we turn to the Holy Spirit for strength, we discover that we are equipped not just to endure but to thrive—even in the most dicult circumstances. The Spirit doesn’t merely help us “get by”; He strengthens us with the fullness of Christ’s love, power, and condence.Paul’s prayer in Ephesians beaufully describes this empowering work of the Holy Spirit. He strengthens our inner being, deepens our faith, anchors us rmly in the love of Christ, and lls us with the fullness of God. The result is not a begrudging obedience, but joyful, condent submission to God’s will.Today, remember that you don’t have to rely on your own strength or ability to obey God. The Holy Spirit is ready and willing to empower you. When obedience feels impossible, ask Him to ll you afresh. Lean into His guidance and strength, trusng Him to lead you through every step.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How have you personally experienced the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit when faced with a dicult call to obedience?2. What areas of your life do you need to intenonally surrender to the Spirit’s guidance today?PRAYER PROMPT:“Holy Spirit, I recognize that I cannot obey fully without Your strength. Empower my inner being and root me deeply in Christ’s love. Guide me clearly, strengthen me daily, and enable me to joyfully walk in obedience to Your will.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Set aside extra me today for focused prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit specically to empower and guide you in areas where obedience has been challenging. Listen carefully for His direcon, and step forward condently in His strength.

page 26DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Loving Jesus through obedience is not about mere rule-following—it’s about joyfully aligning our hearts, desires, and daily acons with His will. Just as a compass aligns itself to true north, our hearts and lives must regularly be realigned with Christ, reecng our deep love for Him.Psalm 139:23-24 invites God’s careful inspecon of our hearts. David understood the importance of leng God reveal areas of disobedience or misalignment—not to condemn us, but to correct, rene, and lovingly guide us toward deeper inmacy and joyful obedience. This kind of reecon takes humility and courage, but it leads to powerful spiritual growth and transformaon.This week, we’ve explored how loving Jesus and obedience are deeply connected:• Love and Obedience – Demonstrang love by faithfully following Jesus’ commands.• Christ’s Example – Embracing humility and obedience as Christ did.• Counng the Cost – Comming fully, even when discipleship requires sacrice.• Faith in Acon – Living out love through tangible acts of obedience.• Fruiul Living – Allowing obedience to produce the fruits of the Spirit.• Spirit Empowered Strength – Relying fully on the Holy Spirit’s strength to walk in obedience.As we conclude, it’s me to honestly assess our own hearts: Have we fully surrendered our lives and choices to Jesus?REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What has God revealed to you this week about the connecon between love and obedience in your own life?2. How can your daily life beer reect your growing love and obedience to Christ?SPIRITUAL CHECKUP:Take a moment for a personal evaluaon, reecng honestly before God: ; Heart Alignment: Is your heart genuinely aligned with God’s will and desires? Are you loving Him wholeheartedly in a way that shapes your priories and passions? ; Soul Check (Obedience): Are you fully surrendering your soul—your enre being—to God’s direcon and purpose? Does your obedience reect a deep inner devoon to Christ? ; Mind Check (Joyful Atude): Does your mindset toward obedience reect joyful willingness or reluctant duty? Are your thoughts consistently rooted in gratude, faith, and joy? ; Spirit Dependence: Are you acvely depending on the Holy Spirit to empower and guide your heart, soul, and mind in daily obedience and love?Lent is a season of purposeful realignment. Today, invite God to thoroughly examine your heart, exposing anything that needs surrender, renewal, or deeper commitment. Allow this day to mark a fresh start in your journey of joyful obedience and deepened love for Christ.PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, search my heart today and reveal any area where my obedience has faltered, or my love has grown dim. Renew my spirit and strengthen my resolve to follow You wholeheartedly. Let my daily life reect genuine joy and unwavering devoon to Your will. In Jesus’ name.” Amen.

page 28DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Jesus introduced a revoluonary kind of love—one that goes beyond mere senment, convenience, or self-interest. He calls us to love others just as He loves us. This love is seless, willingly placing others’ needs above our own. It is sacricial, oen costly and uncomfortable, yet given freely. It is also uncondional, oered without prerequisites, condions, or limitaons.Christ’s love sets a high standard, challenging the ways we typically love. It calls us to extend grace when it’s undeserved, oer forgiveness when it feels impossible, and serve without expecng anything in return. When we embrace this kind of love, it not only transforms our relaonships but also reects Christ to the world around us. It is the hallmark of a true disciple, the unmistakable sign of Christ’s presence in our lives.Today, consider the way Jesus has loved you—fully and faithfully, even at your weakest moments. Let this understanding inspire you to love others intenonally and selessly, reecng the heart of Christ in tangible ways.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How does Christ’s sacricial, uncondional love challenge or stretch the ways you typically love others?2. What praccal, seless act of love can you oer someone today as a reecon of Christ’s love?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, teach me to love as You have loved me—with humility, sacrice, and grace. Fill me with Your Spirit so that my love is authenc and transformaonal, poinng others toward You.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Perform a deliberate act of seless love today, specically targeng someone who might least expect it or may feel undeserving. Observe how God uses your obedience and love.

page 29DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus dramacally illustrates what it truly means to love beyond barriers. The Samaritan’s compassion was not limited by race, culture, comfort, or convenience. His love compelled him to acon, overcoming the societal expectaons and prejudices that would normally separate him from someone in need.This parable forces us to confront our own boundaries: Are there limitaons we’ve placed on our love? Perhaps dierences in beliefs, lifestyle, polical views, ethnicity, or past conicts prevent us from loving fully. Jesus clearly teaches us that authenc love breaks through these barriers. It doesn’t merely feel compassion—it acts, even at personal cost or inconvenience.Loving others like the Samaritan means intenonally stepping beyond comfort zones, breaking down walls, and meeng people exactly where they are. It involves choosing mercy over judgment, grace over indierence, and empathy over prejudice. True neighborly love, Christ tells us, doesn’t simply noce need—it moves courageously toward it.Today, reect honestly on your heart: Are there boundaries you’ve set that limit your ability to love others fully? Ask Jesus to help you tear down these walls and extend love boldly, just as He does for us.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Who in your life do you nd hardest to love due to dierences, past hurts, or personal biases?2. How can you praccally embody the Samaritan’s compassion and courage in your interacons today?PRAYER PROMPT:“Father, forgive me for the boundaries I’ve placed on my love. Give me courage and compassion to move beyond my comfort zone and show genuine love and mercy to others. Help me see everyone through Your eyes.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Reach out intenonally to someone who diers from you—whether culturally, socially, or personally—and perform a simple, tangible act of kindness. Let this step reect Christ’s inclusive and courageous love.

page 30DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Forgiveness can be challenging, especially when it involves those who’ve deeply hurt us or who seem undeserving of grace. Yet, Christ calls us not only to love those who are easy to love but also those we might consider unlovable. True Christ-like love is most powerfully demonstrated when we choose to forgive, even when it’s dicult or costly.Jesus modeled perfect forgiveness by forgiving us fully, completely, and freely—even when we were at our worst. His forgiveness didn’t wait unl we deserved it; instead, He oered it while we were sll sinners. When we truly understand the depth of God’s forgiveness toward us, our hearts soen, empowering us to extend grace even when it seems impossible.Unforgiveness weighs heavily on our souls. It restricts our ability to love freely and steals our joy. But when we choose to forgive—movated by how greatly Christ forgave us—something beauful happens: we nd freedom from bierness, healing for our wounds, and restored capacity to love generously.Today, remember that forgiving others doesn’t excuse their wrongdoing; rather, it frees your heart from the chains of resentment. Choosing to forgive mirrors Christ’s sacrice on the cross—an act of profound love oered to those who did not deserve it. Let the forgiveness you’ve received from God overow into your relaonships, bringing healing, peace, and restoraon.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Who in your life do you nd hardest to forgive, and why?2. How does remembering Christ’s forgiveness toward you impact your willingness to extend forgiveness to others?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, help me to forgive others as freely and fully as You’ve forgiven me. Heal my heart from bierness, resentment, and pain. Fill me instead with Your grace, compassion, and uncondional love.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Spend intenonal me in prayer today for the person you struggle most to forgive. If the opportunity arises, take a step toward reconciliaon or extend a gesture of kindness and grace.

page 31DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Life was never intended to be navigated alone. God, in His wisdom, created us to thrive within a community, deeply interconnected and supporng one another. Loving others with Christ’s love means stepping willingly into their struggles, standing beside them in moments of hardship, pain, and uncertainty. It means choosing empathy over judgment, compassion over indierence, and presence over isolaon.Bearing each other’s burdens doesn’t necessarily mean we have all the answers or can instantly solve every problem. Rather, it involves sharing in someone’s journey—listening carefully, praying earnestly, and providing tangible support where we can. It’s about reecng Christ’s heart by being a visible representaon of His care and compassion.Somemes we hesitate to lean on others, believing we must carry our burdens alone to appear strong. But true strength and spiritual maturity recognize the importance of vulnerability and interdependence. Allowing others to carry our burdens—and willingly carrying theirs—strengthens our relaonships and deepens our experience of God’s grace.Today, consider how you might beer share your own burdens and help carry those of others. Loving as Christ loves involves embracing humility, vulnerability, and acve compassion. By doing so, you fulll the very heart of Christ’s teaching and demonstrate His love powerfully.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Do you nd it easy or dicult to let others share your burdens? Why?2. Is there someone in your life right now who is struggling? How can you praccally show Christ’s love by oering your presence and support?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, thank You for faithfully bearing my burdens. Help me reect Your heart by willingly stepping into the lives of others with compassion, humility, and genuine support. Teach me to both oer and receive help, strengthening the community You have placed me within.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Reach out intenonally to someone facing a challenge today. Oer praccal support—whether through prayer, a thoughul act, or simply providing a compassionate listening ear.

page 32DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:True love isn’t merely about saying pleasant words or avoiding tough conversaons—it is about courageously speaking truth with grace. Many of us nd it easier to lean toward one side or the other: either we speak harsh truths without compassion or show love by avoiding dicult conversaons altogether. But Jesus modeled the perfect balance, always delivering truth with clarity and grace, correcon mixed with compassion.Speaking truth in love isn’t always comfortable. It demands humility—recognizing our own imperfecons and approaching others gently, knowing we also need grace. It requires paence—being willing to listen carefully, even when emoons run high. Most importantly, it calls for wisdom—asking God for guidance on when, how, and what to speak, ensuring that our words build others up rather than break them down.When we speak truth in love, we foster deeper, healthier relaonships and contribute to spiritual growth—both in ourselves and in others. Truth spoken harshly can damage relaonships, and love without truth can lack integrity. But when blended with care and compassion, truth becomes transformave.Today, reect on your interacons with others. Consider how you can intenonally balance truth and love, following the example of Christ, who always spoke honestly but with a heart full of grace. Allow God to use your words to encourage, correct, heal, and build up those around you.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How can you ensure your words consistently carry both truth and love?2. Is there a dicult conversaon God is prompng you to have with someone? How can you approach it with grace?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, teach me to speak the truth lovingly and wisely. Guide my conversaons and give me the courage to address dicult maers with humility and grace. Let my words reect Your heart, always building others up rather than tearing them down.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Consider one conversaon you’ve been avoiding or delaying. Take a step today to approach it prayerfully and lovingly, allowing God to guide your words and your heart.

page 33DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of all creaon, chose the role of a servant, performing one of the humblest acts imaginable—washing His disciples’ feet. This acon was shocking because it reversed every expectaon they had about greatness, leadership, and authority. Rather than seeking honor, He willingly embraced humility, demonstrang that true greatness is found in serving others with sincere, seless love.In our lives, the temptaon oen arises to seek recognion, reward, or praise when we serve. But Jesus calls us to serve dierently. His example teaches us that real service—service that reects the heart of God—is not movated by applause or acknowledgment. Instead, it ows from genuine love, compassion, and humility. True servants don’t ask, “What’s in it for me?” but rather, “How can I upli, encourage, and support someone today?”When we follow Jesus’ example of serving others with humility, we don’t just bless them—we also deepen our own spiritual growth. Serving transforms our hearts, making us more Christ-like. It shis our focus from self to others, creang space for genuine community and deeper relaonships.Today, consider the humility and joy with which Jesus served. Are you serving others purely out of love, without condions or expectaons? Let your service be an act of worship, reecng the heart of Jesus. Look intenonally for opportunies, even small ones, to bless and care for others—just as He did.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Do you naturally seek recognion or appreciaon when you serve others? How can you adopt Christ’s atude of humble, joyful service instead?2. What praccal ways can you serve someone today, reecng Christ’s selessness?PRAYER PROMPT:“Jesus, thank You for showing me that true greatness is found in humble service. Shape my heart so that serving others becomes my natural response. Help me nd joy in meeng others’ needs without seeking recognion, following Your loving example.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Perform a simple act of service for someone today—without drawing aenon or seeking acknowledgment. Allow this hidden act to become an intenonal expression of Christ’s humility and love.

page 34DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:This week we have explored the profound connecon between loving God fully and loving others authencally. Loving others is not merely about words or intenons—it must be expressed through purposeful acons rooted deeply within a transformed heart, a willing soul, and a renewed mind.When we truly love others with our hearts, we extend genuine compassion, forgiveness, and empathy, mirroring Christ’s tender care for us. Loving with our souls means embracing sacricial service and generosity, willingly placing others’ needs ahead of our own convenience or comfort. And when we love others with our minds, we intenonally see people through God’s perspecve, choosing understanding and grace over judgment and cricism.Today is a moment for honest reecon. Allow God to search your heart, soul, and mind, revealing any areas where your love for others may be shallow or incomplete. This kind of reecon isn’t meant to condemn us, but rather to prompt deeper spiritual growth, realigning us with the seless, sacricial love of Christ.Loving others deeply requires connual renewal, humility, and intenonal acon. Invite God into this reecve moment, leng Him guide you into a greater capacity to love and serve others.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. Has my heart been genuinely open and compassionate toward others this week?2. Have I willingly sacriced comfort to meet someone’s need, loving others with my soul?3. Do my thoughts reect God’s love and grace toward people, even those who challenge me?SPIRITUAL CHECKUP:Take a moment today to evaluate honestly before God: ; Heart Check: Are you acvely culvang compassion, empathy, and genuine concern for others in your daily interacons? ; Soul Check (Sacrice): Are you willingly serving and loving others, even when it requires personal sacrice or inconvenience? ; Mind Check (Perspecve): Do you view others through Christ’s eyes, consistently choosing grace over judgment, love over indierence?Lent is a season of heart-deep reecon and renewal. Allow God’s gentle yet powerful examinaon to reveal areas where your love can grow stronger, deeper, and more authenc. Let this be a day of recommitment, strengthening your love for others as an overow of your love for Jesus.PRAYER PROMPT:“Father, search my heart, soul, and mind today. Show me any area where my love for others is lacking or supercial. Transform me by Your grace so my love reects Yours—sacricial, compassionate, and uncondional. Lead me deeper into Your everlasng way.” Amen.

page 36DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Christ’s suering was purposeful and redempve. He willingly faced injusce, endured painful rejecon, and experienced the agony of the cross, all without retaliaon or bierness. His suering was not a meaningless tragedy; it fullled the divine purpose of redeeming humanity. Through His wounds, we are healed. Christ’s endurance teaches us the immense spiritual power found in paent trust, even when circumstances seem unjust or unbearable.When we encounter our own trials and hardships, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, angry, or hopeless. Yet, the example of Jesus invites us into a deeper way of responding—a way characterized by humility, paence, and quiet trust in the Father’s sovereign plan. Suering does not have to derail our faith; rather, it can deepen it, shaping us more into Christ’s likeness. When we respond to suering by trusng God’s wisdom and goodness, our pain becomes a pathway for greater spiritual maturity and grace.Today, consider Christ’s atude in His suering. He placed absolute condence in the Father’s perfect plan, even as He faced unbearable anguish. Let His example inspire you to respond dierently when life is painful or unfair. Choose paence over frustraon, trust over doubt, and grace over bierness. By imitang Christ, your trials become opportunies for profound spiritual growth and inmacy with the Savior.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How does Christ’s example of paent trust during suering encourage you in your current trials?2. In what specic ways do you struggle to respond with Christ-like paence when faced with hardship?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, teach me to respond to my struggles with paence, humility, and trust, just as Jesus did. Strengthen my faith, reminding me that Your plan is always good—even when my circumstances are painful.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Idenfy a specic diculty you’re currently facing, and consciously choose to respond today with paence, grace, and trust, following Christ’s example.

page 37DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:The call of Jesus to carry our cross daily is an invitaon into a life dened by intenonal sacrice, self-denial, and consistent obedience. It’s not merely about facing dicules, but willingly choosing God’s way over our own comforts and preferences each day. Taking up our cross requires surrendering our rights, desires, and plans, trusng that God’s ways lead to deeper fulllment and purpose.Carrying your cross daily also means embracing humility. It involves recognizing that our lives are no longer centered on self but are now oriented enrely toward God’s purposes and glory. This daily decision might mean forgiving someone who has hurt you deeply, paently enduring mistreatment, or faithfully obeying God even when His instrucons seem dicult or inconvenient. It’s in these daily moments of surrender that we experience genuine spiritual growth and transformaon.When we accept the call to carry our cross, we align ourselves more closely with Jesus Himself. He carried the ulmate cross, oering up His life in complete obedience and sacrice. His example shows us clearly that surrender is not weakness—it is strength. The decision to daily deny ourselves, submit to God’s will, and follow Christ wholeheartedly is the most powerful and life-changing decision we can make. Embrace this daily discipline, knowing it draws you closer to Christ and strengthens your spiritual walk.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What praccal ways can you carry your cross daily, surrendering your own desires for Christ’s sake?2. Are there specic areas in your life where surrender and obedience to Christ feel especially dicult?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord Jesus, help me to embrace the daily discipline of carrying my cross. Teach me to willingly surrender my desires, plans, and comforts, so that my life fully reects Your purpose. Grant me strength and courage for daily obedience.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Make a small, intenonal act of self-denial today—perhaps leng go of something you desire, forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve it, or seng aside personal convenience to meet someone else’s need. Let this acon reect your desire to daily carry your cross.

page 38DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:To truly know Christ means experiencing both His resurrecon power and sharing in His suerings. It’s a deep, profound invitaon—not merely to admire Christ from a distance, but to walk closely alongside Him through every aspect of our spiritual journey, including pain and trials. While none of us naturally desire suering, embracing it as part of our discipleship deepens our fellowship with Jesus, binding our hearts closer to Him.When we choose to idenfy with Christ’s suerings, something powerful occurs within us: our faith deepens, our compassion increases, and our spiritual maturity grows. It is oen through pain and diculty that we come to understand the depth of Christ’s love and sacrice more vividly. Our trials cease to be mere dicules; they become profound encounters with Christ, opportunies to become more inmately connected to His heart and purpose.Instead of resisng suering, view it as an invitaon into deeper communion with Jesus. Allow the experience of hardship to rene your character, strengthen your faith, and draw you closer to Christ. Remember, sharing in His suerings is not about seeking pain—it’s about nding the presence of Christ powerfully real, even in our darkest moments. Let each trial become a sacred place where your relaonship with Him grows deeper and richer.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How has experiencing suering helped you feel closer to Christ?2. Can you think of mes when a painful situaon strengthened your faith?PRAYER PROMPT:“Father, help me to embrace suering as a pathway to deeper inmacy with Christ. Teach me to see trials as opportunies for spiritual growth, rening my faith, and drawing me nearer to You.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Encourage someone facing a dicult me today by sharing a personal tesmony of how Christ has comforted or strengthened you through suering.

page 39DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Trials are rarely welcomed, yet they play a vital role in shaping our spiritual maturity. James reminds us to nd joy even in suering because these moments rene our character, producing perseverance, endurance, and steadfast faith. When we face dicules, it’s natural to desire escape or quick resoluon. But the Scriptures teach us that trials, when endured with trust in God, serve a divine purpose: to form in us greater spiritual depth and resilience.God uses our suering not to punish, but to rene and strengthen. Consider gold—it is puried by re, removing impuries to reveal its true value. Similarly, suering can purify our hearts, burning away pride, selshness, and spiritual immaturity. Through trials, our faith is tested and stretched, and as we hold onto Christ in diculty, we become spiritually resilient, steadfast in our trust, and unwavering in our commitment.Instead of resisng trials, learn to embrace them as opportunies for growth. Allow the challenges you face to deepen your reliance on God and mold your character to reect Christ’s. Each hardship faced with faithfulness builds strength and spiritual maturity, equipping you to handle future challenges with even greater grace and condence. Trust God’s rening process, knowing He is shaping you into someone stronger, wiser, and more Christ-like.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What specic trials in your past have signicantly strengthened your faith?2. How can you praccally shi your mindset to view current struggles as opportunies for spiritual growth?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, help me to embrace dicules as opportunies to grow spiritually. Give me the paence and wisdom to endure trials, trusng Your process of rening and strengthening me.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Write down three specic ways a past struggle posively impacted your faith. Spend a few moments in grateful prayer, thanking God for His rening work in your life.

page 40DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:Jesus endured unimaginable suering, bearing physical pain, emoonal distress, and spiritual anguish as He took on the weight of our sin. Isaiah vividly prophesied this suering, declaring, “By His stripes we are healed.” Through Christ’s wounds—every lash, every thorn, every nail—we nd profound healing, redempon, and restoraon. His pain was our gain; His sacrice became our salvaon.The healing Christ oers extends far beyond the physical; it reaches into the deepest parts of our souls. Jesus’ sacrice brings emoonal healing, releasing us from the bondage of guilt, shame, and regret. It oers spiritual healing, reconciling us fully to God, restoring our broken relaonship, and granng us eternal peace. Because Jesus willingly suered in our place, we have direct access to the mercy, grace, and healing power of God.Reecng on the depth of Christ’s sacrice reminds us how deeply we are loved. When you face suering, remember that Christ not only understands your pain but has already borne it. Bring your hurts, burdens, and wounds to Him, knowing He compassionately heals and restores. Christ’s suering assures us that no pain is meaningless and no wound is beyond His healing touch.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What area in your life do you most need Christ’s healing touch today?2. How does understanding Christ’s suering impact your perspecve on your own struggles?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord Jesus, thank You for enduring pain and suering so that I can experience healing and restoraon. Today, I bring my wounds—physical, emoonal, and spiritual—to You. Heal me deeply with Your redeeming love.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Take a moment to pray intenonally for someone you know who is suering, reminding them of the powerful healing found in Christ’s sacrice.

page 41DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:When we endure suering, it’s easy to lose sight of the eternal perspecve. Pain and diculty feel immediate and overwhelming, oen clouding our vision of God’s promises. Yet, Paul reminds us that our present suerings, no maer how intense, are temporary and incomparable to the eternal glory awaing us in Christ. Resurrecon hope oers us powerful assurance: our pain is not permanent, and our struggles will ulmately be overshadowed by incomparable joy.The resurrecon of Christ radically changes our perspecve on suering. Because He overcame death, we, too, share in His victory. His resurrecon assures us that every diculty, hardship, and moment of sorrow has an expiraon date. It means our suering never has the nal word—resurrecon does. Knowing this truth equips us to face trials with courage, hope, and endurance, condent that ulmate victory belongs to those who trust in Christ.When you face hardship, anchor your soul rmly in the hope of resurrecon. Remember that every trial has purpose and meaning. Cling to the promise that Christ’s victory over death secures your own eternal joy. Today, allow the truth of resurrecon hope to li your spirit, renew your strength, and sustain you through every challenge you encounter.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How does the certainty of resurrecon change the way you approach your present suerings?2. What specic promise from Scripture can you hold onto when trials feel overwhelming?PRAYER PROMPT:“Father, help me to see my suerings in the light of eternity. Anchor my heart rmly in the hope of resurrecon, and grant me strength, perseverance, and joy as I await Your promised victory.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Write down one Scripture that strengthens your hope in mes of suering. Keep it visible throughout today, reminding yourself of God’s faithful promise.

page 42DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:This week, we have reected deeply on the purpose, meaning, and redempve power of suering. We’ve explored how Christ Himself endured profound hardship, demonstrang paence, humility, and trust in the Father’s perfect plan. Christ’s suering was not random—it was deeply purposeful and eternally signicant. His example shows us clearly that God can use even our greatest trials to rene us, heal us, and draw us closer to Him.Our experiences of suering challenge us profoundly, tesng our faith, endurance, and trust. It’s in these challenging moments that our relaonship with Christ becomes essenal—an anchor for our souls. Just as a ship’s anchor provides stability amidst storms, Christ anchors our lives in truth, hope, and peace, no maer what trials we face. When our lives are securely anchored in Him, we nd strength and condence, even in suering, knowing that we are never alone.Today, we pause to reect on how suering has shaped our spiritual journey. Our goal is not merely to endure trials but to allow God to transform us through them. As we invite God to search our hearts, we grow in empathy and compassion toward others who suer. As we commit our souls to God’s care, we experience peace and strength to persevere. And as we renew our minds with God’s truth, we gain perspecve, understanding that our present trials pale in comparison to the eternal glory awaing us in Christ.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How has reecng on Christ’s example this week strengthened your faith during trials?2. In what ways can you intenonally anchor your life more deeply in Christ during periods of suering?SPIRITUAL CHECKUP:Take a moment to reect honestly before God: ; Heart: Is your heart growing more compassionate and empathec toward others because of the trials you face? Are you allowing suering to soen your heart or harden it? ; Soul: Are you fully surrendering your suering to God, trusng Him even when the path is painful or unclear? Does your soul remain anchored in Christ’s faithfulness during dicules? ; Mind: Are your thoughts and atudes toward suering shaped by God’s truth? Do you view trials as meaningless, or are you seeing them as opportunies to grow spiritually and glorify Christ?Lent reminds us that suering, while painful, is not purposeless. Let today be a moment of sincere reecon and spiritual realignment, deepening your dependence on Christ and anchoring your enre life—heart, soul, and mind—in His unshakable truth.PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord Jesus, anchor my soul deeply in You. Help me face every trial with trust, paence, and humility, just as You did. Renew my heart, soul, and mind, strengthening me in Your love and grace.” Amen.

page 44DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem amid shouts of joy and praise—people waving palm branches and proclaiming “Hosanna!” It was a triumphant moment, yet Jesus knew it would soon lead to unimaginable pain and rejecon. This event highlights a powerful truth: Jesus is King, but not always in the ways we expect. The crowd wanted a polical deliverer, but Jesus came as a humble servant-King, ushering in a dierent kind of Kingdom.The same crowds who praised Him would soon turn against Him, revealing how quickly human hearts can shi when expectaons aren’t met. Like them, we oen embrace Jesus as King during joyful and victorious moments but can struggle to recognize His Lordship during trials or disappointments. True kingship isn’t about convenience; it’s about consistent surrender. Jesus invites us to enthrone Him in our hearts—not just in celebraon but also in suering.This Palm Sunday, examine your own heart. Do you fully recognize Jesus as your King—not only during mes of victory but in every season of life? Invite Him anew into every area, acknowledging His right to rule. Allow your life to become a consistent declaraon of “Hosanna”—both in mes of rejoicing and during periods of struggle—reecng genuine devoon to your humble, victorious King.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How consistently do you recognize Jesus as King of your life, regardless of circumstances?2. Are there specic areas in your life where you struggle to surrender fully to His Lordship?PRAYER PROMPT:“Jesus, I welcome You as King today. Help me surrender every area of my life fully to Your reign, in both joy and diculty. May my praise and devoon remain consistent through all seasons.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Idenfy one praccal way to honor Jesus as your King this week, especially in areas you’ve previously resisted surrendering.

page 45DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:When Jesus cleansed the temple, He drove out corrupon, distracons, and anything hindering true worship. His passionate acon reveals the zeal God has for holiness. Scripture reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, designed to be places of worship, purity, and sacred communion with God. Just as Jesus cleansed the physical temple, He desires to cleanse our hearts, removing anything that compromises our inmacy with Him.Our hearts can become cluered with distracons, sinful paerns, worldly pursuits, or bierness. Like the temple merchants, these things may have slowly crept in, robbing us of genuine worship and spiritual growth. Allowing Christ to cleanse us means honestly examining our hearts and willingly releasing what hinders our devoon to Him. This cleansing might be uncomfortable, but it is essenal for true holiness.Today, invite Jesus to cleanse your heart afresh. Reect carefully: what distracons, habits, or atudes need to be driven out to create space for His presence? True worship ourishes in hearts made pure and fully dedicated to God. Let your heart become a sacred space where God is honored, worship is genuine, and inmacy with Christ thrives.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What specic distracons or atudes hinder your relaonship with Christ right now?2. How can you praccally maintain a heart that remains a sacred, holy space for God’s presence?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, cleanse my heart of anything hindering genuine worship and devoon. Remove distracons, sin, and bierness, creang a pure and holy space where Your presence dwells richly.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Intenonally remove one habit or distracon today that is hindering your spiritual growth, comming that space or me back to focused devoon.

page 46DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:The Last Supper was not merely a meal—it was a profound declaraon of love and a sacred covenant established by Jesus Himself. With bread and wine, He symbolically presented His body and blood, foreshadowing His ulmate sacrice on the cross. In doing so, Jesus established a new covenant—one built not on religious performance, but on sacricial love, forgiveness, and grace.Every me we partake in Communion, we remember and honor this extraordinary act of love. Communion reconnects us inmately to Christ’s sacrice, reminding us vividly of His commitment to us and His eternal promise of salvaon. It renews our gratude, strengthens our faith, and deepens our inmacy with Him.Today, reect deeply on what Communion means to you. Consider how Christ’s covenantal love inspires your own response. Let this holy remembrance lead you into renewed devoon, deeper gratude, and tangible expressions of love toward Christ and others. His sacrice calls us not only to receive but to respond—to live sacricially, loving others just as He loved us.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. How does Communion deepen your connecon with Christ’s sacrice?2. In what praccal ways does remembering His love inspire your own love for others?PRAYER PROMPT:“Jesus, thank You for Your covenant of love. Renew my gratude and deepen my devoon each me I remember Your sacrice. Help me live sacricially, reecng Your love daily.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Write a short prayer of gratude to Jesus today, specically reecng on His sacrice, and commit to one praccal act of love toward someone else in response.

page 47DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus faced the heavy burden of the cross that awaited Him. Deeply distressed and overwhelmed with sorrow, He poured out His heart to the Father. Yet, in His most anguished moment, He chose absolute surrender, praying, “Not My will, but Yours be done.” Jesus’ surrender was not passive—it was courageous and deliberate, placing complete trust in the Father’s perfect plan, even when that plan involved suering.We, too, face moments when surrendering to God’s will feels incredibly dicult. Our natural inclinaon is oen to cling to comfort, control, or our own plans. However, genuine spiritual maturity involves laying down our desires, even when it’s uncomfortable, and trusng fully in God’s wisdom and goodness. Jesus’ example challenges us profoundly: true surrender involves willingly leng go of our own agendas and embracing God’s plan, even in painful or uncertain circumstances.Today, reect deeply on the areas in your life where you struggle to say, “Not my will, but Yours.” Ask yourself honestly what full surrender might look like. Remember, surrender isn’t weakness; it’s a powerful declaraon of trust in God’s character and sovereignty. As you face your own “garden” moments, allow Jesus’ example to strengthen and inspire you to surrender fully, knowing His grace will sustain you in every circumstance.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What areas of your life do you nd hardest to surrender fully to God’s will?2. How does Jesus’ example in the Garden of Gethsemane inspire and encourage you in your moments of dicult surrender?PRAYER PROMPT:“Lord, help me surrender fully to Your will, even when it’s dicult or painful. Teach me to trust You wholeheartedly, condent in Your perfect love and wisdom.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Take intenonal me today to surrender one specic area of your life to God’s will, following Christ’s example by genuinely praying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

page 48DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:On the cross, Jesus endured indescribable physical pain, emoonal rejecon, and spiritual anguish as He bore the weight of humanity’s sin. Yet, amid the agony, His nal declaraon was triumphant: “It is nished.” These powerful words announced the fulllment of redempon—His sacrice fully accomplished, sin’s power broken, and humanity’s salvaon secured. At the cross, love was poured out freely, lavishly, and sacricially.The cross, though a symbol of immense suering, is equally a profound expression of love. Jesus’ willingness to die reveals how deeply valued, cherished, and beloved you are. Every moment of suering He endured was movated by pure love—a love so deep that it willingly chose sacrice over self-preservaon. Reecng on the cross helps us grasp the depth and intensity of God’s heart toward us.As you consider Christ’s sacrice today, let the truth of His nished work deeply transform you. The cross is not only a place of sorrow—it is a place of victory, healing, and freedom. Let the profound reality of Christ’s love on the cross compel you to live dierently. Allow gratude to shape your daily choices, compassion to dene your relaonships, and love to overow from your life. The cross changes everything—embrace its transformave power and live daily in the shadow of His sacricial love.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What does the cross mean to you personally?2. How does reecng on Christ’s sacrice impact the way you choose to live your daily life?PRAYER PROMPT:“Jesus, I am humbled by Your incredible sacrice on the cross. Thank You for pouring out Your love for me completely. Help me live a life worthy of Your sacrice, reecng Your love in all I do.” Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Spend intenonal me today quietly meditang on Jesus’ words: “It is nished.” Consider fasng from something meaningful today as a tangible way to honor the profound signicance of Christ’s sacrice on Good Friday.

page 49CLOSING THOUGHT AND PRAYER:Beloved, as we conclude this Heart & Soul Lenten Devoonal, let us pause and reect on the sacred journey we have taken over these 40 days. This season has been more than a me of fasng and reecon—it has been an invitaon to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). We have sought to draw nearer to Him, allowing His Word to shape our hearts, His truth to renew our minds, and His presence to revive our souls.Throughout this devoonal, we have been reminded that wholehearted devoon to God is not a eeng emoon but a daily commitment. To love Him with our heart is to oer our aecons, desires, and priories to Him. To love Him with our soul is to surrender our very being, aligning our will with His. To love Him with our mind is to meditate on His truth and reject the lies that seek to distract us. And to love Him with our strength is to live out our faith with acon, reecng His love in the way we serve others.Lent has been our me of rening, pruning, and preparing—but the journey does not end here. The transformaon that has begun in us must connue beyond this season. As we approach the celebraon of Christ’s resurrecon, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to love and serve Him with all our heart and soul. May we carry forward this renewed passion, allowing our lives to be a living tesmony of His grace, mercy, and unfailing love.NOW, LET US PRAY:Father of our hearts and Keeper of our souls,We come before You with gratude for the journey we have walked with You these past 40 days. Thank You for the ways You have spoken to us, rened us, and drawn us deeper into Your love. We surrender our hearts fully to You—may they beat in rhythm with Yours, lled with love, faith, and devoon. We give You our souls—may they be anchored in Your truth, strengthened by Your Spirit, and sustained by Your grace.Lord, let this season of Lent not be just a moment of reecon but a lasng

page 50transformaon. May we connue to love You with all our heart and soul, living each day as an act of worship. Help us to remain steadfast in faith, walking in obedience and trust. Fill us with a love so deep that it overows into our relaonships, our service, and our mission in the world.As we step forward, may our lives reect the lessons we have learned. May our love for You be unwavering, our faith be bold, and our hearts be fully devoted. Lead us, guide us, and strengthen us to live for Your glory, now and forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS:This journey has been personal and powerful, and I would love to hear how God has moved in your heart and soul during this me. Feel free to share your reecons, prayers, and tesmonies by sending them to revbills@tannerchapel.org.May the love and renewal you have experienced in this season carry you forward into a deeper, more inmate walk with Christ.With Expectaonand Grace,

page 51DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:The resurrecon of Jesus Christ stands at the heart of our faith as believers. It is not merely a historical event or symbolic moment—it is the powerful declaraon that death has been defeated, sin’s chains have been shaered, and new life has become possible. Because Christ rose victoriously from the grave, we have been freed from the oppressive grip of sin, fear, and despair. This victorious truth transforms not only how we view our future eternity but profoundly shapes how we live each day of our lives.To be alive in Christ means more than simply acknowledging His resurrecon—it means living daily in its transformave power. Christ’s resurrecon provides the assurance that our past mistakes and failures do not have the nal word. Instead, we have been raised to walk in newness of life. Our idenes are no longer bound by who we once were or what we once did; rather, our lives are dened by who Christ is and what He has accomplished on our behalf. Every day oers an opportunity to walk boldly, condently, and joyfully in the reality of this incredible victory.This Resurrecon Sunday, reect deeply on what it truly means to live as someone who has been spiritually resurrected. Christ’s resurrecon calls us to surrender completely—trading our burdens, fears, and sins for the grace, peace, and purpose He freely oers. Embrace this new life with courage, leng go of anything that holds you back from fully experiencing His freedom. Remember, the same power that raised Jesus from the grave now lives within you, empowering you daily to walk in victory, hope, and purpose. Let your life radiate this resurrecon power, bringing hope and life to everyone around you.REFLECTION QUESTIONS:1. What does it praccally look like for you to live daily as someone who is truly “alive in Christ”?2. Which areas of your life do you need to fully surrender to Christ’s resurrecon power, allowing His victory to replace past defeat?3. Who in your life needs to hear the transformave message of Christ’s resurrecon, and how can you share this hope with them?PRAYER PROMPT:“Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible victory and new life found in the resurrecon of Jesus Christ. Today, I choose to walk condently in His triumph over sin, death, and despair. Help me to fully embrace the freedom, grace, and purpose You’ve provided through His victory. Transform my heart and empower my acons, enabling me to be a living tesmony of Your resurrecon power. Fill me with courage to share this hope with those who desperately need it.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.DAILY CHALLENGE:Purposefully live out Christ’s resurrecon today. Speak words of encouragement and hope to someone struggling or discouraged. Choose intenonally to leave behind a past burden or regret, stepping boldly into the freedom and joy of your new life in Christ.